Synopsis: Desolation is a solitary Mountain Prison which houses criminals who are deemed too dangerous to be within standardized confinements. It houses Prisoners of War, Terrorists, and specializes in those who wronged Nobles being sent there as well. Desolation sits atop the tallest Mountain in the Forgotten Mountain Range within the extremely deadly White-Witch Tundra. Most people do not know how to even gain access to the top. Desolation is a highly restricted area, where only those with special permissions from Ystralim herself may enter, no matter how high the rank.   Way to get up: The only way to reach the top of the Unknown Mountains is through an invisible bridge within an adjascent mountain.       Social: There are no rules regarding treatment of prisoners within the walls of Desolation. As such, the Prisoners there are awful, hateful people, but tend to stick to their own. If there's one thing the Prisoners hate more than each other, it's the Guards. Though, that does not stop them from fighting against themselves.   Political: Warden Ystralim sits in charge of the entirety of the Prison of Desolation. Her word is law, and the Guards both respect, revere, and fear her. She rules with a sadistic Iron Fist, with a legion of adamantly loyal men and women to do her every bidding. In her Prison, no one is above her. The only people who may even enter, are those who have a special identification crest.   Economic: Gold means very little in Desolation, as everything is provided to those who pledged their loyalty to the protection of Algorath by living within the walls. Prisoners value goods and services. Though, a crest would be invaluable to any one of them.   Religious: Religious worship of all kinds are banned within Desolation. As well, the grounds themselves are desecrated to prevent any communion with dieties.   Military: Desolation is a difficult job, not cut out for everyone. As such, only two-hundred guards rotate and occupy the facility itself; running it as a tight ship. As far as Ystralim is concerned, there are only four ranks: Her, Prison Captain, Prison Guard, and Prisoner.   Bell Alarms: Bell towers which are stationed in different areas for soldiers to move to if need be.     Special Fortifications:   Cold Magica Climb: The Cold Magica Climb means it constantly snows around the area. Even the anti-magic field can't qwell it.   Anti-Magic Field: Desolation is not made to be escaped, nor broken into. The majority of the facility is covered by an anti-magic field, which is powered by an ancient one battery inserted into a tower atop the lookouts in the prison towers. However, they switch which tower is powering the anti-magic field randomly each day. Though, Ystralim has made sure that her private chambers are specifically designed to function outside the field, and house magical properties, as well as an altar to her Diety.   Desecrated Grounds: Grounds made to keep out any sort of divine intervention from the gods, save for Ystralim's own, with her small, special chamber.   Watch Towers: Watch towers house two look outs in each towers, which look through binoculars to see the area around them, up to a range of 80 feet, due to the constant snowfall.   Rough Cliffs: The cliffs require a DC 28 athletics to climb for each distance up to double your climb speed.   Crest of Passage: A crest showing a White Dragon looming over a mountain, made from a special, expensive looking leather. It allows for entry into the prison itself. Only the Generals themselves, or the Warden can hand them out. Each mountain denotes a rank, up to 4.  

Architecture

  Doors: All doors require a key to enter, and are made from reinforced steel with an AC of 18, and 35 HP, as well as Sturdy 18, but is vulnerable to bludgeoning damage.   Walls: Unless stated otherwise, the walls of Desolation are made from reinforced corten-steel mix, which are then packed with 10ft of stone, before another layer of corten-steel.   Floors/Ceilings: Unless stated otherwise, the floors and Ceilings are made from polished concrete, which are 10ft thick.   Light: Large Stones are placed in lanterns which slowly shift hues of colors to induce headaches into the prisoners.   Cells: The Cells are pure steel doors with 1ft wide slots in them. The cells have an AC of 20, and 50 HP, as well as Sturdy 20, but are vulnerable to bludgeoning damage. The doors slide into the wall when opened; which in turn places two doors in the neighboring cell. There is a keyhole for the cells, but otherwise, requires a DC 19 check with Thieve's tools to unlock.   Rank Locks: Some locks require a ranked insignia to fit into the slot, and rotating it in order to unlock it.       Points of Interest:   Entrance to Forgotten Mountain Range: The only way to denote where the correct Mountain is, is to be told verbally. "Shift yourself so the two smaller mountains at the front are aligned with the ones in the back. Then, slowly turn right while saying 'Frozen Death Awaits'. Then, walk, ski, or fly forward, and trust, until you find a small statue. Once at the statue, take a sharp right, and follow the path." Once done, there will be a small cave Opening to go through, where you may take to the top.   Invisible Bridge, AKA Diamond Bridge: A bridge located inside the mountain to the left of Desolation. The Bridge is 15ft wide, and expands out two-hundred feet into Forgotten Mountain, with extreme winds pushing wildly around it. Anyone attempting to move along the bridge must make a DC 24 athletics check, or be pushed 10ft in a random direction. If flying the creatures must make a DC 19 Acrobatics check, where on a failed save, they are dropped 20ft, and in a random direction.   The bridge is magical, with an AC of 30, and cannot be pierced by non-magical weapons. Once on the other side, a thin slope will wrap around the Mountain, until you reach the only entrance.   Fake paths: Several fake paths will be seen, splitting up. Only those who have walked the road before know it, and have maps to it. Though, no one outside shall. There is no clear pattern, but a detect magic will indicate which one is real, and which is illusionary.   Fake Wall: Lastly, a fake cliffside will lead to the courtyard of the Prison itself, where several guards are stationed to watch over it.  

