Mallows Ruin

Elevation 3,050 feet.

Lore

Nestled within the rugged embrace of a hilly terrain, at a breathtaking elevation of 3,000 feet, lies Mallows Ruin. This long-abandoned site is a testament to nature's reclamation. At the heart of the location, a once-grand stone structure is gradually disapearing into a tangle of vines and trees, a haunting echo of its former glory.

The ruined edifice overlooks a serpentine river that winds through the hills, shimmering like liquid silver in the dappled sunlight.

Explorers and adventurers who dare to enter Mallows Ruin tread a precarious path, both in terms of the treacherous terrain and the unknown perils that await. As they navigate the crumbling stone and untamed undergrowth, the ruin's secrets beckon, promising a mix of history, danger, and the potential for great reward.

Reaching Mallows Ruin

Mallows Ruin is located in a hilly region at 3,050 feet on a river that runs north down into Drier's Lake. The river runs along the western border of Camp Ogglefan. It is in Broaye roughly central North-South, and inland on the Eastern side of the main island.

Also located on the river is the Gnomish settlement of Thráiliworth. Thráiliworthd however does not offer a river-route to the ruins. The river runs rapid, and the East bank is controlled by Goblins, out of Camp Ogglefan.

Instead, reaching the ruins from the Lake adventurers travel south-east from Emeldirnna towards the gnomish hamlet of Thráiliworth then turn south following the signs towards Geronstead. This is a dangerous route, a barely maintained footpath. Without interruptions or breaks it would take a group 4 hours to reach the ruins on foot. The trail is not suitable for horses. It is a wilderness journey and the area is infested with Giant Poisonousness Snakes.

There are no viable routes to the ruins from the East or West.

Traveling North from Geronstead, travellers would follow the signs West for Chorwick until they see a turning post towards Emeldirnna.

This route has them traveling the road between Chesgrave and Wallsham, a road with a serious bandit problem.

Once they are on this path it's the same situation: 4 hours on foot through dangerous snake infested terrain.

History

Mallows Ruin has remained unoccupied for over 400 years. Before that, it was the stronghold and command center of a powerful Giant leader. As the emerging Broaye faction leadership moved to consolidate control of their island, the Giants' occupation of a large swath of central land, and refusal to cooperate with road-building, was seen as a problem that needed military solution. A concerted effort was made to divide the giant kingdom and push them south, creating a viable trade route from East to West. The Giants of Mallows Castle were wiped out, and with their leadership destroyed, the remaining giants of Broaye retreated and never returned.

Loot

A thorough search of the area could turn up the following objects.

Available	Price	Item	Rarity	Description	Weight
1	25 gp	Alexandrite (small)	uncommon	A small stone with a round cut. It shimmers with dark blue hues.
1	250 gp	Aquamarine (large)	uncommon	A large stone with a square cut. It shimmers hues of blue and green.	⁵⁄₁₆ lb.
1	501 - 5,000 gp	Belt of giant strength (hill giant)	rare	Requires attunement. While wearing this belt, your Strength score changes to 21. If your Strength is already equal to or greater than the belt's score, the item has no effect on you.
1	500 gp	Diamond (large)	rare	A large stone with a oval cut. A perfectly clear gemstone.	⁵⁄₁₆ lb.
1	100 gp	Diamond (medium)	uncommon	A medium stone with a tapered cut. A perfectly clear gemstone.
1	375 gp	Opal (large)	uncommon	A large stone with a tapered cut. The white gem shimmers rainbow flecks.	⁵⁄₁₆ lb.
1	101 - 500 gp	Staff of the python	uncommon	Requires attunement. You can use an action to speak this staff's command word and throw the staff on the ground within 10 feet of you. The staff becomes a giant constrictor snake under your control and acts on its own initiative count. By using a bonus action to speak the command word again, you return the staff to its normal form in a space formerly occupied by the snake. On your turn, you can mentally command the snake if it is within 60 feet of you and you aren't incapacitated. You decide what action the snake takes and where it moves during its next turn, or you can issue it a general command, such as to attack your enemies or guard a location. If the snake is reduced to 0 hit points, it dies and reverts to its staff form. The staff then shatters and is destroyed. If the snake reverts to staff form before losing all its hit points, it regains all of them.
1		The Halganonian	legendary	This vanishingly rare tome is the sole surviving copy of The Halganonian known to exist. Its ancient vellum pages bear cracked inscriptions in an archaic variant of the Giant's language, preserving the lost rituals, rites, and teachings of the old Halganon religion. In among the text are ornate illustrations, seemingly crafted through a peculiar technique involving freezing ink and allowing it to strategically melt onto the page. These illustrations depict giants adorned in ceremonial garb, communing with Halganon, and commanding the forces of ice and wind. The secrets this tome holds could not be deciphered by a single scholar alone.

Adventures

• A Giant Pilgrimage: Are the giants of Broaye returning to Mallows Ruin?
• Driers Lake: The settlments surrounding Driers Lake are having wildlife problems.
• History of The Giants: Find a lost book called "The Halganonian."

Travel

Nearby Locations