Maure Castle Environs
Founded centuries ago by a Suloise clan that settled far western Urnst, the lands around Maure Castle remained isolated from the civilizations established in this region by other migrants. The region is filled with brambles and briars; overland movement, except by a nearly vanished trail, is difficult. Maure Castle features a circular outer wall, a number of large stone buildings within, more structures along the outer wall, and a large keep rising from the center of it all.
About a mile north of the ruined castle is an underground entrance. It leads to a long, downward ramp about half a mile in length, running eastward to the legendary Unopenable Doors discovered by Mordenkainen and Bigby. A smaller, ruined walled structure rests on a hill to the northeast of Maure Castle, from which a fair quantity of water flows in a stream. Ancient cottages, only their stone foundations remaining, line the rutted, unused trail that winds past the castle through the low hills.
Maure Castle and its ruins have been lairs for many bandits, humanoids, thieves, outcasts, lepers, and others for centuries. Recent rumors from adventurers in the area tell of the discovery of two previously unknown underground complexes, but the locations of these have been kept secret. Little more information is available. Several parties from the Domain of Greyhawk and the Duchy of Urnst have vanished here in the last two years, and it is suspected that some new source of trouble has made its home here.
References: WG5S Mordenkainen’s Fantastic Adventure; From the Ashes Campaign Book, page 30.
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