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.