Rockhammer Hold - Details

Here is the status of the Stronghold as of the 8th of Eleint: Newest stuff in Orange.

Guild Level - 4th

Money in Vault - 5,073 gp

Total Population - 127

Current President - Umberto Lunini

Interim President - Evan Barksdale


Armorey

(1) Flail +1
(1) Spear +1
(1) battleaxe +1
(1) longbow +1


Other

(9) doses of Varathar - one dose equals 1d4 hit points


PCs (6)

Kregnok (Wil) Dwarf Cleric - Leader
Althalus (Geoff) Human Ranger - Striker
Umberto (Lou) Human Swordmage - Defender
Bastion (Blaine) Elf Druid - Controller
Lozigee (MF) Halfling Rogue - Striker
Grognak (Jordan) Human Barbarian - Striker


NPCs (14)

K'Gorsz (Umberto) Goblin Rogue - Striker
Gravaar (Umberto) Orc Barbarian - Striker
Marina (Umberto) Human Ranger - Striker
Delek (Umberto) Human Monk - Striker
Rez'Gyrk (Melisi) Hobgoblin Cleric - Leader
Lander (Althalus) Human Artificer - Leader
Panian (Althalus) Half-Elf Ranger - Striker
Syvgar (Althalus) Half-Orc Rogue - Striker
Otihand (Kregnok) Dwarf Fighter - Defender
Tian Serpenthelm (Kregnok) Human Wizard - Controller
Kelser (Kregnok) Human Barbarian - Striker
Troy Percival (Kregnok) Human Paladin - Defender
Street Urchin Gang (Lozigee) four kids - Strikers
Leera (Grognak) Human Bard - Leader


Unclaimed NPCs (3)

Janar - Human Rogue - Striker
Thurann - Human Rogue - Striker (8 years old)
Jalissa - Human sorceror - striker


Personal Hirelings (4)

Kivon (Kregnok) Human Armorer
Kalunt (Kregnok) Human Weaponsmith
Nadia (Kregnok) Human Bowmaker
Phyllis (Lozigee) Human Barmaid


General Hirelings (55)

Johan Cross (Rockhammer) Human Carpenter
(2) Apprentices (Rockhammer) Human Carpenters
Kate & Meridith (Rockhammer) Human Gardners
Ivan (Rockhammer) Human Cook
Jeffrey Samuel (Wageton) Storeworker
Orray (Rockhammer) Laborer
Enad (Rockhammer) Laborer
Dain Rockbreaker (Rockhammer) Quarry Master
(2) Dwarves (Rockhammer) Quarry workers
'Ol Jed (Rockhammer) Hunter
Kevian Droverson (Rockhammer) Mayor
Evan Barksdale (Rockhammer) Town Priest
Captain Aito - Oversees Everlund Pass Patrols (figher - defender)
Captain Enyser - Patrol captain (ranger - striker)
Captain Thulver - Patrol capatain (paladin - defender)
Captain Dominic - Patrol captain (fighter - defender)
(36) Patrolmen/Guards (Rockhammer) (fighter - defender)


Rock Hammer Inhabitants: (39)

Mirtala the Cook
Adronsius the Alchemist
Sertanian the guard
Zerriksa the herbalist
(2) bartender and child
(2) barmaids
(1) horse trainer
(3) farmer A and his family
(4) farmer B and his family
(2) farmer C and his family
(3) Miller and two kids
(2) herder and child
(1) vintner
(1) trapper
(3) unskilled laborers
(1) blacksmith
(2) shopkeepers
(2) innkeeper and child
(1) innworker
(5) retired individuals (elderly)

Others (wives and kids) (6)


Friends of Rockhammer (6)

Councilman Cato June (Wageton)
Hinnar (Red Wizards Enclave)
Lane The Hermit (Nether Mountains)
High Lady Alustriel (Silverymoon)
Valamross (Silverymoon Official)
Taern Hornblade (High Mage of Silverymoon)[/color]


Enemies of Rockhammer (1)

Dreadlord Holt Burukhan


JV Adventuting Group

Panian (Althalus) Half-Elf Ranger - Striker
Leera (Grognak) Human Bard - Leader
Delek (Umberto) Human Monk - Striker
Otihand (Kregnok) Dwarf Fighter - Defender
Tian Serpenthelm (Kregnok) Human Wizard - Controller
Troy Percival (Kregnok) Human Paladin - Defender

The Stronghold Overview

The Basics

This structure’s simple, no-frills design precludes it must located near the comforts of civilization. Fourteen people are on staff here, including the cook, the stable boy, the scullery maid, the butler, the captain of the guard, and nine guards.

The guards rotate on and off duty in regular 8-hour shifts. One guard is on duty in each guard tower, plus another in the barbican. The captain spells the others when they need time off, or another guard pitches in for extra duty.

The cook, the scullery maid, and the stable boy share quarters with the three junior members of the guard. The butler and the captain of the guard share one set of bedrooms, while the others are kept ready for whatever guests may drop in or for additions to the family.

The owner of the tower has the upper floor to himself. The butler and the captain of the guard have free run of the place, but most of the other stay out of the second-floor living area unless they have an extremely good reason to do otherwise.


Getting In

As you approach the keep by the main road, you see that it is situated with its rear – which is to the north, butted up against the mountain side. This makes it difficult for anyone to get to the lived-in sections of the keep.

The road itself runs up the easy side of a hill, and the walls accessible from this angle have no access points in them – arrow slits, windows, whatever – on the first floor. For those, you have to reach the arrow slits on the second floor, and you would have to top the wall to be able to get in.

