LL

An anthology of seventeen mystery-themed adventures

for the world’s greatest roleplaying game
CANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES

ATE
 CREDITS
Project Lead: Christopher Perkins D&D TABLETOP TEAM
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Writing: Graeme Barber, Bill Benham, Kelly Lynne D'Angelo, Executive Producer: Ray Winninger
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Rules Development: Jeremy Crawford, Dan Dillon, Ben Petrisor, Art Department: Trystan Falcone, Kate Irwin, Emi Kuioka,
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Editing: Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Kim Mohan, Senior Producer: Dan Tovar
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EY;

2D
ON THE COVER ON THE ALT-COVER
Clint Cearley gives us a glimpse of two adventurers trying to Simen Meyer's cover incorporates the symbol of Candlekeep and
solve one of Candlekeep’s great mysteries, unaware of the danger various creatures into its design, creating what looks like a book
one might find in the library’s vaults.

ca C€
Disclaimer: This book has been compiled by the Avowed of Candlekeep, in accordance
620C9278000001 EN
with the wishes of the late Alaundo the Seer, whose prophecies foreshadow all events of
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6722-3 consequence in the Forgotten Realms. Alaundo warned that anyone who unravels all the
First Printing: March 2021 mysteries of this tome will be hunted down by the Time Dragons of Chronepsis, tossed
into the gaping maw of Dendar the Night Serpent, and cast into the Vortex of Ineffable
Damnation. Ha ha. What a sense of humor, that Alaundo!
983765432]

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erty treaties. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the materials contained herein or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of
the Coast.

Printed in the USA. ©2020 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by: Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH.
Represented by: Hasbr Entree 24 1 EE Amsterdam Hasbro UK Ltd., PO Box 43 Newport, NP19 4YH, UK. ;

A AA 5 Es TRI CN Ms IAN Mi " Ei

CONTENTS
New creature stat blocks are marked with an asterisk.

A Book of Books 4 The Price of Beauty 75 Finding Quill 156

Using the Adventures 4 Beginning the Adventure..........ccceueunu... 75 Arrant Quill* 156
Candlekeep 6 Temple of the Restful Lily.........ccccuuueeee. 76 The Party 157
Entering Candlekeep c Naiad® 84 Aftermath 158

Defenses and Decorum 7 Conclusion 90 The Book of Inner Alchemy................ 159

The Avowed 8 Book of Cylinders 91 Finding the Book 159
Sages and Master Sages... 8 Beginning the Adventure........ccccccuuennenene 91 Order of the Immortal Lotus................ 161
Sage* 9 Northward Ho! 92 Into the Cloakwood 162
Master Sage* 9 Helping the Grippli 93 Temple of the Immortal Lotus.............. 163
Candlekeep Locations.........cvcrcirsrscssansens 10 Aftermath 98 Steel Crane* 164
Miirym* 16 Grippli* 99 Immortal Lotus Adept. .....ccnimrrenn 165

The Joy of Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor............... 100 Jade Tigress® 166

Extradimensional Spaces.................. 17 Beginning the Adventure.........ccccoeeeunee 100 Bak Mei* 168
Finding the Book 17 Grieving Ghost 102 Aftermath 169
Opening the Portal 18: Secrets in Waterdeep ........c..cocreearcissnsns 103 The Canopic Being 170
Fistandia’s Mansion 18 Greenfast 106 Beginning the Adventure.........ccceuuunenee. 170
Swarm of Animated Books*................... 19 Temple of the Burnt Tongue Cult......... 108 Player Handout: Xemru’s Note............. 171
Broom of Animated Attack™.................. 20 Conclusion 113 Mission to Tashluta 172
Animated Chained Library*................... 24 fore of Larue 114 Valin's Tomb 174
Conclusion 25 Finding the Book 114 Canopic Golem* 179

Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions........... 26 Lore Comes to Life 115 Conclusion 182

Finding the Book 26 Into the Wood 116 The Scrivener’s Tale............................. 184
What's Going On? 27 Peril at the Pool 122 Beginning the Adventure....................... 184
Gingwatzim* 27 Conclusion 123 The Scrivener’s MarKk............ccocivniiunnnne 185
Monstrous Books 28 Corrupted Avatar of Lurue® .................. 123 A Mysterious Dream 186
Journey to Baldur's Gate..........cooenens 29 Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion ........... 124 A Troubled Journey 187

The Wide 29 Beginning the Adventure...........ccc........ 124 Baldur's Gate 188

Blackgate 31 Earthquake! 125 ivi
Haven of the Red Quill............ 190
Amberdune Hideout 31 “vhe Barn Door 126 Conclusion 196

Conclusion 34 Under the Barn DOOT ..........ceeeemmmmmmmmmnnne 130 Nintra Siotta, Princess of
Book of the Raven 35 Conclusion 134 the Shadow Glass 196
Finding the Book 35 New Monsters 135 Nintra Siotta® 197
Map of Mystery 37 Skitterwidget* 136 Alkazaar’s Appendix...........ccccccueunnnee. 198
Chalet Brantifax 37 Kiddywidget* 136 Adventure Overview 198

Shadow Crossing 46 zikran’s Zephyrean Tome................... 137 Finding the Books 198
Wereraven* 47 Finding the Book 137 6.5 rieeens 199
Adventure Background ...........:

A Deep and Creeping Darkness.......... 48 Gazre-Azam’s Predicament.........cooeee. 137 Arriving in AnauroCh.....occcccccnnvnnee 200
Finding the Book 48 Zikran’s Laboratory 13g Travelin Anauroch 202
Maerin 49 The Cloud Peaks 140 Arrival at Haruun 203
Vermeillon 51 Cloud Giant Keep 143 Travel to the Necropolis...........c.coocueuien. 205

Fate of Vermeillon 59 Conclusion 146 Necropolis of AZumar.....c.oeeuiuerinnne. 206

Meenlock” 60 Cloud Giant Ghost* 146 Storm Giant Skeleton” coins 208
What Happens Next?............c.ccccercinnnres 211
Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme ............ 61 The Curious Tale of Chwinga* 212
Adventure Overview 61 Wisteria Vale 147
Player Handout: Finding the Book 147 Xanthoria 213
Shemshime’s Rhyme ........cccccovuevnennnne. 62 The Cure 148 Beginning the Adventure.........cccouve. 213
Finding the Book 62 Adventure SUMMATrY .......cccoeeeurererreeesnens. 148 The Lykortha EXpanse............ewween 215
Cellar Inhabitants 63 Into the Demiplane 148 Xanthoria’s Defeat ey
Events 65 Wisteria Vale 149 Lichen Lich” 223
Shemshime* 69 Constructed Commonert...................... 149 Contributor Bios 224
The Firefly Cellar 70 Exploring the Manor 152
=) h 300K OFGE300KS
ANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES IS AN ANTHOLOGY RUNNING THE ADVENTURES
of adventures written by members of
To run these adventures, you need the fifth edition
the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS community.
core rulebooks (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Mas-
Each adventure begins with a book that
ter’s Guide, and Monster Manual).
the characters find in Candlekeep, an enormous
library located on the Sword Coast in the Forgotten ’ ¢
Realms setting. Text that appears in a box like this] is meant to be - -
If you're not running a Forgotten Realms cam- read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their
paign, you can adapt the adventures in this book for characters first arrive at a location or under a specific
other settings, substituting any large library similar
circumstance, as described | in the text.
to Candlekeep. Examples from other published @ § a a ®

D&D settings include the following:

The Monster Manual contains stat blocks for most
« On the world of Exandria, the Soltryce Academy
of the creatures encountered in these adventures.
in Rexxentrum (a large city on the continent of
When a creature’s name appears in bold type, that’s
Wildemount) or the Cobalt Reserve in Westruun
a visual cue pointing you to its stat block as a way
(a small city on the continent of Tal'dorei)
of saying, “Hey, DM, get this creature’s stat block
« On the world of Eberron, the Library of Korran-
ready. You'll need it.” If a stat block is new, the ad-
berg in the nation of Zilargo, the University of
venture's text tells you where to find it.
Wynarn’s library in the nation of Aundair, or Mor-
Spells and equipment mentioned in the adven-
grave University’s library in the city of Sharn
tures are described in the Player's Handbook. Magic
« On the world of Oerth, the Great Library in the
items are described in the Dungeon Master's Guide
Free City of Greyhawk
unless an adventure’s text directs you elsewhere.

USING THE ADVENTURES BE A SENSITIVE DUNGEON MASTER

The Candlekeep Mysteries table summarizes the Before running an adventure with a new group of
adventures in this anthology. Each adventure is de- players, have a candid out-of-game conversation
signed for four to six characters of a particular level, with them about hard and soft limits on what topics
but you can adjust it for larger or smaller groups can be broached in-game. Your players might have
as well as for characters of higher or lower level by phobias and triggers you aren’t aware of. Any topic
swapping one monster or trap for another, changing or theme that makes a player feel unsafe should be
the number of foes in an encounter, and adjusting avoided. If a topic or theme makes one or more play-
DCs to make important tasks easier or harder for ers nervous but they give you consent to include it
the characters to accomplish. in-game, incorporate it with care. Be ready to move
Each adventure in this anthology embraces one of away from such topics and themes quickly if a prob-
the following narrative conceits: lem crops up. It’s okay for characters to feel stressed
and anxious, but your players should be relaxed and
« The characters discover a book in the library that
having fun.
contains a mystery. Getting to the bottom of this
mystery requires embarking on an adventure.
TENDAYS AND DALERECKONING .
« The characters come to Candlekeep on a quest for
In the Forgotten Realms setting, a week is ten days
information, perhaps to solve a crisis elsewhere long and is referred to as a tenday. There are three ten-
in the world. During their research, they uncover days in a month and twelve months in a year. For more
a book and the mystery it contains, which leads to information on the calendar of the Forgotten Realms,
adventure. see “The Calendar of Harptos” sidebar in the Dungeon
Master's Guide.
These short adventures work best with players Dalereckoning (DR) is the most common reckoning
who like mysteries and discovering their secrets. of years in the Realms. The adventures in Candlekeep
That said, each adventure contains opportunities for Mysteries are presumed to take place in 1492 DR, but
exploration, roleplaying, and combat, to appeal to the exact date is not important.
A of all persuasions.

Re A BOOK OF BOOKS
 i
cee

CANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES
Adventure Level Description
The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces | A book leads characters
on a quest to finda missing sage.
Mazfroth'’s Mighty Digressions A monstrous revelation sheds light on a book merchant's scam.
Bookhop!the Raven : A treasure map tucked inside a book beckons adventurers to a remote hill-
top chalet occupied by a secret society that shuns visitors.
A Deep and Creeping Darkness A book describing a mining disaster prompts adventurers to search for a
missing town.
Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme A catchy and contagious rhyme traces back to a sinister clockwork book.
The Price of Beauty A book about beauty shows the way to a secluded temple where beauty is
only skin deep.
Engraved cylinders contained within a book tell a gripping and portentious
. tale when rolled across wet clay.
| Sate of Yellogsesrs Mins | A haunted book points a ghostly finger at the perpetrators of an wisdlved:
mass killing in Waterdeep.
Adventurers become immersed in a storybook conflict involving Lurue the
Unicorn Queen and Malar the Beast Lord.
candieloes Defonseriddion A stolen book leads adventurers to a tower in Candlekeep that i is more
than what it seems.
Zikran’s Zephyrear Jos 10 A djinni trapped in a book offers a wish spell to adventurers who find a way
to release him.
The Curious Tale of Wisteria Vale 11 A book holds the key to unlocking a bard’s prison.
on Book of Inner Aieney 12 ~ A search for the missing pages of a book puts adventurers | in conflict with
the monks of the Immortal Lotus. .
The Canopic Being 13 A book brings several puzzling organ transplants to light.
The Scrivener’s Tale 14 A tome leaves its magical mark on the adventurers, dooming them unless
.
they can find a way to remove it.
Alkazaar’s Appendix 15 A book chronicles an unsolved mystery about a wandering stone golem in
the desert.
Xanthoria 16 A fell grimoire helps adventurers end a fungal plague.
fi
1

DISSECTING THE ADVENTURES ABOUT THE FORGOTTEN REALMS

You can dissect an adventure and use pieces of it The world of the Forgotten Realms is one of high
rather than the whole thing. Nothing in these adven- fantasy, populated by elves, dwarves, halflings,
tures is too sacred to tamper with and repurpose to humans, and other folk. Steel-hearted adventurers
serve your own needs. from backcountry farmsteads and sleepy villages
Most of the locations described in this book follow tales that take them to strange, glorious,
can be used as stand-alone adventure sites. With faraway places. Good maps and clear trails can
a little effort and a few name changes, you can carry inexperienced youths with dreams of glory
transplant them into other campaign worlds, includ- far across the world, but these paths are never safe.
ing your own. Traveling throughout the Realms invites the perils
Take the Lykortha Expanse, a cave network that of fell magic and deadly monsters. Farms and free-
figures prominently in one of this book’s adventures. holds within a day’s walk of a city might fall prey
You could situate these caves in any wilderness or to monsters, and no place is safe from the sudden
Underdark setting where fungi are likely to be found wrath of a dragon.
in abundance. You can also modify the villain and Details about the history and nature of the Realms
its goals to better support an ongoing story or threat fill volumes, and much of that knowledge resides in
in your campaign. Conversely, you could remove the books and scrolls sealed in Candlekeep’s vaults. For
villain, keep the map, and repopulate the Lykortha a detailed description of Candlekeep, see the next
Expanse with creatures that better suit the char- section. This product also includes a foldout poster
acters’ level or the particular story you want to tell. that features an illustration of the library-fortress.
Sometimes a good map is all a DM needs!

A BOOK OF BOOKS 5
 Eee

ANDLEKEEP ttl OU

WRITTEN BY CHRIS LINDSAY

EDITED BY MICHELE CARTER AND HANNAH ROSE

TANDING ATOP A ROCKY CRAG OVERLOOKING

the Sea of Swords, the massive citadel of
Candlekeep has endured the elements for
centuries and defied the degradations of
time. Visible for miles around, Candlekeep has an
eye-catching silhouette: a high wall interspersed
with towers. This wall encloses a large space from
which more towers rise. Those who behold the edi-
fice say it looks like nothing so much as a cake deco-
rated with an overabundance of candles.
The entrance to Candlekeep is a double gate that
stands at the end of the Way of the Lion, the only
road that provides access to and from the outside
world. The route follows a lonely path across the
peninsula where Candlekeep stands.
Book oF THE AVOWED
Those who gain entry discover a cloistered com-
munity of scholars milling around inside Candle-
keep’s walls, a place of enlightened conversation The enormous double gates of Candlekeep are
and friendly debate. No better place in the Realms three times the height of a human and wrought of
exists for those who have a love for or a need of black metal magically warded to foil attempts to
knowledge and who want to pursue such interests damage them. Both doors are emblazoned with the
alongside fellow seekers. sigil of Candlekeep. One of the two gates stands
Candlekeep has the largest repository of written open far enough to admit visitors during the day,
lore in Faerfin, including the collected prophecies and the other is kept shut.
of an ancient sage named Alaundo the Seer. Those Bedecked in purple vestments, five Avowed
compiled divinations make up a tiny fraction of the priests of Deneir (god of writing) oversee the front
accumulated knowledge and secrets contained in gates, examining and discussing written works
the library’s vast collection. presented by hopefuls trying to gain entrance. If a
Not all knowledge preserved in Candlekeep is of question arises, the Avowed send a runner to con-
historical importance. The library holds thousands sult with a sage in the library. The runner eventually
upon thousands of lost recipes, old songs, collec- returns bearing a missive of acceptance or denial.
tions of folklore, and journals written by folks whose Visiting scholars experienced in this procedure
time has long since passed. The abundance of these often bring a selection of possible donations to
ancillary works makes finding notable tomes an ex- ensure admittance. Despite the stringent entrance
ercise in patience and perseverance. Fortunately, a requirements, the Avowed do accept rare editions
legion of scholars and sages called the Avowed look of tomes already in the collection, journals of those
after the library and remain vigilant in the care and who recount unique or insightful experiences, or the
cataloging of all the knowledge it holds. odd work that has been annotated by a prominent
scholar outside the library. Once granted admission,
ENTERING CANDLEKEEP visitors quickly discover that it’s wise to assemble a
The required entrance fee for admission into Can- “wish list” of works that members of the senior staff
dlekeep is a work of writing not already collected are interested in collecting, potentially reducing the
therein. Those who show up at the gates without guesswork of readmission on future visits. S
such a gift are kindly but firmly turned away. Those admitted to Candlekeep, referred to as
—
seekers, can request the assistance of an Avowed
TN
Ny
AA

f
Q
6 CANDLEKEEP
adjutant who acts as a guide and research assis- WARDS
tant for the duration of their visit. This guide has
Numerous magical defenses protect the library.
access to all the resources of the library, with the
The most innocuous include wards to protect
exception of the vaults that contain the rarest and
the library’s books from mold, weevils, and other
most dangerous works. Seekers can appeal to
threats. Other protections are more dramatic, as
higher-ranking Avowed for permission to peruse
discussed below.
these off-limits works.
Magic Restriction. Wards prevent anyone from
SECURING A GUIDE entering Candlekeep by any route other than
through the front gates. Any attempt to magically
If the adventurers require a guide, roll a d8 and bypass these gates fails. These wards do not prevent
consult the Avowed Adjutants table to determine creatures from using magic to exit Candlekeep.
the adjutant who is assigned to them, or choose one Anyone who tries to fly over the wall into Candle-
that you like. keep is stopped short. Magical flight is dispelled,
and the subject floats slowly to the ground fifty
AVOWED ADJUTANTS feet outside the gates. An intangible ward forces
d8 Description creatures that can fly naturally to either land or cir-
1 ~ Fembris Larlancer, an 18-year-old human scribe cumnavigate Candlekeep altogether. Ordinary birds
with a bright smile, a can- -do attitude, and an ob- are unaffected by this ward, and a clever wizard or
noxious need to impress others other individual can bypass the ward by assuming
the form of a Tiny bird. The Avowed don’t discuss
2 Sprig Summerfoot, a 23-year-old halfling scribe
this flaw with outsiders, but anyone who can see the
with ink-stained fingers, a small bag of cookies in
gulls flying over Candlekeep can easily reach the
one pocket, and a good memory for recipes
conclusion that certain creatures are exempt from
3 Parmak, a 25-year-old human scribe who is con- this magical restriction.
~ stantly reading a book and oeagionsll walks into Fire Suppression. Flames larger than a candle
things . are suppressed within the keep. (The fireplace in
4 Garlyth Graven. a 39-year-old dwarf scribe who the Hearth, Candlekeep’s tavern, is an exception.)
cuts off others in mid-sentence and always seems Thus, any spell that creates fire is wasted if it is cast
to know what they want or need before they do within the keep.
Theft Protection. Every book, scroll, and other
5 Nax Olossis, a 22-year-old dragonborn scribe
work considered part of Candlekeep’s collection is
| (brass dragon ancestry) who loves conversation
magically protected against theft. Any such work
6 Orrin Glass, a 67-year-old human scribe who is that is removed from the keep disappears and im-
deaf in one ear, forgetful, and easily exasperated mediately returns to its proper place in the library.
7 Vooshadi Moonriver, a stoic 87-year-old moon elf This ward also has a flaw that the Avowed don’t
scribe who is difficult to anger and doesn’t mince discuss with outsiders. If pages from a book or parts
words of a scroll are torn away, these fragments can be
removed from Candlekeep as long as the bulk of the
8 Irony, a 15-year-old tiefling scribe who follows
work remains in the library. Similarly, if a work is
the rules, never lies or steals, and aspires to be
split into pieces and entirely removed from Candle-
Keeper of Tomes one day keep, only the largest piece disappears and returns
to its proper place in the library.
DEFENSES AND DECORUM Shielding Mythal. From any location in Candle-
keep, the Keeper of Tomes (see “The Avowed” later
Candlekeep is fortified by a fifty-foot-tall, fifteen- in this section) can activate a mythal—an excep-
foot-thick, iron-reinforced stone wall with a double
tional, unbreakable magical effect—that envelops all
gate facing east. Although most of the Avowed are of Candlekeep in a protective shield through which
humble scholars, a number of potent spellcasters
nothing but air and sound can pass.
fill critical posts. If trouble occurs, the Gatewarden
(an archmage) and up to four mages arrive to inves- ORDERS OF ACCORDANCE
tigate immediately. If they can’t bring the situation
All who enter Candlekeep must agree to the Orders
under control in short order, up to four additional
of Accordance, rules set forth by the senior staff to
archmages arrive to lend assistance.
prevent misconduct. Violating one or more of these
orders results in banishment from Candlekeep, and
the banished are seldom allowed to return. The
rules are simple:

CANDLEKEEP 7
No fighting. All arguments must follow the rules of
cordial debate and discussion. Violent altercations
THE AVOWED
are not tolerated. Roughly three hundred Avowed live in Candle-
No stealing. This rule applies to all objects in the keep. The majority of them are low-level assistants,
keep, not just the library’s works. newcomers to the order, or scribes who handle the
No copying. Visitors are permitted to take notes everyday work in the keep (use the commoner stat
while studying the library’s works, but anyone block to represent them).
who wants to make a full copy of a work must pay High-ranking members of the Avowed include the
to have the manuscript created by scribes at the individuals described below.
House of the Binder.
KEEPER OF TOMES
No damaging, marking, or otherwise modifying
the works. This rule doesn’t apply to privately The Keeper is the highest-ranking member of the
owned books, scrolls, and other documents that Avowed and the governor of Candlekeep, who se-
aren't part of Candlekeep’s collection. lects scholars to fill vacant leadership positions. The
Keeper's word is law, and each Keeper's edicts are
SAGES AND MASTER SAGES recorded for the edification of future Keepers.
A Keeper of Tomes chooses their own replace-
Candlekeep’s resident lore experts are master sages
ment. If a Keeper dies or departs before making
and sages who dedicate themselves to scholarship
that choice, the council of Great Readers votes to de-
above all. Stat blocks for the master sage and the
termine who among them is elevated to the position.
sage appear on the facing page.
Tie votes are broken by the First Reader.
ai |.
In 1492 DR, the Keeper of Tomes is the human
NPC GENDER AND ALIGNMENT
archmage Janussi, a devoted follower of Deneir.
If no gender or alignment is specified for a nonplayer
character in Candlekeep, you can choose that NPC's READERS
gender identity and alignment.
The Keeper of Tomes appoints individuals to fill key
roles, as described in the sections that follow.
 MASTER SAGE
Medium humanoid (any race)

Armor Class 10 (13 with mage armor)

Hit Points 54 (12d8)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

8(-1) 10(+0) 10 (+0) 205) 18 (+4) 11 (+0)

Skills Arcana +11, History +11, Insight +7, Investigation +11,

Medicine +10, Nature +11, Religion +11
Senses passive Perception 14 SAGE
Languages Common plus any five languages Medium humanoid (any race)
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Armor Class 10 (13 with mage armor)
Hit Points 22 (5d8)
Speed 30 ft.
ACTIONS
Shocking Grasp (Cantrip). Melee Spell Attack: +8 to hit (with ad- STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
vantage if the target is wearing armor made of metal), reach 5 8(-1) 10(+0) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 15(+2) 11 (+0)
ft., one creature. Hit: 13 (3d8) lightning damage, and the target
can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn. Skills Arcana +8, History +8, Insight +4, Investigation +38,
Medicine +6, Nature +8, Religion +8
Fireball (3rd-Level Spell; 3/Day). The sage creates a fiery explo-
Senses passive Perception 12
sion centered on a point it can see within 150 feet of it. Each
Languages Common plus any four languages
creature in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) fire dam-
age on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful
one. The fire spreads around corners and ignites flammable ACTIONS
objects in the area that aren’t being worn or carried.
Shocking Grasp (Cantrip). Melee Spell Attack: +6 to hit (with ad-
Spellcasting. The sage casts one of the following spells, using vantage if the target is wearing armor made of metal), reach 5
Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (save DC 14, +6 to hit ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d8) lightning damage, and the target
with spell attacks): can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn.
At will: light, mage hand, mending, prestidigitation Spellcasting. The sage casts one of the following spells, using
3/day each: comprehend languages, detect magic, dispel magic, Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (save DC 14, +6 to hit
identify, levitate, locate object, Tenser’s floating disk, un-
with spell attacks):
seen servant
1/day each: banishment, contact other plane, Drawmij’s in- At will: light, mage hand, mending
stant summons, legend lore, locate creature, planar binding, 3/day each: comprehend languages, detect magic, identify
polymorph, protection from evil and good, scrying, sending, 1/day each: dispel magic, levitate, locate object, see invisibility,
true seeing sending, tongues, unseen servant

REACTIONS REACTIONS
Shield (1st-Level Spell; 3/Day). When the sage is hit by an attack Shield (1st-Level Spell; 3/Day). When the sage is hit by an attack
or targeted by a magic missile spell, it calls forth an invisible or targeted by a magic missile spell, it calls forth an invisible
barrier of magical force that protects it. Until the start of its barrier of magical force that protects it. Until the start of its
next turn, the sage has a +5 bonus to AC, including against the
BR IAN VALEZA

next turn, the sage has a +5 bonus to AC, including against the
triggering attack, and it takes no damage from magic missile. triggering attack, and it takes no damage from magic missile.

————————— 0 (©
_e CANDLEKEEP \9
gs ne .
FIRST READER In 1492 DR, the Chanter is a middle-aged shield
The First Reader constantly expands Candlekeep’s dwarf priest of Milil (god of poetry and song) named
literary resources and base of knowledge. Acquiring Benedora Stoneforge.
unique tomes and scrolls falls under the First Read-
er’'s purview.
GATEWARDEN
In 1492 DR, the First Reader is Bookwyrm, a The Gatewarden maintains security at the front
dragonborn master sage (see the stat block earlier gates, through which all visitors must enter.
in this section) of green dragon ancestry. Book- In 1492 DR, the Gatewarden is Kalan Strong-
wyrm'’s real name is Skoda Valanaster. branch, a human archmage.

GREAT READERS CANDLEKEEP . OCATIONS

Candlekeep maintains a council of eight Great
From the fabled Emerald Door to the deepest cata-
Readers, senior Avowed who oversee day-to-day
combs, Candlekeep contains wonders for those with
operations. These erudite scholars and gifted
the patience to find them.
spellcasters are chosen from the ranks of Master
Readers. Each is acknowledged as Candlekeep’s COURT OF AIR
foremost expert on a particular area of study. Many
of them use the master sage stat block presented This wide courtyard has nary a tree nor a well clut-
earlier in this section. tering its cobblestone expanse.
In 1492 DR, the Great Readers are: HOUSE OF REST
. A'lai Aivenmore, a human master sage and wor- This three-story bunkhouse in the Court of Air
shiper of Oghma (god of knowledge). Primary provides seekers with a place to rest and store their
expertise: divinity (the gods and the nature of gear. The rustic accommodations include both pri-
the divine). vate rooms and common rooms. In addition to com-
. Alkrist, a dragonborn master sage of bronze fortable lodgings, the House of Rest offers guests
dragon ancestry. Primary expertise: politics, mili- peace and quiet. Noisy patrons are directed to the
tary strategy, and significant battles of Toril. Hearth if they want to continue their revels.
. Daral Yashenti, a human master sage and poet. The House of Rest can hold up to fifty guests com-
Primary expertise: music, poetry, and literature. fortably. If more space is needed, extradimensional
. Fheminor Scrivenbark, a lightfoot halfling master spaces are created using Mordenkainen’s magnit-
sage. Primary expertise: history, folklore, and the icent mansion spells, the doorways to which are
cultures of Toril (past and present). located at the ends of the upstairs hallways. Beneath
. Kazryn Nyantani, a human master sage. Primary the House of Rest is an extension of the library
expertise: the natural world and celestial known as the Firefly Cellar (see “Shemshime’s Bed-
navigation. time Rhyme” later in this book for details).
. Sylvira Savikas, a tiefling archmage. Primary
expertise: the Great Wheel of the planes. THE HEARTH
« Teles Ahvoste, a human archmage. Primary From outside, the Hearth appears to be a modest
expertise: magic items, curses, and the Weave. tavern of sturdy construction, with warm light ema-
. V'ziir-Ag, a githzerai master sage. Primary exper- nating from a pair of small windows on either side
tise: all things unnatural (including aberrations, of the front door. Upon entering the establishment,
undead, and the Far Realm). visitors quickly realize that it’s three times more
spacious on the inside.
MASTER READERS The Hearth gained its larger dimensions courtesy
Master Readers (sages and master sages; see of extradimensional magic created by worshipers of
the stat blocks earlier in this section) oversee the Gond (god of craft). An intricate clockwork device
scribes and teach the adjutants. These learned is suspended in a two-foot-diameter, faintly glowing
Avowed possess tremendous institutional crystal orb embedded in the ceiling over the bar.
knowledge. The Avowed call this device a geometric amplifier.
It is the source of the magic required to maintain
CHANTER the integrity of the enlarged space.
A chosen group of Avowed maintains a constant rec- The bar seats up to twenty customers, and patrons
itation of the prophecies of Alaundo the Seer. The can also be seated comfortably at round tables with
Endless Chant, as it is called, travels throughout the stout wooden chairs or at rectangular tables with
keep day and night. It’s led by either the Chanter or benches. A dozen soft, cushy armchairs encircle the
a hand-picked subordinate. fireplace in the center of the room.

CANDLEKEEP
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contain heated pools for respite while engaging in

LitTLE ONE
casual conversation or debates with others. Side
One of Candlekeep’s guests stands out from the rest
of the crowd: a chaotic good ogre wearing a headband chambers hold hot saunas and massage parlors.
of intellect. He's most often found sitting by himself in
HOUSE OF THE BINDER
a corner of the Hearth’s taproom, reading a book.
A few years ago, the ogre was like many others of his A seeker can request a copy of any book or scroll in
kind—brutish and cruel. He met a halfling adventurer the library, and the work of creating copies is per-
wearing the shiny gold headband and killed the puny formed by scribes in the House of the Binder. The
runt for it. When the ogre attuned to it, the headband entire text must be replicated, since the Avowed in-
grew in size, enabling him to wear it. With an improved sist on maintaining the scholarly intent and integrity
ability to reason and ponder, the ogre felt compelled to of the original author.
appreciate the error of his ways and seek out a better
Nonmagical Tomes. The copying and binding
life. He adopted the name Little One, to honor the
halfling whose life he cut short. of a typical book in Candlekeep’s library generally
‘Shunned by polite society, Little One came to Can- costs 100 gp or so (double for a translated version),
dlekeep hoping to learn as much as he could. He's a though large books incur an additional charge. The
“quiet but popular fixture in the keep, and the Avowed manufacture of a facsimile takes weeks or even
are always saying hello to him and recommending new months for large tomes, so those who desire such
books for him to read. He is currently reading Storm a work must commission it in writing, provide pay-
King’s Thunder, by Scriers Phink. This book follows the
ment in advance, and then return to the front gates
exploits of a band of adventurers searching for a storm
giant king named Hekaton, whose sudden disappear- to pick up the book or pay an additional price to
ance caused great upheaval up and down the Sword have it delivered.
Coast some years ago. Spellbooks. A copy of a spellbook costs 50 gp
You can use Little One to introduce your player char- per level of spells contained within it. For example,
acters to rare books such as the ones described in this a spellbook that contains two 3rd-level spells, four
adventure anthology. Little One doesn’t mind sharing 2nd-level spells, and six 1st-level spells (20 spell lev-
whatever book he is currently enjoying.
els total) costs 1,000 gp to copy over to a new book.
Works of the Avowed. Each year, Candlekeep
The Hearth’s patrons are a mix of fresh-faced releases a small book stamped with the sigil of the
adjutants, stodgy scholars, and eclectic guests. library and credited to “The Avowed of Candle-
Demiplanar Chambers. Several doors line the keep.” These limited editions contain short essays,
walls of the Hearth. Although visible from inside excerpts, and other writings relevant to a particular
the taproom, they do not appear to exist when the theme or subject, such as gardening, gemstones,
structure is viewed from the outside. Each of these longevity, or transformative curses. They are sold at
portals leads to a 30-foot-square demiplane that the keep and by Candlekeep representatives in large
houses either a private meeting chamber or a shrine cities for between 50 gp and 100 gp per book; spec-
dedicated to Deneir (god of writing), Gond (god of ulators often acquire multiple copies in anticipation
craft), or Milil (god of poetry and song). Anyone can of a high resale value.
freely enter one of the shrines, but access to a pri-
vate chamber requires a key from the barkeep and a PILLARS OF PEDAGOGY
payment of 5 gp. Seekers engage in quiet study and research within
Meeting Chambers. Each of the meeting cham- this austere cluster of closely huddled, flat-topped
bers is humbly appointed with a large round table towers of varying heights. Each tower contains
and chairs, plus a pair of sideboards containing private rooms, available by reservation only, that
dishes and cutlery. The menu and beverage list are feature permanent silence spells, allowing their oc-
posted on one wall in case those inside want to or- cupants to read without disturbance.
der food and drink during their gathering. Most research conducted by seekers happens in
Shrines. Each of the shrines is outfitted with a these towers. Seekers at the Pillars must rely on
simple wooden altar, tables and benches for study their Avowed guides to retrieve or return specific
and reflection, and suitable wall hangings. These works from the Great Library to assist with their
adornments vary from deity to deity, but generally research. Most seekers never pass through the
include beautiful tapestries telling key stories of the Emerald Door into the library proper.
relevant deity or framed, illuminated scriptures dis-
TEMPLE OF OGHMA
cussing and illustrating the god’s key tenets.
This modest stone temple is dedicated to the god
BATH AND STEAM HOUSE of knowledge. Its bronze bell announces the begin-
LADON

Avowed and seekers alike use this building as ning of services. Four large stone gargoyles perch
on the cornices and gaze down protectively; these
KATERINA

a place to relax. Spacious rooms in the building

seemingly inert statues are stone golems charged SMITHY AND STABLES
with defending the temple. If called to service, they A gold dwarf veteran named Khe'ril Hammerbind
glide gently to the ground using a programmed ef- oversees the smithy, which adjoins the stables.
fect similar to a feather fall spell. Khe'ril and his apprentices produce shoes for
The caretaker of the temple in 1492 DR is a hu- horses and other mounts here. The heat from the
man priest of Shou descent named Lorekeeper forge provides warmth when winter comes calling.
Kei Tigersteel. Though not officially an Avowed, The stables accommodate a wide range of mounts.
the Lorekeeper enjoys the privilege of entering the Most of the stalls are designed for horses and po-
library unaccompanied. nies, but specialized stalls offer secure lodging and
care for hippogriffs, griffons, and wyverns as well.
ERUDITE OUTFITTERS & CLOTHIERS
Seekers and members of the Avowed can buy new EMERALD DOOR
robes or have their well-worn clothes mended at this The Emerald Door—the main point of access to the
modest exchange. Inner Ward—stands at the western end of the Court
In 1492 DR, the exchange is managed by Feld- of Air. It is fifteen feet tall and made of a translucent
mar Bisset III, a human acolyte of Gond, an expert dark green stone that glows with an inner light. An
tailor, and a sericulture hobbyist. He and his fam- arcane lock spell seals the door, which is further
ily fashioned a place among the Avowed, crafting warded against all damage. Here, a Keeper of the
robes and other garments upon request. Feldmar Emerald Door (a mage) stands at all times to wel-
teaches a compulsory class on simple stitching to come newly arrived seekers. The Keeper uses run-
adjutants in an effort to reduce the amount of basic ners to help seekers secure lodgings at the House of
patchwork he and his family do to keep the Avowed Rest and places to study in the Pillars of Pedagogy.
neatly clothed. Keepers of the Emerald Door politely dispel any
Next to the workshop is an atrium where Feldmar mistaken notions seekers might have about passing
indulges his hobby of raising silkworms and har- through the Emerald Door and exploring the Great
vesting their cocoons to weave small amounts of the Library beyond. The Inner Ward is off limits to
precious cloth.

THe EMeraLD Door

 seekers without special dispensation, which must stockier buildings, all joined together in the shadow
come from the Keeper of Tomes, the First Reader, of a high-walled citadel called Exaltation.
or one of the eight Great Readers. When permis-
GREAT LIBRARY
sion to enter the Inner Ward is granted by such an
The Avowed transported the towers of the Great
individual, it’s customary for the beneficiary of this
Library piecemeal from other locations and
consent to receive a signed and sealed letter of ad-
painstakingly reassembled them, creating a sky-
mittance. The wax seal must be intact and unbroken
line of bristling spires in a panoply of architectural
when the letter is presented to the Keeper of the
styles. Among the stone structures are a few towers
Emerald Door. The Keeper determines the letter’s
made of stranger materials, such as infernal iron
authenticity by opening and reading it. If the letter
and the bones of a long-dead colossal red dragon.
passes muster, the Keeper returns it, opens the
Non-Avowed rarely enter the Great Library, but
Emerald Door, and allows the letter’s owner to enter
senior staff members occasionally bestow letters of
the Inner Ward. Unless a shorter or longer duration
admittance upon individuals of remarkable talent
is specified in the letter, permission to occupy the
and impeccable reputation (including adventurers).
Inner Ward lasts for a tenday, during which time the
These visitors may peruse the contents within, with
letter’s recipient can come and go as they please.
an Avowed adjutant (a commoner) serving as their
A Keeper can spot a forged letter of admittance
guide. Visitors are required to stay with their guide,
with a successful Wisdom (Insight) check contested
since those unfamiliar with the library might be-
by the forger’s Dexterity (Deception) check. Anyone
come lost in its labyrinthine halls and extradimen-
caught presenting a forged letter is denied access to
sional spaces.
the Inner Ward indefinitely.
The oldest of the library’s buildings are soar-
A seeker who is denied entry to the Inner Ward
ing stone affairs with floors crafted from lustrous
can still enjoy the bulk of Candlekeep’s collected
dark wood and floor-to-ceiling shelves. Ceiling
works. The seeker need only ask an Avowed adju-
heights vary, ranging from as low as ten feet to
tant to fetch the desired works and deliver them to
as high as one hundred feet in the tallest towers.
the seeker’s preferred place of study in Candlekeep
The Avowed use floating disks, each one large
(usually a chamber in the Pillars of Pedagogy). Not
enough to hold three Medium creatures, to reach
all books in the collection can be checked out in this
the highest shelves. Continual flame spells light the
manner, however; the rarest and most dangerous
well-traveled areas, and the Avowed employ drift-
tomes can be accessed only by creatures who are
globes when visiting remote sections. An intricate
oranted passage through the Emerald Door.
arrangement of mounted mirrors lights the upper
If a request is made for a work that has been
reaches of the tallest chambers, reflecting sunlight
checked out by another Candlekeep resident, it
by day or a continual flame spell on cloudy days or
could be days or weeks before that work becomes
at nights.
available.
Modrons. Candlekeep is a haven for thirteen
INNER WARD rogue modrons (monodrones) that escaped from
Mechanus. The Avowed struck a deal with the crea-
The poster map included with this book shows the
tures, and they've been part of the library staff ever
Inner Ward, which contains the Great Library—a since. Working alongside the Avowed, the modrons
veritable forest of stone towers clumped around catalog and shelve books, though each of them can
manage only one book at a time.
~ EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES |
~ Candlekeep has invisible doorways to dozens of EXALTATION
permanent extradimensional spaces, some as small The bastion of Exaltation is the tallest and most
asaroom at an inn and others as large as the space heavily defended structure in Candlekeep. From
created by a demipl ane
or Mordenka inen’s magnificent
the citadel’s stone battlements, one can see over the
mansion spell. The Avowed try to keep track of all the
walls of Candlekeep in every direction.
~ extradimensional spaces in Candlekeep, but a few for-
gotten doorways lurk in the library, their locations or The Avowed live in Exaltation, and visitors are
access requirements lost. Valuable books, scrolls, and not welcome here unless they've made an extraor-
other items might be trapped inside these extradimen- dinary donation or performed a special favor for
sional spaces. | the Avowed, in which case they're allowed a room
When an extradimensional space is rediscovered, and given strict instructions not to wander the halls
it must be thoroughly explored, the resources within without their assigned guides.
cataloged, and the space tested for its stability. When
The halls of Exaltation connect to its classrooms,
an extradimensional space is no longer needed or de-
sired, the archmages of Candlekeep dispel it. kitchens, bakeries, dining halls, shrines, workshops,
offices, study halls, scriptoriums, and dormitories.

Ey ny CANDLEKEEP
 Bells rung at dawn mark the beginning of every- as a set of immense spectral jaws whose essence
one’s daily routine, and bells rung at highsun and roils with the promise of breath weapons and spells
sundown signal the serving of lunch and dinner. of destruction.
These bells also denote the changing of the guard at Adventurers who explore the passages beneath
the eastern gatehouse and the Emerald Door. Candlekeep might encounter Miirym, who's more
interested in news of present-day Faer(in than in
BENEATH CANDLEKEEP fighting. Indeed, Miirym is an engaging conversa-
Secret staircases abound in Candlekeep, leading tionalist if one has the inclination to chat with her.
down to dusty vaults and catacombs that hold the Miirym doesn’t have a treasure hoard. Instead,
oldest books. The flooded caves at sea level are she protects the books and scrolls kept in her
haunted by all manner of strange creatures. subterranean domain. The Sentinel Wyrm can be
summoned by the Keeper of Tomes and called upon
MIIRYM THE SENTINEL WYRM to defend Candlekeep from invaders who would
Well over 1,500 years ago, the silver dragon Miirym plunder or destroy it. In her role as Candlekeep’s
broke into Candlekeep, intent on adding its riches defender, Miirym can move anywhere within the
to her hoard. She devoured scholars and destroyed library fortress, passing through walls and other
a score of irreplaceable books before she was con- solid barriers. She can’t enter extradimensional
fronted by an archmage and bound into service to spaces, since they are not on the same plane of exis-
protect Candlekeep as penance for her misdeeds. tence as Candlekeep. Miirym’s stat block appears at
The wizard passed away before Miirym’s sentence the end of this section.
had been served, and other spellcasters were unable
to break the enchantment that bound her. ECHOES OF ALAUNDO
Time passed and so did Miirym, whose corpse Shortly after Alaundo the Seer began speaking
has long since crumbled into dust. Unfortunately his prophecies, a wise novitiate devised a way to
for Miirym, the enchantment remains in effect on magically record his spoken words into prismatic
her spirit. The spectral dragon—what’s left of her— gemstones now stored in a vault beneath Candle-
dwells in the catacombs and caves under the library. keep. Only the First Reader and the Keeper of
Those who have visited the depths describe Miirym Tomes have the ability to coax audible recordings Pe

CANDLEKEEP |\ jj
. i .
 MIIRYM ACTIONS
Large undead Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 34 (9d6 + 3) force damage.
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 262 (25d10 + 125) Breath Weapon (Recharge 5-6). Miirym uses one of the follow-
Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover) ing breath weapons:
Cold Breath. Miirym exhales an icy blast in a 90-foot cone. Each
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA creature in that area must make a DC 21 Constitution saving
17 (+3) 10 (+0) 20 (+5) 18 (+4) 15(+2) 23 (+6) throw, taking 67 (15d8) cold damage on a failed save, or half
as much damage on a successful one.
Saving Throws Dex +7, Con +12, Int +11, Wis +9, Cha +13 Necrotic Breath. Miirym exhales a bolt of necrotic energy in a
Skills Arcana +11, History +11, Perception +16, Stealth +14 120-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, thunder must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 82 (15d10)
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, a successful one.
grappled, paralyzed, poisoned, prone, restrained Paralyzing Breath. Miirym exhales paralyzing gas in a 90-foot
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 21
26; see also “X-Ray Vision” below Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. A
Languages Common, Draconic creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
Challenge 22 (41,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +7 turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Miirym’s choice that is
- Bound to Candlekeep. Miirym can’t leave Candlekeep and is within 120 feet of her and aware of her must succeed on a DC
~ immune to any effect that would place her in a location outside 21 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A
_ it, including an extradimensional space. If she dies, Miirym creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
- regains her form and all her hit points after 1d10 days, reap- turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s
pearing in the location where she died or in the nearest unoc- saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature
cupied space. is immune to Miirym’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Regeneration. Miirym regains 40 hit points at the start of her Spellcasting. Miirym casts one of the following spells, using
turn. If Miirym takes damage from a magic weapon or a spell, Charisma as the spellcasting ability (save DC 21) and requiring
this trait doesn’t function at the start of Miirym’s next turn. no material components:
Miirym dies only if she starts her turn with 0 hit points and
doesn’t regenerate. At will: dancing lights, mage hand
3/day each: detect magic, detect thoughts, dispel magic, lo-
Incorporeal Movement. Miirym can move through other crea- cate creature
tures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. She takes 5 1/day each: dispel evil and good, wall of force
~ (1d10) force damage if she ends her turn inside an object.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Miirym fails a saving throw,
she can choose to succeed instead. Miirym can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the op-
tions below. Only one legendary action option can be used at
- X-Ray Vision. Miirym can see through solid matter out to a a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Miirym
range of 60 feet. To her, opaque creatures, objects, and obsta- regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
~ cles within that distance appear transparent and don’t prevent
light from passing through them. This vision can penetrate 5 Bite. Miirym makes a bite attack.
feet of stone, 3 inches of common metal, and up to 10 feet of Teleport (Costs 2 Actions). Miirym magically teleports up to
wood or dirt. Thicker substances block this vision, as does a 120 feet to an unoccupied space she can see.
thin sheet of lead.

from these magic gemstones. Each one holds a to contact the spirits of long-dead sages that are
prophecy spoken by Alaundo himself in an anti- willing to share their insights and knowledge.
quated version of Common that is incomprehensible High-ranking members of the Avowed make use of
without the aid of magic. These gemstones came to this chamber, but few seekers know of it.
be called the echoes of Alaundo. Any creature that has an Intelligence of 8 or
Alaundo’s prophecies are easily misinterpreted, higher that spends 1 hour meditating in the cham-
which is why First Readers and Keepers of Tomes ber gains the ability to cast the contact other plane
rarely consult or take advantage of the echoes. spell once, allowing the creature to commune with
a spirit. The spell doesn’t need to be cast right away,
CHAMBER OF LOST LORE "nor does it need to be cast in the chamber. If the
Deep beneath Candlekeep, past Miirym and the spell is not cast within 24 hours, however, it is lost.
echoes, is a rough-hewn chamber lit by contin-
ual flame spells. Here, one can gain the power

) Q
16 CANDLEKEEP
 AN ADVENTURE FOR 1ST-LEVEL CHARACTERS

"THE JOY OF
GES Br Snows
ni veessmssrasamen sea mt a BE ®E 06

~XTRADIMENSIONAL SPAC

#
&
Ve wd
Gee
eH BH ~

(2, —N WRITTEN BY MICHAEL POLKINGHORN

0) EDITED BY HANNAH ROSE

HE Joy OF EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES WAS that Fistandia requested this room each time she
donated to Candlekeep with the rest of the visited the keep. They also turned up mysterious
library of the mage Fistandia, following reports that she rarely left the room for weeks at
her untimely disappearance. In her will, a time. Rumors said that she was not even seen to
Fistandia bequeathed her collection to Candlekeep eat or sleep during her visits. She would, however,
in appreciation for the many years she spent in its go missing for hours at a time. Matreous concluded
hallowed halls. This book is a treatise on extradi- that she must have gone through the gateway during
mensional spaces similar to those created by the those absences. By searching through the books
Mordenkainen’s magnificent mansion spell. This Fistandia donated to the library, he found the com-
information alone would make it worthy of note, but mand word to open the portal and stepped inside.
Fistandia’s additions in the margins are even more
interesting. In arcane shorthand, she details how FINDING THE BOOK
she created a permanent Mordenkainen’s magnifi- The characters have come to Candlekeep seeking
cent mansion spell and records the command word aid for a stricken town, which could be the home of
to open the mansion’s doorway. one or more of them. The settlement has withered
Many researchers perused this book over the this year. Crops have failed, the livestock stands in
years it spent in Candlekeep, but knowledge of the the fields like stick figures, and the rain has dwin-
command word was useless without the location of dled. A local mage determined that a curse had
the gateway to the mansion—until a chance discov- been levied on the land and recommended that the
ery by the sage Matreous, an expert in the applica- town seek aid from a sage named Matreous. After
tion and removal of curses. Upon arriving at Candle- some inquiries, the mage found that Matreous was
keep to further his expertise, Matreous cast detect studying in Candlekeep and sent the characters
magic, as was his habit. The spell revealed a gate- to find him.
way in the very study room he had been assigned! Alternatively, the characters could discover The
Forgetting about his earlier purpose, Matreous Joy of Extradimensional Spaces while researching
asked for any knowledge of who might have created one of the following topics:
such a gateway. Research by the Avowed revealed
. Creating permanent versions of existing spells
. Demiplanes, pocket dimensions, and other spaces
that exist outside the Material Plane
Tied to The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces are
two mysteries. The first is the whereabouts of the
missing sage Matreous. The characters can resolve
this question by opening the portal to the mansion.
The larger mystery, however, is how to escape once
they are trapped inside.

Book DESCRIPTION
The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces is a heavy
tome. Its thick covers are made of ornately tooled
leather decorated with gold filigree. Of particular
interest is the illustration on the cover: the bust of
an imposing spellcaster. A character who succeeds
on a DC 12 Intelligence (Arcana or History) check
THe Jovy OF recognizes the legendary mage Mordenkainen.
EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES

THE JOY OF EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES

0 (0
17
 OPENING THE PORTAL ENCOUNTER LOCATIONS
When the characters are shown into the private Fistandia’'s mansion is eerily quiet. Rooms with
study room assigned to Matreous, they find it unoc- windows to the outside are lit by the indigo miasma
cupied. Only the sage’s personal effects and a hand- swirling outside the mansion, which colors every-
ful of books remain. The Joy of Extradimensional thing in the room with its tint. In the larger rooms it
Spaces is open to the pages with Fistandia’s hand- tones down the warm light of the oil lamps.
written notes. A character who succeeds on a DC 13 The following locations are keyed to the map of
Intelligence (Arcana) check is able to decipher the Fistandia’s mansion.
shorthand and find the command word, “scepter,”
M1. FOYER AND HALLWAY
that opens the doorway. Otherwise, the Avowed are
The characters emerge from the portal in the grand
happy to help examine Fistandia’s notes.
foyer of the mansion. On this side, the portal looks
Once the command word is spoken, shimmering,
like a double door.
translucent doors appear in the middle of the room.
The doors begin to slowly fade, and it's apparent ® IN 2) 8

that they'll disappear entirely in a matter of minutes. The ceiling srchiostto own hot overhend, and ong
When the characters enter the portal, they appear | hallways stretch outon either side of the foyer. Stand-
in area M1. ing in the middle of this :area is a2 midde- aged man
wearing grgray robes. oo La
FisTANDIA'S MANSION 4 En : aaa |

Fistandia’'s mansion was created using a Morden-

Matreous, a neutral human sage (see page 9 for
kainen’s magnificent mansion spell and made per-
his stat block), is startled when the characters ap-
manent by Fistandia’s own enchantments. It’s lux-
pear. After his initial surprise, he introduces himself
urious, but not ostentatious. The structure is open,
to the characters and expresses his delight that they
airy, and constructed of stone blocks. The floors are
have opened the portal to the mansion. He has been
hardwood, and the bedroom, study, trophy room,
trying different command words for the last half
and dining room have carpets that cover most of the
hour to get the portal to reopen.
floor space in those rooms. The mansion has brass
Matreous takes on a thoughtful expression and
or bronze fixtures and doors of ironbound oak. The
pauses for an instant, tapping his chin in thought.
furniture is all of deep brown wood, and most of the
The mansion must be a treasure trove of informa-
rooms are illuminated by oil lamps.
tion, and there's no telling what wonders it holds! As
Outside, a swirling indigo miasma hovers 20 feet
an example, he shows the characters an intricately
from the building on all sides. A creature that enters
carved figurine of an imp that he has found and is
the miasma feels increasingly uneasy during the
taking back to Candlekeep for study (see the “Imp
first minute of exposure. If it remains in the mi-
asma, it gains 1 level of exhaustion for every minute
Figurine” sidebar).
Matreous explains that he would dearly like to
it spends there.
continue to explore the mansion’s mysteries himself,
PuzzLE BOOKS but he could be much more useful back in Candle-
keep. Thanks to the research he conducted to find
Opening the portal from inside the mansion re-
AR,

the mansion, he has the skills to keep the portal

quires another command word, which Fistandia hid
open from the other side. If the characters take this
En

in the form of a puzzle. She created seven books,

chance to explain their errand to him, he is willing
each with a single gilded letter on its spine. When
to accompany them back to their village in exchange
placed next to each other in the proper order, they
for their time and efforts exploring the mansion.
spell the command word, “liberty.” The books bear
If the characters agree to explore the mansion,
not only the lettered spines but also the same image
Matreous steps through the double door leading
of Mordenkainen that graces the cover of The Joy of
back to the study room. When he does, the charac-
Extradimensional Spaces.
ters hear Matreous shriek as the doors slam shut,
locking them inside the mansion. (Matreous lets
| Imp FIGURINE |
out the shriek as the imp figurine in his possession
The imp figurine |in ‘Matreous’ 5 possession (see area
reveals its true nature. The characters can’t help
M1) appears to be a very detailed carving ofan imp
made from onyx. It’s not a statue, however, but a real Matreous until they find a way to reopen the portal.)
imp that Fistandia summoned and transformed into Exits. The foyer gives way to a long hallway
a statuette. Removing the figurine from the mansion that runs the length of the extradimensional
breaks the enchantment and releases the imp. Thiel mansion, with several doors on the wall opposite
the entrance.

THE JOY OF EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES

 M2. PATIO
A semicircular patio paved with gray flagstones is
nestled against the building, lit by the swirling in-
digo miasma that surrounds the mansion.

M3. LIBRARY

Tall shelves filled with books line the walls of this

room. Two more shelves run through the middle of
the room with a ten-foot-wide aisle between them.
Several stacks of books are piled high throughout the
room. There are small reading desks with cozy scarlet
chairs in the corners.
® 8

The shelves contain books on Fistandia’s favorite

subjects: arcana, natural science, religion, astrology,
and planar travel, as well as volumes of poetry, my-
thology, and folk tales.
Book Attack. One of the heaps of books is a
swarm of animated books (see the accompanying
stat block). As the characters move through the
room, the swarm knocks one of the 10-foot-wide
freestanding sections of bookshelf over onto the
characters. Any creatures in the affected area must
succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be
SWARM OF ANIMATED BOOKS
Medium swarm of Tiny constructs
knocked prone and restrained by the fallen shelf.
A restrained creature can use an action to make a Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check. On a success, it Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)
frees itself. Restrained creatures are also freed if
the shelf is lifted with a successful DC 15 Strength STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
(Athletics) check. 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 1(-5 10#0) 1(=95)
Treasure. Sitting on the reading desk is a jeweled
letter opener worth 20 gp. Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Puzzle Book. The puzzle book with the letter R
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
on its spine is on one of the shelves. Any character grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained,
who has a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 12 stunned
or higher notices the book. A thorough search of the Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius),
shelf also yields the book. passive Perception 10
Languages —
M4. EXERCISE ROOM Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

False Objects. If the swarm is motionless at the start of com-

This room contains a battered wooden mannequin bat, it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, ifa creature
and a weapon rack holding staffs and daggers, all lit hasn't observed the swarm move or act, that creature must
by indigo-tinted light streaming through a window. succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to discern that
the swarm is animate.
The floor is stained and scorched. At the far end of the
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and
room, a broom hovers in the air, sweeping the floor
vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large
by itself! enough for a 1-foot-tall, 8-inch-wide, 2-inch-thick object. The
# ®
swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

This room was where Fistandia practiced her ACTIONS

martial and magical skills (at the expense of the Book Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., one tar-
fine floors). The mannequin has numerous cuts get in the swarm’s space. Hit: 6 (2d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage,
and chips. The weapons in the rack are mundane or 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage if the swarm has half its hit
YANNER

but finely made. There are four daggers, four quar- points or fewer.
KIERAN

terstaffs, and twenty darts in a bandolier hanging

a
 attention to it, the cat waits for a short time, but then
» ANIMATED BROOM loses interest and leaves for the kitchen.
Small construct If the characters spend 30 minutes investigating
the books in this room, they discover the follow-
~ "Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 17 (5d6) ing facts:
Speed 0 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover) « Almost all the books in this study were written by
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA someone named Fistandia. Most are her memoirs.
1000). 17743) 100) T(5 5¢3) 15) - Fistandia was a powerful mage as well as a priest
of Mystra. She frequented Candlekeep to further
Damage Immunities poison, psychic her studies.
¥ Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, « In exchange for Fistandia’s pious service and
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone
Senses blindsight 120 ft. (blind beyond this radius), achievements in expanding the arts of magic, Mys-
passive Perception 7 tra granted Fistandia a permanent extradimen-
Languages — sional mansion for her to reside in when studying
Challenge Rating 1/4 (50 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 in Candlekeep.
Fearful that a guest might become trapped in the
False Object. If the broom is motionless at the start of combat, mansion, Fistandia hid the command word to
it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature open the portal to Candlekeep on the spines of
| hasn't observed the broom move or act, that creature must seven books in her mansion.
~ succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to discern that
the broom is animate. Paintings. There are three paintings hanging
Flyby. The broom doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it
on the walls: a landscape scene with a large green
flies out of an enemy's reach. dragon emerging from a grove of pine trees, a study
of a pegasus in flight, and a portrait of a unicorn in a
ACTIONS wooded glade.
Multiattack. The broom makes two melee attacks. Secret Door. There is a secret door behind the
Broomstick. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one left bookcase on the far wall. When the bottom left-
target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage. most book in the bookcase is pulled, the bookcase
Sil slides forward to reveal the passage behind it. A
character who succeeds on a DC 10 Intelligence (In-
from one of the pegs. One wall holds diagrams of vestigation) check discovers the proper book.
attack and parry positions for wielders of staffs Puzzle Book. The puzzle book with the letter I on
and daggers. its spine is sitting on one of the armchairs.
The broom is an animated broom (see the accom-
panying stat block). If left alone, it goes about its du- M6. KITCHEN
ties cleaning the floors and ignores the characters. The door to this room is left slightly open so the cats
If a creature attempts to grab it or menace it in any can enter and exit.
way, it attacks.

M5. Stupy | The aromas of cooking permeate this kitchen. A large

The door to this room is left ajar so the cats can iron stove takes up one wall, and the rest of the room
YL

come and go as they please. is filled with large tables and racks lined with hang-
ing pots, pans, and cooking utensils. Everything |is
| The entire far wall of this room is a floor-to- ceiling Sparkling clean. |
bookshelf. Even more books are resting on several 4 oe ih Hi

large scarlet armchairs and small wooden tables, and The kitchen is run by two homunculi named Cumin
there are several paintings on the walls. A fluffy black and Coriander. Most homunculi can’t speak, but
cat is curled up on one of the chairs. : these ones have the ability to speak Common. When
the characters enter the room, the homunculi greet
the new arrivals in squeaky voices:
If the characters enter the room, the cat sits up, me-
ows plaintively, and approaches. If they feed it or pet . »
it and make a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Animal With a flapping of wings, two small forms land on the
Handling) check, it follows them until they leave the nearest table. They bow low before you and ask, “How
study or venture up the stairs, at which time it heads can we be of help to our honored guests? Cooking?
to the kitchen (area M6). If the characters don’t pay Cleaning? Mending your clothes, perhaps?”

AY
20 THE JOY OF EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES
 UPPER LEVEL
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FISTANDIA'S MANSION
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The homunculi have had only the cats and the faerie . The faerie dragons in the arboretum (area M9)
dragons in area M9 to cook for or clean up after for are mischievous but harmless. Try to stay out of
ages, so they practically trip over themselves in their their way.
eagerness to provide any service to the characters. Cats. In one corner of the kitchen, several small
They pester the characters for tasks to do and insist ceramic bowls painted with stylized cats are
on serving them fresh bread and soup. filled with water and kitchen scraps. Any cats the
The duties of the homunculi are confined mostly characters have encountered in the mansion are
to the kitchen and the adjoining dining room (area found again here, along with an additional cat the
M8). They don’t know much about what happens in characters haven't yet seen. The cats are eating
the rest of the mansion, but they can answer direct
from the food bowls and occasionally batting at one
questions with the following information: another to get the choicer morsels.
. Cumin was created by Fistandia, while Coriander
says that a mage named Freyot created it.
M7. PANTRY
The shelves in this pantry are stocked with sacks
. Their masters went away a long time ago.
of flour, vegetables, preserved meats, and other
. They have been warned by their masters not to
touch any books that have single letters on their staples—all the dry goods needed to sustain a
spines. (The homunculi don’t know the signifi- household.
| |.
cance of these lettered books.)
. Fistandia used to go into the planetarium (area FisTANDIA’S AND FREYOT’Ss HOMuNcuULI
M12) and disappear for a long time afterward. A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Ar-
cana) check knows two vital facts about the homunculi.
. Something keeps building piles of books in the
in area M6. The first is that a master can have only one
library. (The homunculi are unaware of the swarm homunculus at a time. The second is that a homuncu-
of animated books in area M3.) lus dies when its master dies. This fact suggests that
. The imp that Fistandia summoned hasn't been Fistandia and Freyot are still alive. Characters might
PIYSEIN LEGON

seen in some time. encounter one or both mages in a future adventure.

 M8. DINING ROOM M10. STAIRS
The landing at the top of the stairs is occupied by
+ a suit of armor holding a longsword, point down. It
Large windows form the entirety of one wall, look- |
sits upon a wooden stand in front of a large window.
ing out on three planted beds filled with vegetation. The armor is clearly decorative, though the helmet
~ Within this room,a crystal chandelier hangs above a and the sword are genuine items of good quality.
table made of dark wood. Six matching wooden chairs Above the armor is a trapdoor that opens upward
with scarlet cushions surround the table. A seventh into an attic that runs the length of the building. The
attic is stuffy, dimly lit, and covered in a fine layer of
chair sits alone in the far corner.
a : dust. A character who has a passive Wisdom (Per-
ception) score of 13 or higher notices light coming
In addition to the furnishings described above, this through the floorboards above area M13. The floor-
room is adorned with unremarkable tapestries that boards can be broken through with a successful DC
depict grapevines and the process of making wine. 15 Strength (Athletics) check to allow access to the
Mimic Chair. The reason for the odd number room below.
of chairs is that the chair closest to the door to
M11. LABORATORY
area M6 is a mimic that escaped from area M19.
It moved the real chair to the corner and took its t
9
place, hoping to capture any creature entering from Most of this room is¢ token up by long wooden tables
the kitchen. It has been able to ambush only the oc- that are covered with glass vessels and books. Cabi-
casional cat or faerie dragon, so it’s in a weakened
nets with glass doors line the walls, and they contain
state and has the following changes to its stat block:
all manner of specimens. Just below the ceilingi in the
. It has 30 hit points. middle of the room, colorful globes circle each other a
. The DC to escape its grapple is 10.
in an intricate dance. The far wall is almost completely
Treasure. The buffet contains silverware and a covered by a map of the night sky, with a golden sun-
service for six, worth a total of 20 gp. burst in the center above a closed door. .
: 4
M9. ARBORETUM
The door leading from area M1 is partially open. The cabinets are crowded with skulls, bones,
mounted animals, rocks and minerals, dried plants,
Tien of the building is an arboretum with open, and jars with creatures floating in liquid. Measuring
devices, glassware, and other scientific apparatus
arched walls. Flowering shrubs and small trees grow
sit on the tables between books on the natural sci-
between paved paths that meet in a semicircular
ences, astronomy, astrology, physiology, and natural
: patio. There's no sun, but two glowing globes hang philosophy. Complex charts and mathematical for-
above the plants, bathing them in light. There are mulas are drawn on a mobile blackboard.
colorful blossoms everywhere, filling the air with their Star Map. The map on the wall is the solution to
perfume. the planetarium puzzle in area M12. Most of the
é —-— | : ® stars are represented by mere dots or small circles,
oi

but the five most prominent stars are rendered as

Two invisible orange faerie dragons are perched in blazing silver suns. Those are the five bright stars
MN

the trees. They are mischievous creatures, always to which the telescopes must be pointed to open the
~N

looking for fun, but the homunculi and the cats pro- door to area M13.
vide little entertainment, so they hope to keep the Puzzle Book. The puzzle book with the letter T on
characters in the arboretum for as long as possible its spine is among the books on the middle table.
so they can play with them. Giggling incessantly,
they fly toward the characters, use their Euphoria M12. PLANETARIUM
Breath, and flit out of danger, still invisible. If they ’
.
are attacked, they disengage and retreat to a safe The door opens into a2 dark, open space offering :a
place, becoming invisible again if their concentra-
view of the starry firmament of the night sky. Five
tion is broken.
Treasure. The two glowing orbs are driftglobes. telescopes mounted on bronze plates point toward
Cumin and Coriander from area M6 periodically ac- the constellations above. In the middle of the space,
tivate the globes to provide light for the plants. a one-foot- diameter sphere of clear crystal sits in a
YANNEK

circular brass stand.

