187 rooms · levels 4–50
This narrow path is made of crumbling cobblestones and it is in serious need of repair. A melodious voice lifted in song drifts in from a quaint little cottage to the west, while to the east an old run down hut stands in dire need of fresh thatch for its roof. The path leads further north up a low hill and it also heads south, where the soothing sound of water rippling against the shore can be heard.
This small room has been carved into the trunk of a huge tree. It's not very big but it contains all the conveniences that one could hope for in a handy hideout. In the far corner sits a small ice box containing snacks and in the other corner rests a large waterbed. This looks like a real home away from home.
Hidden here in her country estate, Kelra the mistress of magic practices her art. A large fireplace dominates the room and several chairs are gathered around it for her pupils to sit and learn the skills needed to be a mage. Everything here seems to be neat and tidy except for a small bump which rises from under a throw rug in the middle of the wooden floor. It almost looks as if something is concealed there.
The clutter in the single room hut is astounding. Ancient tomes lie scattered about and a pile of scrolls lie in the corner. Dust seems to cover everything and the sky can be seen through large gaping holes in the roof. A small round rug lies in the middle of the room and many protective symbols are woven into its fabric. It is here that the great sorcerer Khris sits and memorizes his spells and also teaches the finer points of being a sorcerer. Several small pillows are scattered about the floor for visitors to sit on while they converse with Khris.
Wow! A secret tunnel. And you thought this only happened in tall tales! You feel a shiver of excitement as you ponder where such a tunnel might lead and what secrets it was made to hide. A wooden ladder climbs up to a trapdoor and a faint flickering light can be seen down the narrow tunnel to the east.
The tunnel narrows to allow only a single person at a time to pass then suddenly enters into a cozy little room. The floor is covered with a plush tiger skin rug and silken drapes line the walls depicting some peaceful far away land. Candles set in special alcoves cast their dim light into the room while soft romantic music radiates from somewhere. Clearly there is more to Kelra and Khris than meets the eye. An intense feeling of privacy radiates in this room.
Cool, a secret tunnel! Bet all your friends will be envious of your superior skill and cunning. A wooden ladder leads up to a trapdoor while soft music can be heard from a narrow tunnel to the west.
The path meanders its way up a low hill. At the top is an impressive view. To the south the village of Daleville sits nestled in a small valley, a tiny hamlet known as Shire can be seen to the west, while to the north a dense forest can be seen with a tall clock tower rising from just beyond it. In all the realm it is said to be the last functioning clock tower, a relic left over from a more peaceful and civilized time.
The path has very few cobblestones left here and could more rightly be named a dirt trail. It winds its way south up a low hill and north towards a dense forest. Next to the path you see what appears to be a huge set of tracks. Perhaps a closer look at them would reveal what sort of creature passed this way.
Off from the main path this side track follows a huge set of tracks to the west. It's not surprising that it is rarely used. Who in their right mind would follow a creature big enough to make them? The trail winds its way west around several low hills and it also goes east, back to the relative safety of the main path.
The trail winds around many hills and finally terminates at an immense black gate. Curiously the gate just rises out of the ground and does not connect to anything. Perhaps it was once connected to a wall which has since eroded away leaving only this strange black gate. Then again, a closer look at the gate might reveal more information about its origin or purpose.
The gate enters into a huge black area. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all made of the same jet black substance with tiny points of light flickering inside. It almost looks like someone has forged this room out of the night sky. Whatever material this place is made of, it is incredibly cold to the touch and absorbs all light cast upon it. The only exit from this place lies east, back through the Infinity Gate.
The path cuts straight north into the forest here, and also snakes south into some hills. A large shady tree grows by the path and it looks like a great place to take a break from the day's journey. A small sign is nailed to the tree and you see some writing on it.
A huge white oak tree dominates this area. Its branches stretch out like giant arms in all directions casting a huge shadow. A pleasant meadow stretches around its base and many acorns dot the ground. The top of the tree is hidden by leaves and branches and it would take a skilled climber to reach it.
The view from the top of this tree is magnificent. To the south a village can be seen nestled in a valley with many roads and trails leading in all directions from it, undoubtedly a major gathering point for people of these parts. Off to the west is a tiny hamlet with mainly earthen homes, probably a halfling village judging by the architecture. Also far in the distance to the northwest a golden hued city resting on the top of a high cloud can be seen shimmering in the light. Surely this must be a mirage as what force could make a flying city such as this?
Here in the shade of a huge oak tree, a large grassy meadow has formed. The grass stands nearly two feet high and covers the entire area around the tree. It appears many forest creatures have been feeding on the grass as it has been cropped short in many places. Sitting on a small thorny bush a meadow lark sings a happy song while keeping a sharp watch for any unsuspecting grasshoppers who might hop by.
A large patch of wildflowers has grown here. They are a beautiful sight to behold, all the colors of the rainbow in every shape and size. The air is filled with their sweet fragrance. Many bees attracted by this scent dart among the flowers gathering the sweet nectar, which they then carry off to their hives far away.
Tall trees, a few small shrubs, and some leafy bushes mark the edge of the forest here. A narrow dirt path heads north deeper into the heart of the forest while it exits the forest to the south. Through the trees to the west is a colorful patch of wildflowers, while to the east large thorny bushes crowd around the tree trunks making it look very unwise to go that way.
A dense collection of thorny bushes grow here among the trunks of several small trees. Great care must be taken to move safely through this area because of the great number of thorns present. A small axe is embedded in a tree, where someone tried in vain to clear a safe path south through this briar patch. Many small rabbit tracks dot the ground here, though there is no other sign of one.
In the dim light that filters through the huge walnut tree a dark glade has formed. Shadows veil the ground in many places and many small animals can be seen moving about in the darkness. The grass here is very short and many discarded walnut husks litter the ground.
