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Unless discovered, the homunculi do not activateuntil the PCs approach the portcullis that guardsarea 3.Area 3: The Gates of Korvald(Level 5)Unlike those in area 2, the old defenses of this towerare still functional.If the PCs approach from area 2, read:The archway leading into this second tower is blocked by arusted portcullis.If the PCs approach from within the courtyardor atop the wall, read:The door gradually opens with a screech of rusted hingesand a puff of dust.Perception CheckDC 12: In addition to describing missing upperfloors (as in area 2), read: Roughly 30 feet up on thenorthern wall stands a pair of doors. From what you sawon your approach, they lead out to the top of the castle wall.The tactical encounter begins as soon as the PCsapproach the portcullis or open one of the otherdoors.On the inside south wall, just east of the portcullis,a wheel of levers protrudes from the stone. Thisdevice raises or lowers the portcullis and requires asingle standard action to operate.Tactical Encounter: “The Gatekeepers,” page 98.Secret Door: A secret trapdoor in the floor (foundwith a DC 21 Perception check) leads to a narrowunderground passage that connects areas 3, 10, and11 to the open pit in area 12. (The passages are notshown on the map.)Area 4: The ForgeBuilt for heavy use, the forge is one of the few secondarystructures to survive the years.When the PCs approach the forge, read:A thin metal roof is anchored to the outer wall on one endand held aloft by a pair of heavy wooden pillars on theother. A thin chimney rises from a furnace beneath andprotrudes through the ceiling.anvil. Within is a longsword wrapped in oilcloth. Thesword is Serpent’s Tooth, a +1 vicious longsword.Area 5: CellsAn old wooden door stands in the middle of the stonewall. Inside are cells, among the few interior roomsto have survived more or less intact. The cells are notopen to the sky.If the PCs open the door, read:A short passageway features four more doors, two on eachside. Unlike the outer door, these are reinforced with ironand heavily barred; apparently, they were meant to keeppeople in, not out.Originally, these cells were family living quarters.When the defenders needed additional room for prisoners,they tore down the interior walls and addedheavier doors.Within are piles of withered orc bodies—apparently,abandoned prisoners.Area 6: Splinters and StonesThis room was once the bedchamber of the castle’ssteward and his family. This area is not open to thesky.When the PCs enter or look into the room, read:Bits of rotted cloth and chunks of wood that once were furnituresuggest that this half-collapsed chamber might havebeen a bedroom of sorts.Area 7: Broken TowerThis is the most run down of the castle’s towers. Itlacks the homunculi and is in far worse shape, but itis functionally similar to the tower in area 3.Passages once leading to the top of the castle wallsto the north and an underground passage connectingthe tower to area 12 are filled in with collapsedrubble.Area 8: StoreroomFormerly one of the castle’s major storerooms, thischamber is now completely exposed. This area is notopen to the sky; the PCs can walk directly over it atopthe castle walls.When the PCs enter or look into the room, read:THE RUINS OF CASTLE KORVALDThe forge isn’t really a building, but simply a furnace,anvil, and workbench beneath the aforementionedroof.Treasure: The ore, tools, and weapons have beenremoved. A DC 20 Perception check reveals a smallniche dug into the floor, barely visible beneath theFallen shelves, broken tables, and a smattering of moldybarrels suggest that this was once a supply room of somesort. It’s hard to imagine that anything worthwhile has survivedthe long exposure to the elements.CHAPTER 3 | Dragon Lairs95