98 rooms · levels 15–40
This peaceful section of the path brings much rest and happiness to weary travelers. The towering oaks provide just enough shade, and the sweet smell of the forest puts one at ease. An exit north leads to a forest path, while an exit south leads to a peaceful clearing.
Tall oaks crowd close on both sides of a wide, well-trodden dirt path, and the green canopy lets only a few shafts of sunlight through to the ground. Small animal tracks crisscross the dust. To the west the trees thin toward the jungle trail; to the east the path runs on into the forest of Khmer.
The packed dirt keeps a traveler's footing sure, though fallen branches from the great oaks lie here and there across the way. A cool breeze carries the smell of leaves and, faintly, of old smoke. The path runs west toward the open trail and east to a fork.
The forest path forks here. Eastward, a narrow, rocky track slips into thick, dark underbrush where few seem to go. The wide path bends south toward the city of Khmer, and the way back west leads out of the forest.
A great oak stands in the middle of the path, its roots worn smooth by passing feet. The ground here is swept clear of sticks, leaves and stones, as if someone tends it, and sunlight streams down warm through a gap in the canopy. The wide path runs north to the fork and east toward the city; a smaller, well-kept path turns off to the west.
Small woodland creatures clearly live here, yet this path is tended more carefully than any wild trail: stones are set along its edges and the moss is trimmed back. It bends south toward a quiet clearing with one great tree standing in its middle. The wide path is back to the east.
The path here is still surrounded by large oak trees, but they seem to be fewer in number. The dirt is well packed here and footprints, which appear to be humanoid in nature, can be seen packed well into the ground. A faint odor can be detected here, but its source is difficult to detect. The path continues to the east and west.
A strong odor of burning wood and charred brick can be picked up here. The path seems to be matted down some, as if it has seen some abuse as of late. The signs of animal life are few and scattered. The path continues eastward to what appears to be a clearing, or to the west.
A clearing of muddied ground is here. The area appears to have seen much abuse. Bits of broken rock and stick lie about and the muddy ground is torn up in numerous places. The smell of burnt wood and charred brick is strong here. Looking south one can see a small city which apparently has seen much abuse. The gates to the city are immediately to the south. A path leads to the west.
A large stone wall extends to the east and west. It has obviously seen much abuse and seems to be leaning in just a bit. The cold grey stones of the wall are cracked in many places and bits of rock fall to the ground forming small mounds on the earthen floor. The gates to the city, once polished and well cared for, lay in a mangled mass, their hinges torn from the rock that once supported them. The black iron of the gates is now rusting, its twisted form a testimony to the brutal, unexpected attack on the city. To the north, a forest path, to the south, the city of Khmer.
A road of broken cobblestone greets visitors to the city. The streets were once well cared for, but now are broken, the stones uprooted from battle. Looking south one sees the main street of Khmer, shops and alleys branching off at various points. To the east and west, a dirt path extends along the damaged, grey stone wall of the city. To the north the main gates of Khmer.
Main Street begins here, just inside the gates: the widest of Khmer's thoroughfares, though its cobblestones are cracked and scorched from the fighting and weeds creep up between them. A cross street runs east to the red brick of the Castle Road and west to South Street. The gates are just north; Main Street runs on south toward the town square.
Shops line both sides of Main Street here. To the east, Raimlin's General Store has a freshly patched door; to the west, smoke rises from the chimney of Calgor's forge, and the ring of hammer on steel carries over the street. Bits of broken stone crunch under the feet of travelers. Main Street runs north and south.
A side street runs east from here toward the Castle Road, busy with the comings and goings of Krib's Tavern. To the west, a dark alley slips between two burned-out buildings; few honest folk go that way. Main Street runs north and south, its cobblestones stained with old blood.
Cuts of meat hang in the window of the butcher's shop to the east, and the smell of blood and sawdust drifts into the street; from the west, the warm smell of the bakery's ovens does its best to cover it. The town square lies just south, and Main Street runs north toward the gates.
This is the town square of Khmer, where its two great streets cross: Main Street running north and south, Church Street east and west. A large fountain stands in the center of the square; it is cracked, but water still trickles from the remains of a broken granite statue. A small church can be seen down the street to the east.
