Campaign Components: Arius’ Watchtower

Once the home of a mighty conjurer, this ruined tower acts as a magnet for goblins, bandits and other foul things that creep forth from the nearby caverns of the Twisted Gorge.

By William McAusland (Outland Arts)
By William McAusland (Outland Arts)

 

This impressive ruin stands upon the crown of a hill that struggles above the Tangled Wood’s dense canopy. Set astride the headwaters of a minor tributary of the Arisum, several faint game trails lead to the ruin’s general vicinity.

Arius was a mighty conjurer of little morality, skilled in binding otherworldly creatures to his service. Eighty years ago, a ritual went terribly wrong when he lost control of that which he had summoned. In the ensuing battle, his tower was devastated and at the height of the conflagration Arius disappeared. Only a single apprentice survived to reach Wolverton to tell of the disaster. For three days, an eldritch glow marked the night sky above the tower.

Since then, bandits, goblins and other foul creatures sporadically infest or inhabit the tower and the tunnels below fighting among themselves for dominance. Several times, black-hearted wizards have claimed the ruins so that they might steal Arius’ impressive cache of magical lore. Most linger for a while, before leaving empty-handed.

On occasion, the local lords have sought to wrest control of the tower from such groups, but attrition of the garrison and the difficulty of keeping such a group supplied stymies such efforts. Neophyte adventurers often explore Arius’ Watchtower before moving onto the Twisted Gorge’s greater challenges.

As well as the above ground portions and upper dungeons of the ruins, rumours persist of deep cellars dug below the place. There Arius is said to have performed his most esoteric and dangerous spells and to have bound a number of powerful otherwordly creatures in arcane prisons that yet hold their charges secure. The entrance to such domain – if indeed it exists – remains unknown.

It is a matter of some conjecture among the sages and wizards dwelling in Wolverton that Arius built his watchtower over the ruins of an ancient site of power. Sages point to the presence of several huge, ancient stones replete with faded, time-worn carvings seemingly of elder artifice incorporated into the tower’s lower walls as proof of this fact.

Want to Learn More?

Arius’ Watchtower originally appeared in Raging Swan Press’s second ever product, The Lonely Coast, which is a free download from Raging Swan Press’s website. Alternatively, you can grab it anywhere Raging Swan’s products are for sale. The version presented here has been slightly scrubbed to make more sense to the reader not conversant with The Lonely Coast setting.

Published by

Creighton

Creighton is the publisher at Raging Swan Press and the designer of the award winning adventure Madness at Gardmore Abbey. He has designed many critically acclaimed modules such as Retribution and Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands and worked with Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, Expeditious Retreat Press, Rite Publishing and Kobold Press.

3 thoughts on “Campaign Components: Arius’ Watchtower”

  1. Hello Creighton

    Just added Arius’ Watchtower to Realm Works, from the information I have from the Lonely Coast PDF. Came across this page while doing a search so thought I would do a quick screen grab to show you. You can see it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7-53HuSVavWTEIxcDlqTjU4NnM/view?usp=sharing

    At the moment inputting material from, Lonely Coast, Swallowfeld, Retribution Collector’s Edition, and Half-Goblins of the Tangled Wood. I think them 4 should do me for a start to my campaign.

    Cheers Frank

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