STONEWULF KEEP 2

 

Hook: Far out on the edges of Stone Lake in the Misty Forest lay the black edifice of Stonewulf Keep. You've heard about it... But, no one likes to speak of its resident. The say he is a warlord of exceptional skill. That his sword howls when he fights. And his eyes glow crimson under a helm of black steel shaped into the visage of a fierce wolf. He is the local ruler, Lord Were. They say he haunts the moors and hills of his small land in the guise of a large, black dog, or wolf, and that he feeds on the undeserving and black of heart. But, no one takes any chances and lock up tight their windows and doors when the night falls. His men are ruthless, dressed in black armour, with wolf-crested helms, a black wolf standard upon their banners and shields and tunics... It is The Wilderness, and many things can live there without contention or question. Lord Were and his people keep to themselves. He runs a land of brutal justice, but, no one says anything, because the wolf lord and his retainers protect them and keep the peace. But, even the people are a bit strange, you've noticed. Not evil, necessarily. Just 'odd', noncommittal, and slightly nondescript. They work hard, in the field, at the forge and benches where they ply their trades and services, and welcomed you with warmth enough, and they dress brightly for their dismal land. What you don't understand is why you have this strange feeling of discomfort crawling up your spines, your nerves on end, the entire time you've been here... One custom you found strange, but, not unheard of, is the ban on killing wolves. Apparently, they worship them, or hold them as sacred, somehow. And that is when you noticed it... They watch. Like scared prey. Ready to flee at a moment's notice and quick to scare...

Details: The undercroft and dungeons of Stonewulf Keep are fairly simple. The Keep functions as any other. Evil things happen in the depths of the structure, however. People are taken from their homes, secretly, and without sound, and tortured, here. The 'bailiff' is a large tröll who lives in the dungeon. He is the torturer and handles all prisoners and business dealing with them. All who have faced him have either died or become 'reformed' to serve as Were's minions.