The Fog-Bound Fortress
From Living Islands
The residents of the The Town of Elsimar speak of an ancient and crumbling stone fortress barely visible on the rolling hills above their city. The Hills of Elsimar are perpetually shrouded in a thick fog, cold and damp, that makes journeying through them uncomfortable at best and often quite dangerous. On days when a strong wind blows off of the sea, or in the flashes of lightening of a powerful storm, the structure can be seen far off in the distance. Few make their way up to the fortress, as it is all to easy to get lost in the fog and snatched away by some creature of the woods. What the people of Elsimar do not realize is that the fortress is the source of the thick fog that covers their hills, and its sordid history holds secrets of what plagues their poor town.
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Journeying in the Hills of Elsimar
The Hills of Elsimar are craggy, high upshoots of bedrock that twist throughout the landscape. Covered in a thick carpet of tall trees, this hills alternate from forested ridges, rolling open green peaks, and sheer cliffs. They are often covered in a thick fog, brought on by the cold sea air and the enchantment that surrounds the Fog-Bound Fortress. There are few persons who live amongst the hills, most instead keep themselves along the valleys and farmlands.
The residents of these valleys consider the hills beautiful, but it is a beauty best admired from afar. Straying off the few paths that criss-cross the hills can be a dangerous prospect for those who are not familiar with the crags or experienced woodsmen. Travelling through the craggy hills requires a DC 15 Survival check. On foggy days, this check increases to a DC 17 Survival check. Failing this check means that the character becomes Lost. [1] Maps of the hills can be purchased in Elsimar or the surrounds, which adds an additional +2 bonus to this check. Becoming lost is not lethal in and of itself, but it can spell disaster for unprepared persons or invite attacks from the creatures that lurk in the hills.
When preparing encounters in the Hills of Elsimar, the terrain should generally be counted as a Medium Forest [2], except that 50% of the time there is a terrain feature from a Rugged Hill [3] present.
The hills are shrouded in a regular fog. Though it is not constant in the lower altitudes, anyone leaving the river valley and moving into the hills will likely wander into fog. The fog in the hills obscures all vision, including darkvision, beyond 20 feet. Creatures 10 or more feet away have concealment (attacks by or against them have a 20% miss chance). Heavy fog occasionally occurs, in which case vision is obscured beyond 5 feet and all creatures have concealment.
Weather may be selected to suit an encounter, and otherwise randomly generated. Fog - 01-70%, Light Wind - 71%-80%, Heavy Wind - 81-85% [[4]], 86-95% - Rain, 96-100% - Sleet. [5] Weather should be checked every four hours.
Ecology of the Hills of Elsimar
Random Encounter Tables for the Hills of Elsimar
History of the Fog-Bound Fortress
Getting to the Fod-Bound Fortress
Adventure Hooks
Several years ago, an ancient man dressed as a knight came wandering into Elsimar, asking after the Fog-Bound Fortress. He heard many of the legends the townsfolk told, but seemed particularly curious as to the history of the hills prior to Elsimar. He spoke of a "great and kingly treasure" buried within the hills and set off for the fortress. (This is, of course, The Tattered King, who did not stay long in Elsimar).