ERAN

mentee BR

THE JOY OF EXTRADIMENSIONAL SPACES

The room is a detailed and convincing illusion of a only by solving the planetarium puzzle. From inside
grassy knoll on a moonless night. Springy turf com- area M13, however, the door is plainly visible.
presses underfoot, and when the doors to the room
are closed, the starry night sky is visible in all di-
M13. THE CHAINED LIBRARY
To reach this room, the characters must solve the
rections. Terrain more than 20 feet away at ground
level, however, is shadowy and indistinct; only the telescope puzzle in area M12 or break through the
sky above seems sharp and clear. In fact, the stars ceiling from the attic above area M10.
shine down with an almost fierce light. Anyone who
explores the room discovers that this effect is an This room is bare except for a bookshelf covered in
illusion and can determine the size and shape of the chains against one wall, a plain wooden bench, and
actual space. a reading desk built into the shelves. A book with the
If the characters try to manipulate the telescopes,
bust ofa mage on its cover sits on the desk.
they find that it’s easy to change the orientation of
these well-balanced instruments. The telescopes
:
cannot be moved in any other way, however, and are The three shelves are filled with books bound in
sturdily mounted to their pedestals. The crystal ball iron covers, which are attached to chains that se-
is also firmly fixed and cannot be moved. cure them to the shelves—a chained library. The
Planetarium Puzzle. The planetarium is a use- reading desk is used to support the chained books
ful feature for anyone who wants to gaze upon the while they are being read. This chained library has
stars. Its other purpose is to open the secret door been enchanted to be jealously possessive of its
to area M13. In order to solve the puzzle, the five contents. It attacks any creature that comes within
telescopes must be pointed into the sky at the five its reach (use the accompanying animated chained
brightest stars shown on the map in area M11. library stat block).
When all five telescopes are aligned, the light of Fistandia’'s most treasured knowledge is kept
the stars is focused through them onto the crystal here. There are rare tomes on the sciences, arcana,
ball and refracted to illuminate a secret door on one and alchemy, as well as books about planar lore and
wall. The secret door to area M13 can be discovered the summoning of fantastic creatures. All the books
i
 M15. BEDROOM
- ANIMATED CHAINED LIBRARY The door to this room is left ajar, as is the one at the
Large construct end of the hall to area M10, to let the cats roam as
they please.
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed 10 ft. This is an open and airy bedroom. A canopied bed
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA with rich scarlet curtains occupies one corner. A jug
15 (+2) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 1 (-5) 5 (-3) 1 (-5) and a washbasin stand on top of a chest of drawers,
and a fluffy black cat is napping on a scarlet easy
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, chair. One wall is covered with a large painting ofa
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone gold dragon perched heroically on a mountaintop.
Senses blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), ®
passive Perception 7
Languages — When the characters enter the room, the cat jumps
Challenge Rating 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
down from the chair and stretches. It then follows
the characters around the room, mewing at them.
False Object. If the library is motionless at the start of combat, If they feed it or pet it and make a successful DC 10
it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, it follows them
hasn't observed the library move or act, that creature must suc-
until combat or some other frightening occurrence
ceed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to discern that the
scares it off. If the characters don’t interact with it,
library is animate.
the cat gives up and leaves for the kitchen.
ACTIONS The top drawers of the dresser contain elegant,
Multiattack. The library makes two attacks. well-made robes. The lower drawers hold more utili-
Chained Book. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
tarian tunics and dresses.
target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and if the target is | Puzzle Book. The puzzle book with the letter E on
~acreature, it is grappled (escape DC 12). its spine is sitting on the chest of drawers.
EEL COE lL SRN i J L

M16. BALCONY
are firmly affixed to the shelves by enchanted chains
and can't be freed without being destroyed.
The door thn the bedroom leads to a wrought iron.
Treasure. If the characters defeat the animated
balcony lined with slate flagstones. The greenery and
| chained library, one of its books breaks free with a
| length of chain still attached and functions as a +1 colorful flowers of the arboretum are visible below.
flail. The book is entitled Martial Attack Techniques.
Puzzle Book. The book on the reading desk is the The oppressive miasma seems to press in even
puzzle book with the letter L on its spine. closer above the mansion here than at ground level.
M14. TRoPHY ROOM M17. ALCHEMICAL LABORATORY
° Esa
Each cor
cornerrof this pleasant parlor has a scarlet arm- The air hers smells of astringent chemicals. Long
chair and a reading table piled high with books. A wooden tables stretch across the room, laden with
cheery: fire burns i in the fireplace. A pair of swords sits
Re

vials, beakers, and flasks holding \various liquids and

inarack above the fireplace, and the heads of various - powders. Books are stacked between the glassware
animals are mounted on the walls. and chemicals. Yellowed paper charts and black-
| boards full of “complex formulas. cover the walls.
The books are all poetry or heroic fiction meant @ fs)

for entertainment. The trophy heads—a stag, a

The books here cover chemical science and al-
wolf, a peryton, a hell hound, and a black dragon
chemy. A character who examines the charts and
wyrmling—are purely decorative. The fire is an illu-
formulas and makes a successful DC 13 Intelligence
sion that looks pleasant but provides no heat. The
check determines that the main goal of the research
swords above the mantel are two flying swords that
here was to transmute various materials into gold.
attack if anything in the room is touched.
Judging by the numerous scorch marks and acid
Puzzle Book. The puzzle book with the letter Y on
burns on the furniture, the laboratory was the scene
its spine can be found on the table.
of several spectacular failures.
 Four clay figures rest on a table in the middle of The four severed hands have absorbed enough
the room. They range from a rudimentary, barely magical energy to become crawling claws. They
humanoid shape to a small, winged body so lifelike push the lid off their jar and attack when any crea-
that it almost appears to be a real creature that is ture comes within 5 feet of them.
merely asleep. A character who makes a success-
ful DC 13 Intelligence (Arcana) check can tell that ASSEMBLING THE BOOKS
these are figures used for creating homunculi. The command word to reopen the mansion’s portal
Treasure. Several of the reagents here are quite is “liberty,” and it must be spoken within 10 feet of
valuable. By searching the room, the characters can the portal to cause it to open.
gather 50 gp of alchemical materials. In addition, Once the characters have recovered all (or most
two of the vials contain potions of healing. of) the lettered books, they should be able to guess
Puzzle Book. The puzzle book with the letter B the command word. When it is spoken, a pulse of
on its spine is propped up against a large beaker. power ripples through the mansion as the double
door in area M1 swings open, forming a portal that
M18. SUMMONING RooM leads back to the study room in Candlekeep. The
. + doorway remains open only for a minute, but the
This dark, stone-walled room contains only a few characters can simply speak the command word to
objects. A five-foot-diameter circle of intricate runes reveal it again.
covers the floor. There’s an empty wooden bookstand
opposite the door and bronze braziers at the other
CONCLUSION
When the characters return to the study room in
three cardinal points of the circle. Whatever material
Candlekeep, they find Matreous’s body sprawled
they contained has long ago burned to cinders, but
on the floor and the imp figurine missing. When
the room still smells of charcoal and sulfur. Sitting the imp was taken from the mansion in its figurine
next to the bookstand is a warty toad. form, the enchantment binding it ended, allowing it
@ é
to sting and kill Matreous. The imp is now invisible
and hiding in a corner of Matreous’s study. It at-
This is the room where Fistandia summoned the
tacks the first creature that exits the mansion. If the
imp that would become the figurine found by Mat-
characters defeat the imp, it disappears in a cloud of
reous. The current resident of the room is a quasit
in toad form. It waits for a creature to approach and black smoke.
Any treasure, books, specimens, or weapons the
then attacks.
characters acquired while in the mansion remain in
M19. PRESERVED MENAGERIE their possession. Anything else taken from the man-
sion evaporates into smoke as they pass through
' ¢
the doorway.
Smells of alcohol and brine permeate this room. Glass
vessels large and small stand in rows on the floor and FURTHER ADVENTURES
tables, ranging from one foot to six feet tall. Inside What will the characters do to save the village now
each vessel is the body ofa creature floating in clear that Matreous is dead? If they're willing to spend
liquid. One four-foot-tall container is missing its lid more time in Candlekeep, they might be able to
and has no occupant. find another sage who possesses the expertise they
@ ® require. Alternatively, they might need to undertake
new quests to earn enough money to have Matreous
Fistandia considered herself to be a knowledgeable raised from the dead.
natural philosopher, and she collected many rare Fistandia and her wizardly colleague Freyot are
specimens to study. She kept examples of com- alive, as evidenced by the homunculi they left behind
mon and natural creatures in area M11, and rare in Fistandia’s mansion. What are these two wizards
or aberrant creatures in this room. The collection up to, and where are they now? One or both of them
includes a cockatrice, a flumph, a giant fire beetle, a might return to Fistandia’s mansion some day. If the
small grell, a myconid sprout, a pseudodragon, four characters are using the mansion as a place to rest,
severed hands in the same jar, and a slaad tadpole how will Fistandia and Freyot react to the presence
that’s still alive and attacks if its jar is opened. of uninvited guests in their home? These questions
The empty container once held the mimic found are left for you to answer.
in area M8. Gravely injured when it was captured, it
feigned death until it could recover and escape into
the upper levels of the mansion.
SY ~ IGHTY
AN ADVENTURE FOR 2ND-LEVEL CHARACTERS
otf & HBr aise ——————G pesmi 8

MAZFROTH’S
DIGRESSIONS 4
PR J

WRITTEN BY ALISON HUANG EDITED BY HANNAH ROSE

DEVELOPED BY HANNAH ROSE & CHRISTOPHER PERKINS

COLLECTION OF ESSAYS CALLED MAZFROTH'S

Mighty Digressions was brought to
Candlekeep only a few days ago. It was
donated by Yalerion Highscroll, a scholar
from Waterdeep who purchased the journal in the
markets of Baldur's Gate. Unbeknownst to the
characters, the book is a monster in disguise and
attacks them as they try to read it. Afterward, the
characters discover that other books in Candlekeep
have behaved similarly, suggesting there might be
something more malevolent going on.

FINDING THE BOOK

Characters who have already gained admission into MAazFrOTH'S MIGHTY
Candlekeep might come across Mazfroth’s Mighty DIGRESSIONS
Digressions while researching topics including, but
not limited to, the following:
« Magic and the Weave HerLpFuL KNOWLEDGE
. Lycanthropy and its origins A character who scans Mazfroth’s Mighty Digres-
« Demon lords of the Abyss sions learns a piece of information relevant to their
interests, such as one of these:
BooOK DESCRIPTION
Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions is seven inches wide All magic depends on the Weave, an interface be-
and nine inches tall. The brown leather cover is tween casters and raw magic that is governed by
worn from time and use. The name of the book and Mystra, god of magic. Arcane spellcasters access
its author, Mazfroth Gethur, are elegantly written in the Weave directly, while divine spellcasters are
cursive with black ink on the first page. The care put granted access to it by their deities and ideals.
into the front page, however, does not apply to the Damage to the Weave can cause unimaginable de-
rest of the book’s contents. Mazfroth’s handwriting struction, as evidenced by the Spellplague in 1385
DR, the Year of Blue Fire.
is messy and hasty, as if they couldn’t write down
Some scholars believe that Malar, god of the hunt,
their thoughts fast enough. Furthermore, the book's
151 pages don’t all match, indicating that the author is responsible for lycanthropy. Mazfroth disagrees
with this theory on the basis that not all lycan-
kept adding more pages. The book's stitching is
haphazard, and looks like it could come undone at thropes are evil as Malar is. Werebears are an ex-
ample of lycanthropes that are usually good.
any moment.
The Abyss is ruled by demon lords—Baphomet,
ESSAYS AND RAMBLINGS Demogorgon, Graz'zt, Juiblex, Orcus, Yeenoghu,
Zuggtmoy, and many others. Mazfroth ties the
Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions contains a collection
origins of several monsters to these demon lords
of eclectic essays, though not much is revealed or
(saying Juiblex created all oozes, for example).
known about the author. Mazfroth’s essays often go
on long tangents. Although the topics in the book After a character who reads Mazfroth’s Mighty
are many and varied, it is clear that divinity, the Digressions finds an essay pertaining to their .
denizens of the multiverse, and the nature of magic interests, but before they can finish reading the pas-
were subjects of particular interest to Mazfroth. sage, the book attacks them. 2

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS

 GINGWATZIM
GINGWATZIM
A gingwatzim is a peculiar form of life created by Small aberration (shapechanger)
a spell or a ritual. The magic that brings it into
being draws on spirit energy from the Ethereal Armor Class 12
Plane to give the gingwatzim its true form—that of Hit Points 39 (6d6 + 18)
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover) in its true form only
a luminous (but not too bright) sphere of ectoplasm
roughly 3 feet in diameter. A newly formed ging- STR DEX CON INT wiS CHA
watzim appears as near to its creator as possible 3(-4) 1502) 16(#3) 4(-3) NE) 6(-2)
and follows its creator's commands without ques-
tion, using telepathy to communicate. Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
A gingwatzim can assume two other forms that
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius),
are determined by its creator at the time the ging- passive Perception 10
watzim comes into being. One is an exact duplicate Languages telepathy 60 ft.
of a Tiny nonmagical object that its creator is wear- Challenge Rating 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Es a

ing or carrying. The gingwatzim’s other form is that

of a specific Tiny beast. Alternate Forms. The gingwatzim has two alternate forms, both
When the gingwatzim (see the accompanying stat of which are chosen by its creator when the gingwatzim comes =
block) that has taken the form of Mazfroth’s Mighty into being. One form is an exact duplicate ofa Tiny nonmagical :
Digressions attacks the characters, it does so by object (such as a book, dagger, or gemstone) that its creator P
is carrying or wearing when the gingwatzim is conjured. The
assuming its true form and then using its Energy
other form can be any Tiny beast. Once these alternate forms
Drain action. A gingwatzim must feed on the life are chosen, they can’t be changed.
energy of other creatures to survive, but it can’t feed
while in the form of a beast or an object, which is ACTIONS
why it must revert to its true form first. Its other Energy Drain (True Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
form is that of a bat. reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 16 (4d6 + 2) necrotic damage, and |
.

This particular gingwatzim was instructed by its the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw
creator to remain in book form, but it hasn't fed in or gain 1 level of exhaustion. When the target finishes a short
or long rest, the target loses every level of exhaustion gained
days. Consequently, it tries to consume the charac-
from this attack.
ters' life energy and fights until destroyed. All the
while, it terrorizes its prey with telepathic messages Change Shape. The gingwatzim changes from its true form—a >
3-foot-diameter sphere of luminous ectoplasm—into one of |
such as “Feed me!” and “Need life!” No trace of the
its two alternate forms, or from one of those forms back into *
destroyed gingwatzim remains, depriving Candle- its true form. In object form, it can’t move or make attacks but
keep of its copy of Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions. otherwise retains its statistics, and it is indistinguishable from
the thing it is imitating. In beast form, it retains its hit points
WHAT'S GOING ON? but otherwise uses the stat block of the beast it is imitating.
When it dies, the gingwatzim reverts to its true form and
The gingwatzim that attacks the characters was
then vanishes.
created by a jackalwere named Korvala, using a
ritual taught to her by a now-deceased lamia named
Nidalia. Korvala is the leader of the Amberdune With Korvala as their new leader, the pack be-
Pack, a gang of jackalweres that sells books and gan working on a way to resurrect Nidalia. It soon
scrolls in the markets of Baldur's Gate. Korvala became clear that wouldn't be a simple task. After
commanded the gingwatzim to take the form of all, the resurrection spell requires both a diamond
Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions, one of the more worth at least 1,000 gp and the services of a suffi-
valuable books in her collection. This ruse enabled ciently powerful spellcaster.
her to sell a copy of the book without giving up the The pack’s plan to sell books and scrolls, as well
genuine item, which Korvala is loath to part with. as gingwatzims disguised as books and scrolls,
The Amberdune Pack remains fiercely loyal proved to be more challenging than they expected.
to Nidalia, even though she has been dead for Most of their profits are spent to help them survive
months. Rather than corrupting individuals and in a city with more than its fair share of bribery and
acquiring slaves, Nidalia preferred to collect corruption. They've pinned their hopes on raising
books and scrolls. Though she was peaceful and enough money to resurrect Nidalia before someone
compassionate, she was nonetheless killed by a discovers their ruse, but they didn’t account for the
group of adventurers. The jackalweres that survived possibility that some of their gingwatzims would
fled with Nidalia’s heart and what books and scrolls end up in Candlekeep.
they could carry.

/
Pa

SHER orem nn
LN §
.

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS taf |

po
MONSTROUS BOOKS If asked the right questions, Yalerion discloses the
following information:
Characters interested in the mystery surround-
ing Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions might ask the - Ten days ago, Yalerion bought the book they
Avowed of Candlekeep for information or conduct thought was Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions from
their own investigation. a market stall in the Wide, a large and crowded
marketplace in the Upper City of Baldur's Gate.
WHAT THE AVOWED KNOW « They remember that the stall’s name had “dune”
The following information can be learned from in it, but nothing else about the place. The Wide
talking to Candlekeep’s monks and sages: was too noisy and hectic for their liking.
« They arrived at Candlekeep five days ago and in-
Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions is the third book tend to stay for five more.
to transform into an ectoplasmic monster. The
other two books were The Dark Hunger (about a VALOR
powerful entity served by star-fearing warlocks) With broad shoulders and a permanent scowl on
and Fallen Tethyamar (about a dwarf king named her face, Valor is an intimidating, 24-year-old tief-
Ghellin who sought to reclaim his kingdom in the ling knight. Originally from Cormyr, a country to
Desertmouth Mountains). the east, she served as a Purple Dragon Knight in
All three books were used to gain entrance to the Cormyrean army. Since leaving that life behind,
Candlekeep in the past two months. she has taken up bounty hunting, which she greatly
The Avowed keep records of the seekers allowed prefers. Valor is in Candlekeep to research a partic-
into Candlekeep and the books they gifted the ularly elusive target. Her entrance gift wasn’t cheap,
library. Two seekers who gained entry with mon- and she’s annoyed that it turned out to be a mon-
strous books are still in Candlekeep: Yalerion strous fake. She is helping the Avowed with various
Highscroll (who brought Mazfroth’s Mighty Di- chores to make amends.
gressions) and Valor (who brought The Dark Hun- Valor is reshingling the roof of the Hearth during
ger). The Avowed know where to find them. the day, or pacing in the Court of Air at night. Agi-
tated and restless, she’s wary of people who want to
If the characters talk to the Avowed about the inci-
speak with her. A successful DC 15 Charisma (Per-
dent they experienced involving Mazfroth’s Mighty
suasion) check, or polite and persistent questioning,
Digressions, the monks offer them a helm of com-
convinces her to talk to the characters, if only to get
prehending languages as a reward for finding out
them to leave her presence sooner.
who is responsible for the deception.
Valor can share the following information:
QUESTIONING SEEKERS Thirteen days ago, she arrived at Candlekeep with
If the characters question Yalerion Highscroll or The Dark Hunger, a series of nearly incomprehen-
Valor about the books they used to gain entry into sible notes about Hadar, a powerful yet inscruta-
Candlekeep, use the following information to role- ble entity that lives among the stars.
play these NPCs. She purchased her book from a market stall in the
Wide, a bustling marketplace in the Upper City of
YALERION HIGHSCROLL Baldur’s Gate. She doesn’t remember much about
Yalerion is a 26-year-old human acolyte with an the stall because she didn’t want to stay in the
approachable demeanor and a relaxed posture. A Wide for too long. (If the characters ask why, she
scholar from Waterdeep, they have a never-ending says, “It reeks of greed.”) But she does remember
thirst for knowledge, especially information con- it was in “not the most reputable” corner of the
cerning the history of Toril. They made the trip to marketplace.
Candlekeep because they've read all the books con- After finding the information she needed, she
tained within the Font of Knowledge, a Waterdavian prepared to leave three days ago. That's when the
temple to Oghma, god of knowledge. Yalerion hopes Avowed informed her that her gift, The Dark Hun-
to make the best out of their tenday-long visit by ger, had revealed its true form, attacking and de-
reading rare books and meeting likeminded people. stroying a wizard’s homunculus. The wizard killed
Yalerion can be found in the House of the Binder, the monster before it could harm anyone else,
socializing with other followers of Oghma. They but not before it turned into a spider and tried to
sometimes read books in the Pillars of Pedagogy. scuttle away. When the monster died, no trace of it
As long as the characters are friendly and not con- was left behind.
frontational, Yalerion is happy to talk with them.
They are surprised to hear that Mazfroth’s Mighty
Digressions was actually a monster in disguise.

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS

 | AMBERDUNE Books

JOURNEY TO BALDUR'S GATE decadence; a nightly curfew means that those who
don’t live there must leave at nightfall each day un-
From Candlekeep, it takes five days of travel along less they have a special token.
the Coast Way to reach Baldur's Gate. Bandits and Almost anything can be found in the Wide. Ven-
thugs lurk along this road, waiting to ambush any- dors can operate here without official licenses and
one carrying rare books or other valuables. taxation, as long as their wares are legal. Even so,
the Wide is not immune to corruption: hefty bribes
LYCANTHROPE LL. OOTER
and reputations determine where every vendor is
On the fourth night of their journey, the party is situated in the marketplace.
attacked by the wererat Mushika and three giant
rats. Mushika bears nasty scars from his time in THE WATCH
the thieves’ guilds of Baldur’s Gate, and has since Ten veterans of the Watch, a military organization
turned to easier prey along the Coast Way. While that protects the citizens of the Upper City, patrol
the giant rats attack, Mushika stands back in hybrid the Wide. Though their job consists mostly of watch-
form and uses his hand crossbow. He tries to flee if ing out for pickpockets and thieves, they also break
he’s reduced to half his hit points or fewer or if all up disagreements and come to the defense of mer-
three giant rats are defeated. chants being harassed by customers.

THE WIDE FINDING THE STALL

The marketplace known as the Wide is located in Packed full of vendors eager to make sales and
the Upper City—home to the patriars, the wealthiest customers clamoring to get good deals, the Wide is
citizens of Baldur's Gate. Visitors to this district not the easiest place to navigate, let alone to find a
find streets illuminated by magical lights, luxurious specific stall in. If the characters spoke to Yalerion
boutiques, and expensive restaurants. The elegantly Highscroll or Valor, they're able to find Amberdune
dressed residents treat poorer people with great Books with relative ease. Otherwise, they can make
disdain. The Upper City is truly a place of exclusive a DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion) check to ask around Sy

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS | 2g

ie.
 the Wide. On a success, a customer or stall owner Tailing the Jackalweres. The characters can
gives them directions to Amberdune Books. On a also find the Amberdune hideout by following pack
failed check, they eventually find the stall after 1 members after their shift. If the characters succeed
hour of searching. on a DC 13 group Dexterity (Stealth) check, the
Other stalls the characters might encounter in the jackalweres don’t notice that they're being followed.
Wide include: If they do notice the characters, they hurry to alert
Korvala but don’t engage unless the characters do
Autumn's Breads, a street bakery with fresh pas-
so first. See “Roleplaying the Jackalweres” below for
tries, breads, and cakes for 1 sp each.
more information.
Coppers to Crowns, an “antiques” shop selling a
miscellany of trinkets and oddities (roll 2d4 times AMBERDUNE PACK
on the Trinkets table in the Player's Handbook).
The jackalweres of the Amberdune Pack were the
Each trinket costs 2d10 cp.
servants of Nidalia, an unusually kind and learned
« Gems for All, a shop with a variety of gemstones,
lamia. The jackalweres’ alignment is neutral
all worth 50 gp or less.
evil rather than chaotic evil, and their goals are
O

. Heath's Hot Drinks, a stall offering cups of mulled

OR

self-serving, not actively malicious.

TED

wine, hot cider, and strong teas for 2 sp each. In

Because the pack originally resided in the nation
RO NE

the summer, the sign is repainted to read “Heath's

SR

of Amn, their humanoid forms have dusky brown

Cool Drinks” and the stall serves chilled fruit
skin, brown or blue eyes, and varying shades of
AT

juice and iced tea.

RS

brown hair, like many of the Amnian people. If a

Wizards of the Wide, a tent bursting with dozens
surname is required, they use Amberdune.
of arcane foci and spell scrolls, including scrolls of
There are seven jackalweres in the Amberdune
comprehend languages, detect magic, feather fall,
Pack, including the leader, Korvala. The other pack
find familiar, mage armor, magic missile, shield,
members are as follows:
and unseen servant (25 gp each).
. Avani, a middle-aged jackalwere who considers it
AMBERDUNE BOOKS her duty to keep the rest of her pack from doing
Although it’s located in an out-of-the-way corner anything to attract attention from the Watch
of the Wide, Amberdune Books always has a few . Inbar, a quiet, reserved jackalwere who wears
customers perusing its wares. This market stall is spectacles in his human and hybrid forms
stocked with legitimate but commonplace books (25 . Marliza, a petite jackalwere whose wide eyes and
op each), as well as illusory copies of rare and ex- long braids belie her cunning
pensive books (250 gp each). The stall does not sell . Ramah, Inbar’s outspoken brother, who prefers to
spellbooks. spend his shift at Amberdune Books loudly orat-
ing from a tome to entice potential customers
WORK SHIFTS . Theryn, a young jackalwere with deft hands, good
Amberdune Books is always supervised by two for repairing damaged books or liberating a few
jackalweres in humanoid form. At sunrise, those coins from wealthy pockets
on the first shift set up the stall with Korvala, and at . Zan, the oldest pack member, who hums quietly
sundown the workers bring their unsold wares back while they organize the books
to the pack’s hideout in the Blackgate neighborhood.
Each work shift is four hours long, and Korvala ROLEPLAYING THE JACKALWERES
checks in every two hours. The jackalweres return While working as booksellers in the Wide, the
to their hideout when they are done with their shift. jackalweres are confident and happy to talk with
With the exception of Korvala, they always travel customers. If they're unexpectedly questioned with-
in pairs. You can decide which pack members are out Korvala present, they quickly become nervous.
at the stall when the characters arrive (see “Amber- Though their innate ability to lie means that they
dune Pack” below for names). can easily behave deceitfully, the pack doesn’t cope
Speaking with the Manager. Korvala takes her well without leadership. The presence of Korvala
duties as the owner of Amberdune Books seriously. comforts the other jackalweres. They admire her
She denies all accusations of deception with curt strength and guidance, and they defend her as fer-
professionalism and threatens to call for the guards vently as they would Nidalia.
if characters are too aggressive. A successful DC 15 The Amberdune jackalweres are not hostile
Wisdom (Insight) check reveals that Korvala isn't unless provoked. They attack only as a last re-
being entirely truthful. To avoid making a scene, she sort, preferring to use their Sleep Gaze to subdue
invites characters who see through her lies back to foes, then flee. They are notably more reluctant to
the Amberdune Pack's hideout as long as they are fight spellcasters and characters using silvered or
willing to talk peacefully. magic weapons.
 7 £ 3
ot = % HB

y§
J @
2
i % 3

KORVALA
Korvala is a 32-year-old jackalwere. A tall and im-
posing figure, she has been the leader of the pack
since Nidalia died. She has an authoritative air that
instills confidence in her allies and fear in her ene-
mies. Though normally calm and composed, Kor-
vala becomes angry and combative when recalling
the struggles she and her pack have experienced,
including Nidalia’s death. Though she is a capable
leader in her own right, the burden of taking over
from Nidalia is a heavy one.
While she was alive, Nidalia taught Korvala the
ritual to create gingwatzims. The other members
of the pack know of the ritual but are never pres-
ent when Korvala performs it. Nidalia’s geas spell
forced Korvala to keep the ritual a secret, and al-
though she’s no longer under the spell’s effect, Kor-
vala refuses to divulge information about the ritual.
Personality Trait. “When I have a goal in mind, I
will do everything to be sure it gets completed.”
Ideal. “My pack should be able to live in peace.”
Bond. “Nidalia, I owe everything to you. I will
bring you back, mark my words.”
Flaw. “If | can’t benefit from it, I'm not interested.”

BLACKGATE
The jackalweres live in the northern neighborhood
of Blackgate, not far from the Wide. This district is
part of the Outer City, a sprawl of settlements that
stretch beyond the city’s actual walls. The Outer
City is home to Baldur's Gate’s poorer inhabitants, AMBERDUNE HIDEOUT
who live in ramshackle huts and flimsy tents—a The Amberdune hideout, a dilapidated hovel with
stark contrast to the opulence of the Upper City. wooden walls, is located on a narrow street tucked
Merchants with wares too meager—or too illicit—to away in a corner of the Blackgate district.
sell in the Wide make do with unregulated back al-
ley markets here. The stench of stabled horses and TIME OF DAY
other beasts of burden permeates the air. Between dawn and dusk, two of the jackalweres are
on their shift at Amberdune Books. During other
WERERAT'S REVENGE times, use the following information to help deter-
If the characters allowed the wererat Mushika to mine what the jackalweres are doing.
escape earlier in the adventure, he tries to get his re-
« Once Amberdune Books is packed up for the
venge as they make their way through Blackgate to-
day, and all the jackalweres have returned to the
ward the Amberdune hideout. But if the characters
hideout, the whole pack shares a meal together
are accompanied by one or more members of the
in area Al.
Amberdune Pack, Mushika leaves them alone. He
« The jackalweres spend their evenings as they
knows Korvala and her associates are jackalweres,
wish, before going to sleep in area A3. Korvala
and he’s heard rumors that they serve a more pow-
sleeps in area A4.
erful creature called a lamia.
« They all sleep for eight hours. Korvala and the
Mushika has assumed humanoid form and is
two jackalweres on first shift wake up just before
accompanied by a swarm of rats and two human
dawn so they can set up the stall.
thugs named Alaspar and Sufeni. Mushika has
promised to turn both thugs into wererats, but first FRIENDS
they must prove their worth by helping him slay the
If Korvala invited the characters to have a civil talk
characters. If either the swarm or the two thugs are
with her, she brings them to her office (area A4).
defeated, Mushika tries to flee the battle. Neither he
nor the thugs have any treasure.

SEE mS a
 Al. ComMON RooM
The hideout’s front entrance opens into this room.

i AMBERDUNE HIDEOUT ) +
Seven mismatched chairs are scattered around this
+

Down 10 AG homely common room. A couple of mugs and plates

may Lois
sit on a small circular table
in the center of the space.
A tattered and faded rug decorates the wooden floor.
Ad ® 8

The jackalweres like to relax and chat with each

other in this room, particularly during and after
meals together. The faded rug is actually a rug of
smothering friendly to the jackalweres, which de-
fends them if they command it to. If no jackalweres
3»
IRS

are present in this area, the rug attacks intruders.

SE

It stops fighting if one of the jackalweres com-

EASA

mands it to.
SE

{= Bas» Development. Noise from fighting the rug of

A
ARIA.

o
smothering causes Marliza, a jackalwere in hybrid
form, to run into the room from area A2, scimitar
SR

Up To Ad
PN at the ready. This jackalwere is willing to command
AEs the rug to stop if the characters explain themselves.
i
A2. KITCHEN
® AS > eis 9

This kitchen is small but clean and organized.

A shelf
holds a row of pots and pans. On one side of the :
fireplace, a cutting board and knife rest on a counter. =
Clean plates and utensils sit on a matching counteron
Understandably, the jackalweres are uncomfortable the other side. .
with strangers in their home. Unexpected visitors # ig
are met with with trepidation and readied weapons,
but the jackalweres are not hostile unless the char- The Amberdune Pack cooks meals in this kitchen
acters attack. before eating in the common room (area Al). There
On the subject of the monstrous books, the other are currently two jackalweres in the room, Marliza
jackalweres nervously defer to Korvala. If she’s in and Theryn (see “Amberdune Pack” earlier in the
the hideout, the jackalweres bring the characters adventure for more information on the pack mem-
to her office. If Korvala is not present, they ask the bers). Theryn, in his humanoid form, chops vegeta-
characters to wait in area Al until she returns. bles for a soup with a cleaver (which functions as a
scimitar), while Marliza leans against a wall in hy-
FOES brid form. They are happily chatting together. Noise
TAN

When fighting in their hideout, the jackalweres in area Al prompts Marliza to investigate.
stand their ground instead of running away. When
A3. CORRIDOR DORMITORY
possible, the jackalweres gang up on one enemy at a
time. They aim to kill only if the characters are also
displaying lethal intent. More like a wide corridor than an actual room, this
long and crowded space is occupied by six nar-
HipeouT LOCATIONS rowcots. |
The following locations are keyed to the map of the
Amberdune hideout. Some of the jackalweres de-
scribed in the earlier “Amberdune Pack” section are Unless she is awakened by sounds of combat, the
present in certain rooms, but you can easily change jackalwere Avani (in humanoid form) is taking a
this information to suit your story. nap on one of the cots. Characters moving through
SEAN MACDONALD

this room must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity

OR :
(Stealth) check or wake her up. This check is made
with disadvantage if characters made a commotion

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS

 elsewhere in the hideout. Beneath each cot is an un- « Korvala can empower a newly formed gingwatzim
locked trunk full of personal belongings. Nothing of to assume two other forms, allowing it to duplicate
value can be found here. a specific object and a tiny beast. As an object, a
Development. Combat in this room alerts Zan, gingwatzim can hide in plain sight. As a common
the jackalwere in area AS, who enters with their beast, it can move about without attracting too
scimitar drawn. At your discretion, Korvala might much attention.
also investigate a ruckus in this room. A gingwatzim isn’t particularly bright, but it obeys
the orders of its creator. The ones Korvala creates
A4. KORVALA'S OFFICE are instructed to remain in book form, but a ging-
° . watzim must occasionally feed on the energy of
A large wooden desk takes up most of this room. the living to survive.
Atop the desk, a quill and a bottle of ink sit next to « Korvala has created eight gingwatzims so far,
six disguised as books and two more to guard
a leather-bound journal. A pair of decorative swords
her office.
Seca

hangs on the wall behind the desk. There's a single « Korvala never intended her gingwatzims to show
—————

bed tucked against the western wall. up in Candlekeep. As reparations, she’s willing
ee

® ®
to surrender the original versions of Mazfroth’s
————

Mighty Digressions, The Dark Hunger, and Fallen

A

Unless she is with the characters, at Amberdune

Books, or elsewhere in the hideout investigating a Tethyamar so that the characters can deliver them
commotion, the jackalwere Korvala sits at the desk
to Candlekeep. (Korvala keeps these books along
in her humanoid form: a woman with brown skin,
with three others in area A6.)
sun-streaked brown hair, and piercing hazel eyes. If Trapdoor. A trapdoor leading down into the hid-
she has been alerted to the characters’ presence by den vault (area A6) is concealed beneath the bed.
the other jackalweres or from a disturbance in the
hideout, Korvala is expecting them. Otherwise, she Ab. STORAGE Room
is shocked but keeps her composure, silently assess-
ing how to best take out the characters in a fight if it Except for a corner with two stacked wooden trunks,
comes to that.
the walls of this room are lined with half-empty
The decorative swords on the wall are actually
bookshelves.
two gingwatzims (see the stat block earlier in the
adventure) that assume their true forms and attack
intruders unless Korvala is present. If she is at- This room contains all the legitimate and common-
tacked in this room, the gingwatzims defend her. In place books that the Amberdune Pack sells, as well
addition to appearing as swords, these gingwatzims as a small portion of the money it has obtained. Zan,
can turn into bats. a jackalwere in hybrid form, is looking through
The journal on Korvala’s desk is a ledger docu- the bookshelves to decide which books should be
menting all of Amberdune Books’ sales, including sold at the market the following day (see “Amber-
Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions, The Dark Hunger, dune Pack” above for more information on the
and Fallen Tethyamar. pack members).
Development. If she is in the room and the char- False Storage Trunk. The top wooden trunk is
acters are willing to hear her out, Korvala explains actually a mimic that used to live in Nidalia’s lair,
the Amberdune Pack’s motives to them. She be- protecting her from intruders. The mimic has a
lieves in her plan and doesn’t feel the need to omit symbiotic relationship with the Amberdune Pack
anything. Both her pain and her determination are and a sense of kinship toward its fellow shapechang-
evident in her steady voice and careful words. ers. The jackalweres feed it leftovers, but it has be-
If the characters ask Korvala about the monstrous come hungry from the lack of substantial meals in
books that wound up in Candlekeep, she shares the Blackgate. Unless a jackalwere tells it not to, it will
following information: attempt to eat any character who touches it.
. Using a ritual taught to her by Nidalia, Korvala True Storage Trunk. The bottom wooden trunk,
can create creatures known as gingwatzims. (Kor- which is unlocked, is empty except for 50 gp worth
vala claims to be under the effect of a geas spell of assorted copper, silver, and electrum coins scat-
cast by Nidalia that prevents her from sharing this tered across the bottom. This money is used by the
knowledge. This is a lie. Regardless, Korvala will jackalweres to buy provisions for the pack.
not divulge the ritual.)

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS 33 \

 A6. HIDDEN VAULT
This vault is accessible from area A4. NIDALIA |
The true leader of the Amberdune Pack, Nidalia is
a lamia who delights in hoarding books rather than
A narrow, descending passage ends in a circular in corruption and torture. Though she is kind to her
~ chamber containing two padlocked wooden trunks. servants, this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s altruistic
“or generous. Ultimately, she cares only about herself
and her pack. If she’s treated with fspeg andHlogelly
Korvala has the keys to the padlocks. A character Nidalia won't betray her allies.
using thieves’ tools can use an action to try to pick
a lock, doing so with a successful DC 15 Dexterity RESTITUTION
check. A character can also use an action to try to Even if the motives of the Amberdune Pack are re-
smash a padlock with a blunt weapon, doing so with vealed, the party might not excuse the jackalweres
a successful DC 17 Strength check. The trunks are for their actions. If characters insist on bringing the
lined with lead to ensure that the locate object spell real books back to Candlekeep without offering a
cannot be used to find their contents: compromise, the jackalweres put up a fight, though
SAE

they'll surrender rather than fight to the death. Los-

0

Trunk 1 contains Nidalia’s desiccated heart,

SE

wrapped in a black silk cloth and resting atop a ing the books is a great setback to the jackalweres,
I

bed of 450 gp (saved up for Nidalia’s resurrection). but they can’t revive Nidalia if they're all dead.
CSE

Trunk 2 contains six books: Mazfroth’s Mighty Di- If the jackalweres are slain in this battle, and the
gressions, Fallen Tethyamar, The Dark Hunger, characters don’t know where to find the vault, see
Castanamir’s Guide to Gingwatzims (describing “Bloodbath” for assistance.
what gingwatzims are but not how to create them),
NEGOTIATIONS
Wanderings of a Humble Aasimar (a treatise on
The characters can reach a peaceful agreement
the Outer Planes), and Daughters of Graz’zt (about
with Korvala and the Amberdune Pack through civil
the origin of lamias).
conversation. For example, the party could help
RESOLVING THE MYSTERY the jackalweres come up with another way to raise
money, offer assistance with their goal to resurrect
The characters’ interactions with the Amber- Nidala, or pay a fair price for the real books. (Kor-
dune Pack affect the resolution of this section, vala expects at least 250 gp for each book, but she'll
but they can discover what happened to the real settle for less if the characters are tough negotia-
books and find the original versions regardless of tors.) If they agree on a deal, the jackalweres let the
their approach. characters take the real books back to Candlekeep.
BLOODBATH
It’s possible to kill or defeat the Amberdune Pack CONCLUSION
without ever hearing their side of the story. With no If characters return to Candlekeep with the books,
one to stop them, characters in this situation can the Avowed reward them with a helm of compre-
search the Amberdune hideout for the real books hending languages. Valor and Yalerion are grateful
and any treasure they can find. for the party's efforts to solve the mystery. Both
If the party has difficulty finding the hidden vault seekers could be useful allies in the future.
in area A6, any of the characters can make a DC Characters who successfully negotiated with the
10 Intelligence (Investigation) check. On a success, Amberdune Pack gain the support of Korvala and
they arrive at one of the realizations from the fol- the other jackalweres, as long as the characters
lowing list. If the check succeeds by 5 or more, they hold up their end of the bargain. Furthermore, if
come up with all three: the party is able to assist the pack in reviving Nida-
lia, such as by helping the jackalweres amass the
« There are keys on Korvala’s person. This means
money they need, they'll also have a lamia as an ally.
that there must be locks somewhere.
Characters who fought, but didn’t kill, any mem-
« The hideout is square. If there are any secret
bers of the Amberdune Pack have a potential enemy
nooks between the walls, they would be very shal-
once the jackalweres finish licking their wounds. If
low. It is unlikely anything would be kept there.
the Amberdune Pack becomes a recurring adver-
« Two gingwatzims defend Korvala’s office. Were
sary, consider having Korvala learn other rituals
they guarding something else as well?
or spells better suited to fighting the characters to
Characters who choose this violent path might reflect this grudge.
never uncover the pack’s motives, but they can find
the real Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions and see the
book safely back to Candlekeep, if they so desire.
Q -Te

MAZFROTH’S MIGHTY DIGRESSIONS

 AN ADVENTURE FOR 3RD-LEVEL CHARACTERS

R A V E N .
ll) Geese

B o o k OF T H E C
cus

, Ny
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i
~~
,
ay
hh
hy

WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER PERKINS

To
EDITED BY KIM MOHAN

HE BOOK OF THE RAVEN ARRIVED AT CAN- If the book is left open and unattended, its pages
dlekeep, fittingly enough, by way of a flutter and rustle as though stirred by a silent wind.
raven in 1282 DR, the Year of the Many
Mists. The raven bore the book in its tal- TALE OF VISTANI KINDNESS
ons, set it on the ground within Candlekeep’s walls, The Book of the Raven is the firsthand account
and pecked at its covers until an Avowed acolyte, (written in Common) of an anonymous author who,
witnessing this act of defilement, scared it away. after falling off her horse and breaking her leg, was
The marred book quickly found its way into Candle- rescued and befriended by Vistani travelers who
keep’s archives, where it garnered little attention graciously nursed her back to health. The author
until a visitor named Anil Zasperdes rediscovered it and her horse traveled with the Vistani for three
sixty years later and hid a treasure map inside it. months, during which the author spent most of her
The treasure map is a prop around which you can time laid up in a Vistani covered wagon, where she
create your own adventure, if you choose not to run took to writing this book to pass the time. Although
the adventure described here. a dozen Vistani are colorfully described in the tome,
only two are mentioned by name: Drasha, a teen-
FINDING THE BOOK aged girl who applied bandages and poultices to the
Characters in Candlekeep might uncover this book author’s wounded leg, and Darzin, a one-armed boy
and the treasure map hidden inside it while re- with a terrible fear of wolves who sang beautiful
searching one of the following topics: songs to help the author take her mind off the pain.
The book provides a detailed account of the
« The Vistani and other planar travelers Vistani way of life, with emphasis on their food and
« Possible routes into and out of the Shadowfell music. Their overland journey is also discussed,
Alternatively, the book can be delivered to the albeit from the viewpoint of one who spent most
characters by a raven. Avoiding contact with strang- of it inside a covered wagon. The author describes
ers, it leaves the book in a place where the charac- rough roads, days of travel through impenetrable
ters are likely to find it. This raven contains the rest- mist and thick forest, crackling fires on cold nights,
less soul of a dead girl named Heluthe, who wants
to frighten away the squatters in Chalet Brantifax,
her former home. The raven can’t speak or make
its intentions clear, but it hopes the map in the book
will lead characters to the chalet, which is described
later in the adventure.

BOOK DESCRIPTION
This thin book bears no title inside or out, though
the keepers of Candlekeep cataloged it as the
Book of the Raven based on how it was received.
Its covers are cracked, unvarnished thin sheets
of black oak covered with bird scratches and little
indentations made by pecking beaks. Bound with
black wire between these covers are thirty-three
pages that have yellowed with age and wrinkled
from moisture. Each page bears tiny, blotchy brown
Book oF
script written in an unsteady hand by an unidenti- THE RAVEN
fied author.

{
7

BOOK OF THE RAVEN 35 y

 Threetree 1}
§
/

(Past Threetree Hill,

Ower river worn,
§ To the wyrms mark.
In the foggy moors
} | West of there,
~ Che treasures yours.
 wolves howling in the dead of night, and ravens anyone interested in its subject matter might also be
pecking at the roof of the wagon in the wee hours of interested in following the map to its destination: a
the morning. ruined chalet nestled in remote highlands.
Late in the book, the author writes of being able to
hobble about on crutches. She describes the cheery WYTCHWAY
mood of her benefactors as the Vistani caravan trav- To use the map, the characters must first locate
eled a winding mountain road to the gates of a tall, Wytchway, a hamlet that serves as a starting point.
dark castle. The book ends with a description of the Its location is left deliberately vague so that you can
castle’s dreadful countenance. The writing abruptly place it anywhere you like. The characters can find
stops on the third-to-last page, suggesting that the
EN

it by consulting sages or old maps in Candlekeep.

book was snatched from the author in midsentence. Monster attacks forced the residents of Wytchway
The last two pages are blank. to abandon the hamlet years ago. All that remains is
a broken-down wagon surrounded by rotted fences
VISTANI LORE and dilapidated, fog-shrouded farmsteads overrun
Characters who read the Book of the Raven learn with wild pigs.
the following information about the Vistani:
FOLLOWING THE MAP
. The Vistani are planar travelers often encountered
The character’s destination is Chalet Brantifax,
in the Shadowfell, and they seem to be immune
which you can replace with some other tantalizing
to the despair that besets all other visitors to that
adventure location of your own creation. Little re-
plane. They travel in horse-drawn, barrel-shaped
mains of the trail that once led to the chalet, which
wagons and have no permanent home.
is depicted in the bottom left corner of the map, but
. The Vistani display their wealth openly as a sign
the other landmarks are still present: rock forma-
of prosperity, sharing their good fortune with
tions called the Hand and the Horn, a tall outcrop-
friends and strangers alike. Vistani resolve dis-
ping of rock with three pine trees growing atop it, a
agreements through contests that end with recon-
river, a bridge, and a hill scorched by dragon fire.
ciliatory singing, dancing, and storytelling.
Flesh out the journey to the chalet as you see fit,
. Vistani families can be big or small, but each
adding one or more combat encounters appropriate
family is a gerontocracy, with the oldest mem-
for the characters’ level if the players are spoiling for
ber ruling the roost. This elder has most of the
a fight. The characters’ journey ends with a slog up
responsibility for enforcing traditions, settling
a lonely hill, atop which is perched the chalet.
disputes, setting the course for the group’s travels,
and preserving the Vistani way of life.
. The Vistani have the power—some say gift—to CHALET BRANTIFAX
travel through the mists that lead to forlorn realms This stone chalet was built for a wealthy noble
within the Shadowfell known as the Domains of named Baron Brantifax on a site chosen for its se-
Dread, where creatures born in darkness dwell. clusion and scenic beauty. In the years following the
This “gift” was thrust upon them by mysterious baron’s death, the house fell prey to neglect, allow-
entities called the Dark Powers, as a boon for ing the Scarlet Sash to lay claim to it without dis-
their kindness toward strangers. pute. The wereravens chose the place because of its
. The Vistani believe that ravens carry lost souls remoteness and its proximity to a shadow crossing,
within them. Hence, killing a raven is considered which they monitor for evil activity. See the “Shad-
bad luck in Vistani culture. owfell” section in the Dungeon Master's Guide for
more information on shadow crossings.
MAP OF MYSTERY
&

RAVENKIND
The mystery surrounding the Book of the Raven has
to do with the map Anil Zasperdes slipped between During daylight hours, skittish ravens perch atop
its pages. It’s clear that the map was never part the chalet and alight on the tombstones in its grave-
al

of the book to begin with. You can photocopy and yard. They nervously stare and squawk at visitors
SL

distribute the accompanying handout among your but pose no threat to the characters; when night
players when their characters find the map. falls, the ravens fly off, and an eerie silence settles
is

Zasperdes was a wereraven who had a gift for over the house until sunrise, when they return.
a ag

hiding things. He was also the founder of the Scar- As the characters will discover, these birds are
let Sash, a group of wereravens known for stealing actually wereravens (see the end of the adventure
magic items from evil individuals and hiding evil for their stat block). Wereravens live and travel in
items from the world at large. He chose the Book groups called kindnesses, and this particular kind-
ness is called the Scarlet Sash.

o(@
of the Raven as a hiding place for the map because
TEE

;
==

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

 Characters who observe the chalet at night can Bond. “Birds can be greedy, but they're not half as
see lights moving within as members of the Scarlet greedy as humans. I prefer to live among the birds,
Sash creep about the old house in humanoid form, thank you very much.”
using oil lanterns to light their way. These lights Flaw. “I stutter when I'm agitated.”
occasionally cluster in the upper stories of the tower
(area C14), where the wereravens spend the most RENNICK GROKA
time together. Lawful good human wereraven (age 22)
A morose, rail-thin figure, Rennick is cautious and
THE SCARLET SASH wise beyond their years. They respect their fellow
Years after Anil Zasperdes’s death, members of the wereravens but are deeply mistrustful of others.
Scarlet Sash continue to use the chalet as a meeting Rennick frightens away unwanted visitors by mim-
place. They keep some robes, sandals, and scarlet icking the sound of creaking doors and floorboards,
sashes in the house so that they have clothing to and bodies being dragged across the floor.
wear while in humanoid form. They occasionally Personality Trait. “The Scarlet Sash gives me all
stash magic items of evil repute here until better the love I need. I don’t need any more.”
z

hiding places can be found for them. Adventurers Ideal. “Freedom is the power to become a
.

who come to the chalet expecting trouble might be bird, take to the sky, and leave the world behind
NRISC58
POH

surprised to learn that its current occupants are for a while.”

SA
ORS

neither evil nor much of a threat. Bond. “The Scarlet Sash means everything to me.
TRC,

The Scarlet Sash has eight members currently, I'm honored to be part of this kindness and would
though it has had as few as three and as many as die to preserve it.”
twelve in the past. Four members are present when Flaw. “Wickedness ruins everything, and nothing
the characters arrive at Chalet Brantifax: Madrina I do seems to matter. I fear we're all doomed to suf-
Natterask, Taspar Hatchhill, Rennick Groka, fer the insufferable. Misery has become my bosom
and Vinique. companion.”

MADRINA NATTERASK VINIQUE

Lawful good human wereraven (age 55) Lawful good human wereraven (age 30)
A short, stocky glassblower with a modest collection Vinique brought a ghastly, evil relic (see the “Orcus
of homemade bottles and flasks, Madrina sees her- Figurine” sidebar later in the adventure) to the cha-
self as the matriarch of the kindness. She speaks let. She stashes it in an old, nonfunctional lantern
calmly and matter-of-factly, and scolds those who that she keeps with her at all times. Gifted with
display bad manners or foolish behavior. She can a wry wit and a witch's cackle of a laugh, Vinique
easily mimic the sound of breaking glass, which she mimics the happy cries of small children and the
likes to use to create a distraction. screams of a dying man to frighten intruders.
Personality Trait. “1 can be trusted with a secret Personality Trait. “Once | make a decision, that’s
and will carry that secret to the grave.” it. No one can change my mind.”
Ideal. “Without vigilance, evil runs amok.” Ideal. “Evil might be everywhere, but as long as
Bond. “I love glass. I adore its colors and its pol- there’s breath in my body, I will never stop pecking
ished gleam. Watching glass bend and take different at its heels.”
forms reminds me that anything is possible.” Bond. “Madrina is the mother I never had. I don’t
Flaw. “I love sticking my beak into everyone's know what I'd do without her.”
business.” Flaw. “1 talk over others, and I always need to
have the last word.”
TASPAR HATCHHILL
Lawful good human wereraven (age 71) ROLEPLAYING THE WERERAVENS

The oldest member of the kindness and the chalet’s The wereravens convene in area C14 of the chalet
self-appointed caretaker is a tall, timid man with and use their powers of mimicry to frighten strang-
wispy white hair and a lazy left eye. Taspar is polite ers. They can also throw their voices to make it
but nervous around strangers. He mimics the sound seem like the sounds are coming from other parts of
of a snorting hog to scare away treasure hunters. the chalet. If you're not sure how to handle this, you
Personality Trait. “Words fail me often, so I'm can roll a d6 and consult the Wereraven Mimicry
happy to let others speak on my behalf.” table to determine what sound the characters hear
Ideal. “1 would rather eat a snake than fall prey to and where it seems to be coming from. Use this ta-
the trappings of the civilized world.” ble as often as you like.

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

WERERAVEN MIMICRY greet the characters in humanoid form, clad in
sandals and dusty black robes with scarlet sashes
dé Sound and Source
tied about their waists, and assure the characters
1 Madrina mimics glass breaking and makes it
that they mean no harm. They assume that the char-
sound like it’s coming from the servants’ attic acters have come for one of two reasons: either to
(area C16). loot the chalet or to use the shadow crossing in the
2 Taspar mimics a snorting hog, which sounds like graveyard. The wereravens assure them that there's
it’s coming from the kitchen (area C7). no treasure to be found in the chalet. If the char-
3 Rennick mimics a creaking door, which sounds acters act in a threatening or violent manner, the
like it’s coming from one of the guest rooms (area wereravens assume hybrid form or raven form and
flee the chalet by the most expedient route, return-
C10 or C11).
ing nevermore. (Other members of the kindness are
4 Rennick mimics creaking floorboards or a body warned to stay away from the chalet as well.)
being dragged across the floor, which sounds like
it’s coming from whichever area is directly above JOINING THE SCARLET SASH
or below the characters. One or more characters might try to join the Scarlet
5 Vinique mimics a laughing child, which sounds Sash. To become a member of the kindness, a char-
acter must meet the following criteria:
like it's coming from the attic nursery (area C15).
6 Vinique mimics a dying man’s scream, which « The character must be a wereraven.
sounds like it’s coming from the storage cellar . The character needs endorsements from at least
three members of the kindness.
(area C1).
Characters who aren't wereravens but who meet
The wereravens are wary of visitors, particularly
the other criteria for membership must find a patron
armed ones, and avoid direct contact with the char-
in the Scarlet Sash or some other wereraven willing
acters for as long as possible. When they are no lon-
to turn them into lycanthropes. Any member of the
ger able to conceal their presence, the wereravens
Scarlet Sash who bestows the “gift” of wereraven

BOOK OF THE RAVEN 39

 lycanthropy on a character becomes responsible A change in air pressure causes the door to area C3
for that character’s conduct in the eyes of the other to swing open, and the characters hear a whisper
members of the kindness; therefore, the decision to coming from that direction. Characters who have a
bestow the gift is not made lightly. passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14 or higher
Getting the endorsement of Scarlet Sash mem- hear what sounds like a man whispering, “I can’t get
bers isn’t as simple as succeeding on an ability out.” To others, the whisper is unintelligible.
check. Earning the trust and friendship of the were- The crates and barrels are empty. The old furni-
ravens should require good roleplaying, and it could ture includes six chairs, two hutches, an ottoman,
take days, weeks, or months for members of the an empty cabinet, a desk sized for a child, and a
Scarlet Sash to trust any characters enough to wel- coat rack.
come them into their tight-knit circle.
Members of the Scarlet Sash have no obligations C2. SERVANTS’ QUARTERS
other than to support the group’s goal of keeping The door to this room is closed and stuck, having
evil items out of evil hands. Madrina asks only that swollen in its frame. A creature can use an action to
members visit Chalet Brantifax on occasion and try to force it open, doing so with a successful DC
keep her apprised of their efforts in this regard. 13 Strength check.
A character who joins the Scarlet Sash can leave
| rt ?
the kindness at any time without fear of reprisal. This cold, windowless room contains a pair of wood-
| If subjected to a greater restoration spell, a remove
framed beds, two narrow wardrobes, and an old
: curse spell, or any other magic that ends a curse,
rug. Mounted on the east wall between the beds is a
that character is no longer afflicted with wereraven
lycanthropy but can choose to remain a member of wooden shelf supporting a pair of candlesticks. The
the Scarlet Sash. candles in them are unlit. |
@ @

ENCOUNTER LOCATIONS
This room served as living quarters for the baron’s
Chalet Brantifax stands atop a high hill overlooking cook and the chalet’s groundskeeper. The ward-
fog-shrouded scrubland. It has brick walls, sturdy robes are empty, and anything of value in the room
wooden doors with rusty iron hinges and fittings, was removed long ago.
oak floors between levels, and clay roof tiles. The
wereravens come and go through holes in the roof C3. HAUNTED WELL
of the attic (areas C16 and C17). The chalet’s doors ° ¢
are unlocked, although the outer door (see area C4)
The only feature of this damp, cold, circular room is a
can be barred from within. Most of the windows
four-foot-diameter well in the middle of the floor. Next
are encrusted with dirt and have drapes or wooden
shutters in poor condition. to this shaft sits a wooden bucket fastened to a coiled
The elements have gained a foothold inside the length of rope.
chalet, causing plaster to peel, wood to rot, metal fix- The bottom of the shaft is veiled in darkness. From
tures to rust, and floors to bow and creak. Whatever its depths, a whispering voice says, “Brorn! Where are
grandeur the chalet possessed in its heyday is gone, you, boy?”
replaced by the sight and stench of mold and decay. 4 ®
The following locations are keyed to the map of
Chalet Brantifax. After the death of Brorn, his beloved mastiff, Baron
Brantifax was beset by spells of sleepwalking,
Cl. STORAGE CELLAR during which he would wander about the chalet
To reach this cellar, the characters must descend a looking for his lost hound. The servants mistook
flight of stone steps from area C4. his sleepwalking for temporary madness brought
® ¢ on by insomnia, and they assumed he was awake at
This cold, damp, oddly shaped cellar has an eight- the time. He was sleepwalking when he fell down
the well, and he drowned before the servants could
~ foot-high wooden ceiling and a flagstone floor. The
get him out. The haunting whispers of his restless
walls are made of rough, mortared bricks. Thick cob-
spirit terrified the staff, who fled the chalet shortly
webs cover crates, barrels, and old furniture stacked thereafter. The baron’s spirit is too weak to manifest
against the north wall. To the south are a pair of physically or cause any harm.
closed wooden doors. The door farthest from you The rough brick walls of the well shaft can be
swings open on rusty hinges, and beyond it you see a climbed with a successful DC 11 Strength (Athlet-
“smaller, almost sepulchral chamber. ics) check. The shaft descends 60 feet to a flooded
cistern 10 feet deep and 10 feet in diameter.

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

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SECOND FLOOR
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Treasure. Any character who spends at least 15 Two harmless moths fly out of the cloak if the
minutes searching the bottom of the well’s cistern garment is disturbed. One of the cloak’s pockets
finds a holy symbol of Sune (god of love and beauty) contains a rusty iron key that unlocks the padlock
on a gold chain. The item is worth 25 gp and dou- in area C16.
bles as a cameo. It contains a tiny portrait of the
baron’s wife, whom the characters might recognize C5. DEN
from the larger framed portrait in area C17. If this $®

cameo is reunited with the baron (whose remains Lights enters this spacious room through a bulge
are interred in area C9), the baron’s spirit is laid “north wall, where cracked and broken windows look |
to rest, and each character responsible for this act
~outovera foggy vale. Dusty sheets cover most of the
gains a charm of heroism (see “Supernatural Gifts”
room’s furnishings. Cobwebs stretch between the ant
in the Dungeon Master's Guide).
ers, wolf heads, and other hunting trophies mou nted 5
C4. CLOAKROOM on the walls above the wainscoting. A pale metungle
The door leading outside has a wooden crossbar above the large fireplace suggests t that a2 picture or: aoS
that can be lowered into iron brackets on either side
mirror once hung there.
of the doorframe, sealing the door from the inside.
A creature can use an action to try to break down
this barred door, doing so with a successful DC 23 Baron Brantifax liked to hunt. From time to time,
Strength check. the baron invited other hunters to join him and his
hound on his merry hunts, after which they would
socialize and wait for meals here. Although the tro-
usty iron hooks line the walls of this entrance foyer.
phies testify to the baron’s hunting skills, nothing
langing from two of these hooks area shovel and in the den is particularly valuable. A painting of the
ake. A dusty cloak is draped over a hook next to 3 . baron and his wife once hung above the fireplace,
>
a
ound. topped door in the south wall. but the servants took it down and moved it to the
S=
w=
attic (area C17) after the baron died.
-

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

 A creaky wooden staircase with a beautifully The harp and the table, though obviously valuable,
carved banister climbs to a landing outside the are heavy and awkward to transport.
parlor (area C8). Near the stairs is a partially open The wereravens removed the sheets that covered
door through which the kitchen (area C7) can be the furniture in this room so that they could use the
seen. A short hallway connects to the dining room space from time to time. They left the sheets in a
(area CO). heap by the spiral staircase.

C6. DINING ROOM C9. GRAVEYARD

° = Sugg i — »
. This circular chamber at the base of the tower con- - A seven- footeal wrought iron foie erloses a small
tains a large oak dining table surrounded by six high- | graveyard south of the chalet. Set into the north side
backed chairs carved with | images of stags. Suspended of the enclosure iisa gate with the name BRANTIFAX
above the table i is a gaudy chandelier tied off with worked into an arch above it. In the yard are four
ropes. Puddles of water on the flagstone floor are the graves, each marked with an ‘engraved headstone.
result of moisture seeping in through three narrow, ¢ : - Ha 4

broken windows evenly spaced around the tower wall. The elements have eroded the lettering on the head-
|
A fireplace set into the wall i is blackened by soot. stones, so characters must be within 5 feet of one
@
to read its weather-worn inscription. From north to
south, the headstone engravings (in Common) read
A search of the room yields nothing of value. Mem-
as follows:
bers of the Scarlet Sash don’t use this room very
often, so there are no signs of traffic or other recent BARON BRANTIFAX
disturbances.
Husband, Father, Hunter

C7. KITCHEN “Let No Man Stand Above Another”

The ghostly scent of meals past still haunts this BRORN

kitchen, forever trapped iin the wood of its tables, the Hound of Brantifax
soot in its hearth, and the grime in its pots, many Faithful to the End

‘of which hang from hooks about the room. Almost

everything you would expect to see in a kitchen of HELUTHE

this size can be found here, including dish-filled cup- Our Pride and Joy
| boards, cleaning supplies, and cooking utensils. Mice Lost Too Soon

scurry across the floor, trying their best to avoid you.

& ® SYLPHENE
Beloved Daughter
It’s clear that the kitchen still sees use. Members of
the Scarlet Sash store rations and spices in some May She Find Peace at Last
of the pots and cauldrons, to keep them away from
the mice, and a few dirty dishes are stacked near a The characters can use the shovel in area C4 to
washbasin, waiting to be cleaned. dig up the graves if they so desire. Buried six feet
under each headstone is a rotting wooden coffin
C8. PARLOR containing the moldy bones of its occupant, or some-
thing more terrifying. The baron’s two daughters,
] The centerpiece of this parlor is a gold- inlaid low ta- Sylphene and Heluthe, perished at the ages of six
and nine, respectively, and for different reasons (see
ble, around which a handful of overstuffed chairs and
area C12 for details).
sofas are neatly arranged. Other furniture includes a A hag stole Heluthe’s corpse a few years ago and
. cabinet full of glass decanters and wine goblets, and a replaced it with a scarecrow and two crawling
six-foot-tall gilded harp standing in| the northwest cor- claws that try to murder anyone who releases them.
ner. A staircase in the northeast corner ascends to the If exhumed, Syphene’s skeleton shows signs of hid-
second floor, and several dusty sheets lie in a small eous deformities. Brorn, the baron’s mastiff, died of
old age shortly before the death of its master. Char-
| hea nearby.
acters who stand on Baron Brantifax’s grave feel a
harmless chill run through them.

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

hi
 Treasure. Baron Brantifax had no heirs when he « The baron loved his trusty mastiff, Brorn, as much
died, so he was buried with his gold signet ring (25 as he did his wife and children. The baroness dis-
gp), which bears the silhouette of a stag. liked it when the baron fed the hound scraps from
Using the Shadow Crossing. Sylphene’s grave is the dining table.
a shadow crossing, which the characters can use « The baroness felt too isolated at the chalet. She
without offending members of the Scarlet Sash. much preferred the trappings of civilization and
Characters who befriend the wereravens can learn city life.
how the shadow crossing works (see the “Shadow « Sylphene, the couple’s firstborn daughter, was
Crossing” section at the end of the adventure). bedridden, having been born with terrible physical
deformities. The baroness was glad that Sylphene
Cl0. Guest Room could be housed in the chalet, to keep her far from
The door to this room is open. the public's eye. A nursemaid was hired to watch
over the child while the baroness was away. The
This bedroom hasn't been disturbed in years, as baroness describes Sylphene’s death at the age of
evidenced by the thick dust and cobwebs covering six as “merciful,” and there's some indication that
the baroness had a hand in it.
everything.
« Heluthe, the younger daughter of the baron and
baroness, was a tomboy—more like her father
Furnishings include a narrow bed with a moldy mat- than her mother. Heluthe was slain on her ninth
tress and an elegantly carved headboard, an empty birthday, killed by a wolf while out hunting with
wooden dresser, a nightstand, a coat rack, and a her father. The baroness doesn’t blame her hus-
padded armchair. An oval mirror hangs on the wall band for Heluthe’s death, but neither does she
next to the door. absolve him of his guilt.
« Both daughters were buried in the chalet’s grave-
Cll. GuesT Room yard, at the baron’s insistence. In her final journal
This room is similar to area C10, except that its entry, the baroness speaks of “evil whispers” in
door is closed. the graveyard and makes plans to leave Chalet
Brantifax, vowing never to return.
Cl2. Stubpy
’ . C13. MASTER BEDROOM
Against the west wall stands a handsome rolltop desk, * | ali
north of which two leather-padded armchairs face This spacious bedroom has walls decorated with
a fireplace carved with images of wolves and stags. wainscoting and rusty oil lamps.A four-poster stands |
Draped over each chair is a wolf skin. A narrow spiral against the south wall, its bedposts carved to look like
staircase choked with cobwebs winds up the east wall. stags and wolves. Opposite the bed is a stone hearth
® &
with a black marble mantel that has a pair of elk ant-
The spiral staircase leads up to the attic nursey lers mounted above it. A bare, dust-covered writing
(area C15). The staircase hasn't been used in years. desk is set against the west wall under a pair of tall
The rolltop desk is locked, and its key is missing. windows flanked by burgundy drapes. Other furnish-
A character can use an action to try to pick the lock ings include a tall wardrobe in the northeast corner
using thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC and an empty dog kennel in the southeast corner.
13 Dexterity check. A character can also smash the @ §

desk’s lock with a blunt weapon.

The desk holds a set of calligrapher’s supplies and The wereravens share this room, which belonged
a leather-covered journal with a stylized wolf’s head to Baron Brantifax and his wife. The bed is the only
on the front cover. The journal belongs to Baron piece of furniture that’s bolted to the floor, as one of
Brantifax’s wife and contains her delicate hand- its bedposts unlocks a nearby secret door.
3 as

writing. In it, she describes her visits to the chalet, Secret Door. Characters who search the room for
which she hated, and the tribulations of her daugh- secret doors find one along the southwest wall. The
ters, whom she adored. Any character who spends bedpost closest to the secret door can be twisted
an hour reading the journal learns the following: counterclockwise; doing so causes the secret door
to swing open, revealing area C14 beyond. A charac-
« Baron Brantifax was an avid hunter and often
ter can use an action to try to open the secret door
invited guests to the chalet to hunt with him.
using thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC
The baroness admired his generous nature and
15 Dexterity check.
his vigor.
 Cl4. BARON'S LOFT
Members of the Scarlet Sash gather in this part
of the tower to hatch their secret plans (see “The
Scarlet Sash” earlier in the adventure). If they are
here when the characters arrive, note their presence
before reading the boxed text to the players:
9

An explosion of some kind damaged the two upper-

most levels of this tower, creating a gaping hole be-
tween them and covering the area with soot. A curved
wooden staircase that once rose along the outer wall
has been destroyed, leaving no easy way to reach what
remains of the tower’s topmost floor. All that’s left of
the staircase are a few jagged shards of wood that jut
out from the wall at different angles.

What's left of the staircase is not fit to climb. The ex-

plosion that destroyed it and much of the uppermost
floor was triggered accidentally by the wereravens.
Baron Brantifax dabbled in alchemy, and the char-
acters can find some damaged and worthless alche-
mist’s supplies if they search through the wreckage
on the lower level.
Scarlet Sash Conference. If they are encoun-
tered here, the members of the Scarlet Sash are
in the midst of discussing where best to hide the
figurine of Orcus that’s in Vinique’s possession (see
the “Orcus Figurine” sidebar). If this conference is
allowed to play out, the wereravens conclude that
ORcus FIGURINE the chalet is the best place to hide the figurine tem-
Vinique the wereraven stole this six-inch-tall sculpture porarily, whereupon Vinique buries it under some
from an evil merchant before it could be sold at auc- rubble in this room. See “The Scarlet Sash” earlier
tion in a major city. Carved from an ogre’s petrified in the adventure for tips on how to roleplay the
heart, the gray figurine depicts the Demon Prince of wereravens.
Undeath in ghastly detail, clutching his skull-topped Secret Door. The secret door leading to area C13
wand in one hand and three severed heads by the hair
in the other. The figurine smells like decaying flesh, can’t normally be opened from this side. Even so, a
and this scent is detectable out to a range of5 feet. character can use an action to try to open the door
~The figurine is a Tiny object with AC 17, 3 hit points, using thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC
and immunity to all types of damage except radiant 15 Dexterity check.
damage. A detect evil and good spell or similar magic Treasure. On the uppermost level of the tower,
reveals that the figurine has been desecrated. As long not visible to characters on the lower level, is an un-
as it has at least 1 hit point, the figurine has the follow- locked wooden chest with a scorched lid and clawed
ing magical properties:
iron feet. Its interior is divided into small compart-
« Undead within 30 feet of the figurine can’t be turned. ments, one of which contains a potion of mind read-
+ Dead creatures within 30 feet of the figurine can’t be ing that also causes the imbiber’s skin to sparkle
brought back to life.
« A creature that holds the figurine while praying to for the duration of the potion’s effect. The members
~ Orecus for at least 1 hour has a 10 percent chance of of the Scarlet Sash have no use for the potion and
summoning a smoky avatar of the demon lord. Once don’t care if the characters claim it.
this avatar is summoned, it can’t be summoned Stuffed in the chest’s other compartments are six
again for 30 days. Orcus'’s avatar has the statistics trinkets that the wereravens picked up in their trav-
of a wraith except that it’s chaotic evil. It attacks all els and which they won't give up as readily as the
~ non-undead creatures it encounters, and it disap-
BURDETT

potion. Determine each trinket randomly by rolling

pears after 1 hour or when reduced to 0 hit points.
on the Trinkets table in the Player's Handbook.
CHRISTOPHER

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

 C15. ATTic NURSERY bludgeoning weapon. A character can use an action
to try to pick the lock using thieves’ tools, doing so
with a successful DC 12 Dexterity check. The trunk
This attic has a peaked roof that slopes down toward
contains some of Baron Brantifax’s hunting para-
the east and west. Dust blankets everything in the phernalia: a suit of studded leather armor sized for
room, including a stone hearth in the middle of the a portly adult human, a leather helm, a heavy cross-
~ north wall, an oval mirror mounted above it, and an bow, a wooden case with the monogram B.B., and
| oval rug on the floor. Against the west wall, half hid- two hunting traps. The wooden case contains fifteen
den behind curtains of cobwebs, is a bed sized fora crossbow bolts with crimson fletching.
Wardrobes. Members of the Scarlet Sash come
young child, a rocking chair, a shelf lined with dolls,
here and hang up their robes and sashes before tak-
and a washbasin. A niche to the south contains a
ing raven form, storing them and their extra clothes
small wooden cradle, a wooden playpen, and a win- in the wardrobes and using the holes in the roof as
dow box. Suspended above the playpen is a mobile their principal way of entering and exiting the cha-
made of colorfully painted fish on the ends of hooks. let. Characters who search the wardrobes find five
@ ® dusty black robes, five pairs of leather sandals, and
five scarlet sashes.
Baron Brantifax had two daughters, both of whom
died young (see area C12 for more information). C17. STORAGE ATTIC
This room was set aside for them. If characters
s ’
disturb any of the dolls on the shelf, the spirit of
You can see the sky through two large holes in the
Sylphene manifests in the room as a poltergeist that
uses the specter stat block, with the modifications peaked roof of this attic. Much of the area has fallen
in the “Variant: Poltergeist” sidebar that appears prey to the elements, causing the objects stored
alongside the stat block in the Monster Manual. It here to rot. The room is filled with old chairs, tables,
tries to frighten away the characters and discourage benches, hunting trophies, rolled-up rugs, a standing.
further exploration of the nursery. mirror, and similar unwanted decor. Leaning against
C16. SERVANTS’ ATTIC the east wall are six flat, rectangular objects wrapped
The door that closes off this room from the stair- in canvas sheets—framed pictures or mirrors, one
case is stuck, having swollen in its frame. A creature might venture to guess.
can use an action to try to shoulder it open, doing so $ #

with a successful DC 13 Strength check.