This giant tree dominates the area. Its base is thirty feet across and it stands hundreds of feet tall. Its huge limbs spread out over the surrounding area creating a large dim glade which circles the tree. Walnuts dot the ground and high in the tree, barely visible due to the leaves, a number of strange brown fruits grow. They are definitely not walnuts, however to reach them for a closer look would require superb climbing skills.
The top of this tree is covered by dozens of strange brown fruit. However one of them suddenly drops from its branch and flies off revealing their true nature, BATS! This tree is home to dozens of huge blood sucking vampire bats!
A pleasant meadow has formed here in the shadow of a huge oak tree. Small animal trails are abundant here and it is apparent that this part of the meadow must receive frequent grazing as this grass is quite short here when compared with the grass to the east.
It is cool here in the shade provided by a huge oak tree to the southwest. The grass stands nearly three feet tall and it makes a pleasant rustling sound as it waves in the wind... Wait there is no wind today yet the grass continues to move about as if there was a strong breeze blowing it. It almost appears that the grass is alive!
The trees are tall and thin here, each trying to reach higher than the others to claim more of the precious sunlight. It is difficult to say if any of them are winning as they all appear to be the same height. A small trail can be seen to the east and a marvelous perfumed scent drifts in from the south.
Strange animal cries come from the north, where the tiny dirt trail leads deeper into this dark and foreboding forest. The trail also heads south where the trees thin out a bit. A small set of rabbit tracks lead to the east where an immense growth of thorny bushes serves to discourage travel in that direction.
A tangled mess of thorny bushes fill this area. They also seem to have spread to the south where several small trees are slowly being choked out by these treacherous plants. A set of rabbit tracks circle this area several times, looks like the rabbit was running from something. The tracks enter the area from the west but they don't seem to exit anywhere. Must be a clever creature indeed to hide here without being seen.
This gloomy area is shaded by a massive tree to the southeast. In the light available only grass seems to be able to grow here. This glade is bordered on the north by many small trees and to the west by a dense wall of thorny bushes.
The grass grows quite short here in the shadows cast by the massive tree rising from the south. The air here is very still and not a sound comes from the surrounding forest. A large marble tombstone rises from the ground and a small bouquet of flowers lies at its base. This seems a strange place to find so nice a burial plot.
It is lightly wooded here with many small bushes and saplings mixed in among the older trees. To the south a large meadow surrounding a truly colossal tree can be seen. It must be hundreds if not thousands of years old to have grown so huge. Many tiny animals can be seen at its base, squirrels or perhaps rabbits, it is hard to tell for certain this far away.
A large patch of clover has grown here and apparently the rabbits have found it as well. Many of the plants have had one or more of its leaves nibbled off and some have been eaten all the way down to the stem. Rabbits are voracious eaters and it is amazing this patch has survived as long as it has.
Several maple trees have grown here and some of them are getting quite large. One tree in particular looks truly ancient. Many of its branches show signs of being hit by lightning and it has a large dark hole in its base. The hole looks big enough to fit your hand in, though perhaps a quick peek inside would be safer.
The remnants of a small forest path run north and south from here, though at the rate the forest is encroaching on the path it will not exist for much longer. Grass and weeds already grow on it and a few tiny saplings have also taken root there. To the north the path seems to disappear completely into a dense circle of trees.
It is lightly wooded here with many small bushes and saplings mixed among the other trees. The forest stretches as far as can be seen in every direction except for the south, where a huge patch of thorny bushes serves to prevent travel that direction.
A lone apple tree stands here surrounded by young oaks. Many of its apples have become overripe and fallen to the grass below. Once the apples have fallen to the ground they don't last long. If the animals don't eat them then the huge white worms which squirm in the grass surely will.
It is lightly wooded here with saplings and small bushes mixed in among the larger trees. Through the trees to the south a dark glade surrounds a truly colossal walnut tree. In the shadowy glade just this side of the tree a large stone rises out of the grass. It looks like grey marble and is shaped just like a tombstone, but this seems unlikely. After all, who would want to be buried in a forest?
Darkness fills the woods and shadows dance among the trees. Tiny eyes watch from the overhanging branches of many of the trees. Suddenly a low deep growl fills the woods, and all the eyes in the trees vanish save one pair which glows a deep malevolent red.
The trees here become denser, and less and less light is able to penetrate through to reach the forest floor. It seems quite peaceful here, with a soft breeze blowing from the east rustling the leaves and filling the grove with the fresh scent of pine trees. A bird can be heard chirping somewhere to the south, and the soft rhythmic drip, drip, drip of blood falling from a tree branch not far overhead... Wait a second, BLOOD? A quick check above reveals that something has hung a partially eaten deer carcass high in a tree, possibly to serve as a midnight snack. Perhaps this is not such a good place for quiet and peaceful contemplation of the finer things in life.
A large group of mushrooms growing in a circle create this faerie ring. Legends say that all kinds of faerie folk use such circles for great festivals which can last from a single night to as long as a century. It appears to be abandoned now, although the grass is trampled just inside the ring.
A small stand of pine trees grows here, surrounded by the more predominant oak and maple trees. The pine tree's scent fills the air and millions of tiny pine needles cover the forest floor. Several young birds can be heard chirping for more food from their nests, hidden somewhere inside the protective cover of these trees.
An old moss-covered shrine sits in the middle of a circle of trees. It looks quite ancient, and is covered by engravings and fancy scroll work. On the top of it there is a message carved in the stone, however it would take a much closer look at the shrine to have any chance of reading it. A shrine such as this is normally used by druids for their prayer and meditation, but this one seems to be in disuse judging by its current condition. That is not to say that it has lost power, for within the circle of trees no violent actions may be committed.
The soft light that filters through the trees creates a timeless quality not found in other parts of the forest. Small ferns grow in the dim lighting and a single butterfly flutters through the air. To the west a small forest shrine stands surrounded by trees and to the east you catch a glimpse of something moving in a large tree.
