Stag Lord’s Fort
| Properties | Description |
|---|---|
| Grid location | TW-3 |
| Part of | Thorn River |
Nestled atop a rugged hill in the heart of the Greenbelt, the Stag Lord’s Fort is a heavily fortified fort situated at a low spot on the Thorn River. The fort serves as the headquarters for the Stag Lord and his bandit forces, from which the lackeys of the Stag Lord plan raids on the local populace. While functional as a hideout, the fort’s condition reflects the transient and disorganized nature of the Stag Lord’s banditry. Half the structure was abandoned and overgrown with vegetation. Happs Bydon told us about the camp when we interrogated him after the Bandit attack on Oleg’s Trading Post.
Surrounded by dense forest, jagged rocky outcrops, and the winding embrace of the nearby Sellen River, the fort’s natural defenses provide an imposing barrier against intruders. The elevation gave the bandits a commanding view of the surrounding terrain, ensuring any approaching threats were spotted long before they reached the gates.
The fort itself, though substantial in structure, bears the marks of neglect and disrepair. Wooden scaffolds creaked under the weight of time, and rough-hewn barricades hinted at hastily constructed fortifications rather than permanent defenses. The cleared land around the fort, meant to serve as space for barracks or training, was overgrown with weeds and wild grasses, a testament to the bandits’ lack of discipline and long-term planning.
The fort was equipped with rudimentary watchtowers, a portcullis guarding an owlbear pen (which contained the now deceased Owlbear Beaky), living quarters for bandits, a seperate room for the Stag Lord himself, and a cluttered space filled with an odd assortment of toys that served as a retreat for Auchs. It saw regular liquor shipments.
Once, this desolate structure had been a temple devoted to Gyronna, the Angry Hag—a cruel and vengeful goddess whose influence thrived on betrayal and spite. The monks who worshipped her had once carried out her dark rites, their faith a reflection of her own twisted nature. But when they strayed from her teachings, Gyronna’s wrath was swift and merciless.
As punishment, the Angry Hag cursed her former devotees. Their betrayal bound their souls to the very temple they had forsaken, transforming them into restless undead. For generations, their cursed forms lay buried beneath the fort, emerging only to defend the desecrated ground and serve as a grim testament to Gyronna’s vengeance.
Though the temple fell into ruin and was later repurposed by mortals unaware of its dark history, Gyronna’s curse remained. The land itself seemed to bear her malice, and the souls of the cursed monks lay dormant, waiting to rise at her will. This haunted legacy is a chilling testament to the power of Gyronna’s spite and the doom that befalls those who betray her.
- 21 Pharast 4710 The party infiltrated the fort disguised as liquor merchants, hiding two of their members within barrels. A combination of clever deception and overwhelming force unraveled the bandits’ defenses from within, and the Stag Lord’s reign came to a very bloody end.
As the dust settled, the party uncovered the fort’s darker history. Once a temple dedicated to Gyronna, the Angry Hag, the fort bore the lingering curse of her wrath. The monks who had once worshiped her strayed from their faith, earning Gyronna’s ire. As punishment, she cursed them, binding their souls to the fort as restless undead.
This curse manifested during a ritual to appease the undead of Nettle’s Crossing. In a symbolic act of retribution, they sought to cast the severed hand of the Stag Lord into the Sellen River. But as the hand neared the water, the earth around them stirred. The former priests, animated as zombies by Gyronna, clawed their way from the ground. Though the party fought valiantly and destroyed the abominations, the fort’s haunted past served as a chilling reminder of the price of Gyronna’s displeasure.