Castle Gannish

Hex 8.22. During the height of conflict between the old Middle-Kingdoms and the Felmog, the Order of the Iron Sun successfully marched from the far northern city of Maax to the southernmost Drippy Downs. There, they built Castle Gannish to expand their military might. After years of conflict, and several defeats suffered at the hands of TROLL lords, the Iron Sun was forced to abandon their castle and return to the Northlands of Eem.

For years, the castle has been empty, eventually becoming a BANDIT hideout. Yet, though the castle has fallen into a state of disrepair, and was looted long ago, much of the Iron Sun heraldry still graces the halls.

BOSS SHRYKE

BANDIT (L7-C) and leader of the Knucklebone Bandits at Castle Gannish. Decked out in piecemeal Felmog armor (+2 Block) and armed to the teeth with cruel weapons, Shryke is a formidable scoundrel.

• Traits: Cruel, pompous, a generous laugher.
• Motivation: Get rich and expand his influence across the southern Drippy Downs.

HOBNAIL JAK

A DRATCH brigand with a wild streak, and Boss Shryke's top lieutenant. Little does Shryke know that Jak is skimming off the top and taking some of the best loot for himself, including a Magic shield pilfered from the Old Graveyard.

• Traits: Loose cannon, brutish, missing most of his teeth.
• Motivation: Take as much as he can for himself.

HECKLETOOTH MUCKGINTY

A boggart comedian trapped in servitude at Castle Gannish. If he thought he could flee and live he would, but Muckginty's already tried and failed two times. So, he lives a life of debasement as Boss Shryke's fool, making the bandits laugh at his pratfalls and humiliations.

• Traits: Fearful, utterly exhausted, but always hamming it up.
• Motivation: Escape Castle Gannish forever.

rumors

• Castle Gannish is home to Knucklebone BANDITS that have stolen valuables from all across the region.
• Castle Gannish has a secret hold of armor, weapons, and equipment left behind by the Felmog Order of the Iron Sun.
• A former comedian was kidnapped by BANDITS and lives against his will at Castle Gannish.
• Lord Marshal Gannish was a ruthless Felmog Knight whose arrogance doomed him against the trolls.

quests

THE LUCKY BROOCH

A lone boggart named Ketch scouts the castle from the bushes, bow and arrow in hand. Ketch is here to steal back a family heirloom that the BANDITS stole from him: a lucky golden brooch. It isn't hard to see he would be clearly outmatched by himself.

• Unfortunately, the brooch is now worn by Boss Shryke himself who hangs out in the throne room surrounded by his lackeys.

THE FOOL THAT FOLLOWS YOU

Heckletooth Muckginty wants out of Castle Gannish, but he's Boss Shryke's favorite fool. When no one is looking, Heckletooth pleads with you to free him.

• He has no shackles or restraints, but the BANDITS will fight anyone who tries to rescue Heckletooth.

THE HAUNTED CACHE

Rumor has it that there's a secret cache of Iron Sun Relics somewhere in the castle. Boss Shryke and the bandits have searched and searched for the tresure to no avail.

• Little do they know that there's a secret trap door beneath the old throne. But if anyone tries to steal the relics there, they are attacked by the ancient GHOST of Lord Marshal Gannish.
• The cache is an Ancient Hoard containing a guaranteed Relic.
• The Sword of the Iron Sun: a weapon that glows orange and burns hot (+1 Attack, +3 Dread). On a Critical Hit, the target is BURNING. 1 Charge. Spend 1 Charge: Lift the sword aloft and the sword blazes bright, BLINDING an Adversary permanently.

lair layout

AREA 1: THE GATEHOUSE

Rickety timbers creak as the wind hits the abandoned gatehouse. Stone effigies of the Iron Sun have been blackened by the soot of fires used by Knucklebone sentries.

• Unlit fire pits are scattered throughout the yard in front of the gate house. A lone sentry stands by at a campfire ready to light them and spot trespassers.
• The gatehouse is backed with bunks for low level Knucklebone initiates that have not yet earned the right to live in the Keep. They play Rascal Rummy and throw knives at an old painting of an Iron Sun noble that hangs above the fireplace.
• A mangy KOOGRA sleeps in a stone kennel, chained to an iron post.
• A large store of stolen Rations are piled in the back of the gatehouse getting rained on (5 Normal Rations).

AREA 2: THE KEEP

A structure of solid stone blocks, built to survive the most brutal siege. Fires dance in the windows day and night as Knucklebones celebrate their loot and feast to their heart's delight. A rusty portcullis yawns open like jaws.

• Faded and ragged Iron Sun tapestries hang from the walls, their dour facades glaring at any who haunt their ancient halls.
• A THORNHAWK (L2-B) sits perched on a set of antlers crowning a suit of antique Felmog armor. The THORNHAWK is blindfolded, but alert.
• The bulk of the Knucklebones treat the inner Keep like their personal playground. Ruffians fight, eat, drink, and sing careless of the outside world.
• Hobnail Jak (DRATCH L6-B) broods in the corner of the feasting hall, overlooking the reverie, eating a haunch of meat almost the size of a horse.
• A nameless GHOST (L3-G) passes through the halls, totally ignorant of their own identity, searching for their horse.

AREA 3: THRONE ROOM

Despite the castle's old age, the throne room is resplendent. Banners and flags hang from the ceiling and the throne still rests atop a flight of stone-carved stairs.

• Stone statues of Iron Sun knights line the walls. Their eyes seem to follow those who pass by. One of the statues is a stone GOLEM (L5-C) that wakes if someone strikes it hard enough.
• Boss Shryke (BANDIT L7-C) laughs hysterically at the comedian Heckletooth Muckinty while slouched on the Gannish throne, then cruelly throws a knife at the boggart.
• A pair of Knucklebone BANDITS (L6-G) snicker and sharpen their boot knives. A DOGGART (L3-B) yips for the Knucklebone bandits' attention, then whimpers when they ignore it.