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For details on the Chaos Scar and its environs, read the Chaos Scar introduction and check out the map of  the entire valley. Then check out and join the Chaos  Scar group on the D&D Community pages.  And talk about this article here.

There is so much plagiarism in this article that the by-line should read Gary Gygax and Mike Mearls.  The numbering of structures have been changed, but the structures and NPCs (now with names) remain.  The stylized map is a 3d rendering of the original keep, so for those who like the top down view use the map in the earlier post.

It could use a better name than Restwell, it sounds like a sleazy motel.

Peridin Drysdale, a paladin of Erathis appears to be a self-appointed “Lord” and ruler of the Keep.  He took the keep by force from the previous holders.  It is not entirely clear if he has the backing of the church or the local nobility in his rulership.  He appears to be unmarried [no family mentioned] and is 50, meaning his rule will probably be short and heirless.

• In the original B2 module this was the role of the Castellan [a 6th level fighter, with no age given] a caretaker of the keep. Usually, a castellan is appointed with the combined duties of both a majordomo (responsible for a castle's domestic staff) and a military administrator (responsible for maintaining defenses and protecting the castle's lands). This was particularly the case if there was no lord [noble] resident at the castle, or if the resident lord was frequently absent.

I love the politics of the keep; for those into urban role-playing there are quite a few plots here.  I would have like to seen an agent of the Brotherhood of the Scar, although it seems their tie to the Zehir rumor mentioned in background has again been made.  Yet again, this person does have a separate reason for being here and that hasn’t been tied to the Chaos Scar.

The inclusion of the mages of Saruun from H2 is a great linking tool to the “distant” Nentir Vale.  Additionally, it can also serve as a hook to move characters to that higher-level setting [Levels 4-6].  I hate the vagueness of the word “distant” and would perfer something along the lines of “x# of days by horse”.  This is important, as the mages have quick means of travel, they may eventually hire out an expedition to return to the Seven-Pillared Hall who must travel by more mundane means

The keep was also the home of dwarven bandits in the [again vague] past, presumable before the war with the demonic gnoll horde, as the Nerath Empire was willing and able to send a small army to lay seige to it.  I do not know if the “famed dwarf bandit” [name omitted to prevent spoilers] mentioned as a scourge to Nerath’s borders comes from Hammerfast that would also be a nice tie-in.  It also works nice with my previously mentioned location for the setting on the northern fringe of the Nentir Vale.