As the characters search this room, a tiny bird flut-
* ters out of hiding and flees through a hole in the
Two gaping holes in the peaked roof expose this attic roof. The bird is harmless.
to the elements. Shattered clay roof tiles, splinters of Treasure. The framed objects wrapped in canvas
~ wood, dry leaves, and bird droppings cover the floor, are two gilt-framed mirrors, one of which is cracked,
which has begun to rot in a number of places. The and four wood-framed oil paintings. The unbroken
mirror is worth 50 gp, as is each painting.
rafters are home to several birds’ nests formed out of
One painting depicts three deer grazing on a hill-
twigs and straw.
top, backlit by the dawn. Another shows a gray mas-
Two wooden bed frames stand against the north tiff with a dead duck in its mouth. A third depicts
wall. Built into the window box between them is a an armored human knight on a hippogriff, both
wooden storage trunk sealed with a rusty padlock. shown in profile; the knight's shield bears the holy
~ Other furnishings in the room include a pair of tall, symbol of Torm (god of courage and self-sacrifice).
narrow wardrobes.
The fourth painting is a portrait of Baron Brantifax
® seated in a chair, with a gray mastiff sleeping at his
feet, and his wife standing by his side. Brantifax is
The floor groans and creaks ominously when depicted as a stout, well-dressed man in his fifties,
stepped on, but it’s not in danger of collapsing. with bags under his eyes. The baroness is shown as
One of the beds belonged to the baron’s personal a tall, thin woman in her fifties. One of her hands
valet and hunting companion; the other was used rests gently on the baron’s shoulder, while the other
by a maid. grasps a small bouquet of roses. The painting ex-
Padlocked Trunk. The padlock on the window pertly captures the nobles’ aristocratic bearing and
box storage trunk can be opened using the key the genuine love they bore for each other.
found in area C4 or smashed with a solid hit from a

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

{ (©45 y
 . If the gargoyles are destroyed or if the characters
move more than 30 feet from the shadow cross-
ing, twelve ghouls hiding in open graves converge
on the characters in four groups of three, each
group approaching from a different cardinal direc-
tion. They hunger for flesh.
« A wight named Drovath Harrn inhabits the mau-
soleum atop which the gargoyles perch. Drovath
emerges from his crypt to join the ghouls in battle.
On his right hand, Drovath wears a ring of jump-
ing that he uses to leap onto the rooftops of the
mausoleums, from where he can pick off enemies
with his longbow.
Ff
$
in
7 Drovath and the ghouls can move freely about the
necropolis day or night due to the persistent gloom
PIR oF s
- es nz Ns of the Shadowfell, but a curse prevents them from
noon nbisTuRBED
-

CK Fl SE leaving the place. Characters who defeat these crea-

A————

CRYPT 1 ee loa “CRYPT

.

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2,
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= ! . 8 of e Cr F By
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”
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= tures are free to continue their exploration of the
—_——

ay
y: To.» “Fel i]ai Nes Tgonhs SEL
“eT Shadowfell, having survived their first brush with
* FF “ . ea IE -
i

<
death in this ghastly realm.
5
.et eau» ”,
a.

HARRN MAUSOLEUM
Beyond the mausoleum’s unlocked gate lies a cen-
tral chamber strewn with the skulls and bones of
three warhorses that were entombed here with their
riders. Two of the mausoleum’s three sarcophagi
\ 1square =5 feet
are closed and contain inanimate human bones.
Gna The third is open, its lid lying broken on the floor
behind it. This sarcophagus, which once held the
corpse of Drovath Harrn, now appears to be empty.
SHADOW CROSSING Treasure. A hidden compartment in the base of
Sylphene, the baron’s deformed daughter, was a tor- the open sarcophagus can be found with a success-
tured soul. After she was interred, her grave became ful DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check; it contains
a shadow crossing—a gateway to the Shadowfell. Drovath’s saddle of the cavalier, which he used when
To use this gate, the characters must first open he was alive. If the saddle is taken from the mau-
Sylphene’s grave and remove the coffin (see area soleum by anyone other than Drovath, the skeletal
C9). In the darkest hours of the night, fog leaches remains of the horses animate and rise as three
into the open grave and fills it. Any creature that warhorse skeletons to slay the thief.
lies down in the fog-filled grave at night is instantly
transported to a similar dug-up grave in the Shad- BACK TO THE MATERIAL PLANE
owfell. There's nothing on the Shadowfell side of Characters can use the shadow crossing to return to
the crossing as grand as Chalet Brantifax, but the Chalet Brantifax’s graveyard, but only in the gloomy
topography is similar, with a matching burial site hours of the morning. Given the chance, however,
situated in the middle of a large necropolis full of members of the Scarlet Sash take the time to fill in
open graves, tilted headstones worn bare of inscrip- Sylphene’s grave, holding no hope of the characters’
tions, and plundered mausoleums. The necropolis, return. In a darkly humorous turn of events, charac-
which is roughly circular and 300 feet in diameter, ters who use the shadow crossing to try to get back
is home to a host of creatures that attack the charac- to Chalet Brantifax might find themselves buried
ters in waves: under six feet of earth! A character can use an ac-
« Two gargoyles roost atop a stone mausoleum tion to try to crawl out of the grave, doing so with a
located 30 feet north of the shadow crossing. successful DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check.
The gargoyles have an unobstructed view of the Wereravens who are friendly toward the charac-
entire necropolis and keep a close eye on the ters are eager to hear about their experience in the
shadow crossing. Shadowfell and can also provide a hook that leads
the characters to their next adventure, depending on
SCHLEY

what direction you want the campaign to go next.

MIKE

BOOK OF THE RAVEN

 WERERAVEN
Medium humanoid (shapechanger)

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 31 (7d8)
Speed 30 ft. in humanoid form; 10 ft., fly 50 ft. in raven form;
30 ft., fly 50 ft. in hybrid form

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

100) 15:2) 11 (+0) 131) 15:2) 14 (+2)
WERERAVEN | Skills Insight +4, Perception +6
Wereravens are secretive and wary of strangers. Senses passive Perception 16
They keep mostly to themselves, respect local laws, Languages Common (can’t speak in raven form)
Challenge Rating 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
and strive to do good whenever possible. They are
reluctant to attack with their beaks in raven or hy-
brid form for fear of spreading their curse to those Mimicry. The wereraven can mimic simple sounds it has heard,
who don’t deserve it or would abuse it. such as a person whispering, a baby crying, or an animal chat-
tering. A creature that hears the sounds can tell they are imita-
A Kindness of Wereravens. Wereravens refer to
tions with a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check.
their tightly knit groups as kindnesses. Not surpris-
ingly, wereravens get along well with ravens and Regeneration. The wereraven regains 10 hit points at the start
of its turn. If the wereraven takes damage from a silvered
often hide in plain sight among them.
weapon or a spell, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the
Charitable Collectors. Wereravens collect shiny wereraven’s next turn. The wereraven dies only if it starts its
trinkets and precious baubles. They are fond of turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
sharing their wealth with those in need and, in their
humanoid forms, modestly give money to charity. ACTIONS
They take steps to keep magic items out of evil Multiattack (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). The wereraven
hands by stashing them in secret hiding places. makes two weapon attacks, one of which can be with its
Wereraven Lycanthropy. The lycanthropes en- hand crossbow.
try in the Monster Manual has rules for characters Beak (Raven or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4
afflicted with different forms of lycanthropy. The to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage in raven
following text applies to wereraven characters form, or 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the
target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution
specifically.
saving throw or be cursed with wereraven lycanthropy.
A character cursed with wereraven lycanthropy
gains a Dexterity of 15 if their score isn’t already Shortsword (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon
Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) pierc-
higher. Attack and damage rolls for the wereraven’s
ing damage.
beak are based on whichever is higher of the char-
acter’s Strength and Dexterity. The peck of a were- Hand Crossbow (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Ranged
Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5
raven deals 1 piercing damage in raven form (no
(1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
ability modifier applies to this damage), or 1d4 pierc-
ing damage in hybrid form (the character’s ability Change Shape. The wereraven polymorphs into a raven—
humanoid hybrid or into a raven, or back into its humanoid
modifier applies to this damage). This attack carries
form. Its statistics, other than its size and speed, are the same
the curse of wereraven lycanthropy. in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t
Y
bi
>
i
4i
5
:
transformed. It reverts to its humanoid form if it dies.
gmat
wr AN ADVENTURE FOR 4TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
: seems ese eerste est UB eit 4

_ A DEEP AND
CYSREEPING DARKNESS_
eB mm

WRITTEN BY SARAH MADSEN

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY MICHELE CARTER

DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS CAME TO

Candlekeep with another group of adven-
turers, given to them by a villager who
found it among her grandfather’s old pos-
sessions. Her grandfather—a traveling bard in his
youth—claimed to have written it. Though appear-
ing to be nothing more than a combination of diary
and penny dreadful, the book satisfied the require-
ment of a unique work to grant that party entrance
to Candlekeep. It chronicles the death of a mountain
village called Vermeillon by slow, unknown means.
Following a terrible accident in the platinum mine,
survivors and other villagers began disappearing.
Eventually Vermeillon’s population all vanished or
fled, leaving the village abandoned. (They never dis-
A Deep AND
covered the cause: a nest of meenlocks.)
CreeriING DARKNESS

FINDING THE BOOK

Characters receive a contract from a mining and
exploration group to find out what happened to Book DESCRIPTION
Vermeillon. Through divination magic, the specula- The book, bound in black leather with “A Deep and
tors learned that a book in Candlekeep holds clues Creeping Darkness” embossed on the thin spine,
to the mystery. They give the characters another shows minimal signs of wear and tear other than
book to use as a means of entrance, which gets a few pages creased through carelessness and a
them in ... barely. spot here and there. The work is neat though not
The Avowed at the front gates are initially doubt- flawless, containing notable spelling errors and ink
ful about the quality or desirability of the work. blotches. (If asked, the Avowed confirm this is not
After enough debate to make the players nervous, the work of a professional scribe.)
they accept the book. Characters gain entrance to
the Court of Air, where they are assigned rooms TALE OF TRAGEDY AND TERROR
at the House of Rest, a study room at the Pillars A Deep and Creeping Darkness tells the tale of a
of Pedagogy, and an adjutant guide. Their guide is mountain village whose residents went missing over
surprised and thankful that the characters already the course of several months. The book presents a
know the name of the work they're looking for. series of vignettes allegedly collected from “those
Characters who aren't specifically investigating who were there”: survivors, traveling merchants,
the village can discover A Deep and Creeping Dark- and (in secondhand accounts) residents of nearby
ness while researching one of the following topics: settlements. It is unclear whether it is a fictional
Local history, legends, and lore tale, folklore, or history. The content seems factual,
« The mining industry but the language is extravagantly dramatic.
« Unexplained disappearances of individuals and Vermeillon, established after settlers discovered
entire settlements a platinum vein in the mountainside, did a boom-
ing business in both the raw ore and the refined
metal for around a decade. Due to the rough terrain XI
hd

and the harshness of the climate, the village never 0

>
on

grew large. It intermittently hosted a succession of

<f
oe
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traveling merchants who came to the village for a The lingering fear and trauma of the surviving
week or two, sold and traded their wares, then left miners called like a beacon to the meenlocks, who
again. The nearest civilized settlement was three exploited the impaired mental states of the villagers
days’ ride on horseback down the mountainside. and influenced their dreams to sow more terror.
The inhabitants named in the book include Mayor Slowly but surely, with ruthless patience and effi-
Lei Duvezin, a kind and talented dwarf smith named ciency, the meenlocks tormented and kidnapped
Tormun, and his wife, Blenyss. the remaining miners, and then started in on their
Seventy years ago, an explosion rocked the plat- friends and family. Most of the populace eventually
inum mine, collapsing the tunnels and burying fled. Those who remained behind were taken, one
workers under tons of rubble. Sixty miners were by one, and transformed into meenlocks.
underground that day. Over thirty of them died in A bard who heard about the catastrophe decided
the initial collapse, and the instability of the tunnels to chronicle the stories of the survivors. He traveled
made rescue of the others slow and dangerous. The the area extensively, avoiding Vermeillon but seek-
miners who survived the collapse were trapped for ing out its former residents in nearby towns.
days or weeks before they were rescued—or per- His account failed to draw interest, and the book
ished in the deep, alone and terrified. Sixteen came remained among the remnants of his bardic career
out alive. Eleven were never found. until his granddaughter found it and sent it on its
In the wake of the catastrophe, another horror way to Candlekeep.
plagued the village as people began to disappear,
starting with the survivors—not all at once, however. MAERIN
One or two would vanish in a single night, then a The characters can use the hand-drawn sketch in
tenday might pass before the next disappearance. the back on the book to determine their starting
These unexplained disappearances terrified the point. The town of Maerin is the most likely stop-
remaining miners. After all the survivors either over before attempting the trip into the mountains.
disappeared or fled, other villagers began to vanish. If you're running a homebrew campaign, insert Mae-
The villagers tried to protect themselves by sleep- rin wherever it makes sense for you or substitute an
ing with weapons and taking shifts on watch, but already-existing town in your own world.
nothing changed. Traveling in groups didn’t help, Nestled at the foot of a mountain range, the town
since a companion might vanish while even briefly is the last bastion of civilization before the inhospi-
out of sight. table climate of the peaks. Not large enough to be
With no one willing to keep the mine open and called a city, Maerin is nonetheless bustling. Shops,
the disappearances leading to fears that Vermeillon taverns, and other establishments abound, as well
might be cursed, merchants and other travelers as an open-air market at the center of town where
stopped visiting the village. The end of the patch- vendors of all sorts hawk their wares.
work story claims that the village is still there, Most of the citizens of Maerin have scant knowl-
though whether anyone inhabits it is a mystery. edge of the village hidden in the mountains above
The volume’s writer muses over the decline of the them. Two former residents of Vermeillon can share
village, speculating about the fate of its inhabitants. their experiences: Lukas Grosvenor, the owner of
They wonder whether it would be worth hiring the Bored Weasel tavern and inn, and Astra Vorn, a
adventurers to see if anything remains of the vil- flower vendor in the market.
lage—particularly the platinum ore. Sketched on the
back of the last page is a rough map of the village's
A STAKE IN THE MINE | a
location, with directions from the closest mountain
For a long-term campaign, you have the option of re-
town, called Maerin. opening the mine once the party clears out the nest of
meenlocks. Plenty of platinum lies in the ground near
TRUTH BEHIND THE TALE Vermeillon, and adventurers who make it accessible
In response to the swell of terror from the chaos could be rewarded witha share of the mine's profits
and aftermath of the accident, a nest of meenlocks once production starts up again. Vermeillon as a
spontaneously manifested within the bedrock of the potential home base or means of additional income
mountain. Their strange, twisting lair affixed itself could be an irresistible temptation for forward-thinking
to the tunnels of the mine like a leech. The crea- groups. Either Lukas or Astra in Maerin mentions this
possibility in passing, if needed, though neither claims
tures spent days psychically tormenting the trapped
any knowledge of where to find the rightful owners.
miners before taking them to their lair for further
torture and, eventually, transformation. After all
the trapped miners were captured or died—or were
rescued—the meenlocks turned their attention to
the village.
THE BORED WEASEL ASTRA VORN
Lawful good halt-elf florist (age 78)
A mid-range tavern and inn, the Bored Weasel
features a dining area that seats forty people com- Astra has pale skin, shoulder-length red hair
fortably, small bedrooms that have surprisingly soft streaked through with white, and cloudy blue eyes.
mattresses, and one tub that can be rented for baths They run a flower stall in the market. Friendly and
by the hour. The menu of tavern fare is simple but a bit wistful, Astra chats with anyone who stops at
satisfying; the establishment is best known for a their stall, as happy to hear the recent news as to
flavorful, piping-hot stew called Salty Fish Surprise. make a sale.
(Where the fish comes from is a mystery best left Astra was a child when their family left Vermeil-
unsolved.) A large bowl of the stew costs 3 cp, while lon, so their knowledge of the forgotten village is
a small cup of it costs 1 cp. clouded by time and the hazy memories of the very
young. They remember the disaster at the mine,
LUKAS GROSVENOR bits of conversation overheard from adults talking
Neutral good human tavernkeeper (age 95) in hushed whispers, and the gossip of the other
Lukas is patient, though he suffers no fools. He has children. Astra’s family fled the village when Astra’s
a charming smile for anyone who gives him a kind mother began to experience nightmares.
word or a good tip. His hunched shoulders have only Personality Trait. “Gossip nourishes me like a
a hint of the strength they once had, and his hands spring rain, but I hate to hear or pass on bad news.”
are callused from years of work. Ideal. “People are like flowers: Some grow best
Lukas lived in Vermeillon and worked there as a when left alone, others must be carefully culti-
miner. His young wife, Lorna, died in the disaster. vated—and some need to be pruned back, lest they
He left after her death but before the disappear- overtake the garden.”
ances started. If the characters announce that Bond. “I am my own person, and I fiercely cher-
they're heading to Vermeillon, he asks them to place ish my independence. I don’t want to owe anyone
flowers on his wife's grave for him, and to find her anything.”
old necklace in a hollow of the tree in the center of Flaw. “I love to talk, which means I don’t always
the village and return it to him. Lukas can give them listen to what's really being said.”
a rough map of the village, though he notes a lot can
change in seventy years.
Personality Trait. “Every since me wife died, my
life has been a dreary march toward death. I look
forward to death when it finally comes.”
Ideal. “Hard work won't erase my losses, but it
goes a long way toward easing them.”
Bond. “I've poured decades of hard work into the
Bored Weasel. It’s all I have.”
Flaw. “I become surly and irritable when con-
fronted with things beyond my control.”

THE CENTRAL MARKET

Maerin has a lovely open-air market in the center of
town. Semipermanent tables and tents throughout
the circular area allow space for carts and wag-
ons brought in by traveling merchants. Maerin
sits at the junction of three main roads. The
market surrounds the intersection, making
it a welcome stop for travelers of all types.
Jewelers, clothiers, bakers, farmers, and
occasionally enchanters and alchemists,
frequent the central market.

Lukas GROSVENOR

A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

 LURKING DANGER
A nest of meenlocks lives in the mine outside the vil-
lage. Though most of the creatures returned to the
Feywild once the village was empty, six meenlocks
(see the end of the adventure for their stat block)
remained to prey on lost travelers. When the charac-
ters arrive in the village, these meenlocks become
aware of their presence and stalk them from a dis-
tance, staying hidden in the shadows.
The meenlocks of Vermeillon include three that
spawned after the disaster in the mine, two that
were once villagers, and one that was a travel-
ing merchant who thought he'd found a shortcut
through the peaks. The three original meenlocks
stay within the nest, while the other three venture
into the village to torment the characters, either
individually or as a group. You can change the num-
ber of meenlocks in in the village, depending on the
number of characters and their abilities.
As the party makes its way through the village,
the meenlocks try to remain unseen as they begin
to psychically haunt the characters, causing halluci-
nations. Pick one character to target, or spread the
hallucinations between multiple party members. A
few suggestions:
. Characters see movement out of the corner of
their eyes, but when they turn to look, noth-
ing is there.
AsTrA VORN . A voice whispers indistinct words in their ears.
. A terrified shriek splits the air.
« Shadows follow the characters, stretching out ab-
THE ROAD TO VERMEILLON normally across the floor to reach for them.
Vermeillon lies nestled in the snowy mountain « Characters who view themselves in a reflection
peaks north of Maerin, three days’ ride by horse. momentarily see the face of a lost loved one or a
The road from Maerin technically still exists, hated enemy instead of their own.
though it has fallen into disrepair and lacks guards « The hair on their arms and neck stands up, and
or patrols. Place whatever obstacles or threats the space between their shoulder blades itches.
you feel necessary to engage the characters: they They can’t shake the feeling of being watched.
might face rampaging wildlife, marauding bandits,
NIGHTMARES
and weather and terrain challenges on the road to
If the characters sleep in the village, the meenlocks
Vermeillon.
inflict nightmares on them. The characters dream of
being trapped in the suffocating darkness beneath
VERMEILLON piles of rock and rubble, unable to scream or move.
When the characters enter Vermeillon, read the fol- After finishing a long rest, each character must
lowing boxed text to the players: make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed
* ’ save, the character gains 1 level of exhaustion.
The village is eerily quiet. Plants and wildlife have
PLACES OF INTEREST
overtaken the crumbling houses. Leafless vines climb
rotting walls, birds and other small creatures nest in Most of Vermeillon’s buildings contain nothing but
decaying furniture and whatever belongings were
the exposed rafters, and gnarled trees protrude from
left behind when the inhabitants fled, but a few loca-
the fallen roofs of a few buildings. The overcast sky tions hold treasure or hints to the village's demise.
MARK BEHM (L AND R)

adds an air of oppression to the scene, seeming to The following locations are keyed to the map of
envelop the village. . Vermeillon.
 RE

~ VERMEILLON
PN v3

1square = 10 feet

V1. THE WAND AND HAMMER (50 gp), two matching shortswords with platinum
Tormun and Blenyss’s shop displays a sign featuring filigree on the hilt and pommel in a similar serpent
a wand crossed with a blacksmith’s hammer. The motif (25 gp each), and a stack of ten iron bars, each
sign hangs crookedly from one hook and falls as the weighing 10 pounds (1 gp each).
characters enter through the front door. A successful DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation)
check reveals a thin platinum ring of swimming in
the dust under a workbench, where it fell and was
forgotten.

V2. STONEMASON’S WORKSHOP

The front door of the stonemason’s home and work-
shop gapes open, with the remains of the door lying
i several feet away and covered in long brown grass.
The roof has caved in, and remnants of rotting fur-
Tormun and Blenyss left with the second wave of vil- niture are visible through the open doorway. Blank
lagers. With their livelihood drying up before their headstones stand in front of the house, and one be-
eyes and the hidden danger lurking in the village, side the doorway is engraved with the words “Tiris
the couple made the regretful decision to abandon Frosthair, Stonemason. Inquire at Back.”
their shop, buying space on one of the last merchant At the back of the house, a covered work area
carts out. They took what they could fit on their holds more blank headstones and slabs of granite
backs, and they left their other possessions behind and marble. Rusted carving tools hang from the
and hid their valuables in order to return and claim wall. A hammer and chisel lie on the ground beside
them later, which they never did. a half-finished headstone that reads:
Treasure. A successful DC 13 Intelligence (Inves-
tigation) check reveals a false panel in the corner ADALYN CREEN
of the floor. The false floor hides a steel shield with May you alw
HARTIN

platinum filigree in the shape of winding serpents

TiM

A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

V3. MAYOR'S HOUSE collapse. The cairns were intended to be temporary,
but with so many stones needing to be carved at the
. ¢
same time, the stonemason was unable to complete
This grand, two-story brick house has fallen prey to
all the work before she was taken by the meenlocks.
time and the elements like the rest of the village, but Characters who look for Lorna Grosvenor’s grave
it remains in better shape than the smaller houses. can find it in the section at the back, a few head-
Heavy wooden double doors are flanked by dark stones away from the cairns. Her stone stands a bit
windows, and chimneys anchor the building at each tilted but stable, and reads:
corner, their masonry crumbling. In front of the house LORNA GROSVENOR
looms a wide, leafless tree. Its gnarled branches reach Beloved of Lukas. Forever, My Heart.
toward the clouds like twisted fingers, and its rough
bark is pockmarked with large knots and beetle holes. If the characters place flowers on the grave as
® ® requested by Lukas, they hear a soft, contented sigh
on the wind.
This house belonged to Mayor Lei Duvezin and her
family. When the villagers continued to disappear, V6. MERCHANT'S CART
and the others fled, Mayor Duvezin sent her wife,
$® &
Tifra, and their two small children to Maerin to wait
The road heading northwest out of the village is soon
until it was safe. Tifra fell ill not long after their ar-
rival in Maerin and passed away three weeks later. overcome by overgrowth and disuse. Not too far past
The children remained there for a time before being the graveyard, a cart stands abandoned in the middle
sent off to the care of distant relatives. Mayor Du- of the road, covered with a heavy tarp.
vezin was determined to find the source of the disap-
pearances, stop them, and rescue anyone she could.
The cart belonged to a traveling merchant who was
As it happened, she was the last villager taken by
taken by the meenlocks a little less than a year ago.
the meenlocks.
Upon closer inspection, the party finds the re-
If the characters decide to explore the house, see
mains of a horse in the tall grass, still tethered
“Mayor Duvezin’'s House” later in the adventure for
to the front of the cart. Under the tarp are boxes,
more information about this location.
barrels, and trunks. Many of these containers are
V4. TREE broken and empty; the few that remain carry salted
A bare tree stands on the lawn in front of the may- dried meats (still edible but not tasty), three bolts of
or’s mansion. On the west side of the tree is a hol- common fabric (10 gp each), and two small casks of
low knot, about 5 feet above the ground, filled with wine (25 gp each). A successful Wisdom (Survival)
dead leaves and empty nut shells. or Intelligence (Investigation) check reveals the fol-
Treasure. Within the hollow rests a delicate neck- lowing information:
lace: a thumb-sized platinum oval pendant threaded DC 15 Wisdom (Survival): The growth around the
on a thin chain (20 gp), inscribed with “For Lorna, wheels and the decay of the horse’s carcass sug-
Forever” in a careful script. A character who spoke gests that the cart has lain here for roughly a year.
with Lukas Grosvenor and knows the necklace is i |.

hidden in the tree can locate it with minimal search- RUNNING THE MEENLOCKS
ing. Someone unaware of the necklace must suc- The meenlocks haunting Vermeillon avoid bright light.
ceed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check They prefer to stay in their nest until nightfall, though
to discover it. they sometimes hunt on overcast days.
The meenlocks avoid combat with a well-armed
V5. GRAVEYARD group of foes. If the characters don’t split up on their
own, the meenlocks try to divide the party using their
®
ability to create hallucinations. Their aim is to isolate
A crooked, wrought iron archway stands at the en- and paralyze one character, then drag that character
trance to the graveyard, which is overgrown like the back to their nest to be tortured and transformed into
rest of the village. Headstones sit at odd angles, a meenlock. If given the opportunity, meenlocks psy-
chically torment their prey for hours or days, breaking
some toppled completely. Small cairns, rather than in-
down their mental and emotional state to make the
scribed headstones, mark the graves toward the back. eventual transformation easier.
® é Be devious and tricksy with these foes—they’re in-
telligent creatures, not mindless monsters driven by
Characters who take time to read the inscriptions bloodlust. Hide them from the characters for as long
notice that the headstones near the cairns bear the as possible to heighten the mystery and suspense.
same death date, which is also the date of the mine
 Deap Tree, OLo Hous |
aPad

DC 18 Wisdom (Survival): The scratches and tooth MAYOR DUVEZIN'S HOUSE

marks on the broken and empty containers lead
The furniture and belongings in the house remain
one to conclude they were damaged by animals.
in their customary places, the beds made and the
DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation): The driver's
desks arranged neatly under a thick layer of dust.
seat lifts up to reveal a compartment. Inside this
The house served as both the home of the mayor
compartment is a pouch containing 15 gp and a
and the center of government. Meals were prepared
ledger listing sales in settlements around the area.
ll i=
in the village and brought to the manor, and the ser-
vants slept in nearby cottages.
TRAGIC TRANSFORMATION
The house hides clues to the death of the village,
Mayor Lei Duvezin was taken in the night and trans-
formed into a meenlock. The meenlock that was once for characters who take the time to look. If any
Mayor Duvezin now lurks around the mayor’s man- characters are left behind in a room on their own, or
sion, drawn there by lingering memories, and it takes if the party splits up to search the house, that’s an
any opportunity to attack characters in the house. ideal time for a meenlock encounter.
The meenlock shed its clothing and other trappings
of its former life once the transformation was com- Hl. ENTRYWAY
plete, but it still wears the mayor's ring of office: an or-
nate platinum signet ring embossed with a snowdrop
blossom (75 gp). The characters can recover the ring Dust covers everything in this wide hallway. Moth-
upon the meenlock’s death or notice it during combat eaten cloaks hang from hooks on the left-hand wall.
with a successful DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check.
To the left and the right, hallways branch off into the
The ring offers a hint to the fate of the mayor, and also
serves as a potential plot hook if the characters decide gloom. Ahead, a stairway leads up to the second floor,
to track down the mayor's children to return the item and a door stands beneath the stairs, seemingly lead-
and give them closure on their mother’s fate. ing to the back yard.
OLAUSS
{ECE
i
ROBIN
DENDIRG

54 / A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

 Dim light filters in through the dust-covered win-

P Mavor Duven S House k

dows, the only light within the house. The cloaks
are too decayed to be of any use.

H2. ASSEMBLY RoOoM

Chairs are arranged in staggered rows with their backs

to the door, facing a a podium in the southeast corner.
A sideboard sits on the left side of the room, and a
bookcase stands to the right of the doorway, filled
with tomes and knickknacks. A cold brick fireplace o oc-
cu ples the southwest corner.
@ ®

The mayor addressed the village's council here. The

sideboard, once used to provide drinks and other
refreshments during the meetings, is bare. The
shelves in it hold glass tumblers, wine glasses, and
small china plates, all covered with dust and rodent
droppings.
Treasure. The bookshelf holds old and worn
books, a small framed watercolor painting of a
mountain range (2 gp), and a chunk of raw platinum
ore from the mine (25 gp).

H3. MEETING ROOM

by, 1square = 5 feet gr iy Fook § 4
504 Dd)
“A round table with four chairs stands in the center of
this room. Windows look out into the back yard. The
fireplace in the corner is filled with broken masonry. A the drawers. The ceramics are well made but sim-
framed portrait hangs on the right-hand wall. ple; the flatware is made of a silver-plated steel alloy.
@ : $
H5. PARLOR
This room is bare except for the furniture and a
faded oil painting that depicts Mayor Lei Duvezin, The parlor is empty except for four wingback chairs
a dark-skinned woman dressed in a cream-colored
situated along the left-hand wall and a desk in the
frock coat with a pale green cravat at her throat.
Her dark hair is pulled up in an intricate twist, and right-hand corner beside the window. A Arspiace d dom-
she wears delicate platinum and diamond earrings. inates the southeast corner. :
Her hands are folded in her lap. One finger bears a é : Se

heavy platinum signet ring, inscribed with a snow- Once a waiting area for villagers hoping to see the
drop blossom. mayor, this room holds little of interest. The chairs
H4. DINING ROOM are infested with rodents; mouse holes and drop-
pings are obvious with a simple glance. The desk
+ 0 on the front wall was available for public use and
This room holds a rectangular table with eight chairs. did not hold any personal papers. A few crumbling
A sideboard sits against the far wall, with dusty ce- sheets of blank parchment, a quill, and a dried-up
ramic serving dishes and bowls atop it. A fireplace is inkwell remain here.
in the far corner.
H6. UpSTAIRS LANDING
@ %

This room was used mainly for dinner parties and An open landing waits at the top of the stairs. Four - : ie
family meals. A search reveals ceramic plates,
closed doors lie before you, and a large entryway
bowls, and teacups with saucers in the sideboard
cabinets, as well as flatware and serving utensils in gapes from across the hall to the south.
HARTIN
I'M

A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

The doors to the bedrooms are shut but unlocked. Since the village's business was conducted on the
In the middle of the south wall is a open doorway to first floor of the mansion, the mayor and her wife
the library (area H9). spent their personal time in this room. The shelves
hold books of all sorts, from tomes on history and
H7. DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM
treatises on business to thin volumes of folktales
and grand, sweeping novels. An entire section on
This dim room 1 holds nothing but a bed, partially arcane theory includes books about the other planes
coated in debris from the collapsed chimney. Cold air of existence. If you so desire, the library can include

gusts in through the gaps. | books relevant to other plots in your campaign.
Several open books lie on the table, with notes
scribbled on bits of paper stuck between their
This room belonged to the mayor’s daughter, Nia. It pages. The topics include the effects of physical and
contains nothing of interest. emotional trauma, nightmares, and mysterious dis-
appearances. Seemingly out of place in comparison
H8. MASTER BEDROOM to the other topics, a book about the Feywild and its
sundry creatures holds a single note, written in a
Adouble bed sits beneath the windows along the far shaky hand. It reads: Could this be the answer?
wall. A fireplace occupies one corner, and a window The note marks a page with an entry on meen-
locks, which includes the following information:
looks out onto the front yard.
« Meenlocks are corrupted fey creatures that spon-
taneously manifest in response to fear in places
This room belonged to Mayor Duvezin and her wife,
where the border with the Feywild is thin.
Tifra. A search of the room yields a pile of crumpled,
« Meenlocks create more of their kind by transform-
half-written letters on the fireplace mantelpiece,
ing humanoids through a process of psychic tor-
beseeching other nearby settlements for aid; among
ment that takes hours or days.
them is a completed letter addressed to the mayor
Meenlocks live in subterranean nests.
of Maerin. This letter is stuffed in an envelope and
- Meenlocks are sensitive to bright light and can
sealed shut with a bright red wax seal embossed
sense shadows and darkness.
with an ornate snowdrop blossom; sticks of sealing
wax in various colors as well as quills, ink, and pa- By the time Mayor Duvezin discovered this book,
per; and the journal of Mayor Lei Duvezin. she was already being harried by the meenlocks.
The journal chronicles the disaster at the mine They took her shortly afterward.
and the village's anguish at so many victims. The
mayor recounts the rescue efforts in the following
H10. GueEsT BEDROOM
days, and how they had to stop the search due to
fears of more cave-ins if they attempted to remove Empty except for a bed and a fireplace, this room is
any more of the rubble, even with miners still miss- cold and has an air of loneliness about it.
ing. She writes of villagers going missing in the
night, of her helplessness, and of stubbornly staying
on, determined to find the missing villagers while Intended as a guest bedroom, this chamber rarely
Tifra and their two children, Tavin and Nia, evacu- saw much use.
ated to Maerin. The last few pages speak of the may-
H1l. SoN’s BEDROOM
or’s nightmares, of her creeping fear and waking in
the night, soaked in sweat, with lingering screams . s
echoing in her ears. This bedroom has a tall chest of drawers made of dark
wood in the corner across from the door. Farther into
HY. LIBRARY
the room, a small desk sits between two windows,
with a large bedto the left of it. The sheets and blan-
Shelves filled with books line the walls of this library,
kets on the bed are rumpled. One moth-eaten pillow
and four wingback chairs sit around a low table in the
lies on the floor beside it, the other on the mattress
| center of the room. The wide bank of windows in the
where it belongs.
south wall affords a panoramic view of the dilapidated %

houses beyond the twisting branches of the tree in the

Under the bed is a small stuffed toy bugbear, full of
front yarrd. |
holes and with its stuffing removed by the resident
rodents. It belonged to the mayor's son, Tavin.

A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

 (E>
5 PLATINUM MIN
1square = 5 feet

pillars

X = Dynamite
trigger

PLATINUM MINE The main tunnel heads into the mountain, ending
at a pile of rubble left over from the cave-in. Sec-
A gaping hole in the mountainside northeast of the
ondary hallways branch off to the left and the right.
village marks the entrance to the platinum mine.
The meenlocks, having watched the characters in
Several carts sit outside the cavern. One is filled
the village, escalate their psychic torment when the
with rock and dirt pulled from the mine, the others
characters enter the mine.
piled with large beams of wood—new supports that
Each character who enters the mine must succeed
were never installed after the collapse.
on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvan-
If the characters explore during the day, the first
tage on Intelligence and Wisdom checks from being
30 feet inside the mine are dimly lit, and anything
distracted by whispers, shifting movement, and
beyond 30 feet is in darkness. Cart wheels have
other hallucinations while inside the mine.
carved shallow ruts in the dirt floor leading to the
back of the mine, where the cave-in was never fully M2. SOUTHERN WING
excavated. Smaller tunnels branch off from the
main shaft. The entrance to the meenlock tunnel
opens near the site of the accident. This tunnel ends at a small chamber that holds wor y
hand carts fl ed w
The following locations are keyed to the map of picks, rusty shovels, and two a
rags. = so
the platinum mine. debris and

M1. MAIN TUNNEL

The tools were left behind by the workers in the
wake of the disaster.
The mine is dark and damp, and you heat the sound Characters who look up see scores of bats hang-
~ of dripping water echoing from deep within. The light ing from the 20-foot-high ceiling. If bright light is
fades faster than it should as you move deeper, until shone at them or if someone makes a noise louder
you're wrapped in oppressive gloom and shadow. - than a whisper, the bats coalesce into three hostile
TIM MARTIN

swarms of bats. These swarms were drawn to the

A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

mine by the meenlocks’ unwholesome presence and another strange effect; if the check succeeds by 4 or
attack all creatures except the meenlocks. more, the character pieces together the clues, if they
haven't done so already, and realizes that meenlocks
M3. NORTHERN WING created the moss-covered tunnels.

M6. CHAMBER OF WEEPING

This tunnel winds back toward the entrance, and the
south wall of the chamber at the end has odd divots
~ and alcoves within the rock at various heights. Thick, velvety black moss covers every surface of
this eight-foot-high chamber. Set into the far wall isa
deep alcove.
This tunnel ends abruptly. The miners intended to
keep digging here, but it was abandoned after the
collapse occurred. Whenever a creature that isn't a meenlock enters
the alcove or starts its turn there, tentacles of black
M4. CAVE-IN moss sprout from the alcove’s walls, forcing the
As the characters approach the rubble of the cave-in, creature to succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving
they see large rocks in the pathway that they can throw to avoid being grappled by them (escape
easily move past. The tunnel gets tighter and tighter DC 14). The tentacles are an otherwise harmless
until they come to the main body of the cave-in. magical effect and can’t be harmed, though a dispel
’ oi > magic spell causes them to disappear.
Mounds of broken rock block the tunnel, piled from Development. A character who wanders into this
: ceilingto floor. The other parts of the cave-in were cave alone and is grappled by the mossy tentacles
might have to deal with one or more meenlocks that
passable after the collapse, but this seems an impene-
creep into the room, hoping to take advantage of the
trablewall of earth. character’s unfortunate predicament.
@ @

M7. Mossy MAZE

Traveling farther down the tunnel is impossible
The meenlocks like to pick off interlopers in this
here. A character who attempts to move any of the
moss-covered maze of tunnels, luring them into
rocks must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving
dead-end caves using hallucinations (such as the
throw or take 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage as the
sound of someone calling for help).
rubble shifts, falling on them or sliding out from be-
neath their feet, sending them tumbling. M8. PooLs
M5. ENTRANCE TO THE MEENLOCK LAIR
This dead-end cavern opens wide, and the lingering
’ Sa. as °
The opening of this tunnel is nearly circular. Black dampness of the tunnels is pronounced in here. Mois-
ture leaches through the moss ceiling above, forming
| moss covers the walls, floor, and ceiling of the tunnel
as far as you can see. Within this tunnel are several fat droplets that fall into pools of dark water around
branches, all of them covered in the same black moss. | the chamber. A sharp scent of minerals fills the air and
@ é mixes with the earthy smell of the moss. The sound
of dripping doesn’t echo, but is immediately dulled by
The notable aspect of this tunnel is the uniform
the moss-carpeted surfaces.
layer of black moss over everything. Characters
@ @®
who scrape the moss away from the rock see that
the walls are smooth, not rough-carved by pick and The pools here vary in depth: the smaller ones are a
shovel like the rest of the mine. Because the meen- few inches deep, and the larger pools measure 2 feet
lock tunnels spontaneously manifested rather than at their deepest. In the subterranean darkness, the
being dug out, there are no scratch marks or signs pools look black. Light sources reflect off the water
of excavation on the walls, floor, or ceiling here. The as if it were a dark mirror, and the characters are
moss muffles all sound, causing a lack of echoes unable to see below the surface.
and creating a sense of claustrophobia. This is another ideal ambush location for the
A successful DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana or meenlocks or, if you want to shake things up a bit,
Nature) check reveals that the tunnels were not for a black pudding or other ooze to lurk on the sur-
created by hand, claw, or tool, but rather by magic or face of one of the pools like an oil slick.
M9. TRANSFORMATION CHAMBER
PASSAGE INTO THE FEYWILD
+ Meenlocks manifest where the Feywild's influence
New scents greet you here: the musty funk of decay- is strong. A shallow lake on the mountainside above
ing fabric and old furs, and the smell of rot lingering the meenlock lair (directly above area M8) is fed by a
stream that becomes a river when summer melts the
in the stagnant air. Thick pillars of moss-covered snow. When the full moon hangs in the night sky, the
~ stone support the twenty-foot-high ceiling, and waist- lake becomes a fey crossing. Anyone who completely
high stone slabs dot the cavern. submerges in the icy waters during this time surfaces
é : nid
in the Feywild. -

The meenlocks bring their victims here to be tor- takes 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage, falls prone,
mented and transformed. The stone slabs are coated and is restrained by the rubble and unable to stand
with blood and filth—the result of mortals being laid up; on a successful save, the creature takes half
out for days of torture. Any party members taken as much damage and isn’t trapped in the rubble
by the meenlocks are here, paralyzed on one of the or knocked prone. A creature can use its action to
slabs if they haven't already been transformed (see attempt to free itself or another creature trapped
the “Telepathic Torment” sidebar at the end of the under the rubble within its reach, doing so with a
adventure). Any remaining meenlocks attack when successful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check. Meen-
the party reaches the center of this room. locks that flee return the next night to see what
Dynamite Trap. The miners-turned-meenlocks they've caught in their trap.
used remnants of their knowledge to rig explosives Old Remains. The remnants of other victims lie
on the four pillars in this room. Attached to each on the south side of the room, decades of belong-
pillar is a stick of dynamite with a long fuse lead- ings shed by transformed meenlocks and left to
ing to a plunger trigger. Any character who has a rot. Heaped piles of bones, clothing, boots, rusted
passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 18 or higher blades, and splintered bows and arrows rest within
spots a candle-like object attached to each pillar, the recessed portions of the walls.
partially hidden beneath the moss. A character who Treasure. Most of the items in the refuse piles
closely examines a pillar spots the dynamite stick are worthless after rotting in the damp and dark
and the fuse leading from it with a successful DC for years. A thorough search reveals 50 gp, an ivory
14 Wisdom (Perception) check. A character can cut drinking horn with platinum filigree (120 gp), and a
a fuse as an action (no ability check required). If a set of goggles of night.
dynamite stick takes damage from any source, it ex-
plodes (as described below). FATE OF VERMEILLON
The meenlocks trigger the explosives as a last
If the party clears out the nest of meenlocks and
resort. If a meenlock starts its turn with 10 hit
informs the citizens of Maerin, settlers restore
points or fewer, it moves to the nearest trigger, uses
the village of Vermeillon and the mine eventually
its action to set off the explosion, and then uses its
begins production again. The new villagers treat
Shadow Teleport bonus action to escape. The pillar
the characters as local heroes. As news travels,
is destroyed in the explosion. The last meenlock
Tormun and Blenyss eventually hear of the village's
detonates any remaining pillars before it flees. Any
resurrection and return to restart their shop, unable
creature within 5 feet of an exploding dynamite
to pass up the opportunity of being so close to a
stick must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw,
platinum mine.
taking 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed
If the meenlocks survive, travelers continue to
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
go missing if they attempt to take the road through
If all four pillars are destroyed, the cavern’s ceiling
Vermeillon. The number of meenlocks in the nest
partially collapses. Each creature in the cavern
grows to eventually threaten the town of Maerin.
when the collapse occurs must make a DC 15 Dex-
terity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature
 MEENLOCK
Meenlocks are cruel fey that invoke terror and seek
to destroy all that is good, innocent, and beautiful.
They primarily live in forests, although they adapt
well to urban and subterranean settings.
Fear Incarnate. Meenlocks are spawned by fear.
Whenever fear overwhelms a creature in the Fey-
wild, or in any other location where the Feywild’s
influence is strong, one or more meenlocks might
spontaneously arise in the shadows or darkness
nearby. If more than one meenlock is born, a lair
also magically forms. The earth creaks and moans
as narrow, twisting tunnels open up within it. One
of these newly formed passageways serves as the
lair’s only entrance and exit. Inside the warren,
black moss covers every surface, muffling sound. A
large central chamber serves as the meenlocks’ den,
where they torment captives.
Dark Dwellers. A meenlock shuns bright light.
It can supernaturally sense areas of darkness and
shadow in its vicinity and thus is able to teleport
from one darkened space to another—enabling
it to sneak up on its prey and run away when
MEENLOCK outmatched.
Small fey Telepathic Tormentors. Meenlocks have no form
of communication other than telepathy. They can
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) use it to project unsettling hallucinations into the
Hit Points 31 (7d6 + 7) minds of their prey. These hallucinations take the
Speed 30 ft.
form of terrible whispers or fleeting movements just
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA at the edges of one’s peripheral vision.
6(2) 1542 121) NEO) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) During the day, meenlocks confine themselves to
their dark warrens. At night, they crawl out of their
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6, Survival +2
tunnels to torment sleeping prey (see the “Tele-
Condition Immunities frightened
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14 pathic Torment” sidebar).
Languages telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge Rating 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 TELEPATHIC TORMENT
Up to four meenlocks can telepathically torment one
Fear Aura. Any beast or humanoid that starts its turn within 10 incapacitated creature, filling its mind with disturbing
feet of the meenlock must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving sounds and dreadful imagery. Participating meenlocks
throw or be frightened until the start of the creature’s next turn. can’t use their telepathy for any other purpose during
this time, though they can move about and take ac-
Light Sensitivity. While in bright light, the meenlock has dis- tions and reactions as normal. This torment has no
advantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) effect on a creature that is immune to the frightened
checks that rely on sight. condition. If the creature is susceptible and remains
incapacitated for 1 hour, the creature must make a
ACTIONS Wisdom saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) psychic damage
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. on a failed save, or half as much damage on a success-
Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage, and if the target is a creature, ful one. The save DC is equal to 10 + the number of
it must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be meenlocks participating in the torment, considering
paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw only those that remain within sight of the victim for the
at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on entire hour and aren't incapacitated during it. The pro-
a success. cess can be repeated. A humanoid that drops to 0 hit
points as a result of this damage instantly transforms
BoNus ACTIONS into a meenlock at full health and under the DM's con-
Shadow Teleport (Recharge 5-6). The meenlock teleports to an trol. Only a wish spell or divine intervention can restore
unoccupied space within 30 feet of it, provided that both the a transformed creature to its former state.
FILIP BURBURAN

space it’s teleporting from and its destination are in dim light
~ or darkness. The destination need not be within line of sight.

A DEEP AND CREEPING DARKNESS

 AN ADVENTURE FOR 4TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
mms URED
rt Yi GEG
seecesmesorsineaes
smi maroon ae Re IS w—-"

WRITTEN BY ARI LEVITCH

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY MICHELE CARTER

HEMSHIME'S BEDTIME RHYME HAS BEEN curse. The adventure is built around a sequence of
gathering dust on its shelf in Candlekeep events that unfold when the characters are quaran-
for over six hundred years. The children’s tined in Candlekeep’s Firefly Cellar with a handful
book arrived at the library in unceremoni- of the library’s attendants, in an attempt to keep
ous fashion, though the same could not be said of Shemshime’s curse from spreading throughout the
its courier. Yowen Pilt, a procurer of rare books who entire library. The events describe Shemshime’s
did business with Candlekeep, was utterly insane growing supernatural influence and how people
when he arrived with his latest bundle. The records deal with the mounting pressure of confinement un-
of the episode are sparse, but they report that he der dangerous circumstances.
was placed in isolation for weeks after a “singing The characters must identify the curse’s source.
. madness” began to spread among the library's Their search eventually leads them to Crinkle, the
Avowed. The records contain no further mention of Firefly Cellar’s kenku caretaker, who has the book.
the book dealer. The Avowed cataloged and shelved Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme contains the malev-
his final delivery, which included Shemshime’s Bed- olent spirit called Shemshime, and the book holds
time Rhyme. the secret of how to stop it.
Below is an outline of the events in the order that
ADVENTURE OVERVIEW they occur:
The adventure takes place in the Firefly Cellar, a Event 1: Quarantined. The characters and NPCs
windowless basement beneath the House of Rest, are sealed in the Firefly Cellar to keep their conta-
so named because its only light comes from lamps gious curse contained.
lit by swarms of fireflies. Event 2: Ebder’s Outburst. One of the Avowed is
After spending the night here, all the characters overwhelmed by the curse, and his manic hum-
wake up in the morning with the same tune in their ming causes creepy things to happen.
heads, and each one hums it under their breath. Event 3: Singing Skull. The cursed remains of the
They soon discover that the tune has “spread” to book dealer who brought Shemshime’s Bedtime
the Firefly Cellar’s other occupants, and the Avowed Rhyme to Candlekeep are discovered when the
institute a quarantine to contain what is actually a skull begins to sing the rhyme about where it was
hidden centuries ago.
Event 4: Escape Attempt. A visiting scholar named
K’'Tulah succumbs to the mounting tension and
tries to break out of the cellar, threatening to
spread the curse throughout Candlekeep.
Event 5: Puppets. Shemshime’s magic takes con-
trol of characters trapped in the library, causing
them to violently turn on each other.
Event 6: Shemshime. The characters find the book
and must discover how to stop the curse while
confronting Shemshime.
You dictate the pace at which the events unfold.
If you want to draw out the tension of confinement,
introduce a new event only after the characters
think they have a handle on the current situation.
BOROS

SHEMSHIME'S
Alternatively, you could bombard them with one
event after the other so they can’t catch their breath.
ZOLTAN

Beorime RHYME

|7
SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME 61 ¥
 PLAYER HANDOUT: FINDING THE BOOK
Discovering the book’s whereabouts is part of the
SHEMSHIME'S RHYME adventure’s mystery. A kenku named Crinkle, one of
the Avowed and the caretaker of the Firefly Cellar,
became enamored with the book and hid it in her
quarters. Though the book is not present at the start
of the adventure, the characters must deal with the
foul magic emanating from it.

Book DESCRIPTION
This children’s book is a mechanical curiosity of
gnomish design, with a cover made of wood and
copper. The front cover bears a faded, hand-painted
rendering of a round millstone. The book is square,
eighteen inches along each edge of the cover. A
silver music box set into the book’s spine is heavily
dented at one end.
The book has no pages in the typical sense, but
it opens to reveal a pop-up cutaway illustration of a
quaint watermill made of painted panels of wood,
tin, canvas, and leather. It’s a clockwork device
designed to animate four separate scenes while a
music box built into the book’s spine plays a metallic
tune that implants a rhyme in the minds of those
who hear it (see the accompanying handout). The
mechanized scenes feature cutout figurines of mem-
bers of a family dying in a series of grisly ways as a
shadowy figure looks on. The images are as follows:
« A mother chops off the feet and ear of her husband
with a scythe.
The family dog bites off the mother’s hand.
. The son drowns in a river while washing clothes.
The final scene—which doesn’t play out until the
music box is repaired—shows the daughter defeat-
ing the shadow by crushing it under a millstone.

BACKGROUND
Centuries ago, a family living in a remote water mill
endured a string of unfortunate events. A malevolent
spirit called Shemshime attached itself to the family
and caused the “accidents.” The daughter finally de-
stroyed Shemshime by crushing it under a millstone
that had been blessed by a traveling halfling cleric
of Chauntea (god of agriculture).
The story became a local legend, a cautionary
tale meant to warn people to keep their attention on

Lo io i their chores. When a traveling gnome bard heard

the tale, he was so intrigued that he set the story
or Causes grief, avoids the Hae down in the book, Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme. By
doing so, he inadvertently created a conduit through
~ SHEMSHIME i which Shemshime could return.
Yowen Pilt procured the book from an adventurer
who discovered it among the debris of a shipwreck.
He brought the mechanical book to Candlekeep,
where it has been ever since.
A KENKU’S CURIOSITY CELLAR INHABITANTS
The kenku Avowed, Crinkle, loves to collect all
A handful of people reside in the Firefly Cellar while
kinds of curios and baubles. Shemshime’s Bedtime
the task of restoring its collection is under way.
Rhyme, with its intricate mechanical workings and
charming music box, was too tempting to resist. VARNYR
After years as the Firefly Cellar’s caretaker, she Chaotic good sun elf scribe (age 685)
discovered the book when it was selected to have its
Varnyr is a senior scribe who has spent centuries at
spine repaired as part of a restoration project involv-
Candlekeep. She loves the books, which she cares
ing this part of Candlekeep.
for as though they were her grandchildren. She has
Before the adventurers arrive at the Firefly Cellar
little ambition to rise in the ranks of the Avowed,
at the beginning of the adventure, Crinkle brought
perfectly content as a senior scribe. She is hard-
the book to her room (area F11) and opened it. The
working and expects others to be as well.
music box started to play, and she became the sub-
Varnyr was an adjutant when Shemshime’s curse
ject of Shemshime’s curse.
first came to Candlekeep, though she is unaware
The rhyme is presented in the accompanying
that the book was the cause of the madness.
handout. Until the music box is repaired, it always
Varnyr is a noble with the following changes:
skips back to the beginning of the song before play-
ing the last stanza. That means the last stanza of Varnyr speaks Common and Elvish, and she has
Shemshime’s rhyme doesn’t get implanted in the darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. She has ad-
minds of those who hear the song until the music vantage on saving throws against being charmed,
box is fixed and the tune plays in its entirety. The and magic can’t put her to sleep.
missing stanza is as follows: Instead of a rapier, Varnyr wields a cane and can
use an action to make two melee weapon attacks
See a daughter grinding grain
with it: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4)
Wish the spirit’s time was through bludgeoning damage.
Trap set for the shadow bane
Personality Trait. “1 have a warm, calming de-
Her millstone killed it true
meanor, even when circumstances call for concern.”
Ideal. “Everything has its place, and everyone has
SHEMSHIME’S CURSE their role.”
Bond. “Candlekeep is the beacon of civilization in
Those who hear the melody of the rhyme find it to
an otherwise bleak and backward world.”
be irresistibly catchy, and they hum it over and over
Flaw. “When something irritates me, I try to ig-
again. Such individuals have become cursed.
nore it, but I usually end up snapping at someone.”
The rhyme acts as a summoning ritual intended
to restore Shemshime. When enough people join EBDER SMALLSTONE
in the singing of the rhyme, or enough time passes Lawful good human scribe (age 33)
while people are singing it, the ritual will be com-
Ebder is a pessimist who sees every setback as a
pleted. As that occasion approaches, Shemshime’s
disaster and every victory as dumb luck. He is a wid-
power grows. Anyone who hears the cursed tune is
ower, and his daughter, Gailby, provides him respite
in turn cursed to hum or sing it. They are then capa-
from his anxious outlook.
ble of transmitting it further.
Ebder looks older than his actual age, with few
RESISTING THE RHYME traces of black in his otherwise gray hair and a
The characters can will themselves not to sing the harried expression on his face. His clothes and his
rhyme, but doing this requires concentration as fingers are stained with ink.
though casting a spell (see “Concentration” in the Ebder is a commoner who speaks Common and
Player's Handbook). has a set of calligrapher’s supplies.
A silence spell or similar magic negates the rhyme Personality Trait. “I'm an anxious person. [ worry
in the affected area. about what Senior Scribe Varnyr thinks about me
A remove curse spell or similar magic ends the and my work.”
curse on a creature, though it remains suscepti- Ideal. “The measure of a person is the quality of
ble to being cursed again. If cast on the book, the their work.”
magic suppresses the curse on all creatures for Bond. “As much as I care about my duties as an
10 minutes. Avowed, my daughter is my world.”
Flaw. “I'm highly suspicious of other peo-

; 0@
ple’s motives.”

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME 63 ¥

rind I
nat

She is an animated talker whose exaggerated ges-

ticulations while chatting annoy Varnyr, but the elf
appreciates her academic expertise.
K’Tulah is a tabaxi druid with the follow-
ing changes:
« K'Tulah speaks Common and Druidic, and she
has darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.
« When K'Tulah moves on her turn in combat, she
can double her speed until the end of the turn.
Once she uses this ability, she can’t use it again
until she moves 0 feet on one of her turns.
As an action, K'Tulah can make a melee weapon
attack with her claws: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
get. Hit: 2 (1d4) slashing damage.
Personality Trait. “I talk fast and can carry on a
conversation about almost anything.”
Ideal. “Decorum is overrated. Life's too short for
formalities.”
Bond. “The research I've collected painstakingly
over the past decade is my pride and joy.”
Flaw. “I don't like feeling trapped.”

CRINKLE
Chaotic neutral kenku custodian (age 55)

a
The aged kenku has lived in the Firefly Cellar for
the past twenty-two years as its custodian and
caretaker of its fireflies. She has lost many of her
feathers, and those that remain are frayed and
disheveled. She carries a long staff with a hook on
the end, which she uses to change the firefly lamps
CRINKLE that hang from the ceiling.
Crinkle has little patience for others, and she
regards Senior Scribe Varnyr’s restoration efforts
GAILBY SMALLSTONE as an invasion. Gailby Smallstone has softened the
kenku's dour disposition with her appreciation of
Lawful good human child (age 8)
interesting objects.
Gailby is an energetic kid who lives with her father, Crinkle is a kenku who has a ring of the ram that
Ebder Smallstone, in the Firefly Cellar. She loves to
has all its charges.
draw and insists on sharing her drawings with her Personality Trait. “I'm a grump who prefers to be
father before bedtime. left alone.”
She wears a yellow hooded cape that hides her Ideal. “I'm drawn to beautiful and interesting
short curly black hair and is missing one of her works of art.”
front teeth. Bond. “I cherish the stash of trinkets and trea-
Personality Trait. “I'm curious about everything.” sures I've accumulated.”
Ideal. “I'll never be bored as long as I have my Flaw. “I rub my hands together constantly, as
imagination.” though washing them.”
Bond. “1 love discovering things on my own, espe-
cially things that are off limits.”
Flaw. “I'll say anything to avoid getting in trouble.”
STARTING THE ADVENTURE
The adventure takes place in the Firefly Cellar
K'TULAH beneath the House of Rest. Characters might find
Neutral good tabaxi scholar (age 30) themselves drawn to this location for one of two
reasons. Perhaps the House of Rest has had an in-
K'Tulah is a gregarious tabaxi, a catlike humanoid.
flux of guests, and the characters are forced to stay
She arrived at Candlekeep six days ago and re-
LER WALPOLE

in the only available rooms, which happen to be in

ceived permission to use the library to conduct her
the Firefly Cellar. Alternatively, the idea of taking
research on regional forms of folk magic.
lodging in an actual part of the library, close to a
TY

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

collection of ancient books, might be a compelling
enough reason for the characters to stay there.
EVENTS
The characters descend into the Firefly Cellar Below is a detailed look at the six events that play
out over the course of the adventure.
through the hatch in the ceiling of area F1. As they
do, read the description of area F1 to the players.
EVENT 1: QUARANTINED
When they arrive, they find the elderly elf Varnyr
precariously balanced on a ladder while arranging a ® ]
few of the flowerpots on top of one of the bookcases. After your first night in the Firefly Cellar, you gather
She's engrossed in her work. Before the characters
“around a table in the center of the collection’s main
say anything, she starts speaking without look-
floor. It’s quiet, until you notice that your companions |
ing at them.
are humming a melody under their breath—the same
° .
tune that’s been stuck in your head since you woke
“Ebder, are you back?”
up. After a moment, you realize that you too are hum-
“I never left!” grumbles a voice from below.
ming along. | -
“Oh?” The elf looks down and seems surprised at ® ®

your presence. Then she says, indicating the room

around her, “Ah. Visitors. I'm Scribe Varnyr. Sorry for
The characters are humming Shemshime’s rhyme.
They don’t know it by name, and though they all
the state of things. As you see, the restoration project
hum it perfectly, they're not entirely certain they
is aworkin progress. I'll be with you shortly.” She re- knew it before today. Unknown to the characters,
turns to her work. A moment later, she says, “Actually, the cursed tune spread to them when Gailby Small-
would you mind bringing that stack
of books down- stone sang it in the hall outside the characters’ room
stairs to Ebder? I'll meet you there.” She points to a after she heard it from Crinkle.
small pile of books on a stool. “Thanks so much.” K’'Tulah and Ebder share the table with the char-
@ @ acters. Ebder is reading from the same book he had
last night. The humming clearly bothers him, and
Characters who head downstairs to area F2 find after a short time, he sternly asks the characters to
Ebder sitting at the table, hunched over a book. keep quiet in the library. If the characters try to stop
Visibly annoyed, he acknowledges the characters humming, they notice they can’t do so without con-
as follows: scious effort (see “Resisting the Rhyme”).
After a few minutes, Ebder begins humming the
“Keep your voices down, please. | just put my daugh- melody as well, though he is unaware of it at first.
Moments later, the hatch in the ceiling of the upper
ter to bed.”
floor (area F1) slams shut, followed by the sound
of several mechanical locks engaging. Varnyr, the
Ebder gives his name if asked. If the characters senior-ranking Avowed in the place, has locked the
present him the pile of books, he pinches the bridge hatch, sealing herself, the characters, Ebder, Gailby,
of his nose with a sigh and explains that the books K’Tulah, and Crinkle inside the Firefly Cellar.
are not for him but for the other guest, K’Tulah, As she descends the spiral staircase to area F2,
who's staying in one of the rooms below. He gives she hums the cursed tune in a soft voice. With ef-
the characters directions to her room (area F13) and fort, Varnyr suppresses her humming and shares
asks them to deliver the books. the following information:
If they agree, K'Tulah is grateful for the delivery
¢ ¢
and starts a conversation about her scholarly work.
“When |first arrived at Candlekeep, the Avowed
After an hour, Varnyr finds the characters and
apologetically says that she’s exhausted from the
were concerned about a ‘singing madness.” A book
day’s work and they will talk in the morning. She merchant had been afflicted with it and was putin
offers areas F8 and F12 as rooms for the characters isolation after several Avowed began singing the song
to stay the night. Behind her is Crinkle with a tray as well.” She pauses and frowns. “I don’t know what
of food for them. With that, Varnyr bids them good happened to him or the others. That was six hundred
night and leaves the characters alone. years ago.” | a
The characters can look around the library, talk
She gathers her composure and adds, “I’ve alerted
with Ebder for a few more hours, or go to their
the Avowed and sealed the exit to stop whatever this
rooms. Ebder isn’t much of a conversationalist,
but he warms up if anyone asks about his daugh- is from spreading.”
ter, Gailby.

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME 65 y

 K'Tulah is vocal about her discomfort with being SHEMSHIME’S INFLUENCE
confined down here. Ebder regards the quarantine
dé Phenomenon
as a minor annoyance and complains that all the
commotion interferes with his work. Crinkle and 1 For the next 10 minutes, all the fireflies in the
Gailby are not present. lamps flicker out at irregular intervals, leaving the
Varnyr refuses to speculate about the “madness,” library in darkness for several seconds at a time.
since she’s not a spellcaster and doesn’t want to 2 Random books fly off the shelves. Each creature
guess at the cause without evidence. “But perhaps in areas F1, F2, or F14 must succeed on a DC 13
you can find an answer in all this,” she says, waving Dexterity saving throw or take 2 (1d4) bludgeon-
at the disheveled room. ing damage from collisions with the flying books.
The characters can explore the Firefly Cellar and
3 Thelibrary becomes much colder. This drop in
talk with the residents. As they do, emphasize the
concentration needed to resist humming the melody. temperature lasts until the end of the adventure.
When you think it’s appropriate, introduce event 2. 4 Three shadows appear in the same area as the
characters. The shadows attack the characters but
TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS disappear at the end of their third turn in combat
Each of the Firefly Cellar’s residents offers their if they have not been destroyed by then.
own information and perspective.
5 Shemshime’s foul magic manifests as a random
Crinkle. The steward of the Firefly Cellar is in the
kitchen (area F7) preparing breakfast. She whistles ~ character’s worst nightmare. That character must
the melody absentmindedly. If approached by the make a DC 12 Intelligence saving throw. On a
characters, she is dismissive and grows irritated if failed save, the character takes 9 (2d8) psychic
they pester her. damage and is frightened of the manifestation,
Ebder. He remains in the stacks, seated at the believing it to be real. The manifested nightmare
table. If questioned by the characters, he says he has lasts for up to 1 minute, follows the character
been working in the scriptorium (area F3). Nothing around, and can’t be harmed. The character must
has been out of the ordinary, unless you count the repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
kenku, who keeps shuffling through that room on turns, ending the illusion on a success or taking 9
the way to and from her supply closet.
(2d8) psychic damage on a failed save.
Gailby. She's in her room (area F9). If the charac-
6 Choose three creatures in the Firefly Cellar. Each
ters approach her, she’s more interested in showing
off her toys than in fielding questions. If she’s asked one must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving
about her drawings, she gets scared that she’s in throw, or it takes 7 (1d8 + 3) psychic damage and
trouble and becomes quiet. makes a melee weapon attack against one crea-
K’Tulah. After an hour in the stacks, the tabaxi ture of your choice as a reaction.
can be found in her room (area F13). She's having
trouble concentrating on her work and is visibly
check, but each attempt to bypass the spell takes 1
anxious. If approached by the characters, she tells
minute. Alternatively, a character can force open the
them she came here to study, not to get sealed away
hatch with a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics)
in a tomb.
check. A knock spell or similar magic suppresses
Varnyr. The senior scribe remains in the stacks the hatch’s arcane lock spell for 10 minutes.
for an hour before retiring to her room (area F14).
She has already shared everything she knows about EVENT 2: EBDER’'S OUTBURST
the curse affecting them. If asked about what she’s
Ebder is seated at the table in area F2 when this
been doing lately, she explains that she has been di-
event occurs.
viding her time between fixing up the balcony level
and working in the bindery repairing books. She is
able to suppress the urge to hum the melody without A shrill sound tears through the Firefly Cellar, over- :
any outward signs of duress. powering all other noise. Though it rapidly rises toan
uncanny pitch, you recognize Ebder’s voice.
Exit HATCH
The hatch has been targeted by an arcane lock spell,
which can be dispelled by using the key in Varnyr’s Anyone in area F2 sees that Ebder’s eyes are bulg-
possession. The hatch has AC 21, 60 hit points, and ing in terror. As he hums the rhyme’s melody, the
immunity to poison and psychic damage. A char- rest of his body is paralyzed. He's cold to the touch.
acter with thieves’ tools can bypass the spell and He continues to sing the rhyme over and over for
unlock the hatch with a successful DC 25 Dexterity five minutes. During this time, Gailby runs into

3 —
SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME
the room to try to help her father, terrified by his
KX Tulah, biting her ips to keep from singing,o, tps to
behavior. Crinkle follows her and tries to console
the child, with little effect. the floor with her back against a wall and her head in
Shemshime’s influence has begun to reach into her hands. After a moment her ears flatten, and she
the world. When Ebder stops singing, roll on the springs up and takes off ata ul sprint. -
Shemshime’s Influence table to find out what ® ee
happens next.
K’Tulah runs for the hatch in the ceiling of area
HAUNTING OCCURRENCES F1. She tries to evade anyone who stands in her
After Ebder’s outburst, Shemshime’s influence man- path but fights them if necessary. If she reaches the
ifests in the Firefly Cellar in several unsettling ways. hatch, she attempts to force the door. When that
From this point forward, whenever at least half the doesn’t work, she demands that Varnyr open it, but
characters are singing Shemshime’s rhyme, roll on Varnyr refuses. Unless K'Tulah is subdued, she at-
the Shemshime’s Influence table to determine what tacks Varnyr to get the key.
happens. Add more of these rolls as you see fit, even A character can try to calm K'Tulah, doing so with
during later events. a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check. A
calm emotions spell or similar magic also does the
EVENT 3: SINGING SKULL trick, as does giving K’'Tulah the mechanical oyster
The remains of Yowen Pilt, the book seller who from her quarters (area F13).
brought the book and its curse to Candlekeep, are
EVENT 5: PUPPETS
hidden in a secret compartment in area F4. This
event begins when his skull starts singing the words This event can occur in any area except Crinkle’s
to the rhyme. room (area F11).
° | . ® : y .

