This is a generic adventure for low-level characters (1-4).
The castle is set on a small rise surrounded by a shallow (5') ditch. The walls are 15' high & 1.5' thick. It has been cunningly disguised using painted scenes to make it look ruined when it is actually in excellent condition. Any characters with excellent vision, can make an IT roll when they get close to detect some of the visual 'mistakes' of the disguise i.e. shadows not matching the visual appearance etc. Current occupants of the castle are: Mano the mage, Thuk the orc lieutenant & 8 orc foot soldiers. These numbers and their statistics should be adjusted depending on your group's strength.

Rooms:
1. There is always 1 orc on guard/lookout here. Another will join as required. Both are good archers & will fire until the walls are breached.
2. There is always 1 orc on guard/lookout here during the day. Another will join as required.
3. Not usually occupied.
4. Not usually occupied. 2/3 extra guards will join as required.
5. The drawbridge appears to be in poor shape but again has been disguised. Some of the planks are missing sections (camouflaged with painted canvas). There is a 10% per 10' of 'hitting' one of these. A portcullis & thick wooden double doors will bar the way of any intruders. The doors are usually open with the portcullis down. Debris is scattered around to enhance the ruined/abandoned look.
6. Main hall room. This is where Mano will entertain any visitors. The NW door is usually locked (80%). Wall tapestries (10gp) and silver wear (15gp) can be gathered up.
7. Guard area & stairs to lower level. The guards will sometimes have their breaks here (20%). A weapon storage contains 2 shortbows with arrows & 3 swords.
8. There are usually 2-4 guards resting, eating & gambling here. A weapon storage contains 3 shortbows with arrows, 2 swords & 2 shields.
9. Thuk's room. A bed with an assortment of clothing etc can be seen. A small locked chest under the bed contains 30sp, 5gp & a jeweled belt (5gp)
10. Guards sleeping area. Several sleeping mats & bags with clothing can been seen. A water basin provides water for the castle. If characters dive into the cold water, a tunnel leads to a treasury room (V.Hard swim).
11. Storage area. It has 8 barrels containing food, wine etc. A secret (hard) trapped (paralyzation poison) door leads to Mano?s room.
12. Upon leaving the water, there are 2 traps 10? on. The first is easily found (paralyzation poison) but the second is V.Hard to find that releases a gas that makes it hard to breathe and will make the swim back at -20. There are 2 locked chests, the first contains: Circlet of Moonstones (acts as a helm & has Light 10?R *2/day), red wood 4? Pole (expands to 25?, 300lbs), 90cp, 40sp & 10gp. The second contains: Potion of Lifekeeping, 30sp & 15gp.
13. The living quarters of Mano. There is a writing desk (correspondence with the witch-king & good maps of the Trollshores), a bookshelf with 4 Numenorean lore texts (30gp in a large town/city). Hidden in the desk are some runes: Fly 75?, Stun Cloud, Sleep VII & Presence III
14. Mano?s sleeping room. A bed and cupboard full of clothes are all that can been seen.
 
 

Items:
Mano Staff *2PP (gives him 24PP in total) & +5 Dir.Spells, MERP Spell Lists: Illusions, Spellways, Spirit Mastery, Lofty Bridge, Wind Law, Light Law, Fire Law & Essence Hand. He will use the runes from his desk if he has enough warning about intruders.
Thuk +10 Broadsword, +5 shield: 1st attack misses in a 24hr period
Guard 1 has a +5 bow
Guard 1 has herbs: 2*Arfandus, 2*Belan, 5*Arlan
Guard 1 has herbs: 5*Arlan, 1*Uraana, 1*Kilmaker