TEXT: CASTLES & CRUSADES
  100
  
  Spell Descriptions-MAGIC
  101
  THE RISING KNIGHT
  This is an introductory adventure for those playing Castles & Crusades. The 
  module has been designed to allow for the players and Castle Keeper alike 
  to begin using the Castle & Crusades rules in a fairly non-demanding game 
  setting. The goal is to familiarize the Castle Keeper and players with the basic 
  rules and their applications while undertaking an exciting adventure.
  The module is also designed for modularity and expansion. Many of the 
  encounters, monsters, settings and non-player characters can be removed 
  from the context of this adventure and placed within those of your own 
  making. We here at Troll Lord Games encourage all gamers to do so as this 
  is the quickest route to ever more fulfilling game-play. As with the Castles & 
  Crusades rules, this module is a tool to use as you will. Please do so.
  Further, should the players or Castle Keeper care to continue with the 
  adventure and follow its thematic development, the follow-on module, 
  Assault on Blacktooth Ridge, is now available from Troll Lord Games. Several 
  references and avenues for continuing the adventure are mentioned within 
  the text, but the Castle Keeper will have to devise the most meaningful 
  manner in which to carry this out.
  Finally, the adventure is designed for a party of 4-6 1st level adventurers. The 
  challenge level should rarely exceed “1”. Any exceptions are mentioned in 
  the adventure. Should the party exceed 6 characters or have several members 
  who are of 2nd level, simply increase the number of creatures encountered, 
  hit points and the armor class of their various opponents so as to adequately 
  challenge them.
  INTRODUCTION
  The Drunderry River runs narrow and fast through much of its course before 
  tumbling into the lowlands beneath the Fallow Hills. From there, the river 
  spreads out across fertile plains, laboring slowly to the south before emptying 
  into the Elmarsh Lake. Until recently this area was unsettled. The writ of 
  the King of Outremere has changed all this. Several small villages, thorpes 
  and farming communities have been settled in this region since the King’s 
  permission was granted. The village of Malforten, nestled along the banks of 
  the Drunderry River near the Fallow Hills, is just such a place.
  The people of Malforten are few in number, but sturdy folk with many a stout 
  heart amongst them. Knowing they were settling at the edges of the kingdoms 
  of Outremere and far from help if ever there was need, those who came here 
  were of the uncommon and daring type. Lacking support otherwise, the 
  people of Malforten have banded together and fought off many a wild beast, 
  bandit, and raiding goblin. They even managed to defeat a marauding band 
  of ogres before it lay waste to surrounding farms. They are proud of their 
  independence from the Lords of Outremere and their capacity to care for 
  their own. This is why they consider their current position with not a little 
  embarrassment.
  Malforten lies in the East March. This frontier region is known to be open to 
  raiders, bandits and other nefarious creatures who fear no retribution from 
  the West; so many villainous malcontents and upstarts thus come here to raid 
  and, with each passing success, act with ever more audacity. Now Malforten 
  has come under a more dire and grievous threat than ever before. A viscious 
  gnoll warrior, Gritznak the Bold, has come to the Fallow Hills and taken 
  up residence in an abandoned temple. From here, his band of raiders has 
  encroached ever more often upon the steads of Malforten, taking cattle, grain 
  stores, and stealing away a few residents for slaves or worse.
  Though the men of Malforten have attempted to locate, trap or capture 
  Gritznak, they have failed each time. Each failure has emboldened Gritznak to 
  greater depredations, culminating with his coming to Malforten and demanding 
  tribute. At their wits end, the leaders of Malforten called upon the Lords of 
  Outremere for knights and soldiery to help defeat Gritznak the Bold (as they are 
  duty bound to supply). However, the delegates from Malforten were rebuffed 
  and their request for soldiery denied, as the wars to the west and south have 
  consumed most of Outremere’s veteran warriors. However, to minimally meet 
  their obligations, several Lords of Outremere have offered a bounty to any who 
  might bring an end to the depredations of Gritznak the Bold.
  FOR THE CASTLE KEEPER
  Gritznak the Bold is massive and mean spirited, even for a gnoll. He is also 
  canny and aware that the inhabitants of Malforten do not have the ability to 
  confront his troops in force and defeat him. As such, he no longer fears reprisal 
  for his raids and threats. He has also changed his tack. He is no longer raiding 
  Malforten; rather, he is now demanding tribute from the town so he does not 
  have to fight for it. He takes cattle, grain and other goods he desires.
  His extortion has worked, as no one in Malforten has overtly challenged 
  him in a long time, and Gritznak receives his tribute on a fairly regular basis. 
  Recently, Gritznak has learned through a source in Malforten that a bounty is 
  being offered for his capture.
  This too bothers Gritznak little, as he is safely ensconced in his lair with 
  many veteran goblins at his side and believes no one will be able to find nor 
  confront him.
  Gritznak has encamped inside the bowels of an ancient temple, an unholy 
  place in which many vile deeds were once performed and in which he feels 
  very comfortable. Though the temple has long been abandoned, the power of 
  its deity, the Horned One, resonates therein even to this day. The temple itself 
  has a mind and will of its own and acts to protect Gritznak and increase his 
  strength. This is being done in order to bring worshipers back to the temple 
  and, with them, sacrificial victims who can be used for resurrecting the last 
  high priest of the temple.
  This process has been going well. Gritznak has brought back enough victims 
  to almost complete the process of resurrection.
  The high priest is buried in the bowels of the temple, and with one more 
  sacrificial victim the temple will have succeeded in this horrific deed. The 
  temple, also knowing of the bounty upon Gritznak, has ‘encouraged’ him to 
  allow the bounty hunters to come to the temple to find him, as the temple has 
  figured out it is far easier to have that sacrificial victim come to the temple 
  rather than having Gritznak retrieve it himself.
  None in Malforten know of this process and none suspect. To them, Gritznak 
  is simply a cunning brigand that needs eliminating. There are problems for the 
  people of Malforten though, as several members of the community are now 
  giving information to Gritznak about happenings around town. Any action 
  the characters take will likely be known by Gritznak within a short period of 
  time. Several of the leadership of Malforten suspect this is the case and are 
  eager to know who the traitors amongst them are.
  INVOLVING THE CHARACTERS
  The easiest manner in which to bring characters into this adventure is to 
  have a sheriff or constable inform them of the bounty offered for Gritznak’s 
  capture. The characters might also hear of the reward at a tavern or other 
  establishments where such rumors run amok. The characters should then find 
  themselves on the road to Malforten in search of fame, fortune, adventure, 
  treasure and even, incidentally, Gritznak. They must present themselves to 
  the town officials and have the mission explained to them, settling any terms 
  of service before returning to the more civilized lands of Outremere for their 
  reward.
  TRAVEL TO MALFORTEN
  Travellers approaching Malforten from the east usually do so along the 
  road known as the West Way. This road is fairly safe, as raiders and bandits 
  rarely frequent those roads, and when they do they generally only concern 
  themselves with bands of unarmed peasants, farmers or merchants. Of these, 
  there are not a lot, but enough to keep the road well worn.
  There is a small chance of encountering something other than traders, 
  travelers, herdsmen or similarly benign encounters along the West Way. If 
  the Castle Keeper intends to have the characters travel to Malforten or west 
  of the town, roll a d10 two times a day with an encounter occurring on a 1. 
  There is a 50% chance this encounter will be nothing more than a band of 
  2d6 merchants, farmers, herdsman or the like. These will either be coming 
  from or going to the Drunderry River Valley to trade or heading back east to 
  Outremere for the same. Otherwise, roll a d20 and consult Table 1 below for 
  the type of encounter.
  
  CASTLES & CRUSADES
  102
  Traveling north, south and east of Malforten carries a greater risk of meeting 
  less than benign inhabitants of the region. For travel north, south or east of 
  Malforten, roll a d10 twice a day and once at night. An encounter occurs on 
  a roll of 1. Then roll a d20 and refer to Table 1 below to determine what is 
  encountered. For travel along the Drunderry River and in the Fallow Hills 
  please see Tables 3 and 4.
  TABLE 1: Wilderness Encounters
  1-2: 
  Wild Boar 
  (1-4)
  3-4: 
  Wolves 
  (1-3)
  5: 
  Worg 
  (1)
  6: 
  Pixies 
  (1-6)
  7: 
  Stirges (1-2) & Ghoul (1) at night
  8: 
  Inhabitant of Malforten 
  (1-3)
  9: 
  Bandits 
  (2-5)
  10-11: 
  Gnoll (1) with goblins (1-4)
  12: 
  Goblin band 
  (1-6)
  13: 
  Ogre 
  (1)
  14-15: 
  Large Snake 
  (1)
  16-17: 
  Bugbear 
  (2)
  18-19: 
  Herd animals
  20: 
  Blink Dog (2-4)
  MALFORTEN
  The West Way is a dusty track leading across the grassy plains of western 
  Outremere. It passes through several small villages before ending at the 
  settlement of Malforten. Here, two dozen or so wood and stone houses 
  with thatched roofs are huddled closely together on the upper banks of the 
  Drunderry River.
  Large willows and oaks are clustered along the river’s banks and around the 
  town, while fields of grain spread out north, south and west of the village. 
  Cattle graze fretfully even further afield. Amongst the cattle and fields are 
  several herdsmen who spy the comings and goings of travelers to Malforten. 
  They call out sharp warnings in the direction of Malforten when anyone 
  approaches, while their large cow-dogs howl and bark guardedly.
  Before reaching the first of the houses in Malforten, a bell, set in the town 
  center near a well, is usually rung by someone nearby, alerting all that 
  travelers are arriving.
  The inhabitants of Malforten live by farming and raising cattle. Most are 
  subsistence farmers who have come here in order to escape the wars and 
  depredations that are a constant in Outremere. As such, with the exception 
  of a few, they own little of value and generally barter for goods or services in 
  lieu of coin, as services often have a more immediate and beneficial effect 
  than a stack of gold. Food is plentiful and cheap, and board can be had at 
  the ‘Empty Flagon’ or, should the characters befriend any of the inhabitants, 
  with the locals. Once every month a tinker and his band come to town to sell 
  goods that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. Other traders also come to 
  Malforten, but ona very irregular basis. The townsfolk are usually friendly and 
  open to new arrivals, but do not take insults lightly, and gaining their trust 
  takes time.
  Days begin early, as work in the fields is demanding and the cattle need 
  milking before the rise of the sun. Many gather at the Empty Flagon after the 
  morning chores for a drink or food. The rest of the day is spent laboring on 
  their farms. Evenings are quit, and most stay at home, while a few gather again 
  at the Empty Flagon. A dozen or so of the men gather once a week to travel up 
  or down the Drunderry, or to the hills north of town, to fell oaks for firewood 
  and other purposes. Fishing is quite common, and most have small boats tied 
  up along the bank of the Drunderry River.
  There is no sheriff or any official leadership of Malforten. However, Eryl 
  the Hoskin is considered the most able and fair minded of the villagers, so 
  is often looked to for leadership in times of need or when decisions need be 
  made concerning the community’s welfare. Eryl the Hoskin commands the 
  Malforten militia, numbering some 40 men. They are ill equipped, poorly 
  trained and incapable of countering Gritznak’s seasoned raiders.