Thousands of butterflies flutter here among the trees. They seem to be hatching from an old elm tree. Millions of tiny cocoons hang from the branches and most of them are wiggling and squirming about. The entire tree seems to pulsate as each individual butterfly breaks free from its cocoon, finds a perch and begins to fan its wings to dry them. Judging from the number of cocoons still hanging from the tree and the great numbers of butterflies clouding the air they have been hatching for several days and will likely continue to hatch for days if not weeks to come.
Here deep in the forest it is strangely silent. A sizable elm tree stands here, missing most of its bark from around the base. It seems some huge beast has been using the trunk of this tree to sharpen its claws, much like a cat does. But it has removed huge strips of bark from as high as six feet, and left deep gouges in the wood. Large catlike tracks lead from this tree to the east where the woods open up into a large sunny glade surrounding a maple tree.
The light shines down in this large open area surrounding a large maple tree. The brightness here makes a stunning contrast to the dimly lit forest to the west. A cool breeze blows in from the east combined with the shade of the tree makes this the perfect place to take a nap. In fact judging by the large patch of flattened grass under the tree some animal has been doing just that here. High in the tree many songbirds have built their nests and they are singing a pleasant happy song.
The ground here has become quite soft and muddy. Many animal and bird tracks line the shore. The empty shells of dozens of crawfish scattered across the muddy shore seem to indicate that they are a favorite food of many creatures. To the north the ground becomes a mucky swamp and it would not be safe to walk there.
A huge pile of leaves has been gathered here between several smaller trees and a large bush. The purpose of the leaves is not clear... perhaps it's a home for some creature, or bedding for a deer or the like. Then again, it might just be where the wind blew the leaves.
A large oak tree grows here surrounded by a small clearing. Animals must come here often for not a single acorn remains on the ground near the base of the tree. In fact, not even a single leaf or stick lies on the ground anywhere around the tree... just short soft grass shaded by the large oak tree. This would be a perfect place for a picnic.
Suddenly a huge, vibrant rainbow arcs down out of the sky and lands on the oak tree, lifting everything here in its light high into the branches. A small door, hidden until now, glows in the trunk above, lit by the prismatic light. All the old stories say that great treasure lies at the end of a rainbow, and this may truly be a treasure trove. Below, the ground around the oak waits for the rainbow to fade.
This woodland trail leads from a large ring of trees south of here northwards, where far in the distance something large is shining in the light. It is hard to tell what is shining ahead. It might be a huge pile of gold coins... But somehow that doesn't seem likely.
A large oak tree grows here surrounded by a small clearing. Acorns, dried leaves, and small twigs and branches litter the ground. The many animal tracks indicate the popularity of this spot. Deer, squirrel, and raccoon seem to be the most common tracks present, although a large set of catlike footprints seems to indicate that not all the animals who come here are looking for nuts.
The forest suddenly becomes very still. A tree completely shrouded in webs looms above the forest floor. Many small animals encased in webbing hang from the high branches of the tree. Fine gossamer threads hang down from the tree and wave gracefully in the air. It almost looks like the spiders are fishing for their victims.
A large black berry bush grows here snarled around several trees. Nothing is better to feed the weary traveler than some fresh black berries, but it appears that some animal also likes them as no ripe berries remain. Large animal tracks surround the bush and they look quite fresh... Perhaps the culprit who ate all the berries is not far away.
The land is covered by several feet of water and the bottom looks very soft. Dozens of cattails rise out of the muck, and several huge lily pads float on the surface. Strange dark shapes move about under the water's surface, while above it several tiny dragonflies dart around looking for prey.
The ground here has become quite soft and muddy. Many animal and bird tracks line the shore. The empty shells of dozens of crawfish scattered across the muddy shore indicate they are a favorite food of many creatures. To the north and west the ground becomes a mucky swamp and it would not be safe to walk there.
A huge weeping willow tree grows here in the damp soil. Its long limber branches dangle almost to the ground. Many tiny globes of light dart about the tree and some of them fly off to the northwest where the ground becomes quite swampy. It seems unclear what the lights are but they definitely look spooky.
The forest trail splits here with the main path heading north and south, and a smaller side path heading east. To the north something huge is shining brightly, while to the west small globes of light seem to dance around a willow tree.
This tiny path seems to get a fair amount of use judging by the number of footprints imprinted in the soil. The tracks seem to head west toward a large path and also east where a large stone well sits in a tiny clearing.
A large stone well sits here in a tiny clearing. A wooden bucket is here for drawing water from the well. One end of a thin rope is attached to the bucket and the other end is tied to the base of a signpost which reads, "Ye Olde Wishing Well." The water in the well is crystal clear and you can see a great number of gold coins down there. This well must be visited quite often for such a pile of coins to accumulate.
The well shaft leads straight down forty feet through crystal clear water. The bottom of the well is lined with flagstone upon which countless gold coins have accumulated. It is said to be bad luck to steal from a wishing well but then who needs luck anyway?
A large tree stump sits here covered by a dark green lichen. The tree has fallen to the north where it also lies covered by lichen. It looks like something actually chewed through the tree to make it fall, quite a feat really considering the tree is nearly three feet thick.
The water in the swamp gets very deep here. Huge cattails rise out of the muck and giant lily pads dot the water. Small frogs sit on the lily pads sunning themselves, while below the water's surface tiny fish can be seen darting about. Strangely, several cattails and even a few of the lily pads look as if something has burnt them recently. Of course such water plants tend to repopulate quickly when damaged or destroyed.
Deep below the swamp's surface lies the muddy bottom. It is strangely smooth with many thin plant stems rising toward the surface. Tiny fish swim by the stems and dart here and there after some tiny prey too small to see. Suddenly from out of the muck something moves! The once clear water is now muddy and visibility is reduced to almost nothing.
The water here seems to vary from about six inches to nearly five feet deep. While this does not seem very deep, the bottom under this water is pure muck and it is at least ten feet thick. Several large green frogs sit upon huge lily pads waiting for a fly to wander along.
The ground here has become quite soft and muddy. Many animal and bird tracks line the shore. The empty shells of dozens of crawfish scattered across the muddy bank indicate that they are a favorite food of many of the forest creatures. To the west lies a mucky swamp and it would not be safe to walk there.
