Lake Kalij, Part I

Part II.

First of all, this ain't no Grognardia! Just my last layout deviation. Don't worry, things may return to normal in a while as I change my mind again. I like to reskin The Grimoire once in a while. By the way...

Map 01

Introduction: I decided to run a very small sandbox for my birthday party. I think this is absolutely the best way to introduce the noobs to D & D, since it allows rooms for exploration and decisions. The map was, in some way, directly inspired by this map posted yesterday over at The Underdark Gazette. I wrote no introduction, and put my notes together in a way similar to the One Page Wilderness Template (although I didn't use the template itself.) Unfortunately my notes are in italian, so my pdf is not suitable for publication. Thus, I decided to report everything here for you to comment on.

HEX KEY
0208: The City-state of Ibkah, ruled by Ozmul The Mad, also known as the Iridium Sorcerer. It's a port, featuring a flourishing slave trade, and one of the most famous Assassins Guild of all Yaqqothl. Here lies the Cathedral of St. Berzul, where Cardinal Azor lives. The Cardinal is one of the most influential men of the Church, and it's said that he could be the next Pope. Azor is famous for his extreme positions and iron fist against heresy and the worshipping of false gods.
0306: A tribe of orcs and goblins ruled by an ogre known as Gruknartz The Harrier. They live in a complex of natural caves beneath a small hill in the wood. They train wargs, and usually plunder the caravans of merchants that cross the wood on the road from Ibkah and the Village of Stadt. Sir Belziel would pay for Gruknartz's head.
0405: The fortified Village of Stadt. Once an important commercial crossroad between Karzahd and Ibkah, nowadays a small, well-defended farm-community. The most profitable activity until a few years ago was hunting, but now going into the forest has become dangerous. The village is ruled by Sir Belziel, a retired adventurer.
0503: Karzahd, The Lost Fortress of the Grey Dwarves. The Fortress has been abandoned eons ago, so that not even the dwarves can recall where the entrance is. Some says the dwarves still live in beneath the mountains, others that they dug too dee[ and too greedily and eventually awakened He Who Must Not Be Disturbed. Indescribable treasures are said to lie beneath the mountain.
1205: The fortified Village of Broon, a small well-defended farm-community. They pay a tribute to The Lord of Castle Petrowitz in exchange for protection. The people of Broon love Lord Petrowitz, and actually put great trust in him. A High Druid secretly lives in this village, and celebrates the rites in a little clearing in the wood in hex 1305 (the clearing is half a day's walk from the village.) If Cardinal Azor gets to know about the druids, he would certainly send Brother Ruin to "purge" the inhabitants (i.e. burn the village and execute the Lord of the Castle.) For quite some time now, some disappearances have occured in the village, at a rate of about one every two months. The Wicked Witch of the Woods or The Dwellers of the Black Marshes are typically held responsible.
1206: Castle Petrowitz, ruled by Baron Petrowitz. The Baron sincerely cares for the inhabitants of Broon, and is really worried about the disappearances. What he doesn't know is that his eldest son Vlad is responsible. Seemingly sweet and gentle, Vlad is actually a sexual sadist and a cannibal. He firmly believes that the Demon Lords of Sarnath are commanding him to act this way. The Cardinal Azor knows that, and considers Vlad to be a living prophet.
1310: The Forgotten Temple of the Toad Demon. Hidden in the deepest recesses of the Black Marshes lies this temple, which once attracted thousands of faithful. When the Church began to Preach the Word of God, the temple was eventually left to its destiny. The most fervent believers refused to leave the cult, and during the course of a thousand years evolved into primitive sub-humans, totally bound to the Toad Demon. They still celebrate obscene ceremonies and sacrifices in his name.
1504: The Lair of the Wicked Witch. The Witch is not evil, but very powerful. Securing her friendship can be very useful, as she is a powerful diviner. Anyway, the Witch has to be defeated to earn her respect.