17. The Rotted Barn

The Rotted Barn is a crumbling, forgotten structure near the edge of Nulb, not far from Otise's Smithy and Stable. Once a simple agricultural storehouse, time and neglect have reduced it to a skeleton of rotting wood and collapsed beams. Locals avoid it, whispering about its cursed nature, strange lights, and unsettling noises. However, beneath the decay lies something far darker—a hidden refuge for the surviving agents of the Temple of Elemental Evil, a last remnant of the cultists who fled the Temple’s destruction.

Description of the Rotted Barn

The Rotted Barn is a decrepit structure that seems to barely hold itself together. Time and the elements have reduced it to a mere shadow of its former self. One side of the barn has collapsed entirely, leaving a gaping wound in its wall, exposing the twisted remnants of wooden beams and splintered boards. The roof has mostly caved in, with only a few stubborn pieces clinging to the frame, casting eerie shadows over the decaying interior.

• Collapsed Wall: One side of the barn has caved in, creating an easy point of entry but also making the entire structure unstable.
• Decaying Roof: The roof has partially collapsed, with loose rafters and broken shingles lying scattered around the interior.
• Rotten Wood: The wooden beams and walls are infested with rot and fungi, making it a place best avoided by the faint-hearted.

Background and History

The barn was once a modest farming storehouse, used to keep grain and livestock feed when Nulb had a more respectable population. When the village was fully consumed by lawlessness, the barn was abandoned, left to rot in the humid air off Imeryd’s Run.
However, its dark reputation is far older. In the final days of The Battle of Emridy Meadows  (569 CY), as the combined forces of Furyondy, Veluna, and Verbobonc drove the Temple of Elemental Evil’s cultists back to Nulb, a desperate last stand was made here.
Over the years, the barn has become a haven for vermin and wild creatures from the nearby Gnarley Forest. Locals say it is cursed, although they provide no specific reasons for their fears, simply noting the barn’s unsettling atmosphere. Its dilapidated state has also drawn unsavory characters, such as bandits and vagabonds, who occasionally use it as a hideout when passing through Nulb.

• Original Purpose: Used as a storage barn for farming supplies and livestock feed when Nulb still had some semblance of a farming community.
• Cultists' Last Refuge: In the battle for Nulb, some of the Temple’s clerics, warriors, and agents sought refuge beneath the barn, using hidden tunnels to evade their pursuers. Many were slain or trapped as the barn burned in the final skirmishes.
• Superstition: Locals believe it is cursed, attributing an air of danger and misfortune to the structure.

Public Perception and Local Beliefs

For the villagers of Nulb, the Rotted Barn is an ominous landmark, whispered about with caution. Many believe that malevolent forces have taken root within its walls, either due to its long-standing neglect or the dark activities that sometimes take place there. Some of Nulb’s more superstitious residents claim to have seen strange lights flickering near the barn at night or to have heard whispers carried by the wind around its broken walls. Though this is likely local superstition, the tales add to the barn’s fearful reputation.

• Whispered Tales: Locals tell stories of strange lights and whispers in the night around the barn.
• Avoided Landmark: Most residents of Nulb give the barn a wide berth, especially after sunset.
• Fear of Malevolent Spirits: Some believe that the barn is cursed, possibly harboring malevolent spirits or dark forces.

Current State and Possible Uses

Despite its decayed state, the barn’s location near the 18. Otises Smithy and Stable house and the Boatman’s Tavern makes it an ideal hiding spot for less-than-savory characters. Bandits, or cultists occasionally use it as a temporary shelter when passing through the village. Although there is nothing of material value left inside, the barn’s inconspicuous appearance and secluded setting provide a semblance of privacy to those who seek it.

• Hideout Potential: The barn is often used by local bandits, cultists, or travelers who need a discreet place to stay out of sight.
• No Valuable Items: The barn holds no known valuable items, only scattered debris and rotting wood.
• Unstable Shelter: Though used as a temporary refuge, the barn is structurally unsound, with frequent collapses likely.

Public Rumors and Legends

The Rotted Barn has become the subject of various rumors among the townsfolk, despite the lack of any concrete evidence of its dangers. Some claim that it was once a sacrificial site for cultists of the Elder Elemental God, while others say that the spirits of those who perished in the Gnarley Forest return to the barn to haunt it on misty nights. These tales have grown over time, contributing to the barn’s fearsome reputation and deterring most townsfolk from approaching it.

• Sacrificial Site: Some villagers believe the barn was used for dark rituals by followers of the Elder Elemental God.
• Haunting Myths: Legends claim that spirits from the Gnarley Forest return to the barn to haunt it on misty nights.
• Fearful Avoidance: Superstitions have given the barn a reputation that keeps most townsfolk away.

DM Only Section

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In truth, the Rotted Barn harbors a sinister secret tied to Lady Lmag and the mysterious cult activities that occasionally sweep through Nulb. Though on the surface it may seem abandoned, the barn serves as a clandestine meeting point for the Cult of the Elder Elemental God, especially those dedicated to the worship of the Earth Element led by High Priest Romag. Followers of Lady Nysera Krivaltis and members of The Crimson Reapers gang use the barn as a temporary gathering place to plan ambushes or store stolen goods before smuggling them out of the village. 

