Ruined forts of ancient Dhakaani design are common in Droaam, and in many cases the structures have been remodeled into homes or refitted for defense. They also make ideal lairs for less intelligent monsters, places where they can bring their next meals along with anything those poor souls happened to be carrying.
Ruined Dhakaani Fort Features
Map 4.3 shows an ancient Dhakaani fort built into a cliff face. It consists of four tiers in varying states of ruin.
The cellar, including a cistern and storage areas, is accessed by way of secret trap doors in the floor above.
The ground floor features a statue of a great hobgoblin hero of old in a large enclosed courtyard, and a cluster of unidentifiable statues in one back corner. The outermost area of the ground floor is the most severely damaged part of the fort.
The middle tower consists of two crumbling floors with arrow slits, accessed by spiral staircases from the ground level. The upper level of the tower has been severely damaged, with only old wooden planks and a rickety ladder allowing movement between the two floors.
The top level of the fort overhangs the tower. Large portions of the floor are missing, making certain areas difficult to reach. Arrow slits on the perimeter of this level made it instrumental to the fort’s defense, and the large rooms here were used for arms storage and mustering troops for battle.
Map 4.3: Ruined Dhakaani Fort
Ruined Dhakaani Fort Adventures
The Ruined Fort Adventures table offers some ideas for drawing a party to the location.
Ruined Fort Adventures
| d6 | Adventure Goal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gnolls lairing in the fort have been attacking caravans and travelers near the Darguun border. But the gnolls are mercenaries. Who are they working for? |
| 2 | The ruins are said to hold a powerful magic item that was used by the ancient Dhakaani goblins against the daelkyr. |
| 3 | The party is hired to recruit several hill giants for a building project in western Breland. Step one is making sure the giants lairing in the fort don’t kill the party; step two is persuading them to work for humans. |
| 4 | The characters must rescue prisoners being held by the monsters in the ruins. |
| 5 | A group of Brelish humans determined to “take Brelish lands back from the monsters” have settled and started rebuilding the ruined fort. The party is asked to help them defend the fort — or to protect them as they flee back to Breland, pursued by angry Droaamites. |
| 6 | A Brelish noble hires the party to retrieve a family heirloom lost in the fort's ruins. |