Rumors:

1: "Did you see that bite mark the doctor had on his arm? Heard one of the prisoners did it. Poor bastard's teeth are probably long gone now." (Lie)   2: "The animals I understand, but the woman? Her breath reeks of humanoid meat. Disgusting." (True)   3: "Heard that Ramere is being punished again for giving some scraps to prisoners. When will that guy learn?" (True)   4: "You able to make it to the third cell floor yet?" "Nah, you know damn well how hard it is to get that kinda access here." "I don't know, I think you could lick the warden's boots and have a decent shot." (True)   5: "What do you think they do with the 3rd floor prisoners?" "I hear they are secretly our allies, and they get special treatment." (Lie)   6: "Any word from the tower?" "Just the usual. No signs of trouble, and the one hour rotations." (True)   7: "So, is it true?" "What?" "That you used to do entertainment back home?" "Fuck off." "Maybe you can play me a tune sometime." (True)   8: "So how scary is it to cross the diamond bridge?" "At first, I was terrified. Not everyone is used to seeing no ground under you, but you get used to it. I feel like the strangest part is going through the wall, personally." (True)   9: "I swear, that wine is toxic or something! The crates smell like absolute shit!" (Lie)   10: "Do you know where the battery for the anti-magic device is today?" "Come on now, you know that only rank 3's know where that goes." (True)   11: "Did you hear about the rumors? An old artifact, right beneath our feet!" "I'm not going down there. It already stinks enough going to the sewing chamber." (True)   12: "Apparently, there's another Druid here. Haven't seen her myself though, but I heard she's kept on the C cellblock." (True)  

Cell House

  First Floor (Useless Prisoners): At least 150 cell doors can be seen above, with 15ft metal grate catwalks, as well as another 150 below. To the North lies two doors, as well as one to East, South, and West.   Two guards will be on the inside of the first floor by the doors, with another four in the room itself.   Second Floor (Prisoners With Potential): Another series of cells can be seen, much like the first floor, however, roughly a quarter of them can be seen opened.   Three Gore Flies will be awaiting up above, which feed on the blood from prisoners being drug out of their cells.   There will be four guards patrolling. Two on the catwalks, and two on the floor below.           Third Floor (Prisoners of Interest):  

West Tower:

  First Floor: The circular room has one ladder on the North and Southern ends, as well as two 15ft tall concrete rooms (torture rooms) on Southwest, and Southeast parts of the room respectively. The ladders move up fourty feet, towards a wooden hatch (second floor).   Torture Room A: A bloody metal chair lies in the center of the room, where to the Eastern side of the room, several tools can be seen atop a wooden table, as well as several books. Lastly, under the table sits a small crate.  

One book called "How to break the spirit before the body" has numerous detailed descriptions of horrible methods of mentally torturing someone, such as drugging them with something called 'Iteldew Toxin', and how to guide their mind to hallucinate things like hallucinations to show their family dying before them. Another is a book called "The Humanoid form, and the reselience of it", which details important anatomical information on how to keep a subject alive during torture, while still mutilating them.

The chair appears to have old skin still attached to it. Investigation shows the chair conducts cold, forcing the subject to tear out pieces of themselves as they squirm in pain.

The tools along the table involve a scalpal, hammer, saw, and other surgical trinkets.

The crate houses nothing but straw at the bottom, but an investigation will show that bottles used to lie on it.

Torture Room B (Locked): Three Snatchvarks can be seen playing with large, oversized, swollen heads as if they were balls. Meanwhile, to the North, a tall woman can be seen chewing over a pile of mangled torsos.   The torsos are old prisoners, and a medicine check will shows signs that they were cut with a scalpal, or had teeth removed.   Second Floor (Lookout Floor): A feeling of warmth washes over you all as you enter the room. Several glass windows are coated in a thick layer of frost, while in the center lies a round table, with five chairs surrounding it, with three men sitting. In the center of the table, a rocky crystal glows a warm orange. One man appears to be writing something on a piece of parchment, while the other two are playing a game of dice with coin on the table. To the North East and Southeast, two doors can be seen. Lastly, to the Western part of the room lies five large packs.   The Guards here rotate watch every two hours. The packs contain:  

250 GP altogether, some placed inside of a pouch with an address for a home in Leviathan. Another is for a home in Shining Spine (If Burt is asked, he'll say it belonged to a pet house in town.)