The tune continues to toe att each of your minds, The air around you feels thick. It presses | in on you
~ willing you to intone its sequence of notes. The notes from all sides, prickling your nerves. Your muscles
twitch, as though Something | is yanking e on themne S
take on the shapes. of words you’ re certain you've
a :
never heard before but are : somehow familiar to you invisible strings.
a8 lyrics.
® Sd Hi —- SHE ®
Crinkle and Gailby flee to Crinkle’s room (area F11)
Share the handout of Shemshime’s rhyme with your when this event begins.
players. The final stanza is absent from the handout. Choose half of the remaining characters, includ-
Going forward, whenever a character is compelled ing NPCs (other than Gailby and Crinkle). Those
to hum Shemshime’s rhyme, they sing the words to who are not under the effect of a protection from
the tune instead. evil and good spell or similar magic must succeed
on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or be charmed
by Shemshime for 1 minute. While charmed in this
You become aware that the song is not only in your way, the creature is under Shemshime’s control and
head. Somewhere nearby, a deep and melodic voice is is compelled to sing Shemshime’s rhyme repeatedly
singing the words. while trying to cause physical harm to others.
Creatures whose actions and movements are
being controlled by Shemshime remain aware of
The skull continues to sing unless it’s destroyed or
what's going on around them, but they are power-
Shemshime is trapped in Shemshime’s Bedtime
less to stop themselves from causing harm in accor-
Rhyme. The skull is a Tiny object with AC 15, 4 hit
dance with Shemshime'’s wishes.
points, and immunity to poison damage.
Shemshime’s control over a creature is broken
EVENT 4: ESCAPE ATTEMPT by the break enchantment effect of a dispel evil and
good spell (magic that is probably beyond the char-
K’Tulah reaches the end of her patience with being acters’ ability to cast) or by reducing the creature
confined, and she tries to break the quarantine. This to 0 hit points. A charmed creature can repeat the
event can begin in any area. saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
When you're ready to begin this event, read the the effect on itself on a success. If a creature suc-
following boxed text aloud: ceeds on the saving throw or the effect ends on it,
Shemshime can’t take control of that creature again
for 24 hours.

{ (0
SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME 67 B
 SceNEs IN THE OrPenNeD Book

EVENT 6: SHEMSHIME than playing the tune all the way through, it skips
The final event revolves around interacting with near the end and starts over. The same is true for
the book and learning the last stanza of the rhyme, the pop-up scene that plays out when the book
which tells how to foil Shemshime and end the is opened.
curse. Meanwhile, Shemshime The damage to the exterior of the box is imme-
coalesces around
the book, lashing out at the characters to stop them diately noticeable to characters who inspect it. A
from thwarting its manifestation. successful DC 15 Intelligence check reveals the
As event 5 concludes, read or paraphrase: problem. Anyone proficient with jeweler’s tools or
tinker’s tools has advantage on the roll. Inside the
music box is a brass cylinder dotted with tiny pegs.
Gailby appears in the doorway, blood spattered on her When the cylinder turns, narrow bits of metal pluck
face and down the front of her clothes. She’s shaking, the pegs to produce the notes of the melody. The cyl-
with wide eyes, and holding a large, square book that inder is sitting askew, which prevents it from work-
has blood on the corner of its metal spine. ing properly. Fixing the music box requires three
successful DC 15 Dexterity checks, each check re-
quiring an action. These checks can be made by one
The book in Gailby’s possession is Shemshime’s character or multiple characters working together.
Bedtime Rhyme. Though she’s reluctant to share Characters who try to fix the music box hear
the truth, Gailby admits that she knocked Crinkle Shemshime’s maddening whispers in their heads.
unconscious with the book. Either she or Crinkle After making an ability check to fix the music box,
was possessed when it happened, but Gailby’s not regardless of whether the check succeeds or not, a
certain which. character must make a DC 13 Intelligence saving
throw, taking 14 (4d6) psychic damage on a failed
REPAIRING THE Music Box
save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A
The key feature of Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme
Once fixed, the music box plays its tune to the end.
is its music box, which broke centuries ago. Rather
As it does so, the words of the rhyme’s final stanza

68 / SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

 form in the characters’ minds (see “The Rhyme”).
The scene played out in the book also continues to
its conclusion, showing the tiny representation of
Shemshime being crushed beneath a millstone.

CONFRONTATION
Singing the final stanza draws Shemshime (see the
accompanying stat block) into the room.
® @®

The book trembles, and its mechanical inner workings

squeal to a halt for a moment before whirring back
to life. You hear clicks, and shadows burst forth from
the book like steam from a kettle, collecting along
the ceiling until wisps of darkness outline a vague
humanoid figure. Meanwhile, the scenes inside the
book transform, creating an entirely new picture that
includes tiny cutout figures of yourselves.
@ ®

Shemshime attacks the characters, focusing its

attention on anyone near the book. It also tries to
break the characters’ concentration, since it gains
power when the rhyme is sung.
The newly formed illustration in the book displays
a facsimile of the Firefly Cellar, complete with tiny
cutout figures of the characters and NPCs. Note-
worthy in the scene is the replica of the enormous
sculpture hanging from the ceiling above the stacks
(see area F1 for a description of the sculpture).

SHEMSHIME Incorporeal Movement. Shemshime can move through other

creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5
Medium undead
(1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 31 (7d8) ACTIONS
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) Maddening Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 17 (4d6 + 3) psychic damage.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Whispers of Violence. Shemshime chooses up to two creatures
6(-2) 17(+3) 10(+0) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
it can see within 60 feet of it. Each target must succeed on a
Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +4 DC 13 Wisdom saving throw, or that target takes 7 (1d8 + 3)
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +7 psychic damage and must use its reaction to make a melee
Damage Resistances acid, bludgeoning, fire, lightning, weapon attack against one creature it can reach (Shemshime’s
piercing, slashing, thunder choice) that Shemshime can see.
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison Howling Babble (Recharge 6). Shemshime targets one creature
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, it can see within 30 feet of it. The creature must make a DC
grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
13 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 21 (4d8
- Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 14
+ 3) psychic damage and is stunned until the end of its next
~ Languages telepathy 60 ft.
turn. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
isn’t stunned.

Crushing End. |f damage reduces Shemshime to 0 hit points,

Shemshime instead drops to 1 hit point unless the damage is
the result of Shemshime being crushed by an object weighing
at least 1,000 pounds.
YLER WALPOLE

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

 Sy
EI
OR

DESTROYING THE BOOK THE FIREFLY CELLAR

Destroying the book does nothing to defeat or oth-
The basement library known as the Firefly Cellar
erwise impede Shemshime. Shemshime’s Bedtime
is located beneath the House of Rest. It’s entirely
Rhyme is a Tiny object with AC 14, 15 hit points, a
below ground, containing a collection of old man-
damage threshold of 15 (see “Damage Threshold”
uscripts that focus primarily on travelogues and
in the Dungeon Master's Guide), and immunity to
regional customs. Until Senior Scribe Varnyr initi-
poison and psychic damage.
ated a restoration effort, its books had been largely
DEFEATING SHEMSHIME neglected over the past few centuries.
To defeat Shemshime, it must be crushed by an
ENCOUNTER LOCATIONS
object weighing at least 1,000 pounds. Objects
in the Firefly Cellar that qualify include the book The Firefly Cellar has three floors. The upper two
sculpture suspended from the ceiling in area F1, the contain the book collection. Despite its age, the cel-
bookcases in areas F1 and F2, and the stone table lar appears well kept, with smooth stone walls and
in area F2. worn wooden floorboards covered here and there
Luring Shemshime to where it can be crushed with new rugs. The only entrance is a metallic or-
takes some effort. Because Shemshime is fixated on ange hatch set into the ceiling at the top of the stairs
the book, the spirit pursues whoever has it. In other that lead down into area F1.
words, the characters can use the book itself to lure The bottom floor contains a kitchen and living
Shemshime into harm’s way. quarters. For many years, Crinkle was the only oc-
Once Shemshime is in position, a character can cupant, but Varnyr, Ebder, and Gailby have moved in
use an action to drop or topple a heavy object on it. during the recent restoration effort.
Shemshime must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity sav- The Firefly Cellar has no windows. Unless other-
ing throw to avoid being crushed under the object. wise noted, orange-gold light emanates from bottles
On a failed save, Shemshime vanishes and one of of fireflies either set into alcoves in the wall or hang-
the following outcomes occurs: ing from fixtures.
The following locations are keyed to the map of
« If the book is intact, Shemshime is yanked back
the Firefly Cellar.
into the book. It slams shut, silencing the music
box and ending the curse. Fl. THE STACKS, BALCONY
. If the book has been destroyed, Shemshime is
9 @
pulled into the nearest closed book, ending the
curse. That book transforms into a copy of Shem- The circular room contains curved, dark wood book-
shime’s Bedtime Rhyme, destroying the book’s cases packed with books of assorted shapes, sizes,
original content in the process. and ages. Flowers in ceramic pots line the tops of the

Once Shemshime is trapped again, Varnyr or shelves, giving the area a sweet fragrance. Alcoves
whoever has the key unlocks the hatch in area F1. are spaced at regular intervals around the perimeter
Varnyr or Ebder immediately takes the book to lock of the room. Four of them contain polished bronze
it away in one of Candlekeep’s secure vaults. statues of bespectacled scholars, and three hold
Reward. The Avowed give the characters a bag of overstuffed chairs. In the center
of the room, a brass
holding as a reward for defeating Shemshime. railing surrounds an overlook that gives a view of the
lower level of the stacks.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Hanging
from the ceiling, above the opening in the
The adventure assumes that the quarantine remains
‘intact. But there's a reasonable chance the characters | floor, is an enormous stone sculpture of an open book
in your game will want to leave the confines of the that looks as though the cover is flapping to keep it
~ Firefly Cellar
or even help K'Tulah escape. It’s up to
aloft. A spiral staircase to the east leads down, as
you whether to allow this and to consider how Candle-
keep responds. i | well as up to the trapdoor exit set into the ceiling. The
If the characters get bogged down in researching the occasional errant firefly flits about.
books on the shelves, roll on the Shemshime’s Influ- @ ®

ence table to maintain a sense of peril.

Varnyr’s restoration project began in this room, and
it’s tidier and more welcoming than the chamber
below. She has brought in rugs and flowers and pol-
ished the statues. Three of the statues were in such
a poor state that she replaced them with comfort-
able reading chairs.
 Bookcases

overlook ing F2

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

5
Nb
i BOI
RA NA
Nb

The bookcases are 10 feet tall, and each one has a F3. SCRIPTORIUM
new rolling ladder attached to it.
0 | ’
Area F2 is visible from the balcony.
Book Lift. A rope-and-pulley mechanism with All around, fireflies float lazily about like embers :
a fraying basket at one end is fixed to the railing. caught in the air. Three writing desks sit against the
Centuries ago, the Avowed put it here to move books north wall, with a sheepskin rug beneath each one.
between floors. It’s essentially a large lidded wicker On one of the desks rests a book beside a stack of
basket that can be lowered or raised. It’s not in the paper, along with a stoppered ink jjar and a porcupine
best condition, so it holds a maximum of 50 pounds
quill pen. Another desk has a leather ccase onit. A .
without falling apart. The box is currently raised,
moldering tapestry hangs, off- center, on the west well :
and the rope is tied to the railing.
Characters who search the book lift find two small To the southeast is a wood- paneled wall with 2 closed
children’s dolls. One has a scythe with a handle “door set into it. A weak yellow glow emanates from =
made from a round paintbrush and a blade cut from under this door. .
paper. The other doll is missing its feet. é : : : %

Flying Book Sculpture. This piece of stonework

This room is dedicated to the copying of library
is 12 feet across and weighs 1,500 pounds. The
texts. The three desks are of fine quality but could
cover is etched with the words “BE CURIOUS.”
use maintenance. Ebder works here to create new
It’s suspended above area F2 by three chains, but
copies of books deemed unrepairable. The book on
the chains’ fittings in the ceiling beam above are in
the desk has a bookmark poking out from its pages.
bad shape. If 200 pounds or more are added to the
It’s an ancient tome, its title worn away over time. Its
weight of the sculpture, the chains come out of the
pages fall out if it's opened. The leather case on the
ceiling and the sculpture falls. Alternatively, striking
other desk contains a set of calligrapher’s supplies.
the chains with enough force to break them makes
The door in the wood-paneled wall is closed with
it fall. Each chain has AC 19, 5 hit points, and immu-
a padlocked latch. Crinkle has the key but gives it up
nity to poison and psychic damage.
only grudgingly, explaining that the fireflies should
F2. THE STACKS not be disturbed. A character can pick the lock with
a successful DC 15 Dexterity check, or it can be
destroyed. The lock has AC 19, 5 hit points, and im-
smell of old books hangs! in the air r here. munity to poison and psychic damage.
gs of bookcases dominate the space, Writing on the Wall. Anyone who searches
vith a heavy granite table occupying the room's cen- behind the tapestry finds words scratched into
ter, Th e table would be a circle, but for six semicircular the stone wall—the lyrics of Shemshime’s rhyme
- gaps cut into it around its edge, creating spaces for six - except for the final stanza. They were carved by
Yowen Pilt, who was sealed in this room because of
- chairs. Small stacks of books rest on the table along
his madness.
witha.a candleholder that contains1s firefly-flled jars.
re : ; : oe F4. FIREFLY Room
The Firefly Cellar’s general study area encourages @ @

quiet reading. The shape of the table creates six : This small r room iss awash | in the glow of thousands
individual study spaces. The table weighs around of fireflies. The luminescent insects flit around inside
300 pounds, and four rolled-up indigo rugs rest un-
: more than a dozen glass terrariums that fll shelves
derneath. Varnyr intends to use the 15-foot-long and
along the walls. A steady plinking. noise results from a
5-foot-wide carpeting as runners in the north, east,
south, and west aisles on this floor. ; their bouncir ng off the glass. Shallow wooden boxes
The bookcases are 10 feet tall. Two of them have are packed on the lowest shelves.
® : - a Re ; hd
attached rolling ladders. An unattached ladder leans
against a shelf in the southwest part of the room.
A former supply closet for the scriptorium, this
Looking up, characters can see into area F1
room was outfitted by Crinkle for raising and caring
and the enormous stone book sculpture dan-
for fireflies. The boxes on the lowest shelves contain
gling overhead.
vials of liquid nutrient for the insects.
Writing on the Floor. A successful DC 12 Wis-
dom (Perception) check reveals words scratched
into the floorboards. In manic script, the words
read, “FINISH THE RHYME.”

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

 Secret Compartment. A loose stone in the floor This claustrophobic hallway runs beneath the
lies beneath the lowest shelf on the east wall. Find- stacks, leading to the living quarters. At the far end
ing it requires a successful DC 20 Intelligence (In- is a closed but unlocked door. Lamps hang from
vestigation) check. If singing is emerging from the hooks every 10 feet on alternating sides of the pas-
room (see event 2), the DC is 10. Moving the stone sage but only one lamp, around halfway into the pas-
aside exposes a pile of bones in a nook 5 feet across sage, gives off light. The others have dead fireflies
and 5 feet deep. Investigating the bones reveals two piled at the bottom of them.
humanoid bodies. One of the skulls has a hole in the
back of it. This was Yowen Pilt, killed by an Avowed F7. KITCHEN
who was desperate to end the curse. That Avowed, 8 : ; ; @$

also stricken with the curse, killed himself to stop A dirty skillet stands out among an otherwise immac-
it from spreading. The bodies were hidden away in ulate kitchen, and the smell of bacon in the air hints at
this closet.
the skillets former contents. A door in the southeast
F5. BINDERY corner hangs open a crack.

° y 0
Leather bits, wood shavings, and paper scraps litter An oven occupies one corner; instead of being
the floor near a large workbench. Tools and con- heated by open flames, it has a coil of iron en-
traptions are organized neatly around a handful of chanted with the heat metal spell, which activates
when a toggle switch on the side of the oven is
books in different states of disrepair. Stools surround
flipped. A well-stocked pantry rests in another cor-
the bench, one of which has a leather apron draped
ner. Pots and pans hang from wall hooks above a
over it. | metal sink.
.

é : o : ®
The southeast door leads to a hallway that con-
Emre

Books in need of repair are brought to the bindery. nects to areas F8 through F14.
Varnyr loves this task, and it’s her work on display
F8. AVOWED QUARTERS
on the bench. The tools are used for bookbinding,
leatherworking, woodcarving, and painting.
A ledger rests on one of the stools. It’s open to Two beds, positioned on opposite walls, flank a wash-
a list of four book titles, each one with a “repairs basin in an otherwise bare room. Both beds are made,
needed” entry beside it. The titles and their associ- but the blanket on one of them is a bit rumpled.
ated repairs are as follows:
Festivals and Festivities of Ancient Cormyr: re- In the past, this room would have housed two
place cover Avowed, but it’s scarcely used nowadays. If the char-
Living a Dream: Three Years Among Stone Giants: acters stay in the cellar overnight, this is one of their
replace cover rooms. Otherwise, the room is unoccupied.
Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme: repair spine
Halfling Superstitions: rebind F9. GAILBY’S ROOM
The door to this room is open.
A character who succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom
(Perception) or Intelligence (Investigation) check no- ® ®

tices that the books on the workbench are three of A child sleeps here. Toys are scattered on an unmade
the books on the list. Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme bed, and piles of clothes obscure all but a few bare
is missing. patches of the floorboards. Above a writing desk in the =

F6. THE WorM TUNNEL corner dangles a dragon marionette made from brass |
This passage is accessible by the west stairs and wood, with wings of canvas dyed red. A round
in area F2. firefly lamp hangs in the opposite corner.
® : Hh

It’s cold here. A low, barrel-vaulted ceiling crowds the Gailby has been drawing creepy pictures that depict
already narrow passage. Light from a firefly lamp that scenes from Shemshime’s Bedtime Rhyme. They're
hangs on a hook in the wall is inadequate to illuminate done in loud colored paint and in a style typical of
the entire space. a child, making them all the more unsettling. One
of the images shows a man whose feet have been
severed. Blood pours from his ankles and from
the severed feet next to him. Another shows a boy

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

we
can JA
oda dN

underwater, grasping at his throat. The last one they move the toggle, a 5-foot-wide panel releases
shows a dog with a severed hand in its mouth. A and can be slid to the side to reveal a bank of small
black cloud hovers over each scene. storage spaces. Prior to event 5, Shemshime’s Bed-
time Rhyme is found here. Otherwise, the spaces
F10. EBDER'S RooM contain the following treasures: an amber ring that
belonged to Ebder’s wife (25 gp), an ornate curved
: This sparse bedroom is tidy, apart froma clay bowl dagger (25 gp), a set of four intricately shaped glass
containing the remnants of a particularly vinsgary bottles (5 gp each) with nothing in them, a potion of
gaseous form, and a potion of heroism.
meal resting ona large trunk.
F12. AVOWED QUARTERS
Other than the trunk, which holds a set of Avowed
robes and a heavy wool coat, the room is furnished A beautiful painting of Canitishesp onnthe south wel hr
with a bed, a small round table with a rickety chair, ; looms over the five beds that crowd this room. A nar-
and a mirror hanging above a washbasin. A round,
row shelf tucked into the northeast corner holds j jars
woven green rug with gray fringe covers the floor.
of fruit preserves and pickled vegetables.
Anyone who looks under the bed finds an ornate
8 ; R ®
circular box decorated with silver filigree. Inside
the box is a small glass figurine of a woman fixed If the characters stay in the cellar overnight, this be-
to a wooden stand and a post meant to hold a ring, comes one of their assigned rooms. Otherwise, the
though the ring is missing. These items are Ebder’s room is unoccupied.
keepsakes of his deceased wife, Valeshti.
F13. K'TuLAH'S Room
F111. CRINKLE’S ROOM
Crinkle has the key to this locked room. A charac-
This room is furnished with a bed, a ‘washbasin, and
ter can use an action to try to pick the lock using
thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC 20 a writing desk. The desk has a tiny clockwork Coys
Dexterity check, or force open the door with a suc- resting on it.
cessful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.
Treasure. Lying next to the clockwork oyster is a
This room is crawling with wingless, larval fireflies. metal key. If a character uses an action to wind the
Hundreds ¢of these tiny glowworms cling to every sur- mechanical oyster with the key, the oyster produces
face, shedding light throughout. A canvas hammock soothing ocean sounds for 10 minutes. This non-
magical device is worth 50 gp.
hangs between two pillars near the center of the
room. An. engraving of a goat wearing a crown leans Fl14.. VARNYR'S ROOM
; against the north wall. |
@ : ]
This bedroom could be another wing of the library
When characters enter the room for the first time for all the books packed into the shelves that line the
after event 6, add the following: | walls. Two five- foot-tall candlesticks ini the middle of
the room have magical flames flickering atop them—a
Against the far wall is Crinkle’s slumped form. The welcome reprieve from the relatively dim light of the
silence | in the room is interrupted periodically by her firefly lamps. | |
| ragged breaths. % : $

Each candlestick is lit by a continual light spell that

There is nothing remarkable about the crowned Varnyr can suppress by speaking a command word
goat engraving that leans against the north wall. It’s known only to her. The books in here represent
about 3 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. Varnyr’s personal collection.
Hidden Treasure. Anyone who has a passive The room includes a large cushion (which Var-
Wisdom (Perception) score of 15 or higher notices nyr sits on whenever she enters a trance to rest),
an occasional glow coming from a semicircular gap an armoire, and a green velvet reading chair. The
where the north wall meets the west wall. Alter- armoire contains clothes as well as a pile of books
natively, a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) that won't fit on the shelves.
check reveals the sporadic glowing. Anyone who
puts their finger in the hole feels a toggle switch. If

SHEMSHIME’S BEDTIME RHYME

 AN ADVENTURE FOR 5TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS NN
TE i & FE mre ni RO i BATES
a ances BB :

y WRITTEN BY MARK HULMES

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY SCOTT FITZGERALD GRAY

N THIS ADVENTURE, THE CHARACTERS LEARN

the secret of the unique magic bound into a
book of tips for channeling self-love and inner
- beauty, and they break up the sinister plots of
a coven of hags.
Despite its ordinary contents, The Price of Beauty
radiates auras of illusion and conjuration magic
courtesy of a magic mirror set into its cover. Though
the full function of the mirror has never been deter-
mined by the Avowed, the book is known to speak to
some of those who read it—including an acolyte who
has vanished from Candlekeep without a trace.

BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE

Start the adventure by having the characters seek-
ing The Price of Beauty, or have them simply come
across the book while undertaking other research
in Candlekeep. Characters who come to the library
looking for information involving Sune (god of love
and beauty) will have the tome recommended to Tre Price oF Beauty
them. Or you could have a vain, wealthy noble hire
the party to track down the book and have its advice
copied by the scribes in the House of the Binder. The acolyte is Lorris Niss, a middle-aged, neu-
| Depending on how you bring the book into the tral good half-elf searching for a missing friend.
possession of the characters, they might spend Falthrax Loderr is a shield dwarf acolyte whom
enough time with it to discover the magic of the Lorris last saw two days before. Lorris is clearly up-
mirror on their own. In that case, see the “Mirror set but maintains her composure as she shares the
Magic” section later in the adventure for details. following information:
Either way, read or paraphrase the following when . Falthrax is a dear friend who has been troubled of
you're ready to begin: late by depression; he talked of feeling as though
@ ® his life is passing him by.
A nervous muttering precedes the approach of one of « The dwarf’s mood had improved in the last ten-
day after he discovered a book in the Candlekeep
the Avowed, who scans the tomes on the surrounding
stacks—The Price of Beauty. Already a worshiper
shelves as they draw near to you. “She must have
of Sune, god of beauty, Falthrax talked of how the
been here ... | don’t understand ...” they murmur as book spoke to him, and how its advice on medita-
they catch sight of you. tion and self-worth was helping him.
“Ah. Forgive this disturbance,” the acolyte says. « The last time Lorris saw Falthrax, the dwarf was
“But I'm looking for ...” They stop short as they catch in a sad mood and said that he was going to spend
sight of The Price of Beauty. “Yes, I'm looking for time with the book. Falthrax didn’t return to his
quarters that night and hasn’t been seen since. He
that.” Then, looking over your group, the acolyte ap-
was noticed entering the stacks where The Price
: pears saddened. “But you haven't seen anyone else ...
of Beauty is kept, but no one saw him leave.
2 well, you haven't seen Falthrax, have you?”

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

BOOK DESCRIPTION If the portal manifests while Lorris is present,
the acolyte guesses correctly that it was the cause
The Price of Beauty is bound in soft green leather,
of Falthrax’s disappearance. She fears the power-
eight inches wide and fourteen inches tall, and set
ful magic involved and is apprehensive about what
with golden clasps. The book gives off the unmis-
might have happened to her friend.
takable scent of lilies. Set into its cover is a polished
If the characters aren’t inclined to investigate the
oval mirror with a delicate gold frame styled like
portal or go after the missing acolyte, Lorris goes to
locks of hair, which appear to spill down around the
one of the library’s Great Readers to report Falthrax
face of anyone who looks into the mirror.
missing, and she mentions having met a group of
The book is filled with beautiful illustrations of
adventurers in the library. The Great Reader then
woodland scenes, art, and jewelry. Delicate hand-
summons the characters and beseeches them to
writing accompanies the illustrations, in the form of
look into the matter.
short prayers and meditations dedicated to seeking
self-worth, techniques for massage and healing, and
recipes for creating balms and cosmetics.
TEMPLE OF THE
On the last page is an inscription by the author, RESTFUL LILY
Sylvarie Silversong, which reads: “A mirror is
This grand temple and bathhouse rests in a serene
a gateway to happiness, truth, and to accepting
and ancient grove in the High Forest, southeast of
ourselves.”
Silverymoon. The temple was built over a century
MIRROR MAGIC ago by the author of The Price of Beauty, Sylvarie
When any creature holds The Price of Beauty and Silversong, after visions bestowed by Sune led her
gazes into the mirror, the image of Sune replaces to a hot spring infused with fey magic.
their own reflection and speaks in a soft voice, say-
Ten years ago, a coven of green hags calling them-
ing, “Well met, dearest one. How do you feel today?” selves the Fetid Gaze tricked Sylvarie into a bargain
(If the characters have not experienced this already, that allowed them to take over the bathhouse. These
Lorris looks into the mirror while recounting what cruel and cunning fey now use the temple to lure
happened to Falthrax, and then drops the book in wealthy, greedy, and vain nobles and adventurers,
fright when it speaks to her.) preying on their insecurities and tricking them
The mirror’s unique illusion magic reacts and into accepting dark bargains that ultimately lead
responds to the creature looking into it. Though it is to misery.
not sentient and cannot answer complex questions, The temple consists of three buildings. What was
the mirror offers encouragement and advice on once Sylvarie’s private tower has been taken over by
grooming and self-confidence. As it does so, the illu- the hags as a lair, and a former shrine to Sune has
sion shows the creature looking into the mirror, but become a prison for the cursed elf. The main bath-
changing and grooming its skin, hair, makeup, and house looks exactly as Sylvarie built it, and it contin-
clothing as desired. If the creature holding the book ues to provide services to visitors. Most of the staff
is happy with how it looks, or shows no interest in of the bathhouse are the coven’s wicked minions in
such matters, the illusion reverts to a normal mirror disguise, but also here are an undercover Harper
until used again. agent, a water spirit, and a cursed kobold—all po-
If the creature holding the book mentions a desire tential allies who can reveal the coven’s malicious
to change something about itself, or that it feels machinations.
unwell, tired, or unhappy, the illusion responds, “If
THE FETID GAZE
rest, relaxation, or transformation is what you need,
then follow the lilies, dearest one. I am sure Sylva- Three green hags named Dread Morgan, Vile
rie will see to your needs.” The mirror then glows Sazha, and Auntie Greenbones were once rivals
softly, and a 5-foot-wide, 7-foot-high portal appears who dwelled in an area of the Feywild coterminous
in the nearest unoccupied space. The portal leads with the High Forest. A decade ago, during a time
to an old woodland trail marked by posts that re- when the boundaries between the planes thinned,
semble sculpted stone lilies. As the characters will the hags became aware of the magic spring con-
discover, the portal leads to a temple and bathhouse trolled by Sylvarie—and decided to control and cor-
run by three elf sisters, where all is not as it seems. rupt it for their own purposes. The covetous hags
The portal remains active for 5 minutes, then van- each knew part of a ritual for crafting magic paint-
ishes. The Price of Beauty cannot be used to create ings that could bind mortal creatures with a terrible
another portal until the next dawn. curse. After agreeing to share their knowledge and
work together, they formed a coven dedicated to
claiming Sylvarie’s temple and making it a base for
their nefarious plans.

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

 The hags use their powers of illusion to pose as Ideal. “Any brute can frighten someone. To truly
three elf sisters named Morganna, Azirssa, and make someone fearful is a high art.”
Greensong. They are typically found in the bath- Bond. “1 will do anything to gain the upper hand
house by day and in their tower lair at night. Each over the other members of my coven and make them
hag carries a master key that opens all the doors in serve me.”
the bathhouse and the tower. Flaw. “I find powerful, intimidating figures ir-
resistible.”
DREAD MORGAN
In her true form, the neutral evil Dread Morgan VILE SAZHA
appears as a thin, pale creature whose long, matted Without her disguise, the chaotic evil Vile Sazha
black hair is festooned with ornaments made from appears as a hunched figure with one muscular and
bones and teeth. Her mouth curves up unnaturally one withered arm. She has catlike eyes, and rust-
high at the corners, and her bloodred lips are cov- red hair covers her head, back, and arms. Her sharp
ered in blisters and boils. fangs cause her to slur when she speaks, and she
In her disguised form, the hag appears as Mor- hisses and screeches when threatened.
ganna, a slender moon elf with smooth black hair In her disguised form, she appears as Azirssa,
and sparkling sapphire eyes. She speaks in a husky, an athletic sun elf with copper hair who wears an
alluring voice and focuses on the business of run- ornate breastplate with a red fur mantle. She has a
ning the bathhouse. confident and jovial voice, and she promotes physi-
Dread Morgan knows the ritual needed to bind cal strength and good health.
a creature’s desire to a cursed painting, which is Vile Sazha knows how to create a suitable can-
recorded on a tiny scroll hidden in a bone ornament vas for the hags’ cursed paintings. This secret is
in her hair. tattooed on her withered arm in Infernal, and it de-
VARIBA

Personality Trait. “1 have made subtle insults into scribes a macabre process of stretching elven flesh
an art form.” over a frame made from blood-soaked wood.
AROLINI
 Personality Trait. “1 despise the weak, and I love COVEN MINIONS
to inflict physical pain and violence when I can get The hags of the Fetid Gaze employ a number of min-
away with it.” ions to maintain the appearance that the bathhouse
Ideal. “Strength is the only thing worth is running normally. Twice a day, the hags use their
respecting.” coven spells (see the “Coven Spells” sidebar) to cast
Bond. “Dwarves burned down my home and seeming on their minions, disguising them suitably
killed my daughter long ago, and I will hate all their for their roles.
kind forever.” The following creatures serve the hags:
Flaw. “1 am terrified of fire.”
. Saeth, a cambion, was recruited by Dread Mor-
AUNTIE GREENBONES gan in exchange for a gift of unusual components
The eldest member of the Fetid Gaze, the lawful and secret rituals that he intends to put toward
evil Auntie Greenbones often defers to the other two his own evil and ambitious plans one day. Sa-
hags on decision-making. In her true form, she is eth specifically wants to learn the secrets of the
shriveled and worn, her dark green skin covered in cursed paintings, and he is happy to betray his
bark and fungus. Insects crawl across her and hide employers to obtain them. He carries a master key
in the thick braid of white hair that curls around that opens all the locks in the bathhouse and the
her shoulders like a serpent. Anyone who stares tower except the door to the tower studio (area
into her milky-white, seemingly blind eyes sees a T15). He also carries the coven’s hag eye, which is
reflection of their own face made decrepit and with- disguised as a cat’s-eye pin on his jacket. For more
ered by age. information on the hag eye, see the “Hags” section
The hag’s disguise is that of Greensong, a cheer- in the Monster Manual.
ful, rosy-cheeked wood elf who feigns blindness. . Morty, a hell hound, belongs to Auntie Green-
She wears a delicate white veil across her eyes bones and is her loyal pet. The fiend never leaves
and speaks in a singsong voice, giggling often. She her side and fights to the death to defend her. Vile
keeps her guard dog, Morty, with her at all times. Sazha hates Morty almost as much as she hates
This disguised hell hound appears as a mastiff with dwarves, and would love to see him dead.
bloodshot eyes. . Six scarecrows were created by the hags to re-
Auntie Greenbones knows how to infuse demon place the acolytes of Sune who ran the bathhouse
ichor into the paints needed to create the cursed with Sylvarie, and whom the hags murdered when
paintings that drive the coven’s evil bargains. This they took over. The scarecrows are disguised as
recipe is inscribed on the inside of Morty’s collar. attractive humanoids. They don’t speak in their
Personality Trait. “Sometimes I sing to myself roles as bathhouse staff, but they nod and smile if
when [ am distracted. It is an old song of the fey, spoken to.
about a daughter betrayed by her father and given to . Two gargoyles act as the guardians for the coven’s
the unseelie in a bargain.” lair in the tower beyond the bathhouse, disguised
Ideal. “Patience is the key to survival. She who as statues of other kinds.
laughs last laughs longest.”
ROLEPLAYING THE HAGS
Bond. “My beloved dog, Morty, is my world. Were
The hags use Sylvarie's tower as their personal
anyone to harm him, I would hunt that person
lair, but they spend their days in the bathhouse,
across all the planes if need be.”
maintaining their disguises. There, they meet with
Flaw. “Those who have pure hearts literally make
visitors and seek out potential new clients to manip-
me vomit. I mean, I can’t help but heave my bowels
ulate. At night, they retreat to the tower and torment
in their presence.”
their current victims before resting.
If any guests become suspicious of the hags or
. "COVEN SPELLS |
their minions, the hags try to use suggestion or
Each member of the Ferid Gaze has access to coven
dominate person to isolate those characters so they
spells, as described in the “Hag Covens” sidebar in the
: ~ Monster Manual. The green hags use the following list can be captured or Killed discreetly.
of spells for their Shared Spellcasting trait, replacing Once the hags become aware that the adventur-
ol ‘thees iggested spells: | ers aren't at the temple for its services, they try to
distract them by beseeching the characters for aid,
> st level “ slots): orm person, wich bolt in exchange for one of their special rituals. The hags
. 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, suggestion first try to recruit the characters to destroy Cyrena,
3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, glyph of warding, show the naiad who is bound to the baths (area T5), claim-
4th level (3 slots): blight, polymorph
Sth level (2 slots): dominate person, seeming ing that a “capricious elemental spirit” has been
.6 evelel [ sot) Otto's irresistible dance attacking guests and trying to claim the bathhouse
as its home. If the characters appear particularly
capable or dangerous, the hags might also try to MAGIC TREATMENTS
trick them into destroying Sylvarie in the sacred The magical benefits that the hags typically offer to
pool below the abandoned shrine (area T12), hoping NPCs can take whatever form makes sense for the
that the cursed elf-turned-medusa petrifies one or story. If one or more of the characters enter into a
more of them in the process. bargain for the hags’ services (even if only to learn
The coven’s greatest weakness is the hags’ con- more of the procedure), use the following guidelines
tempt for one another. Each yearns to learn the oth- to determine the benefit to the character.
ers’ secrets for creating the cursed paintings so that
they can replace their rivals with their own daugh- Ability Enhancement. If engaging in a bargain to
ters one day. Characters who learn these secrets enhance physical or mental acuity, the character
can thus gain considerable leverage over the hags. chooses one ability. The score for that ability in-
creases by 2, as does the character's maximum for
DARK BARGAINS AND that score.
CURSED PAINTINGS Physical Transformation. A character bargaining
with the hags can choose to change their race,
The process of creating the cursed paintings that sex, or appearance in any way they desire. The
are the hallmark of the Fetid Gaze was first at- character retains their ability scores and class fea-
tributed to a night hag grandmother whose name tures, but changes their racial traits if applicable.
other hags fear to speak. The method remains Youth. A character who bargains for youth has their
shrouded in secrecy, and each member of the Fetid age reduced to one year older than the standard
Gaze knows only one part of the procedure. Each for adulthood (as noted in the traits for the charac-
hag guards her knowledge zealously, fearing that ter’s race).
giving up her secret would make her expendable to
the other hags. All such benefits last no longer than a year, and they
Disguised as elves, the hags tempt guests into end immediately if the painting of the character cre-
undergoing magical transformations. Their rituals, ated by the hags is destroyed. If a character keeps
which they call treatments, seem entirely beneficial their painting for a year or renounces the bargain,
on the surface (see “Magic Treatments” below), and you can decide what effect the curse brings about.
the hags are skilled at tricking guests into thinking A cursed character also gains the following flaw,
the benefits outweigh the cost. which suppresses any conflicting personality trait
The price for these special rituals is described the character already possesses: “My appearance
as “some small boon,” which the sisters promise to and how others perceive me is of the utmost impor-
call for within a year. Any creature that accepts the tance to me.”
bargain is taken to the studio in the temple tower
DESTROYING THE PAINTINGS
(area T15), where the sisters work together to paint
The paintings’ magic persists even if the hags are
a beautiful portrait of the creature over a period of
killed, and destroying a painting is the only way to
1 hour. At the end of that time, the magic of the por-
end its curse. Any creature that studies all three
trait alters the creature in the desired manner.
parts of the procedure for creating a cursed painting
The benefits granted by the bargain normally last
knows that the painting is impervious to damage
for a year. After that, the beneficiary suddenly expe-
unless its magic can be momentarily disrupted.
riences the opposite of the intended effect of the rit-
Without full knowledge of the procedure, it takes 1
ual, which transforms the creature into the dark re-
hour of studying a painting and a successful DC 18
flection of its initial desire. For example, those who
Intelligence (Arcana) check to determine this fact.
sought physical power are weakened to the point
A creature can use an action to try to destroy a
of helplessness, while those who sought beauty
painting, doing so with a successful DC 18 Strength
become hideous to behold. If a creature renounces
(Athletics) check. On a failed check, the creature
the hags’ gift before the year is up, this curse takes
takes 14 (4d6) psychic damage. Any character who
effect immediately.
uses an action to examine the painting knows, with
Over the last ten years, the hags have cursed hun-
a successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check, that
dreds of victims, most of whom have perished as a
the painting can also be destroyed by splashing it
result of their dark bargains.
with fresh blood from a celestial.
A compulsion placed on each cursed creature pre-
vents it from trying to destroy a cursed painting.

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY 79

 COVEN VICTIMS (GUESTS OF THE TEMPLE
In addition to the missing Falthrax, several
The Temple of the Restful Lily is known among the
other victims of the hags’ curse are presently at more elite folk of the Sword Coast, and any number
the temple: of those folk might be visiting when the characters
Sylvarie Silversong (a neutral good moon elf) arrive. You can roll for or choose entries from the
founded the Temple of the Restful Lily after being Temple Guests table, or use those guests as inspira-
drawn to the hot spring by the visions of Sune. tion for your own NPCs.
Her deep-seated insecurity over serving the god of
beauty was her downfall. Hoping to develop more TEMPLE GUESTS
confidence in her role as a priest of Sune, she was d8 Guest(s)
drawn into a bargain with the hags that saw her 1 Adrow poses as Jarlaxle Baenre, the leader of a
transformed into a medusa and trapped in the famous mercenary band called Bregan D’aerthe,
temple's former shrine for ten years. See area T12
in the hope of obtaining discounted treatments.
for more information.
The impostor’s disguise is easily detected by any-
Gorba Daardenrian (a lawful neutral dragonborn of
one who has met the real Jarlaxle.
gold dragon ancestry) was a mighty warrior who
sought even greater strength through her bargain 2 A veteran of the Flaming Fist, a ruthless merce-
with the hags. When she realized the true nature nary company based in the city of Baldur’s Gate,
of the bargain shortly before the curse struck, the has come to the temple to recover from a leg
dragonborn returned to the temple to challenge injury. The treatments and physical therapy are
the coven, but she became a withered husk of her helping, but the mercenary is bored and looking
former self as she arrived (use the commoner stat for excitement.
block for her current state). Now trapped here, she
3 A pair of halfling scouts from the coastal city of
is especially fearful of Vile Sazha, who torments
Neverwinter used the profits from a recent shady
N her relentlessly.
job to treat themselves to a luxurious stay at the
Glitter (a chaotic good male tiefling) is a member
of the Waterdeep Jewelers Guild, as well as an
temple, but they are paranoid about other guests
informant for one of the Masked Lords of the city. recognizing them. Go
He came to the temple wanting to be a few inches 4 A merchant and her wife (both commoners) have
taller, thinking the extra height would prove ad- come to the bathhouse to celebrate their anniver-
vantageous when conducting business transac- sary, but it is clear that the two are having rela-
tions, but he renounced the hags’ bargain when tionship issues. One of them wants to go home,
his new, taller form didn’t suit him. The hags’ while the other does not.
curse transformed him into a kobold (though he
5 Ayoung knight who belongs to an order called
uses the spy stat block). In his new form, Glitter
the Purple Dragons has traveled all the way to the
now bitterly serves the hags, speaking eloquently
and addressing guests kindly. If the characters temple from Cormyr, seeking Sune’s advice on
agree to help him undo the hags’ curse, Glitter how best to impress their betrothed.
assures them they will gain a powerful ally in Wa- 6 A dwarf noble from Citadel Adbar, a dwarven
terdeep, as well as receive 500 gp in gems as soon city-stronghold far to the north, recently suffered
as he can return to the city. a magical malady causing them to lose all their
Falthrax Loderr (a neutral good shield dwarf hair. Wearing a wig and fake beard, they have
commoner) became fearful of growing old af- come to the temple hoping to find a cure for the
ter a lifetime of dedication to Candlekeep. After condition before the truth is found out.
coming through the portal and being drawn in
7 Arock gnome inventor (use the noble stat block)
by the splendor and magic of the bathhouse, he
bargained with the hags to restore his youth. But from the city of Silverymoon has come to the
when second thoughts caused him to renounce bathhouse to sell the owners a collection of clean-
the bargain, the hags’ curse aged him well into ing gadgets.
his venerable years, and he is now wracked with 8 A lawful neutral assassin targeting evil nobles has
constant pain. Having no idea how to return to come to the bathhouse to hide out from the au-
Candlekeep and his old life, he has accepted his thorities, after recently botching an assignment in
fate with quiet resignation, and he weeps quietly to Waterdeep or some other city of your choice.
himself when anyone speaks to him.

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

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THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

ARRIVING AT THE TEMPLE Walls and Floors. The bathhouse and the tower
are luxuriously appointed, with walls and floors of
The Temple of the Restful Lily is built around a
polished stone. The stonework in the abandoned
fey-enchanted hot spring in a large open grove in the
shrine is crumbling and caked with grime.
High Forest. The woodland trail accessed through
Doors. Inside the bathhouse and the tower, wooden
the portal created by The Price of Beauty leads to
doors are carved with images of water lilies.
the temple from the east after a journey of a quar-
Doors in the bathhouse are normally unlocked,
ter mile. A longer trail leads west from the temple,
but they can be locked by anyone who has a mas-
winds northward, and ends at the edge of the forest
ter key. Doors in the tower are normally locked.
south of Silverymoon. Both trails converge on the
Unless otherwise noted, a locked door can be
south side of the bathhouse building and the double
opened with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check
doors leading into area T1.
using thieves’ tools, broken in with a successful
If the characters put off entering the bathhouse
DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check, or attacked. A
building to first wander the grounds, the cambion
door has AC 15, 18 hit points, and immunity to
Saeth (see “Coven Minions” earlier in the adventure)
poison and psychic damage.
leaves area T1 to intercept them. He encourages the
Windows. Within the bathhouse and the tower,
characters to return with him to the bathhouse, de-
finely made windows display abstract designs
scribing the abandoned shrine as a dangerous place
in stained glass. A window can be broken
to be avoided, and saying that the tower is a private
through with a successful DC 12 Strength (Ath-
residence that cannot be entered. He does not force
letics) check or attacked; each one has AC 13,
the issue, however.
3 hit points, and immunity to poison and psy-
Saeth calls for reinforcements if he is attacked
chic damage.
or if anyone tries to forcibly enter the abandoned
Light. All areas of the bathhouse and the tower are
shrine or the tower. If the characters are intent on
filled with bright light during the day and evening,
starting this part of the adventure with combat, you
either from sunlight or lanterns. After midnight,
might lead off with a challenging fight against the
these areas are dark unless characters are using
hags and all their servants, then have the charac-
a light source. The ground floor of the shrine (area
ters put the pieces of the mystery together in the
T11) is unlit, while its basement is lit by a magic
aftermath.
pool (see area T12 for details).
TEMPLE FEATURES
TEMPLE LOCATIONS
The following features are common to all areas of
The following locations are keyed to the maps of the
the bathhouse, the tower, and the shrine unless oth-
Temple of the Restful Lily.
erwise noted.
| |.
T1. LOBBY
"RELAXING AT THE RESTFUL LiLY
+
The Temple of the Restful Lily offers many services and
treatments that characters in search of rest and respite The double doors open to the sound ofa bell. Beyond
can make use of. This feature of the place can allow the the doors is a large lobby, the air heavy with the scent
characters to socialize with the NPCs in residence—or of fresh lilies. A desk stands at the center of the room,
can provide opportunities for the coven’s minions to
attack them while their guard is down. Health services holding neatly piled papers and fresh-cut lilies ina
at the temple include the following: vase. A dark-haired man in fine clothes stands up
ji. Entry to the bathhouse costs 5 gp per person and in- from behind the desk as he sees you.
cludes the use of the enchanted baths, a comfortable “Welcome, friends, to the Restful Lily. Freshen your-
robe, and a private changing room with a lockable selves in our luxurious bathhouse. Or perhaps you'd
‘trunk to store weapons and equipment. |
Lodging for visitors who want to stay overnight at enjoy a massage? Haircut? A shave or pedicure? Oh!
the temple is available at a cost of 4 gp per person. Road-tired feet simply cry out for comfort! Whatever
| Meals cost 5 sp, and the ounge offers a wide range your pleasure, | am here to serve.”
2

of beverages. 8 : ; ®
=

Characters can enjoy a haircut, a shave, or a waxing

3 °

~ for2gp, 1gp, or 10 gp, respectively. The lobby is staffed by the disguised cambion Saeth
Massages can be booked for 20 gp and last (see “Coven Minions” earlier in the adventure). He
~ for an hour.
greets the characters warmly and is happy to ex-
A manicure and pedicure costs 2 sp. The pedicure
might incur an additional fee depending on the plain the treatments and services on offer (as noted
i cleanliness of the customer's feet. in the “Relaxing at the Restful Lily” sidebar). If the
characters ask about the missing Falthrax, Saeth

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

feigns ignorance. If the characters aren't interested T4. GARDEN
in the Restful Lily’s services at present, he encour-
ages them to look around. In any event, as soon as
Ani iron fence overgrown with} ivy surrounds this small
he is able to do so, he leaves the characters to their
own devices and slips away to inform one of the garden. An earthen path weaves between a scattering
hags about the party’s arrival before returning to his oft trees, flower bushes, and stone benches. Various
desk. The characters are free to explore the temple iron weights, wooden poles, and heavy sacks are
on their own at this point. strewn about the place. a oo

T2. CHANGING ROOMS

In the guise of Azirssa, one of the elf sisters, Vile
> ee
Sazha uses the garden as a place to exercise and
A corridor bevond the lobby runs between two rows
torment guests with physical training. One of the
| of curtained cubicles, where guests can change out of | trees in the garden is an awakened tree under her
: traveling clothes and armor. Each cubicle contains a | control, which she uses in her workouts and which
wooden stool, two white robes hanging on hooks, and defends her if she is attacked.
a large wooden trunk with alock. | When the characters arrive, a few other guests of
the temple might be here, looking exhausted and
clutching aching limbs while the disguised hag sar-
If the characters pay to enter the baths or want to castically congratulates them on doing their best.
enjoy any of the other facilities, they are asked to Azirssa’s Workouts. Any character who wants to
change and store their weapons and equipment can join in one of the hag’s workouts. If any charac-
here. One robe of each pair is sized for Medium ters look particularly unfit or scrawny, Vile Sazha
characters, while the other fits Small characters. singles them out and tries to goad them into joining
Saeth gives a character a numbered key that corre- in, offering them a magic potion if they can complete
sponds to that character’s cubicle and trunk. He car- three activities. A character can give up, ending a
ries a master key that opens all the trunks. As an ac- workout activity at any time. The three activities are
tion, a character can try to pick the lock on a trunk as follows:
using thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC
15 Dexterity check, or force open a trunk with a suc- Squats. To complete this activity, a character must
cessful DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check. perform three sets of continuous squats and suc-
ceed on three incrementally harder Constitution
T3. LOUNGE checks—DC 10, DC 13, and DC 16, respectively.
° ’ A character who fails a check has disadvantage
on the next Constitution check they make as part
Large cushioned chairs aree set around this open
of this activity. A character who fails three checks
. Space. Calming music fills the air, which carries a
in a row must finish a short or long rest before at-
: floral scent. A bar takes up one corner of the room, tempting this activity again.
alongside shelves of expensive wines and spirits and Tug-of-War. To complete this activity, a character
baskets of fresh fruit. Two tables stand along one wall, must stay on their feet in a tug-of-war against the
each set upasa manicure and pedicure station with awakened tree. Have the character make DC 16
nail files, dippers, and bottles of nail varnish. Strength (Athletics) checks until a check either
@ - we : ® fails by 5 or more or succeeds. In the former case,
the character falls prone and takes 3 (1d6) blud-
The lounge is watched over by two members of the geoning damage from being pulled to the ground
staff, who serve drinks to the guests and perform by the tree. In the latter case, the character wins
other mundane tasks asked of them. Both are dis- the tug-of-war. In either case, the contest ends.
guised scarecrows (see “Coven Minions” earlier in Chain Skipping. To complete this activity, a char-
the adventure). The music is a permanent auditory acter must succeed on three DC 13 Dexterity
illusion. (Acrobatics) checks, representing their attempt
During the day, the hag Dread Morgan is often to stay on their feet while they try to jump over a
here in the guise of the moon elf Morganna, talking heavy metal chain being spun by Vile Sazha and
to other guests and trying to convince likely pros- the awakened tree. If a check fails, the character
pects to indulge in the temple's “special treatments.” is knocked off balance, and the DC for the next
She takes notice of the characters and welcomes check becomes 15. If a check fails by 5 or more,
them, playing the part of a gracious host while she the character is also struck by the chain and takes
tries to learn as much about them as possible. 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.

: THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

0)
 Treasure. If a character completes all three work-
out activities, Azirssa begrudgingly gives them a po-
tion of giant strength (hill) as a reward. If more than
one character completes all three activities, Vile
Sazha gives the potion to the character who had
the fewest failed checks or the one she likes best (a
purely subjective choice on her part).

T5. BATH AND HOT SPRING

This bathhouse is built around a natural hot spring.

The pool is 10 feet deep, and its magically infused
waters grant several benefits. Water removed from
the pool loses its magic in 10 minutes.
Hot Spring. A creature that spends at least 1 hour
in the bath gains the benefit of a greater restoration
spell (the creature decides which of the spell’s ef-
fects is bestowed on it). A creature can benefit from
this property of the pool only once per month. Be-
yond the effect of the spell, the water causes a crea-
ture’s skin to appear healthier and younger, tones
down the appearance of scars and burns, and helps
to regrow lost hair.
A fey creature called a naiad (see the accompany-
ing stat block) is bound to this spring in the same
way that a dryad maintains a connection to a tree.
The naiad, Cyrena, came to an understanding with
Sylvarie when the elf founded the temple: the naiad
was allowed access to the pool and its magic in ex-
change for swearing to protect the waters.

NAIAD Amphibious. The naiad can breathe air and water.

Medium fey Invisible in Water. The naiad is invisible while fully im-
i mersed in water.
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 31 (7d8) Magic Resistance. The naiad has advantage on saving throws
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft. against spells and other magical effects.
i—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ACTIONS
100(+0) 16(+3) 11 (+0) 15(+2) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) Multiattack. The naiad makes two psychic touch attacks.
onan
Psychic Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Skills Persuasion +6, Sleight of Hand +5
Damage Resistances psychic target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) psychic damage.
Damage Immunities poison Spellcasting. The naiad casts one of the following spells using
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned Charisma as the spellcasting ability (save DC 14) and requiring
Senses passive Perception 10 no material components:
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 At will: minor illusion
CAROLINE GARIBA

3/day: phantasmal force

1/day each: fly, hypnotic pattern

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

 Cyrena can cause the water to harm creatures of T7. TREATMENT ROOMS
her choice as though it were an equivalent volume
of acid. Currently, she has made the water harmful
to the hags and their minions, and she can make it
harmful to characters who offend or threaten her.
Any such creature that enters the pool or starts its
turn immersed in it takes 11 (2d10) acid damage. . suecountersSholdsan array oh)
o perf
Cyrena knows the hags and their minions for : ois 4and scented candles that fi
what they truly are. Because the water of the pool is
harmful to them, they have been forced to leave the
naiad alone, even as they plot to destroy her.
Cyrena doesn’t know what happened to Sylvarie, Guests who request haircuts, shaving, waxing, or
but even after ten years, she is sad about her friend’s massages are tended to in these treatment rooms.
disappearance. Her nervousness around other crea- [lmar Mizzrym (a chaotic good drow) works here as
tures has prevented the naiad from asking directly the head aesthetician of the bathhouse. He wears a
for aid. She perceives dangerous-looking creatures simple belted silk robe and flat shoes, and speaks in
as servants of the hags. If she believes a character to a soft, hushed voice. Without armor, his AC is 12.
be pure of heart or an ally of nature, she begs them Ilmar is secretly a Harper agent and worshiper
to help her discover what happened to Sylvarie. of Eilistraee who goes by the code name Dusk. He
was a close friend of Sylvarie’s years ago, but fell out
T6. KITCHEN of touch with her before the temple was built. If the
characters get on Ilmar’s good side with roleplaying
This Kitchen w : ong counters aand nu erous sshelves or a successful DC 17 Charisma (Persuasion) check,
he confides his true identity to them and shares
: full of pots, pans, and utensils. Metal racks stuffed
his story.
with herbs, flowers, fui ts, and vegetables hang from -
Ilmar’s Search. Three months ago, Ilmar re-
the ce ling. ceived a haunting vision of his old friend Sylvarie,
who appeared to be in a suffering state, and appear-
By day, Auntie Greenbones is usually here, in dis- ing as though her face was being reflected in a bro-
guise as the blind wood elf Greensong with her ken mirror. Looking into his former friend’s activi-
faithful hound Morty at her side. She prepares ties since they parted ways led him to Silverymoon
delicious-looking but tainted meals for guests of a month ago, then to the temple. [lmar instinctively
the temple, often slipping in putrid ingredients or suspected that the goings-on at the bathhouse hid
traces of poison. Any guest who suffers the effect some dark secret and decided to investigate by pos-
of a tainted meal is told that they are feeling toxins ing as an aesthetician seeking employment.
and impurities leaving their body as a result of the [lmar has seen through the illusions covering
healthy living the temple promotes. the hags and their minions, and he shares that
The hag keeps her awful ingredients hidden in knowledge if he trusts the characters. He suspects
a secret compartment in the kitchen cupboards, that information about Sylvarie’s fate can be found
which can be found with a successful DC 15 Intelli- in the shrine or the tower, but has so far been un-
gence (Investigation) check (see “Treasure” below). able to investigate those areas because the coven’s
If her stash is discovered, Greensong feigns inno- minions keep a close eye on him. (The two dis-
cence and says, untruthfully, that the drow aestheti- guised scarecrows from area T9 lurk around the
cian Ilmar (see area T7) was seen poking around in guest rooms at night, and the gargoyle above the
the kitchen a few days ago. tower entrance of area T13 watches the grounds
Treasure. Auntie Greenbones’s stash includes north of the bathhouse for any sign of [Imar skulk-
beholder tears, ground unicorn hoof, chimera vomit, ing around.)
and other foul reagents of your choice. These ingre- If the characters agree to help discover what hap-
pened to Sylvarie, [lmar offers to join them, or to
dients are worth a total of 100 gp to an alchemist
or a poisoner. The stash also includes a stoppered help by creating a distraction in the bathhouse that
and labeled glass vial containing three doses of might give the characters a chance to slip into the
assassin’s blood (see “Poisons” in the Dungeon Mas- tower or the shrine unnoticed.
ter’s Guide). Treasure. llmar keeps a silvered shortsword, a
hand crossbow with twenty bolts, and a spell scroll
of greater restoration hidden underneath the mas-
sage bed in the south treatment room. These can
be discovered by any character who searches the

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY | 8¢_¥

2.
room. He keeps a vial of oil of slipperiness hidden Glitter, a tiefling spy transformed into a kobold
among the massage lotions and oils on the shelf in by the hags (see “Coven Victims” earlier in the
the north treatment room. It can be spotted with a adventure), is working late for his masters. He is
successful DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check. trying to fix a broken lock, though the characters
might assume he is trying to break into the room by
T8. STORAGE picking the lock. He has darkvision out to a range of
A silk-curtained doorway leads into a storage room 60 feet and doesn’t need light to do his work.
piled high with crates and items on shelves. Stock Glitter immediately surrenders if confronted
and supplies for the bathhouse are kept here, includ- and tries to explain himself. If any character treats
ing towels, robes, bed linens, bottles, and stores of him kindly or seems to be heroic, he might tell the
grain, fruits, nuts, and salted meat. characters the truth of his transformation and beg
When the characters first enter this area, one their help to undo the curse. Glitter knows what
scarecrow disguised as a humanoid staff member happened to Sylvarie, as well as the layout of the
(see “Coven Minions” earlier in the adventure) is bathhouse and the tower. He also knows that the
present, sorting supplies and arranging boxes. hags store a selection of their cursed paintings in
the servants’ quarters in the tower (area T17).
T9. Guest Rooms
All the rooms in this area have the same basic T10. ILMAR’S Room
features, plus additional contents related to their
* : oA a
occupants. You can decide how many rooms are
occupied based on how many NPCs are presently at The cluttered state of this room suggests that its oc:
the temple (see “Guests of the Temple” earlier in the cupant has been staying at the temple for some time.
adventure). ~ Clothes and cosmetic products are scattered across
the floor and the desk. a :
This wellfurnished guest room contains a combo
able bed, a sturdy chest for storage, a wall lantern, a This room is the quarters of [lmar Mizzrym (see
: full length mirror, ‘and
a desk that holds small bottles area T7). A character who searches the room dis-
of lotions and soaps. | | covers a sack hidden in the mattress.
5 : :
® Treasure. The sack holds three diamonds (50
gp each) and a silver holy symbol of Eilistraee (25
Each guest of the temple is given a key that locks gp), the drow god of beauty, dance, and the hunt. A
both the door and the chest, either of which can also chain shirt and a rapier are stored inside the room’s
be opened with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check locked chest.
using thieves’ tools or forced open with a successful
DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check. The hags and T1l. ABANDONED SHRINE
Saeth each carry a master key. This former shrine to Sune has fallen into disre-
During the day, two disguised scarecrows (see pair over a decade of neglect. It is partially hidden
“Coven Minions” earlier in the adventure) clean any behind the baths and obscured by overgrown trees
unoccupied rooms. If the characters are staying and scrub. If the characters haven't already scouted
here, the hags might instruct the scarecrows to the grounds, any character in the baths (area T5)
“misplace” (steal) any potions, weapons, or other who has a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 13
valuable items left in the characters’ rooms. or higher spots the ruined stone building behind the
Working Late. If the characters take rooms and trees. Characters who travel from the bathhouse to
spend one or more nights at the temple, the charac- the tower can easily see the shrine.
ter who has the highest passive Wisdom (Percep-
tion) score is awakened at a time of your choice by a
. This crumbling stone building must once c have beer
quiet disturbance:
a beautiful shrine. Engraved | images of Sune are still -
visible on the moss- covered stones, her face gazing
A kobold with white scales and purple eyes is fiddling
down on the path by which the faithful would have
with the lock on one of the guest room doors. He
. approached. Stone doors at the front of the shrine
wears a patchwork dress and i is quietly cursing and
“appear to be sealed shut by some sort of thick, clear
whispering.
resin. A faint inscription is still visible above them:
“Welcome, dearest cones. Come find the beauty
within you.” .

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

During the day, the shrine is quiet. At night, any Sylvarie has been transformed into a medusa and
character moving around the shrine who has a spends most of her time in this chamber. The glow-
passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14 or higher ing light is produced by an object at the bottom of
hears what sounds like sobbing or muttering com- the pool (see “Treasure” below). The pool is also
ing from within. home to a water weird that has been Sylvarie’s only
The door is sealed firmly, as are the shrine’s four companion for the ten years of her incarceration.
windows, and all are coated by an unnaturally re- The water weird fights alongside her if it perceives
silient resin of the hags’ creation. A character can that she is threatened.
open a door or window as an action, but only by Sylvarie’s Curse. Sylvarie Silversong was a de-
forcing it with a successful DC 20 Strength (Ath- voted priest of Sune who shared her knowledge and
letics) check. Any of the hags can touch an area of uplifted others to help them realize their own worth.
resin as an action, causing it to turn into slime that Sadly, her devotion to others masked the moon elf’s
flows away over 1 minute. own self-doubt, which made her feel that she wasn’t
A hole in the roof 30 feet above the statue of Sune worthy enough to be a priest of the god of love
(see below) offers another way in, and is just big and beauty.
enough for a Medium creature to squeeze through. The hags used her insecurity to manipulate and
One of the hags comes here at night every few corrupt Sylvarie ten years ago. Concealing their
days to throw down firewood and scraps of food true nature, they enticed the priest into a dark bar-
for Sylvarie. gain—and a terrible curse. After a year, the painting
Inside the Shrine. When the characters get a created of Sylvarie that had boosted her esteem
good look inside the shrine, read the following: transformed her into a medusa. When she tried to
strike back against the hags, they sealed her in the
shrine, hoping that its great mirrors would turn her
juThe interior of the shine has the appearance. ot hav- ||
to stone. For fear of petrifying herself, Sylvarie de-
stroyed the shrine’s mirrors.
Sylvarie attacks characters who descend into this
1cushions are
J Sg by thick fungi, andour] arge area, believing they have been sent by the hags to
mirrors hanging ¢on the walls have been shattered, torment her. A character can use an action to try to
| 1 ver dineshards of bro- ee . . convince Sylvarie to stand down, first by making the
] ken glass. - party’s good intentions clear and next by succeeding
on a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If a truce
is achieved, Sylvarie blindfolds herself with a strip
A grime-encrusted statue of Sune stands against the of cloth so that the characters aren’t petrified by her
far wall. The statue’s expression might once have gaze accidentally. She removes the blindfold if she is
suggested smiling laughter, but streaks of dirt now forced to defend herself.
make it appear as though she is weeping. Behind The curse that transformed Sylvarie doesn’t end
the statue, a staircase descends into darkness. until her portrait in area T18 is destroyed. The
The broken glass covering the floor imposes painting’s destruction has the added benefit of
disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made restoring Sylvarie’s neutral good alignment, where-
to move through the area. If any creature without upon she offers to do everything she can to help the
footwear or other protection moves across the bro- party rid the temple of the evil creatures infesting
ken glass, treat the area as covered in caltrops (see it. If the characters destroyed Sylvarie’s painting
“Adventuring Gear” in the Player's Handbook). before coming here, they encounter Sylvarie in her
true form: a neutral good moon elf priest who is not
T12. SACRED PooL wearing armor (AC 10). In this case, she is weeping
The stairs behind the statue in the shrine lead down
by the pool and grateful to be free of the hags’ curse.
to a dimly lit chamber. Treasure. Submerged in the pool is Radiance, a
+1 wand of the war mage in the form of an exquisite
golden hand mirror. While surrounded by darkness,
it sheds dim light in a 5-foot radius. A creature that
: and clothing have been piled irin one corner as. a make: is attuned to Radiance can use a bonus action while
holding the mirror to cast the enhance ability spell,
shift |bed, while twigs. and scraps of
chosing itself and no other creature as the spell’'s
simple campfire nearby.
target. Once this property of the wand is used, it
can’t be used again until the next dawn. The wand
is Sylvarie’s, but she offers it to the characters as a
reward for ending her curse

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY 87 i

 >
SY a4 PN

LS iy
Al ZI
N 1

Iq SYSREE
SHRI NE BASEMENT

TEMPLE OF THE
RESTFUL LILY
1square = 5 feet

I Epa

T13—T1T18. TOWER that she can barely hold her broom. When she sees
the characters, she desperately tries to make them
leave so she doesn’t get into trouble. In the time she
crafted stone tower rises among the trees not
has spent at the temple, she has learned what hap-
the bathhouse. A statue of a sharp- featured pened to Sylvarie and knows the layout of the tower,
d elf crouches above the front door, whose but she will not share that information unless her
bright red
ec surface is decorated with golden: swirls. fear of the characters can be overcome with role-
playing, a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion)
check, or suitable magic.
The door is locked. The elf statue over the door is
Both the doors in this area are locked, and Gorba
a gargoyle servant of the hags, wrapped in illusion
does not have the keys to them.
magic (see “Coven Minions” earlier in the adven-
ture). It watches the door but makes no move unless T14:.. SAETH’S RooM
the characters go inside, whereupon it flies off to Saeth carries the key that opens the locked door to
report to one of the hags. this room.
T13. TOWER FOYER
This Lurous room nhs, a large hed coversd with rich
silk Stiests., AA wardrobe aand: a dresser with a mirrorr .

The dresser has clothes scattered across it but

holds nothing of value.
Treasure. Characters who search the wardrobe
SEAN MACDONALD

find a suit of scale mail armor customized for a

The cursed dragonborn, Gorba Daardenrian (see wearer with a tail, and a pair of shortswords or-
“Coven Victims” earlier in the adventure), is so weak nately scribed with Infernal glyphs (50 gp each).

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

T15. TOWER STUDIO Falthrax (see “Coven Victims” earlier in the
The three hags carry the only keys to this room. adventure) uses the commoner stat block and pan-
ics at the sight of intruders. He warns the charac-
ters that they should leave immediately while trying
5 Magical light Motes this roc m, which hos an
to appear loyal to the hags for the benefit of the
oversized chair, heavy \vering the windows, a gargoyle disguised as the elf statue, which has been
and a large, ornate wooden chest. = placed here by the hags to watch over the coven’s
latest victim.
If the characters try to go upstairs or ask too many
Any characters who requested special magical treat-
questions of Falthrax, the gargoyle attacks. If it is
ments from one of the three sisters are brought to
reduced to half its hit points or fewer, it flees by
this room. The other sisters arrive in a few minutes,
smashing out a window and tries to alert the hags.
and they explain that all three working together
If the gargoyle’s threat is ended, Falthrax breaks
can guarantee a greater possibility that the magic
down, revealing his identity if the characters haven't
sought by the character can be channeled success-
already sussed it out. He is desperate to have the
fully. Characters who allow the sisters to work their
curse undone so he can return to Candlekeep. Hav-
magic can watch them labor together to create a
ing just arrived at the temple, Falthrax can describe
cursed painting.
only the studio where his portrait was painted (area
Tools and Supplies. The wooden chest is locked.
T15) and the room where he sleeps along with the
As an action, a character can try to pick the lock
other curse victims presently held at the temple
using thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC
(area T17).
18 Dexterity check, or break open the chest with a
successful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check. T17. VicTiMS’ QUARTERS
Inside the chest are the materials the hags use
for creating cursed paintings, including three blank
$

canvases and paints infused with demon ichor. A Piles ofo straw and motivator blankets have been
character who examines the canvas determines that upin this area as rough beds, and broke
it is made of humanoid skin with a successful DC 15 ‘and garbage |is scattered around. In cor trast t
Wisdom (Medicine or Perception) check. Physically | squalor, four fine paintings hang along the ¢curv
touching the canvas grants advantage on the check. | “outer wall. Each one is haus Agl bbeautiful—bu
The paints appear normal unless examined closely
strangely anening | to look upon.
by a character who has proficiency in the Arcana or ®
Religion skill, whereupon their fiendish nature be-
comes clear. Three of the victims of the hags’ curse sleep and
Treasure. The canvases are worth 200 gp each eat in this miserable chamber, forced to stare at
and the paints are worth 100 gp in total, though the paintings that have caused their downfall. The
finding a buyer for such vile materials might be a fourth painting is the one that was done for Sylvarie
challenge. Silversong ten years before. Each painting depicts
its victim as the person they sought to become
T16. TOWER KITCHEN through their bargain with the hags:
° *
A brawny, female, golden-scaled dragonborn war-
A dank scentt fills the air in this well used kitchen. rior engaged in battle (Gorba Daardenrian)
Three tables stand iin the room, one of which i is cov- . A tall male tiefling with sparkling violet eyes wear-
| ered | in various vegetables and strange-looking. cuts of ing many fine jewels (Glitter)
| meat. A wood stove burns brightly against the far wall, « A youthful male shield dwarf dancing at a feast
and a statue of : a winged elf stands i in the c corner, its (Falthrax Loderr)
A radiant female moon elf gazing upon her own
face carved into an open- mouthed smile. ee
reflection (Sylvarie)
An elderly dwarf stands before the stove, his hands
trembling. as he tries to lift a heavy | ironA pot. If the characters don’t yet know the significance of
s : : : ; : ; : So ® the paintings but have met Glitter in area T9, Gorba
in area T13, or Falthrax in area T16, any character
This kitchen is normally used by the coven’s scare- who studies the paintings recognizes that the paint-
crow minions to prepare meals for the hags and ings depict those individuals.
Saeth, but it now has a new servant in Falthrax
Loderr, the cursed Candlekeep acolyte. The central
staircase leads to the upper floors, and an unlocked
door leads to area T17.

