The Old RockThe Old Rock TowerTower

A horror-tinged dungeon crawl for 6thA horror-tinged dungeon crawl for 6th level characterslevel characters

ISSN # 1939-344X ISSN # 1939-344X

ContentsContentsIntroduction..............................................................................................1Introduction..............................................................................................1Encounters.................................................................................................2Encounters.................................................................................................2Conclusion..............................................................................................15Conclusion..............................................................................................15

CreditsCreditsWritten by Adam A ThompsonWritten by Adam A Thompson

Art by Christopher Hay, Dan SmithArt by Christopher Hay, Dan SmithPage Backgrounds by Joe CaulkinsPage Backgrounds by Joe Caulkins

Playtesters: Anne Merril, Dan Elgin, Adam Seehaver,Playtesters: Anne Merril, Dan Elgin, Adam Seehaver, April Johnson, Gus Sorola, Geoff Laser Ramsey, GriffonApril Johnson, Gus Sorola, Geoff Laser Ramsey, Griffon

Ramsey, Frank J Kim, S.D. HilderbrandRamsey, Frank J Kim, S.D. Hilderbrand

Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 1: Introduction

Decades ago, the wizard Talnabous build this stoneDecades ago, the wizard Talnabous build this stone tower. For years it was his sanctuary where he couldtower. For years it was his sanctuary where he could pursue his magical studies in solitude. Slowly hispursue his magical studies in solitude. Slowly his solitude and isolation drove him to greater and greatersolitude and isolation drove him to greater and greater acts of depravity, including slaying many of the elvesacts of depravity, including slaying many of the elves in the wood. His final mistake was to summon andin the wood. His final mistake was to summon and enslave a spirit from hell.... enslave a spirit from hell....

Years later, the ruins of the tower now serve as a homeYears later, the ruins of the tower now serve as a home to a variety of dangerous creatures both of the wizard'sto a variety of dangerous creatures both of the wizard's creation and that have arrived from the wilderness.creation and that have arrived from the wilderness. The secrets of the wizard's legacy remain to beThe secrets of the wizard's legacy remain to be discovered in the Old Rock Tower....discovered in the Old Rock Tower....

This adventure is designed for 4This adventure is designed for 4thth Edition Dungeons & Edition Dungeons & Dragons characters of 6th level.Dragons characters of 6th level.

Adventure BackgroundAdventure Background

Several decades ago, a moderately powerful andSeveral decades ago, a moderately powerful and extremely reclusive wizard named Talnabous build thisextremely reclusive wizard named Talnabous build this four-story stone tower. For years it was his sanctuaryfour-story stone tower. For years it was his sanctuary where he could pursue his magical studies in solitude. where he could pursue his magical studies in solitude.

Slowly his solitude and isolation drove him to greaterSlowly his solitude and isolation drove him to greater and greater acts of depravity, including slaying manyand greater acts of depravity, including slaying many of the elves in the wood. His final mistake was toof the elves in the wood. His final mistake was to summon and enslave an Erynies. After long servitudesummon and enslave an Erynies. After long servitude and imprisonment at the wizard's hands she won freeand imprisonment at the wizard's hands she won free of his domination and enacted revenge upon him. of his domination and enacted revenge upon him.

Free to cause havoc in the world she left her formerFree to cause havoc in the world she left her former prison to slake her unquenchable thirst for turningprison to slake her unquenchable thirst for turning mortals to evil and corrupting their souls. mortals to evil and corrupting their souls.

Years later, the ruins of the tower now serve as a homeYears later, the ruins of the tower now serve as a home to a variety of dangerous creatures both of the wizard'sto a variety of dangerous creatures both of the wizard's creation and that have arrived from the wilderness.creation and that have arrived from the wilderness. The secrets of the wizard's legacy remain to beThe secrets of the wizard's legacy remain to be discovered in the Old Rock Tower.discovered in the Old Rock Tower.