Tall trees, a few small shrubs, and bushes mark the edge of the forest here. A narrow trail heads south deeper into the heart of the forest, and to the north the trail ends at a huge shining brass gate. Through the trees to the west the forest seems to give way to swampy land, while to the east large trees grow as far as the eye can see.
The trees tower overhead. They are so tall in fact that it would be easy to pass here and not notice that the ground is covered by small red ferns, with their delicate fronds stretched out to catch the light that filters through the trees. The ground here is quite damp and very rich in nutrients. This may explain why the ferns have taken over this entire area from the grass that is present elsewhere, then again it may not.
An olive tree stands here and its fruit will soon be ripe enough for picking. This olive tree seems dwarfed standing next to the other trees, yet somehow it has managed to survive under these less than perfect growing conditions. An abandoned bird's nest can be seen high in the tree but whatever bird made it has long since left the area.
A rather large rotting log lies here on the forest floor, slowly being enveloped by a deep green lichen. Scattered about the ground is a lot of loose dirt, apparently strewn about by something digging a tunnel beneath the log. Judging by the size of the entrance hole whatever dug it is no more than three feet tall.
A short, tiny tunnel exits into a fairly good-sized burrow. Enough dirt has been excavated to allow one to stand fully erect. A glowing red light emanates from the floor upon which millions of tiny beetles crawl and scurry about. In fact, it looks like the beetles themselves provide the light. Each has a tiny pair of glowing red balls attached to their head. At the far end of the burrow, just visible in the eerie lighting, a human corpse can be seen rotting on the damp ground.
A large brass gate stands here connected to a brick wall. It's hard to look directly at it because of the light glinting off its highly polished surface. A small keyhole is the only area on the gate where the brass is starting to tarnish. No doubt someone will be along to polish it soon. A muddy welcome mat sits on a stone slab at the base of the gate.
A huge courtyard lies before the clock tower. In its center a large stone fountain gurgles with fresh water, and a puddle at its base says someone has used it recently. To the south, a shining brass gate opens through the low brick wall that surrounds the tower. Trellises with ivy are fixed to the wall on each side of the gate: an easy climb up to the top of the wall, should the gate stick shut. A cobblestone path follows the wall west and east, and to the north the great oak doors open into the tower.
The cobblestone path heads north and east from here, following the low brick wall which surrounds the clock tower. To the east the path enters into a large courtyard and to the north it continues to follow the wall.
The cobblestone path heads north and south from here, following the low brick wall which has been built to protect the clock tower. The wall has many tiny vines and some kind of green lichen growing on it, while the smooth gray stone of the tower is clear of any kind of plant growth around its entire base.
The cobblestone path heads south and east from here. The stones on the path look quite worn down, no doubt by the passing of countless patrols around the tower's base.
The cobblestone path heads west and east from here, following the low brick wall which surrounds the clock tower. A small window on this side of the tower has been bricked over using the same type of bricks used for the wall. However, the mortar holding these bricks to the gray stone of the tower is not adhering well, and they could easily be pulled out.
Dust covers the floor and spider webs hang in the corner of this forgotten room. Clearly no one has been here in quite some time. In fact, it may never have been inhabited as there does not seem to be a doorway into this room, just a small window in the north wall.
The cobblestone path heads south and west from here, following the low brick wall which surrounds the clock tower. In the corner near the wall a strange tree seems to have taken root. From its branches hang many tasty looking brown fruits.
The cobblestone path heads north and south from here, following the low brick wall which surrounds the clock tower. To the north a tree can be seen, while looking straight up, the eastern clock face is barely visible. It's hard to make out what it reads from here, perhaps someone farther away from the tower's base could read it.
The cobblestone path heads north and west from here, following the low brick wall which surrounds the clock tower. To the west the path opens into a large courtyard and to the north it continues along the wall.
This is the entrance hall for the clock tower. South of here are the large oak doors which provide a way into and out of this tower. Small guard posts can be seen to the west and east. A long hallway stretches to the north and many colorful tapestries adorn the walls.
This tiny room is located just inside of the entrance to the clock tower. If danger threatens, the guards stationed here would likely become the first line of defense for the tower. They also serve to prevent any thieves from exiting the tower should a call for arms be made from inside. The guards of this tower take guard duty very seriously.
This tiny room is located just inside of the entrance to the clock tower. If danger threatens, the guards stationed here would likely become the first line of defense for the tower. They also serve to prevent any thieves from exiting the tower should a call for arms be made from inside. The guards of this tower take guard duty very seriously.
This long hallway stretches from some oak doors far to the south, towards the north where it leads to a huge spiral staircase. Along both walls of this hallway, great flowing tapestries show an artist's rendering of a terrific beast ravaging the land. Tiny writing can be seen embroidered along the border of the tapestry, perhaps a closer look would reveal what sort of beast is represented here.
This intersection is the meeting place of the entrance hallway to the south and a long hallway which stretches both east and west from here. A large stone arch in the north wall also allows access to a massive spiral staircase which ascends higher into the tower.
A huge spiral staircase rises from the floor here. It is carved out of a single piece of grey marble-like stone. It is a massive piece of stonework, and has a different feel to it than the rest of the tower. Perhaps these stairs are all that remains from a more ancient structure and this clock tower was built around them. A stone arch in the south wall allows access back to the ground floor of the clock tower.
The hallway runs west and east from here. In the south wall a archway leads into a large, dimly lit chapel, while the delectable aroma of food being slowly cooked to perfection drifts in from the west. Someone has scrawled a crude message on the north wall with a piece of chalk. Strange place to find graffiti, wonder what it says?
The archway enters into a large, dimly lit chapel. Several rows of wooden pews rest before a large stone altar. The altar seems to be dedicated to the elven god Celestian. It is very strange to see an altar to Celestian here, since normally services to him are held outdoors with a clear view of the....*gasp*.... Where the ceiling should be in this chapel a bright star filled sky can be seen, yet this seems impossible as this room lies on the bottom floor of a tall tower. Of course who is to say what is impossible when dealing with the creator of the universe.
