The old watch towerA lone dilapidated stone watch tower stands on a hill; a relic from a different age. The tower is 60 ft. high, and a large chunk is missing from the side, exposing the staircase. Perhaps it was struck by a siege weapon a long time ago. The tower houses nothing except a tight staircase, which is exposed to the outside about halfway up the tower. The entrance to the tower is open, and a broken rusty metal gate lies on the ground, swallowed by the vegetation.
Players can climb to the top, where the tower offers a great view of the surroundings. Nearby tall buildings (such as a church tower), cities, large landscape features and large flying creatures can be seen from a great distance. The players can see in all four directions. If the DM determines landscape features at random, he should roll once for each direction that the players have not yet explored.
Optionally, the DM may rule that climbing the tower is dangerous. Either because part of the staircase has crumbled, or because of strong winds, or because the tower is slightly leaning to one side. Players must make a strength (athletics) check DC 12 to climb to the top, or risk a 30 ft. fall.
The Crows Banquet
Three rusty metal cages hang from wooden gibbets along the side of the road, on a small hill. The ends of the wooden gibbets are shaped like bird heads, and various crows are perched on the cages. Down below are various bones from previous prisoners. Most of the bones have rolled down the hill.
In one cage lies a man called Willas Brooker (Neutral Evil), waiting to die of thirst. Willas was sentenced to death because of a murder that he committed, but will lie when asked about his crime, claiming he stole a loaf of bread. Willas will beg the players for water, and also beg them to set him free. If asked, Willas will gladly give the players directions, as long as they give him something to drink first.
In a second cage lies an old wizard called Conrad Payne (Lawful Evil). The wizard was sentenced to death for practicing necromancy. He will gladly tell the players what crime Willas actually committed if asked, and is honest about his own crimes. He does not feel he did anything wrong. The wizard will also offer to help the players with spells and potions from his shack in the forest, if they set him free, and is true to his word.
In the third cage is a skeleton, picked clean by crows. A flock of crows is still sitting on top of the cage, waiting for the other two prisoners to die. If the players search the corpse, they can find a pouch containing 20 gp. Neither Willas nor Conrad know who the man was, since he was already in there before they were imprisoned.
The players can break open the cages with a strength check DC 15, or by picking the lock, DC 12.
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