Clovius looks at the tower, a dubius expression on his face. To me, that looks more like a mage tower. But ... who am I to say?

As you travel on, discussion of dragon turtles and owlbears flowing back and forth, the picture becomes clearer as you get closer. There is a shimmering around the tower, and an area around it looks scorched, black and barren.

As you watch, you find out why. With a sudden howling, a group of weird - some would say frightful - quadruped charge out of the nearest (un-scorched) field, and bound towards the tower at great speed. Almost immediately, a fireball archs out, striking them - but as the smoke clears, the beasts charge on, seemingly unscathed.

Next, lightning strikes - once, twice, three times - and as your eyes recover from the sudden glare, you see the attackers lie twitcing, dead or dying.

You are still a good mile out of town.