This is the extreme west end of the east-west corridor. To the north is a swinging door providing entrance to the kitchen, while the corridor runs east from here as far as the eye can see. Hanging from the west wall is a huge, colorful tapestry.
This huge kitchen is dominated by a large wood burning stove on the north wall. A black iron cauldron full of hot stew rests on it, probably beef judging by its tantalizing aroma. A long wooden table rests against the west wall for food preparation. Above this table is a massive collection of pots and pans dangling from the ceiling, just within easy reach of the cook. Judging by the delectable aroma radiating from this room, the meals being prepared here must truly be fit for a king. A small door in the east wall leads to the pantry, while a swinging door exits to the south.
Shadows dance wildly here, cast by a burning torch mounted in an iron bracket on the north wall. Even in the dim lighting it is clear that this must be a food pantry. Stacked along the walls are dozens of wooden crates of every size imaginable. Each of these crates is carefully marked with what food item is stored within. Oddly, one large crate marked "bread" has been opened and it is quite empty. Not even a single bread crumb remains, just a few wood chips left over from some rodent gnawing a hole in the corner of it. No doubt this hole explains the disappearance of the bread.
The hallway runs west and east from here. In the south wall, an open door leads into a large dining room. Some graffiti has been inscribed on the northern wall.
This room is dominated by a huge dining table covered by a white cloth. A candle burns in its center and a half-eaten meal sits at the far end: whoever was eating it left in a terrible hurry. Hard to believe anyone could be pulled away from a meal that smells this good. A doorway leads north, and a small stone fireplace is built into the south wall.
This is the far east side of the east-west corridor. On the north wall a wooden door rests partially ajar. From beyond the door a rapid hammering can be heard. Suddenly, a hot blast of air comes through the door, ruffling the giant tapestry which hangs on the eastern wall of the corridor.
Tools of every sort fill this woodworking shop: saws, files, hammers and a large kiln are only the most common of them. On a large workbench in the middle of the room sits the current project, a large wooden gear about three quarters finished, its craftsmanship already plain. Blueprints of every kind lie scattered about; the workers here stay very busy. An open door leads south, and a thin door in the east wall leads to a broom closet.
This tiny cubicle serves as a storage point for the various cleaning equipment employed by the tower. Mops, brooms, buckets, and dust pans seem the most common, although a few strange devices are also stored here. Not only is this where the equipment gets stored but judging by the debris on the floor this is where the dust and dirt collected gets dumped.
The huge stairway circles higher and higher, climbing upwards toward the heavens. At about fifty feet above the ground floor a large balcony on the south side provides entrance to a well lit corridor. The stairway allows travel downward to the safety of the first floor and also allows travel upwards, further into the unknown.
This major intersection allows travel in many directions. To the north a huge stairwell offers access to other floors while to the south a large glass door can be seen in the distance. West and east of here a well lit corridor stretches into the distance.
The floor of this corridor is made of a hard gray stone that has been cut and polished to a mirror-like surface. It stretches from an intersection west of here to the east, where it ends at a T junction.
This T-junction has a corridor stretching far to the west and also has a hallway that runs north and south. It is very quiet here. This area must not receive a lot of traffic.
The corridor ends here at a guard post of some sort. A huge steel door is hung in the rock of the east wall; no doubt something valuable is stored beyond it. A tiny sign hangs on the door. The corridor leads back south.
The light from a single torch reveals an incredible sight. The floor of the room is covered with huge piles of gems, rings, wands, and every other treasure imaginable. A thousand rays of light dance about the room. They seem to be formed by the torch light reflecting through the many gems on the floor. How many centuries have these treasures been collected here, and for what purpose?
The corridor ends here at what seems to be a guard post of some sort. On the west wall a huge steel door is hung into the rock wall. No doubt something quite valuable is stored in there. A tiny sign seems to be hanging on the door.
This dusty room seems to be the collection point for the weapons and armor from the tower. No doubt during a siege the guards could draw upon this collection of weapons and armor to help defend the tower from attack.
This short corridor runs north towards an intersection and south where it ends at a huge glass door. A large sign hangs on the door warning of some sort of danger that lies beyond it.
A long archery range stretches far to the east, where a colorful target can be seen. Somehow proceeding east toward this target does not seem like a good idea. In the north wall, a huge glass door prevents accidental entry into this archery range, an event which could prove dangerous to the untrained.
The smooth gray walls have a layer of wood paneling on them. And judging from the many chips and gouges on them they are there to stop ill-aimed arrows from ricocheting. Somehow, by looking at all the arrows that have gone astray and hit the wall this really might not be a very smart place to be. In fact.... RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
This is the wrong end of an archery lane to be on. A large target stands against the wall and the floor is littered with scraps of hundreds of arrows. Strangely enough, although the walls are covered with many chips and gouges, the target seems to be in mint condition. Perhaps someone just changed it.
The corridor heads west and east from here, while large wooden doors are in the north and south walls. The north door has a sign which reads, "Guard Barracks A" and the south door has a sign which reads "Guard Barracks B." Coming from the west of here, a low moaning sound can be heard. It almost sounds like someone is being tortured.
This long, narrow room has a row of bunk beds running down both walls. At the foot of each of these beds is a foot locker. Undoubtedly this is where many of the guards sleep. Faded war banners hang on the walls and each of the footlockers has some sort of a symbol on the lid. A doorway to the south allows access back to the corridor.
This long, narrow room has a row of bunk beds running down both walls. At the foot of each of these beds is a foot locker. Undoubtedly this is where many of the guards sleep. Faded war banners hang on the walls and each of the footlockers has some sort of a symbol on the lid. A doorway to the north allows access back to the corridor.