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Adventure SynopsisAdventure Synopsis

The adventure starts immediately outside the wizard'sThe adventure starts immediately outside the wizard's tower. They players may explore the grounds beforetower. They players may explore the grounds before entering. Once they do, they may become trapped in theentering. Once they do, they may become trapped in the tower until they discover the secrets of the magicaltower until they discover the secrets of the magical staircase. Through their exploration they may discoverstaircase. Through their exploration they may discover the fate of the tower's builder, and his treasures.the fate of the tower's builder, and his treasures.

Adventure HooksAdventure Hooks

Quest: The Old Rock TowerQuest: The Old Rock Tower(Level 6 – xp 1250)(Level 6 – xp 1250)Possible adventure hooks to get the characters involved inPossible adventure hooks to get the characters involved in the story include:the story include:

●● The characters were given a lead that the towerThe characters were given a lead that the tower was full of treasure by the thieves ' guild.was full of treasure by the thieves ' guild.

●● Some item they need is hidden somewhere in theSome item they need is hidden somewhere in the tower.tower.

●● Elves friendly to the party have asked theElves friendly to the party have asked the players to investigate the fate of distant relationsplayers to investigate the fate of distant relations near the tower. No word has come from them innear the tower. No word has come from them in many years and they fear the worst.many years and they fear the worst.

●● A bard's tale of the tower reaches the party.A bard's tale of the tower reaches the party.Goal:Goal: Explore all seven the floors of the Old Rock Explore all seven the floors of the Old Rock Tower.Tower.

Chapter 2: EncountersChapter 2: Encounters

Special FeaturesSpecial FeaturesRunning up the height of the tower is a long spiralRunning up the height of the tower is a long spiral staircase starting at the ground level. Each floor isstaircase starting at the ground level. Each floor is marked with a draconic rune indicating the floor's relativemarked with a draconic rune indicating the floor's relative position. This staircase is enchanted in such a way thatposition. This staircase is enchanted in such a way that travelers on it can move to any floor from any floor. travelers on it can move to any floor from any floor.

Which floor travelers reach is determined randomly if theWhich floor travelers reach is determined randomly if the climber is unaware of the staircase's properties. Roll 1d6climber is unaware of the staircase's properties. Roll 1d6 to determine which floor the users end up on. A result ofto determine which floor the users end up on. A result of 1 indicates the ground floor (area 10), 2 the second floor1 indicates the ground floor (area 10), 2 the second floor (area 16), 3 the third floor (area 19), 4 the fourth floor(area 16), 3 the third floor (area 19), 4 the fourth floor (area 22), 5 the fifth floor (area 30) and 6 the sixth floor(area 22), 5 the fifth floor (area 30) and 6 the sixth floor (area 36). The secret vault on the seventh floor is not(area 36). The secret vault on the seventh floor is not

reachable at random. Groups of people traveling onreachable at random. Groups of people traveling on the staircase together will move as a group as long asthe staircase together will move as a group as long as they remain together, the destination floor determinedthey remain together, the destination floor determined by the character in the lead. Those who are not arcaneby the character in the lead. Those who are not arcane spellcasters are unable to quickly navigate the stairsspellcasters are unable to quickly navigate the stairs and must climb until they reach the desired floor atand must climb until they reach the desired floor at random. Arcane spellcasters able to read or decipherrandom. Arcane spellcasters able to read or decipher the runes marking the floors can attempt to travel thethe runes marking the floors can attempt to travel the staircase by concentrating on the name (or rune) of thestaircase by concentrating on the name (or rune) of the floor and making an Arcana skill check (DC 20). Iffloor and making an Arcana skill check (DC 20). If the user actually knows the draconic language theythe user actually knows the draconic language they receive a +2 circumstance bonus. receive a +2 circumstance bonus.

If the players are able to somehow suppress the magicIf the players are able to somehow suppress the magic of the staircase, users can move between levels 1-4of the staircase, users can move between levels 1-4 with freedom, or between levels 5-7, but not from thewith freedom, or between levels 5-7, but not from the above ground floors to the below ground floors, asabove ground floors to the below ground floors, as they are not actually physically connected via thethey are not actually physically connected via the staircase.staircase.