  A priest of Corthain, Griffry the Hat, and a priestess of Wenafar, Amanda 
  Rhyan the Paish, also reside here. Though no church or temple has been 
  constructed for communal worship, there are several shrines located around 
  the village. Both Griffry and Wenafar care for the area’s inhabitants in their 
  own ways, but neither offer much leadership.
  ARRIVALS, INTERVIEWS AND BED BUGS
  After the characters arrive in Malforten, they need to gather information 
  about Gritznak the Bold. The Empty Flagon is a likely place to begin. It 
  does not take long for the unofficial town council, Eryl the Hoskin, Amanda 
  Rhyan, Blodwyn Lycharn, Griffry the Hat, and others to make an appearance, 
  since the arrival of a band of well armed travelers is very unusual. The 
  townspeople are not entirely excited about the prospect of angering Gritznak 
  and fear the consequences of a failed raid.
  However, they supply the characters with what information they have and 
  hope for the best. They have no idea where Gritznak is encamped, other than 
  north of town along the Drunderry or perhaps in the Fallow Hills. Though 
  generally thankful for the arrival of help, several members of the community 
  take issue with the lack of courage on the part of the locals to deal with the 
  situation themselves. These people consider those who have come here for 
  the reward to be at best nothing more than bounty hunters or mercenaries, 
  and at worst, brigands.
  The first person the characters are likely to meet are Eryl the Hoskin, Amanda 
  Rhyan and several of the more outspoken of the villagers. They greet the party 
  politely and explain the situation. They offer as much information as they 
  can, though some have secrets, ideas and opinions they would rather keep to 
  themselves or pass along in more private settings. This information is in the 
  descriptions of the personages of Malforten.
  It is explained that, once the party has killed and proven the death of 
  Gritznak, Eryl the Hoskin will give them a ring that needs presenting to a 
  lord in Outremere for compensation. The promised compensation is 250gp. 
  None agree to accompany the group into the hills, though some may be 
  willing to travel up the Drunderry a ways to ensure the party gets on the right 
  track. More information is forthcoming if the characters spend a few days in 
  Malforten. A rumor table is supplied below for the Castle Keeper and, other 
  than what is specifically mentioned in the non-player character descriptions, 
  can be used to randomly determine who knows what. Also, should the Castle 
  Keeper care to give the characters information prior to entering Malforten, 
  using the normal travelers encountered along the way would be opportune for 
  such purposes. Use the rumor table for this also.
  There is only one rumor per person. Roll a d12 to determine which rumor.
  The table below contains a list of rumors the party may overhear or glean from 
  various inhabitants of the town.
  TABLE 2: Rumors
  1:  Gritznak has a spy in town who tells him if anything foul is a foot. 
  (True)
  2:  The tavern is a meeting place for local rangers. They used to meet 
  there once a month but have recently stopped. Perhaps some evil has 
  befallen them. (False)
  3:  I’ve got a rotten feelin’ bout this boys, a rotten feelin’ between my 
  toes.” 4: It is said a spirit of great evil lurks in the waters of the 
  Drunderry and only awaits a full moon to come out and take people 
  back to its watery hole. (False)
  5:  I’ve lost five of my cows in the past year to them goblins. I don’t know 
  how I can make it any longer.
  6:  Gritznak often travels to the north along the banks of the Drunderry, 
  accompanied only a few guards, where he meets others of his kind to 
  discuss business. (False)
  7:  When the sickle moon is high and the ‘even star’ sits in its cusp, 
  a spirit of the dead comes from the river’s deep to watch over the 
  fisherman and fight evil. (False)
  8:  It’s that tower, deep in them swamps, it’s sendin’ agents to raise an 
  army of the dead.” (True, though not here!)
  
  THE CASTLE KEEPER AND THE GAME
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  9: Red Cap it is, it’s Red Cap the Goblin who is behind this.” (False)
  10: Runin’ scared I tell you, we got’ em runin’ scared, should make easy 
  targets.” (False)
  11: Wat, wat yuh askin’ me fur? I don’t keer ‘bout no Greeetznak, I got 
  mee potatoes to git! Now git. Git out tuh the Drunderry der and go 
  up and git dat Greeetznak, he’s in some ‘ole temple or sich, I got no 
  knowin.” (True)
  12: Keep your eye out for them little elves fellah’s, they don’t like us big 
  ‘uns at all and ‘ll take your stuff and steal your goods right there while 
  your watching.” (False)
  PERSONS OF IMPORT
  The following is a list of important personages in Malforten. These are the 
  significant non-player characters with whom the characters are most likely 
  to interact. There are other inhabitants, however, and the Castle Keeper is 
  encouraged to develop them as necessary. A list of potential names is supplied 
  at the end of the module for the Castle Keeper’s use to develop locals.
  Eryl the Hoskin: Eryl the Hoskin is the local militia leader, and one of the 
  first people with whom the characters meet after arriving. He resents the 
  characters’ arrival, as he believes that he and the militia can win against 
  the gnoll given time and planning.
  Eryl is confrontational and not a little derisive of the characters, and 
  doubts they will be able to accomplish what he has yet to do. However, 
  he does not seek out a fight with the characters and does not insult 
  them. He is willing to give the ‘mercenaries’ a chance, because if they do 
  succeed he has lost nothing. It was Eryl who decided to petition the lords 
  in Outremere to offer aid in the first place and he will feel vindicated in 
  having done so should the party succeed in their task. He will also be 
  thankful to the party and offer them his friendship in return should they 
  appear honorable in undertaking the task.
  He suspects someone in town is giving information to Gritznak about 
  the militia’s strengths and weaknesses but has no idea who. It is merely 
  a suspicion, and one he does not voice to anyone unless he really trusts 
  them.
  Eryl is tall and thin with a thick beard and shoulder length hair, usually 
  braided. He has a slight limp from a battle long ago and speaks slowly 
  to ensure others understand what he is saying. He lives in a farmhouse 
  outside of town with his wife, Sara and two sons, Joskin and Dale.
  Eryl the Hoskin (He is a chaotic good, human, 3rd level fighter, whose vital 
  stats are: HP: 16, AC 14. His prime attributes are: str, con and int. He carries 
  a chain hauberk, medium shield, longsword and glaive.)
  Nefydd Goff the Erder: Nefydd has lived in Malforten for nearly a dozen 
  years and is familiar with the area around the town. He willingly talks 
  about the happenings therein. He is from the south, near the coast of 
  the Amber Sea. He was once an active highwayman, but when he killed 
  several members of a local noble’s family he sought out more peaceful 
  lands where there was no bounty upon his head. He landed in Malforten 
  and has, presumably, changed his ways. Nefydd lives alone in a small 
  house near the Empty Flagon and raises several cows. He also has a 
  potato field and carrot patch. He enjoys fishing, as it affords him the 
  opportunity to be alone.
  He suspects several of the farmers give information to the goblins in 
  exchange for their lives or a reduction in tribute, although he has no 
  idea who might be doing so. Nefydd knows that every couple of weeks 
  some goblins who ride wolves camp out north and east of Malforten on 
  a hillock that overlooks the town. He has not shared this information 
  with anyone, as he is waiting to see how the situation with Gritznak 
  develops. 
  “Taxes to Outremere, taxes to Gritznak - what’s the difference?” he often 
  mumbles to himself.
  Nefydd Goff the Erder (He is a neutral evil, human, 1st level fighter whose 
  vital stats are: HP: 6, AC 14. His prime attributes are: str, dex and wis. He 
  carries a studded leather armor, small shield, short sword and short bow.)
  Gwion the Conner: Gwion is a farmer and fisherman living with his wife, 
  Owena and one remaining child, his daughter Vivianna. His other 
  daughter died of an illness some years ago, and he faults his move to 
  Malforten for this. He regrets having come here and hopes to leave 
  soon. He lives near the Drunderry and spends most of his time fishing 
  and caring for his few cows. His house has only one small room in which 
  all three live.
  Several months ago, while looking for a stray cow, he was caught by some 
  goblins and threatened with death. He offered the goblins information 
  on the militia and the reward in return for sparing his life. He now meets 
  a goblin near the banks of the Drunderry River once a week or so on his 
  frequent fishing trips. On these trips, he gives the goblins information on 
  what is occurring in Malforten.
  Gwion the Conner (He is a chaotic neutral, human 0d6 level commoner, 
  whose vital stats are: HP 2, AC 10. His significant attribute is: str 17. He 
  carries a woodsman’s axe and dagger.)
  Ifon Picton: Ifon moved here some time ago to avoid the chaos of 
  his personal life back in the west. His philandering at the courts in 
  Outremere left many a broken heart in his wake, and not a few angry 
  and vengeful lords seeking his head. He has since decided on a life of 
  anonymity. This decision does not rest well with him, as his natural 
  inclination for travel and trouble-making is bound to lead him to dire 
  straits some day.
  Other than regaling patrons at the Empty Flagon once a week or so, 
  he keeps a low profile and sporadically tends to his few thin cattle. Ifon 
  is well versed in the ancient lore of the region and knows much about 
  the history of the Horned One, the Curse of the Drunderry, and other 
  sundries. He willingly parts with this information over a flagon of brew 
  at the tavern or in his house.
  Ifon Picton (He is a lawful neutral, human, 3rd level bard whose vital stats 
  are: HP 17, AC 10. His prime attributes are: cha, int and wis. His significant 
  attributes are: wis 14 and cha 15. He carries a longsword, dagger and ring of 
  enchantment.)
  Amanda Rhyan the Paish: Amanda worships Wenafar, the Goddess of 
  Fay. She comes from the north where the worship of Wenafar is more 
  widespread and accepted. She, like many of her order, has come here 
  to help intervene in and smooth relations between the fay and humans, 
  as they are often contentious. As is the manner of those who worship 
  Wenafar, Amanda never proselytizes, rather, she acts. She blesses the 
  locals’ crops and cattle, heals the injured if asked, pays tribute in food 
  and wine to the fay, and tries to attract others to her ways by example.
  Many inhabitants appreciate her gifts, and voluntarily bring her food 
  and other goods in exchange for her services. Many in the community 
  have also given over to following her habits of leaving goods and trinkets 
  for the fay on every full moon.
  However, several in the community do not consider the fay beneficent 
  creatures at all and view her, and her worship, with suspicion. It is not 
  unknown for milk cows to suddenly go dry, crops to wither and moles to 
  get into food storage. Often, these events are seen as actions of the fay. 
  Those who view the fay with suspicion are not entirely incorrect to do so 
  and, not coincidentally, those who leave food and wine for the fay suffer 
  less from the natural hazards of farming.
  Amanda meets with a group of pixies in the forest to the north of 
  Malforten every other full moon. She has never taken anyone with her 
  to meet the pixies, but will do so if she believes that person is sufficiently 
  disposed towards her manner of belief and capable of keeping the 
  information secret. She and the pixies meet for celebrations, and in 
  order to exchange information.
