Snagjaw Castle The DM Lair

Luke Hart

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Copyright Notice Copyright 2018, Lucus Hart, the DM Lair, www.thedmlair.com

Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC.

System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls,

Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R.

Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave

Arneson.

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CREATURES • Orc (MM 246, CR ½, 100 XP)

• Orog (MM 247, CR 2, 450 XP)

• Orc Blade of Ilneval (VGTM 183, CR 4, 1100 XP)

• Tanarukk (VGTM 186, CR 5, 1800 XP)

• Warlock of the Fiend (VGTM 219, CR 7, 2900 XP)

• Glabrezu (MM 58, CR 9, 5000 XP)

• Warlord (VGTM 220, CR 12, 8400 XP)

DM NOTES • This adventure is designed for 5 level 10-11 characters.

• As long as a general alarm hasn’t gone up, short rests are okay. A long rest will result in the

remaining orcs hunting the intruders down and attacking them.

• Contains treasure from 1 rolls on the level 11-16 treasure horde table in DMG.

• Much of the adventure will consist of fairly easy battles with orcs and orogs. Thus, it’s important

that the two cornerstone encounters (Gramillion and his lieutenants; and Zabghat and the

tanarukks) be encountered as designed to give the players a proper challenge.

STORYLINE The heroes must defeat Gramillion Snagjaw and his elite soldiers at Snagjaw Castle to disrupt the orc

army in the Sword Mountains.

Mission: In order to disrupt the leadership of the orc army, Gramillion, his two lieutenants, Zabghat the

Dark, and the tanarukks must be killed. Otherwise any of the survivors can assume leadership.

LOCATIONS Snagjaw Castle. Gramillion Snagjaw’s stronghold in the Sword Mountains. Situated on the top of a small

plateau.

NPCS High Chieftain Gramillion Snagjaw. Leader of the orc army. Nearly twice the size of other orcs. Half of

his face is ripped away and shows exposed bone. Wears red plate armor covered with sharp ridges.

Carries a massive greataxe whose double blades are formed into snarling demon maws.

Zabghat the Dark. Warlock of the fiend (patron Gruumsh). Wears black leathers decorated with

bleached bones and skulls. Carries a mace with the head formed into a snarling, one-eyed orc. Created

the tanarukks and commands them.

Lieutenants Surged Faceripper and Viggobok Hearteater. Highest ranking officers in the orc army.

Gramillion’s right-hand orcs. Wear black plate armor lacquered in a red motif of spilt blood. Carry black

adamantine swords and shields in the form of a one-eyed orc face.

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ORCISH DEITIES Throughout the adventure, reinforce a theme of the orcs calling out to these two orcish deities during

battle and by cursing their foes.

Gruumsh “He Who Watches”. Ruler of orc pantheon. Promotes ceaseless slaughter and laying waste to

civilized world.

Ilneval “The War Maker”. Loyal right hand of Gruumsh. Plans the attacks and devises strategies that

allow forces of Gruumsh to take on their foes.

RANDOM ENCOUNTERS No random encounters, but…

• Long resting in the compound will bring down the others to attack.

• Leaving the compound and long resting will cause it to be reinforced with equal numbers and

more orcs setting up camp around the fortress, reinforcing it.

SNAGJAW CASTLE Located on plateau.

Exterior Walls. Five-feet-thick stone with loopholes every five feet or so.

Interior Walls. Wooden walls covered with plaster.

Roofs. Accessible by stairs. Has crenelated parapets around the edges. Sealed barrels contain arrows.

Exterior Doors. Oak reinforced with steel bands.

Interior Doors. Wooden.

Locked Doors. Locked via wooden bars on one side; keys are not used.

Floors. Brick

Ceilings. Wooden, supported by thick wood crossbeams. Ten-feet high.

Orc/Orog Loot. Each group looted has 1d6 x 100 cp, 2d6 x 10 sp, 1d10 gp, and 1d4 gems (10 gp each).