A note from a man named Zoloto "Oh honey, I miss you so dearly, and I wish nothing more for mutually exchange day than to see you, but I understand we need the money. Still, the tots and I got you a new fur coat to keep you warm! We all snuggled together one night to hopefully help it smell like home for you. Happy Mutual Exchange Sweety, and be safe!

Your Husband, Zoloto, and your troublemakers, Luidi and Kholodon <3 "  

A flask filled with Barfight Whisky

Seventeen Rations

A few books belonging from a series called "The Gray Spirit". A history will reveal it's a series regarding a genius detective who was murdered, but came back as a sentient revenant, with the objective to catch his killer, who always seems to be two steps ahead of him. The newest volumes appears to involve him tracking down his wife, who may or may not play a roll in his death.

The crates contain some whetstones, polishing equipment, a dragonchess set, and A small barrel of Salty's Human Fire Wine, which looks like it might have been snuck in.   The hatch aboved will be locked, and require a rank 3 or higher crest of passage   Second Floor (Outside): Two men pace from opposite ends of this walkway that hugs the tower's round shape. From the entire view appears to show the entire half of the Prison courtyard, as well as most of the entrances. On each end of the walkway, there are bells which hang out from the wall.   Third Floor: 18 barrels lie inside of this room, with the walls themselves having no windows, instead being decorated with various weapons and armors that are hung up, almost like trophies Lastly, in the very center of the room lies a mangled mix of bodies that appear to be sewn together to form a hyper-feminine shape, with hair made from fingers, and fingers of bone. Like a horrid scarecrow.   The barrels are locked, and soundproof,but have people inside of them, along with the symbol of Sosuna, which appears as a feminine figure surrounded by several spectral heads moving towards her (Goddess of Absorption) on top. The barrels are cursed, and if they are broken, it will kill the person inside. A thieve's tools check of 10 unlocks the barrels, freeing the individual. The barrels have an AC of 12, and HP of 12.   If the players open a barrel, or attack the 'statue' of Sosuna, the 'statue' will come to life. If it goes berserk, it will attack barrels, which will then give it 1d10 + 10 HP each time it breaks one.   When defeated, the grounds will no longer be considered descrated, allowing clerics to commune once more with their deities.     Top Floor: The hatch opens to the top of the 120ft tower. Cold winds blast at you while you look towards a strange looking device. A 5ft tall chunk of stone in the shape of a woman's head, with long hair ending in barbs. (If the battery is in it) Her eyes glow with a soft blue.   The stone's AC is 15, with 20HP, and sturdy 5, and has vulnerability to bludgeoning damage.  

East Tower:

  First Floor: Red carpeting with the wolf's face, the symbol of algorath can be seen along the ground. Two men and one woman can be seen nude with masks over their head working on getting platters of food, and wine glasses in their hands. On the far end, four crates filled with wine bottles can be seen. Tall banners reach around the area hang from the fourty-foot tall walls. To the North and South, two ladders can be seen.   The far end crates all have Salty's Human Fire Wine on it, some roasted foods that appeared to be hand delivered as well as some silver platters (worth 1GP EACH), and some silver chalices (2 GP each). Under the crates will be a hatch (requires a rank 3 seal).   Perception check will reveal their mouths and eyes are sown shut, as well as mass lash marks on their backs.   If the party touches the wine, they will go berserk.   Cellar: As you enter the small room, the stench of death assaults your senses. Along the walls are crates upon crates stacked, you can see three men dressed in large red robes, with the symbol of Algorath on the back. They appear to be working on a man who lies atop a large slab. The slab itself appears to have the shape of a woman with barbed hair and long claws carved into it.   This is where there's a chance the other anti-magical field can be. The alter has an HP of 25, and AC of 16, with sturdy of 10, and is vulnerable to bludgeoning, but resistant to piercing and slashing.   The crates appear to have several empty bottles for something called "Iteldew Toxin". Some also contain more wine, or limbs on them. Other contain torture tools such as whips, chains, restraints, scalpals, thread, needles and more.   Second Floor (Monster Room):   Third Floor (Ystralim's Throne Room):  

Vault:

  Door: The door is a 10x15 door that is mechanically locked, and made from a dense steel mixed with ancient metal. (AC 35, HP 100). There is no lock, and, instead, reacts to Ystralim's metal. Visibly, it appears like a statue which matches the others in the room. When unlocked, it lowers down with a ladder, leading to a treasure room.   Treasure: Shield +1 Shield +2 Greatsword +1 3 potions of superior healing 1 potion of greater healing 3 elixers of health 2 potions of water breathing 4 potions of heroism 8 potions of healing 1 Potion of Clairvoyance Potion of Hill Giant Strength Scroll of Id Insinuation Scroll of Continual Flame 1 Scroll of Wish Ring of X-Ray vision 1 Philter of Love    

Guard Barracks:

  First/Second Floor (Main Barracks):   Lounging Area: