theironjef fucked around with this message at 23:42 on Dec 12, 2016

NutritiousSnack fucked around with this message at 01:43 on Dec 13, 2016

• 1 - The Dwarven Vault - Deep below the Keep is a stockpile of rations, water and sundries. It won’t be visited during the events of Act 4 unless the PCs force a room by search. There’s a trap door leading to room 2 and a secret door leads to “The Lord’s Dalliance”. More on that later.
  
  LEVEL 1
  
• 2 - The Armory - There might be guards here depending on the time of day.
  
• 3-6 - The Officer’s Quarters - These rooms house Captain’s Barhold, Varning, Mott and Eddardly respectively. As the senior captain Barhold(LG Human Fighter 7) is most likely to be found asleep in his bed at night, practically defenseless. An excellent opportunity for the PCs to murderize him. Varning(LG Human Fighter 6) comes from a wealthy family and keeps a house in Aldencross, he is unlikely to be found here. Mott(LN Human Fighter 6) comes from a prominent Ghastenhall family and also keeps a house in town. The house is kept by his beautiful wife Kaitlyn, it a loveless arranged marriage. Room 6 is home to the handsome Captain Eddarly(CG Human Fighter 6), his room is full of finery fit for a nobleman. A careful search will also find love letters from Kaitlyn Mott to Eddarly.
  
• 7 - The Garderobe - Castle toilet, no encounters here.
  
• 8 - The Main Thoroughfare - It lives up to it’s name, during the day the odds of meeting guards, servants or important NPCs is high. At night there will be at least 3 guards in the hallway.
  
  • 8a - Is the servant’s entrance, the door will normally be open during the day with two guards posted. Above it hangs the Great Seal of Balentyne a great stone slab that is one of the castle’s most prominent features.
    
  • 8b - This door leads to the bridge over the river. When barred it will present a serious obstacle to Bugbears.
• 9 - Barracks - The room is full of bunk beds. At night it is three-quarters full of sleeping guards, during the day there will be a few stragglers hanging about.
  
• 10 - Kitchens - Castle servants are present at all times of the day preparing meals and carrying out chores.
  
• 11 - Pantry - Two days worth of fresh food.
  
• 12 - Mess Hall - A place for off duty guards to congregate and take their meals, 3d6 will be found here at any time.
  
• 13 - Storeroom - Contains all the odds and ends needed to maintain the castle. Among other things the room holds holds torches, pitch, lamp oil and lumber. The makings of a great distraction for the castle guards.
  
• 14 - Vestiary - Changing area for the watchtower’s Clerical detachment. A ladder leads up to room 26.
  
• 15a-15e - Acolyte’s Cells - Each is home to a Level 1 Cleric of Mitra. They’ll either be found in room 26 at choir practice or room 27 tending the gardens.
  
• 16 - Shrine - Private shrine and meeting place for the watchtower’s Clerics.
  
• 17 - Father Donnagin’s Cell - This simple chamber is home to the second most powerful foe in the castle. Father Donnagin(LG Human Cleric 6) is a gentle, caring man beloved by all the guards. He fancies himself an amatuer detective (in the mold of Father Brown) and will help Lord Havelyn investigate any mysterious deaths.
  
  _{Who would want to hurt this guy? You would; that’s who.}
  
  
• 18 - The Bridge - It stretches over the River Tyburn which rages far below at the bottom of a deep canyon.
  
  • 18a - A short drawbridge can be raised to separate the rest of the keep from the Gatehouse. Making sure this is lowered before the Bugbear assault is crucial to your success. The drawbridge is controlled from room 25 which doesn’t seem like the best place but whatever.
• 19 - Gatehouse Entryway - With arrow slits on the north/south walls and murder holes above this room is pure death trap for any invaders caught here.
  
  19a - A stupid heavy portcullis blocks entry into the gate house. Breaching it by force would waste valuable time and allow defenders to prepare. Making sure this gate is open is another key part of Thorn’s plan.
  
  
• 20 - 21 - Storage - Provisions and water are here to sustain the gatehouse in the event of a prolonged siege. If the castle is under attack there will be 5 archers stationed in each room.

