Tower of the Moon (d20)
Tower of the Moon
A classic style adventure of Gothic Horror for three to five 3rd-6th level adventurers.
A tall tower stands like a fang on a stark hill¸ silhouetted against the moon. The old folk say this hill was always sacred to the moon goddess Lukariel Sherikira¸ the Howling Huntress¸ patron of love¸ hunting¸ dance¸ and wolves. A generation ago¸ upon becoming high priestess of Lukariel¸ the cleric Artesia dedicated a great chapel on this holy site¸ the Tower of the Moon. Artesia began taming the borderlands around it in her goddess's name¸ with the help of her trusted henchman Mordark¸ a powerful magic user¸ and the aid of the pack of werewolves the goddess granted her. For a decade¸ Artesia ruled from the Tower of the Moon¸ and many youths and maidens were taken to serve in the temple as acolytes or transformed into wolves for her guardian pack.
But the minstrels sing that Mordark grew jealous of his mistress¸ and asked to rule as an equal¸ or sought her hand in marriage. When she refused both advances¸ the mage instead created a simulacrum of snow and magic in her shape¸ to replace her with it¸ and rule her domain with an icy puppet at his side. However¸ Artesia discovered his plot¸ and in her wrath sentenced Mordark to be torn apart by her werewolves. But Mordark had drunk a potion of silver dust and wolfsbane. The feasting werewolves¸ maddened by this poison¸ went berserk¸ turning against their mistress and her acolytes. The tower filled with howls and screams. Tales say that all perished in the struggle¸ the frenzied wolves even turning against their pack mates and devouring one another; only a few servants escaped to tell the tale¸ and recall Mordark's dying words to Artesia before he was eaten alive: "if I could not share the Tower of the Moon beside you in life¸ I do so in death..."
Today¸ the Tower of the Moon is a monster-haunted ruin¸ its shadow falling over dark forest and desolate wilderness. Only the brave or foolish dare its secrets.