South of the square, Main Street grows quieter. The smashed front of a jeweler's shop gapes to the west, and to the east stands a small house patched with mud and planks. The square is just north; the street runs on south.
The street is narrower at its southern end, and poorer. A dark alley to the west, littered with scraps, leads through to South Street. Main Street ends just south at the door of a small home; the town square lies back to the north.
This small, modest home still stands, but it has obviously been ransacked and looted. The wooden walls give some protection from the cold, though a chill breeze blows through several cracks. The dirt floor makes for rough sleeping, but a broken bed sits in the north corner, and the cupboards lie bare, their doors hanging by one hinge. A stout wooden door in the west wall stands shut; Main Street is to the north.
This long dirt road running along the city wall stretches for miles around the city. The packed dirt is firm under a traveler's feet. Broken bits of stone and some large boulders are all that remain here of what used to be a guard tower. The road runs east and south.
This long dirt road runs north and south along the city's western wall, the crumbling grey stone close on its west side. Church Street joins it here, running east into the heart of the city. To the north stands the ruin of the northwest guard tower; to the south, the rebuilt southwest one.
The outer road of Khmer turns a corner here, at the foot of an old guard tower rebuilt out of large pieces of broken stone. The tower's entrance is to the south, set into the wall; the road runs north along the western wall and east along the southern one.
This long dirt road runs east and west along the city's southern wall. The cold grey stone leans in close on the south side; to the north, beyond a strip of rubble, rise the backs of the homes on South Street and the roof of the school. The road runs east toward the southeast tower and west toward the rebuilt southwest tower.
The tall stone wall gives some shelter from the sun, but the hard, packed dirt is rough on a traveler's feet. Lying in a huge heap are the remains of the southeast guard tower; whatever destroyed it did the job thoroughly. The outer road runs west along the southern wall, and to the north it becomes the red brick of the Castle Road, running beside the castle wall.
Running along the cold grey stone of the city wall, this long dirt road skirts the north of Khmer. Lying in a large mound are the remains of what was once the northeast guard tower. The road runs west to the city gates, and south, where it meets the granite wall of the castle and becomes the Castle Road.
South Street begins here and runs south through the western quarter, alleys jutting off to the side. The bloodstained cobblestone tells a little of the story of the battle to defend Khmer. To the west stands a tall storage house; to the east, the cross street leads to Main Street.
This street of broken, bloodstained cobblestone runs north and south through the western quarter. A dark alley opens to the east, leading through to Main Street past the shadowy corner where the black market keeps its trade. Further south lies the crossing with Church Street.
Running north and south through the city, this road of broken stone passes the doors of a small school to the west. To the east stands a small home, patched with wood and mud. The crossing with Church Street is just north.
This intersection joins Church Street, running east-west, with South street, running north-south. Unfortunately, the heavy air, crumbling shops and grey, blood speckled cobblestone makes it difficult to view Khmer as the beautiful city it once was.
South Street ends here among small homes in need of much repair. To the south stands one with a light in its window and room for travelers; to the east, a run-down alley leads through to Main Street. The street runs back north past the school.
This small home has seen much damage from the battle, but it has been repaired with bits of wood and mud. A modest rug covers the earthen floor and several beds of hay provide comfortable sleeping. A lantern on the wall gives the only light besides the window in the north wall. A door to the west leads out to South Street.
This small home has seen much damage from the battle, but seems to have been repaired with bits of wood and mud. Several bunks have been built in the home to provide adequate sleeping room for several weary travelers. A small stove in the corner provides heat and a place to cook a nice dinner. A long table in the center of the room seems to serve as a place to sit and talk about one's travels. A door to the north leads to the streets of Khmer.
Some of the finest metal workings used to be displayed on the walls of this shop. Unfortunately many of the wares have been destroyed or looted during the attack on the city. Calgor has been able to retain some items which he proudly displays. The shop is need of some repair, but has been rebuilt enough to resume business. An exit east leads back to the main street of Khmer.