Current Use & Cultist Activity

Despite its ruinous state, the barn is still occasionally used by cultists of the Elder Elemental God who need a safe haven in Nulb.

• Safe House: Cult agents who return to Nulb seeking refuge sometimes use the hidden basement beneath the barn.
• Secret Cache: Hidden away in a trapdoor beneath rotted hay, a supply cache of old Temple relics, stolen coins, and weapons remains from the original cultists who fled Emridy Meadows.

Survivors of the Temple

The barn once housed a group of fleeing cultists after the fall of the Temple. Some were executed by the forces of good, while others perished from their wounds in the dark beneath the barn. To this day, remnants of their presence linger in the form of hidden caches and encoded markings.

• The Escape Tunnel: A hidden tunnel beneath the barn once led toward an underground route to the Temple’s ruins. It collapsed decades ago, but an enterprising group could clear it with great effort.
• Hidden Cultist Symbols: Scratched into the underside of a beam is an inscription in Abyssal, a warning: “When the Eye Opens, We Rise Again.”
• Remnants of the Fallen: A buried skeleton in cultist robes can be found in a hidden recess beneath the rotted floorboards. It clutches a rusted dagger and an amulet of the Elder Elemental God.

Treasure – The Forgotten Cache

The hidden basement beneath the barn still holds the remnants of a forgotten hoard, a collection of wealth and relics left behind by the Temple’s fleeing forces.

• Coin Stash: 230 sp, 44 gp, 3 platinum bars (worth 50 gp each).
• Cult Relic: A jet-black amulet of the Elder Elemental God—not magical, but valuable to the right collector or cultist.
• Aged Spell Scrolls: A pair of brittle parchment scrolls containing Darkness and Silence.
• Potion of Healing: An old potion still intact, its liquid still glowing faintly.
• Tarnished Dagger: A masterwork dagger, its blade stained dark with age, carved with the symbol of the Elder Elemental God.

Adventure Hooks

"Buried Secrets": A desperate cultist seeks to retrieve an item hidden in the barn’s basement, offering a significant reward for anyone who can help recover it without drawing attention. "The Haunted Barn": Local villagers claim to have seen ghostly figures wandering the barn at night. A reward is offered to uncover the source of these eerie manifestations. "The Return of the Temple": A band of cultists seeks to reclaim the barn as a safe house, beginning secret gatherings in the ruins. What are they planning? "A Passage Beneath": A scholar believes that a tunnel beneath the barn might lead to the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil. He needs a group brave enough to explore its depths.

The Rotted Barn in Nulb by 3orcs

Type

Stables

Parent Location

Nulb

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Romag

Whispers from the Folk of Nulb

Rumors Surrounding the Rotted Barn

"Strange Lights"

Old Marna the Herbalist: "I tell ya, some nights, you can see faint lights dancin’ in that barn. Just a flicker here and there, but it's there all right. Nothin' natural ‘bout it."

"The Ghost of Gillum"

Bertram the Boatman: "Word is that ol' Gillum still walks ‘round the barn some nights. Folk say he was strung up by the Hangedmen for betrayin' them somehow. Seems he can’t rest, on account of a debt unpaid."

"Not a Place for Honest Folk"

Lena the Barmaid at Waterside Hostel: "You won't catch me near that barn after dark! The walls may be fallin’ down, but I’d wager a gold piece there's somethin’ darker than rot inside."

"Sounds of the Past"

Wren the Miller: "Sometimes, if yer real quiet, ye can hear faint voices, like they're whisperin' from another time. Some say it's just the wind. Me? I know the difference."

"The Barn Swallows Souls"

Nekron, a Local Fisherman: "It’s cursed, that barn is. A few folks gone in to scavenge and ain’t come back, least not right away. They come out pale as ghosts, and sickly, whisperin' about things they saw in the shadows."

"Hideout of the Hangedmen"

Jase the Blacksmith: "Barn's been used as a meetin' spot for all sorts—thieves, cultists, ye name it. Seen more than one stranger slink in there at dawn. I keep me distance, an’ I suggest ya do the same."

"A Warning from Lady Lómag"

Carla the Weaver: "Lady Nysera's warned folk to stay away from that barn, claims it's a danger to the village. Mind ya, I’ve a feelin’ she knows somethin’ she’s not sharin' with the rest of us."

"Shadows That Move"

Rudgar the Trapper: "Was huntin’ near dusk once, passed by the barn, and I swear to Pelor, I saw shadows movin' against the walls. Nothin' there, just shadows in shapes I can’t explain."

"The Rot Never Stops"

Elra the Butcher: "Folks say the rot’s spreadin’. Used to be just the walls, but now the ground around’s all blackened and sickly. Can't help but think it's the barn corruptin' the earth itself."

"A Portal to the Gnarley Forest?"

Milo, the Traveling Merchant: "There’s talk among the traders—some say the barn’s cursed by the Gnarley Forest spirits. Rumor has it, if you stand in just the right spot, you'll see another world through the cracks."

hidden crawlspace beneath a dilapidated barn by 3orcs

Rotted Barn Safe House and The Escape Tunnel by 3orcs