Ruins of Ryloch

Hex 17.10. The ancient Fisher-City of Ryloch stood on a lake some two thousand years before the present day. Back then the Used T'Be Forest was a lush wood, braided with rivers and waterways that encouraged trade from far and wide, Lake Ryloch was the largest in Eem. No one knows for sure how Ryloch went dry. Some doubt there even was a lake there at all. But the gnomes say a terrible OGRE of the old world, Oomek, swallowed the lakes and seas.

Today, Ryloch's mighty foundation blocks look far more like cairn stones. Passersby rarely reflect upon the wonders that may have once stood in the now dusty, prickly-patched landscape, nor do they notice the sheen of fossilized clam shells speckling the rolling dunes of sand and sticker-grass.

unique creature

GRIMJAW

A WEORG (L7-C) named Grimjaw roams the south of the Ruins of Ryloch, terrorizing travelers and settlers alike. He is a fiend of the highest order, killing any creature he comes across. The Bulwarks will pay 3 pouches of Gold Coins for Grimjaw's head.

CAPTAIN NEMIC

A Felmog Outrider officer on a secretive mission. Nemic is a tall man with eyes like a predatory bird. He works with another Outrider called Jericor to search for an Eye of Ehk in the Ruins of Ryloch.

• Traits: Untrusting, battle weary, can sniff out a liar.
• Motivation: Find one of the Sarpathi Eyes of Ehk before the sarpathi do.

GED HUMBURG

A young Krog & Sons dungeoneer looking for his lost brother, who worked for rival company Subterranean Pits and Lairs LLC. Ged implored SPL to conduct an investigation but they refused because of his Krog & Sons affiliation. Ged thinks the company is hiding something.

• Traits: Dutiful, holding out hope, way out of his depth.
• Motivation: Find his lost brother.

what's there

THE CAIRN GARDEN

At the center of the Stone Maze is the Cairn Garden, where old stones are piled in seemingly deliberate circles and mounds, but for what purpose no one remembers. In the middle of the Cairn Garden is a huge triumphal arch and green mosaic floor; beneath the arch is an entrance to a RANDOM DUNGEON.

THE STONE MAZE

Sunken, ruined stones and pillars of the ancient city Ryloch have created miles of labyrinthine pathways that wind back and forth on each other. The crumbled architecture is still impressive to behold. Some say there are treasures to be found within, but the area is rife with man-eating BANDY CLAMS and CAIRN STINGERS. The Stone Maze leads to a smaller central area called the Cairn Garden.

• The Stone Maze is a RANDOM MAZE. A Maze Hazard roll of 3 results in a group of BANDY CLAMS (L2-B).

rumors

• The Ruins of Ryloch are home to CAIRN STINGERS and BANDY CLAMS, and GHOSTS. Beware!
• A great army was once marshaled at the Ruins of Ryloch to march north and battle the Gloom King of old.
• A dungeoneer is searching the ruins for his brother.
• Felmog Outriders have set up camp near the Ruins of Ryloch to find lost Relics.

ELZABA THE GHOST

A stoic, albeit confused ancient WARRIOR now a GHOST. Elzaba doesn't recall exactly who they are or remember much of their origins. However, they must be old, because their armor, weapons, and adornments are clearly from another time.

• Traits: Aloof, forgetful, itching for a purpose.
• Motivation: Discover her origins and finally rest.

quests

THE QUEST OF THE BLACK KNIGHT

A Felmog quest knight named Captain Nemic is searching for a lost treasure in the Ruins of Ryloch, and he must find it before the sarpathi do. The Outriders will compensate you if you help search the ruins or find an Outrider named Jericor who was supposed to arrive weeks ago.

• Nemic is searching for an Eye of Ehk, but won't tell anyone as much unless they prove their worth.
• SARPATHI REAVERS (L3-G) scour the Cairn Garden, along with a SARGOG (L3-C) called Iros. If defeated, they flee to the sarpathi temple in the Used T'Be Forest (see The Sarpathi Temple adventure module).
• Unfortunately for both sides, there is no Eye of Ehk in the ruins. Frustrated, Nemic returns to the Stone.

THE ARMY OF THE GREEN FISH

A perfectly preserved banner with a green fish leans against an old well in the Stone Maze. When you approach, a listless GHOST in soldier's armor appears.

• The GHOST, Elzaba, has no illuminating answers to the PC's questions. But she is eager for a purpose. She feels as if she should be going somewhere.
• Lore Check: This is a banner of the Grand Army of the Emerald Fish who set forth to fight the Gloom King hundreds of years ago. Some say the army perished horribly and were cursed.
• If a PC holds the banner, they find that Elzaba follows them, along with a whole army of GHOSTS. If the banner is brought to the ghostly soldiers of Whisperdale Meadow in the Drippy Downs, it will remind them of their origin (see quest Soldiers of the Green Fish p369).

SURE TO BE CLAM FOOD, PART 1

A Krog & Sons dungeoneer named Ged Humburg wandered into a field of BANDY CLAMS in the Stone Maze and can't find his way out again. One wrong move and he's a goner! Help him navigate the field and he'll show you something weird.

• In his search for his lost brother Raymund, Ged found an old mine entrance right here in the ruins of Ryloch. He accompanies the PCs inside.

SURE TO BE CLAM FOOD, PART 2

Marked by a ring of stones, an old mine entrance leads to an underground chamber. Much of the mine collapsed, except for three rooms.

• Room 1: A dusty, sooty room host to a huge cache of coal in crates marked with the SPL logo.
• Room 2: A soot-covered iron door locked with a huge, iron padlock. Inside are a miner's quarters, with a troll skeleton slumped over a huge desk, beside a humble bed and bookshelf.
• One book remains intact: SPL Operations Manual.
• A Magnificent sword [slash] hangs above a fireplace.
• Under the mattress is a Loot Pile (+0).
• Room 3: A stairway goes down into a small underground lake with a boat floating in the center about twenty yards into the water. A skeleton sits in the boat, a sarpathi arrow in its back.
• In the skeleton's pockets are a big iron key (unlocks Room 2), and a sealed envelope. The letter inside reads as follows:
• URGENT: The snakes are stealing coal. Don't know why. Asked management for help. No response. Send help. R. Humburg
• Ged Humburg bursts into tears. R. Humburg, or Raymund, was Ged's missing brother.
• When the boat is disturbed, a BANDY CLAM (L4-B) emerges from the water and attacks.