B2: Keep on the Borderlands

Guillaume/Karl/Kyle Run ---

Timeline:

1st Mirtul - Depart for the Keep

3rd Mirtul - Arrival at Keep, spend night at the inn

4th Mirtul - Camp in the forest northeast of the keep

5th Mirtul - Encounter skeletons/monster at the mound, sleep at the edge of the forest south of the mound

Keep offers 5gp per pair of goblin ears, but they cannot spare men due to fears of giants from the north.

Norkuling, Priest of Bhaal, slew the band in the mound, raising two of them as skeletons. The third came back as a Revenant before he could be raised. Norkuling cursed him, trapping him in the mound - more specifically, in darkness. He cannot enter sunlight. Revenant wears chainmail +2, shield +1, and a longsword +2.

Shattered circle lay in the forest either northnortheast of the keep, or south, where the bandits are.

Kobolds not present. Have been slain/driven off. Their lair is now used for storage.

East Van Run ---

Shattered circle lay at the far east of the map

Temple is of Lathander

Initial notes: ---

In Faerun:

Locations:

Silver Marches (Nether mountains)
North of Eveningstar, along border to the stonelands
Damaran Duchy of Soravia
Great Dale
In the Shaar, south of Chessenta
Mountains north of Waterdeep

http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2760 "As for where it would be set in the Realms, it would have to be a place where there is a 'confluence' of differing humanoids (with an evil cleric cult thrown in jst for fun ...).

The only place that immediately springs to mind is the Stonelands, north of Cormyr (the evil bad guys being manipulated by Zhentarim clergy of Bane)."

Cult of Chaos: Worshippers of Cyric, Malar or Talos.

"Given the dominance of low-level undead used by the Hidden Temple (especially in the original version of Keep) I'd use Velsharoon, the Demipower of Necromancy as one of the temple's patrons. Perhaps the temple was originally dedicated to Myrkul and now that Velsharoon has taken over the portfolio of necromancy, his priests have re-opened the temple and re-activated the coalition of nonhuman tribes. However, I like the possibility of a joint temple with Shar - that would be a frightening and wicked combination."

TODO:

Name and flesh out personalities of Keep inhabitants

Background:

Something deep is driving the tribes up to the surface, but the Keep is keeping them from pushing out
The temple complex owns the caves, and tries to keep the tribes united. Their ultimate goal is the Keep. (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?613737-A-Keep-On-The-Borderlands-Perhaps-an-unpopular-opinion&p=15019335#post15019335)

Hooks:

Monsters want to hire the PCs to wipe out another tribe
Relative of elf shows up looking for the elf that was eaten by the spiders
Crooked priest organizing the bandit camp, signals from the keep at night.
One of the caves has captured a caravan. One of the travellers escapes and heads to the keeps. Alternatively: They set one member free to gather ransom for the rest.
Make the mad hermit related to someone in the keep. Brother of the Castellan, or an ex-member of the clergy.

Also:

Rumours about people going missing. Temple complex are body snatchers and zombies come from somewhere (could also come from orcs)

Restocking the caves: http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/1686/roleplaying-games/keep-on-the-borderlands-factions-in-the-dungeon

Reimagined map: http://www.theweem.com/2012/02/caves-of-chaos-reimagined-by-weem/

CHARACTERS

*Guardsmen at the gate: 2 Random guardsmen: 2 *Corporal of the Watch (entry yard; stables) - grouchy; admires outspoken, brave warriors; taken in by pretty women Corporal's Scribe Lackeys (take mounts; take traveller's to the inn) Bailiff/Superintendent Jewel Merchant & Wife, 2 Guards *Priest & 2 Acolytes Smithy & 2 Assistants Provisioner, wife & 2 children Trader & 2 sons Captain of the Watch Innkeeper *Barkeeper, son and pot boy Corporal of the Guard x2 Sergeant of the Guard : very strong, hard fighter, loves to drink and brawl Captain of the Guard : very friendly, excellent leader (periodically moves about in the outer bailey disguised as a mercenary) *Mercenary men-at-arms *Wanderer Guild Master & 2 Clerks, 2 servants *Curate (5th level cleric) & 3 Acolytes *Castellan : clever but can be too hasty, very brave and honest *Castellan's scribe (cleric) Castellan's advisor (elf) Inner gate guardsmen: 6 couriers x2