The primary objective of this keep is defense. It has no defenses against those armed with powerful magic, but it does a fine job in keeping out just about anyone else.

You enter the keep through a gate topped by a barbican. Guards meet you at the door, greeting you through a sliding viewport – or calling down to you through the arrow slits in the front wall of the barbican – and asking you what business you might have with the owner of the keep. If your answer is satisfactory, the doors open, and the guards allow you into the space beneath the barbican.

Intruders breaking through the front doors would find themselves in a space beneath the barbican, facing a dropped portcullis. The guards above pepper the invaders with arrows or crossbow bolts through the slits in the floor of the barbican. At the same time, they shout to raise the alarm, ringing the small bell outside the rear windows to the barbican.

This point is the only way in and out of the keep – without resorting to magic, tearing down a wall, or falling down the mountain to land at the rear of the keep.


The Interior

Assuming you’re not invading the portcullis is raised for you, and you’re allowed into the main yard. To the immediate left and right, there are stairs going up into the guard towers in the southeast and southwest corners.

Directly before you are the main doors to the interior of the keep. To the left is a serviceable privy, while to the right stands a stable for up to six horses.

The stable boy comes to take your horses if you have any. If they stable has room, he brings them inside. Otherwise, he hitches them to a rail outside the stables and brings them fresh hay or oats.

When you enter through the main room, you’re greeted by the butler, who offers to take your cloaks and fetches the lord of the keep for you while you make yourself at home in the common area. Beyond the common area, there’s a hall that goes to the left and the right, and a doorway straight ahead.

If you go through the doorway, you end up in a pleasant, open-air courtyard in which the owner of the keep spends many a sunny day. There’s a stairwell in the southeastern corner of the place that leads down into the dirt-filled basement used for keeping foodstuffs along with miscellaneous junk.

Back up into the main hall, if you go west, you’ll find two sets of bedrooms and two sets of servants’ quarters. Most of the guards sleep in one of the servants’ quarters, while most of the rest of the staff sleeps in the other.

To the east are several rooms. The first on the north side of the hall is a dining room. The stronghold owner and his guests eat here in relative comfort. The staff is welcome to eat here when the stronghold owner is off on business or out adventuring, but most days these people have to eat in the kitchen instead, which is the next room down the hall on the north side.

The kitchen staff prepares all meals for the stronghold. The household staff eats most of its meals in here too, as do many of the guards. The stable boy runs meals out to the guards who are on duty.

The guards’ arms and armor, as well as that of the lord of the keep, are kept in the first southern room along this section of the hall. The armory holds enough extra weapons, armor, and equipment to supply fully half the guards with entirely new gear, making for a nice cushion in case of breakage or the addition of emergency help.

The last room is a basic bath used by everyone in the keep. The room is near the kitchen so that hot water can be brought from the stove whenever desired.


The Second Floor

At each end of the lower hall a stairwell leads up to the second floor. The one to the west comes up next to the master’s private bath. The stable boy or butler hauls hot water up from the kitchen whenever needed.

The master bedroom suite lies next to the bath. This room is where the lord of the keep rests. In addition to the arrow slits letting the light in, the main room in this space features a window overlooking the open courtyard below. This can be shuttered in times of inclement weather, but it’s usually kept wide open to let in as much air and sunshine as possible.

The hallway here also has windows in it that look out over the balcony that runs over the roof most of the second floor. Railings line the balcony to keep people from falling off accidentally. It also provides more places from which defenders use arrow slits to target attackers.

Crossing the balcony to the east hallway – which also has windows looking out over the balcony – the first room along the hall is the master’s study. This space has a few books, some paper, and a writing desk. When the master is not around, the butler works out of here as well, doing his best to keep the master’s accounts in order and keeping the stronghold running smoothly.

Right next to the study is the keep’s vault, protected by a good (Open Lock DC 30) lock on a strong wooden door. The master of the keep stores his treasure here, including any magic items he owns but doesn’t use in day-to-day operation. The room also stores his treasure here, including any magic weapons and armor, rather than the armory downstairs. Only the master and the captain of the guard have the key to this area. All others are forbidden to enter the place without one or the other of the keyholders in their presence. The only possible exception to this is the butler, who sometimes holds the master’s key when the master is away for extended periods of time.

The balcony that makes up the remainder of the second floor extends out over the rest of the lower floor, extending out over the privy and the stables as well. If the keep’s front door and portcullis are pierced, the guards that aren’t in the barbican or the tower bar the main door below and mount up their last defense atop the balcony, firing their bows at any intruders coming through beneath the barbican.

The guard towers are situated in the southern corners of the keep. These high perches give the guard a good view of the surrounding area. The guards actually spend much of their watches standing or sitting on the flat roof of the guard towers, where they have a commanding view of the small valley leading up the keep. Only when they expect or experience trouble do they retreat to the relative safety of the towers so that they can fire at intruders through the arrow slits.

Stats have been updated through the month of Flamerule, you are now a 4th level guild! It's adventure time!

I've updated the list, adding Troy, Delek, and Janar onto the list, as unclaimed NPCs for now. I also moved Evan Barkdale and Mayor Droverson from the Temel list to the 'General Hirelings" list.

Updated the first post again to reflect 4th edition stuff. As in, you don't have hardly any of those magical items any more. You still have the weapons, but the other stuff didn't translate very well.

So, off you go adventuring!

I will need to come up with some 4th edition stats for Merthuvial, that will remain. Any magical items you have on your character sheet may get removed as well, but not magical weapons.