My AD&D 1e website - Articles - Mad Rock

History of Tramon Peninsula

Bill George — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 20:41:45 +0000

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Mad Rock area history.

Mystic and Ancient: ( 700 and more game years ago. The game year count started at Age 10, Year 500)

Khalia, Asto Khen, and Ticto’s Forest were all one huge forest of oak, cedar, and elm trees. Treants supposedly lived here with wood elves. The rest of the area was uninhabited except for orcs living in the vicinity of Sky Mountain and Mad Rock. Their main group was at Mad Rock.

Distant Past ( 500-600 game years ago) Humans, half-elves, and dwarves came into this area from the southwest. In a cooperative effort, all 4 races killed and ran off the orcs. The orcs cache of copper and silver was located, but their gold and jewels were not found. An attempt was made to search Mad Rock. This search ceased because of strange happenings on and around Mad Rock. It was later discovered that several searchers had disappeared. They were never found.

The humans and half-elves formed Ghentar and the dwarves formed the country of Altono. The dwarf seaport, Dira, and the human seaport, The Twins, have been in friendly rivaly ever since. Talek Forest became a group of thriving halfling communities. It is believed that a group of grigach elves moved to the west end of Silver Ridge.

Recent Past ( 300-400 game years ago) Many communities sprang up on the Green River. A trade route from the river wen south, through Twilight Pass, across Silver Ridge. This route was abandoned because of its proximity to Mad Rock. An alternate trade route was started further south. At this time, expeditions started staging out of Gester for the mountains to the east. A large orc hold is believed to be there. Vestia,on Green River, started charging tolls for boats to go past it. Everyone started calling it Tollgo. Small groups of adventurers start going to Mad Rock. Some returnempty-handed, others don’t return at all.

Recent ( 100 game years ago to now) A group of orcs was found on Silver Ridge. The resultant fight gave Mount Blood its name. This fired up interest again and the area on and around Mount Blood was searched by as many as 5000 people. Less than 100 gold pieces were found. There were no signs that the orcs located the money. Gester became the final step for groups heading for Mad Rock. Individuals and small groups ( 3 to 5) on quests, go to Mad Rock and Sky Mountain. Some of them never returned. The others usually return empty-handed or with only a small amount of silver and copper coins.

Mad Rock adventure

Bill George — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:06:25 +0000

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An area the Little Old Man in Gray contracted with some player characters to clean up.

Some materials lost like the Sky Mountain adventure. I only have the lead up to it.

So, the player characters can get to the location that transports them to Sky Mountain, but the adventure material for Sky Mountain is lost.

Note that this isn’t on Crestar, but a location known to The Little Old Man in Gray

Mad Rock, Cave room and 'house' built in it

Bill George — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:02:12 +0000

Mad Rock Links

This is the cave and ‘house’ shown in the cave drawing.

No roof, no second floor; although it appears to have one upon first seeing it. The characters should easily notice that they can see through the upper windows to the cave’s back wall.

They will also notice easily that there are different types of construction in this supposed house. Red brick walls that go up to 12 feet high, brown sandstone walls that are 10 feet high, gray stone walls that are 5 feet high. It may look shaky, but it is very sturdy.

Two rooms have dust on the floor that could have been wooden furniture. The rest of the rooms are absolutely clean. No dust, no debris.

All that is to make the players suspicious… and hunt for some clues.

Up inside the flue for the stone fireplace is a small loose brick.

Behind the brick is a small lever. Its to activate the teleport and send anyone in the fireplace off to Sky Mountain, where the actual adventure takes place. The fireplace holds about 3 humans standing up.

That lever wasn’t easy for the players to locate. I even had to hint.

This is the planned and dug out room that is the cave.

Overhead view of the house.

Mad Rock area Geography and resources

Bill George — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 21:59:37 +0000

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farm land: wheat, corn, typical farm animals, many wild areas not under cultivation

forests: small forested areas, a few large forest areas. Most everyone avoids Leseo Forest.

water: various small streams, several rivers and their tributaries, an estuary, and a large ocean

mountains: several mountainous areas, a few small hills

typical terrain: rolling hills with grasslands, good soil for farming

Mad Rock maps

Bill George — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 21:55:18 +0000

Mad Rock Links

Area map

The adventure takes place bottom right corner of map in a land called Ghenter.

Maps updated: November 21, 2020.

The characters started in Wonce Tarno. Paid a toll in Tollgo. And bought last minute supplies in Gester. They were glad to see the adventurers. And they over charged them. After all, the trade route had shifted and they needed the money to buy things with.

The land between Gester, pronounced Jester, and Mad Rock is where the ‘peculiar’ things happened.

The two dotted lines next to Mad Rock turn out to be stone pillars, 3 feet in diameter, and 9 feet tall. The two rows are approximately 30 feet apart.

The pillars lead up to a cave.

A sketch of what the players’ characters found in the cave. A small roofless building. That is a fire smudge on the left. Yes, the cave has been carved into a rectangular box shape.

Overhead view of the house floor plan. There is a way to get to the next part of the adventure from this cave.

In the fireplace is a movable brick. Moving it teleports those in room 3 to the next part of the adventure.