Keestake

Keestake was an old man found on Doomed Island who claimed to have survived there alone for sixty years. He served as the party's guide before revealing his true nature as a betrayer in the catacombs beneath the Manor of the Sea King.

Background

Keestake presented himself as a harmless survivor — a frail old man who had eked out an existence on the island ever since an orc raid decades ago. He claimed intimate knowledge of the island and offered to guide the party to a hidden boat beneath the manor.

The truth was far darker. Sixty years ago, after the pirate invasion that killed the island's rulers, Keestake prepared the body of Viledel (the Sea King) and took a ring from him. He wished that the bodies would never decay — a wish that was granted, transforming Viledel and his queen Liala into undead zombies that haunted the catacombs for six decades. Keestake's goal was to trap the party underground and prevent anyone from taking the Sea King's treasures.

Statistics

Class	Level	HP	AC	THAC0	Alignment
Fighter	1	6	10	20	Chaotic Evil

Role in the Adventure

Episode 2: The Rescue

Finn found Keestake tied up behind the orc battle lines in the ravine. After being rescued via a successful stealth mission, Keestake told the party about the Temple of the Goddess (a few hours' journey) and a boat hidden in the catacombs beneath the Sea King's manor. He offered to guide them.

Episode 3: Temple of the Goddess

Keestake accompanied the party to the temple. While they explored, he settled in the kitchen (Room 9). He shared knowledge about the island's layout and confirmed the manor was half a day's journey north, held by orcs with goblins skulking around the edges.

Episode 4: Manor of the Sea King

Keestake guided the party to the manor's servants' wing, identifying a window with loose bars (Room 18) as an entry point. He showed eager nervousness — which Marcus noted as suspicious — and insisted on leading the way to the storage room (Room 38) where the catacombs trapdoor was hidden. When asked about the route, he described the path accurately but urged haste, citing fading daylight and increasing patrol frequency.

Inside the manor, Keestake discovered his personal quarters (Room 19) had been destroyed by the orcs. He mourned the loss of his 60-year sanctuary — a moment that may have been genuine, even from a man planning betrayal.

After the goblin patrol fight, Keestake found and opened the trapdoor in Room 38. He insisted on descending first into the catacombs.

Episode 5: The Betrayal

Once the entire party had descended the 60-foot shaft to Catacombs Room 1, Keestake moved to Room 2 and pulled an iron lever. A tremendous crash sealed the entrance shaft with falling stones and debris. The way back was blocked.

Then came the confession:

• He had prepared Viledel's body after the pirate invasion 60 years ago
• He took a ring from Viledel and wished the bodies would never decay
• This wish created the zombies — Viledel and Queen Liala — that haunted the crypts
• He intended to trap the party underground forever

Keestake drew a concealed dagger and lunged at Mira.

Death

Initiative: party 5, Keestake 9 — the party acted first.

Marcus swung his battle axe — despite the -4 non-proficiency penalty, he rolled a natural 20, dealing 8 damage (maximum on 1d8). Keestake had 6 HP. He was killed instantly, dead before his dagger could reach Mira. His attack roll (18 — which would have hit) never resolved.

It was perhaps the most consequential single roll of the entire adventure. Had Marcus missed, Keestake's dagger might have struck the party's most fragile member — the same person who would go on to save everyone in the finale.

Items

• Dagger — recovered by Mira after his death. This dagger later killed Zombie Queen Liala and was used to chisel open Prince Horedel's sealed crypt
• Gold ring — Viledel's ring, worn on a leather cord around his neck. Tarnished black with age. The party tested it (Zeale wished on it) and confirmed the magic was spent 60 years ago. Now just a tarnished gold band

Legacy

Keestake's betrayal sealed the party underground with the very undead he created. But his treachery ultimately led them to the escape — without being forced into the catacombs, they would never have found Prince Horedel's burial galley and its treasure. His ring, drained of magic, sits in Zeale's pocket as a reminder.

Current Status

Dead — killed in Catacombs Room 1 by Brother Marcus. Body left in the catacombs. Destroyed along with the entire island when the Goddess sent her tornadoes.