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY 89 4

 T18. HAS’ LAIR FALTHRAX’S RESOLVE
With the curse lifted, Falthrax Loderr is ready to
. + air:ir grows 2 coolers as your near (the top of the tower. return to Candlekeep. The experience of having
and it carries a putrid scent. What might once have sought and then rejected a magical return to youth
been 2an elegant bedroom has long since been soiled has taught him much about focusing on the positive
aspects of his life and his service to knowledge.
and ruined. Murals of Sune that lined the walls have
Though his struggles aren’t over, a new inner re-
been defaced with dirt and fith.
solve promises to leave him in a better position to
. Three beds : es covered i inn moldy blblankets and an- face those struggles.

SYLVARIE’S DECISION
Ten years under the effect of the hags’ curse have
left Sylvarie Silversong a changed person. As you
see fit, she might be determined to restore the
Temple of the Restful Lily to its former stature, re-
furbishing the shrine and making the site an even
The top floor of the tower has been turned into the stronger place for the worship of Sune. Alternatively,
lair of the Fetid Gaze. Each of the three hags has its she might decide that the temple holds too many
own disgusting bed, and the strange objects that fill dark memories for her, and that it should be up to
the crates are shared by all. others—perhaps the characters—to take charge of
Glyph of Warding. Scratched into the floor at restoring the site. Either way, Sylvarie is grateful to
the top of the stairs is a glyph created by a glyph of the characters for what they've done and becomes a
warding spell. The hags use this glyph to eliminate friend to the party for life.
intruders. It can be detected with a successful DC
13 Intelligence (Investigation) check and triggers
when any creature except the hags or their minions
passes over it. When triggered, the glyph splashes
acid in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on it—big
enough to splatter the whole room and the cen-
tral staircase, top to bottom. This sphere spreads
i
around corners. Each creature in the area must
1

1
make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22
i
(5d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much
}
3
damage on a successful one.
Dark Mementos. The objects in the crates are
souvenirs claimed from the hags’ victims over ten
years, including weapons, clothing, personal effects,
tools, letters, trinkets, and more.
Treasure. Most of the hags’ mementos are worth-
less, but a search of the room turns up a spell scroll
of clairvoyance in a leather scroll case that has so
far escaped destruction.

CONCLUSION
Once the threat of the hags and their servants is
dealt with, the characters have a chance to rectify
the dark deeds done at the temple.
Destroying the four portraits in area T17 frees
Gorba Daardenrian, Glitter, Falthrax Loderr, and
Sylvarie Silversong from the hags’ curse. (See “De-
stroying the Paintings” earlier in the adventure for
more information.) Gorba and Glitter are eternally
grateful to the characters and might become lifelong
allies of the party, at your discretion.
ENGLAND
WAYNE

THE PRICE OF BEAUTY

 AN ADVENTURE FOR 6TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
“58 aati 4 Aone BE Et A A A i ARES

WRITTEN BY GRAEME BARBER

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY KIM MOHAN

IFTEEN YEARS AGO, THE BOOK OF CYLIN- Pelk tells the characters that this news came by way
ders fell into the hands of the archivists of Mitor Jans, a ship captain who makes a living
and librarians of Candlekeep as part of transporting crab meat to Candlekeep. Pelk also
a collection of works recovered from a reveals that Jans, eager for shipments to resume,
ruined keep in Tethyr, far to the south. It describes has volunteered to take adventurers by sea to a
a conflict between a settlement of grippli (froglike trading post where they can meet with the grippli
humanoids distantly related to bullywugs) and an in- leader-in-exile, if they decide to undertake the quest
vading force of yuan-ti. The explorers who found the to help the frogfolk.
Book of Cylinders and bore it safely to Candlekeep Pelk informs the characters that the Avowed are
claimed it wasn’t a historical account, but a warning willing to pay 500 gp to each character once the
of dire events yet to unfold. threat to the grippli village is neutralized.

BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE OPENING THE BOOK

While the characters are conducting research or If the characters agree to undertake the quest, Pelk
relaxing in Candlekeep, a member of the Avowed hands them the Book of Cylinders and says:
approaches them with a book and a quest: ® 9

° ’ “This book was brought to Candlekeep several years

A robed dragonborn clears her throat as she ap- ago. The explorers who found it claimed it was not
proaches you. Cradled in her arms is a green book. a historical text, but a warning. My superiors have
“Please forgive the interruption,” she says. “My name authorized me to show it to you.”
is Pelk, and | speak for the Avowed. You're adventur- ® @

ers, are you not?” Pelk allows the characters to inspect the book. It is
® @
surprisingly light, and brief examination shows it to
Pelk is a dragonborn commoner of copper dragon be a cunningly contrived container. Its covering is
ancestry and a member of the Avowed. Her superi-
ors have authorized her to brief the characters on a
situation requiring their unique talents:
+ o
“Candlekeep has long relied on a community of grip-
pli to the north for fresh seafood. These frogfolk cap-
ture and raise giant crabs as livestock in an offshore
cluster of pens they have erected just outside their
village, then trade the meat and other salvageable
parts for items they can use, particularly those made
of metal or glass. Candlekeep has long been a steady
customer, but over the last several tendays the grippli
have become less and less active, and the supply of
food has been all but cut off. To make things worse,
rumors have arisen about serpent creatures being
seen near the Cloakwood and the grippli village.”
EISER

Book oF CYLINDERS
AK
SAN
 The second cylinder’s story begins with serpent
creatures lurking ominously outside the grippli
village. Then the serpentfolk rush forth, captur-
ing or killing any of the frogfolk who try to stand
against them. As the village falls into disarray, the
giant crabs escape from their cages and head back
into the sea.
The third cylinder depicts, and briefly tells about,
the aftermath of the serpentfolk’s assault. The vil-
lage is vacant, most of its buildings flattened. Still
standing is the grippli’s temple to their deity, which
has been taken over by the snake creatures.
Unbeknownst to the characters at this time, the
ancient story told on the cylinders is unfolding now.
Evil yuan-ti are tormenting the grippli, and their
goal is nothing less than the obliteration of all who
stand in their way.

LEARNING MORE
After the characters have deciphered the story told
on the cylinders, they can learn more about the
context of the situation by talking to Pelk or other
members of the Avowed. The following information
can be learned:
- Before communications with the grippli tapered
off, people who returned to Candlekeep from a trip
to the grippli trading post reported that a small
WoopeN CYLINDERS
band of yuan-ti had taken up residence at an old
temple site where the grippli village used to be
located. These serpentfolk, unlike others of their
made of supple leather reinforced with thicker strips kind, are friendly toward the grippli, and the frog-
i
of hide. Opening the cover reveals three intricately folk are helping them excavate the location.
4
carved, hollow wooden cylinders and a linen bag of One of the last people from Candlekeep to depart
|
§
dry clay artfully decorated with a drop of water. from the grippli trading post reports that the place
The outside of each cylinder is covered with writ- has been overrun by frogfolk fleeing their village,
ing and simple images, apparently telling a story in which was invaded by a second group of yuan-ti.
three parts. If the characters can’t figure out what These monsters are vicious and cruel, the exact
the cylinders have to say, Pelk or another staff mem- opposite of the earlier visitors.
ber at Candlekeep can give them instructions.
The first step is to remove some of the clay from NORTHWARD Ho!
its bag and mix it with water to form a thick paste,
It should be apparent to the characters, from what-
then spread the wet clay in a thin layer on a flat
ever information they have gleaned, that the grip-
surface. Rolling one of the cylinders across this sur-
pli trading post is the first stop on their mission.
face presses the writing into the clay and makes it
The trading post is on the coast, due west of the
readable. After repeating the process for each of the
Cloakwood and roughly 90 miles north-northwest
cylinders, the characters have the full story and can
of Candlekeep by sea. They can get there either by
use that knowledge to determine what they do next.
accepting Mitor Jans’s offer of transportation, or by
The impressions in the clay are mostly characters
a longer overland route that takes them east, north,
in the Dwarvish script, combined with simple pic-
and then westward through the forest.
tographs that tell a tale about the frogfolk and the
serpentfolk. SEA VOYAGE
The first cylinder shows and explains how the
grippli became skilled at harvesting giant crabs, If the characters need further persuasion, Mitor
which are loaded onto seagoing vessels and taken Jans tells them that he and his ship, the Dog Ear,
away while the frogfolk celebrate their newly have made the trip from Candlekeep to the trading
post and back again more times than he can count.
KEISER

earned wealth.
He and his crew know exactly where to sail to avoid
SAM

Q -
BOOK OF CYLINDERS
undersea hazards and stay on the most efficient Mitor Jans and his ship remain at the dock while
route. If the characters are suspicious of Mitor’s mo- the characters go ashore. He suggests that they seek
tives, a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check is an audience with the grippli’s leader, Pond Mother,
all it takes to verify the truth of his claims. to learn firsthand about what has happened. (Fortu-
In fact, this is the faster of the two routes. The trip nately for the characters, she’s not hard to find.)
takes a day and a half (36 hours), with no encoun-
ters en route. TRADING POST

MITOR JANS
n, you ge
Neutral good half-orc : As the costal smist chu
at thee gippl tog post. Rar or
Mitor (use the bandit captain stat block, if neces-
sary) joined Candlekeep as a young acolyte but soon
found he was more suited to a life on the sea. His
greatest source of pride is the book he has written .: yourur ship pulls up toothe dod wr
about fish anatomy, which includes a detailed exam- : Weapons; are walling) to meettits p
ination of sahuagin biology. He is willing to trans- -
|
port the party, but neither he nor his crew will join |
in a fight. The central structure of the trading post is a for- |
tified stone and mud-brick edifice, decorated with |
OVERLAND VOYAGE the preserved carapaces and claws of giant crabs,
If the characters decline the sea voyage, they can where commerce is normally conducted. The
consult a map at Candlekeep that shows the safest ground around it, usually clear of construction,
and fastest overland route, starting with the Way now houses a host of makeshift dwellings, and
of the Lion, the road that leads inland (east) from business has slowed to a standstill. The place looks
Candlekeep. That road intersects with the Coast and feels more like a refugee encampment than a
Way, which runs north along the eastern edge of the trading post.
Cloakwood. About 50 miles north along the Coast The primitive shelters are the new homes of
Way is a trail that runs west into the forest and grippli who escaped when the evil yuan-ti came
eventually leads to the outskirts of the grippli vil- through the village in their search for the earlier
lage. This route, well over 100 miles in total, takes group of serpentfolk. All these individuals are
at least seven days to traverse by foot, and at the noncombatants, with no particular knowledge to be
end of it the characters will be entering the village gained by communicating with them.
before they visit the trading post. Both of those facts POND MOTHER SPEAKS
might have a marked effect on how the adventure
The village's leader, who holds the title of Pond
continues (at your discretion). In addition, you might
Mother, is an aged grippli warrior (see the end of
pit the characters against some random encounters
the adventure for her stat block). She evacuated the
along the way, to hint at the error of their ways in
village when most of the other residents did and has
turning down the sea voyage.
set up quarters inside the large building. Assuming
the characters are cooperative, the grippli guards
HerLPING THE GRIPPLI take the visitors directly to her. If the party seems
The grippli of the Cloakwood are distrustful of trustworthy, she speaks to them. She prefers Pri-
strangers but forced by circumstances to consider mordial (it’s easier on grippli vocal cords) to address
outside help. The warriors of the village and its outsiders, but she can speak Common if there are
leader, Pond Mother, are doing all they can to pro- no Primordial speakers in the group.
tect the grippli who have taken refuge at the trading She informs the party that a small band of yuan-ti
post, and they cannot mount a counterattack against arrived in the area over a month ago, claiming to
the evil yuan-ti, who have already killed several grip- be followers of a benevolent deity they called the
pli for trying to stand up to them. Scaled Mother. They were friendly, the opposite
Assuming the characters traveled by ship to reach of other yuan-ti that the grippli had encountered
the trading post, the grippli guarding the dock watch and fought with. These yuan-ti expressed interest
them carefully but don’t speak right away. Grippli in excavating and restoring the previous site of the
have difficulty voicing the language of humans, so grippli village, a mile from its present location. Pond
they speak in Primordial. (Mitor Jans has some flu- Mother saw no reason to refuse them, since their
ency in Primordial and offers to be an intermediary motives were seemingly innocent. But then, two
if needed.) As long as the characters are nonhostile, tendays afterward, another group of yuan-ti came on
the grippli will allow them to disembark. the scene. These yuan-ti attacked the village, killed

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
{ (5°
93 y
 any frogfolk who tried to resist, and captured the RUNNING THE CRAB MAZE
grippli who weren't able to escape. No craft larger than a rowboat can navigate the crab
She asks the characters for help, telling them that maze because the water is too shallow and already
the yuan-ti have been eating their eggs and torment- occupied by angry giant crabs. The characters are
ing the few grippli who remain in the village. Noth- dropped off outside the maze at a point of your
ing has been heard from the friendly yuan-ti since choosing. The water is only 4 or 5 feet deep through-
the larger force of evil ones descended on the vil- out this area, but wading to shore is impossible
lage. Pond Mother fears that either they have been since the crabs are everywhere. The characters’
disposed of, or they have been imprisoned in the old goal is to get to the breakwater that separates the
temple that lies north of the village. In any event, maze from the village while avoiding the crabs as
saving the eggs, or as many of them as possible, is much as they can.
the grippli’s main concern. As the characters move, they must make a suc-
If the characters demand payment, Pond Mother cessful DC 20 Dexterity (Stealth) group check every
can offer the modest contents of the trading post's 100 feet to avoid attracting giant crabs. If any group
coffers (200 gp) for clearing out the village and safe- check fails, 1d4 + 2 giant crabs claw their way out
guarding the eggs. She points out that the charac- of their cages and attack the characters.
ters are also entitled to keep any items of value that The processing platforms, located wherever two
don’t belong to the villagers. walkways join or intersect, are safe havens. The
The trading post is about 5 miles south of the grip- platforms are high enough above the water that the
pli village, which is most easily reached by sea. (An crabs won't attack creatures atop one.
overland trip along the marshy coastline is a fool's
route, fraught with obstacles and perils.) Mitor Jans PASSING THE BREAKWATER
will transport the characters as far as he can, then After negotiating the maze, the characters come
drop them off just outside the crab maze that bor- upon a low wall that the grippli have constructed to
ders the community before turning back south. keep sea creatures away from the village and to pro-
tect the lagoon on the other side from rough water
CRAB MAZE when a storm is raging. This breakwater is made
of intertwined branches reinforced by tough vines.
Hinged on the sides and split in the middle, it can be
Columns of stone with platforms built around them, opened to allow the passage of small boats. In the
connected by rickety-looking gangways that touch closed position, as it is now, the breakwater is not
rl

the sea or disappear beneath the frothing waves, are designed to prevent entry to the village by anyone
EN

arrayed before you. In the distance you can see the who can simply climb up and over it.
ma

If the characters avoided any contact with the

marshy shore. Dark shapes move under the surface,
a

giant crabs, or if they have handled those threats

~ and flashes of red carapace draw the eye. This is not a
a

with a minimum of commotion, they can easily

safe place. move over and beyond the breakwater without alert-
@
ing the yuan-ti in the village. By taking the shortest
Getting to the village is the characters’ first chal- path to shore, the characters can make landfall just
lenge. Between the characters and the village is a north of the docks.
network of cages where the grippli have kept, cap- Several yuan-ti are roaming through the village
tured, and bred giant crabs for centuries. when the characters arrive, but the serpentfolk are
The crab maze is a collection of low-to-the-water not particularly vigilant. The characters can earn
walkways, ranging in height from just above the the yuan-ti’s attention by making an undue amount
water to being submerged by up to 2 feet. Each main of noise during their approach or giving themselves
walkway is wide enough for two Medium creatures away with a display of flashy magic. If they do so, a
to walk side by side, while the smaller branching squad of five yuan-ti purebloods ambushes them
ones are wide enough for only a single person. Inter- soon after they get out of the water.
spersed through this web of rickety wood and net- The yuan-ti, overconfident to a fault, are likely
ting are processing platforms built around the stone to fight to the death without trying to summon
columns, each large enough to hold four creatures. reinforcements. To give the characters a stiffer
Under the water, in open-topped cages made of net- challenge, you can have a patrol of 1d4 + 2 yuan-ti
ting, lurk a great number of giant crabs that haven't purebloods arrive on the scene, attracted by the
been fed recently. As the characters start to make sounds of combat, before the original squad has
their way to shore, the water begins to froth as the been vanquished.
giant crabs become excited.

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
 (GTN: 0 ya

VILLAGE Docks
Unlike the materials used for the crab maze,
the docks are sturdy planks of wood tightly fas-
The grippli village is set near the sea in a brackish tened together and treated to make the structure
marsh. Rising from the muck are circular, domed waterproof.
mud-brick buildings that the grippli use for homes Only a couple of small boats remain tied up at
and storage facilities. The carapaces and claws of these piers, the others having been used by the grip-
pli who retreated to the trading post.
giant crabs feature heavily in the architecture.
The yuan-ti have no interest in the small boats
that are moored here—meaning that if they re-
If the characters get to shore without causing a main undamaged, the characters could use them
conflict with the yuan-ti, they can move freely (if for transport when they decide to leave this
carefully) around the village. (The evil serpentfolk place behind.
are here for a particular purpose, and as a rule
they have no quarrel with anyone who doesn’t
PoND MOTHER'S HOME
directly threaten their plan or try to impede what The religious center of the village, this enormous
they're doing.) building made of wood and mud bricks has been
The ground throughout this area is damp and soft turned into a prison where the evil yuan-ti are hold-
at best. Staying dry is difficult to impossible. ing some of the followers of the Scaled Mother. The
The dozen or so grippli warriors (see the end of hemispherical building, 20 feet high and 50 feet
the adventure for their stat block) remaining in the in diameter, is by far the largest structure in the
village are there only to do the yuan-ti's bidding; community.
they all show signs of abuse from their treatment. The ground level contains a pool of water in the
Some are in a state of mourning, after being forced center, directly beneath an opening in the roof of
to watch the yuan-ti consume their eggs. the same size. The marshy ground around the pool
18

serves as an assembly area for group ceremonies.

KL
WAM

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
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Two staircases on opposite sides of the dome lead Broop PooLs

up to the second floor, which is divided into four Near the outskirts of the village is the grippli
a

chambers, each about 10 feet square. Three of these nursery. In five places, built up like the sides of a
rh

rooms currently hold a total of ten wounded yuan-ti well, stand 3-foot-high mud-brick walls enclosing
-

purebloods with half their hit points remaining. 20-foot-diameter circular areas. These repositories,
These benevolent, neutral good yuan-ti are being filled with clean, fresh water, are where the grippli
guarded by four evil yuan-ti purebloods stationed lay their eggs and nurture offspring as they mature.
just outside the cells. This location is under the control of four yuan-ti
The guards remain at their stations until they purebloods and two yuan-ti malisons (any type).
hear significant sounds of activity coming from the They permit a small number of grippli to tend the
ground level, or until a character ascends one of the eggs, which is why the eggs haven't all died since
staircases and comes into their view, whereupon the arrival of the serpentfolk. This permission could
they all rush to attack. The prisoners, even if they're be an act of mercy, or it could just be that the yuan-ti
left unattended, won't leave their cells willingly like to eat the eggs: each of the malisons has been
while combat is going on. consuming at least one egg per day, and always
If the characters dispose of the guards and free within sight of one or more of the grippli for no rea-
the prisoners, the benevolent yuan-ti explain what son other than cruelty.
they know of the situation: they are allies of the grip- All six yuan-ti are languishing on the ground be-
pli who have been victimized by the evil yuan-ti that tween the pools and don't react until at least one of
invaded the village recently. They know from their them becomes aware of the characters. If one of the
captors that two of their number have been hauled malisons remains alive after 3 rounds of combat,
through the marsh northward to the location of a it pours a vial of poison into the water of one pool,
temple in the old village, where they are to be sacri- which Kills all the eggs in it. On each succeeding
ficed to the evil deity Sseth sometime soon. round, if the characters don’t prevent it, the same
creature moves to poison a different pool until it is
vanquished or until all the eggs have perished.

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
 HOMES AND STORAGE

-
TEMPLE , 10-foot-high outer wall

re A 7 ea ReZe Nl)
» aa Py © a tor G3 9 so

storage buildings are spread h . Rea) Gh hda

marsh. Mud-brick with wicker Huge sarcophagus A.
affairs, primitively decoratec ©
BARS
“Ay
RE
ESSE
.
N
ASSIA
P
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IN

Most are empty and show si PTX 7 )< id 70.

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of EE
17
HR - (T

Most of the village is made up of homes and storage

facilities. The community is all but vacant at the 5 ) 2 a/
present time, so there's nothing the characters can
77 N
a id - - pra §

learn by examining any of the buildings. B b/ 1 i ral J

Under normal circumstances, groups of bonded

grippli live in each home, which consists of a single o fo
Hq lh
]
1
,
B&F
zy
medium to large room, lit with simple fish oil lamps.

«
ny
i.
NN 1 i fA
Grippli don’t sleep in the water, but in soft ham-

°
mocks suspended over it. Their personal effects are "EA x A
” (E; 5:
secured to the walls above the water in netting. Fur- Ft ; . 5 P #

niture is of simple but well-crafted wood, or adapted «R= =H:

driftwood. Some homes have ceramic and glass jars
.
HE=
d= T1 =
=T5.
ey I ¥4
(obtained through barter) and bronze pots and pans vo
of 7/4
LV) Ramp down ends Ramp down ends 1
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(likewise), used on occasions when the grippli want (1 ata wall of rubble ata wall of rubble 1 ©
20. [after 15 ft. after
15 ft $=
to cook something before eating it. FZ oy
Storage huts sit on stilts that keep their thatch J 4
e
i es
floors from getting wet and thus protect the materi- 41 1] ABs - NR SIT

ll
SR SRT — RA ’
“gp

Ww
als stored there from deterioration. Wood and other ®
ty

1square = 5 feet
marsh vegetation used in construction are left here
to dry out.
courtyard. From there, the characters can approach
OLD VILLAGE AND TEMPLE the upper court (area T2), where the prisoners are.
Following the river leads the characters northeast The following locations are keyed to the map of
through the Cloakwood. The characters should re- the temple.
alize that this is the route to the grippli’s old village,
which they have heard about from Pond Mother and T1. COURTYARD
perhaps also from the yuan-ti captives. % sams
The old village was abandoned when the grippli lies an open area .
At the top of a short set of steps
realized they would fare better being closer to the
water. They relocated to where the village now
“enclosed by a ten-foot-high outer wall and paved with
stands. The only structure left in the old village is
tightly fitted stone slabs. To either side are truncated
the temple—now the site of activity once again. ramps that lead down to a lower area, still blocked a
Before the evil yuan-ti arrived, the followers of the
Scaled Mother had begun to excavate the temple ~ Ahead of you, some fifty feet away, is a nother short
ruins, hoping to find evidence of their benevolent de- staircase that leads toa ten-foot-high inner wall with of
ity. The work is continuing under the rule of the evil a door-sized opening in it that's covered by a curtain.
serpentfolk, but it's slow going. Several grippli have
Coming from beyond the doorway inside the enclosed : .
been forced to continue digging the place out, while
their masters stay inside the part that has already area, you can hear the groaning and plaintive cries of
been opened up. It’s here that preparations are be- creatures being mistreated.
ing made for the sacrifice of the yuan-ti’s prisoners. &

When the characters approach the temple, they The temple's courtyard can serve as a staging area
won't be able to escape the notice of the grippli for the characters, whose presence will not be no-
prisoners. But the frogfolk know enough to remain ticed by the yuan-ti as long as they remain here. Any
SEAN MACDONALD

silent in the face of potential rescue, and they use grippli in the courtyard when the characters arrive
hand signals to direct the characters toward the will make a hasty but silent retreat to places of
safety outside the temple.

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
T2. UPPER COURT SERPENT SCALE ARMOR
Armor (scale mail), uncommon
: The upper court of he remple has been completely This suit of magic armor is made from shimmering
cleared of debris. Six pillars support the ten- foot-high | scales. While wearing it, you can apply your full
ceiling, 2and the northern half of the enclosed area is Dexterity modifier (instead of a maximum of +2)
when determining your Armor Class. In addition,
i bathed i in bright light, making it easy for you to see the
this armor does not impose disadvantage on your
0 horrific scenee playing out in ihe for end of the room.
Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

SERPENT’S FANG
The following events are unfolding as the party
Weapon (longsword), rare
enters. Lashed to a makeshift altar are two neutral
good yuan-ti, a type 1 yuan-ti malison named Maaz This single-edged magic sword is made from
and a yuan-ti pureblood named Vorsa. They are the scrimshawed fang of a giant serpent. Its hilt
being tortured by an evil yuan-ti abomination that changes shape to adjust to the grasp of any creature
is presiding over a ritual. An enormous sarcophagus that picks it up. The weapon deals an extra 1d10
rests behind them, its exterior carved with serpents. poison damage to any target it hits.
Two yuan-ti malisons, a type 1 and a type 3, are
positioned on either side of it. Both are evil. One AFTERMATH
carries a lantern that is the source of the illumina- When the abomination and its malison minions fall,
tion, and the other one is holding up a chime and the captured yuan-ti are overcome with joy. They tell
preparing to strike it. As the characters take in the the characters that they hail from a land to the south
scene, the abomination is studying the script on the called Chult. They were called into service by the
sarcophagus intently, engrossed in what it sees. At a deity they know as the Scaled Mother and followed
gesture from the abomination, the chime is struck. her portents as they traveled north. They began ex-
As it rings out, the seam around the lid of the sar- cavating the old temple, with the grippli’s consent,
cophagus glows brightly for an instant. Then the in the expectation of finding relics left behind by the
sarcophagus comes open partway, and the bound yuan-ti that raided through this area in ages past.
prisoners howl in agony. They were unable to open the lid of the sarcophagus
Even after the evil yuan-ti notice the characters, once they unearthed it and were in the process of
their first priority is to complete the ritual, which clearing rubble from the courtyard stairs when the
opens the lid of the sarcophagus and kills the evil yuan-ti descended on the village and captured
prisoners. With fast action and accurate attacks, all the followers of the Scaled Mother.
the characters can interrupt the ritual and prevent With the threat to the area neutralized, it doesn’t
further harm to the victims. The abomination must take long for things to return to normal. When the
use two of its turns to finish performing the ritual, grippli prisoners realize that the characters have
which climaxes with one more sounding of the persevered, they waste no time getting the news
chime as the lid is thrown open. If the abomination to the village and the trading post. The refugees
takes any damage before completing the ritual, it return home, and within a tenday the frogfolk have
stops what it's doing and turns its attention to the repaired any damage to the crab pens and are back
interlopers and attacks them, ordering the malisons in business.
to join the fight. The benevolent yuan-ti, once they recover from
Treasure. The objects used by the malisons are a their wounds, might decide to continue digging out
chime of opening and a lantern of revealing (which the temple or to return to their homeland, as you see
they use as a precaution against invisible enemies). fit. If the excavation goes on, you can populate the
After the malison strikes the chime for the first lower level of the temple with treasures or traps at
time, the item has 5 uses left. The lantern has 2 your discretion.
hours of fuel remaining. If the characters journeyed by land and went di-
Assuming the characters interrupted the ritual, rectly to the temple after spending little or no time
the lid of the sarcophagus is only slightly open, and in the village, the now-freed grippli prisoners ex-
the chime must be struck once more to open the lid plain that other evil yuan-ti are stationed in the vil-
fully. Inside the sarcophagus are two items of great lage, and they too need to be dispensed with before
significance to the yuan-ti: a suit of serpent scale the grippli can reclaim their homes.
armor and a serpent’s fang (both described below).

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
 GRATEFUL GRIPPLI
Having done what they came to do, the characters
are free to take their leave of the grippli anytime;
once regular traffic resumes between the trading
post and Candlekeep, the heroes have no trou-
ble finding a ship that will carry them back to
the library.
In the meantime, if the characters prevented one
or more eggs in the brood pools from being killed,
the returning grippli are so ecstatic that Pond
Mother offers to perform a ceremony for the party's
benefit, called the ritual of friend marking. If they
agree, they are brought to the pool in the center of
Pond Mother’s home at midnight. The grippli, croak-
ing sonorously, surround the characters while they
stand in the warm water and Pond Mother pours the
contents of a jar into the pool. The liquid swirls, and
motes of light begin rising up around the characters.
Any party members who have second thoughts at
this point can avoid the effect by succeeding on a
DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. Party members who
don’t resist, or who fail their saves, fall into a trance
until dawn—when they come to their senses, com-
pletely rested and healed. All party members who GRIPPLI WARRIOR
completed the ritual can speak and understand the Small humanoid (grippli)
Grippli language from now on.
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 13 (3d6 + 3)
(GRIPPLI Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
At first glance or from a distance, a grippli looks like
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
a large frog. Its head and body are indeed those of a 10 (+0) 15(+2) 12(+1) 10 (#0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
frog, but its front extremities end in hands with fin-
gers that enable it to manipulate weapons and other Skills Athletics +2, Stealth +4, Survival +4
objects, and its rear legs have similar digits that it Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Grippli plus one other language (usually Common,
can use for grasping and climbing. A grippli can
Draconic, or Primordial)
move as quickly on all fours as it can on two legs. Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Communal Effort. Grippli rely on ambushes and
guerrilla warfare to defend themselves and their
Hold Breath. The grippli can hold its breath for 20 minutes.
settlements. They can snare foes with their tongues
to make them easier targets. Grippli villages are Standing Leap. The grippli can leap 30 feet horizontally or 20
feet vertically from a standing position.
generally built from mud bricks and other natural
materials harvested from the immediate vicinity. ACTIONS
Young grippli are raised by the community rather
Multiattack. The grippli makes one attack with its tongue. If
than bya single set of parents, and all of a commu- this attack hits, the grippli can make a melee attack using its
nity’s eggs are kept in freshwater pools until they trident against the same target.
mature. Protecting their eggs is a major concern for
Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Me-
grippli, since lizardfolk, yuan-ti, and other creatures dium or smaller creature. Hit: The target is grappled (escape
are known to have a taste for them. DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the
Close to Nature. Most grippli care more about grippli can’t grab another creature.
survival than they do about abstract ideals such as Trident. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.
good and evil. Grippli religion is based in animism or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage,
and nature spirits; the frogfolk do not pay reverence or 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage if used with two hands to make
to a single deity, but they might beseech a particular a melee attack, plus 2 (1d4) piercing damage if the grippli had
nature spirit for aid from time to time. advantage on the attack roll.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft.,
one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, plus 2 (1d4) pierc-
PRIME

ing damage if the grippli had advantage on the attack roll.

APRIL

BOOK OF CYLINDERS
 AN ADVENTURE FOR 7TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS 4 \
AGE © GPs orm rire itr rire e's a 1

_ SARAH OF
YELLOWCREST MANOR.
WRITTEN BY DEREK RUIZ
DEVELOPED & EDITED BY SCOTT FITZGERALD GRAY 8

N THIS ADVENTURE, THE CHARACTERS ARE

caught up in an unsolved mass killing in the
BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE
city of Waterdeep—after the ghost of one of The adventure begins when the ghost of a young
« the victims seeks them out. woman named Sarah appears before the charac-
Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor came to Candlekeep ters as they peruse the stacks of Candlekeep. The
five years ago, courtesy of a Waterdavian apprentice reason that Sarah’s ghost is able to manifest for
mage named Sirok, who bought the book at a street the first time to the characters, after five years of si-
sale. It was part of a collection once owned by the lence, is left to your judgment. The spirit of the mur-
renowned Yellowcrest family of Waterdeep. As he dered woman might be drawn to a character who
presented the book as payment for entry into Can- is dedicated to law or good, one whose background
dlekeep, Sirok told the Avowed priests a grim story features a similar tragedy, or one who struggled to
of how the patriarch of the family, Lord Yellowcrest, rise from poverty as she did. Alternatively, if one of
had returned to Waterdeep from a business trip to the characters has a penchant for reading books
find his wife, their three children, and the house's from Candlekeep’s shelves at random, you might
four servants all murdered. In the aftermath of this have Sarah appear because her story is being read
terrible loss, the grieving lord sold all his posses- for the first time since her diary came to the library.
sions, then moved away from the city to live out his Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor is a nondescript gen-
life in solitude. eral text, so it fits best in some forgotten corner of
Sirok never got around to reading the book, and the library where tomes of no particular interest
his story about the Yellowcrests was something he are stored. Read or paraphrase the following when
learned from gossiping acquaintances. The dark you're ready to begin the adventure:
pedigree of Sirok’s donation was soon forgotten, ’ ’
and Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor was cataloged and The air around you grows suddenly chilly. A cloud of
placed into the library's archives, where it has gone vapor begins to shimmer along the nearby shelves,
unnoticed ever since.
growing thicker around a nondescript leather-bound
SARAH OF
YELLOWCREST MANOR book. The mist suddenly coalesces into the vague
form ofa young woman—a translucent spirit wearing
a servant’s uniform and bearing the symbol ofa tree
outlined by a rising sun at her shoulder.
The figure weeps aloud, tears running down her
cheeks. She opens her mouth as if to speak—which
reveals that her tongue is gone. Moaning in anguish,
she reaches toward you. Then the mist shreds away to
nothing, and the spirit fades.

BooOK DESCRIPTION
Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor is a leather-bound book
with brass corner fittings and an intricately carved
brass clasp that holds the book shut. Embossing on
the cover depicts the same symbol seen on Sarah’s
NORDSOL

uniform—a lemon tree with the rising sun behind it.

A character who has the noble background, who has
IRINA

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

an extensive knowledge of Waterdeep, or who suc- eyes (see “Lord Viallis's Tome” later in the adven-
ceeds on a DC 14 Intelligence (History) check recog- ture for more information).
nizes this as the seal of the Yellowcrest family. Sarah also attempted to sketch what she remem-
The book's title appears handwritten on the first bered of the rune-marked circle. Any character who
page, and it is clear that all of its pages were once has proficiency in the Arcana skill and succeeds on
blank. Only a handful of pages at the end of the a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check recognizes the
book remain so. The rest are filled with handwrit- circle as part of a ritual casting of the contact other
ing that starts out crude but slowly becomes more plane spell, and can intuit that the runes Sarah has
elegant, hinting that it was produced by a person hastily copied are tied to an entity from the Outer
learning to write, who then practiced their writing Planes. Characters who do not recognize the circle
by keeping a diary. can seek assistance from one of the Avowed to de-
termine this information.
A HUMBLE LIFE
The pages of Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor are a mix- YELLOWCREST LORE
ture of exercises, drawings, and reminiscences. The A thorough reading of the diary reveals the broad
earliest pages bear nothing but repetitions of the details of the lives of Sarah and the Yellowcrest
name “Sarah.” Lists of household chores, pending family. Alternatively, if the characters call Sarah
activities, shopping lists, and names take up a full back (see below) and are able to communicate with
third of the book. her, you can allow the poor servant's spirit to reveal
Where the diary begins, the book becomes a some of this information:
firsthand account (written in Common) of the life
of Sarah, who describes herself as a servant in the Yellowcrest Manor stands on Delzorin Street in
Waterdeep manor of Lord Viallis Yellowcrest and Waterdeep’s North Ward.
Lady Maria Yellowcrest. The diary entries are not Lord Viallis and Lady Maria had two sons, Malik
on consecutive pages, and most are undated. In ad- and Janus, and one daughter, Tianna.
dition to writing about her daily obligations and life « The family owned several tanneries and shoemak-
in the manor, Sarah also wrote about Lady Maria, ing shops in Waterdeep, but most of its wealth was
who came from a poor family and empathized with inherited on Maria's side.
Sarah’s own lack of education. Lady Maria's genuine « Lord Viallis’s closest business associate was
affection for Sarah led her to teach the young ser- an elf named Faerl, who visited Lord Viallis
vant to write, and to give her the leather-bound book twice a tenday.
that became the diary. « Sarah had a romantic relationship with a young
squire named Vecken, who lived close to the
A GLIMPSE OF DARKNESS manor on Immar Street.
The last entries of the diary, dated just over five
The details of the murders at Yellowcrest Manor
years earlier, change in tone as Sarah worries about
can be learned from a few hours’ research into re-
the strange conduct of Lord Yellowcrest, and his
cent Waterdeep history, or by consulting any scholar
habit of spending too much time with ancient books
at the library who has an interest in that history or
in his study. The final diary entry reads:
the noble families of Waterdeep. The public details
of the dark event are well known:
! stole close to Lord Viallis today, and saw J that he had
« Lord Yellowcrest was away from Waterdeep on
| chalied a circle marked with strange runes across the
business, then returned to find his wife, his sons
floor of his study. A puddle spread within the circle and daughter, and the manor’s four servants bru-
) and apposed icto me; assouliing blood. Lord Viallis . tally murdered. Shocked into a deep depression by
the tragedy, Lord Yellowcrest left Waterdeep to be
: ohhand, snd Tusttersd ating 1 could not thenr . alone with his grief.
1 slipped away quickly, though | fear he might have ~ « Rumors seemingly spread by members of the City
Guard after investigating the murders hinted at
heard me this time. | have never been so scared, but|
some sort of cult activity, but details of the killings
Emust tell Lady Maria what | have seen. 1 must! were never revealed. No suspects were ever identi-
fied or charged.
In her diary, Sarah tried to draw the image of the « The Yellowcrest family had a good reputation,
cover of an old tome Lord Viallis was reading. The with no hint of personal or public impropriety. No
sketch shows a monstrous creature with a bulbous one ever accused the grieving Lord Yellowcrest of
head, long arms, tentacles for legs, and multifaceted having any connection to the murders.

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

 WHAT SARAH KNOWS
A character who succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom (In-
sight) check or who is able to calm the ghost with
appropriate roleplaying can glean some information
from Sarah’s mournful moaning:
« Lord Viallis Yellowcrest was responsible for the
murders of his wife, his children, Sarah, and three
other servants, all of whom were killed as part
of a dark ritual. (The trauma Sarah suffered has
occluded her memories of the details of the ritual
and of her own death.)
« The book that Sarah observed Viallis reading was
the source of the ritual, and a work of evil.
« The souls of Lady Maria, Malik, Janus, and Tianna
have not moved on since their deaths. All four are
trapped in the mortal realm until their physical
remains can be buried in hallowed ground.
« The remains of those victims are missing. Sarah
doesn’t know what happened to them, but she
is certain that Lord Viallis has something to
do with it.
Sarah's anguished state of mind means that she
can share no information other than what is noted
above. Though she has all the abilities of a ghost,
Sarah has no wish to harm anyone. You might allow
Sarar’s GHOST
her to use her Possession action to speak what she
knows through one of the characters if needed.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

GRIEVING GHOST Five years ago, Lord Viallis murdered his family,
Sarah, and three other servants as part of a ritual to
Sarah was one of the servants killed alongside Lady
contact an otherworldly entity. The ritual was suc-
Maria and the three Yellowcrest children—all mur-
cessful, and with the magic circle he had scribed, Vi-
dered by Lord Viallis as part of his willing descent
allis established contact with a Great Old One called
into evil. For five years, the young woman's immor-
Gaernoo. This aberrant patron offered to grant Lord
tal spirit has been bound within Sarah of Yellow-
Viallis arcane powers in exchange for establishing a
crest Manor. Ever grieving, the spirit has had no way
cult dedicated to Gaernoo.
to communicate with the mortal realm—until the
Lord Viallis, empowered by Gaernoo’s other-
presence of the characters draws her forth.
worldly magic and wanting to get away from talk
Once she appears for the first time, Sarah (a
of his family’s death, moved to the village of Green-
ghost) reappears whenever the characters speak
fast, a day's travel southeast of Waterdeep and the
her name in the presence of the book. The an-
home of his business partner, Faerl. Claiming that
guished state of the young woman's spirit is clear to
he wanted to have his family interred close to him,
anyone who sees her.
he took the remains of his wife and children along,
Sarah understands characters who speak Com-
with evil intent. For the last five years, Viallis has
mon and tries to respond to them, but she can’t
been building a cult to Gaernoo around himself,
speak because Lord Viallis cut out her tongue
calling it the Burnt Tongue Cult for the sacrifice that
before Killing her. The ghost tries to communicate
new members must make before being accepted.
through moaning whispers and by pointing the
characters to the parts of her diary that hint at Lord LORD VIALLIS'S TOME
Viallis’s evil.
Sarah’s ghost is bound to the diary and can’t move The crude sketch composed by Sarah shows the
farther than 30 feet from the book. If the book is monster on the leather-bound cover of the book
Lord Viallis was reading. This creature is a repre-
LADON

destroyed, the ghost is able to move freely and re-

doubles her efforts to seek justice for the dead. sentation of the statue in area B7 of the temple of
KATERINA

the Burnt Tongue Cult. Knowing that Candlekeep is

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

the best possible place to learn about a mysterious of the Yellowcrest family and their servants, a suc-
book, the characters can spend a day or two in dili- cessful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check made while
gent research to turn up references in other works speaking to the butler confirms that he finds the tale
to a book whose cover matches Sarah’s sketch—a exciting for the dark reputation it gives the manor.
tome called Retribution of the Ancients. If the characters make it clear that they mean no
That work is not a part of Candlekeep’s collection, trouble for the Falgarst family, effective roleplaying
but several of the Avowed know it by reputation. It is or a successful DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check
a dark work of ritual magic, its contents potentially inspires the butler to share what he knows. Offering
deadly in the wrong hands. Arnulf any alcoholic beverage grants advantage on
the check, and magic such as a charm person spell
SECRETS IN WATERDEEP guarantees an automatic success.
Arnulf can reveal any of the following details:
Accepting Sarah’s mission to seek the truth of
what happened at Yellowcrest Manor and to locate « The manor was previously owned by the Yellow-
the remains of Lady Maria and her three children crest family, most of whom were killed one night.
takes the characters to Waterdeep, which holds the Though full details of the event were never made
first clues in the mystery. Like all other books in public, rumor holds that Lady Maria, her three
Candlekeep, Sarah of Yellowcrest Manor cannot children, and four servants were all stabbed to
be removed from the library, so make it clear to the death, then had their tongues removed.
characters that Sarah’s ghost has revealed all she « The sole survivor of the family was Lord Viallis,
knows. The characters can have the book copied at who was allegedly away from the city that day.
the usual rates to have a way of referencing Sarah’s « After the murders, Viallis sold the manor and all
notes and sketches, but you can also assume that his family’s possessions, then moved to a small
they remember any necessary information from the village in the countryside.
book as the adventure continues. . A few tanneries, leatherworkers’ shops, and cob-
To get the characters into the mystery as quickly blers’ shops in the Trades Ward reportedly still
as possible, their trip to Waterdeep unfolds with belong to Lord Viallis, but if he has ever returned
no problems or random encounters, unless you de- to Waterdeep, Arnulf doesn’t know about it.
termine otherwise. The easiest way for characters
without access to teleportation magic to travel from YELLOWCREST BUSINESSES
Candlekeep to the City of Splendors is to sail up the A few hours of asking around the Trades Ward en-
Sword Coast. Many merchant ship captains offer ables the characters to identify the three cobblers’
to carry adventurers as passengers for free, in ex- shops, two leatherworkers’ shops, and two tanner-
change for their assistance if anything goes wrong ies still owned by Lord Viallis. The Yellowcrest busi-
along the way. nesses are all nondescript, and none of the workers
or managers know Lord Viallis personally or know
YELLOWCREST MANOR
anything of his whereabouts, except that he lives
The former Yellowcrest Manor is easily located, “out in the country somewhere.”
either by using Sarah’s directions from the diary or The characters can get on the good side of one of
asking in Waterdeep. Though no members of the the cobblers or tannery managers working for Vial-
Yellowcrest family remain in the city, their name is lis with a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion)
still well known because many people remember check or 10 gp in bribes. Doing so earns them the
the terrible tragedy. knowledge that Lord Viallis has an overseer who
The manor is on Delzorin Street in the North comes once every second tenday to check the books
Ward, and it is now home to the Falgarst family. of each enterprise, pay wages, and collect profits.
Characters who present themselves at the estate are The overseer, an elf named Faerl, lives in the village
met by a well-dressed butler at the front door. Arnulf of Greenfast southeast of Waterdeep, and is ex-
(a lawful neutral human commoner) is a short, bald- pected in the city in two days.
ing man with a warm smile and a fine mustache, The characters are free to head for the village in
who gives off a faint scent of wine. He is amicable search of more clues, in which you can case skip to
and conversational, especially if he has already the “Greenfast” section later in the adventure. They
undertaken his daily “inspection” of the Falgarst can also wait in Waterdeep to try to talk to Faerl.
family’s wine cellar. The overseer arrives two days later, and spends that
day visiting each business in turn. Characters who
FAMILY BUSINESS stake out any of those locations can see Faerl as
Arnulf knows the history of the house well, in- he arrives just after noon in a private coach, which
cluding the public details of the horrific murders. barely fits along the narrow Trades Ward streets
Though he expresses honest sadness for the fate

- I
SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR 1093
ee” yi
rr
where the Yellowcrest businesses are located. His SPEAKING OF THE PAST
bodyguards include two cult fanatics, three thugs, As long as the characters approach in a nonthreat-
and two veterans—all on horseback. The driver ening way, Faerl is willing to talk to them, though
of the coach is an unarmed commoner. The char- his bodyguards stand close by. Faerl pretends to
acters can easily perceive that this is an unusually take an interest in any talk of the characters looking
large entourage, even for someone carrying money. into the Yellowcrest murders, calling the fact that no
one was ever charged with the crime “a terrible in-
FAERL
justice.” If asked about Lord Viallis, Faerl describes
Faerl, a neutral evil wood elf, is proud and cruel. He
him as “broken by the tragedy.” He denies that his
believes that he must be in control at all times. He
employer could have had anything to do with those
dresses in pompous finery and an oversized red hat.
terrible events if any character suggests it.
He speaks precisely, but in a volume so low that it
Faerl’s loyalty to the Burnt Tongue Cult and Lord
forces people to pay close attention to him.
Viallis is absolute, making him impervious to brib-
Faerl uses the noble stat block with the follow-
ery and intimidation attempts. If magic such as a
ing changes:
charm person spell is used to influence his attitude
« He speaks Common and Elvish. toward one or more characters, Faerl refuses to
- He has advantage on saving throws against being mention the cult, even to characters to whom he is
charmed, and magic can’t put him to sleep. friendly, so as not to incriminate himself. He calls
the City Watch if the party gives him trouble.
Personality Trait. “Others are beneath me. My
If the characters express their intention to ques-
position in the cult ensures my future.”
tion Lord Viallis, Faerl orders his bodyguards to
Ideal. “My loyalty to the cult is critical to its suc-
attack while he climbs back in the coach and tries
cess. I must lead by example.”
to leave. If he gets away, he returns to Greenfast,
Bond. “With my loyal assistance, Lord Viallis will
where the characters might encounter him again.
surely take over Waterdeep one day.”
Flaw. “My standing makes it important that noth- STREET FIGHT
ing happen to me. If it’s necessary that others sacri- If Faerl orders his bodyguards to attack, or if any
fice themselves for my security, so be it.” character attacks him or the bodyguards first, the
bodyguards do their best to protect Faerl and en-
sure that he escapes in the coach. They then lay
into the characters without mercy. The cult fanatics
cast command or hold person on melee combatants,
hoping that the veterans and the thugs can dispatch
them quickly. The thugs focus on the same target to
make use of their Pack Tactics feature.
When more than half the bodyguards have fallen,
the others surrender. All are Waterdeep mercenar-
ies on long-term contract to guard Faerl when he
visits the city. They don’t know Lord Viallis per-
sonally and know nothing of the cult, but they can
provide the following information about Faerl and
Lord Viallis:
« Faerl met Lord Viallis in Waterdeep years ago and
became his business partner. Faerl lives in the vil-
lage of Greenfast southeast of Waterdeep, where
Lord Viallis also lives now.
« The profits from the Yellowcrest businesses gener-
es
ny

ate a tidy sum that funds Viallis’s retirement.

m
i
sEeia

« The bodyguards were to accompany Faerl back to

Hite aA

Greenfast that evening with the latest profits from

the Yellowcrest businesses, then make their way
back to Waterdeep after being paid.
Treasure. If the characters overcome Faerl and
the bodyguards and prevent Faerl from leaving, a
search of the coach turns up a locked iron strong-
DAWES

box. Faerl carries the key. As an action, a character

NIKKI

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

 can try to pick the lock using thieves’ tools, doing so
with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check, or pry the
box open with a successful DC 18 Strength (Ath-
letics) check. Inside are the profits from the estab-
lishments Faerl has already visited that day—35 gp
and 400 sp.
Faerl carries a potion of healing (superior) in his
belt and 20 gp in a leather pouch. He wears jewelry
worth a total of 20 gp.

SIR VECKEN OF THE BROKEN HORN

While in Waterdeep, the characters might also think
to seek out Vecken, the former paramour mentioned
by Sarah in her diary. Asking around the vicinity of
Yellowcrest Manor (or asking Arnulf the butler) re-
veals that Vecken still lives on Immar Street, a few
blocks away from the manor.
All the people in the area know Vecken and speak
of him as an example of bravery and perseverance.
After Sarah was killed five years ago, Vecken joined
an adventuring company and made a name for
himself. A well-known sortie against a bandit lord
south of Neverwinter earned him the nickname “Sir
Vecken of the Broken Horn,” after his horned hel- Sir VECKEN

met was nearly cloven in two during the fight. A year

ago, he returned to Waterdeep to live with his father,
Yacken, and has since retired from adventuring.

SIR VECKEN
Vecken (a lawful good human knight) is a burly fig-
ure, heavily scarred but with a pleasant disposition. course of their conversation with him, Vecken can
He turned to adventuring to help him move past the reveal the following information:
death of his beloved Sarah, and he becomes notice- + After the murders, the remains of Sarah and the
ably distraught when speaking of her. other three servants were interred in the public
Personality Trait. “We all have a moral obligation cemetery, Waterdeep’s City of the Dead. The re-
to protect the weak and the innocent, and I will do mains of Lady Maria and her children were not.
so at any cost.” « Vecken remembers talk of Lord Viallis wanting
Ideal. “Good will prevail as long as the strong his wife and children to be interred near his new
stand against evil.” home, so that he need never return to Waterdeep
Bond. “My frail father needs my care. It is good to visit them.
that I gave up my adventuring life.”
Flaw. “When anger and grief take hold of me, Vecken doesn’t know that Lord Viallis has relo-
there is little I can do to control myself.” cated to Greenfast. If the characters share this in-
formation with him, he grows thoughtful, then says
DARK MEMORIES that he has heard from former compatriots of recent
Vecken is at home when the characters call, and he trouble along the roads in that area. South of Water-
is initially pleased to see them. He assumes they are deep, travelers are being robbed of valuable relics
adventurers he must have met and forgotten about and jewelry, and more than a few have disappeared,
during his earlier days. When the characters make their bodies never found.
the reason for their visit known, he grows visibly
grim but invites them into his home for tea. In the VECKEN’'S RETRIBUTION
living room, Vecken’s old helmet with its shattered If the characters ask Vecken to join their investi-
horn hangs above the fireplace hearth. gation, the warrior demurs, telling them he would
Vecken is sympathetic to the characters’ objectives rather let the past fade. In truth, he won't join the
because he still feels the pain of Sarah’s death five characters because their unexpected news has
years ago. Any talk of the characters having spoken inspired thoughts of vengeance that he wants to
NIKKI DAWES

to Sarah’s ghost reduces him to tears. Through the undertake on his own. As soon as the characters
leave him, Vecken dons his armor and weapons

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

and heads for Greenfast by horse. Assuming the live in and around the village. She doesn’t know the
characters don’t set out for Greenfast immediately full extent of his activities, nor does she have any
by faster means, the warrior arrives at the village idea that he and his secret cult are responsible for
ahead of them, confronts cultists on the road, and is the increasing number of travelers disappearing
captured. See area B11 of the temple of the Burnt along the Trade Way.
Tongue Cult for more information. Two months ago, Kara's sister, Yaeda, fell under
Viallis's sway and went to what Kara calls the no-
(GREENFAST ble’s “new estate” (the cult’s temple). She believes
The village of Greenfast is located a day's travel that Yaeda is working for or romantically involved
southeast of Waterdeep. Characters can easily with Viallis, not knowing that he holds her prisoner.
obtain directions to the small farming settlement, Kara has never been to the estate and has no idea
which lies a short distance off the Trade Way, along of the extent of Viallis’s activities there, but she can
a broad creek flowing into the Dessarin River. give the characters directions if they share what
Greenfast is a prosperous community whose farm- they suspect about Viallis and promise to bring
ers take advantage of their proximity to the Trade Yaeda back.
Way to sell to both Waterdeep and Daggerford. G2. THE BULGING CAULDRON
Lord Viallis is well known in the village, though
This tavern has a warm, homey feel, filled with lo-
any people the characters talk to describe the re-
cals at mealtimes and the end of the workday. Trav-
tired noble as a quiet person who keeps to himself.
elers stop in more rarely, and the proprietor, Old
All the villagers know about the tragedy of five years
Fargo (a chaotic good human commoner), is happy
before. They also know that when Viallis moved to
to serve them. Fargo is recognizable by his old flan-
Greenfast, he announced his plans to rebuild an old
nel shirt and riding hat. The tavern has two spare
tower an hour away as a private estate. Not much
rooms on the second floor that can be rented out by
has happened at the site as far as the villagers are
the day or tenday.
aware, though construction and renovations are
Old Fargo’s Suspicions. Old Fargo has long
slowly ongoing, and Viallis is known to have a num-
distrusted Lord Viallis, instinctively seeing him
ber of workers living at the tower. (Viallis’s talk of
as a bad sort, but he keeps his thoughts to himself
rebuilding the abandoned tower is a cover for his
unless the characters engage him in conversation.
sinister activities, as the characters will discover.)
With appropriate roleplaying or a successful DC 13
Viallis lives in a comfortable house (see area G3),
Charisma (Persuasion) check, he describes Viallis
but he is not home when the characters arrive. The
as a collector of sycophants who uses wealth to try
village features other places the characters might
to impress people. His son, Young Fargo, fell into Vi-
go and a number of NPCs they might talk to as they
allis’s circle of influence a month ago, and Old Fargo
search for clues about what the evil noble is up to.
hasn't seen him since. He knows that Viallis and
his followers are said to be building an estate away
GREENFAST LOCATIONS
from the village, and he can give the characters di-
The following locations are keyed to the map of rections there.
Greenfast. If the characters share their suspicions about Vi-
allis being involved in the Yellowcrest murders or
Gl. MAYOR'S HOUSE
other dark business (especially if they have learned
The largest building in the village is the home of
of the cult after a fight at the barn at area G5), Old
Mayor Kara Firenni (a neutral good human com-
Fargo becomes distraught and begs them to rescue
moner), who is busy working in her garden if the
his son from Viallis’s grasp.
characters seek her out. Mayor Kara is middle-aged
and wears her hair in a short ponytail. She is a good G3. LorD ViALLIS’'S HOUSE
and compassionate leader, but shows clear signs of Lord Viallis bought this comfortable home when he
stress as the characters talk to her. left Waterdeep, but he has spent little time here over
Kara’s Fears. If asked about Viallis, Kara says the past year as the cult’s activities have ramped
that the noble keeps to himself and that she barely up. The front and back doors are locked, and the
knows him. Her manner is unusually brusque, and windows are shuttered and curtained. As an action,
any character who succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom a character can try to open a door or window using
(Insight) check can tell that she is hiding something. thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC 14 Dex-
With appropriate roleplaying or a successful DC 14 terity check, or force open a door or window with a
Charisma (Persuasion) check, a character can con- successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check.
vince her to speak openly. Inside, the house appears almost abandoned. Only
Kara knows that Viallis is creating some sort of the kitchen and the main room show signs of recent
following, having attracted many admirers who now

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

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use, and the place holds nothing of importance or the area. When Viallis needs new sacrifices, the
value. (Lord Viallis has moved all his important be- cultists snatch victims along the Trade Way at night.
longings out of the village and into the cult’s temple.) (If at least one day passes between the characters
meeting Vecken and arriving in Greenfast, the cult-
G4. FAErRL'Ss HOUSE ists’ most recent expedition ended with the capture
The residence of Viallis’s overseer is a comfortable of the vengeful warrior. See area B11.)
cottage whose main room doubles as an office. The The cultists pay close attention to Faerl’s house
place is filled with business records and correspon- (area G4) and to any strangers in the village. If the
dence, all of which concern Lord Viallis’'s business characters ask them any questions about Viallis, the
and none of which appear suspicious or out of cultists respond by attacking. If they see the previ-
the ordinary. ously agreed-upon signal of a window being opened
If the characters came to Greenfast without meet- in Faerl’s house, they go there immediately, ready
ing Faerl in Waterdeep, you can have them find the for trouble.
overseer at home if you see fit. Use the details in the Use the guidelines in the “Street Fight” section
“Yellowcrest Businesses” section and the informa- earlier to run the encounter if the cultists and the
tion on Faerl there to shape the conversation. If the characters face off. Unlike the mercenaries in
characters threaten him or ask questions that indi- Waterdeep, these villains know a great deal of in-
cate they know more about the cult than Faerl likes, formation that they share if they are defeated and
the overseer makes a point of opening a window “to threatened:
get some air.” This is a signal to the cultists at the
barn (area G5) to come running. « Lord Viallis is the leader of what he calls the
Burnt Tongue Cult, and he has made Greenfast
G5. BARN the center of the cult’s activities.
Two cult fanatics and two veterans—neutral evil Viallis worships a dark entity called Gaernoo,
humans loyal to Viallis—work here by day. They whose power he channels by sacrificing prisoners.
keep an eye out for trouble and keep their ears open This otherworldly patron provides Lord Viallis
for word of nondescript travelers passing through with aberrant creatures to command.

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

00
INAS TOSAH
5 RS

+ Lord Viallis took over an old ruin outside the vil- TEMPLE FEATURES
lage, wanting to turn it into an estate. The work
The tower and its basement levels are of ancient
at the site is a ruse for opening up and rebuilding
AT

construction, their original purpose long forgotten

a series of subterranean chambers, which now
by the area’s residents.
constitute the cult’s temple. With the temple com-
Ceilings throughout the temple are 10 feet high
pleted, Lord Viallis has ordered the cult’s activi-
and flat. All areas of the upper level of the temple
ties to be stepped up.
are illuminated by braziers, lamps, or magical light.
The cultists know nothing of the whereabouts of All areas of the lower level are dark except for the
the remains of Lady Maria and her children. Lord the south cell in area B11 and the training room
Viallis never speaks of his life before the cult. (area B12).

TEMPLE OF THE TEMPLE LOCATIONS

The locations in the underground temple are keyed
BURNT TONGUE CULT to the map of the Temple of the Burnt Tongue.
An hour out of Greenfast stands an old stone tower,
long abandoned and crumbling. When Lord Viallis Bl. ANTECHAMBER
came to Greenfast after murdering his family, Faerl Characters who descend the stairs in the crumbling
showed him the tower, thinking that Viallis might tower arrive at this chamber.
consider it a suitable site for a summer home. But us we ca
Viallis, already well involved in his plans to make
The sstairs descend thirty feet before opening up into
contact with the Great Old One called Gaernoo, saw
a chamber of worked stone. Two braziers flank the .
even more potential for the site.
For five years, Viallis has led and nurtured a cult : entrance, burning. with. an unnatural aquamarine light.
to Gaernoo, whose members have been working Pillars stand iin two rows, each carved with the visages
to reclaim the ruined tower site, creating a tem- of otherworldly creatures. A fountain flows quietly
ple within the subterranean levels below. Though at the far end of the room in front ofa double door.
the cult remains small in numbers, it has grand Another door stands along the west wall, and the wall
ambitions.
opposite that ‘appears to have collapsed, navesling a
CRUMBLING TOWER rough Pussigewey beyond. | |
¢ : a
When the characters approach the tower site, read
the following: Two grells and four cultists stand guard in this
chamber. If the characters made any obvious noise
Amid aa grove of gnarled seb trees stands a half- as they descended the stairs (including talking),
these guardians try to hide along the walls adjacent
- n stone tower. Rough workers’ tents, piles of
to the stairs, behind the braziers—the cultists on the
= timbers, and tools scattered about show that the site ground and the grells in the air. Combat here alerts
appears to be under reconstruction, though little the cult fanatic in area B3, who flees to area B7 to
headway seems to have been made in restoring the warn Lord Viallis of intruders.
. tower t to its former glory. Fountain. The fountain holds crystal-clear water
and has a silver cup sitting on its edge. A detect
magic spell reveals an aura of divination magic in
As the characters draw closer, it becomes clear that
the water, one sip of which bestows the effect of the
the signs of construction are largely spurious. The guidance cantrip. A creature that gains this benefit
timbers that might have been used to shore up and can’t do so again until the next dawn. Water taken
help rebuild the tower walls are years old and be- from the fountain loses its magic after 10 minutes.
ginning to rot. The tools are rusted. The tents show West Door. The door into area B2 is locked. Lord
signs of recent occupation (cultists who don’t live in Viallis carries the key. As an action, a character can
the village bunk here, near the temple) but contain try to pick the lock using thieves’ tools, doing so
no personal effects. with a successful DC 14 Dexterity check, or force
Characters who search the site can see that in- open the door with a successful DC 17 Strength
side the tower, a stone staircase leads down into (Athletics) check.
darkness. The cultists, overconfident after years of South Doors. This double door is unlocked.
having their operations ignored, have set no guards
protecting access to what lies below.

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

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SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

 B2. ARCANE STUDY If the characters reach this area without making any
sound, they find a single cult fanatic stationed at the
stairs. If alerted to the characters’ intrusion (such
. Bundles of papers, dicgrams. scrolls, and books lie
as by combat in area Bl), the fanatic flees down the
| scattered on a desk and across the floor of this room, stairs, races along the tunnels of the lower level, up
“which is lit by two glowing crystal spheres. on a shelf into area B8, and through the secret door into area
: along the north wall. B7 to alert Lord Viallis.
\
B4. OFFICE
ey

Lord Viallis studies magic in this room, which is off The lack of a door along the stairs to the chapel
I

limits to his cultists. The papers are covered with (area B7) means that characters going into this area
formulas and schematics, recognizable as related to or area B5 might attract the attention of the cultists
arcane magic by anyone who has proficiency in the in the chapel--or might be already in view from the
Arcana skill. foot of the stairs if Viallis has been warned of the
The book Retribution of the Ancients sits on the characters’ approach (see area B3 above).
table. In addition to describing various dark rituals,
this tome serves as Lord Viallis’s spellbook and
contains the following spells: cone of cold, contact ~ Books and trinkets are : spread across a wooden desk
other plane, counterspell, darkness, detect magic, set in this alcove chamber, which i is lit bya burning
fear, fireball, greater invisibility, fly, ice storm, mage brazier. |
armor, magic missile, misty step, polymorph, ray of
sickness, shield, and suggestion.
The trinkets are worthless, mysterious-looking
Pitfall Trap. The glowing spheres on the shelf
objects. The books appear to be registries of pur-
are two cracked driftglobes that can no longer float
chases, as well as lists of items and people. These
or give off their daylight effect. Removing either
documents, created by Faerl, have nothing to do
orb from the shelf triggers a trap. A character who
with the cult’s activities but look important at a
searches the area for traps and succeeds on a DC
glance. Lord Viallis leaves them here to test secu-
16 Wisdom (Perception) check notes a slight de-
rity; if any of them go missing, Viallis knows his
pression in the floor in front of the shelf that warns
temple has been infiltrated by a spy or a thief. A
of the trap. Triggering the trap causes any creature
character who spends at least 10 minutes examin-
standing next to the shelf to fall 20 feet, landing
ing the books can ascertain their lack of importance
prone in the north cell of area B11 and taking 7
with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check.
(2d6) bludgeoning damage. Though the trap’s trig-
ger is magical, the floor must be lifted and set into B5. SyMBOL WORKSHOP
place again for the trap to be reset. Before the trap
is reset, a character can climb back up into this area
from area B11 with a successful DC 20 Strength A bronze oil lamp burns on one of two tables in this . :
(Athletics) check. area, both of which hold woodcarving toolsand
Secret Door. A character who searches the south Strange wooden objects.
wall for secret doors finds one with a successful
DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check. Once found,
Cultists work here to craft the wooden symbols that
the door can be slid sideways to reveal a short pas-
mark membership in the cult—a distended tongue
sage with an identical secret door at the far end. No
with a torn root. Fifty newly carved symbols are
check is needed to find the second secret door, as
spread across both tables, hinting at the scope of
both doors are obvious to anyone in the short hall-
Viallis’s expansion plans.
way that separates areas B2 and B5.
Secret Door. The north wall contains a secret
Treasure. Inside the desk drawer are two golden
door similar to the one in area B2.
medallions worth 125 gp each. A wooden box on the
table contains a chime of opening. B6. STUDY
B3. DUNGEON ACCESS This area is set within the larger space of area B7.
Its door is unlocked.

The tunnel that opens up thrbuigh the crumbling wall

LA glowing drysial sphere illuminates this chamber,
of the antechamber i is illuminated by a single brazier. :
which has a wooden floor and contains a couch and aa
At the end of the passage, a set of Sirving stone stairs.
tall bookcase. |
descends farther down into darkness.

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

 Treasure. The bookcase holds a collection of de-
based literature, dark mythology, studies of aberrant
magic, and mad treatises on elder gods. Lord Viallis
has been building this collection for years for the
benefit of his followers. The collection can be sold
to a discerning purchaser for 300 gp. Alternatively,
if brought to Candlekeep and donated, it might earn
the characters favors and benefits as you see fit.

B7. DARK CHAPEL

If Lord Viallis has been alerted to the characters’
presence, three cult fanatics are at the bottom of
the north stairs watching for anyone approaching
from area B4. These cultists hide along the walls as
the characters descend the stairs, attacking as soon
as they enter the chapel.
° ¢
This huge space has the appearance ofa chapel, its
walls carved with unnatural imagery. A large alcove
to the south contains a huge, purple stone statue
ofa monstrous, otherworldly creature with a large,
bulbous head, long arms, tentacles for legs, and
multifaceted eyes glowing with aquamarine light. Two
bodies are draped over an altar in front of the statue, ViaLLis YELLOWCREST

and standing over them is a tall, bald man clutching a

bloody knife. He is flanked by two robed cultists, and
floating nearby is a hideous creature that looks like a
giant, tentacled brain.
Without his coterie of bodyguards to protect him, oF
Lord Viallis Yellowcrest (a chaotic evil human he tries to flee the scene (and the temple) as soon as
mage) is performing a lengthy ritual that requires the battle starts.
his undivided attention. He is surrounded by ser- Cult Tactics. Lord Viallis has already cast mage
vants (see below), a bloodstained knife in his hand. armor on himself, and he expended his 5th-level
The bodies of two adult humans lie dead on the al- spell slot to fuel the ritual. He wears a robe of scin-
tar in front of the statue, having just been sacrificed. tillating colors and uses his action to activate it if
See the “Lord Viallis” sidebar for additional guid- pressed in melee. In a pocket of the robe, he has a
ance on how to portray this mad villain. spell scroll of teleport that he uses to escape to a lo-
A grell and two cultists stand beside Lord Viallis cation of your choice if the battle appears lost.
but break off from the ritual to repel intruders, leav-
ing him to finish it alone. LORD VIALLIS
At the start of round 2, the characters see the Lord Viallis leads the Burnt Tongue Cult, conducting
bodies consumed by aquamarine fire and reduced evil rituals and humanoid sacrifices in the name of
to bone and ash, from which another grell emerges.
his patron. Viallis is under the direct influence of an
otherworldly entity called Gaernoo, and is gathering
Viallis and this second grell then join the fight
followers in the out-of-the-way village of Greenfast in
in round 3. the hope of one day returning to Waterdeep with a full-
If the characters reached this area without mak- fledged cult. He fights fiercely when surrounded by his
ing an undue amount of noise (and if the guard in lackeys but tries to flee if things start to fall apart.
area B3 did not come here to warn of the charac- Personality Trait. “| am superior. Those lesser than |
ters’ intrusion), three cult fanatics lurk behind the do not deserve my attention.”
statue—the same three who watch the north stairs if Ideal. “Gaernoo gifts us with insight. The knowledge
from beyond the veil will open our eyes.”
Lord Viallis is expecting trouble. They join the fray.
Bond. “My soul belongs to Gaernoo.”
Faerl is also here if he was able to flee Waterdeep Flaw. “| must think about things, then think again.
and you did not choose to have the characters meet Decisions cannot be made quickly.” |
DAWES

him at his house. He is reclining on one of the pews.