  Amanda is concerned about Gritznak, and anxiously awaits her 
  next meeting with the pixies in hopes of gleaning information about 
  his doings. The pixies, for their part, would rather have the current 
  inhabitants of Malforten here than have the orcs, goblins and ungern 
  make a return to this land. In truth though, the fay would rather no one 
  be in the area.
  
  CASTLES & CRUSADES
  104
  Amanda lives in a small hut on the north side of town. She collects 
  hundreds of herbs for various medicinal purposes and, not surprisingly, 
  for spicing up food. She is well known for making good tasting meals for 
  celebrations.
  Amanda Rhyan the Paish (She is a chaotic good, human, 4th level druid 
  whose vital stats are: HP 15, AC 15. Her prime attributes are: dex, int and 
  wis. Her significant attribute is: wis 14. She carries staff, dagger, scale mail 
  and a +1 shield.)
  Kiint the Leper: Kiint the Leper is an ugly man, and few enjoy speaking to 
  him or even being in his presence. He is a loner and spends most of his 
  time hunting for the small gazelle so plentiful across the Drunderry. He 
  showed up in Malforten one afternoon and has never left. None know 
  anything of his past, as not only are most unwilling to speak with him, but 
  he tends to be rather private himself. Kiint actually has a type of leprosy 
  that none has ever been able to heal. Of course, he has never had the 
  coin to pay for such a healing either. He is actually a good man with a 
  healthy mind, it is just that his particular disease has left him scarred and 
  ostracized.
  He knows much about the surrounding territory and can show the 
  characters safer passage along the Drunderry River than is otherwise 
  possible. If he accompanies and leads anyone around the Drunderry, the 
  Castle Keeper only makes one random encounter check during the day 
  and one at night. He knows the location of the Imperial Road along the 
  Drunderry River Valley and is aware that goblins move up and down the 
  east bank of the river unmolested. He is willing to travel to the edge of the 
  Fallow Hills but does not go further unless pressed.
  For those who befriend him, he shows great loyalty. If Kiint the Leper 
  acquires 1000 experience points while traveling with the characters, he 
  can become a 1st level ranger should the Castle Keeper choose. He lives 
  by the river in a small shack made of driftwood and bramble. He has 
  hidden a potion of sleeping and 25sp here.
  Kiint the Leper (He is a neutral good, human, 1d6 HD commoner whose vital 
  stats are HP 3, AC 12. His prime attribute is: wis. His significant attributes 
  are: dex 16 and cha 6. He carries a longbow, leather armor, and axe.)
  Blodwyn Lycharn: Blodwyn is a wizard who lives in a small house on the 
  edge of town. Ostensibly, she raises a milk cow and tends to a vegetable 
  garden, but is usually too busy reading old texts to tend to her farm’s 
  needs. She lives with her cousin Menlaus who is currently her understudy. 
  He has grown quite bored with his time in Malforten and eagerly seeks 
  any manner of leaving the village.
  Blodwyn moved to Malforten to study local flora, in the hopes of finding 
  new and interesting objects for use in creating spells and potions. For it 
  was not long ago that, on one of her trips to the Blacktooth Ridge, she 
  recovered a tome with potion recipes in it. Her hope is to gather the more 
  exotic items necessary for the concoction of those potions rather than 
  hiring others to do so for her. The Drunderry River valley is replete with 
  rare herbs and objects used in potion making. Also, the bones of dead fay 
  are rather valuable and Malforten is, purportedly, near a fay graveyard. To 
  date her attempts to find this graveyard have not been successful, but she 
  continues to research never-the-less.
  Not much of a traveler these days, and having little desire to go to 
  dangerous places any more, she is unlikely to leave Malforten and 
  undertake any great escapades. However, she might be willing to make 
  trips to nearby places should she believe rare herbs or materials for making 
  potions can be gathered.
  Blodwyn is anxious for Menlaus to leave. She finds his company grating 
  and his impatience taxing. She offers to acquire equipment for him if 
  others take him away. Her house, a broad building near the Empty Flagon, 
  is full of texts and papers, herbs and flora, concoctions and brews. She has 
  the makings of a lab but is not quite there. Blodwyn is concerned about 
  the latest developments with Gritznak but has few solutions to offer.
  Hidden about her house are the following items: potion of giant strength, 
  potion of levitation, 3 scrolls (hold portal, sleep and shield), a wand of magic 
  missiles with 10 charges, a spell book (0 - read magic, light, detect, magic; 1st 
  - hold portal, magic missile, shocking grasp, sleep, shield, spider climb; 2nd- acid 
  arrow, knock, levitate), a tome of potions that has the recipe for 12 potions 
  in it, 100sp and 45gp.
  Menlaus, for his part, does not want to stay in Malforten any longer. He is 
  young, impatient and ready to move on and face the challenges many of 
  his family have. He has little fear, having never been injured in a fight, and 
  no experience in traveling the more desolate areas of the world.
  Blodwyn Lycharn (She is a chaotic neutral, human, 4th level wizard whose 
  vital stats are: HP 8, AC 11. Her prime attributes are: dex, int and wis. Her 
  significant attributes are: dex 16, con 6 and int 16. She carries a staff, dagger, 
  ermine cloak and a +2 dagger in addition to those items listed above.)
  Menlaus (He is a lawful neutral, human, 1st level wizard whose vital stats 
  are: HP 2, AC 11. His prime attributes are: dex, int and cha. His significant 
  attributes are: dex 14 and int 13. He carries a staff, clothing, dagger and has a 
  spell book with the following spells in it: 0 - read magic, light; 1st- magic missile, 
  shield, spider climb.)
  Griffry the Hat: Griffry the Hat is a priest of Corthain but has given up 
  adventuring for the life of an ascetic and, incidentally, much of what 
  Corthain requires in a priest of this order. Griffry no longer forcefully 
  rights wrongs and his sense of revenge for grievous crimes has dissipated. 
  Events in his life have left him jaded, angry and second-guessing himself. 
  In the wars of Outremere it seemed to Griffry that, in righting wrongs, 
  more people were suffering than if the acts had just been ignored.
  In particular, the wars were devastating to communities that were, 
  in no particular way, involved in the conflicts. He has not reconciled 
  himself to the seeming contradictions of his order and the demands 
  of constantly warring upon those who would make the world and its 
  peoples slaves. If Griffry does not adjust his ways he will never receive 
  further dispensation from Corthain.
  Griffry generally only has healing spells, and helps the people of Malforten 
  by curing the injured and ill. Some members of the community expect 
  more from him, and his failure to live up to those expectations has left 
  him not a few detractors. Should a player convince Griffry to act more 
  like the priest of the god of vengeance and righteousness, they will have 
  a powerful ally and lifelong friend.
  Griffry lives in a well made wooden house near the edge of town. In 
  addition to his duties about town he raises several cattle and herding 
  dogs. Inside his house he has various robes and accouterments of his 
  office as well as two potions of healing, 3 scrolls (delay poison, sanctuary, 
  remove paralysis), 210sp and 71gp.
  Griffry the Hat (He is a lawful good, human, 3rd level cleric whose vital 
  are: HP 13, AC 16. His prime attributes are: str, wis and cha. His significant 
  attributes are: str 13, dex 14 and wis 14. He carries a mace, scale mail and a 
  ring of spiritual hammers with 7 charges left.)
  Ian Meanz: Ian Meanz is a lowly thief and malcontent. He escaped the 
  hangman’s noose by shear luck some years ago. He is a wanted man, 
  and one particular baron in Outremere would pay dearly to have Ian 
  brought back for justice. He left Outremere and headed east, and about 
  a year ago settled in the Empty Flagon until his money ran low. He then 
  moved into an abandoned house on the edge of town, where he whiles 
  away his time doing little other than trying to decide whether he should 
  head back west or not. His real concern is whether or not the bounty is 
  still on his head.
  He is wary of strangers, especially those who are in town to collect 
  a bounty in the first place. As such, he avoids interaction with the 
  characters until they show themselves to be unconcerned about the 
  bounty on his head. Once having decided the characters are not after 
  him, Ian will eventually approach them and try to hire on or attach 
  himself to the party should they head back west or up north. He reveals 
  as much as he can about the town and its inhabitants, and in private 
  conversation expresses his disdain for most of the village’s inhabitants.
  Should the characters travel with Ian, they will be set upon by some fay. 
  These may be pixies or nixies or others. Ian has been stealing from the 
  plates of offerings that are left by Amanda and others. The fay do not 
  
  THE CASTLE KEEPER AND THE GAME
  105
  find this at all humorous. Although the fay will do little to harm the 
  characters or Ian, they will make life difficult by spoiling food, stealing 
  shoes and other acts that would irritate the characters. The focus of 
  their pranks will be Ian.
  Ian Meanz (He is a neutral evil, human, 2nd level rogue whose vital stats 
  are: HP 7, AC 13. His prime attributes are: dex, con and cha. His significant 
  attributes are: str 13, dex 14 and cha 15. He carries studded leather armor, 
  3 daggers, light crossbow, magical thieves tools that confer a +1 to all checks 
  involving picking locks, 34sp and 210cp.)
  Mathonwy the Gibber: Mathonwy raises dogs. And that is about it. 
  There are a series of large pens in the back of his house where the dogs 
  spend much time barking and howling for food. His dogs are very well 
  trained and sold as cow dogs, hunting dogs, guard dogs and, on occasion, 
  fighting dogs. His dogs are highly prized in town.
  Mathonwy is also known for his short temper, which he often takes out 
  on his neighbors, though never his dogs. He knows how to use his whip 
  both to keep his dogs in line and in fights, if ever necessary. However, he 
  never abuses his dogs and takes poorly to those who do–even after they 
  have been purchased. Several years ago, Mathonwy took his whip and 
  beat a poor farmer who had brutalized a dog the farmer had purchased 
  several months prior. Mathonwy did this in the center of town in front 
  of everyone.
  Mathonwy sells his dogs for a high price. They are about 25 gp or a 
  year’s worth of meat for one dog. However, should the dog be killed or 
  mistreated he will not sell another dog to the same person (or group) for 
  under 50gp. There will not be a third time.
  Mathonwy the Gibber (He is a chaotic neutral, human, 1st level fighter 
  whose vital stats are: HP 12, AC 11. His prime attributes are; str, int, cha. 
  His significant attribute is: dex 15. He carries a dagger and whip.)
  Dogs (HD 1d6, HP variable, AC 11, attacks: bite 1d4, special: these dogs are 
  difficult to surprise and confer a +5 bonus to any surprise checks against them 
  or their companions. Hunting dogs can track like a 5th level ranger.)
  Madith Carn the Old: Madith is an older man who once served in the 
  armies of the Lords of Outremere before having his title taken away 
  for a misdeed on the battlefield. Shortly afterwards, in a battle against 
  orcs, his leg was hewn off. Shamed and beaten in battle, Madith retired 
  and wandered for a few years before arriving in Malforten to settle 
  permanently. He lives alone and tends to a vegetable garden and a few 
  cattle.
