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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Maliki" data-source="post: 2437224" data-attributes="member: 19073">WK1-3 Ruined Tower (1-19-05) After resting and healing(provided by Parrick) the party is enjoying a late breakfast in the taproom of the Chimera , when a well dressed man enters the inn and aproaches thier table. The man introduces himself as Herbert D'Mornay, the local reeve(mayor). Herbert thanks them for the rescue of Ellik and for ridding the area of the goblins and the "giant". He Then offers them 100gp if they would investigate a ruined tower outside of town. Herbert explains that the tower is left over from when the Horned God, Unklar ruled the land. It was the stronghold of one of his human followers. The mans name is not recalled he was simply remembered as the Red Duke(for all the innocent blood he spilled). So great was this mans evil, that even after he was overthrown, and his tower brought to ruin, his evil still rest in the very stones of the tower. The party sets out about noon and after a short(30 min) walk, they arrive at base of the hill on which the tower rests. The outer walls have mostly fallen and the rubble litters the hillside. The hill is mostly void of life on any kind, only a few scrub plants dot the hill. Following a old cart path towards what was the main gate, the party comes across two recently killed goblins. A quick examination reveals three items of intrest. 1. The goblins wounds were caused by large claws. 2. Three other sets of goblin tracks lead off towards the marsh. 3. The goblins skin is blistered and peeling, as was the skin of the goblins found in the marsh. Schohn explains that it a common look to goblins that are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. Luthien tells the party that he senses a faint evil sensation in the area. Nothing specific, just a evil taint to the area. The party proceeds to the old gatehouse. Upon entering the party is attacked by a man-sized skeleton that was lurking just inside the doorway. Two more skeletons rush towards the gate, but the party easily dispatches the undead. The rear of the main keep is mostly crumbled ruins, but the front, at least at ground level is still mostly intact. Also the first story and a half of a once larger tower, still stands. The party enters the front double doors and finds themselves in keeps foyer. A hallway straight ahead ends in a pile of rubble, and two doors, one to the right and one to the left. The party investigates the right door first. Entering an old storeroom, they stumble upon a nest of giant rats, who with a great passion defend thier nests. A short but brutal battle erupts with the rats swarming Rlyd and delivering several nasty bites. The party has trouble hitting thier fast moving adversaries, but the rats continue to attack Ryld. Finally Schohn gets on a roll and disposes of the killer vermin. Between Luthien's laying on hands and Sylvia's goodberrys, the party is made more or less whole again. A search of the room turns up only a few silver and copper coins among the rats nests. The party then heads over to check the left door. A left over bunk and and broken furniture, an overturned table and an old stool, greet the party as they enter. Next to the bunk is a shallow hole 5' long and 2' wide, in which lies the mangled body of a giant rat. The party begins a careful search of the room, and Sylvia finds a loose stone set in the wall, removing the stone she finds 22 PP, a pearl bracelet and a signet ring(with the same crest as the ring given to Ryld byhis mother, two swords crossing a shield, behind a griffon.) As she holds the ring aloft a scratching voice from the doorway hisses"That's my ring" The party turns to face a creature os skin and bone, with large clawed hands and a black tongue inside a drooling mouth. The creature charges at Sylvia, as the rest of the party rushes to intercept. The ghoul, intent on Sylvia manages to dodge each attack as one by one the party's swings miss the mark. Sylvia manages to avoid the bite and first claw but the second claw hits ripping the flesh and causing Sylvia's body to become rigid. The ghoul quickly snatches the ring from Sylvia's hand and whirls to meet the remaining party members. This time the party pummels the undead and it falls to the ground, turning to dust. Ryld takes the second signet ring and the party waits for Sylvia to regain her movement, after which the party proceeds to explore the rest of the ruined keep, but finding nothing of intrest. As they prepare to leave, Luthien reports that he can no longer sense any evil in the area. With a senses of accomplishment, the party returns to Greenlee and reports thier success to the delighted reeve. Once again Parrick provides healing to the heroes, and Arlo gives another nights stay at the Chimera. (I was a little slow in starting this story hour and some of the details of the battle of the keep escape me, I do remember Ryld taking a great deal of punishment, mostly in the battle with the rats. On the other hand Schohn was the only party member hitting regularly.)</blockquote>

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