NIKKI
FRESE
a

Pits. Four pits stand in alcoves along the sides of B10. OssSUARY
the chapel. After each sacrifice, the cultists throw
———

$
the ashes and bones of the victims down these
Ee

shafts to area B13 below. This dark, dead- ond chamber holds a ound of
ng

Treasure. In addition to his robe of scintillating charred bones, desiccated body parts, and skulls scat-
colors and spell scroll of teleport, Lord Viallis car- | tered across a linen sheet. Strange red-black runes
ries the keys to area B2 and the cells in area B11. A mark the sheet’s edges, seemingly scribed ini blood.
number of objects are arranged around the altar as LC . : hs
offerings, including five gold bracelets (worth 150 gp
each) amid various worthless trinkets. On Gaernoo’s instructions, Lord Viallis and the
Secret Doors. Characters who search the room cultists have been gathering the remains of dozens
for secret doors and succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom of ritually slain victims in this area. A character who
(Perception) check find sliding wall sections to ei- has proficiency in the Arcana skill or who succeeds
ther side of the altar. These secret doors open easily on a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check can inter-
and reveal passages to area B8 and area B9. pret the runes to realize that these remains are be-
ing collected to fuel a huge ritual at a later date—one
B8. SECRET VAULT that will ultimately require hundreds of victims.
A short hallway runs from the secret door in area
B7 to stairs leading down. Bll. CELLS
These two cells—one to the north and one to the
south—are closed off by locked iron-bar doors. Lord
rn wooden chests aare the only objects tobes seen in. Viallis carries the keys that unlock the doors. As an
| this dark roroom, which has a staircase leading down. action, a character can try to pick a door’s lock us-
ing thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC 15
Treasure. Both chests are unlocked, and they Dexterity check.
hold valuables the prisoners in area B11 had on North Cell. This cell, which lies beneath the trap
them when they were taken: a longsword, two dag- in area B2, is empty when the characters first arrive
gers, a pair of jeweled earrings worth 150 gp, and at the temple.
115 gp. If the characters are captured by the cultists South Cell. This cell holds six prisoners, includ-
and moved to either cell, their belongings end up ing Yaeda Firenni, Mayor Kara's sister. Though
here as well. she originally joined Lord Viallis willingly, Yaeda
was imprisoned after the full scope of the cult was
B9. SECRET LIBRARY revealed to her and she tried to flee. She is in poor
health; treat her as an unarmed commoner with 4
levels of exhaustion.
; This small, dark chamber holds a golden uiurn resting
If Vecken got to Greenfast ahead of the characters,
atop a small table and a bookcase stuffed with books he is also one of the prisoners. The warrior tells
and scrolls, many of them old and worn. the characters that their news inspired him to seek
his own vengeance for Sarah, but he was captured
when he took on a squad of cultists looking for
The books and scrolls contain arcane formulas, al-
victims along the Trade Way. Vecken has been re-
chemical recipes, ritual instructions, and lore about
duced to 25 hit points. Though injured, he is healthy
the Outer Planes, half of which is written in Deep
enough to escort the other prisoners to safety if the
Speech. Interspersed among the older books are
characters have more of the temple to explore.
several newer journals written by Lord Viallis.
The four remaining prisoners include three un-
Characters who spend a few minutes reading
armed commoners and a child noncombatant.
through the lore here learn any information they
Their names are Jalrax, Durz, Seffra, and Ashlan.
might have missed about the murders at Yellow-
crest Manor. Additionally, one journal reveals that They were part of a caravan attacked by the cultists
Viallis placed the cremated remains of his wife and a few days earlier. Two of their companions (the un-
fortunate victims in the chapel) were taken from the
three children in a golden urn that he sometimes
uses as a focus for his dark rituals. The golden cell a few hours earlier.
urn mentioned in this journal is the same one that
B12. AcoLYTES' TRAINING Room
rests on the table. The urn is engraved with arcane Scrolls and notes are spread across the floor of
sigils relating to the Outer Planes. It holds ashes—
this worked stone alcove. Four recent recruits of
the remains of Lady Maria and her children—and
the Burnt Tongue Cult (three cultists and one cult
radiates an aura of necromancy magic to a detect
fanatic) normally work here to learn and practice
magic spell.
spellcasting. You can make the encounter tougher

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

by adding two gricks that act as watchdogs. If the RETRIBUTION OF THE ANCIENTS
cultist from area B3 passed through here to warn
As a unique tome, Retribution of the Ancients can
Lord Viallis of intruders, the creatures in this area
be used to gain entry to Candlekeep. Given its dan-
are waiting for the characters and ready to fight. If
gerous nature, donating the book might also earn
they have not been warned, the gricks remain alert
the characters special favor from those among the
but the cultists are distracted as they try to cast a
Avowed who are pleased to know that its rituals can
spell under the cult fanatic’s watchful eye.
no longer be misused.
Familiar Face. One of the recruits bears a notice-
able resemblance to Old Fargo and is his son, Young YOUNG FARGO
Fargo. He fights as furiously as the other cultists but
loses his zeal if the characters subdue him. In the If the characters spare Young Fargo’s life, they come
aftermath of the fight, appropriate roleplaying or a to understand that as a new initiate, the young man
successful DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check can had not yet been exposed to the worst of the cult’s
help the young man understand that Viallis has cor- depravities. In time, he is able to come to terms with
rupted and used him. what he has done and make amends. A grateful Old
Treasure. A search of the scrolls on the floor Fargo offers the characters the hospitality of the
turns up a spell scroll of counterspell. Bulging Cauldron, free of charge, whenever they
pass through Greenfast.
B13. SACRIFICIAL REMAINS
Mounds of ash and bone dropped down from area FINAL REST
B7 after Lord Viallis’s rituals are piled up in these The ashes of Lady Maria and her three children
locations. must be spread in hallowed ground to grant them
eternal rest. Any of the mausoleums in the City of
CONCLUSION the Dead in Waterdeep would be a suitable location.
When the characters have ended the threat of the As the ashes are interred, the spectral forms of
cultists, the threads of the mystery in Sarah of Yel- Lady Maria, Malik, Janus, and Tianna materialize
lowcrest Manor can be connected. before the characters. In silence, Lady Maria hugs
her three children close to her as she meets each
AFTERMATH IN GREENFAST character's gaze. Sarah’s ghost appears, her connec-
Learning about the actions of the Burnt Tongue Cult tion to the diary broken as her quest is fulfilled. The
shocks the folk of Greenfast and neighboring com- five spirits then vanish, their forms scattering like
munities. They undertake the process of clearing flower petals on the wind.
If Vecken is present, he weeps upon seeing Sarah
out the cult site, making what restitution they can
to Viallis’s victims, and collapsing the tower to seal again, then thanks the characters for what they've
off the entrance to the temple. The attacks along the done after all the spirits have passed on. Vecken
Trade Way drop off immediately. The farm folk are might remain a lifelong friend to the characters, and
grateful to the characters for their actions, and vow his own exploits could provide inspiration for future
to become more watchful for unseen threats. adventures.

FATE OF LORD VIALLIS

If the zealous cult leader died in his showdown with
the characters, the cult is no more. Because Viallis
shared none of his magical knowledge with his fol-
lowers, any cultists who might have escaped have
no connection to Gaernoo or the entity's power.
If the characters keep Lord Viallis alive, they can
deliver him to Waterdeep for justice. The crazed cult
leader freely admits his guilt before his execution,
and the tragic tale of the Yellowcrest family comes
to a close.
If Lord Viallis teleports out of the temple, his
destination is for you to decide. Though he has lost
the fruits of all his labor, his connection to Gaernoo
remains strong, and he starts work immediately
to regain what he has lost. Whether he returns to
Waterdeep or emerges in some other location, his
plots might spawn new adventures for the party.

SARAH OF YELLOWCREST MANOR

 AN ADVENTURE FOR 8TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
0B omens
ses cso UD GR sii sess essai see mene 0 8

WRITTEN BY KELLY LYNNE D’ANGELO

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY KIM MOHAN

ORE OF LURUE 1S THE WORK OF ECAMANE

Truesilver, the first High Mage of Silvery-
, moon, at the behest of the lesser deity
¥ Lurue the Unicorn. It was later added to
Boamane s personal library, where it collected dust
long after Ecamane’s death in 712 DR. Eventually,
the book made its way into the hands of a young
and eager traveling monk, Ulraunt. He thought that
the book would be an appropriate offering for his
entrance into Candlekeep, and right he was. After
being accepted, the book was stored in the library's
archives. The book offers a look into the history
behind the founding of one of the most prominent
cities in Faerin, Silverymoon. Lore oF LURUE
In actuality, Lore of Lurue is an enchanted story-
book—one that, if read, could bestow upon its reader
gifts and blessings. The moment the characters
open the book, they are transported to a demiplane If the book has been properly put away, on a high
in the heart of a forest. From there, they are set on shelf in the History of Faer{in section marked “Sil-
a course that leads them to investigate a blight that verymoon,” the vibrant color of its leather outshines
has arisen in the woods. It’s up to them to find the the dusty tomes on either side of it. The title appears
source of this corruption and expunge it from the on the spine in elaborate gold calligraphy. Some-
world. What is causing this disruption, and what is one who looks closely enough can spot the crest of
its purpose? Silverymoon intricately rendered at the end of each
word: a silver crescent moon with horns pointing
FINDING THE BOOK to the right and a silver eight-pointed star enclosed
within the crescent.
Characters in Candlekeep might discover Lore of The tome is large—twelve inches wide and sixteen
Lurue in its place on the shelves, or elsewhere in the inches tall-—and contains hundreds of pages. If the
library, in one of several ways, including: characters intend to read it, all they need to do is
« Assisting one of the Great Readers of Candlekeep find a place in Candlekeep where they can all gather
by helping them sort a pile of books that need to around as the book is opened.
be reshelved
Talking to a scholar about books that describe an- LURUE’S ORIGINS
cient conflicts between deities Thought by many to be the ute of Seltne, god
« Examining the History of Faer{in section of of the moon, Lurue the Unicorn is a lesser deity with
the library strong ties to Mielikki, god of the forest. Mielikki
oversaw the f est in the early days of creation, but
Whether the book is shelved or not, it captures | ne, she needed a guardianto ~
the characters’ attention the first time any of them eyes and ears on the Material
sets eyes on it. If it’s unearthed from within a pile, elikki's assessment and
it stands out immediately because of its rich purple e took on the mantle of
diligently working
leather covers and the golden relief of a unicorn’s
ns, elves, and other talking
head that adorns the front cover.

LORE OF LURUE
 As the story opens, the weather in the demiplane
LORE COMES TO LIFE is brisk but not frigid, and the winter solstice is im-
A successful DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana) check con- minent. When the characters follow the course of
firms that the book is enchanted. As soon as a char- the story, they arrive at the site of the adventure’s cli-
acter opens it, a few sentences in Common appear max just before midnight on the day of the solstice.
on the first page, as if someone is writing it, word by The characters are active participants in the story,
word. As this text unfurls, read: and its events are real to them: they can defeat ene-
mies and be defeated by them. But a player charac-
ter who drops to 0 hit points while on the demiplane
is immediately teleported out of the demiplane and
back into Candlekeep where the book is located.
A teleported character reappears with 1 hit point
and loses any items they had collected on the jour-
ney so far. Explain to the player of the character that
they can rejoin the party by going through the gate
again after finishing a long rest. In the meantime,
the other party members will have moved along in
the story. Because time passes differently on the
demiplane from how it flows on the Material Plane,
When the reader turns the page, the book glows the returning character appears back with the party
briefly, as a delayed-action gate spell is activated. in the encounter area that follows the one the char-
Any creature within 10 feet of the book is pulled acter previously experienced.
into the portal and transported to a demiplane along The gate remains active until the characters’ con-
with any equipment it is wearing or carrying (see tribution to the story has come to an end (one way
the “Other Planes” section in the Dungeon Mas- or the other), whereupon the characters are ejected
ter’s Guide for more information on demiplanes). If from the demiplane and deposited around the book
other player characters are not in the vicinity when back in Candlekeep. No one other than the charac-
the gate is activated, they are free to move to and ters can use the gate, or even perceive it, while the
through the passage to join their comrades. mission is under way.
After the characters open and “enter” the book,
their literal path through the demiplane is dictated SATYRS IN DISTRESS
by the story that Ecamane Truesilver penned long
Once the characters have entered the book, read:
ago. The characters begin a short distance south
of where a meadow meets the edge of a forest. If +

anyone tries to move away from the forest, they are

halted by an impassable barrier of force that disal-
lows any other route. bi as theseye can see. Sehindyyou is a range
The story takes the characters generally north- dable mountain peaks. As the remnant of the S
ward through several noteworthy locations, each
o sun dips below the horizon, apiiting full moon ill,
one equivalent to a major section in the book. No
nates the darkening sky. > :
map is necessary for the adventurers to get from
é
one place to the next; if they try to deviate from the
direction the story takes them, the same barrier of When one or more characters move to within 20
force prevents them from making any progress. feet of the forest's edge, three satyrs come into view.
When this happens, read:
THE BOoOK’S DEMIPLANE
LTThree spel creatur ress that combine the featu
@®
Anyone who opens Lore of Lurue and begins to read
it, and those who accompany the reader, become
subject to the book’s unique enchantment, which
was placed upon it by Ecamane Truesilver shortly
before his death in 712 DR. byou —— in Span.
The geography of the demiplane to which the book é

permits access bears some resemblance to the area

If none of the characters speaks Sylvan, one satyr
of Faer{in near where Silverymoon is located today,
laughs and greets the party in Elvish. A character
particularly the High Forest and the River Rauvin,
can confirm the truth of what he says with a suc-
but the book's story dates back to the days before
cessful DC 16 Wisdom (Insight) check:
the future site of the city was settled.

- ye
LORE OF LURUE 5 y
et
 “I'm Tragos ... and this is Artelio and Funagi,” he says. d20 Encounter

~ “We were out for a bit of a revel when a swarm of 14-16 Three human berserkers pass nearby while on a
wild- eyed ravens attacked us. We're in no fit state to hunt, pursuing a family of deer. If the characters
Could you perchance help us get home?” make their presence known, the berserkers attack
@ ®
them instead.
17-20 Four injured wolves come upon the party but
The satyrs want to get back to Polvarth Plateau,
keep their distance. Each has 1d8 hit points
where they can party safely. They aren't sure how
remaining. If approached, they instinctively
far they've strayed, only that the plateau lies to the
north and is a journey of a few hours by hoof. The snarl but then quickly whimper in pain. Their
satyrs pass the time by singing, drinking wine from blood-matted fur is evidence ofa recent attack
wineskins, and sharing ribald stories. on the wolves (they were wounded by hunters but
During the trip, the characters have an opportu- escaped). If a character makes a successful DC
nity to converse with the satyrs. If this happens, the 14 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, the wolves
characters learn the following information: become calm and allow the characters to treat
. Often over the past tenday, several cracks of thun- their wounds. If they are given aid, the wolves trail
der have sounded, even when there appears to be behind the party and assist in fights if needed.
no storm brewing. At night, in places where the
canopy of trees thins to provide a clear enough
view, occasional bolts of red lightning can be seen
INTO THE WOOD
in the distance. After being guided by the satyrs through several
Strange tribesfolk, foreign to the area, have been miles of the forest, the characters ascend a gentle
wandering the forest, killing any animal they see slope as they come upon a break in the foliage.
on sight. From this elevated vantage, they behold an impres-
« There's a community of pixies and sprites near sive sight: a circular clearing beneath and around
the Polvarth Plateau called Dewlight. Tragor is the canopy of a gigantic maple tree. This is Polvarth
friends with a jovial sprite there, Wheeldoli, who Plateau, a hidden sanctuary for fey creatures.
might know more about recent happenings.
POLVARTH PLATEAU
RANDOM ENCOUNTERS As the characters approach the clearing and the
The journey with the satyrs should take at least 2 tree at the center of it, read:
hours and as long as 6 hours, at your discretion.
° | ; | +
After every hour of travel, roll a d20 and consult
Before you stands a maple tree of impossibly large
the Demiplane Encounters table to determine if the
characters have an encounter at that point. If you get size in the center of an open area nearly one hundred
a previous result (other than “no encounter”) a sec- feet in diameter. Shafts of light cut through the leafy o
ond time, that might be an appropriate spot to end canopy overhead and reflect off thin streams of water
the trip and proceed with the story. that trickle along and between the tree’ s gnarled, |
thick roots. =
DEMIPLANE ENCOUNTERS
As you pron the trunk oo the tree, the satyrs
d20 Encounter
gambol ahead of you, elated to be back in their safe
1-5 No encounter.
haven. Suddenly, the tree seems to come awake. It
6-7 Three swarms of ravens fly overhead. A successful gives offa guttural noise—and then it speaks!
DC 14 Dexterity (Stealth) group check allows the
“Pardon my rudeness for being asleep!” jtsays.
party to pass them by without being noticed. If
“It’s been a long time since I’ ve seen travelers like y you -
the group check fails, the swarms attack.
in these parts.”
8-9 Two hungry wereboars barge out of the under- ®

brush and attack the party.

The tree is a treant. The satyrs call it call Feynor.
10-13 A nearby tree bleeds gold sap. A successful DC 16
Feynor embraces the satyrs and welcomes them
Intelligence (Nature) or Wisdom (Survival) check
home. The satyrs, who keep their wine reserves hid-
reveals that the sap has healing properties. (The
den nearby, quickly scamper off to get drunk and be
satyrs know about these properties.) Anyone who merry, leaving the characters alone with the treant.
consumes the sap regains 2d4 + 2 hit points. The Feynor apologizes for the satyrs’ behavior (“I'm
tree has enough sap for four doses. sure they're grateful to you, but they're so happy to

LORE OF LURUE
 DEWLIGHT 3

be home they forgot their manners”) and then asks DEWLIGHT

why the characters are traveling through the forest.
A narrow path leads north from Polvarth Plateau,
If they respond truthfully, Feynor treats them as al-
wending its way between densely packed trees. Less
lies and offers to add to their knowledge.
than an hour after setting out, the characters reach
The treant takes a moment to communicate with
their next stop:
the wildlife throughout the region. He reports his
findings in a sonorous voice: “The Pool of Eternal
Spring is being sullied, tainted by blood lust.” He Moss-covered trees and overgrown brush suddenly
begs the characters to continue on their journey, thin out, giving way to a small glen not more than a
which is taking them toward the pool, and do what- hundred feet across. This area is peppered with col-
ever necessary to make the pool pure and clean orful mushrooms growing virtually on top of one an-
again. The treant urges the characters to resume
other, some of the clusters more than three feet high.
their travels and suggests that they stop along the
way at the community of Dewlight to speak with a A warm glow emanates from tiny lanterns that hang
sprite named Wheeldoli, who might have more news from each mushroom. Jutting up from the caps of the
for them. Feynor gestures with one of his branches mushrooms, chimneys made of petrified bark let out
toward a narrow path leading north into the woods. wisps of acorn-scented smoke. These mushrooms
appear to be homes—dozens of them—scattered
TREASURE
Before the characters leave, Feynor uproots a
around the clearing.
corked wooden vial buried in the dirt and offers it
to them. The vial contains a potion of giant strength Moments before the characters emerged from the
(hill), and the treant says as much. The potion forest, the pixies and sprites that live in Dewlight
vanishes when the characters leave the demiplane
ALCIN

detected their approach, turned invisible for safety’s

if it is not consumed before then. sake, and fled into their homes for good measure.
KATERINA

The lone exception is Wheeldoli, an elderly sprite

LORE OF LURUE
whose curiosity outweighs his sense of caution. Af- 10-foot square of webbing has AC 10, 15 hit points,
ter a moment, he steps out from behind the stem of vulnerability to fire damage, and immunity to blud-
a mushroom and introduces himself: geoning, poison, and psychic damage.
Four cowardly ettercaps are lurking nearby, wait-
ing for their webs to snag some prey. At the sound of
€ i folk. 1, Wheeldoli, welcome you to
intruders, they scurry into the underbrush and hide,
wight and suggest you be on your way”
staying 30 feet away from the webbed path, loosely
spread out. The ettercaps are ambush hunters and
Wheeldoli is prepared to turn invisible and make run from a prolonged fight.
himself scarce at the first sign of aggressiveness,
but if the characters start by mentioning that they HAc’s HOVEL
have spoken with Feynor, or if they talk to him The characters’ path takes them into a densely for-
about the book they discovered, the sprite becomes ested area. By following a break in the trees that
friendly and contributes some additional details sends them north and west, they come upon a sign
about their situation. that this area is inhabited:
As a scholar among his kind, Wheeldoli knows
about some of the gods revered by the big folk,
E | Grarled bushes
sind dead aor diseased ttrees ssuround
and he shares his supposition about the nighttime
thunderclaps and lightning strikes in the distance.
“Signs of a battle brewing,” he says. A group of
vicious predators have been stalking through the
forest of late, and Wheeldoli fears they are disciples
of Malar the Beast Lord (see the “Cult of Malar” 2building isis aalarger —— a covered wih =
section later in the adventure). The disturbances to | creeping vines. a -
the north, he says, seem to be coming from the vi-
cinity of the Pool of Eternal Spring, a hallowed site : As you come 3 bi peloser the sound of voices sud-
associated with a lesser deity known as Lurue the
i denly. emerges. from the shack. One.
O occupant color |
Unicorn. The sprite says he would not be surprised wickedly, and two other voices s emit muffled whimpers =
to find that Malar’s minions are behind that turn of “and groans. =. i
events as well. ¢ La he is

In conclusion, Wheeldoli injects some urgency

The following locations are keyed to the map of the
into the situation. “Whatever’s happening at the
hag’s hovel.
pool is likely to reach its peak on the winter solstice,
which is at most a day or two from now.” Hl. Dry WELL
When the characters have learned all they can The characters might correctly assume that this
from Wheeldoli, the sprite directs them to a narrow place is what it looks like: the site of a well (which
gravel path that skirts the community and then con- is now abandoned). If they approach to within 5 feet
tinues northward through the underbrush. of the stone wall, they can peer over the 2-foot-high
“Hurry along now,” he says. “Danger along the wall into the hole, which is dark, but they don’t get
way might impede your travel, so there's no time an idea of how deep the hole is or what's in it.
to waste!” If a character comes up to the stone wall and
looks down inside the hole, this activity attracts the
WEBBED PATH
attention of a grick alpha that uses the place as a
The pebbled path leading out of Dewlight soon lair. The water source at the bottom of the 30-foot-
turns into dirt, and the area on either side of it is deep hole has long since dried up, making it an ideal
sparsely covered with underbrush. After the char- place for the grick to lurk when it’s not out hunting.
acters walk for a few more minutes, they discover The grick’s Stone Camouflage trait prevents the
that the road ahead is covered in large patches of characters from realizing its presence—unless they
spiderwebs. The webbed path, 20 feet wide and shine a light source down into the hole or have some
60 feet long, is difficult terrain. A creature that en- other way of seeing the bottom of the pit. If they
ters the area for the first time on a turn or starts don’t see the grick at the same time it sees them,
its turn there must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity the monster lurches out of the well to confront its
saving throw or become restrained by the webs. prey. A character who can see into the hole and has
A restrained creature can use its action to try to a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14 or higher
escape, doing so with a successful DC 12 Strength notices the grick before it attacks; any other charac-
(Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. Each ters start the encounter surprised.

LORE OF LURUE
 1square = 5 feet

H2. HAG SHACK teach the interlopers a lesson, but if the characters
This run-down shack is the occasional home of a don’t dispose of her promptly, she does not hesitate
night hag named Lanedrie Staggersoul. When she to cut her losses and uses a plane shift spell to leave
spends time on the Material Plane, she enjoys im- their company.
prisoning and terrorizing denizens of the forest. Her The two dryads are named Trekaila and Argentia.
two “house guests” at the moment are among the If the characters free them from their bonds, the
prisoners she has taken most recently. dryads are appropriately grateful. If the characters
The only way into the shack is through the door on ask how they got here, they sheepishly explain that
the east side. When a character first peers into the the hag caught the two of them and a third dryad
room, read: named Hanah unawares while they were paying
little attention to their surroundings. Trekaila and
Argentia are quick to disclose that Hanah was taken
: The inside of the ik is in 2 terrible sstate of disre- =. .
away by the hag several hours ago, and they fear
pair. The only contents of note area ram 1, kle bed, that the worst might have happened to her. The dry-
| a scratched-up table, a warped wooden shelf with
ads tell the characters about seeing the hag return
several containers, on it, and a fireplace with wooden from someplace that lies to the east of the shack and
s spoons and ladles hanging from hooks a bove it. To i urge them to investigate.
your left, two figures are bound and gagged on the : Treasure. All of Lanedrie’s prized possessions
are sitting on the shelf. A character who makes a
| floor w while a blue-skinned hag looms over them. The L
successful DC 12 Intelligence (Arcana or Investi-
. Spies appesryto be dryads. gation) check identifies two useful items: a potion
of clairvoyance and a potion of healing (greater).
The night hag is focused on tormenting her captives As figments of the demiplane, these potions vanish
and can be taken by surprise if the characters suc- when the characters leave if they're not consumed
ceed on a DC 15 Dexterity (Stealth) group check. before then.
Lanedrie begins by using her claws and spells to wo
(( |

LORE OF LURUE
2 \©O
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H3. HAG’S MENAGERIE RIVER'S EDGE
Tucked in a clearing is a ramshackle structure 15
feet wide and three times as long. If the characters
rescued Trekaila and Argentia in area H2 before : At foot, it seems. ason though you have reached he
coming here, the dryads follow closely behind the | northern edge of the forest. The trees are fewer and
characters, eager to find their missing dryad com-
panion, Hanah. A door on the west end of the build-
ing opens easily, revealing the following:

used this area

) a a
as a place
to rest.

This stop is what it seems: an opportunity for the

party to rest before their next confrontation. The
The door to each cage is barred on the outside and characters can finish a long rest (if they choose to
features a small window through which the charac- do so) without incident. The river water is good to
ters can see what's inside. Seven of the cages are drink, and if the characters have the means, they
empty (though their doors are still barred). Ten of can fish for their supper.
them hold single specimens of various animals—a When the characters are ready to move on, they
baboon, a hyena, a boar, an ape, a vulture, a blood quickly discover that the story is compelling them
hawk, an eagle, a giant rat, a hawk, and an owl. All to follow the trail heading west. (Turning back is not
of them are weakened from minor wounds and in- an option.)
sufficient nourishment, but they are still able to fend
for themselves. If the door is opened on an occupied CULT OF MALAR
cage, the animal inside immediately bolts (or flies) In the prologue of Lore of Lurue—not a part of the
for freedom, doing what it must to foil any attempts story that the characters witness or experience—
to keep it from escaping. Ecamane Truesilver describes the underlying truth
The door of the last cage, in the far southeast cor- of the situation and identifies the entity responsible
ner of the building, has no window. The characters for the upheaval of the demiplane.
need to open the door to see what's inside: The evil creatures waiting to confront the charac-
ters at the end of their journey are the bloodthirsty
minions of Malar, god of the hunt, also known as the
Beast Lord. Malar’s goal is to assume dominance
over the forest—particularly the area around the
Pool of Eternal Spring—and his agents have been
This unconscious dryad is Hanah. If Trekaila and hard at work brutally killing animals of all sorts
Argentia are present, they try to rush to Hanah'’s in tribute to their god, then casting the carcasses
side and minister to her. Hanah has been reduced into the pool.
to O hit points from the hag’s rough treatment, but As the adventurers will discover, this cult of Ma-
she is stable. If the characters don’t administer lar (otherwise nameless) includes several crazed
healing of their own, one of the other dryads casts berserkers as well as worgs and werewolves. When
a goodberry spell and force-feeds the berries to Ha- the characters arrive on the scene, the cultists’ dep-
nah. If she regains even 1 hit point, Hanah becomes redations have corrupted the water of the pool, set-
conscious. ting the stage for Malar’s final act in his campaign
After she gets her bearings, Hanah says she’s able of terror.
to travel. She wants nothing more than to leave this Malar believes that there is no better way to
place. Trekaila and Argentia, of course, are in com- demonstrate his dominance than by using his cult
plete agreement. The dryads part company with the members to help bring forth a corrupted version of
characters, heading back toward Polvarth Plateau the avatar of Lurue the Unicorn to serve the Beast
after wishing the adventurers success in whatever Lord’s ends in his newly claimed domain. It is this
they are trying to do. effort that the characters must foil if they are to see
their role in the story of Lore of Lurue end happily.

LORE OF LURUE
 1square = 5 feet

Curt OF MALAR CAMPSITE

No matter when the characters set out after their
rest, the passage of time on the demiplane speeds
up or slows down to ensure that night has fallen by
the time they reach the next encounter location:

progress | for a2 while by

sun dips below the ho
turn tto the north ayaw
site direction comes a le of “thunder and : a flash
the warriors’ oruel laughs. you ccan hear a cry of o
oirred lightning, vividd against. thee darkening shy.
he Beast Lord!” .
’
The thunder and lightning should make it apparent
which direction the characters are meant to take. Eight berserkers of the cult are consuming a pile of
The last leg of their journey takes them south along animals they have killed as a way of paying tribute
a wide trail through the forest. After a few minutes to Malar. If they aren’t tearing at the meat, they are
of careful travel, they get evidence that they're not playing with the dead bodies, kicking them to and
alone: from somewhere nearby ahead, they hear fro. Two worgs chained to nearby posts snarl and
gruff voices growling and roaring. It’s easy for the growl anytime a dead carcass gets close enough.
characters to sneak toward the sounds for a closer This noisy revelry provides each character with
look. The following boxed text corresponds to the advantage on any Dexterity (Stealth) check to get
campsite shown on the right-hand side of the Pool of closer to the cult members. If the characters linger
Eternal Spring map: too long before acting, one of the worgs picks up
their scent and, with a roar, alerts the berserkers

- L
LORE OF LURUE
to the characters’ presence. The berserkers fight to If any creature drinks the corrupted water from
the death until one remains. That warrior tries to re- the pool, it must make a DC 15 Charisma saving
treat to the south, hoping to alert the cult members throw. On a failed save, the creature gains a ran-
gathered at the pool (see below). domly determined form of short-term madness (see
“Madness” in the Dungeon Master's Guide).
PERIL AT THE POOL
THE CORRUPTED AVATAR
After the characters deal with the cultists at the
campsite, the way forward is obvious: lightning In normal circumstances, the avatar of Lurue is a
flashes in the sky every few minutes, seeming to be breathtaking sight; her silver, stardust-like mane,
centered over a place that’s within a couple minutes’ her shimmering hooves, and her perfectly formed
walk to the south. spiral horn elicit awe from even the most hardened
In the far distance, the sky is clear, but directly souls. As powerful and striking as she is in her true
above the pool is a black storm cloud spitting bolts form, she’s just as wicked in her alternative state.
of red lightning. When the characters arrive, stand- With necrotic energy twisting and dancing at the tip
ing at the edge of the pool are six wolf-like human- of her black horn, this corrupted avatar of Lurue is
oids, their backs to the characters. With faces raised instead a nightmare come to life.
up in supplication, they chant ominously. Read: While tainted by the influence of Malar, the avatar
of Lurue carries out the Beast Lord's will: to slaugh-
ter anything that dares to cross its path.
When the corrupted unicorn comes into being, it
does so within reach of at least one of the cult mem-
bers. If a fight has not already started, roll initiative.
On each of the avatar’s turns, and when using its
legendary actions, it randomly attacks one or more
creatures from among any targets it can reach. The
avatar prefers a wounded foe over a fresh one, but it
also singles out enemies who deal grievous injuries
In less troubling times, the Pool of Eternal Spring to it and attacks them without mercy.
was a little slice of Mount Celestia on earth. Its The cult members, briefly transfixed by the spec-
crystal-clear waters nourished the nearby lands and tacle they have just witnessed, are not immediately
fostered the most abundant plant and animal life hostile, though they defend themselves against
imaginable. The usual pleasant fragrance that wafts characters who threaten or attack them. When it be-
from the pool is now replaced by the scent of metal comes apparent to the werewolves that they are also
and blood. being targeted by the avatar, they might join forces
The cult of Malar has prepared the pool in with the characters (if the avatar is getting the upper
anticipation of the winter solstice. By filling the Pool hand) or break off and run away (if the characters
of Eternal Spring with offerings to Malar—creatures seem to be in control of things).
of the forest that have been brutally killed and slain,
then tossed into the water—the cult has tainted it as FINAL SCENE
a gesture of reverence to their deity. Unbeknownst If the characters vanquish the corrupted avatar of
to them, the arrival of the solstice triggers the final Lurue or are in danger of being vanquished them-
phase of Malar’s plan. selves, read:
The cultists at the edge of the pool are six were-
wolves. Five begin the encounter in hybrid form,
and the one leading the chant is in humanoid form.
The characters have come on the scene just in time
to witness the final stage of the ceremony, which
culminates at midnight. Before the characters can ooves, anda spiraling horn. She
do anything to prevent it, a bolt of red lightning
splits the sky and strikes the surface of the pool.
When the resulting steam cloud dissipates, the cor- 3 5

rupted avatar of Lurue (see the accompanying stat

block) materializes at the edge of the pool—and sud- The lightning bolt from the moon either destroys
denly, the characters and the cultists have a com- the corrupted avatar to spare the adventurers from
mon enemy (see "The Corrupted Avatar" for more a likely tragic ending, or revives and purifies the
information). slain avatar. (The book speculates that this divine
intervention is courtesy of Seline, who has been

LORE OF LURUE
 waiting for Malar’s plan to come to fruition so that
she might demonstrate to him the utter futility of his
desire to hold sway over the forest.)
Divine magic pours from Lurue’s horn and turns
the tainted pool back into silvery, glistening pure
water. The Pool of Eternal Spring is restored to its
former nature. A short distance away along the bank
of the pool is a narrow, spring-fed outlet stream that
leads north toward the river. The purifying effect
continues to flow into and along the stream, remov-
ing all traces of corruption that might have escaped
in the current. Her work finished, Lurue lifts her
head, regards the characters once more, and pre-
pares to take her leave.

CONCLUSION
Regardless of the outcome of the characters’ efforts,
the book's final scene ends the same:
. *
The avatar of Lurue galloped through the night, freed
from the threat of Malar. As a way of showing her grat-
itude, and ensuring that Malar and his minions would
never dare to ravage the forest again, she continued to
let the silvery spring flow, turning the place into a Pool
of Eternal Silver. These waters, forever protected by CORRUPTED AVATAR OF LURUE
Large monstrosity
her grace, lie near the site ofa city now called Silvery-
moon, which was named as such in honor of this tale. Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
® ®
Hit Points 90 (12d10 + 24)
Speed 50 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
As these words pass into the characters’ conscious-
ness, the book begins to pull the characters out of STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18(+4) 14(+2) 15(#2) 11 (+0) 17 (#3) 16 (+3)
the story. When the last line is read, the characters
return to the same spot in Candlekeep they left. Saving Throws Int +3, Wis +6, Cha +6
Lore of Lurue, closed and sealed, rests where it did Damage Immunities poison
when the characters’ experience began. Condition Immunities charmed, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
If the characters defeated the corrupted unicorn
Languages Celestial, Elvish, Sylvan, telepathy 60 ft.
before Seltine intervened, and thus they feel deserv- Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
ing of a reward, they might discover that Lurue her-
self has provided them with one. Sitting on the front
cover of the book as the characters emerge from the ACTIONS
demiplane is a moonstone and opal ring. A success- Multiattack. The avatar makes two attacks: one with its hooves
ful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check reveals this to and one with its horn.
be a ring of shooting stars. In addition, each charac- Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
ter is the recipient of a supernatural gift from Lurue: Hit: 32 (8d6 + 4) necrotic damage.
a charm of animal conjuring (see “Charms” in the Horn. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Dungeon Master's Guide). Hit: 32 (8d6 + 4) necrotic damage. If the target is a humanoid,
it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be trans-
Cd
formed into a wolf under the avatar’s control. This transfor-
mation lasts for 1 hour, or until the target drops to 0 hit points
or dies. The target's game statistics are replaced by the wolf's
statistics, but it retains its hit points. The target is limited in
the actions it can perform by the nature of its wolf form, and it
can't speak, cast spells, or take any other action that requires
hands or speech. The target's gear melds into the new form,
KATERINA TADON

and it can’t activate, use, wield, or otherwise benefit from any

of its equipment.

LORE OF LURUE
rg rae Cc
AN ADVENTURE FOR 9TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
il
€ Rr reminisce ima n wee 59

_ KANDLEKEEP
GG )EKONSTRUKTION

A
WRITTEN BY AMY VORPAHL
DEVELOPED BY CHRISTOPHER PERKINS EDITED BY SCOTT FITZGERALD GRAY

N THIS ADVENTURE, THE CHARACTERS FIGHT

against a ticking clock to stop a misguided You are approached by a decrepit, gray-bearded dwarf
cult from launching one of Candlekeep’s in a custodial uniform carrying a heavy, square tome
towers into space, along with a small trove bound in black leather. The weight of the book causes
of valuable tomes. One of the cultists has a change the old dwarf to wheeze, squint, and clench his teeth.
of heart and tries to thwart the whole enterprise Before he can utter a word, his knees buckle and he
by stealing one of the books, hoping to delay the
collapses with the book pressed underneath him.
launch. This book ends up in the characters’ posses-
@ B®
sion after the cultist dies while carrying it.
Titled Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion, the book de- The dwarf, Buron Sternmettle, is dead—the victim
scribes how Candlekeep was built and contains ar- of a sudden heart attack. Because his soul doesn't
chitectural diagrams for most of its structures. The want to return, spells such as revivify and raise dead
book’s author, a former Keeper of Tomes named can’t restore him to life.
Isajar, also describes the magical wards protecting Buron Sternmettle was a quiet Avowed acolyte
Candlekeep. Among other things, Isajar was well who also belonged to a secret cult called the Live-
known for detesting the use of the letter C as a hard stock. In the cult, Buron was known by the alias
consonant, preferring the letter K. Rooster Muffin (see “Stonky’s Cult” later in the ad-
venture). A search of Buron’s body yields nothing of
BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE value except the book he was carrying.
Read or paraphrase the following to the players, ad-
BOOK DESCRIPTION
justing to account for their location in Candlekeep,
when you're ready to begin: Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion is bound in sturdy
black leather, with the title and Isajar’s name neatly
engraved on the front cover and spine. Images of a
smiling dwarf and a builder's hammer are stamped
into the front cover. Its crisp white pages, which
measure fifteen inches square, are marred by an
I

occasional smudge or tear from a reader’s thumb.

A quick flip through the book reveals diagrams and
descriptions of almost every location in Candlekeep.

SECRETS OF THE BARN DOOR

Any character who studies the book comes across
a bookmark at an unusual set of renderings for
a tower known as the Barn Door. How it got that
name is not explained. On the facing page is a
floor plan detailing the tower’s lowest level (a small
dungeon complex), which contains an array of odd
mechanical devices. Any character viewing these
diagrams who succeeds on a DC 25 Intelligence
(Arcana) check can ascertain that the devices are
designed to launch the tower into the sky—perhaps
all the way to the stars.
POAEAN
CLALIDIEY

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
WHAT NEXT? EARTHQUAKE!
If the characters are alone, they can notify other Rather than halt or slow Stonky’s progress, the |
members of the Avowed about the death. Acolytes theft of Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion has inspired
remove Buron’s body, seizing the book with a firm- the gnome to accelerate his plan to launch the Barn
ness that makes it clear the dwarf should not have Door into space. Soon after the book finds its way
had it in his possession. If asked, the acolytes ex- to the characters, an earthquake rattles Candlekeep.
plain that the book came from the restricted vaults
and is not to be viewed by outsiders.

BARN DOOR INQUIRIES

If the characters ask about the Barn Door, any
friendly member of the Avowed can share what little
A range of emotions from calm assertiveness to out-
information they know:
right panic spreads through the Avowed and visitors
« The Barn Door is one of many towers in Candle- alike as folk gather in the Court of Air. No one can
keep’s Inner Ward. Like everything else in the recall the last time an earthquake shook the library.
Inner Ward, it’s off limits to most visitors. Characters who talk to witnesses and compare
« The tower has been condemned for years, though their own recollections of the quake can try to
the reason has become obscure. No effort has ascertain its nature. With a successful DC 14 In-
been made to tear it down or repair it. telligence (Arcana or Nature) check, a character is
« There have been a few recent reports of strange confident that the earthquake wasn’t magically cre-
noises coming from the tower, but nothing to war- ated. As such, it must have been caused by a natural
rant great concern. phenomenon.

SPEAKING WITH THE DEAD WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Characters who can cast the speak with dead spell
Decades of neglect have made the Barn Door inop-
or similar magic might be able to question Buron’s
erable as a vehicle. But now Stonky has repaired
corpse. If asked the right questions, the dead dwarf
that damage with the help of his cult, made up of
can furnish the following information:
members of Candlekeep’s custodial staff, as well as
« Buron, a custodial engineer, was a member of a several homemade constructs called skitterwidgets
secret Candlekeep cult called the Livestock. In the (described at the end of the adventure). As soon as
cult, the dwarf was known as Rooster Muffin. he learned about the theft of Kandlekeep Dekon-
« The leader of the Livestock is a gnome visionary struktion, Stonky test-fired the ship’s rockets, which
and Avowed zealot named Stonky J. Noptopper. triggered the earthquake.
He aims to keep Candlekeep’s most valuable Following the test, Stonky set the Barn Door on
tomes from falling into the hands of the unworthy an automatic countdown to launch. The characters
(anyone who is not an Avowed). have 1 hour (starting from when the earthquake
After reading Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion, Stonky ends) to deactivate the countdown timer or disable
realized that one of Candlekeep’s towers—the the rocket before it blasts off and launches Stonky’s
Barn Door—is actually a flying vehicle powered by cult (and its modest collection of books) into space.
arcane devices called rockets.
With the help of several constructs, Stonky has INVESTIGATING THE QUAKE
spent months secretly repairing the Barn Door Among the folk gathered in the Court of Air is Book-
with the goal of launching it into space. The wyrm the dragonborn, who was having a drink in
gnome plans to take a choice selection of the the Hearth when the earthquake struck. Bookwyrm
library’s books with him. is the First Reader of Candlekeep (see the “Candle-
« Once he realized that Stonky was insane, Buron keep” section earlier in this book) and has the au-
stole Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion, hoping to delay thority to grant access to the library’s Inner Ward.
the launch of the tower long enough for someone If the characters make the case that the Barn
to thwart Stonky’s mad scheme. Door should be investigated at once, Bookwyrm
listens to what they have to say, then puts them in
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
charge of the investigation, escorts them through
Characters who offer to investigate the Barn
the Emerald Door, and gives them directions to the
Door are initially denied access, since visitors to
tower. Along the way, the First Reader explains that
Candlekeep are not permitted to enter the Inner
the Barn Door was condemned years ago when \
Ward. Then a sudden new development changes
sages concluded it was no longer safe for occupancy. :
everything.
Bookwyrm knows nothing about the Barn Door’s
true nature, having never read Kandlekeep Dekon- Stonky has assigned aliases to the members of
struktion or entered the tower. He does, however, the Livestock. Each alias is a combination of a farm
know the command word to bypass the arcane lock animal and a farm export, as shown in the Livestock
spell on the tower's front door (“jeopardy”), which Cult Members table. All these cultists are chaotic
he shares with the party. neutral and wear custodial uniforms.
If asked about Stonky Noptopper, the First Reader
knows that the rock gnome oversees the custodial THE BARN DOOR
staff assigned to clean and maintain the towers of
When the characters arrive at the Barn Door, read
the Inner Ward. Bookwyrm believes that Stonky
or paraphrase the following:
would never do anything to endanger Candlekeep.
. |
HEADING TO THE BARN DOOR | The Barn Door i isaa three. SHory stone tower topped
It takes 5 minutes to walk from the Emerald Door : with a roof of metal shingles painted red. The only
to the Barn Door. As the characters begin to inves-
entrance appears to be a ground- level |iron door with a
tigate the condemned tower, Bookwyrm meets with
~ wooden : sign bolted to it that reads | in Common, “Dan.
:
the Keeper of Tomes and the Great Readers to dis-
cuss next steps. None of them can act soon enough : ger! ! No > Trespassing!” . =
8
to stop the Barn Door’s launch. From this point for-
ward, the characters are on their own. There's nothing outwardly peculiar about the
tower. It has a retractable roof on its topmost level
STONKY’S CULT
(see area B4), but this feature can be noted only
The Livestock is the name of Stonky’s secret cult of
from above, not from the ground. The Barn Door’s
custodial engineers, chosen as a play on the Barn
rockets can’t be seen because they're hidden
Door tower’s name. All the cult’s members came
underground. Characters who examine the ground
to Candlekeep hoping to be accepted as acolytes,
around the tower find several metal shingles that
but the leaders of the Avowed never gave them the
came loose during the test firing.
opportunity. The custodians recruited by Stonky are
united in their bitter belief that they have been over- BARN DOOR FEATURES
looked and underappreciated.
Stonky has persuaded his followers that the The tower has the following features.
way to ascend in the hierarchy is to reveal that the Ceilings. Ceilings throughout are 10 feet high and
higher-ups are not as capable of protecting the lore have murals painted on them depicting human-
of Candlekeep as they should be. He dreams of de- oids with the heads of farm animals.
livering a solution for its protection that no Avowed Cleanliness. The interior is cleaned daily by the
has yet considered: sending the most important cultists and is free of dirt, dust, and cobwebs.
books in the library into space. Doors and Windows. Doors are made of iron and
The cultists look to Stonky for validation and the fitted with iron fittings and handles. The tower’s
promise of ultimate knowledge. Having finally found windows, which are made of a transparent metal
purpose in the triviality of their roles, the cultists called glassteel, can’t be opened or smashed by
take up positions in the tower when the countdown any mundane means.
to launch begins. Light. All areas of the tower are lit by lanterns hold-
ing wax candles.
Livestock CuLt MEMBERS
Alias Real Name Notes
‘Macadamia Nuts ~ Marci Plumpitter : ‘Human cultist; speaks Common
Chicken Peach Baff Boltlock Rock gnome cultist with darkvision 60 ft. speaks Common and Griomish
Cow Cotton i : - Patch Varnast ; Half-elf cultist with darkvision 60 fr: speaks Common and Elvish
Donkey Biscuit
8 Merla One-Tusk Half-orc cultist with darkvision 60 ft.; speaks Common and Orc

Goat Beet Stekk Half-orc cultist with darkvision 60 ft.; speaks Common and Orc
© Glynn Yamanachi Half-elf cultist with darkvision
60 ft.; speaks
Pig Wheat Neff Cunningfoot Lightfoot halfling cult fanatic; speaks Common andd Halfing
mSugxr. | Nowy Brass dragonborn cult fanatic; speaks Common and Draconic
Sheep Sweet Corn Yohn Blofrond Human cult fanatic; speaks Common

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
 THE BARN DOOR
1square = 5 feet

SECOND FLOOR THirD FLOOR

Down 10 Bi

BARN DOOR LOCATIONS Chicken Peach (the rock gnome), and Cow Cotton
(the half-elf)—to guard the remaining books. The
The following locations are keyed to the map of the
three of them attack intruders at once and gladly
Barn Door.
throw away their lives for Stonky’s cause. Each
Bl. LIBRARY wields their heavy broom as a weapon, using the
The tower's front door is sealed with an arcane lock statistics for the cultist’s scimitar attack but dealing
spell, the password for which is “jeopardy.” Stonky bludgeoning damage.
and his cultists know the password. The door can After the fight, or as the characters get a better
also be opened with a knock spell or similar magic,
look at the room during the fight, add the following:
or broken down with a successful DC 30 Strength
(Athletics) check.

Books. Members of the Livestock have been

snatching books from other parts of Candlekeep
and storing them in this room for eventual transport
into outer space. Although the cultists believe this
collection to be priceless, most of the books are
plodding dissertations of questionable value. The
After Kandlekeep Dekonstruktion was stolen from books are arranged in alphabetical order by title. A
this room, Stonky ordered three of his most fanati- gap on one shelf shows where Kandlekeep Dekon-
cal cultists—Alpaca Macadamia Nuts (the human), sirukiion was stored before Buron took it,

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION 127

 Credenza and Chair. These furnishings were Stonky is planning to launch the Barn Door and
installed in the tower when it was built. They are all its books into space. The countdown has be-
unremarkable, albeit finely made. gun. (The cultists don’t know precisely when the
Secret Door. A secret door is built into a short launch is set to occur.)
stretch of bookcase. A character who searches the - Stonky and three senior members of the Livestock
bookcase finds the secret door with a successful (Pig Wheat, Ram Sugar, and Sheep Sweet Corn)
DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check. Once the door are in the underlevel, making final preparations
is found, closer examination identifies a false book before launch.
that, when pulled, causes the door to swing open. « A secret door hidden in a library bookcase (see
A narrow staircase beyond the secret door leads area Bl) conceals the only route to the tower's
down to area Ul. A small wooden pedal at the top of underlevel.
the stairs opens the door from the inside. « The Barn Door will be launched into space by ar-
Stonky and Friends. Five minutes before the cane devices called rockets, which are attached to
launch, any members of the Livestock in the under- the bottom of the tower.
level who haven't been defeated make their way
to this chamber by way of the secret door. That B3. STONKY’S STUDY
includes Stonky Noptopper (a rock gnome master This smaller tower is attached to the main tower's
sage; see page 9 for his stat block) and three second level. The door to this area is sealed with an
cult fanatics (Pig Wheat, Ram Sugar, and Sheep arcane lock spell that only Stonky can bypass. The
Sweet Corn). Eager to get to their assigned spots in door can be opened with a knock spell or similar
area B4 prior to the launch, Stonky and the cult fa- magic, or broken down with a successful DC 30
natics avoid combat with any characters still explor- Strength (Athletics) check.
ing the tower. As he runs upstairs, Stonky shouts, ’
“To the stars, my animals! To the stars!” : This circular chamber 5appears © gbes a private study
B2. MAIN Room | we a lage bap window. Asinluce
A shy one wall is |
The larger part of the tower’s second floor contains
two staircases, which descend to area Bl and as- | ii one hig = |
cend to area B4. Tall bookeates aree built intoothe wall opposite the
: 5 replace, their contents protected behind wood- and-
; glass doors. A rolling ladder attached to a ceiling rail
allows access to the highest shelves. - =
. An oak table | s bolted to the floor, flanked byt vo
Wh chairs designed for shorter people andtwo
chairs built for hurman-sized folk. lingeon the table Is .
a : small piss oftose
@

The paper is Stonky'’s task list, which reads as fol-

lows in Gnomish:
® mn sss im ®

orc: a — and adwarf. a a ida

Four Livestock cultists have tied themselves into

the chairs in preparation for blastoff, with the
ropes acting as seat belts. All four are unarmed, re- . Evacuate underlevell |
strained, and unable to free themselves. They go by Tie self to command chair =
the names Donkey Biscuit (the first half-orc), Duck
~ Blastoffl .
Bean (the dwarf), Goat Beet (the second half-orc),
and Horse Egg (the half-elf).
Despite their helplessness, the cultists are un- Books. One or more of the other books described
cooperative. They refuse to talk about why they're in this adventure anthology might be found here at
here, divulge Stonky’s whereabouts, or shed light on your discretion, having been purloined by Stonky.
his intentions. Only if magic is used to coerce them The remaining books are mostly dull treatises with
do they reveal what they know: titles that tickled the gnome’s fancy. The books are

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
 arranged by color rather than some more useful sys-
tem, but characters who make a quick survey of the le top. ove! oft the B Barn C oorisis ann observatory w
shelves discover three tomes that warrant further e wide, windowed alcoves. The chamt
examination: rge telescope mounted onaa revolving dais. As
Heroes’ Feast: A Cookbook. This richly illustrated chair i is bolted to the dais under the telescope, withan
book of recipes was written by a trio of culinary iron lever jutting up from the floor next toi it, top) €
enthusiasts named Wyk Nenmael, Nojen Eptros, by a perfectly round ruby. A. ma ‘wooden steering
and Imrit Welachwe. Any creature that spends wheel attached to the chair i is adorned with glowing.
a short rest poring over the book's recipes gains numerals at its copper-plated center. .
a supernatural charm called the charm of the
Three larger chairs. along one wall have Rlowise
heroes’ feast. This charm allows you to cast the
been bolted too the floor, allifn the=tolegonpe Two. .
heroes’ feast spell as an action, no components
required. Once used, this charm goes away. See
“Supernatural Gifts” in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide for more information on how charms work.
The book teleports to a secret vault in Candlekeep
after bestowing its charm on a creature. elsecanibe retracted,ring the ee
te€ co re
Stonky Noptopper's Spells o’ Plenty. Stonky’s fat lit-
. peer into the story heavens con 1 clear nights.
tle spellbook contains the following wizard spells:
alarm, animate objects, arcane lock, banishment,
chain lightning, clairvoyance, detect magic, dispel This observatory doubles as the control room for
magic, fabricate, fireball, flesh to stone, fly, globe the rocket ship. Stonky’s chair is the small one on
of invulnerability, glyph of warding, grease, knock, the dais. The other three chairs are reserved for his
legend lore, levitate, locate creature, locate object, cult fanatics, Pig Wheat, Ram Sugar, and Sheep
mage armor, planar binding, polymorph, pro- Sweet Corn.
grammed illusion, protection from evil and good, If anyone other than Stonky tampers with the
scrying, see invisibility, sending, shield, telekine- telescope or the steering wheel, three lightning
sis, and true seeing. golems are conjured to appear next to the dais and
Trobriand’s Machinations, Vol. X. This hefty tome, attack anyone who isn’t Stonky or a member of the
written by the mad wizard Trobriand of Under- Livestock. These golems resemble humans made
mountain, describes the processes by which he of crackling lightning. They use the flesh golem
creates animated metal constructs. The book is stat block but deal lightning damage instead of
filled with the wizard'’s ravings and drawings of bludgeoning damage with their slam attacks, and
his contraptions. Characters who compare those they lack the Aversion to Fire trait. The golems can’t
drawings with Stonky’s skitterwidgets can tell leave the observatory.
where the gnome got the inspiration for his me- Lever. Stonky has placed a glyph of warding spell
chanical creations. on the red ruby atop the lever. Any character who
inspects the lever and succeeds on a DC 16 Intel-
Navigation Notes. A slip of paper tucked into
ligence (Investigation) check spots the tiny, nearly
Stonky’s spellbook is covered with the notes he
invisible glyph. If any creature other than Stonky
made while studying the possible settings for the
moves the lever, the glyph activates to fill the room
steering wheel in the observatory (see area B4). A
with magical lightning. Each creature in the room
character who examines the notes and succeeds on
must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw,
a DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check discerns that
taking 36 (8d8) lightning damage on a failed save,
Stonky has identified 626 through 666 as an import-
or half as much damage on a successful one. The
ant range of numbers, but he doesn’t yet understand
glyph disappears once the spell is triggered, render-
what those numbers refer to.
ing the lever safe to use.
B4. OBSERVATORY The lever can be moved to fit into one of three
An iron door at the top of the staircase from area B2 slots, which are labeled Coop, Shed, and Stable,
leads into the observatory on the third level of the all in Common. The lever is currently in the notch
tower. The door is closed but not locked. labeled Stable. When the countdown timer in area
Read or paraphrase the following boxed text when U7 reaches zero, the rocket reacts according to the
the characters arrive here for the first time: lever’s position:
Coop. The launch is aborted when the countdown \
timer reaches zero. The engines under the tower
shut down and remain inoperable for 24 hours. \

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
 Shed. The countdown is paused and the Barn The staircase’s inner wall eventually gives way to
Door’s launch is delayed for as long as the lever an iron bannister, affording an unobstructed view of
remains in this position. area U2 as the characters complete their descent.
Stable. The Barn Door blasts off when the count- Wall of Stone. When the countdown timer
down timer reaches zero. reaches zero, a wall of stone magically appears on
Steering Wheel. This wheel sets the rockets the stairs at the point marked on the map, as if cre-
trajectory. Its glowing numerals currently read 646; ated by the spell of the same name. The wall seals
this number scrolls up if the wheel is turned clock- off the underlevel as the tower soars into the sky.
wise and down if the wheel is turned counterclock-
U2. ROCKET BOOSTERS
wise. Any setting from 626 to 666 is sufficient to
A four-section rocket engine is attached to the un-
launch the Barn Door into space.
derside of the tower above this area and protrudes
down through the ceiling. The embers falling from
UNDER THE BARN DOOR the rocket fill the area with bright orange light.
Stonky and his cult fanatics are in the process of
evacuating the chambers beneath the tower, having
set the Barn Door on a programmed countdown to At the bottom of the stairs, a thirty-foot-diameter
launch. But their evacuation has been delayed by an room opens up directly underneath the Barn Door
unforeseen complication: Stonky can't find his ring | tower. Four ten- foot-long. metal cylinders protrude |
of telekinesis and doesn’t know where he left it. It's from the twenty- foot-high ceiling, glowing with
a race against time to find the ring before the four intense heat and shedding bright embers that rain Sr
of them must go up to the Barn Door’s observatory,
down on the floor. Four mechanical constructs resem-
secure themselves to the chairs there, and blast into
bling wolf-sized, dog- headed cockroaches march ina.
|
space along with the rest of their cult and their col-
circle around the perimeter of the cylinders.
lection of “priceless” books.
® es ®
Before running this part of the adventure, de-
termine how much time has elapsed since the The constructs are four skitterwidgets (see the end
earthquake. That tells you how much time the char- of the adventure for their stat block). They have or-
acters have left before the 60-minute countdown ders to attack anyone approaching the double doors
timer reaches zero. What happens then depends who is not a Livestock member. They break off their
on the position of the lever in the observatory (area attack if the characters take one or more kiddywid-
B4). See that area and the “Conclusion” section gets as hostages (see “Kiddywidget Nests” below).
for details. The skitterwidgets won't do anything that might
harm their young.
UNDERLEVEL FEATURES If the characters are eager to fight the skitterwid-
The Barn Door’s underlevel is hewn from solid rock gets, run that combat now. Otherwise, describe the
and has the following features. rest of the room:
Ceilings. Ceilings are 20 feet high and flat. @
; ®

Debris. The floor in all areas was once littered with | The floor o the room is covered i in scorch marks
scraps of metal, most of which have been swept that grow darker and more intense closer to the cen- >
out of the way and piled near the walls. ter. Two sections, of wall have crumbled, one on the
Doors. Doors are made of thick iron and fitted with
staircase and one opposite it, where stone cornices,
iron fittings and handles.
Light. The underlevel is lit by oil-burning lanterns | ‘molding, and carved panels have collapsed to rub-
that hang from iron hooks embedded in the walls. ble. Near the foot of the stairs, an iron double door .
x stands closed. =. | |
UNDERLEVEL LOCATIONS
The following locations are keyed to the map of the
Cylinders. The four metal cylinders jutting from
underlevel.
the ceiling are rocket engines attached to the base
Ul. DESCENDING STAIRCASE of the Barn Door. There is 10 feet of clearance be-
tween the floor and the cylinders, which put out a
This hidden staircase can be reached by way of the
secret door in area Bl.
lot of heat. Any creature that moves into the area
beneath the cylinders for the first time on a turn or
starts its turn there takes 14 (4d6) fire damage.
As this unlitstone staircase ccurves downward, the. air Double Door. If Stonky has not yet evacuated
innthe stairwell grows: warmer. the underlevel, the iron double door to area U3 is

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
 LEVER df

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locked. The complex lock can be opened with a suc- Stonky has reprogrammed the illusion magic that
cessful DC 15 Dexterity check using thieves’ tools, protects this hallway, which functions similarly to a
but any such check takes 1 minute. A character can programmed illusion spell. The magic triggers when
also use an action to try to force the doors, doing so any creature except a member of the Livestock en-
with a successful DC 22 Strength (Athletics) check. ters through the double door, creating the illusion of
Kiddywidget Nests. The fallen sections of wall a giant silverfish at the east end of the hall, beyond
collapsed when the Barn Door’s rockets were test- the range of most characters’ darkvision. As one or
fired, exposing cavities behind the walls. Characters more characters enter the hall, the monster scuttles
who investigate find one kiddywidget (see the end toward them threateningly:
of the adventure for its stat block) in each cavity.
These offspring of the skitterwidgets chirp loudly if
disturbed by anyone other than their parents.
Stonky and his cultists are unaware of the kiddy-
widgets, and they would be surprised to learn that
skitterwidgets can procreate. Stonky would be even
more surprised to find that he can’t control kiddy-
widgets by using his ring of telekinesis. (See area
U5 for more information about Stonky’s ring.)

U3. UNLIT HALLWAY Have the players roll initiative for their characters.
The illusory monster acts on initiative count 15
and does nothing except approach the characters,
moving at a speed of 30 feet on each of its turns and
making no attacks. This illusion is intended to scare
away intruders, though characters might be tricked
into attacking it or wasting spells on it.

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
 A character can use an action to examine the crea- Treasure. Hidden amid the acid-pitted wreckage
ture, discerning its illusory nature with a successful at the bottom of the well is an undamaged ring of
DC 16 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Physical telekinesis that Stonky accidentally dropped while
interaction with the giant silverfish also betrays its working here.
true nature, since it has no substance and objects Stonky’s ring doubles as the control ring for the
pass right through it. If the illusion is not dispelled seven skitterwidgets he has created (the four in area
(DC 16), it disappears after 5 minutes. The magic U2 and the three in area U6). Without the ring, he
then resets, triggering again the next time one or can’t command them to do anything other than what
more intruders enter the hall. they're programmed to do: attack intruders on sight.
Any character who attunes to the ring gains control
U4.. FORGE
of Stonky’s creations, though the skitterwidgets
ignore commands spoken more than 30 feet away
from them. The ring cannot control the kiddywid-
gets in area U2, even if they become skitterwidgets.
A character needs to spend a short rest attuning
to the ring, and a short rest is at least 1 hour long.
This means that unless the countdown is delayed or
aborted, the Barn Door will launch before the char-
y spons are st
stacked up inathe corners of the room. acter attunes to the ring.

U6. WORKSHOP
The components of the Barn Door’s rocket engines
were built here, and Stonky made use of this room
when he and his cultists repaired the rockets.
Treasure. A quick search of the room yields
four sets of smith’s tools. Characters who spend 5
minutes exploring the room find a 4-inch-tall me-
chanical owlbear figurine (750 gp) tucked in the
pocket of a leather apron. The key used for winding
the figurine sticks out of the owlbear’s back. Using
an action to wind the figurine causes it to walk in a
straight line at a speed of 5 feet for 10 minutes. At
the end of every minute of operation, the owlbear
changes from walking on all fours to walking on its
hind legs. It turns 180 degrees whenever it hits a
barrier, reversing its course.