This small room is the infirmary for this tower. Here is where the sick and wounded come for treatment. Four beds line the west wall and a small chest of first aid supplies rests in the corner. A single sick guard lies here moaning, clearly in pain as the doctor prepares a "treatment."
The ivy-covered trellis creaks under every handhold but holds. The courtyard lies below, and the top of the wall is just a reach away to the south.
It is evident that this small home has not been lived in for some time. A fine layer of dust covers everything and several large cobwebs hang from the ceiling. An unmade bed sits against the southern wall and a small desk and chair is pushed against the west wall. Upon the desk lies a huge book, perhaps a diary. It seems to be open to the last page as if someone left in a hurry. A small door exits this home to the north and a trapdoor can just be made out in the ceiling concealed by the cobwebs.
The staircase climbs higher and higher toward the top of the tower. There is an exit on the north side of the stairwell from here. The stairway climbs up towards the top of the tower and down, back to the ground floor. Voices can be heard echoing from the north, but it is unclear what is being said.
This long passage is lit by torches which are mounted on the walls every five feet or so down this passage. Strangely enough even with the torches burning brightly they are not making any smoke nor are they generating heat. They must have been enchanted by some sort of spell to function in this way. Flanked by the torches on the west and east walls are large open doors, and the main passage heads north and south from here.
This room is dominated by a large captains' chair resting in the center of the room. It looks big enough for two people and is probably quite soft too. No doubt it is an excellent place to relax after a long, hard day. A large doorway heads east into the hallway.
Levers, pulleys, and gears run in every direction of this tiny, cramped room. It seems uncertain what any of it does but looking at the size of some of the gears spinning it must be powered by some incredibly powerful device. A large control panel rests against the far wall which has an impressive array of knobs, buttons, dials, and levers. This place is either the work of a genius or a madman...it's hard to tell sometimes.
This cramped crawlspace winds its way between large wood drums full of braided steel cable. The cables seem to lead west and the connecting linkage heads east into the clock works. There is also a tiny metal hatch bolted into the north wall.
The weight has climbed nearly to the top of the shaft, and a narrow ledge runs off it to the south, back over the shaft. The steel cable supporting the weight creaks and groans. This would be a very bad time for a cable to break!
The clock strikes twelve and moondrops burst, out at you from their hiding place. Like acid and oil on a madman's face, reason tends to fly away. Like lesser birds on a forewind, like silver scrapes in May. And now the sands become a crust, and most of you have gone away.
Steel cables run into this room from the east, up through a wooden pulley, and down to a huge cast iron weight ten feet across that must weigh thousands of pounds. It was made to descend into the large shaft that drops straight down from here: the weight's fall is what drives the clock. But what power could lift such a block of iron? The crawlspace is back to the east.
The walls here show scraping marks: the weight is a very tight fit in this shaft. A creaking sound draws attention above, where the huge weight is slowly descending. As it drops neatly into the shaft it leaves but one way to go... down!
Ever so slowly the huge block of cast iron descends from above. The walls have many deep scrape marks here which is strange as the weight is a perfect fit for the shaft. These must have been made by someone inserting a sword blade or other thin metal object between the wall and iron weight hoping to stop its descent. Judging by the length of the scrape marks it did not work very well. The only exit is down, deeper into the shaft.
The staircase exits onto a huge four way junction on this level and also continues to climb higher. The smooth gray floor seems quite cool to the touch here and a gentle breeze blows down the dusty passage to the west. To the east from here a huge shimmering door can be seen while the north and south of here a long passage runs. The stairway also allows quick access to lower levels, especially for those clumsy enough to slip and fall down them.
The passage runs north from here heading farther down this hallway and also heads south, towards an immense spiraling staircase. A tiny amount of a strange wispy fog rolls in from the north where it seems to be getting thicker.
A misty white fog shrouds the floor here. The fog seems to be getting thicker to the north but is quickly dissipating a little ways south from here. This fog is quite mysterious in origin, perhaps it being used to conceal one of those nasty pit traps.
The passage suddenly ends here. A huge mirror rests against the north wall. It is set in a solid looking oak frame and engraved upon its surface are millions of tiny runes and glyphs. The mirror almost seems to hum with power. The strange fog seems quite thick here but there still seems to be no explanation for its existence. The only apparent exit is south back down this strange passage.
The hard gray floor is covered with a thick layer of dust, and a cold breeze blows down the corridor. A set of footprints lead down the corridor to the west. However the footprints do not seem to return from the west, this does not seem like a reassuring sign.
The hard gray floor runs west and east from here. A strange crackling sound can be heard from the west and a cold breeze also blows to the west. A thick layer of dust covers the floor and pressed into it is a single set of footprints. The footprints lead from the east, seem to stop near the north wall where a large sign has been posted, then they lead further west down the corridor. Strangely the footprints do not return from the west, something bad must have happened to the mysterious person who made them.
The corridor reaches a dead end here... A very dead end. Hovering in the air is a large, jet black sphere. It seems to be collapsing in on itself, and sucking everything toward it. Even the air itself is drawn into the sphere and annihilated instantly. Surely this must be one of the most powerful and deadly objects in all the realms and to stay here is to surely die a quick and painful death!
[][][][][][][][][][][] [] This zone is [] [] dedicated [] [] in the [] [] memory [] [] of [] [] Heather [] [] 1970-1982 [] [] @}--,--'------- [] """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Wondering too much why awful things befall the undeserving is worse than futile. It leads to corrosive grudges against life itself. Provoking a rage beyond repair.
The sphere of annihilation crackles with energy as it begins moving towards you. You throw your arms up to defend yourself but it is no use. The sphere annihilates all matter it comes into contact with, including flesh. Your last thoughts are surprisingly not about the pain of your body being disintegrated, but rather the feeling of certainty that this has all happened before, in another time and place. Suddenly, it all becomes very clear - it's not about life or death, it's about how you choose to live.
The passage runs south from here heading farther down this corridor and also heads north towards an immense spiraling staircase. It is quiet here, maybe too quiet.