OPTION: (Minor Quest - Level 4 – XP 875):OPTION: (Minor Quest - Level 4 – XP 875): Include this option to add an extra challenge and anInclude this option to add an extra challenge and an element of dread to the tower. The ghost that hauntselement of dread to the tower. The ghost that haunts the sitting room has taken control of the arcanethe sitting room has taken control of the arcane properties of the staircase and prevents players fromproperties of the staircase and prevents players from leaving until his body is buried. Once they have leftleaving until his body is buried. Once they have left the main floor, they will be unable to return to it. Asthe main floor, they will be unable to return to it. As they travel up and down the stairs the ghost of Aor willthey travel up and down the stairs the ghost of Aor will peer out of the walls at them with a mournful, pleadingpeer out of the walls at them with a mournful, pleading expression on his face. Otherwise the staircaseexpression on his face. Otherwise the staircase operates as described above. The players will have tooperates as described above. The players will have to take his body out via the balcony on the 4th floor andtake his body out via the balcony on the 4th floor and give burial, or will be allowed to return to the groundgive burial, or will be allowed to return to the ground floor if they have his body and communicate to thefloor if they have his body and communicate to the ghost that burial is their intention.ghost that burial is their intention.Goal:Goal: Retrieve Aor's body from the Tapestry Grove Retrieve Aor's body from the Tapestry Grove and give it a proper burial.and give it a proper burial.

Additional Preliminary NotesAdditional Preliminary NotesThere are no random encounters in the tower.There are no random encounters in the tower. Characters camping in the woods around the towerCharacters camping in the woods around the tower may encounter wargs, shadow mastiffs, displacermay encounter wargs, shadow mastiffs, displacer beasts, or other predators appropriate to the terrain.beasts, or other predators appropriate to the terrain.

Doors are good wooden doors (DC 18 to break ifDoors are good wooden doors (DC 18 to break if locked) unless noted otherwise. All doors swing openlocked) unless noted otherwise. All doors swing open from the hallways into the rooms, and from the roomsfrom the hallways into the rooms, and from the rooms into the smaller rooms, with the exception of closets.into the smaller rooms, with the exception of closets. The locks built into the doors that have them are DCThe locks built into the doors that have them are DC 25 to pick.25 to pick.

All maps are 10' per. square.All maps are 10' per. square.

Fire Trapped DoorsFire Trapped Doors: Several doors in the tower are: Several doors in the tower are warded with Glyphs of Warding (DMG p. 90) that willwarded with Glyphs of Warding (DMG p. 90) that will work once per day.work once per day.

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Key to Old Rock TowerKey to Old Rock Tower LocationsLocations

OutsideOutside

0) The Old Rock Tower0) The Old Rock Tower

Standing in the depths of GrimwoodStanding in the depths of Grimwood

forest, this tower rises out of the thickforest, this tower rises out of the thick growth: a crumbling and forebodinggrowth: a crumbling and foreboding site. The forest has reclaimed thesite. The forest has reclaimed the cleared areas around the tower since itscleared areas around the tower since its abandonment and now the brush andabandonment and now the brush and saplings grow right up against the basesaplings grow right up against the base of the tower. The tower itself is 100'of the tower. The tower itself is 100' across its circular base. Its stone wallsacross its circular base. Its stone walls and roof rise up several flights ofand roof rise up several flights of narrow, windowless stone shaft to anarrow, windowless stone shaft to a broader top floor. The top floor featuresbroader top floor. The top floor features two stone-walled balconies and a rottedtwo stone-walled balconies and a rotted wooden-shingled roof. A single doorwooden-shingled roof. A single door hangs open, partly off it's hinges, on thehangs open, partly off it's hinges, on the south face of the tower. Smallsouth face of the tower. Small structures can be seen in the clearingstructures can be seen in the clearing

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