Dungeon Memos

Dungeon Memos, third memo

To: Dynamic Dungeon Design, LLC

From: Lord Orbo, Grand Vicar to Lord Wormrot

Priority: Normal

Date: 27 Moonrise, 103rd year of the rule of the House of Greyheart

Re: Ghouls

Dear Sir, 

As Lord Wormrot has entered into a week-long series of incantations to align himself with Bloodrocutus, the Ghost Demon of the Inferno and cannot be disturbed, it is left to me, Lord Orbo, Grand Vicar to Lord Wormrot, to respond to your last missive. Rest assured that I am very keen to the Lich King’s disposition and druthers in regards to the project and you can trust my consul.

It pains me to hear of your trouble recruiting workers for the project. Presently, I have dispatched two Zombie Priests that will assist you in acquiring more man-power. They are quite effective and I am sure you will be impressed with their results. I am eager to hear your impressions once they have arrived. 

In regards to the ghoul attacks, the chance of coming to a non-confrontational outcome with these particular ghouls is quite unlikely. The ghouls attacking your workers owe their current state of unending madness and torment to Lord Wormrot himself. I don’t know how familiar you are with the origins of undead creatures such as the ghoul, so allow me to briefly explain. 

Ghouls are a sophisticated form of undead that can only be created by a necromancer of the highest order, one such as Lord Wormrot himself. Usually, these creatures are awoken from the grave with their mortal intellects intact. Then, they are forced to assist the necromancer as eternal servants, serving in capacities related to that which they carried out in life. 

Unfortunately, the ghouls that reside in the neighboring forests were raised by Lord Wormrot for alternative reasons; not as help-mates, but as a punishment for having displeased him in life. Therefore, breaking with tradition, Wormrot raised them from their death-sleep but never disinterred their reanimated forms, leaving them to slowly devolve into madness as they spent untold months and years clawing their way free of their tombs and grave plots. 

At this point, understandably, the small amount of mental clarity that remains with these loathsome creatures is focused on an obsessive hatred of Lord Wormrot. 

Perhaps you can distract them from their attacks with goats. I know it sounds peculiar, but it is well-known that ghouls, given the choice between attacking a man or a goat, will always choose the goat. No one understands the reasons behind this, but knowledge of this phenomena is time-honored folk-wisdom among the undead.  

Finally, I assure you Lord Wormrot does not wish to alter the design of his tomb in any way, least of all the Lava Pits. You will complete the dungeon in accordance to the specifications laid out. Any cost above the original estimates supplied by the DDD sales team will be dealt with when the time comes. Money is no object for the Lich King. Quality of his Unholy Temple is his only consideration. That is why he chose Dynamic Dungeon Designs, LLC as our contractor, and it is my sincere hope that you do not disappoint him.