Ruined Monastery (day 4-5)

The heroes continued their trip through Darkmoon Vale, when a giant mosquito crossed their path and soundlessly attached itself to Tok. The heroes killed the disgusting insect before it could do him any serious damage.

After exploring Darkmoon Vale, only one ingredient remains to be found: ironbloom mushrooms. These small toadstools are known to be a dwarven delicacy, but there are no dwarves living in the area. As such, the heroes' only hope of retrieving these mushrooms is to search the ruins on the other side of Darkmoon Vale.

Unfortunately, predators have taken up residence in the ruined building. Unless otherwise noted, none of the chambers inside the monastery are lit. All of the rooms have 10-foot-tall ceilings at the minimum, but since most open up to the sloped roof above, many reach a height of up to 20 feet. The walls are all stone, with the interior walls being 1 foot thick and the exterior walls measuring at least 3 feet thick. All of the doors are strong wooden doors, and many are swollen stuck.

Sitting squat at the foot of an imposing mountain, a ruined monastery came into view between ancient gnarled trees. Made of simple stone blocks, worn smooth with the passage of time, the stout building is falling apart. Sections of the slanted shale roof have collapsed and portions of the outer wall have crumbled. Weeds and wild thorn plants run rampant across the field leading up to the place, leaving only the slightest indication of a path that ends at the ruined front doors. Beyond, an overgrown yard sits in shadow.

The old path that leads up to the ruins ends about 50 feet from the monastery. Before entering the yard, the path passes between a pair of old stone statues. While one of them is little more than rubble, the other is relatively intact. The 5-foot-tall statue is incredibly worn but it can still be made out as a dwarf holding aloft a great stone hammer. Moss and creeper vines cover most of its surface.

Tall grasses and chunks of stone debris have all but overtaken the small yard. Off to one side, a wooden stable has collapsed into a mound of rotting timbers and moldy straw. The outer wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving a ragged hole. Three doors exit into this yard – a pair of double doors to the east, a single door to the north, and a lone door leading into the squat tower in the southeast corner. A few lone razrocrows roost at the tower and caw at anyone who enter their domain.

This yard lies in ruins. Searching the tall grasses revealed a few interesting clues. A well hides in the northwest corner of the yard, with 10 feet of rope dangling into it. The water is more than 30 feet down and is brackish. Lying next to the well is a body. Valeros revealed that this body was devoured by a rather large animal.

The ruined stable hides a few ancient bones, but little else of value. The heroes revealed that these are the bones of a pony.

Although the tall grasses obscure most trails, Tok revealed faint signs that some creatures do enter the main building through the double doors. Some of these tracks looked reptilian while others are clearly made by four-legged mammals. The reptilian trail always leads to the entrance and then out into the wild while the mammal tracks leave by either the main entrance or through the hole in the eastern wall.

Hiding inside a rotting backpack at the base of the well were the remains of a week's worth of trail rations, a set of thieves' tools, 50 feet of silk rope, a small coinpurse with 42 gp in assorted coins, and a small blue vial containing a potion of cure light wounds.

The door leading into the tower was stuck. A rather aggressive monstrous spider dwelt in this room, hiding in its webs. The moment the door opened, the spider dropped down to attack. Its webs allowed it to move throughout the tower, but did not hinder the heroes' movement. The spider fought to the death

Atop the 30-foot-tall tower is an open trapdoor that leads into the interior. Thick webs covered much of the ancient crates and barrels stored inside the base of the tower. A rickety wooden staircase ascended along one wall to reach an open trapdoor above.

The wooden staircase leading to the roof of the tower was not safe. When Hrol attempted to climb the stairs the staircase collapsed.

While the supplies in most of the crates and barrels in this room have long since rotted away, one small crate contained a masterwork short sword wrapped in oilcloth.

Beyond the double doors off the yard is a small dark hall. Littered with mounds of debris and a year’s worth of dead leaves, it is clear that a narrow path winds inside. There is nothing of interest in the piles of dirt and leaves.

Pews of darkwood lie tipped over and covered in dust on either side of this ancient shrine off the entry hall. At the far end sits a large ceremonial anvil, but its surface is defaced and ruined.

The anvil was identified as an item devoted to Torag. Of particular note is a space upon the altar containing five small depressions.