Ub. STONKY’S MISSING RING ®

If Stonky’s three cult fanatics have not yet been

0 Aneters well enclosed 5% a two-foothigh encountered (see area Bl), add the following to this
area’s description:
LS nds | in the center of this room. An iron
p from the floor next to the well, resting i in o *

hat points iit toward the door. in additionstothe metalscons ructs, thre
a position
® custodial uniforms—a halflir drago bo
- human—are rawling around on the floor as
The well is 30 feet deep and contains a 10-foot-deep tho! h 4
pool of corrosive acid that Stonky uses to dispose seaschingffor something.
&
of malfunctioning skitterwidgets. Any creature that
enters the pool of acid for the first time on a turn or The insectoid creatures are three skitterwidgets
that starts its turn there takes 21 (6d6) acid damage. (see the end of the adventure for their stat block).
Pulling the lever so that it angles away from the They are programmed to attack intruders on sight.
door causes valves to open at the bottom of the well, A character attuned to Stonky’s ring (see area U5)
draining it in 1 minute. Returning the lever to its can issue commands to these skitterwidgets, which
previous position seals the valves but doesn’t refill follow those commands to the best of their ability.
the well. Once the well is emptied, it’s easy to see The figures crawling on the floor are three Live-
the corroded remains of a dead skitterwidget at the stock cult fanatics who go by the names Pig Wheat
bottom of it. (the halfling), Ram Sugar (the dragonborn), and

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
Sheep Sweet Corn (the human). As a dragonborn, precious books out of the hands of all who are un-
Ram Sugar has resistance to fire damage and the worthy of such knowledge. (Stonky makes it clear
following additional action option: he considers the characters part of that group.)
Breath Weapon (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Ram The gnome can’t take credit for building the
Sugar exhales fire in a 30-foot-long line that is 5 feet wide. Any rocket ship, but he takes great pride in having made
creature in the line must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw, it operational once more. “Once the countdown
taking 7 (2d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much timer reaches zero, WHOOSH!” He also divulges
damage on a successful one. that the only way to abort the launch once the count-
The cult fanatics are trying to help Stonky find down has begun is to shift the lever in the tower
his ring of telekinesis, which he has lost. They fight observatory (area B4), and that he has placed a spell
alongside the skitterwidgets as soon as the char- on the lever to keep others from tampering with it.
acters enter this area, and they gladly throw away Console. The blinking red button indicates that
their lives “for Stonky!” the Barn Door is on a countdown to launch. If the
Treasure. A thorough search of the room requires timer on the console reaches zero, the tower blasts
10 minutes and yields four metal gizmos worth 250 off. Pushing the button has no effect while the
gp each. These gizmos serve no function on their countdown is in progress. If the characters delay the
own, but their value can be used toward the cost launch by using the lever in area B4, the countdown
of constructing an iron golem or a similar metal timer pauses. If the launch is aborted, the timer re-
construct. sets and the red button stops blinking.
The wireframe windows mounted above the
U7. STONKY’'S COMMAND CENTER console are magic projection screens that act as
The door to this room is sealed by an arcane lock security cameras, showing the interior of the tower
spell that members of the Livestock can bypass. The (areas Bl, B2, B3, and B4, respectively). Stonky has
door can be opened with a knock spell or similar been too busy searching for his ring to pay any at-
magic, or broken down with a successful DC 30 tention to them. Casting a dispel magic spell on the
Strength (Athletics) check. console causes these projected images to vanish, as
does destroying the console.
4This chambsr contains an Hon safe roughly fe te The console is a Large object with AC 19, 27 hit
points, and immunity to poison and psychic dam-
on a side and a low metal console with a slanted top. |
age. Destroying the console doesn't stop a launch
The safe’ s thick oor r tands open on its iron hinges. : in progress.
The console, which is securely bolted to the floor, has . Safe. The iron safe is empty. It sports a combi-
3 countdown timer and a blinking red button built into nation lock with a dial that displays tiny images of
“It Suspended above th console 2 are four wireframe farm animals in place of numerals—bull, cat, cow,
| windows, each displaying a projected mgs. dog, donkey, falcon, goat, hen, horse, llama, ox,
pig, pigeon, rabbit, rooster, sheep, and turtle. Only
Stonky knows the safe’s combination: pig, goat,
Unless the characters have already encountered llama, hen, rooster. The safe’s door locks automat-
him (see area Bl), Stonky is here. The intrepid ically when it closes and can’t be opened from the
gnome master sage (see page 9 for his stat
block) is currently crawling underneath the con- STONKY NOPTOPPER | Ce i |
sole, looking for his ring of telekinesis. (The ring is StonkyJ. Noptopper (“the J is for genius) i is chaotic
in area U5, but it hasn't yet occurred to Stonky to neutral and proud to a fault. He is particularly brag-
search there.) gadocious once the countdown to launch has begun,
If anyone knocks on the door, the distracted but once his adrenaline is pumping, he is bound to
Stonky opens it, expecting to see his cultists on panic and let his true colors show. Stonky’s main goal
is to protect the books he has collected. In his ar
the other side. As soon as he sees the characters
mind, a few deaths are a small price to pay for success.
instead, he attacks them in a panic. See the “Stonky
Personality Trait. “| don’t like most people, whic
Noptopper” sidebar for additional guidance on how why | relish the thought of spending the rest of my life
to portray him. in the cold darkness of space, Surrounded by books
Stonky carries an iron key that unlocks the double and skitterwidgets.” a
door between areas U2 and U3. See “Treasure” be- Ideal. “Knowledge is power, and most people atare .
low for his other possessions. undeserving of it. Not me, though. lam (nowiedge oo
“incarnate!” a
Stonky’s Plots. If he’s captured and interrogated,
Bond. “Won't someone please think of the books!” on
Stonky is delighted to share his master plan with Flaw. “| am burdened with the curse of being right all
his captors. That plan entails launching the Barn the time.”
Door into space, thereby keeping Candlekeep’s most

KANDLEKEEP DEKONSTRUKTION
 BLasTorFF/

inside except by a knock spell or similar magic. A

character outside the safe can spend 1 minute try-
CONCLUSION
ing to find the combination with a successful DC 25 Depending on what actions the characters took to
Dexterity (Perception) check. Thieves’ tools are of affect the impending launch, this adventure can end
no benefit in opening the combination lock, since its in a few different ways.
mechanisms are inaccessible; what's needed here is
a delicate touch and a keen ear. BLASTOFF! a ———— a a —_— a I .... rsa

See the “Variant: Skills with Different Abilities” The characters can use the lever in area B4 to abort
section in the Player's Handbook for guidance on or delay the launch. If they fail to do that, you must
how one makes a Dexterity (Perception) check. determine when the launch occurs based on your
Treasure. In addition to the key in his possession, estimation of how much time has elapsed since
Stonky carries a wand he uses as a spellcasting the earthquake. If the characters take a short rest
focus, a brass locket with a broken chain (5 gp), and or otherwise waste time, the Barn Door launches
a scrap of paper. The locket contains a painted por- at the end of the 60-minute countdown. When that
trait of Stonky on one side and a sketch of a rocket happens, the entire tower flies into the sky, soaring
ship with little hearts surrounding it on the other. along its preset trajectory. It leaves behind a cloud of
Scribbled in Gnomish on the scrap of paper are the smoke large enough to engulf the entire Inner Ward
following word pairs: of Candlekeep (treat the area as heavily obscured
for 1 minute). Any creature in area Ul or area U2
Coop—Abort takes 132 (24d10) fire damage from the rocket en-
Shed—Delay gines as the tower lifts off.
Stable—Blastoff! Any creatures clinging to the outside of the tower
when it launches are shaken off, while those inside
These words provide clues to how the lever in area are borne upward at phenomenal speed. Creatures
SAM KEISER

B4 works. Stonky wrote them down as a reminder in the tower that are not tied down when it launches
= to himself. are thrown about, taking 10 (3d6) bludgeoning
)

oF , , 1
pf Sunk,
Np

134 | / KANDLEKEEP
i ——
DEKONSTRUKTION
a
ll
ition on dE sant pr HSER

rr a
GORI
damage and falling prone at the start of each of their
turns until they find some way to secure themselves.
NEW MONSTERS
If the Barn Door’s trajectory is altered enough to This section provides stat blocks for the two new
prevent it from reaching outer space, it crashes and creatures encountered in the adventure: the skitter-
explodes in a remote location of your choosing, deal- widget and its offspring, the kiddywidget. The stat
ing 88 (16d10) bludgeoning damage plus 56 (16d6) blocks appear after the creatures’ descriptions.
fire damage to each creature aboard. If it reaches
SKITTERWIDGET
space, the tower begins to orbit the planet, as magi-
cal wards kick in to provide occupants with artificial A skitterwidget is made of metal and bears a pass-
gravity and a continuous supply of air and heat. ing resemblance to a giant dog-headed cockroach.
If the characters were inside the Barn Door for No two skitterwidgets look exactly alike, but all are
the launch and have come along for the ride, you surprisingly cute.
can decide what measures might allow them to re- Language of Squeals. Skitterwidgets speak their
turn to the world, from reprogramming the tower's own simple language, which is composed of high-
controls and the rocket engines, to having a spell pitched, vowel-heavy squeals.
scroll of teleportation circle found amid Stonky’s Control Ring. A skitterwidget that was created
books. If Stonky and his cultists take off alone, the is bound to a magic control ring and must obey the
tower’s supply of rations keeps them fed for a year, commands of whoever is attuned to that ring. It un-
after which they turn to cannibalism. derstands the ring wearer’s commands as though
they were spoken in the skitterwidget’s language.
LAUNCH DELAYED OR ABORTED Up to seven created skitterwidgets can be linked to
If the characters use the lever in area B4 to delay the same control ring.
or shut down the launch, they can continue explor- Protective Parents. Skitterwidgets have the abil-
ing the tower and its underlevel without fear of the ity to mate and breed, producing kiddywidgets that
Barn Door launching into space. They can also let are even cuter than their parents. A skitterwidget
the Avowed deal with Stonky and his cultists. The strives to protect nearby kiddywidgets, whether it
Avowed aren't likely to punish Stonky severely for gave birth to them or not. If it receives a command
his transgressions, since there are technically no from its master that would endanger the life of one
laws against launching rocket ships in Candlekeep. or more kiddywidgets in its care, a skitterwidget
But the gnome and his minions are forbidden from can make a DC 5 Charisma saving throw, ignoring
entering the Barn Door thereafter, and the structure the command and all other commands from its mas-
is placed under the protection of a guards and wards ter for 1 minute on a success.
spell to discourage further exploration of the place.
KIDDYWIDGET
SKITTERWIDGET PROBLEM A skitterwidget that gives birth to a kiddywidget
If any of Stonky’s skitterwidgets or their kiddywid- can't procreate for 3d6 days afterward. Still, given
get offspring were left to their own devices after that skitterwidgets are constructs with no natural
the characters’ excursion into the Barn Door, those life span, there is no telling how many kiddywidgets
constructs might become a problem for Candlekeep. a pair of skitterwidgets can produce.
Any pair of skitterwidgets—including any left unde- Growth Cycle. It takes 3d6 hours for an impreg-
stroyed in area U6, which survive even if the Barn nated skitterwidget to give birth to one kiddywidget.
Door launches into space—can mate and give birth A newborn kiddywidget magically grows into a full-
to kiddywidgets. Those tiny constructs soon grow sized skitterwidget in 10 days.
to be as big as their parents, and they can make Autonomous. Unlike skitterwidgets that are cre-
kiddywidgets of their own in turn. If the construct ated rather than born, kiddywidgets aren’t beholden
population isn’t culled, Candlekeep might one day to the wearer of a control ring, even after they grow
be overrun by the creatures. to become skitterwidgets.
Stonky’s ring allows a character to control his
original seven skitterwidgets (the four in area U2
and the three in area U6). No others, including
the offspring of the original skitterwidgets, can be
controlled using the ring. The Avowed permit skit-
terwidgets under the characters’ control to remain
in Candlekeep, but not in the Inner Ward. Stray
skitterwidgets are eventually hunted down and
destroyed.
 Pou
a
Le
EL
A
Bh
SKITTERWIDGET
Medium construct

~ Armor Class 18 (natural armor)

Hit Points 85 (10d8 + 40)
~ Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

16 (+3) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 3(-4) 10(+0) 1(-5

Damage Immunities lightning, poison

Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, exhaustion,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned KIDDYWIDGET
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Small construct
Languages Skitterwidget
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 15 (2d6 + 8)
Lightning Absorption. Whenever the skitterwidget is subjected Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
to lightning damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a
number of hit points equal to the lightning damage dealt. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
6(-2) 14(+2) 18(+4) 1(-5 10(0) 1(-5)
Unusual Nature. The skitterwidget doesn’t require air, food,
drink, or sleep. Damage Immunities lightning, poison
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, exhaustion,
ACTIONS paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Multiattack. The skitterwidget makes two attacks: one with its Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
bite and one with its tail. Languages Skitterwidget
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it
is grappled by the skitterwidget (escape DC 13). Unusual Nature. The kiddywidget doesn’t require air, food,
drink, or sleep.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) lightning dam- ACTIONS
age, and if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15
Multiattack. The kiddywidget makes two attacks: one with its
Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its
bite and one with its tail.
next turn.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
REACTIONS Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it is
Good Parent. The skitterwidget imposes disadvantage on grappled by the kiddywidget (escape DC 8).
one attack roll made against a kiddywidget it can see within 5 Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:
feet of it. 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 2 (1d4) lightning damage.
 AN ADVENTURE FOR10TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
9 @ Es Bs PU vor vmptrmvi
sss sos wit swine seennn | fh fy #

WRITTEN BY TAYMOOR REHMAN

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER PERKINS

IKRAN'S ZEPHYREAN TOME WAS DONATED

to Candlekeep by adventurers seeking
GAZRE-AZAM’S
™\ refuge from a storm that seemed to fol- PREDICAMENT
low them wherever they went. A junior Gazre-Azam has been trapped in the book for
er of the Avowed, although unable to open the many years. When the book is opened, it releases
book, cataloged it as a treatise on the Inner Planes, small, wispy clouds that form into the shape of
based solely on Zikran’s reputation as an expert Gazre-Azam’s head. The djinni speaks to any char-
on the subject. The book has been moving through acter willing to listen and asks for their aid.
the archives ever since, as Avowed who were also Gazre-Azam was summoned by Zikran, a wa-
unable to open it take guesses at its contents. After a ter genasi wizard, and bound to the book. Zikran
time, they stopped trying. wanted the djinni to teach him how to make ele-
mental devices, with the ultimate goal of building
FINDING THE BOOK a floating castle fortress. For some time, the djinni
Characters in Candlekeep might uncover this book served the wizard. Hoping to earn his freedom,
while researching any of the following topics: Gazre-Azam shared much of his knowledge, but the
wizard would not release him. When Gazre-Azam
+ Denizens of the Inner Planes, especially the Wind
changed tactics and became less helpful, Zikran
Dukes of Aaga (powerful beings of elemental
cast a complicated and near-permanent spell to
air) and djinn
keep Gazre-Azam from escaping. The djinni reveals
« Extraplanar travel
that the only way to free him is for Zikran to end
» Magic fortresses
the enchantment willingly or for Zikran to be killed.
BOOK DESCRIPTION Repeatedly and desperately, yet still with a noble
manner, Gazre-Azam asks for the characters’ aid. In
The book is a heavy tome with covers of white mar- exchange, he offers the characters one free casting
ble bound in pale blue leather. A large padlock pre- of a wish spell.
vents the book from being opened and resists all at-
tempts to open it with magic, but it snaps open when
the book is held by someone who intends to leave
Candlekeep with it. The book contains one hundred
eight mostly blank pages made of tissue-thin white
paper and emits a soft breeze whenever a page
is turned. Most important, when the book is first
opened, it reveals the creature trapped inside it: a
djinni named Gazre-Azam.
The first ten pages of the book contain various
notes in Zikran’s hand that indicate he tried several
times to trap a djinni in the book before finally suc-
ceeding. The next eight pages are observations of
Gazre-Azam’s behavior during his time of servitude
to Zikran. The last ninety pages of the book are
blank, and a character who succeeds on a DC 15
Intelligence (Arcana) check can figure out that this
volume used to serve as a wizard’s spellbook. At
IRINA NORDSOL

some point, the spells were removed in such a way ZIKRAN'S

as to leave the pages blank. ZEPHYREAN TOME

ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME

 If the characters agree to Gazre-Azam’s request,
ENCOUNTER LOCATIONS
he asks that they take him along. While bound to
the book, Gazre-Azam can’t use his magical abili- The following encounters are keyed to the map of
ties, but he can speak freely to the party and provide Zikran'’s laboratory.
valuable information. Once members of the Avowed
L1. CORAL SPIRE
learn that a creature is trapped in the tome, they
will allow the characters to leave Candlekeep with jo : . mas ; 4 ins ; 5i}

it, on the condition that the book is returned to them : Aspspire of coral rrises 2fom the Ww: ust toff the coast. |
once the djinni is freed. (The Avowed are in no rush Hs base at sea level |is ten feet cross, and it tapers to :
to get the book back.) 3 point forty feet above the wal or. ;T rough the clear,

FINDING ZIKRAN gentle waves, you can see tha

yy extends down into a
sould
| dared sail into it.t. Directly des faring vehicles that
Gazre-Azam hasn't seen Zikran in a long time, but tymtatite pis is the open- 3
since his enchantment is still intact, he knows that a
ing to a flooded ccave. so
Zikran must be alive. He suggests searching for
Zikran at a seaside laboratory—the last place where
the djinni interacted with Zikran. It might hold clues Characters who explore the area underwater can
about what the wizard is up to now. Gazre-Azam search the submerged portions of the coral. They
describes to the characters a landmark that might find that the plant life is healthy, and they see long
help them find this hidden location. His directions claw marks in the coral leading to and from the
are as follows: flooded cave. Any character who has a passive Wis-
’.
con
dom (Perception) score of 14 or higher notices simi-
*“Follow the Sword Coast south for two nights and a lar marks on the walls at the cave entrance and can,
with a successful DC 12 Intelligence (Nature) check,
a n
| il yyou find a spire made of coral. Stand at the
determine they were made by a young dragon.
|b se of tthis spire and look inland, and you will see the
h of 2a flooded cave. This cave > contains Zikran’ s L2. FLooDED CAVE
Bory and s sanctum. po ~ To enter this flooded cave, the characters must wade
or swim into the water that fills it.

To follow Gazre-Azam'’s instructions, the charac-

ters must travel along the cliffs and beaches of the :Tires: fe oot-high ceiling and rough,
Sword Coast. The party might encounter a num-
ber of foes or NPCs along the way, as appropriate i tort feet deep A nook in the ortheast corner oo
for your campaign. If no such enemies or NPCs contains two corpses preserved by the seawater. The
are present, you can harass the party with three cave’s back wal Ii 5fay with aa large ofeaing] in the 0
wyverns that are hunting along the coast.
southeast corner.
After traveling for a day and a half, the charac-
ters spot a spire of bright coral just off the coast.
Characters who approach the spire and face inland The flooded cave is difficult terrain for any creature
see the opening to a partially flooded cave, just as that doesn’t have a swimming speed.
Gazre-Azam described. Corpses. Characters can identify the corpses
as those of two half-elves who look like siblings.
ZIKRAN’S LABORATORY Any character who uses an action to examine the
Zikran’s abandoned laboratory, located in the corpses closely can, with a successful DC 10 Wis-
driest part of a seaside cave system, has recently dom (Medicine) check, confirm that the two died in
become the lair of a young bronze dragon named their sleep from drowning. It appears they stopped
Ashgarlyth. in the cave after an intense battle, fell asleep, and
did not wake when the tide came in. Their spirits,
CAVE FEATURES corrupted by this horrific death, lie in wait. If a char-
All chambers in the cave complex are hewn from acter interacts with either corpse beyond simple
solid rock. Areas L1 through L3 are flooded with examination, the half-elves’ restless spirits rise as
seawater, and the walls of these caves are slick with two ghosts. The ghosts are hostile but can’t leave
moisture and algae. Area L4 is above sea level but this chamber. If the characters fight the ghosts, Ash-
still damp. Area L5 and the secret passage on the garlyth hears the commotion but remains in his lair
west side of it are dry. Only area L5 is illuminated. (area L5).
 ZIKRAN'S LABORATORY
1 square = 5 feet

When the ghosts are defeated, the half-elves’ spir- The claw marks were made by Ashgarlyth and are
its can be laid to rest by removing the corpses from similar to the ones in area L1. |
the cave and burying them side by side in the earth. Characters must swim to cross the room, which
Treasure. After the ghosts have been dealt with, a acts as a reservoir to prevent the incoming tide from
search of the corpses yields two potions of healing flooding the rest of the cave system.
in addition to 37 gp. Leather armor worn by the
corpses is not salvageable, nor are the half-elves’
L4. ZIKRAN’S QUARTERS
weapons (two shortswords and two shortbows).
e b cen |d co
Secret Tunnel. A character who spends at least 1 This chamber appears to hav
minute searching the chamber for secret doors finds
one with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception)
check. Behind this secret door is a dry, dark tunnel
above the water line. Another secret door at the
opposite end of the tunnel can be found without a
check; it pulls open to reveal area L5 beyond.

LL3. TipAL CHAMBER

The floor here is 6 feet lower than in area L2.
eft anioudhed, nept res of books
been filled with colorful coverss and attracti
Sic cave isis filled with le toa depth of ten feet, - : of parchment. : =.

Bookshelf. Characters who examine the contents

: it A " dena the togoto
of the bookshelf find that there’s no rhyme or reason
p revents water from proceeding al
to the organization of the books and scrolls. The
LOGOS

claw marks 2are visible along this li books are ship logs with daily entries; the scrolls
DYSON

ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME

rt
 are navigational charts. Ashgarlyth recovered these Searching the Laboratory. Use the following
“treasures” from the sunken wrecks of ships off the boxed text to describe Zikran’s lab in more detail:
coast. Their pages are wrinkled from being under-
water. Although the dragon values this collection,
the books and scrolls are worthless. The cave contains several tables covered with intricate |
“machinery and crafting tools. Bookshelves are filled
L5. LABORATORY AND LAIR with books and dioramas. Freestanding chalkboards
Characters can approach this room through either ~ in wooden frames once displayed arcane formulas,
the door from Zikran'’s quarters (area L4) or the se-
~ though only smudges and streaks of chalk remain.
cret tunnel from the flooded cave (area L2). é : = i : a : } - :

Characters who succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence

| ‘Several small glowing stones hang from the twenty-
(Investigation) check to search the area can find
-high ceiling of this large cave, which is cluttered
clues to Zikran's whereabouts. If the characters
with laboratory equipment and beautiful coral sculp- have Zikran’s Zephyrean Tome and use it to consult
tures Rising from the floor in the center of the room with Gazre-Azam, the djinni helps up to two charac-
Ci cular ¢stone dais that has obvious grooves to ters who attempt this check, giving them advantage.
accommodate a device of some kind, though no such The clues are as follows:
device i is present. Atop this dais is a bronze- Scaled + An old diary tells the tale of a paranoid and lonely
fdr wearing a coral crown. man. In this diary, Zikran writes about a rival
named Laffa, who sought the location of this labo-
ratory. Fear of discovery prompted Zikran to pack
Ashgarlyth, a young bronze dragon, stands on the
up and leave in a hurry. (Gazre-Azam reveals that
dais. Characters who enter through the secret tun-
Laffa was an adventuring wizard. Laffa and his
nel startle the dragon, who is reluctant to leave his
companions were the ones who found Zikran’s
treasures unguarded.
Zephyrean Tome and used it to gain entry into
Roleplaying Ashgarlyth. The characters can fight
Candlekeep.)
Ashgarlyth or attempt to negotiate with him. The
- A stray map describes a route to a mountain range
dragon is lawful good, meticulous, and incredibly
farther south, labeled the Cloud Peaks. A par-
prideful. He recently claimed Zikran’s old laboratory
ticular mountain is circled in ink with the word
as his lair and is wary of other creatures that might
“Here?” written beside it. (Gazre-Azam can tell the
try to take it from him.
party that the Cloud Peaks were home to a clan of
Ashgarlyth values beautiful, colorful things and
cloud giants centuries ago. The giants occupied a
hoards a collection of colorful books and coral
keep near the top of the mountain circled on the
sculptures, including the crown of coral that he
map. Perhaps its ruins are still there. The djinni
wears. He will not let anyone rifle through his trea-
knows Zikran was interested in this possibility.)
sures freely. (These items are worthless, despite
« Diagrams show the structure and inner workings
being of value to the dragon.) When bargaining with
of a magical cannon powered by elemental air.
Ashgarlyth, the characters can get through to him in
Though its function as a cannon is obvious, only
a few ways:
characters who succeed on a DC 25 Intelligence
- They can appeal to his good nature by urging (Arcana) check can understand the images well
him to help save Gazre-Azam and bring Zikran enough to operate such a cannon if they find one.
to justice. A character who gets a 20 or higher on this check
« They can offer a valuable or beautiful treasure in knows that the device can be operated manually
exchange for being allowed to carefully peruse or by a command word, but there's no command
Zikran’s old laboratory. word written on the diagrams.
« A character familiar with bronze dragons can
bring up their famous love of ships and the sea in THE CLOUD PEAKS
an attempt to bond with Ashgarlyth. After the party deals with Ashgarlyth and finds the
If the players fight Ashgarlyth, treat the labora- clues in the dragon’s lair, the characters can travel
tory as his lair, granting the dragon lair actions as to the Cloud Peaks in search of Zikran.
described in the Monster Manual. If he is reduced Flesh out the journey with encounters appropriate
to 15 hit points or fewer, Ashgarlyth tries to bargain for your campaign, and give the characters a chance
with the party again. If that doesn’t work, the young to prepare before they start climbing mountains.
dragon fights to the death, unwilling to swallow They will be encountering extreme weather condi-
his pride. tions and might have difficulty with the harshness of

IN a
the climb.

14.0 ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME

ASHGARLYTH THE BrontE
DrAGON IN ITs LAIR

Rules for extreme cold, strong wind, and high alti- attack, it can instead damage the character’s cloth-
tude can be found in the Dungeon Master's Guide. ing, rendering it ineffective as cold weather gear
until the clothing is mended. A character with weav-
THE CLIMB er’s tools can mend the clothing while taking a short
The climb into the mountains of the Cloud Peaks rest. A mending spell also repairs the damage.
is incredibly taxing and dangerous. To reach the Shortly after nightfall or whenever the party de-
location marked on the map in Zikran’s abandoned cides to take a long rest, the characters are attacked
laboratory, the characters must climb for 3 days. by an abominable yeti, after which they are left
This time frame assumes everything goes well. The alone for the remainder of their rest.
journey is divided into three legs.
DAY 3
DAy 1 The final leg of the journey takes place under the ef-
The first leg of the journey is straightforward and fects of extreme cold, strong wind, and high altitude
takes the characters from the base of the mountain as the party nears the ruins of the cloud giant keep.
to the edge of the mountain's snow line. Few crea- The day includes another encounter with 1d4 + 3
tures will confront a party that looks well prepared. winged kobolds, plus any that were left alive after
yesterday's encounter.
DAY 2 Toward evening, the characters come to a 40-foot-
The second day of travel is hampered by extreme high, slanted cliff face that they must climb to reach
cold and high elevation. Above the snow line, nat- their destination unless they use magic to complete
ural predators are eager to make the party their the ascent. Each character must make a DC 14
prey. A group of 1d4 + 3 winged kobolds harry the Strength (Athletics) check to climb the cliff face. On
party at one point. These kobolds have resistance to a failed check, the character still makes it to the top
cold damage. Whenever one of these kobolds would but gains 1 level of exhaustion, or 2 levels of exhaus-
deal 5 or more damage to a character with a single tion if the check fails by 5 or more.

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ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME

 In the courtyard, there are pieces of rubble large |
Croup GIANTS KEEP enough that characters can hide behind them.
The ruins of a cloud giant keep sit in a frozen, nat- If they keep watch, the characters can take a
urally formed cleft in the mountain near its peak. short or long rest here without being disturbed.
Sheltered by the high walls of the cleft, the ruins are If the characters use Zikran’s Zephyrean Tome to |
not subject to strong wind. Rules for extreme cold consult with Gazre-Azam, the djinni encourages the
apply, however. party to press on, eager to be freed.
What was once a truly impressive structure, six
or more floors in height, is now frozen rubble. Only C2. ENTRANCE HALL
the first floor of the castle, part of the second floor, Part of this room is open to the sky, as shown
and the basement are traversable. The surrounding on the map.
rubble is scattered in a way that suggests a tornado
might have been responsible.
The ghosts ofttwo > cloud giants wander this hall, 1the
KEEP FEATURES | floor of which iis made of frost-covered wh ite
Everything about the keep is sized for cloud giants,
green tile. A worn carpet leads fro m the entra
who average 24 feet tall. Doorways are 25 feet staircases | going up and down. Two doors te
high, and the doors set into them are made of thick, lead to other rooms. Three giant-sized dis ;
bleached wood that has begun to rot. Ceilings, along the east wall hold faded d document: .
where they exist, are typically 30 feet high; much of
the second floor is open to the sky.
The bricks and tiles that make up the intact por- The two cloud giant ghosts seem to have no regard
tions of the keep emit soft light from their interior for the party. They are indifferent toward intruders
sides. This effect causes all interior spaces to be but turn hostile if attacked or if any of the display .
brightly lit. cases in this room are destroyed or looted. '
The three display cases are 15 feet tall, made
Croup GIANT GHOSTS of bleached wood, and enclosed by panes of
The keep is haunted by the ghosts of cloud giants frost-covered glass. In them are twelve artistically
who perished long ago (see the end of the adventure displayed scrolls that contain the clan's history—
for the cloud giant ghost stat block). These ghosts four scrolls per case. The scrolls are in Dwarvish,
are indifferent toward the characters until some the written language of giants. A character who
action on the characters’ part causes the ghosts to can speak Dwarvish or Giant realizes that these
turn hostile. What actions cause the ghosts to turn writings tell the history of the cloud giants who once
hostile vary from one encounter to the next. Char- occupied this keep.
acters who are cautious can avoid combat with the They were an isolated clan, content to live in
ghosts by not doing anything to anger them. peace away from the squabbles of other giants and
mortals. Their propensity for using magic to alter
ENCOUNTER LOCATIONS the weather caught the attention of one of the Wind
The following encounters are keyed to the map of Dukes of Aaga on the Elemental Plane of Air. This
the ruined cloud giant keep. benevolent entity gave them access to powerful
elemental magic in exchange for their fealty. After
Cl. FRONT YARD learning and harnessing this new magic, the giants
became a force for good in the region for many
years, until their patron was overthrown in a coup.
The ountamiide splits, leaving : a natural cleft in |
Enemies of the deposed Wind Duke wiped out the
the rock. Descending into this cleft, you come to an
giant clan, and their keep fell to ruin as the last rem-
oy Sibi strewn
wuts Hardy blue shrubs | nants of the clan fought against their eradicators.
| nd. Lodged t the far end of Stairs. The stairs leading up to the second floor
he
he daft is obese
a sized for giants. Only
¢ the first floor and down to the basement are sized for cloud gi-
and part of the second floor remain inta the higher . ants. Creatures smaller than Huge treat the stairs
floors having collapsed ng ago. Th
| bble left from : as difficult terrain.
Treasure. The twelve scrolls that chronicle the
; this collapse surrounds what's left of the keep. .
clan’s history are worth 250 gp each to a historian
A twenty- five-foot:tall double ¢door made of .
or to the Avowed of Candlekeep. Each scroll is a
bleached wood with bronz si or sheet of parchment measuring 3 feet wide and 6
entrance att ground level. feet long.

ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME

 C3. ARMORY C5. KITCHEN
. "
This room isis missing its5 ceiling. Stone racks along the This (itchen contains a large stove, cupboards and
alls hold giant-sized morningstars, shields, warham- cabinets for storage, and a fireplace. Two ceramic
ers,
and helmets, all with icicles hanging f from them. jugs sit on a twelve- foot-high table in the middle of
. he room also contains a padlocked wooden chest ‘the room. One of the | jugs is blue, the other orange.
in
| one corner and an enormous, wheel- shaped whet: Standing next to this table is a cloud giant ghost going .
.stone i in another corner, frozen i n position. Standing through the motions i preparing food, but without -
he wheel | isaa cloud giant ghost staring blankly into : : actual food orr utensils—the act is just a mime.
@

See area C4 for a description of the fireplace. The

The cloud giant ghost is indifferent toward intrud- stove is unheated.
ers but turns hostile if attacked or if the items in the The cloud giant ghost is indifferent toward the
chest are removed (see “Treasure” below). characters unless they disturb either of the jugs on
Treasure. The chest is 5 feet long, 3 feet high, and the table, in which case the ghost turns hostile.
3 feet wide. It weighs 250 pounds, and the padlock Treasure. The two jugs function as alchemy jugs,
holding it shut is frozen solid. Any character using except that neither produces acid or poison. The
thieves’ tools can spend 1 minute trying to remove blue jug can produce 1 quart of boiling hot tea,
the padlock, doing so with a successful DC 15 Dex- while the orange jug can produce 1 gallon of soy
terity check. Attempting this check without first sauce, in addition to their other properties.
melting the ice in and around the padlock imposes
disadvantage on the roll. The chest contains two C6. SEcoNnD FLOOR BEDROOM
potions of healing (greater) and a rusty iron sphere & " 9

(iron bands of Bilarro). This room was once a giant’ s bedchamber. A huge |
~ four- -poster bed stands against one wall. Other fur-
C4. Mess HALL
This room’s ceiling is mostly intact, except for a por- nishings include a desk, chair, and three wardrobes,
tion to the south. all sized for cloud giants. At the desk sits a spectral
| cloud giant wearing a fancy housecoat. It appears to
This rroom nes lorze fur carpets onothe floor and | be i in the act of writing something, but without paper
urdy tables that can seat a dozen cloud giants at or penethe aact is just a mime.

e. A center table accommodates three cloud

an ghosts, who are playing some kind of card game. Characters who observe the cloud giant ghost can
A door i in the north wall stands ajar. That same wall tell that it’s weeping silently as it “writes.” This giant
has a litt fireplace t that also heats the adjacent room. is doomed to spend eternity penning a farewell let-
ter to its long-dead lover. The ghost defends itself if
attacked but otherwise ignores the characters.
Three cloud giant ghosts sit at one of the tables. Treasure. The wardrobes contain clothes fit for
A character who is proficient with any type of gam- a female cloud giant of noble status. In one of the
ing set or who succeeds on a DC 12 Intelligence wardrobes, the characters can find a pair of boots of
(History) check can determine that the ghosts are the winterlands. They are giant-sized but shrink to
playing Three-Dragon Ante with spectral cards. The fit whoever attunes to them.
game distracts them, at least temporarily. Charac-
ters moving through the room must succeed on a C7. ZIKRAN’'S BASEMENT WORKSHOP
DC 17 Dexterity (Stealth) check to keep from being The characters can access the basement from the
noticed by the ghosts. If the ghosts notice one or entrance hall (area C2). If they try to do so, one of
more intruders, they turn hostile and attack. Zikran’s magical safeguards triggers, releasing two
Fireplace. A character who closely observes the water elementals and six ice mephits. They appear
fire can, with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Ar- in unoccupied spaces on the staircase and try to
cana) check, tell that it’s a fire elemental. Zikran prevent intruders from reaching the basement. If
summoned the elemental and trapped it inside the Gazre-Azam is present, he can invoke his rank as a
fireplace, forcing it to heat both this room and the noble genie as soon as the elementals and mephits
kitchen (area C5). Dealing damage to the fire ele- appear. When he does so, 1d6 of the mephits vanish
mental frees it and causes it to go berserk. as if affected by a banishment spell.

oo
14.4. ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME
%
 Once the characters have defeated these crea-
tures, they can enter the basement.
® ®
This high-vaulted basement room is full of equipment
similar to what you saw in Zikran's abandoned labora-
tory. A bed, a chair, and a table sized for a person of
human stature occupy one corner of the room. Stone
tables arranged about the chamber are covered with
half-finished machines, and a large dais built into the
far side of the room holds a cannon mounted on a
swivel. A dull blue glow emanates from the inside of
the cannon’s barrel.
In the middle of the room is a glimmering white
crystal, eight feet tall and four feet wide. It pulses with
arcane and elemental energy, filling the room with
whipping winds and biting cold. Standing next to the
crystal is a water genasi with turquoise skin and blue
robes. He is guarded by a water elemental and an air
elemental.
@ @®

Zikran stands in front of the crystal when the party

arrives. He is a chaotic evil water genasi archmage
with these changes:
« Zikran speaks Aquan, Common, Primordial, Sa-
JIKRAN
huagin, and Undercommon. He has 144 hit points,
resistance to acid damage, a swimming speed of
30 feet, and the ability to breathe air and water.
- He has prepared the conjure elemental spell in ad-
dition to his other spells.
Elemental Cannon. On initiative count 20 (losing
- While in the basement, he gains a special action
initiative ties), Zikran uses his handheld device to
option (see “Elemental Cannon” below).
fire the cannon at one creature he can see, provided
Genasi have strong ties to the Inner Planes and the creature is in the basement or on the staircase.
the blood of genies flowing through their veins. Like Zikran’s target must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving
the marids of the Elemental Plane of Water, Zikran throw, taking 24 (7d6) cold damage on a failed save,
is turbulent and unpredictable. or half as much damage on a successful one. The
Zikran was alerted to the characters’ presence basement furnishings provide half cover, should a
when they fought the elementals and mephits on creature wish to hide behind them.
the stairs. Now ready for action, he has cast mage The cannon is a Large object with AC 16, 80 hit
armor, stoneskin, and mind blank on himself. He points, and immunity to poison and psychic dam-
carries a handheld magic device that controls the age. It is mounted atop a swivel and bolted to the
elemental cannon. This device, shown in the accom- dais. The cannon draws power from the crystal in
panying illustration, looks like a metal rod with a tip the middle of the room. This crystal sparks with ele-
shaped like a bird's head. The air elemental and the mental power whenever the cannon is about to fire.
water elemental obey Zikran's orders. If the crystal is destroyed, both Zikran’s handheld
Given a chance, Zikran brags about his plans to device and the cannon become powerless. The crys-
restore the cloud giants’ keep to its original glory, tal is a Large object with AC 13, 40 hit points, and
turning it into a flying fortress that he can ride into immunity to poison and psychic damage.
battle. If a character is carrying Zikran’s Zephyrean Development. When Zikran is defeated, the
Tome openly, Zikran offers the characters a chance lock on Zikran's Zephyrean Tome shatters and
to surrender and give up the book in exchange for Gazre-Azam is released from the book. The djinni
their lives. If the party refuses this offer or if Zikran materializes in an unoccupied space within 30 feet
MAR

is unaware that the characters have the book, the of the book and lets out a deep sigh of relief.
NDREW

genasi archmage and his elementals attack.

ZIKRAN’S ZEPHYREAN TOME

 Treasure. The room contains assorted material
components for the spells Zikran can cast and
Zikran’s spellbook, which contains all the spells the
archmage has prepared.

CONCLUSION
Once freed, Gazre-Azam offers to cast a wish spell
on the characters’ behalf. Unless he was treated
terribly by the characters, he is unlikely to twist the
wording of the party’s wish. If he wasn’t brought
along, he teleports to the party now that he has free
access to all his abilities.
If the party brought the djinni along and treated
him well, he suggests an alternative to the wish
spell: Gazre-Azam can imbue Zikran's Zephyrean
Tome with the properties of a censer of controlling
air elementals, except it summons only Gazre-Azam.
Altering the book in this way deprives Gazre-Azam
of the ability to cast a wish spell for one year. The
characters must weigh their decision against any
promise they made to return Zikran’s Zephyrean
Tome to Candlekeep.

CLouD GIANT GHOST magic weapon, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the
Huge undead ghost’s next turn. The ghost dies only if it starts its turn with 0
hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 104 (16d12) ACTIONS
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) Multiattack. The ghost makes two melee attacks.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Spectral Weapon. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
27 (+8) 11 (+1) 100) 12(+1) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) one target. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) force damage.
Etherealness. The ghost enters the Ethereal Plane from the
Saving Throws Wis +7, Cha +7 Material Plane, or vice versa. It is visible on the Material Plane
Skills Perception +7 while it is in the Border Ethereal, and vice versa, yet it can’t af-
Damage Resistances cold
fect or be affected by anything on the other plane.
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, Spellcasting. The ghost casts one of the following spells, using
grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained Charisma as the spellcasting ability and requiring no material
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17 components:
Languages Common, Giant
At will: fog cloud
Challenge Rating 9 (5,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4 3/day: telekinesis
1/day: control weather
Ethereal Sight. The ghost can see 120 feet into the Ethereal Wind Howl (Recharge 6). The ghost emits a dreadful howl! that
Plane when it is on the Material Plane, and vice versa. summons a cold, biting wind. This wind engulfs up to three
Incorporeal Movement. The ghost can move through other creatures of the ghost’s choice that it can see within 60 feet
creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 of it. Each target is pulled up to 20 feet toward the ghost and
(1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object. must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 16 (3d10)
cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
Regeneration. The ghost regains 10 hit points at the start of
successful one.
its turn. If the ghost takes radiant damage or damage from a
 AN ADVENTURE FOR 11ITH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
HU ramon Yo @

THE CURIOUS
WRITTEN BY KIENNA SHAW
DEVELOPED & EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER PERKINS & HANNAH ROSE

HE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE 1S

the script of a play written in Common.
It is split up into three acts, telling the
story of a heroic bard before he becomes
corrupted by evil. A wizard named Ryllia Liadon
donated the book to Candlekeep as an entrance gift.
She didn’t tell the Avowed that the book contains
the secret to accessing Wisteria Vale, a magical
demiplane created by the Harpers to imprison a
bard named Arrant Quill until they could free him
from the influence of an evil artifact.
The book has been hidden in the Candlekeep ar-
chives for three years, but the Harpers have finally
discovered a cure for Quill’s corruption, and the
time has come to visit Wisteria Vale once more.

FINDING THE BOOK Tue Curious TALE OF

The characters have been hired by Ryllia (a female Wisteria VALE

human archmage) on behalf of the Harpers to ad-

minister the newfound cure to Quill. They received
directions on how to find The Curious Tale of Wiste- THE PLAYS THE THING
ria Vale in Candlekeep and a promise of 5,000 gp if
The story of The Curious Tale of Wisteria Vale
they successfully complete their task. The Avowed
serves as the background for the adventure. Char-
of Candlekeep furnish the characters with the book
acters who succeed on a DC 13 Intelligence (His-
and a private room in which to read it.
tory) check recognize that the play is a fictionalized
Alternatively, the characters could uncover
retelling of Arrant Quill’s rise and fall, with many
the book while searching through Candlekeep’s
parallels to real events, including the appearance of
archives, if they've been granted access to the
the Harper wizard who hired the characters. Char-
Inner Ward.
acters who succeed on this check by 5 or more also
BooK DESCRIPTION know that Wisteria Vale was the name of a village
on the River Chionthar, just east of Baldur's Gate,
The Curious Tale of Wisteria Vale is bound in green
that was destroyed over a decade ago. You can ad-
leather, with leaves and vines carefully burned into
just Wisteria Vale's location to suit your campaign.
the corners of the front and back covers. The title is
embossed in gold on the front, but no author is cred-
WHO ARE THE HARPERS?
ited on the outside or inside of the book. The book is
The Harpers are an organization of spellcasters and
six inches wide, nine inches tall, and an inch thick. spies who covertly oppose any abuse of power, magi-
The thick, cream-colored pages emit a faint scent of cal or otherwise. Working alone or in small cells, they
flowers and grass. The writing is neat and steady, gather information throughout Faer(in, analyze the
each line inscribed in practiced calligraphy. political dynamics in each region or realm, and use
Although the design of the book is simple, the what they uncover to help the weak, the poor, and the
crafting and materials are of the highest quality. In oppressed from behind the scenes. Harpers act openly
only as a last resort.
YK

fact, the book is a magic object that transforms into

WU

a portal when the activation phrase is spoken.

LJZANNA
 Actl THE CURE
In the first act, the protagonist, Vargan, lives out a
To reverse Quill’s corruption, the Harpers crafted
peaceful childhood in the village of Wisteria Vale.
me

a dagger infused with several forms of purifying

TIARA

Vargan is a boy with a penchant for storytelling and

magic. The magic dagger is carved from a single
a knack for magic. During the day, Vargan helps his
piece of amethyst, with leather wrapped around the
parents on the farm, and in the evening he performs
hilt and minuscule runes emblazoned on the flat
in the tavern to the delight of all the villagers. When
RI

of the blade. When light hits the dagger, the blade

Vargan is on the cusp of adulthood, the cruel Lord
appears to pulse with an inner radiance. The dagger
Ephraim Rathmore visits Wisteria Vale, demand-
resembles the one that scarred Quill as a child.
ing drink, food, and a place for him and his retinue
To activate the spells imbued within the dagger,
to stay. When the hospitality isn’t to his liking, he
the weapon must pierce the flesh of the intended tar-
burns down the village. Lord Rathmore leaves Var-
get. After the purifying magic is released, the dagger
gan alive as a witness to his village's punishment,
loses its magical properties.
but not before slashing him across the face with a
crystal dagger. The event changes Vargan forever,
and he vows to bring down the pitiless lord and pre-
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
vent him from hurting anyone ever again. The characters begin their adventure by activating
the portal to Wisteria Vale, after which they can
Act Il explore the village and talk to the inhabitants. The
Vargan tracks down Lord Rathmore in a bustling locals reveal that Quill lives in a manor on the edge
city. Unsure how to proceed, the young bard starts of the village, but he hasn't left it recently because
asking around the city for information. He is ap- he has a very important guest: a beholder that
proached by a wizard, who tells him that she be- suddenly appeared in Wisteria Vale. To allay the
longs to a secret group looking to bring down Lord villagers’ justifiable concerns about his guest, Quill
Rathmore and others who have been corrupted by is planning a party for that evening and has invited
evil. The wizard invites Vargan to join the secret everybody in town to meet the beholder.
organization, and he agrees, becoming a member As the characters explore the manor, they must
of the Harpers. With the aid of information from avoid the gaze of the beholder. They learn from
the Harpers, Vargan sneaks into Lord Rathmore’s Quill’s notes that the beholder dreamed itself into
manor during a banquet disguised as a performer Wisteria Vale from the Underdark, and that Quill
and dispatches Rathmore once and for all. Although has been trying to charm it into revealing how to
his quest for vengeance has been fulfilled, Vargan is escape the demiplane. It eventually becomes clear
obsessed with the fact that many other corrupt and that the beholder has imprisoned the real Quill in a
evil people exist across the land, and that only peo- magic painting.
ple like him and the Harpers can stop them. The characters must find Quill, convince him that
they're here to help, and administer the cure without
Act III
incurring the wrath of the beholder, who wants to
Vargan becomes more powerful, using his talents in
keep its new haven intact.
magic and espionage to single-handedly take down
corrupt kings and mages. Although he becomes
a legend among and outside the Harpers, Vargan
INTO THE DEMIPLANE
stays humble, believing that it is his duty to protect The secret to entering the demiplane of Wisteria
others. At the climax of the play, Vargan battles an Vale is hidden in the text of the play. Ryllia tells the
archmage who was turned evil by an ancient crys- characters that there is a line in the final scene that
tal touched by the evil god Cyric. Though Vargan gives a clue to the portal’s activation phrase, though
defeats the archmage, prolonged contact with the she doesn’t know the details. A character who exam-
crystal corrupts the bard, convincing him that his ines the script notices that the penultimate line spo-
former allies are too powerful and must be elim- ken by the Harper wizard in the play is underlined
inated. The Harpers devise a solution to prevent twice. This line reads:
Vargan from hurting anyone while they develop a
cure: banishing him to a demiplane.
The play ends with a short monologue by the
Harper wizard who befriended Vargan years ago,
saying that though Vargan’s ultimate fate is still
unknown, the day will come when light will ban- A character who makes a successful DC 12 Intel-
ish darkness. ligence check realizes that this line might be more
than a metaphor—a puzzle that requires literal

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE

interpretation of an aphorism would be just the kind
of thing a Harper playwright would enjoy. Shining a
source of light directly on the page reveals a phrase
written in invisible ink: “Harpers at Twilight.”
When that phrase is uttered, the book shakes and
flies into the air, pages flipping of their own accord
and separating from the binding, then rearranging
themselves to form a portal. Anyone who steps
through the opening is transported to Wisteria Vale.
After all the characters pass through the portal, the
pages rearrange themselves back into the form of
the book, and the portal closes.

WISTERIA VALE
Wisteria Vale is a demiplane created by the Harp-
ers for one purpose: to imprison Arrant Quill while
they devise a cure for his corruption. Everything in
Wisteria Vale is bright and colorful, tailored to keep
Quill comfortable and entertained. The weather is
always mild and temperate, with just enough rainy
days to nurture crops. Wisteria blossoms are always
in full bloom amid the verdant greenery. The air is
filled with the soothing sounds of nature, from bird-
song to the chirping of crickets to gentle breezes
ruffling the leaves. Time passes differently here:
each day in Wisteria Vale equates to three days on
the Material Plane.
Because of the nature and purpose of the demi-
plane, any spells used to try to escape Wisteria Vale
fail. The only way to leave the demiplane is to termi-
nate it by curing or Killing Quill.

CONSTRUCTED COMMONERS
To populate the demiplane without endangering any
innocents, the Harpers created constructs out of CONSTRUCTED COMMONER
Medium construct
wooden mannequins to act as villagers (see the ac-
companying stat block). Magic makes them look like Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
flesh-and-blood people, and the constructs conduct Hit Points 6 (1d8 + 2)
themselves as convincingly real humanoids who Speed 25 ft.
are simply living their lives in Wisteria Vale. Detect
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
magic spells do not reveal their true nature, as each 100(+0) 10(+0) 15(+2) 10(+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
construct is shielded by a spell that makes it seem
nonmagical. Damage Immunities poison
Though these constructed villagers can physi- Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
cally interact with the environment around them Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common
and hold lengthy conversations, a few clues to their Challenge 0 (10 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
true nature exist. A character who observes one or
more of the commoners closely and succeeds on a
Unusual Nature. The commoner doesn’t require air, food,
DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check notices a faint
drink, or sleep, and it gains no benefit from finishing a short
clicking sound whenever a villager touches a hard or long rest. When it drops to 0 hit points, it becomes a life-
surface. The villagers are also cold to the touch, less object.
which can be ascertained only through physical
contact. A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Wis- ACTIONS
dom (Insight) check notices that if the villagers are Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
asked about anything outside Wisteria Vale or their Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
individual talents, they quickly change subjects to

A om cootnnrni
THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE
small talk about the weather or gossip, and always WISTERIA VALE EVENTS
in Common regardless of their apparent origin. d8 Event
Constructed commoners don’t bleed or feel pain
like flesh-and-blood humanoids. If a villager’s hit
maemo
points drop to 0, its true form is revealed: that of a 3 Lightrain falls from a clear sky.
lifeless wooden mannequin. Overnight, the man-
nequin disappears, and a replacement villager is ning flashes in the distance,
but it doesn’t rain.
generated by the demiplane to take over the “slain” 5 An object near the characters suddenly loses its
villager’s place and role in the village a few days color and becomes gray and dull.
later. If the mannequin is disintegrated or reduced
to ashes, it is not replaced and the population of the ©6 An object near the characters suddenly beco
village permanently decreases by one. saturated with bright colors.
An incongruous smell or sound manifests.
ABERRANT EVENTS
Beholders can alter reality when they dream. Re-
cently, a beholder named Renekor entered Wisteria
Vale by dreaming itself into the demiplane. Renekor UNEXPECTED VISITORS
sees Wisteria Vale as its own creation—a very real
(if utterly bizarre) sanctuary brought into being by The villagers of Wisteria Vale are surprised to see
its dreaming mind. outsiders. Nevertheless, they welcome the charac-
Renekor’s presence warps the demiplane, causing ters with warm hospitality. The villagers are curious
erratic weather and strange phenomena. Each time about where the characters come from and why
the characters move to a new location or room, roll they're here. If the characters mention that their
on the Wisteria Vale Events table to determine what purpose is to cure Quill of his corruption, the villag-
strange effect they experience, if any. When the ers are confused, since Quill has been nothing but
characters are in the manor, closer to the beholder kind and friendly to them since his arrival.
itself, roll twice and use the higher result.

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE

 In further conversation, the villagers describe the They are a married couple. The tavern is the heart
arrival of a terrifying creature that appears to be a of the village, a place where people gather to talk
giant floating orb with a central eye and sharp teeth, and share meals. Even though the villagers don’t
with many smaller eyes on stalks. Though the villag- need to eat or drink because they are constructs,
ers were frightened by the creature, Quill assured they do so when Quill is around. In the evenings
them that he would keep it under control. He urged when Quill visits the village, Ulrich always insists
them to treat the creature as an honored guest while that Quill perform for an enraptured audience that
it was in Wisteria Vale. never seems to get bored of his stories and songs.
Daphne tells the characters that Quill hasn't vis-
LOCATIONS IN WISTERIA VALE ited in the past two weeks, which is unusual for him.
In an attempt to make the demiplane as comfort- She theorizes that his absence is due to the arrival
ing and familiar as possible for Quill, the Harpers of the many-eyed creature, and while the villagers
designed it to resemble his hometown, down to the trust Quill, they are still concerned about him.
buildings, the villagers, and the name. The locals
W4. SILKS AND SOLES
find Wisteria Vale to be normal and don’t question
Silks and Soles is owned by Josephus Lovett (male
any of the oddities of the demiplane. Although they
human) and Henrietta Storm (nonbinary tiefling),
know that there are places outside Wisteria Vale,
both constructed commoners. Josephus is the
they have no interest in leaving home.
tailor and the village gossip, gathering and sharing
The following locations are keyed to the map of
information as he measures his neighbors and sews
Wisteria Vale.
their clothes. If given the opportunity, he talks about
WI. VYRIDIAN FOREST his favorite topic: Quill and his secretive past. Henri-
The Vyridian Forest encircles the village. It is an an- etta is a cobbler by trade and also a social butterfly,
cient forest with well-worn trails, old-growth trees, helping to organize community events and create
and a supply of wild game such as deer, boar, and decorations from spare cloth and leather.
rabbits. The villagers supplement their crops with Josephus or Henrietta shares information on
occasional hunts in the forest, especially for feasts Quill, his arrival in Wisteria Vale, the appearance
on holidays and for village gatherings. of the creature two weeks ago, and the party in the
While in the forest, the characters might encoun- manor taking place that evening, to which all the
ter Ki'lara, a half-elf hunter and a constructed com- villagers have been invited. Like their neighbors,
moner who knows how to navigate the woods and Josephus and Henrietta have reservations about
where the best hunting spots are. She warns the Quill’s strange houseguest.
characters about wandering too far into the woods, Without any need for a check, the characters can
since the ancient forest can often be disorienting. convince Josephus or Henrietta to let them tag along
If they walk far enough into the woods in one di- as their “plus ones” to the party.
rection, they end up on the other side of the forest
W5. MARKETPLACE
approaching Wisteria Vale, as if they had walked in
This small marketplace is where the farmers along
a giant loop. Characters who succeed on a DC 13
the edge of the village sell their wares. Once in a
Intelligence (Arcana) check recognize that this is
while, the demiplane generates a traveling merchant
part of the demiplane’s magical design to keep Quill
who passes through Wisteria Vale to sell food, fab-
inside the village.
ric, and other goods from “outside” the village, to
W2. FARMS further enhance the illusion that Wisteria Vale is a
A group of family-owned farms dot the western edge real village. Three traveling merchants visit regu-
of the village. These farms have a variety of crops larly. Each of these constructed commoners never
and livestock, from produce and grains to cattle and stays longer than a day, and one appears only once
sheep to medicinal plants. every few weeks to break up the monotony of the
These farms exist for Quill’s benefit alone, though village's everyday events.
they provide enough food to sustain an entire village
W6. MANOR
indefinitely. The farmers surreptitiously get rid of
The manor on the northern edge of Wisteria Vale
almost all of what they produce.
stands out as the biggest and most ornate building
W3. BLOSSOM’S REST in the village, two stories tall and made of white
Blossom’s Rest is the tavern in the center of the vil- stone that gleams when the light catches it.
lage owned by Ulrich (male hill dwarf) and Daphne
(female wood elf), both constructed commoners.
EXPLORING THE MANOR the people he lost in his childhood, though he also
takes some comfort in being able to live out the
The characters can approach the front door or try life he could've had. His time spent alone with his
to sneak in through the side door that leads to the thoughts in Wisteria Vale has led him to suspect
kitchen (area M2). If they try the front door prior to that the Harpers were never going to find a cure,
the time of the party, they find that it’s locked and and that they were simply biding their time until
no one answers. The door can be broken down with he became complacent enough that they could kill
a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check or him without his being a threat. Quill’s corruption
unlocked with a successful DC 15 Dexterity check has convinced him that the Harpers have become
using thieves’ tools. The back door is unlocked, but a powerful force that must be taken down; he
Damien (see “Servants” below) notices the charac- trusts only himself to identify and eliminate agents
ters using it unless they succeed on a DC 15 group of tyranny.
Dexterity (Stealth) check. Fake Quill. Renekor the beholder has imprisoned
Inside the manor, the characters might feel as
Arrant Quill in a magic painting. Furthermore, the
though they're constantly being watched, but this beholder has used its reality-altering dreams to
isn’t necessarily the case. There are, however, three
create a twin of Quill that feels real to the touch. A
stone golems and six suits of animated armor that detect magic spell reveals an aura of illusion magic
guard the halls of the manor and attack intruders around the fake Quill, which otherwise looks and
(see the Manor Encounters table below). behaves exactly like the real Quill. The fake Quill
can’t do anything except move and talk, and it is
MANOR OCCUPANTS
dispelled if it takes damage from a spell or a magic
As the characters explore the manor, they might weapon. No other magic or damage affects it.
encounter one or more creatures roaming the halls
or moving from one room to another. Whenever you RENEKOR THE BEHOLDER
feel the need for a random encounter, roll a d20 and Lawful evil beholder
consult the Manor Encounters table to determine This beholder dreamed itself into Wisteria Vale
whom or what the characters encounter. from the Underdark to escape its enemies. Due to
the unconventional way that it entered the demi-
MANOR ENCOUNTERS plane, Renekor believes that Wisteria Vale and
d20 Encounter its inhabitants are all products of its imagination.
1 Roll twice more on this table, using 2d10 instead Therefore, the beholder is unusually complacent
ofadXOforeschroll. a and relaxed as long as nothing disturbs or threatens
2-9 Two suits of animated armor (see “Servants” its new haven and playthings.
Renekor floats around the manor during the day
below)
before retreating to the ballroom at night. Although
0-2 One stone golem (see “Servants” below) it might not be on high alert, it is still keenly obser-
13-17 The fake Quill (see “Arrant Quill and the Fake vant and paranoid as all beholders are.
Quill” below)
SERVANTS
18-20 Renekor the beholder The manor is guarded by six suits of animated ar-
mor and two stone golems. One of the stone golems
ARRANT QUILL AND THE FAKE QUILL doesn’t leave the library (area M7), and two suits
Neutral evil human (age 36) of animated armor are stationed outside the doors
Quill is a charismatic bard who carries himself with to the ballroom (area M6). The remaining sentries
a quiet confidence that doesn’t hint at the full extent roam the manor freely. The suits of armor and
of his skills or powers. His handsome features are golems also perform hands-on labor that doesn’t
marred by a scar that curves from the top of his left require conversation or delicate movements.
cheekbone down to his jaw, though he doesn’t con- A housekeeper named Damien takes care of the
sider the scar disfiguring. If asked about the scar, he cooking and cleaning. He is a constructed com-
explains that he got it years ago when the man who moner and the only full-time staff member in the
burned down his home village slashed his face with manor, although some local villagers have been
a dagger. It serves as a grim reminder of his past. drafted to serve as waiters during the party in the
Although outwardly friendly, Quill is driven by ballroom (see “Quill’s Party” later in the adventure).
three selfish desires: to preserve his well-being, to Renekor’s presence is slowly warping the demi-
alleviate his boredom, and to escape Wisteria Vale. plane, causing these servants to shift allegiance,
He holds a grudge against the Harpers and Ryllia becoming loyal and obedient to the beholder rather
for imprisoning him in a place that reminds him of than to Quill or the Harpers.

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE

 UPPER FLOOR | 1square = 5 feet
ey

2.58

MANOR LOCATIONS Forest Painting. The forest painting is the gate-

way to one of four connected extradimensional
Within the marble walls of the manor, the rooms
spaces throughout the manor. See “Finding Quill”
and hallways are spacious and clean, and the deco-
later in the adventure for more information.
rations are luxurious without being gaudy. Its doors
are unlocked unless noted otherwise. M2. KITCHEN
The following locations are keyed to the map of
the manor.

Ml. LOUNGE

Damien, a constructed commoner, is here prepar-

ing food for Quill’s party. If he notices the characters
and they appear to be friendly, he offers to take them
to Quill. If the characters accept this offer, Damien
leads them to area M10. If the characters look like
The portrait depicts a younger Quill standing next trouble, Damien alerts one of the suits of animated
to a second figure that has been defaced. A charac- armor, which goes to warn Renekor about the
ter who examines this figure closely and succeeds intruders.
on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check recognizes Damien has a ring of keys hooked onto his apron.
it as a younger Ryllia Liadon. (Quill ruined her like- These keys can lock and unlock all the doors in
ness when he concluded that she had betrayed him.)
TIM HARTIN

the manor.
M3. DINING ROOM
| The wooden doors open into.aa dazzling, spacious
room. The polished walls gleam i in the light of ranging.
lamps shaped like celestial bodies, and the sling is
. painted with constellations. On the ea S
Torenat the Fea ob it. On the ¢ east willhangs. a arge
stage with red velvet curtains closi 1 offa2 backstage.
painting ofof ann opulent banquet.
area. A portrait of Quill posing ona chaise longue
: hangs on the north wall, though the i image is distorted
The dining table can easily seat six people, but the | 28 if someone had smeared the paint before it dried.
chair that accompanies the silver place setting is the ®

only one that shows any sign of regular use.

Banquet Painting. The banquet painting is the The ballroom takes up two floors, with a 50-foot-
gateway to one of four connected extradimensional high ceiling and a balcony that is accessible from
spaces throughout the manor. See “Finding Quill” the upper floor.
later in the adventure for more information. If the characters arrive here during Quill’s party,
Treasure. The silver place setting is worth a total see “Quill’s Party” later in the adventure for a de-
of 750 gp. scription of the ballroom’s occupants and other
features. If it hasn’t been encountered and defeated
M4. STORAGE elsewhere, Renekor the beholder is here.
This cluttered space holds cleaning supplies, spare This room serves as Renekor’s lair. The beholder
silverware, cooking utensils, food, and general can use its lair actions (as described in the Monster
household goods for the manor. Manual), but only within this room. If the characters
Treasure. Any character who spends at least 5 forced their way into the room, destroying the suits
minutes searching the room finds a satchel contain- of animated armor in the process, Renekor assumes
ing a packet of dust of disappearance. they're hostile and attacks them on sight. Other-
wise, it assumes the characters are creations of its
M5. BACKSTAGE dreaming mind until they demonstrate otherwise. If
the characters make a scene, Renekor feels threat-
ened and attacks them. If one or more characters
move to within 10 feet of the painting on the north
wall, the beholder instructs them (in Undercommon)
to keep away from it on pain of death. Characters
who can’t understand the beholder can surmise that
it doesn’t want them near the painting.
table a gainst 8the north wall holds a stack of iinstru-we | - Quill’s Prison. The painting on the north wall is
ment c:cases. i ol the entrance to an extradimensional space where
Arrant Quill is imprisoned. Renekor has covered
the painting in slime to prevent Quill from getting
The backstage area of the ballroom’s stage is filled
out, though characters can still enter the painting’s
with set pieces, props, and costumes.
extradimensional space from the ballroom. A char-
Treasure. Among the many other instruments
acter who has a passive Wisdom (Perception) score
stored here is Quill’'s instrument of the bards (Cli
of 15 or higher notices that the image of Quill in the
lyre), which is kept in an ornate wooden case that
painting is moving slightly. See “Finding Quill” later
bears the monogram A.Q. Quill takes this instru-
in the adventure for more information.
ment with him whenever he entertains villagers at
Blossom'’s Rest. M7. LIBRARY
M6. BALLROOM Y
Two suits of animated armor stand guard at the Large woode : doors open to Joint a cozy Wbrary Tit by
double door, outside the ballroom. Prior to Quill’s pn candlelight. wo w all of shelves stretch to the
party, these doors are locked. As an action, a char-
acter can try to unlock the doors using thieves’
tools, doing so with a successful DC 15 Dexterity
or the dusk, many
check, or force open the doors with a successful DC
of ink and a quill. An
15 Strength (Athletics) check. Trying to open the
door without the proper key causes the suits of ani- Imp e corner n next toothe
mated armor to attack. door, silently watch ir a

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE

The library is a replica of one of the Harper librar- Quill used to write frequently during the first few
ies that Quill frequented. The books contain well- months of his captivity, with the entries becoming
known stories and plays, research on monsters, and more sporadic until the arrival of Renekor.
information about the Harpers. A character who « Quill believes that a year has passed in Wisteria
spends time studying here can learn facts about the Vale, when it really has been three years on the |
Harpers (see the “Who Are the Harpers?” sidebar Material Plane. (Quill is unaware of this fact.)
earlier in the adventure) or any monster described + Quill knows that he can’t be harmed in Wisteria
in the Monster Manual. Vale unless he gives his consent. |
The books on the desk cover research about the « Quill believes that the Harpers were lying when
Underdark and beholders, with notes written by they said they were going to find a way to cure |
Quill scribbled in the margins. him, and he is worried that the Harpers are just |
The statue is actually a stone golem. If a charac- biding their time until they can kill him. |
ter attempts to take Quill’s notes or any of the books « Quill notes that the beholder might be his key to
out of the room, the stone golem activates, stepping escaping Wisteria Vale.
in front of the door. It doesn’t fight the characters
unless they try to push past it and leave with the M9. GUEST BEDROOM
notes or books.
A character who takes 10 minutes to read Quill’s bedtoom contains id " sble bed
notes can learn the basics of beholder lore as well wardrobe. A lagea» ting of
as obtain the following information:
the north wall.
+ Quill has been researching beholders, particularly
their ability to warp reality and bring to life things
The wardrobe is stuffed with formal and informal
from their imagination.
clothing.
« Renekor dreamed itself into Wisteria Vale from
Roc Painting. The roc painting is the gateway
the Underdark. The beholder believes that the
to one of four connected extradimensional spaces
village and its residents are its own creations. The
throughout the manor. See “Finding Quill” later in
beholder’s appearance has caused weird events to
the adventure for more information.
happen in Wisteria Vale, and these strange occur-
rences are becoming increasingly common (see M10. GUEST BATHROOM
“Aberrant Events” earlier in the adventure). The guest bathroom is unremarkable, though char-
« Quill thinks that if he can get close enough to acters who search the room and succeed on a DC
Renekor, he can charm the beholder into revealing 13 Wisdom (Perception) check notice a loose tile
information on how to escape Wisteria Vale, or on the ceiling. Above the tile is a crawl space that
manipulate the beholder’s reality-warping magic spans the entire upper floor. The crawl space is
to create an exit from the demiplane. dusty and has a 3-foot-high ceiling. Characters can
« The last note Quill made was about his fear use the crawl space to enter any other room on the
that Renekor suspects his schemes. The ink is upper floor through removable panels in the ceiling.
smeared as if he had been interrupted in the mid-
dle of writing it.
FINDING QUILL
M8. MASTER BEDROOM Renekor has imprisoned the real Quill in a magic
painting in the ballroom. The extradimensional
space where Quill is trapped can be accessed in one
of two ways: by sneaking through the ballroom or by
= that Ws iss Quills'sS betigon A large fourpomerh bed traveling through the other magic paintings found in
draped iin blue velvet occupies the middle of the the manor.
= > rk w ooden wardrobe and a
bedside table with 3 leather-bound journal sitting next 3 MAGIC PAINTINGS
fe a vase of
thay picked flflowers. Seti in1 the eeast wall Four magic paintings are scattered throughout the
manor, each one a portal to an extradimensional
space. These framed paintings are 5 feet square and
can’t be removed from the walls to which they're
The door in the east wall opens into a private bath- attached.
room with a mirrored vanity. Any creature that touches one of these paintings
The journal on the bedside table is Quill’s diary. is magically transported to its extradimensional
A character who spends at least 10 minutes leafing space—a cube-shaped stone chamber 30 feet on a
through it obtains the following information: side. A creature can resist this effect by succeeding

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE

on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. From inside An extradimensional chamber’s walls, floors,
its extradimensional chamber, a painting looks like ceilings, and doors are impervious to damage. A
a frameless, 5-foot-square open window through creature can leave an extradimensional chamber
which is visible the interior of the room in which and return to the manor by climbing through the
the painting hangs. Characters inside the extradi- chamber’s window (although Quill’s prison is a
mensional space are visible as part of the painting bit different, as described below). A creature that
itself as they interact with the extradimensional climbs through the window emerges from the paint-
space’s contents. ing without damaging it.
In addition to the wall with the window, each If one of the paintings is damaged, the window in
extradimensional chamber has a 7-foot-high, 3-foot- that extradimensional chamber disappears, leaving
wide wooden door set into each of its other three a bare stone wall. If all four paintings are damaged,
walls. These doors lead to the other paintings’ the paintings’ extradimensional chambers remain
extradimensional chambers. Only one of the three connected to one another, but not to the manor.
doors can be open at any given time, and a door
can’t be opened unless the other two doors are FOREST
closed. Each door is opened by pulling on its shiny Within this painting’s extradimensional space, the
brass doorknob, regardless of which side of the door walls are painted to depict a forest of trees and
one happens to be on. shrubbery, the floor is covered with a thin layer
The chaotic nature of the connection between the of dirt, and the ceiling is painted to resemble the
spaces means that a door is likely to lead to a differ- sky. Hiding against the wall with the window are
ent chamber each time it is opened. To determine four medusas wearing hooded robes and covered
where a door leads, use the appropriate table for with greenery for camouflage. The medusas at-
whichever extradimensional chamber the charac- tack intruders as they cross the room. Characters
ters are in presently. The characters always enter a who have a passive Wisdom (Perception) score
new chamber through the doorway on the wall op- of 15 or higher spot the medusas and aren't sur-
posite that chamber’s window. prised by them.

FOREST PAINTING’S CHAMBER BANQUET

This painting’s extradimensional space contains a
dé Door’s Destination
15-foot-long banquet table covered with prepared
3 1-2 - ‘Banquet (behind the painting inarea M3) dishes that look and smell delectable. Each dish
3 4 Quill’s prison (behind the painting in area M6) has a magical property that functions only when the
Roc (behind the painting in area M9) food is consumed in this room. The dishes and their
properties are as follows:

BANQUET PAINTING’S CHAMBER Candied Yams. Any creature that eats from the
plate of candied yams is targeted by a faerie fire
dé Door’s Destination
spell (save DC 15) that affects only it and lasts for
1-2 Forest (behind the painting in area M1) 1 hour or until dispelled.
3—4 Quill’s prison (behind the painting in area M6) Cheese-Stuffed Peppers. Any creature with 75 hit
5-6 Roc (behind the painting in area M9) points or fewer that eats a whole cheese-stuffed
pepper must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw or instantly drop to O hit points and
QuiLL's PRiIsoN CHAMBER explode, leaving behind a mess plus whatever it
dé Door’s Destination was carrying and wearing.
2 | Forest (behind the painting in area M1) Jerk Frog Legs. Any creature that eats from the
3-4 Banquet (behind the painting in area M3) plate of jerk frog legs gains the benefit of a jump
spell that lasts for 1 hour or until dispelled.
5-6 Roc (behind the painting in area M9)
Salted Cockatrice Eggs. Any creature that eats a
whole salted cockatrice egg gains immunity to the
Roc PAINTING’S CHAMBER petrified condition for 1 hour.
dé Door’s Destination Stirge Burgers. Any creature that eats a whole
stirge burger gains 10 temporary hit points.
13 Forest (behind the painting in area M1)
Veggie Kabobs. Any creature that eats from the
3 4 Banquet (behind the painting in area M3) plate of veggie kabobs must make a DC 15 Consti-
5 6 Quill s prison (behind the painting in area M6) tution saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) poison dam-
age on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
QuiLL's PRISON CHAMBER in fine attire, all having a good time. Five villagers
When the characters enter the ballroom painting, have gathered on the stage to perform instrumen-
the doors on the walls of this extradimensional tal music. This band includes a harpsichordist, a
space close and disappear. The window is fogged cellist, a violinist, a flutist, and a fiddler. Milling
over, covered in slime that prevents anyone from through the crowd are four waiters. All the guests,
exiting through it. performers, and waiters are unarmed constructed
Arrant Quill (see the accompanying stat block) commoners that do not engage in battle and flee if
is sitting in a chaise longue, protected by his mind combat erupts. |
blank spell and occupying his time by reading the Renekor can tell the real Quill from the fake one.
book he was holding in the library when he was When it notices the characters and the real Quill,
trapped in the painting two days ago. He's out- the beholder attacks, hovering just out of reach of |
wardly friendly, and he politely asks the characters melee weapons and using its lair actions when ap- |
who they are and what they're doing here. Because propriate. The two suits of animated armor stand-
he’s hungry and parched, he also kindly begs them ing guard outside the ballroom also attack at the
for some food and drink. If the Harpers are men- command of the beholder. Renekor wants to keep
tioned, Quill can barely hide his contempt. Quill alive and avoids attacking him.
As long as Quill remains in Wisteria Vale, he is The two Quills look the same. However, the fake
immune to all damage and automatically succeeds Quill can’t do anything except move and talk, and it
on all saving throws. This feature is suppressed is dispelled if it takes damage from a spell or magic
if Quill wills it (no action required) or while he is weapon. No other magic or damage affects it.
within 15 feet of Renekor the beholder.
Good roleplaying or a successful DC 19 Charisma ARRANT QUILL
(Deception or Persuasion) check convinces Quill ~ Medium humanoid (human)
that the characters are his allies and that they've
| |
come to help him escape Wisteria Vale. However, he Armor Class 14
insists that they not stab him with the magical crys- Hit Points 135 (18d8 + 54)
Speed 30 ft. b |
tal dagger until they're all back in the manor. If the
characters fail to earn his trust, Quill pretends to be STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
agreeable but tries to escape using his teleport spell 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 16(+3) 16 (+3) 15(+2) 20 (+5)
once he escapes the painting, denying characters
the chance to stab him with the dagger. Where the ~ Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +6, Cha +9
Skills Arcana +11, Deception +9, History +7, Performance +13
teleport spell takes him is up to you, but the destina- Senses passive Perception 12
tion must be somewhere in Wisteria Vale. Languages Common, Draconic, Elvish, Undercommon
Escaping Quill’s Prison. The only way to escape Challenge 11 (7,200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4
from this room is to damage the slime that covers
the window with a magic weapon, which causes
the slime to disappear and opens the window. Quill ACTIONS
doesn’t know this and doesn’t have a magic weapon. Multiattack. Quill makes two attacks with his dagger and uses
Supreme Mockery.
Roc Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
Within this painting’s extradimensional space, the range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage.
walls, doors, and ceiling are painted to resemble Quill’s Fable (Recharge 6). Quill utters a short fable while tar-
thick clouds. The air is cold and fresh. A hostile roc geting up to five creatures within 30 feet of him that he can see. |
takes up much of the room and attacks intruders on ~ Each target that can hear Quill’s magical fable must make a DC p
sight. It's sustained by magic and is too big to leave 17 Wisdom saving throw, taking 36 (8d8) psychic damage on a
the room. If killed, the roc is not replaced. failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Spellcasting. Quill casts one of the following spells using Cha-
QUILL'S PARTY risma as the spellcasting ability (save DC 17):

No matter how much time seems to have passed At will: light, mage hand, prestidigitation a

inside the painting, when Quill and the characters 3/day each: detect magic, dispel magic, faerie fire, hold monster &

Hs
1/day each: mind blank, teleport
leave the extradimensional space, they land near
the north wall of the ballroom during the party that ~ Supreme Mockery. Quill hurls a string of insults laced with
enchantments at a creature he can see within 60 feet of him.
Renekor and the fake Quill are hosting. The room
If the creature can hear Quill (though it need not understand ©
has been decorated with garlands of wisteria, and him), it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or take *
small tables hold hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Rene- 66 (12d10) psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next =
kor and the fake Quill are in the middle of the room, attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
surrounded by a crowd of thirty villagers dressed

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE 157 A

THe BArRD AND THE BEHOLDER

If the real Quill believes the characters are on his

side, he gives them permission to stab him with the
AFTERMATH
magical crystal dagger. If he thinks the characters When Quill is either cured or killed, the demiplane
have come to Wisteria Vale to kill him, he flees of Wisteria Vale unravels. Everything around the
using his teleport spell, reappearing in some other characters fades before a streak of blue light flashes
location of your choice in Wisteria Vale. Quills pri- across their vision and they arrive back in Candle-
ority is to stay alive. keep, appearing in unoccupied spaces as close to
Quill loses his immunity to damage while he’s The Curious Tale of Wisteria Vale as possible.
within 15 feet of Renekor, but he is not immediately If Quill survives the ordeal, he happily reunites
aware of this. Once Quill realizes that Renekor is with Ryllia, who gives the party the full reward of
negating his invincibility, he tries to distance him- 5,000 gp. Quill is indebted to the characters and
self from the beholder. might become a valuable ally in the future. If Quill
[f combat erupts in the ballroom, the villagers dies, the demiplane unravels as the characters
begin to panic and scatter, turning the ballroom and Quill's corpse return to Candlekeep. Ryllia is
into difficult terrain until they clear the room, which saddened to hear of Quill’s death, but if his body is
takes 2 rounds. delivered to her, she pays to have the bard resur-
rected. The reward she promised to the characters
ADMINISTERING THE CURE is instead used to pay for Quill’s resurrection.
If Renekor is alive when the demiplane unravels,
If Quill is stabbed with the magical crystal dagger,
the beholder is sent back to its lair in the Underdark,
he staggers backward, momentarily dazed as he
where it holds a deep grudge against the characters.
overcomes the effects of his corruption. His eyes
It sends its minions to spy on them while it gathers
glow an eerie purple for a few seconds before re-
resources and plots revenge.
turning to normal, whereupon his alignment reverts
to neutral good. After regaining his senses, he
thanks the characters for helping him—just before
NIN

the world around them disappears.