This shop belongs to Elona, a plump woman with some of the best recipes for bread and sweets in the Dales. Large bags of flour line the walls, and the ovens fill the room with warmth. The door to the south opens onto Church Street.
This short stretch of cobblestone runs west from the town square toward South Street. It seems to have escaped much of the damage the other streets have seen, and the smell of fresh bread from the bakery to the north draws a steady trickle of hungry townsfolk. The town square is immediately east.
A dark alley runs between Main Street and South Street. Scraps of grain bags and bits of rotting food lie on the ground: the poor of the city come here to hunt for something to eat. Small mounds of rubble have been piled up for shelter, from the weather and from enemies. Main Street is to the east, South Street to the west.
The remains of what used to be a jeweler's shop lie in pieces on the floor of this disheveled shop. For some reason this building took great damage during the attack on Khmer. Large tables used to display wares lay smashed in pieces along with the wooden counter that once stood across from the exit east.
This wooden building is home to a general store. The shelves built into the walls need some restocking, but a few items line the walls and are available for sale. Raimlin, a small, grey-haired man with poor posture, has worked hard to rebuild his business by providing some of the essential items to townspeople at very reasonable prices. An exit west leads back to the streets of Khmer.
A long oak bar greets visitors to this small, friendly tavern. Toward the back of the tavern, Krib has started a large pile of broken tables and chairs that will need to be repaired after the fight in the city, but there still seems to be plenty of places for a weary traveler to relax. Krib has managed to keep his business going, after all, people definitely need a way to forget the misery brought on the city recently. A door to the south leads back to the streets of Khmer.
This side street is well traveled most likely due to the tavern that is located here. Cracked and bloodstained cobblestone serves as a reminder to the people of Khmer that they have plenty of reason to drown their sorrows in the spirits provided in the tavern to the north. To the east, the Castle Road, to the west, the main street of Khmer.
The wooden walls of this shop are lined with just a few cuts of meat. A counter, repaired as best as possible greets a visitor to the shop. Beyond the counter a large bloodstained table. An exit west leads to the main street of Khmer.
Amongst the rubble and alley trash, a makeshift business seems to have been set up here. Shadowy figures seem to dart in and out of the alley causing one to question the legitimacy of this store. A mound of rubble with a large slate of rock atop it, seems to serve as the counter. Behind the counter a sewer grate leads down below the street.
This cobblestone street runs east from the town square toward a small church. The street is well traveled, as its worn stones show, but battle was not heavy here, and it is in good condition compared with much of the city. The square lies to the west; the church and the Castle Road are east.
This small home has seen much damage from the battle, but seems to have been repaired with bits of wood and mud. A modest rug covers the earthen floor and several beds of hay provide comfortable sleeping. A wood burning stove provides heat for the home and a bit of light for the evening hours. An exit west leads back to the streets of Khmer.
This cobblestone street runs east and west in front of a small church, and it is in fairly good condition compared with the rest of the city. To the south, an arched entrance leads into the church; to the north stand the city stables. To the east lies the red brick of the Castle Road.
This brick street stands in definite contrast to the cobblestone of the rest of the city. It runs north and south in front of the great granite wall that separates the Castle of Khmer from the rest of the city, and the brick here looks new, recently repaired after the battle. A cobblestone street runs west to Main Street; to the north the road meets the ruined northeast tower.
This brick street runs north and south in front of the tall granite wall of the castle. Repairs are underway: the brick to the north is new, while to the south it is broken and shattered from battle. In the wall to the east stands the castle gate, its guards watching the street. A side street runs west past Krib's Tavern.
The brick of the Castle Road has taken a beating here: it lies in pieces, bare ground showing through in most places. The castle's granite wall rises to the east. Church Street runs west in front of a small church, and to the south the road runs on to the ruins of the southeast tower.
This road was built to carry flour and grain from the storehouse to the rest of the city, and its cobblestones are worn down by the heavy traffic of carts. To the north stands the storehouse, its walls in pieces from the fighting; to the south lies Church Street.
Most of Church Street is in fair condition, but here the stone is cracked and spattered with blood, the mark of a fierce fight. Storehouse Road runs north to the storehouse, worn down by carts. To the west, Church Street meets the outer road along the wall.