• 22 - Aldencross Gate - This is the gate used by official visitors and patrols heading out to make sure monster aren’t slipping across over the lake. There are always 2 guards posted. It’s not clearly explained in the book but I guess Level 1 is partially below ground in places otherwise it doesn’t make sense that Level 2 also has a ground level exit. The winch to operate the portcullis here is is on the battlement above.
  
• 23 - The Walls - Only accessible by narrow stairways, the walls rise 20 feet above the courtyard.
  
  • 23a - The winch here is always protected by two guards and it is one of the castle’s greatest secrets. It lowers the Great Seal down at 8a providing a stop gap incase the lower levers are taken by invaders. This will buy time for defenders and the only way up from Level 1 would be rooms 10 and 14. The winch is easily sabotaged by removing a widget.
• 24 - The Bridge of Death - It overlooks the main bridge and gives the perfect vantage point to rain down arrows and stones on any attackers that might get past the Gatehouse. Two guards are always posted here.
  
• 25 - Gatehouse 2nd Level - Two massive pots of scalding hot sand sit in the middle of the room ready to pour down the murder holes and annihilate any invaders below. The walls contain arrow slits and also found here are winches the raise and lower the drawbridge and portcullis. There is also a door that leads out to 24.
  
• 26 - The Choir Hall - Back in the main keep is the castle’s chapel. During weekly services about 35 guards, all the notable NPCs and the acolytes can be found here. The vaulted ceilings rise 25 feet above the floor and the outer edge is lined with statues of singing MItran saints.
  

  quote:

  It may seem to be only an empty church most of the time but this consecrated place is far from unprotected. When this choir hall was first built, the cardinal who consecrated it summoned forth nine lantern archons to fill the chamber with music and to protect it always. Now they hide up among the stone statues of the saints that adorn the high walls. When the choir sings, they hum in sympathetic vibration filling the hall with celestial music. This has led to the rumors about “the singing saints of Balentyne”.

  Any evil dudes or dudettes entering the room will be detected by the archons and if they don’t leave quickly a fight will break out. The archons form Voltron after two rounds of combat and become a Lantern Archon Gestalt (CR8).
  
  
  
• 27 - Courtyard - Back outside in the open air portion of the keep is a well maintained lawn and simple fountain.
  
• 28 - Statue - A massive statue of King Markadian I, full clad in heavy armor in the prime of his youth and might.
  
• 29 - Garden Shed - Contains yard tools.
  
• 30 - Stables - Lord Havelyn’s Warhorse can be found here along with the mounts for Captain Varning’s rangers.
  
• 31 - Great Hall - The assembly area for the guards and where the commander meets with important visitors. Two guards are usually found here.
  
• 32 - Flag Room - A big open room room ringed by large flags. Stairs lead up into the tower. Two guards are usually stationed here.

• 33 - Gatehouse Battlements - Siege engines dominate the roof of the Gatehouse; there are two massive ballistae and the devices to drop stones on any attackers outside the portcullis. This is one of the most important defensive points of the castle and one of the captains, Barhold, Mott or Eddardly, will always be found here. During the the day Barnabus and his dwarves will be here doing repairs to the fortifications.
  
• 34 - Hall of Honor - Two guards are always stationed here; in the event that attackers enter the main keep they push a capstone into the stairwell blocking access to the upper levels. On the wall is inscribed the names of every man that has died defending the castle.
  
• 35a-g - Prison Cells - Seven cells in the main keep. Any PC that is captured will be stripped and kept here.
  
• 36 - Stairs up to room 39
  
• 37 - Torture Chamber - Once used to interrogate prisoners the room has fallen into disuse as Lord Havelyn despises torture.
  
• 38 - Tower Archer’s Nest - Another key point of the castle. Stored here are 4000 arrows and the walls are lined with arrow slits. This is a commanding vantage point for defenders to rain down death. Usually unguarded.

• 39 - Guard Room - Two guards will be found here at all times.
  
• 40 - Mage’s Laboratory - Your standard mad scientists lab complete with a monster. On a slab in the center of the room is an Ice Golem (CR 5) that the castle’s Magister Tacticus has been repairing. He’ll command it to attack any intruders here.
  
