0506 — Runalt’s Watchtower

Old stonework litters the hills here as though flung violently. Much of it is covered in dry roots that cling to the stone with a death grip. If cut into, they reveal a living core, but no green growths sprout from them

On one hill a crumbling tower rises from the earth, its windows choked by soil and roots. The top has been shattered, and a single empty doorway (once to a balcony, now 14 feet above the ground) remains. Both lead to a circular room above a spiral staircase, furnished only with a cot and a table upon which sits ink, a pen, and a journal of observations by the lone inhabitant, a Tomb Guardian named Cecilia (she/her). She keeps a watchful eye on the surroundings. In the staircase below lurk a number of giant bats, who raid the camps of passerby for food at night.

Cecilia welcomes peaceful visitors into the tower and will make an effort to shoo the bats away from those who make their presence known to her, but will not allow anyone ascending the staircase to exit without Runalt’s permission.

This tower leads to The black Manse by Micah Anderson — it is room GF34 (Lookout Tower). My edits to the dungeon to fit the campaign can be found here.

Once a month, if a Nightmare Grove of Runalt does not exist in the world, Runalt sends a group of 2d6 interred servants (stats as Silent Accusers) forth with a painting imbued with nightmare energy to create one. They travel d6 hexes before planting the painting, which sprouts into a grove. There is an X-in-6 chance of a Tomb Guardian being sent with them, where X is the number of Nightmare Groves destroyed since the start of the campaign. The guardians are instructed to kill or capture intruders if possible, but primarily to determine who the enemies doing the destruction are. If the destructions continue, Runalt will escalate further.

A party that lingers here for more than a day will attract the attention of a Horseman, who will try to convince them to leave by any tactics necessary. The Horseman will not enter the tower of its own will.