Our fellowship of adventurers, drawn by whispers of an earthquake-revealed, long-sealed fortress tower, cautiously approached the ancient structure. Time and the elements had taken their toll; the once proud tower now stood in a state of significant disrepair, with a leaning front door and a large pile of smoldering ash and bones nearby, hinting at a recent, likely violent, past involving goblins.
Survival instincts kicked in quickly as the party noted numerous fresh goblin tracks around the tower's entrance. Despite the signs of recent activity, there was no indication of any other recent visitors.
Entering through the precarious front door, the adventurers found themselves in a room that, while damaged, had fared better than other parts of the tower. A thick layer of stone dust coated everything, and large cobwebs hung like eerie tapestries. An open archway in the southwest wall beckoned them further inside.
A moment of tension arose as the party debated their next move. The pervasive spider webs made some uneasy. A cautious attempt to scout ahead with ranged attacks at the archway yielded no immediate hits but did disturb a large spider lurking on the northern wall. A strategic retreat and a volley of attacks through the doorway ensued, successfully eliminating the arachnid threat.
Continuing their exploration, the group entered another room where they discovered a secret door concealed beside a seemingly innocuous part of the wall. This secret passage led to a significantly more damaged chamber. A large portion of the floor was missing, revealing the courtyard below. Above, thousands of bats clung to the underside of the roof, filling the air with a pungent smell of ammonia. Unwilling to disturb the massive colony, the adventurers opted to seal the secret door and continue their exploration elsewhere.
Their path led them to another set of doors, which they carefully checked for traps before opening. Behind these doors, they encountered a tied-up and unconscious halfling man who appeared to have been beaten. Upon being roused and given water, the halfling, named Milo, revealed himself to be a member of a Pathfinder adventuring association. He recounted his capture by troglodytes after investigating the tower, which he learned was accessible due to a recent earthquake. Milo hadn't explored much of the tower beyond the second level before his capture and expressed a strong desire to leave. He did mention the presence of a giant frog, kept as a pet or captive by the troglodytes, in another room. Despite being questioned about artifacts or valuables, Milo claimed to have seen nothing of interest.
Despite Milo's warnings about the giant frog, one of the party members recalled hearing a croaking sound. However, the immediate decision was to explore the upper levels of the tower first, leaving the room with the frog for later. They ascended a stairwell and entered an open wing of the tower. This large, cross-shaped chamber featured decayed remnants of carpet and a large throne at the far end, hinting at a former inhabitant of some importance.
The exploration of the Fallen Fortress had just begun, revealing signs of past inhabitants, monstrous creatures, and lingering mysteries within its crumbling walls. The promise of artifacts and the threat of unknown dangers lay ahead.