This is the midway point of a long, north-south passageway. Far to the south some huge mirror-like objects reflects light, while to the north the passage leads to the central staircase for this tower.
The passage suddenly ends here. A huge cracked mirror rests against the south wall. It is set in a solid looking oak frame which is engraved with millions of tiny runes and glyphs. It must have been quite a mirror before it was broken. The only apparent exit is north back down the passage.
This corridor is made of the same hard grey stone that the rest of the clock tower is constructed of, yet it seems different here somehow. It's unclear what the change was... Perhaps if one was to take the time and study the feeling, it would become clear what is wrong about this area.
The corridor runs from the west to the east where it ends against a huge shimmering door. It glows slightly and seems to fade in and out of existence. The key hole in the center of the door seems to be shaped like a six pointed star with tiny points of light shining from within it. There seems little hope of getting through this door without the correct key.
Beyond the shimmering door a strange and amazing chamber awaits. A long carpet woven out of tiny filaments of pure light runs from the shimmering door to a huge throne carved out of a single glowing diamond. Surrounding the throne is a sphere of air about fifty feet in diameter and beyond it lies the night sky. Nothing is left, not the tower, the forest, or even the village of Daleville is visible. Only a tiny sphere of air suspended in the middle of a star filled void. A shimmering door provides access back to the realms of mortals.
The staircase stops here at a huge bell tower. Through the large windows the surrounding countryside can be seen along with the view straight down. It must be a five hundred feet drop straight down. Hanging from the vaulted ceiling is a huge, six feet tall bell made out of solid bronze. It looms above you with a large hammer poised to strike the hour. Without a doubt, such a bell will be heard for miles around. A stairway descends into the tower from here.
This long passage is lit by torches which are mounted on the walls every five feet or so down this passage. A large wooden door stands open leading west, and a small metal hatch has been mounted in the east wall. The hallway also continues to the north and south from here.
This large room is the sleeping place for off duty clock workers. Most of the beds in this room seem quite small, and must be for halflings or gnomes. A single large wardrobe stands against the west wall, and several tiny chairs are also scattered about the room. A single wooden door provides access back into the passageway to the east.
This seems to be the main power generation point for the clock tower. The power harnessed in this chamber raises the huge weights which keep the clock running. You gasp in awe at the size and complexity of the device at the center of the room. Surely this must be the very heart of the clock tower. A small lever on the south wall is used for securing the door to this room.
A huge pendulum hangs here supported by a thin strip of highly flexible steel. The pendulum swings back and forth almost hypnotically as the huge escapement above ticks and tocks along with its lazy arc. A small wooden ladder has been bolted to the north wall and provides access to the escapement above and also follows the pendulum's shaft as it descends downward toward the pendulum bob.
The huge escapement wheel slowly rotates here, precisely controlled by the huge pendulum hanging below. The escape wheel is made out of a huge piece of solid brass which is odd as the rest of the clock's gears are made of wood. No doubt the brass has proved more durable in this critical part. A small wooden ladder heads down from here following the pendulum.
This small wooden ladder seems to have been built to provide an easy way to descend to the bottom of the pendulum. The pendulum stick slowly rocks back and forth just out of easy reach, no doubt to prevent someone from accidentally touching it. The ladder offers easy travel up toward the fulcrum point and also continues down for a long way yet before it reaches the bottom.
As the ladder goes deeper and deeper following the pendulum stick the side walls become wider to compensate for the increased swing of the stick. Another twenty feet below, at the lowest point, the pendulum's swing is almost thirty feet from one extreme to the other.
This is the extreme west end of the pendulum's swinging arc. A small chalk mark has been made on the floor at the widest point of travel of the pendulum. It is unclear if this has been made to measure something, or just a reminder not to get too close to the swinging pendulum.
The small wooden ladder stops here at the lowest point of the pendulum. The colossal pendulum stretches at least one hundred feet above and its arc cuts a very wide path. Attached to the base of the pendulum acting as a bob is a huge crystal vial. It is ten feet tall and about four feet wide. This vial seems to be about three quarters of the way full of some type of silvery colored liquid. It is hard to tell for sure though as the pendulum is constantly in motion swinging far west then east from here.
This is the eastern extreme of the pendulum's swinging arc. A small chalk mark has been made on the floor at the widest point of travel of the pendulum. It is unclear if this has been made to measure something, or just a reminder not to get too close to the swinging pendulum.
A small metal hatch leads into a well lit passage to the west, while a much smaller passageway travels east. It seems much warmer in this passage and quite a bit stuffier. This must be made for workers to access some of the internal mechanisms of the clock tower.
The passageway quickly dwindles down to a tiny crawlspace. It winds its way around many small gears and cogs as it leads deeper into the clock works. There is only enough room here for one or two small people at a time, and even then it's not comfy. The crawlspace leads south from here deeper into the clock works and also to the west back into the passageway.
The crawlspace winds its way between two long shafts that seem to come out of the solid rock wall in the west. These then enter a small gear box where they are redirected to another larger shaft that heads south from here. The shafts are spinning at a pretty high rate of speed, although it seems unclear what they do, or even what makes them turn.
Metal shavings and wood chips litter the floor here as if someone has just finished a repair but failed to clean up the mess. A large shaft enters the room from the north and connects to a series of gears that slowly rotate. This crawlspace follows the gears to the south and also runs north next to the large shaft.
The gears seem to be getting larger and larger as they head south. Soon there is barely enough space for a single person to crawl by the huge gears. The gears all seem to head for a huge complicated looking linkage which then connects to some huge drums wound with cable to the west of here.
This small cubbyhole is a welcome change from the crowded crawlspaces to the south. A small couch sits against the west wall facing a tiny, lit fireplace. Above the fireplace on a small mantle is a large, ornate clock. This clock seems to be broken as the hands are spinning about the face far too fast to be accurate. As it rapidly approaches the midnight hour, tingles begin to run up and down your spine.
