Urban Locales: Wizard's Tower
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1: The Wizard’s Tower
The Sky Tower: Auvo Ehtaro’s (NG male human) lofty tower soars ten stories into the sky; it is the tallest tower in the locality; Auvo is a star-watcher.
Eerik’s Keep: This old, time-worn tower stands at the centre of a part-filled moat. A short drawbridge leads to the tower’s only outer door. Herein dwells Eerik Seppo (N old male human).
The Crooked Tower: The Crooked Tower leans perceptibly to one side due to a collapse in its cellar a decade ago. The irritable owner, Isto Susi (LE male human), has a bad reputation with the locals.
The Spire: This tall and slender tower soars seven stories into the air. It is so narrow that there is barely space for two cramped rooms on each floor. Tilda Ilmarinen (CG female human) dwells within; she has a good reputation with the locals, although some brand her a “trouble magnet”.
2: Major Locale Features
The wizard’s tower is faced with white marble and gleams in the daylight.
Lurid and terrible cavings of ferocious monsters of the most loathsome sorts decorate the tower. These carvings are designed to impress the locals but also make climbing the tower child’s play.
Gargoyles crouch atop the tower’s battlemented roof; sometimes, they seem to move as if they are alive. They could be actual guardian creatures, or this could be an illusion wrought to keep casual thieves away.
The tower stands at the centre of a walled garden; strange noises sometimes emanate from the garden.
3: Minor Locale Features
Drifting motes of enchanted light illuminate the tower’s interior. They can be dimmed or brightened by those who know the proper commands.
Magical sigils are inscribed into the risers of all the tower’s stairs.
Tapestries depicting star constellations, mythical creatures and so on hang on many walls. Some may hide concealed doors, hidden niches and the like.
The wizard is fabulously wealthy, and all the tower’s rooms are richly appointed. Bejewelled items are commonplace in the tower.
4: What’s Going On?
Strange noises and odd-coloured smoke drift from the tower’s upper windows. At night, flashes of light add to the strangeness.
The tower’s windows and doors are shuttered and closed; at first glance, the place seems empty.
Two figures stand atop the tower observing the comings and goings of the townsfolk.
Fovina Woland (N female dwarf fighter 3) is knocking on the tower’s door. She wants the wizard to tell her if the dagger she found on her last adventure is magical.
5: Apprentices
Sikke Kuura (NG female human) hails from a poor family. Plucked from obscurity by the wizard, she works supremely hard to better herself. She still dresses as a poor peasant but has a keen intellect. Sikke burns to use her powers for good.
Rathiain Sarpetor (CG female elf wizard 7) seeks knowledge of human magic. She is intrigued by how short-lived humans accumulate power so quickly and has come to study under a human master. She conceals her own power; in truth, she is a powerful spellcaster.
Jalmari (N male half-elf) hides an ulterior motive for living with the wizard; his elven mother told him his father was a native of the area, and Jalmari is searching for him. By chance, one of the characters shares the same surname as his father…
Elanil Aeven (NG female half-elf) works hard to better herself and is a diligent student. She is loyal to the wizard and acts only in good faith. Nature fascinates her, and she is often encountered wandering outside the city.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Urban Locale #04: Wizard’s Tower by Robert Manson. The book is available from DriveThruRPG and Raging Swan Press’s own web store.
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