Fire and Ice

Part II - The Watcher of Carn

Dûm
Rumours

Copyright ©2001 Craig Pay

Edited for The Guild Companion by Joe Mandala, February 2001

By listening to different people's rumours the PCs get to figure out where
Kylmyyskala has taken the palantûr and how they will then get into the
fortress.
Some of these rumours are True and others not so. Use them to answer the
PCs questions to NPCs, or offer them as hints to either help or hinder. Roll
1-25 (D100 divided by 4) or just pick a rumour to suit a situation.

1. The Lord of Carn Dûm is called 'The Watcher' and

has lived here longer than anyone else. No one knows
who the Watcher is. True, nobody in Carn Dûm town
knows of the Watcher's true identity. Only Dâgûlrog
knows of Camthalion's true history.
2. The Watcher lives in splendid ancient chambers,
within and near the top of the mountain that used to be
used by the Witch King himself. The walls are painted
with gold and he sits on piles of jewels and coin worthy
of a dragon's hoard. False, there's not one scrap of cash
left.
3. People only go into the fortress and never come
out. Not entirely true, see the 'Bastards!' Event.
4. Carn Dûm used to be ruined, but people started
coming back about fifty years ago. No-one can
remembers whether the Watcher came with the first or
whether he was already here. Partially True, the
Watcher was the first to come here other than the Orcs.
5. The only way into the fortress is via the Inner Gate
and you have to get past all three walls up the
mountainside. Not entirely true, there are other ways
in. See the 'Wall' and 'Gate' Locations.
6. The lower parts of the mountain caves are full of
Orcs and the Watcher has some sort of deal with
them. True.
7. The lowest level in the mountain is called the
Warrens and rightfully so. They say that many have
entered and after getting lost have starved to death
trying to find their way out. True-ish, the PCs could
easily get themselves lost in the Warrens. Which is why
they need a map from the Dwarves or to take Pug along
with them.
8. A few days ago a stranger appeared at the Main
Gate, a Northern barbarian woman riding a huge white
wolf! She was escorted through town and up to the
Fortress by some of the Watcher's guards. True, this is
Kylmyyskala.
9. There's some kind of religious ceremony taking
place in 3 days time (or 2 days or 1, or that night
depending upon which day this rumour heard on). True,
see 'The Summoning of Eloeklo!' Event.
10. Hundreds of years ago there used to be a second
entrance to the fortress on the other side of the
mountain. Then it was guarded by legions of Orcs. True,
this is 'The Backdoor' Location.
11. Some of Sauron's spies are living in the ruins to the
Southwest of town. False, this is the Watchful Rangers.
Many in town are suspicious of these folk.
12. An encampment of Rangers is hiding amongst the
ruins Southwest of the town. But don't poke your nose in
there; they ruthlessly kill anyone who disturbs
them. True and False, there is a Ranger encampment,
but only Orcs and bandits get killed on sight. Others are
politely escorted away.
13. The Watcher of Carn Dûm is actually Sauron
himself! False, good grief!
14. The Watcher of Carn Dûm is the Witch King, come
back to his ancient ruin! Also False.
15. The Watcher of Carn Dûm is a powerful ally of
either the Witch King or Sauron. True.
16. The Watcher of Carn Dûm is nothing more than a
conman, some petty local warlord who has set himself up
as the 'Lord'. Anyone busting in past his lackeys would
find easy pickings in the fortress. False.
17. The dead walk the Middle Ruins at night. True, see
the 'Haunted Middle Ruins' Location.
18. Anyone wishing to get to the Inner Gate would find
it easy enough or so I've heard. Firstly, there's an ancient
gateway to the North of town through the Lower Wall,
which the guards don't know about. Then the Middle
Wall is dead easy to climb over. True and False, there
is no gateway it was found and blocked up some time
ago, but the Middle Wall is easy to climb. See 'The
Middle Wall' Location.
19. High on the mountain is an entrance into the
fortress and the climb up there is fairly easy going. True
and False. There may be an entrance but the climb is a
hard one, see 'The Upper Entrance'Location.
20. Life may be a little hard up here, but it's about to get
much worse down South, there's War brewing
again! True.
21. Don't go trusting Karl the Soothsayer, he's a spy in
pay of the 'Watcher'. False.
22. Karl the Soothsayer has a secret stash of money in
that shop of his, how else do you think he manages to
feed himself, selling a few naff charms? False, Karl
makes just enough to feed himself, he's waiting for
things to get better.
23. Why do you think the Temple Inn is called what it
is? Because that's where all the dark sacrifices used to
happen! There was this Ranger stayed there once, nearly
went mad and had to leave, said it was of bad memories
or something? True, see 'The Temple Inn' Location.
24. It's said by some that Halgar the Smithy is once
related to them devious little Petty Dwarves. Maybe
True once, but so long ago it's of little importance now.
25. People say that when Leodulf the Baker gets short
on filling he nips along to one of them Shanty Shacks at
the end of town, knocks one of them poor souls on the
'ead and pops 'em in a pie! False, far too Sweeny Todd.
26. …(?)