  Madith lives a life of regret for his misdeed, and deems himself a failure 
  after the battle in which he lost his leg. This was, to him, a sign from 
  the deities that his name and being were forever besmirched and no 
  redemption was possible. Strong of body but not of heart, he hopes to 
  find a deserving recipient of his prized lance. He believes this last act is 
  very important, and it is in fact more important than he knows. For not 
  only does he believe that the act of finding a deserving recipient of his 
  lance will bring him redemption, it actually will. Giving away his lance 
  will be an act of utter humility and a signal of his acceptance of defeat. 
  It will be the most humble act in his life. This act of humility will bring 
  him back into the good graces of his deity and allows him to gain heart 
  again. After giving away his lance, he will give away the remainder of his 
  worldly possessions excepting his arms and armor and head back to the 
  west and into Outremere to seek out his destiny–whatever that may be.
  Madith Carn the Old (He is a lawful good, human, 4th level knight whose 
  vital stats are: HP 21, AC 16. His prime attributes are: str, con and cha. His 
  significant attributes are: str 14 and con 13. He owns chainmail, large metal 
  shield, broadsword, halberd, dagger,+2 lance, ring of harm resistance which 
  reduces damage received from one attack per round by 1 point, 124gp and 
  213sp.)
  PLACES OF IMPORTANCE
  THE EMPTY FLAGON
  This is the only tavern in town. It is owned by Kerrywyn the Yellow, who is so 
  named because of his bright yellowish-blonde hair, which flows long and un-
  braided down his shoulders. The Empty Flagon is a single story wood structure 
  with a thatch roof. The front of the building is a large common room with a 
  dirt floor, stone fireplace and a single bar. Numerous tables are spaced about 
  the room. In the rear of the Empty Flagon is a series of small rooms that let for 
  1sp a day. Separate from the main building is the kitchen and several rooms 
  where Kerrywyn and his entire family sleep. Kerrywyn has a wife, two sons 
  and four daughters, one of whom is married and with child. His children help 
  around the tavern and raise the cattle, chickens and sheep which are used 
  for meals.
  The whole family is fairly affable and doing quite well considering their 
  circumstances. Kerrywyn is hoping to marry off his oldest daughter as soon 
  as possible, and makes this intention known to any newcomers who appear 
  well-off or who might be able to care for her.
  The Empty Flagon is usually empty during the day, but in the mornings and 
  evenings it fills up as people come to enjoy about the only brew to be found 
  in town. Kerrywyn’s brew is not the best to be had, nor even really good, but 
  his potato flapjacks and sausage links are praised for their taste. The food is 
  good and plentiful, with a breakfast costing 5cp, noon meals 10cp and evening 
  meals 5cp. The brew he offers costs 1cp per cup. He often trades food and beer 
  for favors as most of the townspeople have little coin to spend.
  THE ROPE AND BARREL
  This is the only trading store in town. It is run by Walker the Shrub, a grizzled 
  old man with a large unkempt beard who spends more time chewing tobacco 
  and ruminating than selling wares. He carries a wide assortment of farming 
  equipment but usually lends them out rather than selling them. In return, 
  he is well fed and taken care off. He travels west every couple of months to 
  gather more goods. He often trades foodstuff from Malforten for the farming 
  implements.
  He is always stocked with rope, barrels, salt and lamp oil. He rarely has any 
  but the most common of weapons such as daggers and a few short swords 
  and axes. He never has any armor nor the more exotic of weapons. His wife, 
  Nelda, badgers him constantly about his profligate habits and wasteful or lazy 
  nature. However, thankfully for Walker, Nelda is found more often at the 
  Empty Flagon complaining to neighbors than at home complaining to him.
  THE SHRINE OF WENAFAR
  On the outskirts of Malforten is a pagoda-like shrine to Wenafar, the goddess 
  of the fay. Two sides of the structure are open to the elements, while the other 
  two are constructed of planks of wood. Atop this is a rickety wooden roof. 
  Within is a statue of the goddess Wenafar sitting down with her hands out. 
  In front of her are offering bowls, usually filled with food stuffs of some type. 
  Pixies and nixies sometimes sneak into town after dark to 10 take the food 
  in the offering plates. If, for some reason, food is not here when they arrive, 
  someone in the village suffers the loss of a cow, finds some food stores with 
  mice or rats in them, or even get some leaks in their roof. The pixies are a 
  little demanding.
  THE GAOL
  Though Malforten has no sheriff or real ‘legal’ authority figure, it does have a 
  gaol. On occasion the town must punish a wrongdoer and does so by placing 
  them in here. The gaol is located across from the Empty Flagon and is nothing 
  more than a small log building with a metal grate over the door. In the rear 
  of the goal is a large, dying oak tree use to hang people if necessary. It has not 
  been used in a long time, though an old frayed rope still hangs from it. At one 
  time they had a goblin in here, but eventually hanged it. 
  During full moons on winter nights, mushrooms sprout up underneath the 
  tree. These are known as Hangman Spirits. They are not eaten, but are prized 
  by assassins and the like for making mild poisons. The poison is easy to make. 
  Simply take the stalks, ground them up, boil them, scrape the froth, allow the 
  residue to dry and one has a powdered poison.
  
  CASTLES & CRUSADES
  106
  Hangman Spirit Poison: For the poison to activate it must be ingested or 
  enter the bloodstream through an open wound. It is often placed in drinks 
  or applied as a paste to daggers or arrows. It cause 1d2 points of damage and 
  paralysis for 1d12 hours unless a constitution save is made, in which case it 
  causes nausea and sleepiness for1d6 hours.
  WILDERNESS AREAS
  THE CRAGGY RIDGE
  This is a high point located about a mile north of Malforten. It offers a decent 
  view of the river valley leading down to Malforten. One can easily see the 
  town from this vantage point. Every month or so, several of Gritznak’s wolf 
  rider goblins come here to watch the comings and goings in the village.
  Few suspect how much happens upon this ridge after the setting of the sun and 
  the rising of the moon, for it is the final resting place of many a dead fay. For 
  ages beyond count, the fay, should they feel the icy cold hand of death coming 
  their way, come here to commune with Wenafar and pass on through to their 
  final resting place. Many fay have spent their last moment alive speaking to 
  Wenafar on nights of the crescent moon. The place is now haunted by fay 
  ‘guardians of the dead,’ although it is no longer used as it wonce was. The 
  guardians of the dead do not care that others climb atop the rocks and linger 
  there, but do become quite irate should they ever begin rooting around at the 
  ridge’s base and digging things up. For buried there are innumerable fay, their 
  bones like sticks of ivory.
  During the night and under the crescent moon, one can see a thousand pin 
  pricks of light twinkling at the foot of the ridge, each being the soul of a fay. 
  They appear only under the crescent moon and then only for as long as it is 
  out.
  Should anyone attempt to dig up any of the bones of the fay, they will be 
  accosted. At first these will only be smaller and less powerful fay but, as they 
  pass the information along, ever more powerful fay come to do harm to the 
  those disturbing the bones.
  THE DRUNDERRY RIVER VALLEY
  The Drunderry River runs through the Fallow Hills down into the plains 
  below and then empties into the Elmarsh Lake in the south. It is narrow and 
  fast in the Fallow Hills, rushing and tumbling over rocks and boulders and 
  around sharp bends.
  Once in the plains, though, the river fans out and slowly courses south. It is a 
  shallow and broad river with many sandbars thick with vegetation. The river 
  valley is mostly populated by normal fauna, and attracts large herds of gazelle 
  and wildebeasts to its banks. There are also giant leopards and crocodiles 
  which pose occasional problems for those who are not careful.
  On the east bank of the river runs an old imperial road. Most of the road has 
  been covered beneath sand or washed away entirely during spring flooding, so 
  following it is nearly impossible.
  However, a close search up and down its course does reveal intact portions here 
  and there that lead in the direction of the Fallow Hills or south, depending on 
  the direction one cares to follow it. A family of pixies and a nymph live in the 
  Drunderry River Valley between Malforten and the Fallow Hills.
  Travel in the Drunderry River Valley uses Table 3 for random wilderness 
  encounters. Roll a d10 for encounters three times during the day and twice at 
  night for travel up or down the river. A 1 indicates an encounter has occurred. 
  If an encounter occurs, roll a d20 to determine the type.
  TABLE 3: Drunderry River Valley Encounters
  1-2: 
  Wild Boar 
  (1-4)
  3-4: 
  Wolves 
  (1-3)
  5: 
  Crocodile 
  (1-3)
  6: 
  Nixies 
  (2-8)
  7: 
  Stirges 
  (1-2)
  8: 
  Inhabitants of Malforten 
  (1-3)
  9: 
  Bandits 
  (2-5)
  10-11: 
  Pixies 
  (2-7)
  12: 
  Goblin band 
  (1-6)
  13: 
  Leopard 
  (1)
  14-15: 
  Large Snake 
  (1)
  16-17: 
  Bugbear 
  (2-3)
  18-19: 
  Herd animals
  20: 
  Nymph (see Liquid Song below)
  TREE FORTS AND FAIRY FIRES
  About 20 miles north of Malforten, a family of twenty pixies and their 
  queen live in the Drunderry River Valley in the bowls and upper limbs of 
  the massive cottonwood trees that grow along the banks of the river. They 
  ignore most traffic along the river unless it comes too close to their abode. 
  Then, they come out and try to confuse any travelers and reroute them in 
  another direction. If the travelers appear to be well disposed towards them 
  or any are elves, they will not bother with such antics, instead attempting 
  to stop the travelers and converse with them. They have much information 
  they can share with any adventurers should they bother to listen to these wee 
  people. They tell the characters the location of the Imperial Road and offer 
  tantalizing hints about the location of a tower in the Fallow Hills. This is the 
  Tower of Kuthrad Ondal and not the Temple of Baleon Nakt.
  Pixie x20 (HD 1d6, HP variable, AC 16, PA mental, EQ daggers.)
  Pixie Queen (HD 3d6, HP 15, AC 18, PA mental, EQ +3 dagger, Special: 
  Polymorph self, permanent illusion 3x a day), know alignment, confusion that 
  is permanent duration unless removed with remove curse, dispel magic at 10th 
  level ability 2x a day, dancing lights 3x a day, detect thoughts, and sleep at 
  20% chance 2x a day.)
  Liquid Song
  A nymph, Ewi’ ah’ hnana, lives in the Drunderry River about 30 miles north 
  of Malforten. She rarely allows others to know of her existence–even other 
  fay. However, two events bring her out of hiding. On the full moon of each 
  month, she leaves the river and performs a ritual to the goddess of the moon, 
  thanking her for the rise and fall of the tides and the push and pull of the 
  world’s forces. Often this ritual is performed on her own and involves little 
  more than a sacrificial fire and intonations.
  Should the characters come upon her performing one of these rituals, they all 
  suffer the possibility of being charmed by her divine beauty. On these nights, 
  she makes her way up and down the river attempting to force any unwanted 
  creatures away. She helps goodly aligned individuals, though may take a 
  servant if it fits her mood.
