L1-18. Elite Bodyguard Bedchamber 'The Hag & the Owl-Bear'

Suel features & lore keys

• Rag-Hag Fresco (far wall): A rags-clad crone with forked tongue ornaments and false-laugh lines.
• Religion/History DC 12: Identifies Syrul, Suel goddess of lies and cruelty (a later overlay atop a humble priest’s cell).
• Investigation DC 13: Finds overpainting—everyday pious scenes scrubbed out, replaced with the hag.
• Table reward: First Insight check against deception in this wing gains advantage (your party “reads” Syrul’s tells).
• Owl-Bear Stencil (floor): Thick, crude stencil; Intimidation totem the orcs paint where they sleep. Acrobatics DC 10 to avoid the slickest patches if the paint is still tacky (difficult terrain if fresh).

Features & checks

• Beds (2): Rough frames, filthy furs; one frame creaks loud (moving past quietly Stealth DC 12).
• Chest (lock ripped): A fist-sized gap yawns where the lock used to be; splinters and pry marks all around. Inside:
• Thuldon’s Dwarven Axe: ancient, worn greataxe with crudely serrated edge. Dried scalps and wolf teeth hang from the stained haft; notches tally along its length. (Mundane, macabre trophy; worth 15 gp to a collector, 50 gp to dwarves if the name “Thuldon” means something in your campaign.)
• Greasy rag bundle with nails, twine, and a bent lock hasp (junk).
• Stools/Chair: One can be kicked over for half cover (AC +2) until moved.

Tactics & response

• On entry (no prior alarm): Both bodyguards surge from bunks, one shoving the first intruder back over the painted totem (contested Athletics; on failure, target is pushed 5 ft and knocked prone if they slip on fresh paint).
• Fighting style: Keep the fight at the threshold; exploit furniture for cover; focus fire on casters.
• Response cascade:
• Round 1: Any combat here pulls Rooms 10 & 11 & 12 immediately (next round).
• Round 4: Urzhag Grey-Howl — Warband Chief arrives with his lieutenants.
• Round 6: Barracks warriors flood in.

Orc barks (use if you want)

“Pink skins are here! Found you! No more games—time to die!”
“You’re filth, maggots—drop steel or we make you scum dunghill on the floor!”
“You are weak! I am stroooonng!”

Loot (summary)

• Thuldon’s ancient dwarven greataxe (trophy, mundane).
• Odds and ends (nails, twine, bent hasp).
• Each bodyguard carries: greataxe, breastplate, pouch with 3 gp, 12 sp.

Map notes

• Single entrance. Put the hag fresco opposite the door; owl-bear stencil centered on the floor; beds along the side walls; chest between or at the foot of a bed for easy reach.