This short road leads to a small school just to the south. It is little traveled and weeds are springing up between the cobblestones. Church Street is to the north.
Church Street runs on west from South Street toward the city wall, its cobblestones spattered with old blood and cracked by fire. A narrow road turns off to the south toward the pointed roof of a small school. South Street is to the east.
Thorny underbrush closes in and the rocky ground bites at a traveler's feet. The canopy is so thick that the light turns grey and the air cold and damp. The track pushes on to the east; the fork lies back to the west.
The track twists between moss-hung trunks, and vines snag at every step. It is plainly not much traveled, yet someone keeps it open: here and there a branch has been cut back with a clean blade. The path winds on to the east and back to the west.
The way widens a little. A faint, bitter scent of woodsmoke hangs in the still air, though no fire can be seen, and under the dark canopy it is hard to tell whether it is night or day. The path continues east and west.
Large trees and thick brush hold the cold air in, still and stale. The smell of a campfire is strong now, and through the trunks to the east a small clearing can just be made out. The winding path leads back to the west.
A small clearing is here, its entrance hidden by well-crafted curtains of vine and foliage. In the center the remains of a good-size campfire smolder, sending wisps of smoke into the air, and there is an eerie feeling of being watched. Beside the campfire a tree has been cut down, leaving a broad stump whose top sits a little off kilter. A winding path leads off to the west.
This cavernous room is dark and the air dank and moist; the only sound is the drip of water from the stalactites. The floor is soft clay, well suited for silent travel, and the stubs of old candles lie scattered about. The cave continues through a narrow passage to the south. Above, a circle of daylight outlines the lid of the stump.
The walls here are very narrow and seem to close in further as one goes on. Long stalactites hang so low that taller travelers must duck or crawl, and the cold clay gives a little with every step. The passage slopes steeply down to the south toward a faint glow of candles; the cave entrance is back to the north.
This extraordinarily large room is a training hall of some sort. Small candles set about the cave floor give some light, but the room is too large to be lit well. It is sectioned off by training focus: to the south, straw figures with stab marks in their backs; to the north, large stones set on the floor, perhaps for teaching young thieves to move without a sound; and to the east, a corner lit just well enough to practice hiding in shadows. The walls are cold and jagged except the south wall, which has been smoothed over and bears a plaque. A small opening leads east, a passage branches off to the west, and a narrow passage climbs away to the north.
This wide passage is very dark, yet one has the distinct feeling of being watched. The mud floor is firmer here and each footstep comes back as a soft echo. A few worn steps carved out of the rock lead to a room to the west; the training hall is to the east.
This is home to Banturo, master of this guild. He has trained in the skills of the thief for many years and is very good at what he does. The room is bare but for a small table carved out of a large rock in the center of the floor. Streaks of light stream in through holes in the ceiling high above, casting odd shadows on the walls. The passage is to the east.
This training room is considerably smaller than its adjoining counterpart. The darkness makes it increasingly difficult to determine shadow from figure. Water from large stalactites drips to the ground. An exit west can be seen.
This dark tunnel is very narrow, and it runs on and on beneath the streets of Khmer, so long and straight that the light from either end is lost long before the middle. At the north end, a smooth stone wall seems out of place. Above, a sewer grate lets in streams of light from the black market.
This is the bedroom of Toren, son of Drelo and Smaeda. The room is quite small and the only real possessions in the room are a small bed against the west wall and an oak dresser standing against the north wall. A wooden door leads to the main living area in the house to the east.
This dark alley feels cold and eerie, and broken rubble crunches under the feet of those who dare to come here. In a corner of the alley to the south, someone has set up a makeshift place of business; shadowy figures dart in and out, making quick trades before slipping back into the darkness. The alley runs east to Main Street and west to South Street.
This large wooden structure serves as a stable for the city. There are no signs of the stable being used currently, but the straw floor and stalls provide decent bedding for those citizens whose homes were burned down in the attack on Khmer. The smell of manure hangs heavy in the air. An exit south leads back to Church Street.
A large archway of carved stone greets visitors to the church. The carvings seem to be of various gods and goddesses, their faces somewhat weathered and worn. The church has obviously been here for quite some time. A large, well crafted wooden door to the south seems to have avoided much of the heavy damage that the rest of the city has withstood. The streets of Khmer lie to the north.
The sanctuary of the church stands in odd contrast to the rest of the city: it seems to have escaped the damage and abuse that has plagued the area. The musty smell of old parchment hangs heavily in the air. Large wooden pews, old but in fair condition, line the east and west walls, and the floor is unpolished but well-crafted granite. To the south stands a large stone altar. An archway leads west, and the church entrance is to the north.
This drafty room houses a large stone altar. Carvings on the altar, a chain of oak leaves, are intricate and seem to be inlaid with gold. The south wall, behind the altar, is made of a mixture of various stone and rock and is covered with an ornate tapestry of golden and reddish colors. The sanctuary is to the north.
This long stone hallway is dimly lit, and the echo of footsteps carries through the church. The cold, damp air carries the musty scent of parchment and scrolls. A door at the south end of the hallway can just barely be seen; the sanctuary is to the east.
The thick smell of parchment comes from this room, the sleeping chambers of Lenox Holoway, High Priest of Khmer. The room is ornately decorated with tapestries from many lands. A large oak desk, obviously well used, stands against the south wall below a large window, and against the west wall a small but plush bed makes for comfortable sleeping. The hallway is to the north.
This hidden room serves as storage for much of the church's valuables. It was built just after the invasion of the city, and its walls seem to be a mixture of various stone, quite distinct from the stone used to build the original church. The room was built quickly as evidenced by the rushes of wind that sneak in through the cracks.
The school's west door opens on a narrow road running north to Church Street. Inside, the smell of smoke and sulfur is strong. The library is to the west, a laboratory to the south, and the hallway to the east.
A sign above the doors bids one welcome to the School for the Study in the Arts of the Magician. The school appears fairly new and well built; there is slight damage on the outside, but it was clearly not a main site of the battle. Odors drift from the rooms beyond, suggesting the school is still in use. A hallway leads south into the school, and South Street is to the east.
The musty odor of old books fills the room. Three walls are lined with great stacks of books on magic and sorcery; some are fairly new, but most have seen long years of use. Even the windows are blocked by books, so the room stays dim. A few wooden chairs are scattered about, some turned on their side, pushed out of the way to make room for more piles. The school's west door is to the east.
This hallway runs through the dark, seemingly deserted school. Were it not for the lingering odor of smoke and sulfur, one might think the place abandoned. The wooden floor creaks underfoot. To the south is a door to what appears to be an office; to the west, the school's west door; and the entrance is to the north.
On entering this room one's skin begins to tingle: a sense of magic and power lingers in the air. A large oak desk stands opposite the door, books stacked and scattered across its top, and more books and parchment lie piled on the floor. A few chairs sit against the east wall, and a window to the west lets in the only light. A door to the south stands slightly ajar; the hallway is to the north.
A large bed sits against the south wall here, and candles burned almost to their ends are set about the room. Several comfortable chairs make good places for reading and meditation. A small window in the west wall is the only source of daylight. To the north, a door leads to the office.
Wooden tables and shelves of books fill most of this room. The strong odor of smoke and sulfur from the practice of countless spells stings the eyes. Among the tables lie stacks of books and scrolls and piles of blank parchment, with small empty vials and jars scattered about. A door to the north leads to the school's west door.
Bits of brick and rubble cover the cobblestone floor of what appears to be a storage house. The walls are charred black from what must have been heavy fighting, and the dust hangs so heavily in the air that it is hard to breathe. A long hallway leads north; to the south, Storehouse Road.
This long, dark hallway is hard going over the heavy rubble that covers the floor. The brick walls have several large holes and in places fail to reach the ceiling. A doorway leads east into the storage room; to the south is the storehouse's south entry.
This room was once a large storage house for grain and flour, as the torn sacks lying in scraps on the floor show. The place was looted of its contents not long ago, and a small stack of charred wood suggests that a peasant called it home for at least one night. Exits lead off to the west, the south and the east.
Broken bits of brick and mortar cover the cobblestone ground here. The brick walls have several large holes and, in some places, no longer reach the ceiling. The walls are charred black, the apparent site of the battle to defend Khmer. The place appears desolate and the dust from the rubble makes it a bit difficult to breathe. There is little to see here except for an exit to the west. To the east, the streets of Khmer.
This dimly lit room was a bagging area for grain. The rubble on the floor has been cleared away in places, perhaps to make room for sleeping: the peasants of Khmer have claimed this building as a makeshift home. Open doorways lead north and east, and stairs lead up.
The odor of charred brick hangs heavily in this room. The walls, what is left of them, are charred black. Broken bits of brick and mortar cover the ground and the dust makes it rather difficult to breathe. In several spots, mounds have been made out of the rubble, perhaps the peasants' attempts to hide while catching some much needed rest. A doorway leads to the west.
This appears to be the main sleeping quarters for many peasants. They have very creatively built cubby holes out of bits of rock and rubble, allowing for small, individual sleeping spaces. There is evidence of a campfire in the center of the room that was used for heating and cooking. A door to the west can be seen as well as stairs leading down.
This back room appears to have been an office at one point in time. Bits of broken wood suggest a desk once stood against the northern wall. While a large, broken chest sits against the southern wall. The western wall is home to a large window that looks out to the city walls. Perhaps the peasants use this to spy for guards and other unwanted guests. A door provides exit east.
This open clearing is covered with dark, rich, thick grass. The place is obviously well kept as evidenced by the neatly stacked piles of leaves and twigs about the area. The place brings with it a sense of peace and security. An ancient oak tree stands in the center of the circle and the southern boundary of the clearing is made up by an enormous oak tree that stands nearly fifteen feet in width. To the west is the beginning of a small flowered path.
This appears to be the inside of a large oak tree. The area is surprisingly large, but sparsely decorated. Carved out of the south wall is a wooden ladder leading up.
Stepping off the ladder, one finds themselves on a large wooden platform atop the towering oak. Large branches surround this area, and the thick, green foliage makes it difficult to see out. This is a place of great serenity.
This is the entrance to one of the four guard towers built into the city wall. Like the others, this post was demolished during the fighting. This post, however, seems to have been rebuilt. Bits of rock and rubble have been crudely patched together with thick mud and mortar. Whoever rebuilt the tower obviously did so quickly and with very little equipment or materials. A doorway south leads to the actual guard tower. To the north, a path around the city.
This old guard tower has been rebuilt quickly after its destruction. Although the construction is poor, it seems to be holding. The tower having been rebuilt from the rubble leads one to believe that its reconstruction was carried out by a group of rebels, rather than by the castle guards. Small, broken stairs lead up while a set of stairs dug out of earth lead down. To the north, the guard post entrance.
This is the second floor of the guard tower. A band of rebels has rebuilt the walls as best they could with rubble and thick mud, and small windows look out over the city. Small rooms lead off to the north and south. Stairs lead down to the main level and up to the top of the tower.
Large pieces of rock have been dug out of the wall to make this small, cramped room, either for an ambush or for hiding. Small holes dug through the north wall look out over the city of Khmer. The upper guard tower is to the south.
Large pieces of rock have been dug out of the wall to make this small, cramped room. Scraps of torn sack on the ground suggest it was meant for storing rations. Small holes dug through the south wall look out over the fields beyond the city. The upper guard tower is to the north.
This is the top of the southwest guard tower. It has been poorly rebuilt, but the view from here is amazing. To the north rise the pointed roof of the school and, beyond it, the flat roof of a large storehouse. A church steeple reaches toward the sky to the east, and most splendid of all is the enormous castle to the northeast, enclosed within its thick walls. The whole city is laid out like a map from here, a perfect post for keeping watch. Stairs lead down.
The ground has been dug out to build a large, underground sleeping area of some sort. A small campfire has burned here, and scraps of bags of grain lay on the cold, dirt floor. Earthen stairs have been dug out of the natural terrain and lead up to the guard tower.