  Nymph (HD 3d6, HP 14, AC 17, PA physical, EQ none, special: divine 
  beauty.)
  The Imperial Road
  The Imperial Road is an ancient roadway that stretched from the heart of the 
  Horned One’s empire in the Dread Mire all the way to the sea. This roadway 
  was paved with large blocks of granite carved by giants and placed in the earth 
  by some of the greatest engineers of the age. Yet, as with most things, time 
  and nature slowly destroyed it. The Imperial Road was poorly maintained 
  even during the height of the empire, and since its collapsed, it has essentially 
  eroded away or been buried by the shifting banks of the Drunderry River.
  The Imperial Road is difficult to follow, though an observant character will 
  note its appearance on occasion along the east side of the Drunderry River. 
  When the roadway lifts up into the Fallow Hills, it is a little easier to follow, as 
  the processes of erosion have not affected it as much here. In the Fallow Hills 
  
  THE CASTLE KEEPER AND THE GAME
  107
  a fairly constant stretch of it is easily noted. Following the Imperial Road takes 
  travelers all the way to the Blacktooth Ridge and beyond.
  FALLOW HILLS
  The Fallow Hills stretch far to the north and are a rocky, tumultuous 
  landscape that is difficult to travel through. The vegetation is thick with small 
  trees, thorny brush and other undergrowth. Steep, though short, cliff faces dot 
  the hillsides. Overhangs are common and occasionally home to bear, wolves 
  and mountain lions. Few trails cross this land, and rarely do any civilized 
  folk travel in this region, as it is home to orcs, goblins and worse. It is a wild 
  landscape and not hospitable to those in need of safe places to sleep at night.
  The Drunderry River runs swift through the fallow hills and courses over 
  numerous precipices and falls before emptying into the plains to its south. The 
  Drunderry also acts as a demarcation between the eastern and western Fallow 
  Hills. The eastern portion of the Fallow Hills is rockier with shallow granite 
  bedrock. Its hills and cliffs are steep and the vegetation is more sparse. The 
  western Fallow Hills are primarily sandstone and limestone bedrock, are well 
  watered, and have thicker vegetation. The hills there are riddled with natural 
  caves and underground streams. It is rumored that many an ancient shrine to 
  the fay are located in this region. It is also rumored to be the location of burial 
  grounds of lords and ladies from ancient times, times preceding the arrival of 
  the Horned One–the Age of Heroes.
  Travel in the Fallow Hills can be dangerous. Table 4 is the random encounter 
  chart for travel here. Roll a d10 for encounters, three times during the day 
  and twice at night. An encounter occurs on a 1. Then roll a d20 to determine 
  the type of encounter.
  TABLE 4: Fallow Hills Encounters
  1-2: 
  Wild Boar 
  (1-4)
  3-4: 
  Wolves 
  (1-3)
  5: 
  Brown Bear 
  (1-3)
  6: 
  Zombie (dead goblins)
  ( 2-8)
  7: 
  Stirges 
  (1-2)
  8: 
  Bugbear 
  (2-3)
  9: 
  Kobold band 
  (2-5)
  10-11: 
  Large Spider 
  (1-4)
  12: 
  Goblin band 
  (1-6)
  13: 
  Ogre 
  (1)
  14-15: 
  Mountain Lion 
  (1)
  16-17: 
  Gnoll(1-2) and goblins 
  (2-7)
  18-19: 
  Herd animals
  20: 
  Dryad
  RUINS OF KUTHRAD ONDAL
  Kuthrad Ondal is the remains of a ancient elvish watch tower. It was 
  constructed long before the coming of the Horned One, and even before the 
  founding of the kingdom of Al-Liosh. It was built as a prophetic device, and 
  is one of many such towers that hid within its locals the directions to the 
  Tree of Life. It was also built with the knowledge it would one day be laid to 
  waste, and only after the fall of the one who razed it would its prophetic magic 
  become apparent. It is said that time destroys all things but the elves. This 
  may also be said for what they build. When Unklar spread his rule over the 
  world he sought this place out and laid it to waste, nearly a millennia ago. Yet 
  after his fall the true nature of the tower came to fulfillment, for it now acts 
  as a beacon to elves and, in its own way, points to the Tree of Life. Few tread 
  near this place now, and even the orcs and goblins fear it, for there remains 
  the bewitchments of ancient elvish magic.
  The goblins have even named it Kuthrad Ondal, The Tower of Waste, having 
  no knowledge of its original name. The ruins are located on a hilltop about 
  one mile east of a section of the Imperial Road and near the southern edge of 
  the Fallow Hills. At night, careful observation of the horizon shows a bluish 
  glow coming from this direction. The tower ruins glow a bright blue at night, 
  the blue of the first royal house of the first elves.
  Travel to the tower is dangerous, as many fay and other creatures of ancient 
  origin now guard it. They do not care who approaches nor for what reason, 
  but only try to prevent anyone from getting to it. On the way to the tower, the 
  following six events occur  starting six hours away from reaching the tower. 
  One event occurs each hour, but in no particular order and only once each.
  1:  Darkness (as the spell) is cast on the party as if from a 7th level 
  cleric.
  2:  2-5 pixies harass the party, but do not harm them unless they appear 
  of evil bent.
  3:  A ghostly horn sounds, causing fear as if a 7th level cleric cast the 
  spell.
  4:  A magic trap drops one person into a 10 foot deep pit (this trap is 
  challenge level 5).
  5:  A large ethereal flying snake approaches the party, warns them not 
  to go further, and curses (CL 7) them if they do. For 72 hours the 
  characters suffer -1 to all rolls.
  6:  All the characters’ food rots.
  If the characters continue on despite the above occurrences, they eventually 
  reach the tower. The ruins are a jagged and stark white series of crumbling 
  walls and abutments in the center of which are the remains of a tall thin tower 
  stretching some fifty feet into the sky. A blue light glows from the center of 
  the tower remains. Nothing resides in the tower at the moment, though a 
  lammasu occasionally comes here for rest. The lammasa is the only creature 
  who does not face the above mentioned nuisances. Nothing remains in the 
  center of the tower save for crumbling stones and the bones of long dead 
  goblins and orcs. The blue light originates from the few remaining flagstones 
  at the center of the tower. Any elf who places his hand in the light gains a 
  single level while within a mile of the tower. That character gains all the 
  benefits of that level.
  Should the characters arrive when the lammasu is in residence they will have 
  a powerful foe to deal with should they appear aggressive. Otherwise, the 
  lammasu, Nefratel, likely ignores them. However, should a goodly aligned 
  character of noble bearing try to engage Nefratel in conversation, they will be 
  pleasantly surprised to find a very talkative companion. Nefratel can impart 
  the following information about the tower.
  Many ages ago, before the arrival of man in the world, the towers of Hithel 
  were constructed by the elves to guard the Tree of Life. This is one such tower. 
  Though none know where the Tree of Life is, it is said that once all the Towers 
  of Hithel are located, the location of the Tree of Life will become apparent. 
  Nefratel does not know where any other towers are located. He also doubts 
  anyone would be able to locate any others, since the armies of the Horned 
  One destroyed almost everything they could that was of elvish make. In this 
  they succeeded for the most part, as Nefratel has never learned of another of 
  the Towers of Hithel.
  The lammasu is only partly correct. There are other Towers of Hithel 
  remaining, though they are well hidden. Should the characters move in a 
  direct line 150 northwest, they will encounter another tower. This tower is 
  now called Fromkin’s Eyrie (this is described in greater detail in A1, Assault 
  on Blacktooth Ridge). There are more.
  Nefratel knows much about the local area and can tell the characters about 
  the Imperial Road and the location of the Temple of Baleon Nakt. Other 
  information, or even quests Nefratel may have for the characters, is left up to 
  the Castle Keeper to decide. Bear in mind, Nefratel is a fairly new arrival in 
  the region, having only been here about 100 years.
  Nefratel (This is a Lammasu, HD 7d10, HP 48, AC 20, PA physical and 
  mental.)
  
  CASTLES & CRUSADES
  108
  THE TEMPLE OF BALEON NAKT
  Baleon Nakt was once a small but active temple to the Horned One, an evil 
  lord and deity who once ruled over this land. It housed a high priest, a Knight 
  of the Dark, who had a cohort of lesser acolytes and troops to do his bidding in 
  the region. When the power of the Horned One waned, so to did the power of 
  this temple. For several decades the last high priest, Unguaith Kine, remained 
  here with his most loyal servants, until he died mysteriously in his chambers. 
  The survivors then left the temple and scattered to the four winds. In the time 
  since, the upper portion of the temple succumbed to the elements, collapsing 
  into rubble and virtually disappear beneath brush, bramble and thorn, while 
  the deeps beneath the temple remained open and intermittently occupied.
  The temple is located near a section of the Imperial Road, several day’s travel 
  into the Fallow Hills. If the characters are following the Imperial Road, after 
  several days, they note a large statue of a horned beast in the center of the 
  road. It rests upon a black basalt pedestal, covered in vines and worn by time. 
  The statue has eroded with time so that it is chipped and pock-marked, but its 
  right arm is stretched out pointing to the east. This is a statue of the Horned 
  One and was used as an indicator that one is entering hollowed grounds. The 
  arm points to the Temple of Baleon Nakt.
  The temple is difficult to locate, and only the concerted efforts of those who 
  travel the wilds of the world can pick up the trail to its location. In fact, if it 
  were not for Gritznak and his men, the location of the temple might never be 
  known. But, as they have travelled to and from the temple many a time in the 
  previous years, a small but well worn trail leads directly to it.
  Ten miles due east of the statue, atop a mound surrounded by bare gray rocks, 
  are the remains of Baleon Nakt. All that appears to remain of the temple are 
  several free-standing walls covered in vines, a few columns, a set of stairs 
  going up to nothing, and heaps of rubble. However, close inspection reveals 
  otherwise. There are trails leading in and out of the rubble, going north, south 
  and east. They all converge on a large opening in the center of what was once 
  a large building. Here, there is a black hole in the earth with stairs leading 
  down into darkness.
  BENEATH BALEON NAKT
  The dungeon beneath Baleon Nakt is sentient and capable of thinking and 
  acting. It is alive! The power of the Horned One still lingers here and gives 
  life to these walls and floors. In the years of the Horned One’s waning power, 
  the temple killed the last High Priest, Unguaith Kine, in hopes of preserving 
  and raising him when the time was beneficial. The temple senses the timing 
  is right and hopes to raise this last Knight of the Dark. Through Gritznak, 
  whom the temple has protected, sacrificial victims have been brought to the 
  temple and rituals performed for raising the high priest. The process is nearly 
  complete and lacks but one more sacrifice.
  Once the characters enter the dungeon, the temple attempts to manipulate 
  the characters into moving closer to the sacrificial room (Level 2, Area 8) and 
  prevent them from exiting the complex. In order to manage this, the temple 
  creates illusions and obstacles for the characters. The temple is capable of 
  creating an illusionary 10 foot wall once per hour and of creating an actual 
  10 foot wall once every six hours. Through these means the temple intends 
  to confuse the party and prevent their escape, by controlling and influencing 
  their movements. Gritznak is in the sacrificial chambers awaiting the arrival 
  of the party and the enactment of the last sacrifice.
  There is one known entrance to the dungeon complex beneath the temple 
  and it is guarded by some goblins, though they are often lax in keeping watch, 
  as the temple has never been raided and they do not expect anyone to enter 
  their abode. This will not be the case once a raid occurs. The goblins then 
  keep a keen lookout for interlopers.
  The walls of this complex are a mixture of stone, brick and the granite 
  bedrock. For the most part the walls are all intact, if not a little worse for 
  wear. However, all walls that the temple creates are weak and easily broken 
  through. A pick and about 10 minutes of labor will knock holes in any of 
  them. The same is true of any walls that abut one another. The noise caused 
  by this activity increases the chance for random encounters; for every two 
  minutes spent digging through a wall, a random encounter check is made.
  Little more than goblins and kobolds live in the dungeon at this point. Other 
  than those mentioned above, or in special circumstances described in the 
  following text, a random encounter check occurs every two hours the party is 
  in the dungeon. A 1 on a d10 indicates a random encounter. If an encounter 
  occurs, roll a d6 and refer to Table 5 for the encounter type.
  TABLE 5: Dungeon Random Encounters
  1: 
  1-4 goblins and gnoll 
  (1)
  2: 
  2-4 goblins
  3: 
  2-8 kobolds
  4: 
  1-4 kobolds and 1-2 war dogs
  5: 
  2-8 goblins
  6: 
  1-2 gnoll and wolf 
  (1)
  BALEON NAKT
  LEVEL I
  Area 1: Entry 
  This is the only known entrance for the dungeon complex. However, all such 
  complexes, when initially designed, had alternate entries and secret exits. 
  Where these may be, no one currently knows.
  There is a large statue in the center of the room, depicting a maleficent 
  looking creature with two large curved horns protruding from its head. In 
  front of the statue on the floor is a small golden bowl. Elsewhere there is a 
  long roughly hewn table with several chairs around it. There are flagons on 
  the table and the smell of stale beer permeates the air. Several piles of hay with 
  blankets on them are lumped against a wall, while a make-shift fire has been 
  set in the middle of the room, giving the entire room a ghastly red glow.
  There are four goblins in the room now. These goblins are not keeping a good 
  lookout; two are asleep, one is drunk (suffers -2 to hit) and the other is rolling 
  some dice against a wall. If the party makes a lot of noise coming down the 
  stairs, the goblin playing dice investigates and, if able, gives warning to the 
  others.
  The golden bowl (50gp value) in front of the statue is an offering plate and 
  is crusted with dried blood. Before passing beyond the statue and down the 
  corridor, an offering of blood must be placed in the bowl or, once the last 
  character passes from the room and deeper into the dungeon, the statue emits 
  a low howl that rumbles down the corridors, causing a random encounter 
  check and alerting several goblins to the presence of intruders. The blood 
  sacrifice can be as little as a small drop of blood from a finger or a much larger 
  amount–from a dead goblin perhaps. Anyone’s blood will do as long as they 
  are alive when it splashes into the bowl. The blood of good aligned creatures 
  smokes and sizzles like water in boiling fat if put in the bowl.
  Goblins x4 (HD1d6, HP 2, 2, 3 and 4, AC 12, PA physical, EQP leather 
  armor, shortspear, short sword or mace, and 1d4sp each.)
  Area 2: Storeroom 
  This was once a storeroom used by the priests and held various cloaks, hats, 
  and other accouterments of ritual use. It is now nearly empty except for old 
  crates and other useless sundries the goblins have stolen from caravans or 
  farmers over the last year. There is a barrel of dried fruits in here; enough for 
  10 days rations. The rest of the foodstuffs have rotted.
  Area 3: Meeting Hall 
  This was a general meeting hall for the priests of Unklar when the temple was 
  in use. Large, blood red columns stretch to the ceiling, meeting in a confusion 
  of angles and arches far above the floor. At the far end of the room are two 
  open passageways and a raised section of floor. Currently, this is a stabling area 
  for the wolves the goblins ride into battle. Six makeshift wooden stalls and 
  cages line the far wall, containing six large, mean-looking wolves. The wolves 
  begin to howl and gnash their teeth as soon as anyone enters the room. In 
  addition to the cages, hay covers much of the floor and several large animal 
  carcasses hang from hooks at the far end of the room. A table is pushed up 
  against a wall and large chunks of meat are piled on it. A massive, blood 
  
  THE CASTLE KEEPER AND THE GAME
  109
  smeared cleaver is stuck in the table. The howling of the wolves do not alarm 
  anyone in the dungeon, since they do it so often and so ferociously. It does, 
  however, attract the attention of the stable master, and he comes to quiet the 
  wolves. The stable master (in Area 3a) is a massive gnoll with an ill temper 
  and short fuse. As soon as he enters the room, he begins bellowing at the 
  wolves. His muscular frame virtually quivers with rage as his voice echoes 
  loudly down the hallways. He beats on the cages and wolves until they are 
  quiet. If the wolves begin to yelp in pain before the arrival of the stable master, 
  this sends out alarms, as no one else ever messes with the wolves. The stable 
  master charges into the room with a massive battle axe and shield, along with 
  4 goblin helpers (also from3a). Should the stable master encounter anyone in 
  the room, he calls upon the four goblins for help.
  Wolves (HD 2d8, HP 8, 10, 12, 12, 14, 15, AC 13, PA physical, attks: 1 
  bite; dmg 2-8).
  Area 3a: Antechamber 
  This room was once used to store goods used for meetings. It has been taken 
  over by the stable master and his helpers and is used as their quarters. There 
  is a large table in the center of the room, a fire pit with a pot hanging over it, 
  one cot and four bedrolls. There are cards and dice on the table along, with 
  several soup bowls and a few daggers. A pile of copper coins sits in the middle 
  of the table (28cp). Several small clubs, chains and harnesses are hanging 
  from a wall. There is a chain mail shirt of special make here also. This is used 
  for one of the wolves giving the wolf the equivalent of an AC 16 in battle. 
  This barded wolf is used by Gritznak.
  Stable Master (HD 2d8, HP 16, AC 15, PA physical, eqp: chain hauberk, 
  shield, whip, club, pouch with 18gp and 32sp).
  Goblins x4 (HD1d6, HP 2, 2, 3 and 4, AC 12, PA physical, EQP leather 
  armor, shortspear, and short sword or mace, and 1d4cp each.)
  Area 4: Sagging Floor 
  This passageway is in need of repair. It sits over a corridor in Level 2 of the 
  dungeon. The Goblins know not to use it as it is about to collapse. Close 
  inspection reveals a sagging floor with broken and cracked masonry. One 
  familiar with stonework might note it as being in poor condition and about to 
  collapse. (A wisdom check is made at challenge level 5). Walking down this 
  hallway is dangerous. If the total weight placed on any given ten foot section 
  of floor exceeds 400 lbs, the floor has a 1 in 10 chance collapsing. For each 20 
  lbs over 400 lbs the chance of collapsing increases by one (420 lbs has a 2 in 
  10, 440 lbs 3 in 10, etc.). If the corridor collapses, it does so in 30 foot sections, 
  15 feet in front and 15 behind the center. Those falling suffer 1d6 falling 
  damage and 1d6 damage from the rubble (a successful dex check halves the 
  damage). They fall into the corridor marked “XXX” on level 2. Also, should 
  the floorcollapse, a random encounter does occur.
  Area 5: Priests’ Chambers 
  This once housed four priests of the temple. Currently, it houses about 10 
  goblins at various times. At the moment, there are only four goblins in this 
  room and they are gambling, arguing and drinking some mash whiskey they 
  stole from Malforten. The room is cluttered with blankets, hay, old foodstuffs, 
  roaches and other vermin. A large brazier is in the middle of the room 
  providing light. A small keg of lamp oil sits in one corner of the room. This is 
  enough fuel for one lantern for 12 hours.
  Goblins x4 (HD1d6, HP 2, 2, 3 and 4, AC 12, PA physical, EQP leather 
  armor, shortspear, and short sword or mace, and 1d4cp each.)
  Area 6: Well 
  This room was the well chamber, producing water for the inhabitants of the 
  temple. There was a hole in the roof where buckets could be lowered down 
  into the shaft in the floor, but it was covered up when a wall on the surface 
  collapsed and fell on top of it. The well encasement is still here and fairly 
  intact, though one can no longer draw water from it. A retractable pulley 
  mechanism is still located beside the well. Along the walls are various tubs 
  and buckets, some wood, some metal.
  A large spider lives in the well shaft. The Goblins occasionally feed it, so when 
  anyone enters the room the spider begins to crawl up the shaft, expecting 
  some corpse or other morsel to chew on. This is a massive wolf-like spider that 
  does not spin webs but leaps in for an attack. The spider has hauled several 
  victims down into the well, and if anyone cares to enter the shaft they find 
  mounds of rotting flesh and cracked bones. The goblins pick most of their 
  victims clean before hauling them in here, but the wolf spider has brought 
  a few unwary explorers down into its shaft over the years. In 3-18 rounds of 
  searching the bottom of the well, 25gp, 37sp, a rusted chain hauberk (human 
  sized), and a necklace with gems on it (150gp) are found. This is a demanding 
  task, and should a character undertake it, they have the risk of contracting 
  a contagion. A constitution check is necessary, and if the character fails they 
  become ill within 24 hours, becoming incapable of moving more than 1⁄4 
  normal movement for 2d4 days due to a fever and stomach cramps. Combat 
  and spell casting are impossible during this time, and all other checks are 
  made at -2.
  Wolf Spider (HD 3d8, HP 19, AC 14, PA physical, attacks: 1 bite, damage 
  1d3, Special: jumps 30 feet, bite delivers poison. A constitution save must be 
  made or the person bitten is paralyzed for 48 hours.)
  
  CASTLES & CRUSADES
  110
  Area 7: Miners Chambers 
  This room once housed two large ogres. The ceiling in here is very high, 
  and several deep alcoves were built in it to make the ogres feel even more 
  at home. The ogres were responsible for construction, mining and related 
  activities. The rotted and rusted remains of the tools of their craft still remain 
  in the room. There are very large picks, shovels and hammers heaped up in 
  one corner of the room. Chisels, smaller hammers and other large-sized stone 
  working implements are in another. Each of the alcoves contain old and 
  rotted piles of fur and tanned hides. When searched, roaches, mice, spiders 
  and other vermin scatter. If searched carefully, in one pile the characters find 
  a small bag with 30gp and 50sp in it. The goblins have not bothered searching 
  this room, figuring the tools are useless - or worse, they might be forced to use 
  them in some way.
  Area 8: Store Room 
  At one time this was nothing more than a store room for incoming goods. 