As the weight slowly creeps downward, an old saying comes to mind, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' This seems like little comfort when confronted by the possibility of getting squished by a ten ton block of iron. But even still, it's not a good idea to panic.
The huge weight relentlessly descends down into the very bowels of the earth. Somewhere far below is the bottom of this deep shaft. Perhaps there is still some room to hope for an escape from this weighty predicament.
Well, looks like this is it. Directly below lies the bottom of this shaft. A quick look down reveals the bones and smashed equipment of many an adventurer who foolishly traveled this way. This seems a rather sad way for an adventurer to end an epic journey.
The floor draws nearer and nearer. Littered across it are the bones and smashed equipment of those trapped here before. In the middle of the floor, barely visible among the litter, lies a small metal sign that the weight must have scraped off the wall. The same weight even now slowly lowers to seal your fate. In the north wall, half hidden, is a button.
Wow, it's going up! Pushing the button has started the mechanism winding the weight back toward the top, in the shaft beside the one it fell down. A silent word of thanks to whoever built that safety feature, and a moment of silence for those who never found it. The weight climbs steadily higher.
The weight steadily raises in this shaft. It has a long way to go, but at least it's heading in the right direction... Up
The weight is slowly pulled upwards by some unseen device. It is nearly at the halfway point now. See, no need to panic. The situation was under your complete control the whole time... This might be a good time to change your underwear.
A cloud of dust fills the air as the trapdoor swings open to reveal the attic. Large boxes are scattered around the room shrouded by thousands of cobwebs. It looks like no one has been up here in a long long time.
A small stairway descends into the darkness. It enters into a huge, darkened chamber. Suddenly, a bright white door appears in the north wall. It glows brightly, almost beckoning you to open it.
This is a huge, circular chamber dominated by a large stone pedestal. Bright white light is radiating from the top of the pedestal where something is glowing brightly. A door in the southern part of the wall leads back into darkness.
The top of the wall is wide enough to stand on, and the view is great: the Wild Woods stretch far to the south, and behind, the clock tower rises into the sky. The trellis leads back to the north. On the outer side, the brass gate lies directly below... and it is a long way down to the ground!
This room is made to project Sounds into other rooms of this zone. Hopefully this will add some "life" to it.
This room is made to project Sounds into other rooms of this zone. Hopefully this will add some "life" to it.
This room is made to project Sounds into other rooms of this zone. Hopefully this will add some "life" to it.
This room is made to project Sounds into other rooms of this zone. Hopefully this will add some "life" to it.
This room is made to project Sounds into other rooms of this zone. Hopefully this will add some "life" to it.
The strange white mist billows and swirls around your feet as you enter the circle of stones. Suddenly, a cold wind blows from the north sending chills down your spine. The mist becomes thicker and thicker, shrouding you in a world of whiteness. You begin to feel lightheaded and then suddenly everything fades to black... When you awaken you are elsewhere.
This is a dark damp jungle filled with large creeping vines and ferns of every size. The ground is moist and covered with a deep green lichen. Giant ferns tower above as if they were trees. To the west of here a large ring of stones rises out of the ground. Something seems wrong here... Then a huge brown lizard flies by you and suddenly it's clear....you're not in Daleville anymore.
The thick foliage and the moist, squishy ground makes moving around difficult. Huge fern-like trees tower high above while the ground is covered with a deep green lichen. Strange animal cries echo through the jungle, mixing with the ever present hum of tiny flying insects.
The jungle thins a bit here, it is now possible to see a whole three or four feet before your view is blocked by the thick green foliage. Small brown lizards scurry across the ground, and several tracks made by much larger reptiles dot the ground.
A huge, blood-sucking fly darts in and out of the thick foliage here before flying north toward a small cave opening. Many giant fern-like plants tower overhead while something large can be heard crashing through the jungle to the east of here. Pressed into the damp ground here are several sets of man-shaped footprints.
Dense plant growth prevents travel to the north and hinders it greatly in the other directions. Many large willowy trees tower overhead with thousands of delicate looking ferns growing under them.
The heat and humidity of this jungle is overwhelming. A small lizard scurries across a tree trunk chasing after a bug. He almost has it when a huge crashing sound thunders from the east. The lizard jumps to the ground and runs under a log. Sounds like a tree just got ripped out of the ground. It might not be safe to go that direction.
This dank cave seems to be the home of some primitive looking humans. A small fire burns in the center of it revealing crude paintings drawn upon the walls. A large pile of bones lies in the back of the cave, serving as proof of their ability to survive in this danger filled jungle.
The thick foliage makes travel here difficult. Huge fern-like trees tower far above while the ground is covered with a deep green lichen. Strange animal cries echo through the jungle, mixing with the ever-present hum of tiny flying insects.
The thick foliage filling this jungle hinders travel and has also reduced visibility to almost nothing. A huge skull lies at the base of one of the huge fern-like trees. On it a tiny lizard sits sunning itself. It is a cute little lizard with a long bright red tail. Suddenly the tiny lizard darts across the skull and disappears into one of its eye sockets. Seconds later the air is filled with a deep rumbling sound, as some huge beast crashes through the jungle not far away.
Dense plant growth prevents travel to the east and hinders it greatly in the other directions. Small delicate looking red ferns grow in the moist ground here. Strange that they don't seem to be affected by the almost unbearable heat and humidity of this jungle.
The jungle becomes more swamp-like with the trees becoming less common. And what few trees are left look like something has ripped their tops off. Must take a huge beast to do that. Speaking of which, you're standing in a huge foot print which spans almost six feet across.
This part of the jungle is filled with the smell of death and decay. The buzzing of thousands of flies can be heard coming from a large clearing to the east of here. No doubt something huge has recently died there.
The jungle is filled with the smell of death and decay. The buzzing of thousands of flies can be heard coming from a large clearing to the east of here. No doubt something huge must have recently died there.
This large clearing is free of the dense foliage found in the rest of the jungle. This would be a swell spot for a picnic.. That is if you could ignore the huge half-eaten corpse lying in the center of the clearing.