• 41 - Mage’s Private Quarters - Bed chambers and study of the reclusive Tacticus of Morimun (LN Human Wizard 6), he’ll either be found here or his laboratory. Arcane spell casting isn’t much loved in Talingarde and the wizard has a sinister reputation with the castle guards. A search of the room will find a locked chest containing his spellbook full of fire spells.
  
  _{Fire..huh, huh...fire, fire, fire.}
  
  
• 42 - Guard Room - Will be empty unless the castle is on alert.
  
• 43 - The Rookery - Home to Mad Martin (NG Human Commoner 6) and his messenger ravens; this is another strategic point of Balentyne. Martin rarely leaves here preferring the company of the birds, but he will leave for meals and religious services. If not destroyed the raven’s will quickly carry word of an invasion to all nearby reinforcements; without them the response will be too late. If attacked here Mad Martin can call up his ravens of attack as a swarm (CR 3), he will also try to blow his signal horn and call human guards to his aid.

• 44 - Upper Landing - Two guards are always stationed here. There is a trapdoor and ladder leading to the roof.
  
• 45 - Guest Room - Room for official visitors.
  
• 46 - Lord’s Council Chambers - Conference room of Lord Havelyn, it’s very plain as befits the man. In the northwest corner of the room is a heavy oaken chest that is locked, trapped and alarmed. This is the castle treasury, contained within is 7400gp worth of coins and valuable objects. Notably there are some commemorative coins celebrating the birth of Princess Belinda (the first time we encounter her outside the Gazetteer), 5 potions of cure light wounds and 2 elixirs of truth.
  
• 47 - Lord’s Private Chamber - The plainly furnished the room has one distinguishing feature; a portrait of Bronwyn of Balentyne, possibly the most beautiful woman any of the PCs have ever seen. Lord Havelyn has made this area a shrine to his dead wife. Also to be found here is a family bible containing the house lineage. Examination will reveal that the name of Lord Havelyn’s brother has been crossed out, Samuel Havelyn Cardinal of Mitra, this another clue for PCs to the identity of their employer. Lord Thomas Havelyn (LG Human Aristocrat 2/ Paladin 7) is one of the stated targets of your attack on Castle Balentyne; he can be a challenge on his own if given a chance to buff up and if accompanied by his men may very well overcome the PCs.
  
  _{Portrait of a man who huffs his own farts.}
  

  quote:

  Once Lord Havelyn is slain, the first PC who touches the +1 champion full plate proficient with the armor watches at the magic armor transforms before their eyes. It is no longer shining plate armor. Instead it become black, baroque armor adorned with the infernal iconography of Lord Asmodeus. It is now +1 dastard full plate.
  Truly, the Dark Lord of Nessus watches these deeds.

  Here’s the kickass armor of our iconic Anti-Paladin.

• 48 - Keep’s Roof - Three guards are always here to watch the surrounding area for any threats. The trebuchet is currently under repair by dwarven engineers and will not be ready in time frame of this AP.

• We had a lot of drop in-drop out players that showed up for a session or two and then stopped attending.
  
  
• Anime Swordsman died due to some extremely poor player choices the first session. I re-rolled as a Psion pirate with a golem crew. To this day I have the lead in the most character deaths in that group, and Anime Swordsman still stands as the only death that didn't get reversed somehow.
  
  
• This gave us an almost all-caster party. This meant we roflstomped 90% of the module because WIZARDS, but near the end of the module there's a large, protracted series of combats at the climax point of the adventure, and we burned through all our spells by the time we got to end of the siege. It actually got extremely tense.
  
  
• The last boss of the siege was unceremoniously two-shotted by a drop-in player playing some random mercenary none of the party had ever met before after a pair of lucky crits.
  
  
• It was a pretty constant that Dragon Sorcerer was blatantly, flagrantly overpowered and would nuke encounters out of existence, Psion Pirate was flagrantly overpowered but being constantly overshadowed in that department by Dragon Sorcerer, and 3rd Party Weirdo Psychic Class was weird and useless.
  

Crasical fucked around with this message at 16:18 on Dec 13, 2016