  The room is currently used as a loot collection point. Four goblins are in here 
  going through boxes looking for something to eat, like dried meat or salted 
  fish. There is a large mangy dog with the goblins. The dog is sniffing around 
  some of the crates. Unless the party is sneaking down the corridor, the dog 
  hears them and begins to growl, attracting the attention of the goblins and 
  allowing them to prepare for combat. If the dog is not silenced quickly, it barks 
  and yelps for a bit and then dashes off down the hallway at the far end of the 
  room to its master in Area 9.
  The goblins have broken open every box and crate in the room, and there 
  are piles of cloth, rope, beaver pelts and other odds and ends lying about. 
  Additionally, there are several crates of apples, potatoes, dried beans and 
  other assorted foodstuffs in the crates. Some salted fish has been found and 
  the goblins are eating it as if it were their last meal - and perhaps it is.
  Goblins x4 (HD1d6, HP 4, 4, 5, 6, AC 12, PA physical, EQP leather 
  armor, shortspear, and short sword or mace, and 1d6sp each.)
  Dog (HD 1d6, HP 2, AC 11, attacks: bite 1d4.)
  Area 9: Scriptorium 
  This room was once used as a scriptorium. Commands and edicts from the 
  capitol in Aufstrag were copied and sent on from here. Copious records of all 
  this were also kept. The records were partially destroyed when the temple was 
  abandoned, and most those that remained decayed with time. This room has 
  3 kobolds and their kobold leader, Slissas, in it. They are riffling through the 
  remains of the records, and slowly looking for something. Slissas is hoping to 
  find a map of the complex so he can locate treasure rooms, secret passages 
  or other important material. He can not read, but knows how to interpret a 
  map. The kobolds generally ignore the ruckus the goblins make and only leave 
  this room if the dog comes in barking. They then head down the hallway to 
  investigate.
  The room has several overturned chairs and desks in it with huge wooden 
  cabinets covering all the walls. Several of the cabinets are burned. There 
  is an old pile of burned and half-burned material in the center of the room 
  which has moldered with age. The few extant documents remaining in the 
  room have been collected and piled on the floor near the door. A lantern sits 
  nearby these documents. This is where Slissas sits and goes over them. If the 
  characters investigate the documents, for the most part they find letters and 
  letters and more letters to various lords, dignitaries and others. However, if 
  the characters spend at least 10 minutes going through the papers in the burn 
  pile in the center of the room, they find a Comprehend language spell written 
  upon a piece of vellum. The magical nature of the vellum prevented it from 
  being burned. If the characters peruse the documents by the door for at least 
  15 minutes and are careful to examine the documents, they find one that 
  mentions treasure houses along the Blacktooth Ridge. The Blacktooth Ridge 
  is far north of this location and the treasure houses are called the Vargolg and 
  Krekingolg.
  Kobolds x3 (HD 1d4, HP 3, 3 and 4, AC 15, EQP short spears, shield, blow 
  gun and d12 sp each.)
  Slissas (HD 2d4, HP 7, AC 15, EQP chain hauberk, short spear, shield, 
  blow gun,12 gp and a gem studded necklace worth 50gp).
  LEVEL TWO
  Area 1: Empty Hall 
  This is an abandoned room, with nothing in it except a few piles of wood, 
  remains of old chairs and a broken table. The entire north wall of this room 
  is very unstable and likely to collapse if any weight is placed on it. It was thin 
  to begin with, with only brick and mortar holding it together. Time and water 
  have worn most of the mortar away, making the entire wall little more than 
  a pile of bricks.
  If a character slams into this wall, a large portion of it collapses. Anyone 
  within 10 feet receives 2-3 points of damage from falling debris unless a 
  successful dexterity check is made, in which case they take only half damage. 
  Knocking down the wall reveals Area 2 beyond. Listening at the wall enables 
  characters to hear the noise in room 2.
  Area 2: Mess 
  This room was once used as the temple mess. Currently, the goblins also use 
  it as a mess even though they had no idea of its previous purpose. The central 
  area of the floor in this room is about 5 feet lower than the walkway around 
  its rim. Columns are located all along the walkway. One stairway, at the south 
  end of the room, descends into the lowered portion of the room. Two huge 
  cooking pits blazing with fire have pigs on a spit roasting over them. Goblins 
  are sprawled out all over this room singing songs and dancing their vile 
  dances while imbibing a fairly strong liquor. There are 16 goblins in the room 
  in various stages of inebriation, a gnoll war chief, and the cook. Each goblin 
  is inebriated and this affects their combat skills and all checks. Randomly 
  subtract 1-3 from all rolls made for the goblins, including the to hit roll and 
  any attribute checks, though not damage.
  The gnoll war chief has not had enough to drink to effect his combat abilities. 
  Immediately upon noticing the characters, he rouses the goblins to attack, 
  but he holds back and throws his daggers. If the battle starts going poorly, he 
  attempts to run away in search of reinforcements. If the battle starts going 
  well, he joins the melee and attempts to subdue as many characters as possible 
  in order to bring them to Gritznak.
  There is a head cook in the room. This is a grotesquely fat goblin with globs 
  of flesh swinging and swaying with his every move. He avoids combat if at 
  all possible, and if attacked falls to the greasy floor crying out for his life. He 
  promises the characters anything they want, even telling them where all the 
  other goblins are.
  Gnoll War Chief (HD 2d8, HP 15, AC 15, PA physical, EQP scalemail, 
  shield, warhammer, shortsword, two daggers, gold earrings x 3 worth 20 gp 
  each, silver nose ring worth 15gp and a gem-studded belt worth 50gp.)
  Goblins x16 (HD1d6, HP variable, AC 12, PA physical, EQP leather 
  armor, shortspear, and short sword or mace, and 1d6sp each.)
  The Goblin Cook: (HD1d6, HP 2, AC 10, PA physical, EQP none.)
  AREAS 3-9
  This portion of the dungeon emanates evil, and anyone capable of detecting 
  evil recognizes it as such. The temple’s ‘will’ is great here. Characters in this 
  area are under a constant strain and suffer a -1 to all checks and combat 
  rolls.
  Area 3: Antechamber 
  There is a broad archway leading into this room. There are gold gilded letters 
  engraved on the arch lintel. It is an intonation written in the ancient tongue 
  of the Horned One, “In one is all.” Intoning it prior to entry dispenses with 
  the previously mentioned curse for non-good alignment characters only. If 
  those of good alignment repeat the passage, they must make a charisma save 
  or suffer 1 point of damage.
  This was a waiting room for those wishing to seek an audience with the high 
  priest. Entering the room gives everyone an eerie feeling, as if something is 
  not yet completed, as if a sentence has been left half finished. This feeling of 
  
  THE CASTLE KEEPER AND THE GAME
  111
  discomfort fills all the characters. The room has rotted furniture in it. Large 
  chairs, several cabinets, and a large brass bell on a stand are arranged about 
  the room. Ancient scripts are engraved on the walls.
  The spirit of the last high priest, Unguaith Kine, lingers in these rooms. It is 
  incapable of action, and the characters never directly see it or interact with it, 
  but they always sense that something is watching them, as if from afar.
  Area 4: Spirit Chamber 
  This is a cursed chamber. It was once used to call forth or talk to the spirits 
  of the dead. The walls and floor are carved all over with bizarre and ancient 
  scripts. There is also a dead and rotting goblin in the middle of the room. It 
  has obviously lain here for quite some time and is missing huge chunks of 
  flesh.
  This room has a pervading sense of evil about it. Upon entering, the glyphs 
  and portions of the script on the walls begin to move. Within 3 rounds, a 
  figure emerges out of the wall above the entry. It is a ghoul that guards this 
  chamber. It attacks until killed, at which point it begins to dissipate and sinks 
  back into the floor, only to come out again 4d6 rounds later if anyone remains 
  in the room. At the far end of the chamber is a secret door; other than this, 
  there is nothing in the room.
  Ghoul (HD 2d8, HP 14, AC 15, PA physical, Special: a hit may cause ghoul 
  fever. EQP none.)
  Area 5: Secret Chamber 
  This is a secret chamber once used to store vitally important information 
  and material for rituals. Much if it was taken away when the temple was 
  abandoned. There are a series of old rotting wood shelves cluttered with 
  jars, candle holders, scrolls, ink wells, pens, religious items and other like 
  paraphernalia. In the center of the room is a tall desk with two chairs by it. 
  This is a scribe’s desk. Over the desk, a chandelier (see below) is hanging from 
  the ceiling. It still has the candles in place. There are several items of interest 
  in this room and, at the south end of the north nook is a secret compartment. 
  Most of the scrolls are blank, or have the beginnings of spells written upon 
  them. Several contain manners of calling forth the spirits of the dead, but 
  they do not work. They are failed experiments. In the mess of the scrolls is 
  one with a Hold Person spell written on it and another with Cause Fear written 
  on it. The desk has old quills and dry ink wells, along with unused vellum, in 
  the drawers, along with three gold-plated ram’s horns. These are three holy 
  symbols of the chaotic evil deity the Horned One and worth 60gp, 120gp and 
  180gp.
  Behind a pile of bottles and decanters filled with viscous materials and dried 
  liquids, is a concealed panel. The panel itself is not trapped, but the interior 
  of the compartment is trapped. There is a latch above the panel and inside 
  the chamber that, when pulled, deactivates the trap. If someone reaches their 
  arm into the chamber without deactivating the trap and lifts the gold statue 
  inside, the trap is triggered, and a guillotinelike blade drops from within. The 
  blade delivers 1d6 damage.
  If 6 points of damage are delivered, the d6 is rolled again, and if another 6 
  results, an arm is severed and 12 points of damage are received; otherwise 
  the second roll is ignored. If a successful dexterity check is made (+2 to this 
  check due to the age of the mechanism), 1/2 damage is received. However, 
  if a 6 is rolled, roll again as before and instead of the arm being severed, just 
  the fingers are lost. When the trap is released, the chandelier actually jerks 
  up. Close inspection of the chandelier reveals it is not hooked to the ceiling; 
  rather, the chain goes into the ceiling. The trap is set again by pulling down 
  the chandelier.
  Within the compartment is a long white mace with an ebony head (+2 
  damage vs evil creatures), hidden here awaiting a time to be destroyed, then 
  forgotten; a small golden statue of a tree worth 300gp; and a small sack of clay 
  tablets. There are 6 small clay tablets about 2 inches square in the sack. Upon 
  each is a glyph.
  Each tablet has a special function. When a tablet is thrown to the floor, the 
  following occurs, depending on the tablet.
  1:  
  Fire Glyph - 5 foot diameter ball of flames shoots up from the 
  shards causing 1d6 damage.
  2-4:  Ice Glyph - Cold blast from the shards causes no damage but 
  prevents all in 10 foot cube from taking an action for one round.
  5:  
  Death Glyph - Causes fear to all in a ten foot radius.
  6:  
  Bone glyph - Breaks a bone of the person nearest the broken 
  shards. Roll d4: 1-right arm, 2-left arm, 3-right leg, 4-left leg.
  Area 6: Private Quarters 
  This was once the private quarters for the High Priest of Baleon Nakt. 
