House of Stone

The House of Stone, also known as Stoneturn, was an immense square tower on the eastern edge of the Ardeep Forest.

"An elf calls the deepest wood his own,

A human everywhere may roam,

But a dwarf just wants a house of stone."

Structure
The keep contained hundreds of rooms, halls, temples and towers locked together in a single huge maze.

Inhabitants
The ruins were overrun with undead including a great many ghouls and shadows. More than one entrance to the Underdark could be found within and its denizens frequently wandered up into the building.

History
The House of Stone was built at least a thousand years ago by the dwarves and elves of Illefarn. Originally Stoneturn was built to protect Stoneturn Well located in the heart of the area. Construction was started in 344 DR by Turgo Ironfist of Dardath. In the time of Phalorm, the House was expanded and set up as a massive trap to be used against marauding orcs. Mounted elves would provoke orcs to chase them back to the House, whereupon the orcs would be killed in great numbers as they blundered into trap after trap after trap. The elves of Ardeep Forest kept watch after Phalorm's fall, turning back all comers but giving no reason for doing so until their population dwindled to the point that it could no longer possibly be held. Since the House was abandoned, it became a beacon to countless adventuring bands chasing tales of the treasures that remained unlooted. So deadly was the place however, that carrion birds roosted nearby almost all year-round, never going hungry for long.