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1 GUARD TOWER • Orcs and orog on guard duty

• Weapon racks containing short bows and spears.

• Barrels containing arrows.

Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 Level 13

Difficulty Trivial Trivial Trivial Trivial

Adjusted XP 2625 2625 2625 2625

XP Awarded 1050 1050 1050 1050

Orc 6 6 6 6

Orog 1 1 1 1

2 STABLES • 2d4 riding horses in the stables

• 1 black stallion warhorse – Gramillion’s personal mount

3 WALLS AND PARAPETS • 1d4 orcs carrying horns patrol each wall

o Armed with short bows in additional to other weapons.

• Orcs sound their horns at the first sign of intruders inside or outside the walls.

4 DINING HALL • Orcs sit at several tables spaced about the room, eating mutton and potato stew.

• Weapon racks containing short bows and spears.

• Barrels containing arrows.

Encounter Note: Orogs from 5 Feast Hall join any battle in round 2.

Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 Level 13

Difficulty Easy Easy Easy Easy

Adjusted XP 2700 2700 2700 2700

XP Awarded 2550 2550 2550 2550

Orc 12 12 12 12

Orog 3 3 3 3

5 FEAST HALL • Orogs are at one of the long feast tables set in the room, eating mutton and potato stew.

Encounter Note: Orcs from 4 Dining Hall join any battle in round 3.

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6 KITCHENS • Two woman, three girls, and one boy are keeping mutton stew warm for the orcs and cleaning

up the kitchen.

• The mother and children of the Volmer family from Rassalantar serve as cooks for the orcs.

o The orcs raided their farmstead a few weeks ago during the siege, killed the father,

Symon, and oldest son, Bert, and took the mother and other children captive.

o Bertrude (Mother - 39), Kara (daughter - 19), Jennifer (daughter 15), Abagail (daughter -

13), Samantha (daughter 11), Manny (son - 8)

7 PANTRY • Shelves containing foodstuffs and kitchen supplies, such a soap.

AREAS 8-11 • Run this area dynamically based on what the heroes do.

o Zabghat the Dark (12 Warlock Quarters) is alert and will start rounding up the

tanarukk’s for combat at the first sign of trouble. However, they don’t attack until a few

moments after the heroes take care of all the orcs. Zabghat wants the orcs to soften the

intruders up first before attacking.

• For every round of combat there is a 25% chance that sleeping orcs/orogs are woken up and join

the battle in the next round.

• Use DMG dungeon dressing tables to determine contents of rooms and personal items in

trunks.

8 Common Area • 4 orcs sit at a table, gambling.

• Several tables spread about the area.

• Weapon racks containing short bows and spears.

• Barrels containing arrows.

9 Barracks • 2d4 orcs are sleeping here

• About a dozen bunk beds line the walls.

• Several trunks (containing clothing, boots, and personal items) stand about the room.

10 Barracks • 2d4 orcs are sleeping here

• About a dozen bunk beds line the walls.

• Several trunks (containing clothing, boots, and personal items) stand about the room.

11 Orog Quarters • 2d4 orogs are sleeping here.

• Each room contains four beds and four trunks (contain clothing, boots, and personal items).

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12 WARLOCK QUARTERS • Zabghat the Dark (warlock of the fiend) is in his quarters, studying a magical tome of dark magic.

• Well-made bed, trunk (locked), dresser, desk, chair, bookcase.

• A painting of demons (tanarukks) marauding the countryside hangs on the wall.

Zabghat the Dark. Wears black leathers decorated with bleached bones and skulls. Carries a mace with

the head formed into a snarling, one-eyed orc.

Encounter Note: Zabghat and the Tanarukks should be encountered together to give the heroes a

proper challenge.

Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 Level 13

Difficulty Deadly Deadly Deadly Hard

Adjusted XP 16600 20200 23800 23800

XP Awarded 8300 10100 11900 11900

Tanarukk 3 4 5 5

Warlock of the Fiend

1 1 1 1

Trunk (trapped - see below). Covered with crimson runes etched into the surface. Contains: Silver,

engraved coffer (250 gp) (roll on DMG table for random contents), pouch containing dust of sneezing

and choking, 10 gold trade bars (100 gp each), 5 platinum trade bars (100 pp each)

Desk. “Book of Shadow” written in Abyssal contains dark teachings of Gruumsh One Eye (250 gp). Roll

on DMG Mage Furnishings table.

Bookcase. Roll on DMG Books, Scrolls, and Tomes table.

Painting. Worth 250 gp.

Zabghat the Dark Loot. Black leather clothing decorated with bleached bones and skulls; Mace +1 with

the head formed into a snarling, one-eyed orc; pouch (100 sp, 50 gp, 10 pp); spell component pouch.

Summoning Trap (Glabrezu)

Magical trap (level 5-10, dangerous)

Crimson runes summon a glabrezu from the Abyss when the trunk is opened by anyone other than

Zabghat the Dark.

Trigger. When anyone except Zabghat opens the trunk.

Effect. Summons a glabrezu that attacks anyone in the room it’s destroyed, Zabghat dismisses it, or 1

hour passes.

Countermeasures. Dispel magic (DC 15) suppresses the trap for 10 minutes. Dispel magic (DC 20)

removes the trap permanently.

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13 TANARUKK PEN • Tanarukks are kept locked up here.

• They obey only Zabghat.

• Room contents are all smashed up and torn apart. Roll DMG General Furnishing and

Appointments table for contents.

Encounter Note: Zabghat and the Tanarukks should be encountered together.

AREAS 14 – 15 • Gramillion and his lieutenants are in the foyer outside their quarters, at a table, planning an

attack on Rassalantar. Maps of the town and the area are laid out on the table.

High Chieftain Gramillion Snagjaw. Nearly twice the size of other orcs. Half of his face is ripped away

and shows exposed bone. Wears red plate armor covered with sharp ridges. Carries a massive greataxe

whose double blades are formed into snarling demon maws.

Lieutenants Surged Faceripper and Viggobok Hearteater. Wear black plate armor lacquered in a red

motif of spilt blood. Carry black adamantine swords and shields in the form of a one-eyed orc face.

Gramillion Loot. Greataxe of sharpness, plate armor x 1, healing potion x 3, greater healing potion x 1,

potion of animal friendship, platinum necklace with dragon tooth pendant (1000 gp), pouch containing

100 gp and 50 pp; key to trunk in room.

Lieutenants Loot. Adamantine long swords x 2, plate armor x 2, pouches containing 200 gp and 2d10

gems worth 25 gp each; 2 keys to trunks in room.

Encounter Notes:

• Gramillion uses his greataxe of sharpness in battle; don’t forget to apply its magical effects.

• Gramillion has legendary resistance x 3.

Level 10 Level 11 Level 12 Level 13

Difficulty Deadly Deadly Hard Hard

Adjusted XP 21200 21200 21200 21200

XP Awarded 10600 10600 10600 10600

Orc Blade of Ilneval (Lieutenants)

2 2 2 2

Warlord (Gramillion)

1 1 1 1

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14 Gramillion Quarters • Large well-made bed, wardrobe, table, chair, and trunk.

• Roll DMG General Furnishings and Appointments

Trunk (locked, key). 2500 gp and 1000 pp. Massive ruby (5000 gp). 5 black pearls (500 gp each).

Table. Dirty plate and golden chalice (250 gp).

15 Lieutenant Quarters • Large well-made bed, wardrobe, table, chair, and trunk.

• Roll DMG General Furnishings and Appointments

Trunk A (locked, key). 2000 gp, 200 pp, star sapphire gem (1000 gp)

Trunk B (locked, key). 2500 gp, 300 pp, 10 jasper gems (50 gp each)

RESOLUTION Faction Increase. Lords of Waterdeep +1, Lord Paxton -1