  Gritznak lives in it now. Several large chairs, a rickety bed, a table with chunks 
  of meat on it, piles of firs, a keg of ale and three trunks are scattered around 
  the room. There is a large snake hidden in a pile of fur on the floor. There is a 
  broadsword, a spear, a longbow, 40 arrows and a mace in one corner. None of 
  the trunks are trapped. Two trunks contain clothing and valueless household 
  items like lamps, while the third, which is locked with a padlock, contains 
  240gp, 380sp, and 7000cp as well as 8 gems with a 20-80gp value each.
  Snake (HD 2d8, HP 13, AC 15, PA physical, Attacks: 1 bite; damage 
  2d4, special: constricts, a strength save or the opponent receives 1d2 points of 
  damage a round and can not act.)
  Area 7
  This is where Gritznak’s kobold guards sleep. Both doors to the room are 
  locked. Seven kobolds are in here at the moment, with their four large pet 
  spiders. The kobolds are wary, having been told by Gritznak to expect visitors. 
  Half-eaten food, moldering hay, and other trash litter the room. The kobolds 
  have no treasure, which is why their leader, Slissas, if off hunting some.
  Kobolds x7 (HD 1d4, HP 5 or 6 each, AC 15, EQP short spears, crossbows, 
  chainmail, shield, and d12 sp each.)
  Spiders x4 (HD 1d6, HP 2, 3, 3,4, AC 12, PA physical, attks: 1 bite; 
  damage 1d4).
  Area 8: Sacrificial Chamber 
  This is the sacrificial chamber where Gritznak, acting through the temple, is 
  attempting to raise the spirit of the last high priest of Baleon Nakt. Gritznak is 
  here with eight goblin warriors. Should a fray occur, the temple itself joins in 
  as described below. The room is strangely lit with a bluish haze that emanates 
  from the walls. In the center of the room is a stone dais upon which chains 
  and manacles are piled. In front of this is a stand with a red velvet cloth 
  thrown over it with a large sickle laying on top. The floor is covered with the 
  markings of an ancient script, and a blood red eye, the size of a platter, peers 
  from the center of the east wall.
  As soon as the characters enter the room, the goblins leap to attack (unless 
  they are in manacles) and Gritznak begins intoning a prayer the temple has 
  taught him. The goblins attempt to subdue the party, or at least one of them, 
  so that a sacrifice can be made. If the attack is going well, Gritznak does not 
  join in the fray; if it is going poorly, the temple causes Gritznak to quit praying 
  and attack. The temple also attacks. The goal is to have at least one character 
  left alive to sacrifice.
  If Gritznak survives to perform the final act of the ritual and sacrifices an 
  individual, the raising of the Unguaith Kine will have been successful. Area 
  9 contains details on this matter. The sickle used for the sacrifice is a magical 
  blade that causes +4 damage to all lawful good creatures.
  The temple can only help in a few ways. If it still has the ability to create a 
  wall, it does so. The temple can also heal Gritznak once for d6 hit points. 
  As a final act, the temple can summon a spiritual hammer that fights for 2 
  rounds as a 2nd level fighter and which can not be destroyed. The power of 
  the temple can be temporarily ended by attacking and destroying the eye on 
  the wall.
  Gritznak (HD 3d8, HP 18, AC 17, PA physical, EQP chain mail, shield, 
  +1 broadsword, +1 ring of protection, 10pp and a gold necklace worth 
  100gp.)
  
  CASTLES & CRUSADES
  112
  Goblins x8 (HD1d6, HP 2, 2, 3 and 4, AC 12, PA physical, EQP leather 
  armor, shortspear, and short sword or mace, and 1d4cp each.)
  Temple Eye (HD 0, HP 24, AC 10, PA none.)
  Area 9: Burial Chamber 
  This is the chamber that housed the body of the last high priest of Baleon 
  Nakt and other personages of import. Each nook in this chamber contains 
  a single stone sarcophagi, all of which are open. The process of raising the 
  high priest has been partially successful, however in a manner the temple 
  had not foreseen. Due to Gritznak’s inability to pronounce the words in 
  the incantation properly, all the high priests in the burial chamber have 
  been raised as skeletons, rather than just raising Unguaith Kine as a living, 
  breathing human. Each of the priests was buried with a ceremonial mace and 
  they now use them in combat. Each mace is inlaid with silver and gold and 
  have a value of 20-120gp each.
  The skeleton of Unguaith Kine is nearly sentient, but acts as a normal skeleton 
  for combat purposes unless the last sacrifice has been made. In the latter case, 
  the skeleton of Unguaith Kine has become sentient and is ‘growing’ back his 
  body. His skeletal remains then receive 8 more hit points (for a total of 16) 
  and the ability to regenerate at 1 hit point per 24 hours.
  If Unguaith Kine is ever hit, he falls to the ground in a clatter of bones. If the 
  blow did not kill the skeleton of the high priest, he falls anyway, acting as if 
  destroyed. If it kills the skeleton, Unguaith Kine is dead and the process of 
  resurrection must begin anew. However, if the skeleton is only acting dead, 
  the high priest will remain in that spot and await a more proper intonation of 
  the resurrection incantation–which the Temple of Baleon Nakt will see to.
  Only by looking closely into the eye socket of Unguaith Kine’s skull can 
  one perceive the slight flicker of a blue flame in the back of the skull which 
  indicates the soul or spirit of the skeleton still lives. The only manner to truly 
  destroy the skeleton of Unguaith Kine is to take it (all of it) to a lawful good 
  priest of high standing and have it desecrated or interred in a temple devoted 
  to a lawful good deity.
  Skeletons x 5 (HD 1d8, HP 2, 2, 5, 5 and 6, AC 13, PA physical, EQ 
  mace.)
  Unguaith Kine (HD 1d8, HP 8/16, AC 13, PA physical and mental, EQ 
  mace. Special: if in second stage of raising, regenerates at 1 hit point per 24 
  hours.)
  ENDING THE ADVENTURE
  Adventures never end, just adventurers. Adventures around Malforten can 
  continue. The Temple of Baleon Nakt may not be completely destroyed and 
  can, in that case, still manifest its will upon the lands about. Perhaps there 
  are deeper levels to the dungeon. Perhaps hidden beneath an illusory floor 
  one can find the dark abode of the temple’s heart. Have other, more sinister 
  creatures or people heard of Baleon Nakt and traveled here as the adventurers 
  finally confront Gritznak? Do several of the more nefarious inhabitants of 
  Malforten plan on ambushing the characters and claiming the reward for 
  killing Gritznak for themselves? Have the characters angered the fay? Are 
  the evil creatures of the Fallow Hills on the move to fill in a sudden power 
  vacuum in the region? All these avenues can be explored by the characters 
  and the Castle Keeper.
  Or, perhaps the characters have found the map to the Blacktooth Ridge and 
  seek the treasures rumored to be buried there? The Blacktooth Ridge lies many 
  miles to the north and one must cross through some fairly dangerous territory 
  to reach it. Unless, of course, the characters travel back to Outremere proper 
  and travel through those more populous (though no less deadly) regions.
  And what of Kuthrad Ondal? Will the characters discover the secret of this 
  place? Have they met Nefratel? Perhaps someone steeped in elvish lore may, 
  after much exploration and research, will discover its meaning and origin. In 
  fact, should such a person travel to the Blacktooth Ridge along the Old
  Imperial Road they will end up at the tower on top of Fromkin’s Pass. And 
  close inspection of that tower will reveal its elvish footstones. Then and 
  finally, one might note it lies 150 miles due northwest of Kuthrad Ondal. 
  NAME LIST
  The following list of names are provided for the Castle Keeper should they be 
  needed. There is a naming convention for this region of Outremere though it 
  need not be adhered to, rather it is supplied for reference.
  Family Names are generally not given to those of low standing. That is, few 
  peasants, craftsmen, farmers and others of low social standing have family 
  names. Family Names are accorded to gentry and nobility almost exclusively. 
  The one exception is with merhcants of great wealth and influence. These 
  individuals have begun giving themselves family names to mimick nobility 
  and thereby confer upon themselves some degree of pedigree.
  As for the lower classes, there are many common names for females and males. 
  To differentiate, the practise of giving epithats to individuals has become 
  popular. Hence, names like Eryl the Hoskin and Griffry the Hat. Usually 
  these epithats relate to a town (Eryl the Hoskin is from Hoskin), personal 
  appearance (Griffry the Hat is fond of hats of odd colors and Kerrywyn the 
  Yellow has yellow hair) or the nature of that person (Walker the Bush has an 
  exceedingly large family tree which he refers to as a bush).
  As a matter of technical commentary, the naming convention for this region 
  is Welsh derivative, though people from across Erde do live here so this should 
  not be considered exclusive.
  Male Names
  Female Names
  Alun
  Idris
  Prydwyn
  Adain
  Enid
  Nia
  Alym
  Inir
  Reis
  Amanda
  Gaenor
  Owena
  Arwyn
  Jenkin
  Rhod
  Annwyl
  Glenys
  Rachel
  Brinley
  Kane
  Rwith
  Brangwyn Hywella
  Rhianwyn
  Brinmore
  Kay
  Seren
  Blancefor
  Idella
  Sarah
  Cledwyn
  Llud
  Sionym
  Caron
  Issolde
  Siana
  Daffi
  Lyn
  Steven
  Cate
  Jane
  Taffine
  Dillon
  Maddox
  Taff
  Ceri
  Mairwyn
  Vanora
  Edar
  Marvin
  Tewdric
  Del
  Mega
  Vivian
  Eoin
  Merddin
  Trefor
  Delwyn
  Meleri
  Wynne
  Galvin
  Mervyn
  Tudor
  Eira
  Morgana
  Ysbail
  Geraint
  Morvin
  Urien
  Eirlys
  Myfwany
  Gowan
  Nai
  Walter
  Hamen
  Owain
  Wyn
  Hugh
  Penrod
  Malforten to Botkinburg Map
  The map on the following page is of the westernmost region of Outremere. 
  It shows the location of Malforten and Botkinburg in the ‘A’ series. It also 
  shows the location of several encounter areas: Vargolg, Kruggle’s Lair, 
  Kuthrad Ondal and Baleon Nakt.
  Notes
  West Way: This is the road from Hrueset to Malforten.
  River Road: This roadway stretches from about 100 miles north of Hrueset 
  all the way to the sea in the south.
  Barren Track: This road stretches south from Botkinburg to where it 
  connects with the River Road.
  Hrueset: This is the largest city in the region. It has a population of nearly 
  4000 humans. Hrueset is ruled by Duke Huw Bengrisse.
  Elmast: This is a large town of some 1000 inhabitants. It is ruled by Baron 
  Maugen Lodwick.
  Ludensheim: This is the northernmost town in this region of Outremere. It 
  has a population of 2000 and is ruled by the Baron Dietbold Heimer.
  
  THE CASTLE KEEPER AND THE GAME
  113
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Castles & Crusades Siege Engine/Castles & Crusades Collector's Editon/Castles & Crusades Collector's Editon The Rising Knight.pdf