THE CURIOUS TALE OF WISTERIA VALE

 AN ADVENTURE FOR12TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS
a. wimps, il)

~< THE BOOK OF

_ GINNER ALCHEMY
WRITTEN BY DANIEL KWAN
DEVELOPED & EDITED BY HANNAH ROSE

HE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY IS ONE OF THE one day it captured the attention of a monk deter-
oldest books in Candlekeep. The precise mined to bend the natural order of life to his will.
date of its curation has been lost to time,
but its origin can be attributed to three FINDING THE BOOK
masters of the Open Hand, the Ren Brothers— Characters in the Great Library of Candlekeep
Rendi (pronounced REN-dee), Renjie (REN-jee-eh), might encounter The Book of Inner Alchemy while
and Renmei (REN-may). The Way of the Open Hand researching one of the following topics:
is a monastic tradition centered on the defensive
and healing uses of ki and martial arts combat. The « The nature of ki and its uses in hand-to-hand
masters recorded their life's work in this book, de- combat and healing
scribing how they turned the traditional Open Hand « Legends pertaining to immortality
martial arts techniques into tools for achieving ever- « Monastic traditions, especially the Way of
lasting life. the Open Hand
Rumors of an ancient tome containing martial « The crafting of magic weapons
arts techniques associated with immortality circu-
BOOK DESCRIPTION
lated among the martial orders. The three masters
knew that many would seek out this power, and that At first glance, this book of moderate thickness
circulating this knowledge would bring chaos to appears to be one of the many insignificant tomes
the world. Torn between the need to preserve their that fill the shelves of the Great Library. Upon closer
secret techniques and the guilt from making use of inspection, this volume reveals itself to be of excep-
such powerful martial lore, the three masters chose tional quality. Except for minor damage to the cor-
to conceal the knowledge they discovered among ners, its olive-green covers are in perfect condition.
the vast collection in Candlekeep. Sewn into the binding with silk threads are sacred
The Book of Inner Alchemy remained unnoticed texts and medical illustrations. Text is recorded on
for centuries, its secrets hidden in plain sight, until paper pages, and illustrations are drawn on silk
sheets. The paper pages appear to have aged, but
the silk illustrations have stood the test of time, ap-
pearing as they did when the original artist first laid
a brush upon the pages.
Composed in the language of the lands to the east
of Faer{in, the text of The Book of Inner Alchemy is
written in columns that are read from top to bottom,
right to left. The comprehend languages spell can
be used to understand the text. Alternatively, many
of the Avowed can translate the text for a small fee
(no more than 100 gp). The Avowed will not make
copies of the book because it contains dangerous
knowledge.

ESOTERIC MARTIAL ARTS

The Book of Inner Alchemy is an esoteric document
on the mental, physical, and spiritual practices
pertaining to the life energy known as ki. Con-
tained within it are meticulous diagrams of the
DAWES

humanoid form, outlining the flow of ki through

NIKKI

Tue Book oF
INNER ALCHEMY

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

the body and obscure practices for cultivating one’s (soul, essence, and mind) corrupted. Unable to
vitality. It describes the techniques monks learn achieve an immortal state of being, he ordered his
to consciously control their life energy, to gain ad- most trusted students to infiltrate the library and
vantages in combat or perform extraordinary feats. steal pages from the book that might have a solution
These techniques emphasize the use of controlled to his problem. Using the instructions on the stolen
breathing, meditation, and spiritual discipline as the pages, Bak Mei seeks to craft a pair of magic gloves
primary means of achieving control over Ki. and use their necromantic power to enhance the
Also contained in the book is a secret body of sa- techniques of the Open Hand to god-like levels.
cred wisdom about ways to manipulate the flow of
ki. Unlike the conventional teachings of the Open ATTACK ON THE GREAT LIBRARY
Hand, this catalog of martial arts techniques tells After delivering The Book of Inner Alchemy to the
how the physical and spiritual aspects of one’s being characters, an embarrassed member of the Avowed
can be joined to achieve immortality. The book of- informs them that critical pages from the tome
fers detailed descriptions of pressure points that all are missing.
the bodies of humanoid beings have and how ki can
not only be attacked, but also stolen.
The book opens with theories on how the natural
energies of the primordial trifecta—soul, essence,
and mind—can be combined. It notes that obstacles
on one’s journey are common. The soul can be cor-
rupted by the absence of wisdom. One’s body can be
sullied by violent deeds. The mind is easily compro-
mised by ego and emotional attachment.
Following the sections on spiritual and medicinal
wisdom is one on the crafting of magic items that Though they might not understand the intricacies
augment the user’s martial abilities, with grisly de- of the concepts in the book, the Avowed know that
tails of how the authors obtained such knowledge. the stolen pages contain instructions for creating
Accounts of experiments on captured people and gloves of soul catching (see the item's description at
animals are found throughout. It is through these the end of the adventure). They want the characters
experiments that the masters developed rituals for to retrieve the stolen pages so that, in addition to re-
the creation of magic items capable of circumvent- storing the tome to its original state, a magic item of
ing the work that would otherwise be needed to per- such power will never be created.
fect the soul, the essence, and the mind. The Avowed acolyte accompanies the characters
to the Great Library to view where the attack and
INNER ALCHEMY subsequent theft took place:
Characters who read from The Book of Inner Al-
chemy learn the following information about Ki:
« Though commonly thought of by those outside the
monastic orders as mystical energy, ki has strong
ties to elemental air, for breath is what connects
one’s soul to one’s essence (body). ®
Ki is a vital force present in all living things. Medi-
cal techniques and training can be used to control For the return of the stolen pages, the Keeper of
the flow of Ki. Tomes is offering 8,000 gp or the equivalent in tran-
All living beings are made up of two “lives,” phys- scribed magical knowledge from the Candlekeep
ical and spiritual. When these aspects are in har- archives.
mony, great power can be attained.
SCENE OF THE CRIME
MISSING PAGES The following clues point the characters in the
direction of the Cloakwood, an ancient forest
Several pages have been sliced from the binding of
located near the Coast Way that leads north to the
The Book of Inner Alchemy. They were recently sto-
city of Baldur's Gate:
len on behalf of a radical monk named Bak Mei, an
apostate practitioner of the Open Hand who seeks « A character who succeeds on a DC 14 Wisdom
physical and spiritual perfection—the keys to true (Medicine) check can tell that the Avowed acolytes
longevity and immortality. The life he has chosen to slain during the attack were killed using martial
live, however, has rendered his primordial trifecta arts. Their bruises and broken bones are evidence
of powerful unarmed strikes.

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

« Speak with dead spells cast on the slain acolytes a pure white flower that floats even upon the dirtiest
yield descriptions of the two killers: a dark-haired waters. To represent this belief, Immortal Lotus
woman in her late thirties or early forties, her monks wear simple, fitted black clothing under a
face marred by a thin scar, and an attractive white, flowing robe. The symbol of the Immortal
silver-haired man in his thirties. Both killers Lotus is a white lotus inside a black circle. When
wore simple, fitted black clothing under white, operating outside the Cloakwood, the monks pass
flowing robes. themselves off as beggars or trappers to avoid atten-
A character who examines the bodies and suc- tion, or they disguise themselves as traveling rang-
ceeds on a DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) ers, druids, or rogues.
check discovers a torn piece of white cloth Members of the order are responsible for acquir-
clutched in the fist of one victim. The scrap of fab- ing knowledge through force or thievery. They are
ric is emblazoned with a white lotus inside a black each obligated to contribute at least one new tome
circle. The Avowed recognize this as the symbol or scroll a month. The proximity of their temple to
of the Order of the Immortal Lotus, a league of Baldur’s Gate and Candlekeep enables them to take
monks led by a master martial artist known as advantage of the traffic that flows into and out of the
Bak Mei. For years, Bak Mei’s followers have at- nearby metropolis as well as the knowledge-seekers
tacked travelers on their way to Candlekeep from on their way to the library.
Baldur's Gate, stealing their offerings of knowl- Inside their temple in the Cloakwood, members of
edge before the travelers could reach the library. the order lead structured lives, engaging in intellec-
tual, physical, and spiritual training from dusk until
DEVELOPMENT dawn. Bak Mei’s teaching and training methods ap-
If the characters don’t locate any clues or identify pear insane in their use of violence but are effective
the wounds, an Avowed scholar discovers the scrap nevertheless. Those who persevere accomplish in
of white cloth. weeks what others take months to learn.
A commune spell or similar magic can be used to
establish the location of the killers, leading charac- IMPORTANT MEMBERS
ters into the heart of the Cloakwood. Alternatively,
Bak Mei is the undisputed leader of the order, and
any character who studies the scrap of white cloth
he relies on two apprentices—Steel Crane and Jade
and succeeds on a DC 20 Intelligence (History)
Tigress—to help train its junior members. Steel
check) knows that the Order of the Immortal Lotus
Crane and Jade Tigress are also the ones Bak Mei
is rumored to have a sanctuary deep in that forest.
entrusted to attack Candlekeep and obtain the
pages he needed from The Book of Inner Alchemy.
ORDER OF THE
BAK MEI
IMMORTAL LOTUS Lawful evil human monk (age 70)
Bak Mei and his original students traveled as vaga-
Bak Mei was once an agile and skilled Shou monk
bonds until they settled in the city of Baldur's Gate.
famous for upholding justice and helping the needy
Clashes with criminal organizations and the local
in his distant homeland to the east of Faer{in. As
peacekeepers soon forced the fledgling order out of
he grew older, learned more about the world, and
the city after the monks’ influence began to threaten
began to feel the weight of old age, his worldview
the established powers. The monks took refuge
changed dramatically. Motivated by his growing fear
in the heart of the Cloakwood. Toughened by the
of death, Bak Mei became obsessed with living an
area’s rugged terrain and monstrous inhabitants,
unending life. He began collecting texts on the sub-
the fledgling order became a dominant force in
ject, consulting with practitioners of the necroman-
the forest.
tic arts, and seeking audiences with dark forces.
The order has a simple hierarchy in which Bak
The abbots of his temple confronted Bak Mei
Mei is the elder abbot, followed by apprentices and
about his radical pursuits and demanded that he
rank-and-file monks. His trusted apprentices, Steel
cease his activities. In response, he tried to stage a
Crane and Jade Tigress, serve as secondary leaders
revolt at the temple, a traitorous action that resulted
who help instill in members the values Bak Mei
in the excommunication of Bak Mei and his follow-
deems most essential: obedience, discipline, and
ers, who christened themselves the Order of the
tenacity in the pursuit of knowledge.
Immortal Lotus. The small group eventually settled
Bak Mei is a traditional master of the Open Hand,
in the forest near Baldur’s Gate, where they recruit
and other members of the order bring knowledge
new members. Under Bak Mei’s cruel tutelage and
from various traditions. They are united in the belief
eccentric training methods, the order has grown
that the world has become sullied by war and cor-
in power and numbers, living in seclusion while he
ruption. For them, the only path is that of the lotus,
planned his revenge on his former superiors.

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 Bak Mei is notorious among the monks of Faerf{in.
Some see him as a vagabond, exiled from his order
INTO THE CLOAKWOOD
for traitorous acts and disregard for tradition. Oth- The characters can use the clues found at Candle-
ers see him as a radical seeker of knowledge. keep to track the thieves north along the Coast Way
Bak Mei is an old man with a long white beard to the Cloakwood. Within this dark forest is the
and bushy eyebrows. Like the other members of base of operations for the Temple of the Immortal
his order, Bak Mei is clad in snow-white robes se- Lotus. When the characters enter the forest, read:
cured by a black sash over a form-fitting black shirt
and trousers. Ass you begin your journey intoo the Closkinont the for
Personality Trait. “1 judge others by their actions. est darkens at an alarming. rate. From all around, you .
Words mean nothing.” hear whispers, rustling ii id and the distant roars :
Ideal. “Knowledge. The Book of Inner Alchemy
of unidenti able bebeasts. | = =
will help me leave behind the sins of my past by
®
giving me an unending future.”
Bond. “1 will lead my students to a life unstained The Cloakwood is home to many fierce fey and
by the problems of the world. We will rise above all beasts. Due to its dangerous inhabitants and flora,
into eternity.” only the desperate dare enter these woods, mak-
Flaw. “I am convinced that I deserve eternal life, ing it a suitable location for Bak Mei’s secret tem-
despite all the suffering I've inflicted on others.” ple complex.

STEEL CRANE DISPOSING OF EVIDENCE

Lawful evil human monk (age 36)
After a few hours of travel, the characters discover a
Steel Crane is tall and slender. He is exceptionally worn path leading deeper into the forest. If they fol-
handsome, with neat silver hair and deep green low the path, they happen upon a grisly scene:
eyes, and carries himself with the grace of a dancer.
A strip of cloth was torn from the left sleeve of
Steel Crane’s white robe during the raid on Candle- | A noxious Shall fils your nose. Just off he path is 2 i |
keep, and Steel Crane hasn't yet bothered to mend “hollow, petrified tree trunk filled with a viscous black a :
the garment. The robe’s damage is clearly visible— ooze. Black tendrils extrude fr m the ooze, reaching. ,
evidence of Steel Crane's role in the theft. toward two fig
Personality Trait. “The technique of the Immor- are twenty feet aw: m the K and r 7 :
tal Lotus is beautiful and powerful. I will succeed
a wheelbarrow file | with b di 5 toward it. = ool
Master Bak Mei.” é
Ideal. “The ancient traditions and secret martial
arts must be preserved and learned. Hiding them Two black puddings reside within the hollow, petri-
away in libraries dishonors our teachers.” fied tree. Bak Mei uses these oozes to dispose of ini-
Bond. “The Immortal Lotus is my new family. Bak tiates who can’t handle the rigors of training, spies
Mei will lead me to a brighter future.” who meddle in his affairs, and lost travelers who
Flaw. “The monks of my old temple know my accidentally discover his temple.
shameful history. I can never return.” The white-robed figures are two Immortal Lotus
monks (see their stat block later in the adventure).
JADE TIGRESS Their wheelbarrow contains four bodies—the re-
Lawful evil human monk (age 40) mains of two adult humans (monks) who were killed
Jade Tigress is a powerfully built woman whose in training exercises, and the remains of two forest
body has been honed by intense physical training. gnomes who were caught stealing from the temple's
She is rugged in appearance, with jet-black hair, garden. If the characters do nothing but watch, the
hazel eyes, and a long, thin scar running across her monks dump the bodies within 5 feet of the tree
right cheek. She matches the description of one of trunk. As the bodies tumble out of the wheelbarrow,
the thieves who infiltrated Candlekeep. the puddings seep out of the tree and begin consum-
Personality Trait. “Nothing can shake my faith ing the remains. Each black pudding can devour one
in Bak Mei.” gnome corpse in 2 rounds or one human corpse in
Ideal. “1 do what I must. The authority of the tem- 4 rounds. The puddings ignore creatures that leave
ple is to be obeyed.” them alone.
Bond. “I owe my life to Bak Mei. He took me in The monks don’t stick around to watch the pud-
when my parents left me for dead.” dings’ feast; they guide the wheelbarrow back to the
Flaw. “My pride won't let me back down from a temple, about 500 yards east of the dump site. If the
ro challenge or forgive any insult.” characters make their presence known, the monks

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 § 1square=5feet p,
)

abandon the wheelbarrow and take cover behind Treasure. The dryads are grateful to the charac-
trees, hoping to draw the characters into melee ters for ridding their forest of the black puddings.
range. Perhaps foolishly, they stay and fight—ea- Each dryad presents the party with a reward: a
ger to put their new training to the test. If they are wooden vial containing a single dose of sweet sap
captured, the monks remain tight-lipped and won't that functions like a potion of healing (superior). |
divulge information willingly. A suggestion spell or Development. The dryads urge the characters to
similar magic, however, can force them to share in- follow the tracks left by the monks, saying they lead
formation about the temple's location, configuration, to a “greater evil that must be defeated.” The charac-
defenses, and leaders. ters can’t convince the dryads to accompany them,
No ability check is needed to follow the monks’ because the dryads fear the temple and avoid it.
tracks back the way they came, since the wheelbar-
row leaves a deep furrow in the earth. Characters TEMPLE OF THE
who follow these tracks arrive at area L1.
IMMORTAL LOTUS
FRIENDLY DRYADS If the characters follow the tracks leading to the
If the characters slay the black puddings as well as temple, read:
defeat the monks, five dryads appear, using their
Tree Stride ability.
SEAN MACDONALD

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 If the characters arrive at the temple without alert-
ing its inhabitants, they can observe the monks’
movements and routines. Life at the temple is highly
regimented. The day-to-day activities of the order in-
volve patrolling the perimeter, hunting in the forest,
groundskeeping, training, and practicing the teach-
ings of Bak Mei.
The following locations are keyed to the map of
the Temple of the Immortal Lotus. A gravel footpath
extends up to the entrance of each structure. Clever
characters can avoid certain encounters by moving
through the forest rather than the clearing.

Ll. STELE FOREST

Steer CrRANE

As the characters make their way through the Stele

Forest, they encounter one of Bak Mei’s most senior
students, Steel Crane, and four Immortal Lotus
monks (see the accompanying stat blocks). They are
on the lookout for trouble and spoiling for a fight.
When the characters approach, read:

STEEL CRANE Force Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Medium humanoid (human) target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) force damage, and if the target is a crea-
ture, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or
Armor Class 17 (Unarmored Defense) be stunned until the start of Steel Crane’s next turn.
Whip. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) slashing damage or, if the target is a creature,
Steel Crane can grapple the target instead (escape DC 15).
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Steel Crane can’t make attacks with the whip while using it to
13 (+1) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 17(+3) 14 (+2) grapple a creature. Anytime on his turn, he can release a crea-
ture grappled by the whip (no action required).
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +4
Skills Acrobatics +7, Deception +5, Perception +6, Stealth +7 Heal Self (Recharges after a Long Rest). Steel Crane regains
Damage Resistances poison, psychic 2d8 + 4 hit points, and all levels of exhaustion end on him.
- Senses passive Perception 16
~ Languages Common REACTIONS
~ Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 Deflect Missile. In response to being hit by a ranged weapon
attack, Steel Crane deflects the missile. The damage he takes
~ Unarmored Defense. While Steel Crane is wearing no armor from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + 10. If the damage is re-
~ and wielding no shield, his AC includes his Wisdom modifier. duced to 0, Steel Crane catches the missile if it’s small enough
to hold in one hand and Steel Crane has a hand free.
ACTIONS
Slow Descent (3/Day). When Steel Crane falls, he can slow his
Multiattack. Steel Crane makes three attacks. descent, taking no damage from the fall.
 L2D. STORAGE
Adjacent to the kitchen is a modest storage space
voice from above. F that holds food, kitchen supplies, and spare robes.
“a man balanced wit Treasure. A thorough search of this room yields a
silk bag containing ten 50 gp gemstones.

L2e. DINING HALL

A long table made from a tree trunk cut lengthwise
dominates this room, surrounded by stools made
from small tree stumps. Monks take their meals in
shifts. Bak Mei usually keeps to himself, rarely eat-
ing among his students.

L2F. GARDEN
Next to the living quarters is a well, north of which
is a small garden where the order grows its vegeta-
bles. Next to the garden is a chicken coop. As with
As Steel Crane presses his attack, the monks use all temple duties, the monks take turns maintaining
the steles for cover and leap between them to en- the garden and feeding the chickens.
gage the characters in close-quarters combat. Four Immortal Lotus monks (see the accom-
Red Key. Steel Crane carries a red wooden key panying stat block) are tending the garden and
that unlocks the door to area L3. drawing fresh water from the well. If the monks are
aware that the characters are nearby, they're stand-
L2. LIVING QUARTERS ing guard and ready to fight. These foes use their
gardening implements as weapons (use the monk’s
Members of the order live in a modest single-story
Unarmed Strike attack option but change the dam-
building built on raised posts. Its shingled roof pro-
age type to piercing or slashing, as appropriate). If
vides protection from the elements, and its sliding
two of the monks are defeated, the remaining ones
exterior wall panels can be opened and closed to
flee to the training grounds (area L4) to seek rein-
meet the needs of the order. The walls of the living
quarters are made of paper on wood frames, offer- forcements.
ing little privacy. The dwelling is within view of the
Jagged Sanctum (area LS), but far enough away to IMMORTAL LOTUS MONK
provide Bak Mei with solitude he requires. Medium humanoid

L2A. MONK QUARTERS Armor Class 15 (Unarmored Defense)

This room contains several narrow, hard bunks Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)
Speed 30 ft.
where the Immortal Lotus monks sleep.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
L2B. PRIVATE QUARTERS 12(+1) 16(+3) 14(+2) 1 (+0) 14(+2) 10 (+0)
Jade Tigress and Steel Crane sleep on proper beds
in these two rooms. Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +5, Stealth +6
Senses passive Perception 15
L2c. KITCHEN Languages Common
All members of the order participate in a rotating Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
schedule for duties such as washing dishes and pre-
paring meals. Inhabitants of the temple eat a simple Unarmored Defense. While the monk is wearing no armor and
but balanced diet of what they grow in the garden, wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom modifier.
harvest from the Cloakwood, and hunt in the forest.
ACTIONS
Bak Mei has his meals brought to the Jagged Sanc-
Multiattack. The monk makes two attacks.
tum, where he prefers to dine.
Treasure. The kitchen contains a small box of Force Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
spices worth 25 gp. target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) force damage, and if the target is a crea-
ture, it must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be
~ knocked prone.
Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one
target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 LL3. HALL oF KNOWLEDGE

This grand wooden building is constructed around

ancient stone walls ofa structure forgotten by time.
Its red-lacquered double door, which is locked, bears
a carving of a lotus floating above two open palms.

As an action, a character can try to unlock the doors

using thieves’ tools, doing so with a successful DC
17 Dexterity check, or break down the doors with a
successful DC 17 Strength (Athletics) check.
® ®

The building's interior is one large space containing

two rows of wooden practice dummies, with some
other furnishings pushed toward the back of the
room. Scrolls are stored in lattices along the east and
west walls.

It’s here that members of the order develop their un-

derstanding of the flow of ki and practice techniques
to manipulate it. The wooden dummies are carved
with grooves that represent where the energy of
ki flows along their surfaces. Characters who are
monks or who succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom (Medi-
cine) check understand the purpose of the dummies.
More than a hundred instructional scrolls hand-
written by Bak Mei are stored in the lattices along
the west and east walls. Anyone who reads Com-
JADE TIGRESS
mon can understand these scrolls.

JADE TIGRESS Force Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) force damage, and if the target is a
Medium humanoid (human)
creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw
Armor Class 15 (Unarmored Defense) or be stunned until the of Jade Tigress’s next turn.
Hit Points 71 (11d8 + 21) Poisoned Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60
Speed 40 ft.
ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (3d4)
poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Con-
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
stitution saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion.
18 (+4) 14(+2) 15(+2) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 11 (+0)
Heal Self (Recharges after a Long Rest). Jade Tigress regains
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +5 2d8 + 2 hit points, and all levels of exhaustion end on her.
Skills Athletics +7, Insight +6, Intimidation +3, Perception +6
Damage Resistances poison BoNus ACTIONS
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened Nimble Escape. |ade Tigress takes the Disengage or
Senses passive Perception 16
Hide action.
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 REACTIONS
Deflect Missile. In response to being hit by a ranged weapon
Unarmored Defense. While Jade Tigress is wearing no armor attack, Jade Tigress deflects the missile. The damage she takes
and wielding no shield, her AC includes her Wisdom modifier. from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + 9. If the damage is re-
duced to 0, Jade Tigress catches the missile if it’s small enough
ACTIONS to hold in one hand and Jade Tigress has a hand free.
Multiattack. Jade Tigress makes three attacks.
DAWES
NIKKI

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 TORMENTED CAPTIVE inhabitants of the temple train here under harsh
As the characters explore the area, read: conditions. Violence is the primary teaching tool
employed by Bak Mei and his apprentices, leaving
®.
the students well acquainted with pain.
You near: a faint nmoan 1 nearb Jade Tigress (see the accompanying stat block)
and four Immortal Lotus monks (see their stat
block earlier in the adventure) are training in this
area. When the fighting starts, read:
®

“Intruders!” shouts the woman. “They

|
the secrets of Master Bak Mei! Stude $,
J interlopers what the power ¢ of the Immortal L
*
hooks likel” a
The 145-year-old shield dwarf held captive in the ~ Inone swift motion, as ber studenten rush:
southwest corner of the building is named Kharbek. to attack, she assumes a powerful stance, hand ou
They use the scout stat block with these changes: | stretched like the claws of an1 attacking ti r.
@®
. Kharbek speaks Common and Dwarvish.
. They have 1 hit point and 5 levels of exhaustion. Jade Tigress charges into battle with the monks.
. They have darkvision out to a range of 60 feet, All of them are willing to die for Bak Mei and are
resistance to poison damage, and advantage on determined to stop the characters from reaching the
saving throws against being poisoned. Jagged Sanctum.
Kharbek is the only survivor of a party of adven- Red Key. Jade Tigress carries a red wooden key
turers captured by the Order of the Immortal Lotus. that unlocks the door to area L3.
If questioned, Kharbek is able to recall how a mem-
ber of the Immortal Lotus disguised as a beggar
L5. JAGGED SANCTUM
lured the group to the temple, where the adventur-
ers were tortured one by one. Kharbek’s weapons : This stone Structure rrisess ominously at ove
rest on a nearby table. If their wounds are healed
: the temple complex. It resembles a giant one
and levels of exhaustion removed, Kharbek offers to
fight alongside the characters as a sign of gratitude. growing in the heart of the forest. Stone 4
Kharbek is a mountain dwarf explorer with brown with a long. red carpet climb ten feet to the entr
skin, brown eyes, and jet-black hair. They stand just ofa rough- -hewn chamber. The soft gle ow of tetorch
over 4 feet tall and have an athletic build. beckons you inside. =
Personality Trait. “1 am a zealous worshiper \{

of Moradin and take it upon myself to protect

The Jagged Sanctum is a study, meditation hall,
those in need.”
Ideal. “Honesty is the best policy.” and residence for Bak Mei (see his stat block later
Bond. “When someone helps me, I'm bound by my in the adventure). At the center of the chamber is
an artificial pool filled with water and covered with
honor to return the favor.”
Flaw. “I am far too trusting and have a difficult floating lilies.
time discerning a lie.” The stolen pages from The Book of Inner Alchemy
rest on an intricately carved wooden altar beyond
L4. TRAINING GROUNDS the pool. Bak Mei has yet to collect the materials
needed to craft the gloves of soul catching. The
pages feature detailed illustrations of hands, show-
Cries and the sounds of stomping feet cutt through ing how ki flows through them. When the pages are
| the air. Within the open courtyard, a tall, imperious | held up to the light of the moon, instructions for cre-
| ‘woman barks orders :at four younger individuals. ating the gloves of soul catching are revealed. Bak
Mei knows this fact but won't share it with anyone,
not even his most trusted subordinates.
This wide stone courtyard is surrounded by weapon Bak Mei is joined by four Immortal Lotus monks
racks, balance beams, sandbags, and wooden train- (see their stat block earlier in the adventure). To
ing posts for striking. From sunrise to sunset, the increase the difficulty of this encounter, add more
monks who have just come back from foraging.
They arrive in the middle of combat.

SH omens
THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY
 BAK MEI is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving
Medium humanoid (human) throw or be deafened and stunned until the start of Bak Mei’s
next turn.

Armor Class 17 (Unarmored Defense) Staff of Striking. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft.
~ Hit Points 102 (12d8 + 48) one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage, or 4 (1d8) blud-
Speed 40 ft. geoning damage when used with two hands, and Bak Mei
can expend up to 3 of the staff's charges. For each expended
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA charge, the target takes an extra 1d6 force damage.
10 (+0) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 16 (+3)
Heal Self (Recharges after a Long Rest). Bak Mei regains 2d8 +
; Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +9, Con +9, Int +6, Wis +8, Cha +8 4 hit points, and all levels of exhaustion end on him.
i Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +5, Medicine +8, Religion +6,
Stealth +9 BoNus ACTIONS
Damage Resistances poison, thunder
Nimble Escape. Bak Mei takes the Disengage or Hide action.
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed
Senses passive Perception 13 REACTIONS
Languages Auran, Common
~ Challenge 13 (10,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 Deflect Missile. In response to being hit by a ranged weapon
attack, Bak Mei deflects the missile. The damage he takes from
the attack is reduced by 1d10 + 12. If the damage is reduced to
| Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Bak Mei fails a saving throw, 0, Bak Mei catches the missile if it’s small enough to hold in
he can choose to succeed instead. one hand and Bak Mei has a hand free.
Special Equipment. Bak Mei carries a staff of striking with
10 charges. LEGENDARY ACTIONS

| Unarmored Defense. While Bak Mei is wearing no armor and Bak Mei can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the op-
tions below. Only one legendary action option can be used at
~ wielding no shield, his AC includes his Wisdom modifier.
a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Bak Mei
ACTIONS regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
~Multiattack. Bak Mei attacks three times: twice with Thunder Crane Dance. Bak Mei moves up to 20 feet. This movement.
Strike and once with hispo s striking. does not provoke opportunity attacks.
Thunder Strike (Costs 2 Actions). Bald Mei uses Thunder Strike.

SE
NIKKI DAWES

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 When the fighting begins, read: . What happened to the original masters of the
Open Hand?
- Will the monastic orders in Bak Mei’s homeland
Stroking his wall kept wits bestd, the old man being -
east of Faer(in want to know his fate?
. to mock you as his students take p fighting positions . Considering the knowledge contained in The
around the chamber. So : Book of Inner Alchemy, is it safe in Candlekeep?
. “Do you really think that you can defeat my Im- | | Should it be destroyed—and if so, how?
. mortal Lotus style? You are mere worms slithering « Who else might know the secrets of this book?
through the mud on aa rainy day. | am ihe bird, here. « What should happen to the now-abandoned Tem-
fest a ._ = ple of the Immortal Lotus? Are there surviving
members of the order who will try to avenge Bak
Bak Mei enters a low fighting. stance. Hiss arms ond
Mei’s death?
hands move in a flurry, displaying unnatural grace and « The last breaths (souls) of three individuals—one |
agility for a human of such advanced age. =. of great intellect, one of strong body, and one of i
| oy have no weakness. No flaw. Show mee your so . a pure heart—are required to craft gloves of soul
: called ppower.” - catching. How can this be accomplished? |
: LE : !
So Lo i
>

Regardless of the characters’ choices, they have

Bak Mei doesn’t hesitate to kill. He attacks fero- now been exposed to martial arts secrets that many
ciously and chides the characters for their lack of would Kill for. They are marked, and there are reper-
martial refinement. When he’s near death and vic- cussions for having such knowledge.
tory for his order looks unlikely, he begs for mercy.
NEw MAgIc ITEM
The Book of Inner Alchemy contains instructions
Choking on blood, Bak Mei looks up at you in disbe-
for crafting magic gloves that grant the wearer the
lief. “Who i in the Hells are you? My Immortal Lotus ability to siphon vitality from other creatures. The
style was supposed to be. . unbeatable.” authors note, however, that this item is theoretical
and has never been created.
Crafting the gloves requires silver thread, fine
Bak Mei's fate is ultimately up to the characters.
leather, and other material components worth a
Death is a fitting end for one who feared death so
much that he inflicted great pain on others, but Bak total of 5,000 gp. To imbue the gloves with magic,
a ritual must be performed, and this ritual requires
Mei was once a kind man devoted to justice, so per-
three sacrifices: a being of great intellect, a being of
haps he could find a path to redemption.
Treasure. Scattered around the Jagged Sanctum strong body, and a being of pure heart. The ritual
are shelves and chests containing a total of ten must take place under the light of a full moon and
rare books (100 gp each) and twenty rare scrolls requires 5 hours to perform. The ritual consumes
and destroys the souls of those who are sacrificed,
(50 gp each).
The backside of the altar has a secret compart- meaning they can’t be brought back from the dead.
ment. A character who examines the altar can find GLOVES OF SOUL CATCHING
this compartment with a successful DC 17 Wisdom Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
(Perception) check. It contains a potion of mind
reading and a Quaal’s feather token (bird). Your Constitution score is 20 while you wear these
gloves. This property of the gloves has no effect on
you if your Constitution is already 20 or higher.
AFTERMATH After making a successful unarmed strike while
The characters have defeated Bak Mei, left the wearing these gloves, you can use the gloves to
Order of the Immortal Lotus in disarray, and re- deal an extra 2d10 force damage to the target, and
covered the stolen pages from The Book of Inner you regain a number of hit points equal to the force
Alchemy. Now what? damage dealt. Alternatively, instead of regaining hit
When the party returns to Candlekeep with the points in this way, you can choose to gain advantage
stolen pages, the Avowed are grateful and set about on one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw you
repairing the book. They hail the characters as he- make before the end of your next turn.
roes and provide them the promised 8,000 gp worth
of coin or transcribed knowledge from the Candle-
keep archives. The conclusion of the adventure can
=
serve as a catalyst for the next chapter in the char-
acters’ journey. The following questions might help
you shape future adventures:

THE BOOK OF INNER ALCHEMY

 AN ADVENTURE FOR 13TH-LEVELCHARACTERS

HE (ANOPIC J3EING
“89 a a a a mean

:
%
3
gi
§
$
§
:
ee ®

WRITTEN BY JENNIFER KRETCHMER

DEVELOPED & EDITED BY SCOTT FITZGERALD GRAY & CHRISTOPHER PERKINS

N THIS ADVENTURE, THE PLAYER CHARACTERS A'lai describes the book as a treatise on dark rituals
investigate the disappearance of a Candle- and tells how it arrived at Candlekeep as a dona-
keep sage and disrupt the plans of a mad tion from a high priest of Savras. She talks of how
oracle bent on domination. Mayastan came to her, clearly bothered by some-
The Canopic Being arrived at Candlekeep nine thing she had read in The Canopic Being, and say-
months ago, wrapped in yellow cloth embroidered ing that she wanted to continue her research with
with the image of an eye. It was delivered with a the help of the oracle of the House of the All-Seeing
handwritten note reading, “As fate wills it,” signed Orb in Tashalar, east of Chult. Mayastan went there
by Xemru Thaal, a high priest of Savras, god of by way of teleportation. Shortly after Mayastan left,
divination and fate. As preservers of the teachings A’lai consulted the tome, hoping to gain some sense
of Alaundo the Seer, the Avowed of Candlekeep of what was troubling the sage.
were keen to study what they expected to be a Poon gn
book exploring the divinatory arts. When its hor- Alai pushes the book toward you, opening it to a
rific contents were revealed, The Canopic Being
page near to the end that is filled witha list of names
was relocated to the library's vaults, where it cur-
in a half-dozen different hands. Across the top of
rently resides.
The book is the record of a ritual that allows the the page in the rushed script that fills the rest of the
transplanting of a mummy lord’s organs into living book is written the legend: “Those Who Have Been
vessels to forge a dark connection between donor Bestowed—The Willing Sacrifices.” At the bottom of
and recipient. The end of the book contains a list of the page is Mayastan Sadaar’s name—followed by the
those recipients—which includes the names of all ‘names of each of you.
the characters.

BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE

This adventure begins with the characters being
tasked with finding a Candlekeep scholar who has
not returned from a research expedition to the dis-
tant eastern realm of Tashalar. The characters can
be in Candlekeep already doing research of their
own, or they might be summoned there if they are
known to the library and its scholars.
Read or paraphrase the following when you're
ready to begin the adventure, replacing Great
Reader A’lai Aivenmore with another scholar of the
characters’ acquaintance if you so choose:
® Ti me :

~ Alai Aivenmore’s mood is dark as they pace before

| you. “Mayastan Sadaar, one of our finest sages, had
been studying a particular tome, held in the vaults.”
So saying, Alai gestures to a book on a cluttered
SIDHARTH CHATURVEDI

| desk whose cover appears to be of made translucent

é : al

Tue CaNOPIC
Being

THE CANOPIC BEING

Book DESCRIPTION PLAYER HANDOUT:
The Canopic Being has a cover and spine made of
thin crystal sheets, with gems that represent eyes
XEMRU’S NOTE
embedded in them. Every so often, the eyes move,
shifting their gaze between different locations. The
book’s pages are edged in a protective crystalline
finish and filled with a hurried, nearly illegible
scrawl. Xemru Thaal’s note (see the accompanying
player handout) still accompanies the book and
is tucked in an envelope that bears the seal of the When we beper Hs fori wl &
House of the All-Seeing Orb, a temple of Savras in
Tashluta, the capital city of Tashalar. oral of lhe Ml-Secing Orb, the real
The book describes rituals relating to the creation
of a mummy lord. One is a unique and horrific pro- Valin Sarnaster, had an alla wiVere ol
cess by which a mummy lord’s organs, normally
stored in sacred canopic jars during mummification, might fea. “ is my honor Lo have Vn | .
can be magically preserved and transplanted into
living humanoids. The transplant recipients come seletied «5 Ue fifir
r st donor end recipient. ]
under the control of the mummy lord, either as liv-
Ay Joy Vein «‘4 plete of mysel] odd
ing supplicants or mindless golems through which
the mummy lord can see and speak. The book also ney 4 piece of her in reburn, | ean
hints of a ritual that can free a servant after the
mummy lord is destroyed. help
the [ele of the world unfold « she.
The last page of the book appears to be a list of
those who have undergone this rite to become a has foreseen. bo 2
mummy lord’s servants—but it also includes the
names of the missing Candlekeep sage and of the i is my hoot {o protect he wil 3 g|
characters.
her sanctuary, ensuring Lhd only ohofs 2:
NAMED BY AN ORACLE
Before arriving at Candlekeep, The Canopic Being and retipients may vised her. | have no
was stolen from the person who has most recently
made use of it. Valin Sarnaster is an honored ora-
need of lhe rile of reclamation, for¢ {
cle of Savras, based in the House of the All-Seeing
believe in the vision and perfection 4
Orb in Tashalar. In accordance with visions she
experienced years before, the oracle has embraced Valin Sarnasier. |
undeath by becoming a mummy lord, using the rit-
uals described in the book. The list of names in the For elaridy’s so [ offer this roid of
back of the book is written by many hands, since it
includes creatures bonded to other mummy lords Lhe procedures performed on Lhe donors re”
before the tome came to Valin. The names Valin has
added at the end are those of the oracle’s current wd retipients, whose fides wd or Hans. ore’! 3
and intended victims, as seen in her visions:
now hound do dhe oracle. May she serve al
. Alessia Baseer, Valin Sarnaster’s longtime atten-
dant (and the unwitting custodian of Valin’s heart) Lhe Al-Secin# for tenluries do tome. fi
« Xemru Thaal, the high priest who sent the book to
Candlekeep (now a golem serving Valin)
« Zeren Zoradius, a human mage (who now serves
Valin as a golem)
In dranspareny,
« Okuzor, a tiefling gladiator (and another of Valin’s
Xemru Thael High Priest Jf Sure
golem servants)
« Mayastan Sadaar, the dragonborn sage House of the ASeein hy Orb, i 5
« Each of the characters, using whatever names
they are best known by
The sections that follow have more information on
Valin Sarnaster’s servants.

THE CANOPIC BEING

 MISSION TO TASHLUTA ENTERING THE TEMPLE
When the characters enter the temple, read:
A’lai Aivenmore asks the characters to travel to the
city of Tashluta in Tashalar, find Mayastan Sadaar . | o
at the House of the All-Seeing Orb, and bring her Several priests are present in the temple, all with a
back. The First Reader has no proof that Mayastan third eye tattooed on their foreheads, and all wearing
is in danger, but the implications of her name ap- simple yellow robes belted at the waist with a sash.
pearing in The Canopic Being are alarming. A'lai Many carry elaborately carved and decorated staffs.
expects that the characters have their own reasons
Some are at work sweeping or scrubbing the temple’s
to investigate, having seen their names in the book.
If they need further incentive, she offers the party
floors, while others gaze into scrying bowls or scruti-
5,000 gp or the future services of Candlekeep to un- nize tea leaves. -
dertake the mission. The priest who sits at the largest table has her tat-
Mages at Candlekeep can set up the characters’ tooed eye decorated with gemstones. Her dark green
journey by casting the teleportation circle spell hair is close- cropped, with a mark shaved into it that
to reach a permanent teleportation circle at the matches a sigil on her cherrywood staff. She looks up
House of the All-Seeing Orb. This is the same des-
toward you as she pours from a steaming pot of tea.
tination to which Mayastan Sadaar traveled the
previous day. “More visitors from Candlekeep. Most delightful.
trust that your journey was not too taxing?”
HoUSE OF THE ALL-SEEING ORB $ -— ®

Tashluta is the busy port-city capital of Tashalar, The figure with the bejeweled third eye is Shir
set between sea, mountains, and jungle. It is a wel- Endellion (a lawful neutral human priest), currently
coming stopover point for travelers, merchants, and the highest-ranking official in the temple. While
traders in the south. Tashalar is a land known for engaged in her divinatory studies a tenday ago, she
- warm, breezy weather, bright, flowing garments, foresaw the arrival of both Mayastan Sadaar and
and spicy, delicious foods. It is also famous for the the party, but she does not know the purpose of the
obsession its citizens have for divining the future; characters’ visit.
most Tashlutans claim to have some amount of skill If the characters join her, Shir offers them tea,
with personal prognostication. then calls for fine Tashlutan wine, pastries, and
One of the most notable sights in Tashluta, the other finger foods to be delivered to the table. The
House of the All-Seeing Orb is an immense com- priest knows the following information, which she is
pound dedicated to the study of magical divination. happy to share:
Clerics, mages, and other scholars work at the in-
stitution’s Celestial Observatory, its Library of Ulti- « Mayastan arrived yesterday, intending to speak
mate Truth, and its College of Divination. with the oracle Valin Sarnaster. The sage was
When the characters arrive at the temple, read or taken to Valin’s sanctum and has not returned.
paraphrase the following: « Valin Sarnaster is known to all who serve Savras,
and her works have long been an inspiration. She
@ 8
has lived alone for decades now, so that the influ-
The teleportation circle i is surrounded by a courtyard ence of the outside world will have no effect on her
. garden and several buildings. The day is warm, with divinatory abilities.
amild breeze. Yellow-robed sages and priests, some « If The Canopic Being is discussed, Shir doesn’t
carrying tomes or mysterious- -looking magic devices, recognize the name of the book. If its contents are
bustle about the i immense compound. The largest described, she is horrified, but she says that the
dark rituals the book describes have nothing to
| building is patterned with inscribed eyes. A larger,
do with Savras’s work. If she is told that Xemru
more detailed A oye is carved above the building's main Thaal sent the book to Candlekeep nine months
doorway. ago, she has no idea why that happened.
a... |]
« If the characters ask to see Xemru, Shir says that
The large building is the compound’s main temple, the high priest went through the portal to visit
home to the priests and oracles of Savras. Despite Valin eight months ago and has not come back.
its elaborate exterior, the interior of the temple is Messages received from him through Valin’s at-
simple, containing only an altar, modest living quar- tendant, Alessia, say that he continues to study
ters, a kitchen, and a dining area. The building's with Valin and plans to remain with her for the
only noteworthy feature is its reflecting pool, which foreseeable future. (Xemru accepted the future in
is filled with holy water. which he saw himself becoming Valin’s servant.

THE CANOPIC BEING

 House oF THE ALL-SeEeING ORrB

But a sense of misgiving caused him to send The be unlocked with a successful DC 25 Dexterity
Canopic Being to Candlekeep as evidence of what check using thieves’ tools, or forced open with a suc-
Valin had become—as Valin had already foreseen.) cessful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check.
« Valin lives in a secret sanctum, since she would The shed holds unused gardening equipment
otherwise be sought out by too many people seek- and has a hidden trapdoor that can be found with
ing her wisdom and counsel. A portal hidden in a successful DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check
the temple complex is the only means of reach- if not revealed by Shir. Below the trapdoor is a
ing her. The oracle sends her attendant, Alessia, 5-foot-diameter stone-walled well with a sturdy
through the portal regularly to convey and re- wooden ladder. The well descends 20 feet before
ceive messages. ll Ba

« Three other people have traveled through the por- WHAT Is AND WHAT'S TO COME
tal to seek Valin’s guidance within the past three The presence of the characters’ names in The
months: Zeren Zoradius, a human mage; Okuzor, Canopic Being points to the mummy lord oracle, Valin
a tiefling gladiator; and Mayastan Sadaar, the Can- Sarnaster, having seen them in visions of the future.
The particulars of that future and the oracle’s interest
dlekeep sage. As with Xemru Thaal, none of the
in the characters is left to your determination.
other visitors have yet returned. Valin has long plotted to usurp the role of Savras,
acquiring power through her dark rituals that will
THE ORACLE'S PORTAL enable her to become a new demigod of fate. In her
Behind the main temple stands a nondescript and visions, she has seen that the characters will thwart
locked shed, within which is the portal that leads to her plans—so she has arranged the events that cause
Valin’s sanctum. The shed is quietly watched at all them to come to her, so she can end their threat before
hours by faithful acolytes, and an alarm spell regu- it begins. In the course of their fight to expose and de-
larly cast on the door by the temple’s mages sounds stroy Valin, the characters might gain glimpses of the
CHATURVEDI

future or hear coded threats from her about the fate

out if the door is opened by anyone except Shir
she sees for them. Especially if your campaign is built
Endellion or Alessia Baseer (see area T1 of Valin’s around an epic story line, these oracular insights can
Sif i DHARTH

tomb). Shir and Alessia carry keys that can unlock help you foreshadow what's to come.
the door from inside or outside. The door can also

THE CANOPIC BEING | 1793 V2

opening up into a 40-foot-square chamber whose Characters who look outside the temple see the
walls and floor are worked stone. The portal that demiplane beyond as a shifting space of glowing
leads to Valin’s sanctum is on the wall opposite the crystals. The demiplane does not enter into the
well’s ladder. adventure, and its full details are left to your de-
termination.

The plain gray stone of the well diffuses into a swirling CANoOPIC GOLEMS
ellipsoid of
0 blue-and-white light, edged by translucent
Three of the creatures that have received Valin’s or-
crystals. From across the room, the portal resembles gans—Okuzor, Xemru Thaal, and Zeren Zoradius—
Jan enormous oe - have been transformed into canopic golems by the
& HE &
dark rituals the oracle learned from The Canopic
This portal is a permanent magical effect set up by Being. Valin can see through these golems’ eyes and
Valin Sarnaster. It connects to the crystalline demi- can speak through them as she wishes. Mayastan
plane that serves as the mummy lord’s tomb. Sadaar, the Candlekeep sage, would have become
a golem if she had not destroyed her transplanted
organ and died. Her body is in area T7.
VALIN'S TOMB
Valin’s tomb exists on its own demiplane. The site ORGAN RECIPIENTS
was once a temple and was long abandoned until
Recipient (Location) Transplanted Organis) i
the oracle’s magic rediscovered it. It is filled with
the signs and symbols of Savras, but whether it was Alessia Baseer (area T1) Heart
built as a temple to the god or whether it was con- Okuzor (area T5) Eyes
structed by Savras when he was still a mortal, not Xemru Thaal (area T6) Nerves
even Valin has been able to determine. Zeren Zoradius (area T6) Kidneys
The former temple is built entirely of clear, spar-
Mayastan Sadaar (area 17) Pancreas (destroyed)
kling crystal. Though the complex has its own grav-
ity and is not fully transparent, moving through it
can sometimes create the unsettling sense of float- ToMB FEATURES
ing in space. Valin’s tomb has the following features:
atl Bn

VALIN’ s VICTIMS | Walls and Floors. The crystal from which the tem-
nf a creature dies after one of its vital organs is re- ple was constructed glows with a bright light that
laced by Valin’ s organs, it can be returned to life by a fills all areas, even as it allows the characters faint
spell or in one of the ways described below. glimpses of what lies beyond it. The magic of the
Rite of Reclamation. A ritual known as the rite of rec- walls obscures certain features, however, so that
~ lamation involves claiming some of the dust of Valin’s secret passages and rooms can’t be seen from
body after she has been reduced to 0 hit points. The outside them. The crystal that makes up the tomb
ritual describes a process for mixing the dust with wax
can't be damaged by any means available to the
to create a magic candle, then floating the lit candle
~ in a vessel of holy water. If a creature imbued with one characters.
of Valin’s organs spends an entire long rest within 5 Ceilings. Hallways and smaller chambers in the
feetof the candle, the candle is consumed, Valin’s tomb are 15 feet high with flat ceilings. The ceil-
organis destroyed, and the creature’s missing organ is ings in larger chambers are 20 to 30 feet high.
restored. The rite of reclamation is known to Valin and Doors. All doors in the tomb are made of crystal,
detailedon a scroll found in area T5. The characters and most of them are unlocked. A character can
might also be able to learn the ritual through research use an action to try to open a locked door, either
or aside quest.
| Replacing What's Lost. A more direct restoration by using thieves’ tools and succeeding on a DC 20
can be undertaken if the creature imbued with one Dexterity check, or by forcing open the door with
of Valin’s organs has been killed and the characters a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. A
have access to the creature’s original organ. Removing door has AC 15, 60 hit points, and immunity to
~ Valin’s organ from the creature’s body reveals it to be poison and psychic damage.
shriveled, glassy, and pulsing with unnatural life. If the Eyes of Savras. The walls of the tomb are adorned
creature’ s original organ is replaced within 1 hour of
with decorative eyes that serve as magical sen-
its death at the same time Valin’s organ is destroyed,
the creature returns to life immediately as if targeted sors, following the movements of visitors who
by: a resurrection spell. A character who removes one of explore the site. Valin Sarnaster controls the eyes,
i organs from a dead host creature and succeeds which have truesight out to a range of 120 feet and
a DC 17 Wisdom (Medicine) check intuits how this allow her to surveil the characters from anywhere
s works. in the tomb. She must maintain concentration (as

THE CANOPIC BEING

 if concentrating on a spell) to do so. The eyes are Alessia’s Aid. Alessia does not wander the temple
free-floating in area T9 and are prevented from except as directed by Valin, who sends orders to the
functioning in area T 3. attendant through her canopic golems. She tells the
Extradimensional Interference. The tomb is characters that they have free run of the temple, and
warded against teleportation, and creatures inside that they will find Valin when fate determines it. She
it can’t travel using teleportation or by extradimen- does warn them against the dangers they might face
sional or interplanar means. in certain areas, including the mirrors of fortune
(area T3), the testing chamber (area T4), and the
ToMB LOCATIONS phasing passage (area T7). She also knows why the
The following locations are keyed to the map of the sword hilt has been hidden in the dais in area T4,
tomb of Valin Sarnaster. but does not share that information until Valin’s true
nature is revealed to her.
T1. PORTAL With suitable roleplaying or a successful DC 15
The portal beneath the House of the All-Seeing Orb Charisma (Persuasion) check, Alessia agrees to
brings the characters to this location. The portal escort the characters through area T3, but then re-
is not affected by the wards against teleportation turns to her quarters (area T2).
magic that fill the tomb. Alessia keeps the key to her quarters and
the key to the portal door on a leather thong
Stepping through the
t portal brings you into the center around her neck.
of a square room, its walls, floor, and ceiling made of T2. ALESSIA’'S QUARTERS
glowing crystal set with images of unblinking eyes. A The door to this room is locked, and Alessia car-
| crystal door stands closed, but you can just make out ries the key.
‘the long corridor beyond it, and a lone, yellow-robed ®

priest of Savras waring ffor you. | This room is furnished with a simple cotta Small
# 5 es $
| footlocker, a round table and chair, and aw
As the characters move around in the room, the - cupboard with one door ajar. Small figurines
eyes in the walls turn to follow them. set along the top of the cupboard are the room’ 's only
The guard is Alessia Baseer, a lawful good human decoration. A folding screen obscures the far cornerrof :
priest of Savras (see the “Alessia Baseer” sidebar). the room. .
A premonition of someone arriving through the por- ®
tal brought her here to await the characters. When
she sees them, she assumes they have been sum- Alessia’s collection of cat figurines include sculp-
moned by or have important business with Valin, tures made of glass, ceramic, and wood. She has
and she freely answers any questions put to her. collected them since childhood, though they are
Power of Disbelief. Alessia scoffs in response to a | |.

suggestion that Valin might be involved in improper ALESSIA BASEER ER

activities or evil plots, and insists that the charac- Alessia’s curly brown hair is tied into a long braid. She
ters will know better once they speak with her. If is dressed in the simple yellow robes, belted sash, and
leather sandals of the priesthood of Savras, and bears
the idea that Valin might be a mummy lord is men-
the customary third-eye tattoo on her forehead.
tioned, Alessia confirms that she sees the oracle Naive curiosity paired with a lack of conversational
regularly and that Valin appears quite normal. (This practice makes Alessia honest to a fault. She remains
is a product of the mummy lord’s diadem, which unaware of Valin’s evil nature—and of the fact that she
functions as a hat of disguise.) is the living canopic vessel for Valin’s heart. Alessia’s
Having escorted all the recent visitors to the tem- own heart was removed three years ago as part of
ple, Alessia is under the impression that they are the unique ritual described in The Canopic Being. The
magic of the ritual allows her to remember being in-
communing with Valin in the observatory of fate
volved in a ceremony that bound her to Valin’s service,
(area T9). She explains that time passes differently but she recalls no details of the transfer. The ritual like- :
in the observatory, making it not unusual that those wise leaves no physical signs behind.
visitors have apparently been gone from the world Personality Trait. “| serve my masters in faith will
for months. (This is a lie told to her by Valin.) She ingly, and | let fate and faith command me.”
thus does not understand that the canopic golems Ideal. “| yearn to see the best of all possible futures,
have been created from Valin’s visitors. She has not so that | can help those futures come to pass.”
Bond. “| faithfully serve Valin Sarnaster, the living
been through area T7 in a few days, and so likewise
embodiment of the divine will and power of Savras.”
does not know Mayastan Sadaar’s fate. Flaw. “| never question orders.”
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not valuable. The footlocker holds the attendant’s the attendant leads the characters through the area,
modest personal effects, including a stuffed cat with she tells them to follow her closely, and doing so
green button eyes and a bracelet with five charms. grants them advantage on their saving throws.
One of those charms is the key that unlocks the Secret Panel. A hidden panel along one wall of
door to the antechamber (area T8). the room can be noted with a successful DC 25
Cupboard. This magic cupboard radiates an aura Wisdom (Perception) check. It slides open to reveal
of conjuration to a detect magic spell. It generates a meditation room (area T3a) that holds a number
food and drink for Alessia and any visitors to the of rotting cushions and two potions of healing
tomb. It currently contains empty glass flasks, half a (superior).
loaf of bread, and three peaches. Hidden Hallway. Any character who has a passive
If the cabinet door is closed, a bell rings. When Wisdom (Perception) score of 20 or higher, or who
the door is reopened, the previous contents are gone succeeds on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check
and the cabinet’s shelves are filled with foodstuffs— while moving through the room, notices that one
fresh bread, dried meat, flasks of clear water, fruit, of the mirrors near the corner of the room has a
sweet cakes, and more. Once used, this property of shimmer in its reflections. A creature that touches
the cabinet cannot be used again for 24 hours. that mirror takes no damage and causes the mirror
Folding Screen. The folding screen in the corner to turn sideways, revealing an empty chamber (area
of the room conceals a magic self-cleaning toilet. T3b) and a hallway that leads to area T11.

T3. MIRRORS OF FORTUNE T4. TESTING CHAMBER

ollowing! I e aads into a oe pi

room arare oo The wide corridor you arere
The crystal floor, walls and cling of this
obscured by hanging mirrors square chamber whose oly feature | is. al2 lay
pl .
sifies as 5 catchh your re , tion. line dais at its center.

This chamber was once used by the priests of the This area was once used by priests and acolytes to
temple for meditation, and its magic is still intact. sharpen their mental acuity against harmful psychic
Two-sided mirrors set along the outside walls of this energy. Valin has turned it into a formidable hiding
area reflect everything inside and outside it, causing place for a powerful weapon.
the area to appear empty from the outside. From the As soon as any character enters this area, they feel
inside, the mirrors block the eyes of Savras, prevent- a sudden pulse of psychic energy radiating from the
ing Valin from looking within. dais, which can’t be sensed from the corridors be-
The magic mirrors that cover this area and hang yond. The effect of this numbing energy causes any
as freestanding walls inside it show a super-realistic creature in the room to suffer visible tremors and
reflection of everything in the room, including the have its speed halved.
other mirrors—quickly creating a confusing cascade A creature that has a passive Wisdom (Percep-
of images. Any creature that enters the area and can tion) score of 18 or higher, or that succeeds on a DC
see normally is overwhelmed by multiple visions of 18 Wisdom (Perception) check made to observe the
itself. Each creature that passes through this area dais, spots an ornate sword hilt embedded within it
must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or (see “Treasure” below). The hilt can be noted auto-
accidentally make contact with a mirror. A creature matically by anyone within 5 feet of the dais.
that makes contact with a mirror for the first time Genie Guardians. Obtaining the hilt requires
on a turn or starts its turn in contact with one takes smashing through the dais, which has AC 18, 50
22 (4d10) psychic damage. hit points, and immunity to poison and psychic
A creature that passes through the area without damage. If the dais is attacked or touched by any
taking damage earns a gift of supernatural insight creature, two dao wearing bejeweled necklaces are
that lasts until it finishes a long rest. While it has conjured above it and immediately attack any crea-
this gift, the creature can roll a d8 and add the num- tures in the room.
ber rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving On their first turn in combat, the genies target
throw it makes. The creature can wait until after intruders with their phantasmal killer spells, main-
it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the number, taining concentration on these spells for as long as
but it must decide before the DM says whether the possible while attacking with their mauls on later
roll succeeds or fails. A creature can’t gain this gift turns. When a dao dies, its body disintegrates into
again until it finishes a long rest. crystalline powder. A slain dao leaves behind its
Creatures that have blindsight or truesight can maul and its necklace (see “Treasure” below).
move through the area normally, as can Alessia. If

THE CANOPIC BEING

 The dao do not pursue creatures that leave the Valin controls Okuzor and uses her to interact
room. If the characters all leave the area, any dao with the characters. The oracle speaks through the
‘that wasn’t defeated vanishes after 1 minute but re- golem, greeting the characters warmly and asking
turns with full hit points if the dais is touched again. why they've come to the temple. She describes
Shattered Dais. The hilt (see “Treasure” below) the golem as one of her servants, and responds to
can be easily claimed once the dais is destroyed. any talk of her illicit activities by saying that such
The first creature to pick it up must make a DC 16 rumors were no doubt started by enemies of the
Intelligence saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) psychic House of the All-Seeing Orb. She offers to have
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage her golem servant escort the characters to her lo-
on a successful one. A character wearing gloves or cation if they seek an audience. Okuzor then leads
other protection has advantage on the saving throw. the characters to the false tomb in area T6, where
The shattered dais repairs itself 1 hour after be- she and the other two canopic golems there at-
ing destroyed. If the hilt (or any other object) is left tack at once.
amid the rubble, it is trapped inside the dais when If the characters attack Okuzor, the golem fights
it re-forms. The dais can’t re-form around creatures until reduced to 30 hit points or fewer. She then
and can’t repair itself while one or more creatures tries to flee to area T6, hoping to draw the char-
occupy its space. acters to the false tomb and the other golems
A character who studies the rubble of the shat- waiting there.
tered dais and succeeds on a DC 17 Intelligence (Ar- Toxic Steam. The room is heavily obscured by the
cana or Religion) check determines that its original dark steam coming off the scrying pool. At the end
function was allowing acolytes to focus their divina- of each minute a creature spends here, it must suc-
tions in the presence of low levels of psychic energy, ceed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take
and that its power has now been corrupted. 14 (4d6) poison damage.
Treasure. The hilt in the dais is a sun blade Scrying Pool. Any character who has proficiency
placed there by Valin. It came into her possession in the Arcana skill, or who succeeds on a DC 15
years before, after she had received two visions Intelligence (Arcana) check, recognizes that the
about it—one in which she used the weapon to slay runes along the edge of the pool once channeled div-
a great enemy, and one in which it was used to slay ination magic, but have been corrupted. Though the
her. Not willing to destroy the weapon for fear of 10-foot-deep pool once held holy water, the liquid
thwarting the first vision, she has kept the hilt hid- is now unpleasantly odorous and boiling. Any crea-
den in an attempt to keep the second vision from ture that starts its turn in the water takes 36 (8d8)
coming to pass. fire damage. A creature that drinks the water must
Each dao wears a golden, gem-encrusted necklace succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be
worth 2,500 gp. poisoned for 1 hour.
A character can spend 1 minute trying to undo the
TH. ScrYING POOL corruption of the runes, doing so with a successful
This chamber was once used to conduct scrying DC 19 Intelligence (Arcana) check. If this occurs,
training and rituals, but it has been desecrated by the noxious smell dissipates as the water cools and
Valin’s corruption, as can be confirmed by a detect reverts to holy water over the course of 1 hour.
evil and good spell or similar magic. Divine Insight. Any character who has a back-
ground involving Savras, or who succeeds on a
DC 20 Intelligence (History or Religion) check,
understands that once its corruption is undone, the
pool can bestow a blessing on anyone who medi-
tates here. A character who finishes a long rest in
this area can roll a d20, taking note of the number
rolled. The character can then substitute that roll for
one attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made
by them or another creature they can see. This ben-
efit is lost if the substitution isn’t made before the
Okuzor, a tiefling gladiator, sought out Valin expect-
character finishes another long rest.
ing to persuade the oracle to offer up predictions
Treasure. A small cabinet that stands against the
for Okuzor’s success in the arena. Instead, Valin
back wall of the room can’t be spotted through the
enticed Okuzor into undergoing the ritual that
fog until a creature is within 5 feet of it. It holds a
transferred Valin’s eye into the gladiator and turned
collection of dusty divination ritual components. A
her into a canopic golem (see the accompanying
character who searches the cabinet and succeeds
stat block).
on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check discovers

THE CANOPIC BEING

 |
a locked compartment in its false back. A character
can use an action to try to open this compartment,
either with thieves’ tools and a successful DC 15
Dexterity check, or by forcing it open with a suc-
cessful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.
The cabinet contains twelve sticks of incense (5
op each), several candles, a bowl of polished stones,
and an amethyst pendant inscribed with an open
eye (500 gp). The secret compartment in the cab-
inet holds a crystal ball of true seeing and a scroll
describing the rite of reclamation (see the “Valin’s
Victims” sidebar earlier in the adventure).

T6. FALSE TOMB

Adjust the following boxed text if Okuzor fled here
from area T5:

CAaNopric GOLEM
Large construct
The crystalline figures guarding the pit are two
canopic golems (see the accompanying stat block) Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
who were once the high priest Xemru Thaal and Hit Points 252 (24d10 + 120)
the mage Zeren Zoradius. Zeren came to Valin hop- ‘Speed 30 ft. |
ing to become a master of divination. Instead, she
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
showed him a very different future. 205) 10(+0) 20(+5) 7(-2) MN (#0) 1(-5)
The golems attack intruders at once, while Valin
speaks through them to challenge the characters. Saving Throws Int +3, Wis +5, Cha +0
She arrogantly proclaims that no one will ever Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion,
break through her sarcophagus to face her, hoping
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
to entice the characters to approach the magically Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
warded sarcophagus at the bottom of the pit. Languages —
Canopic Gallery. The gallery below the main Challenge 13 (10,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5
platform houses eight canopic jars, four on either
side of the room. It can be reached by descending Limited Spell Immunity. The golem automatically succeeds on
the steep ramps, dropping a rope down from above, saving throws against spells of 7th level or lower, and the attack |
or any other way the characters might devise. Each rolls of such spells always miss it.
canopic jar is ceramic and approximately 2 feet tall. Unusual Nature. The golem doesn’t require air, food,
Five hold organs from the servants currently under drink, or sleep.
Valin’s control, and each jar is carved with a symbol
that represents the former owner, as summarized in ACTIONS
the Canopic Jars table. Multiattack. The golem makes two attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one tar-
CANOPIC JARS get. Hit: 27 (4d10 + 5) force damage.
Symbol Organs and Former Owners Crystal Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 120 ft.,
Cat Heart from Alessia Baseer one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) force damage.
Sword Left eye from Okuzor REACTIONS
Spell Deflection. In response to a spell attack missing the go-
lem, it causes that spell to hit another creature within 120 feet
TYLER WALPOLE

Wand Kidneys from Zeren Zoradius

of it that it can see.

THE CANOPIC BEING

 The other three jars are empty. At your discretion, The fallen figure is Mayastan Sadaar, the scholar
you can have the empty jars scribed with symbols who came to the temple to confront Valin, and who
representing three of the characters, as if Valin has became another unwilling recipient of the mummy
prepared those vessels for sacrifices to come. The lord's rituals. Though she remembered nothing of
jars can be easily shattered, but the organs inside the ritual, Mayastan’s recollection of her mission
(with the exception of Mayastan Sadaar’s) can’t be and what she had read in The Canopic Being al-
destroyed as long as the matching organ from Valin lowed her to successfully guess what had happened
remains in its host. to her. She thus chose to end her life by carving out
See “Treasure” below for more information on Valin’s pancreas from where it had been placed in
Okuzor’s canopic jar. her and destroying it, rather than submit to the ora-
Sarcophagus. Whenever the characters are in a cle’s dark will.
position to see down into the pit, read: Turning the body over reveals the horrible ab-
dominal wound that killed Mayastan. Any character
who has proficiency in the Medicine skill, or who
ottom of the pit is asais resembling an enor-. =
succeeds on a DC 20 Wisdom (Medicine) check,
g P-Sess black onyx sar- -
recognizes that the shape of the rock resembles a
pancreas, which shows signs of being hacked nearly
in half before it petrified. A character who has
Valin placed her sarcophagus at the bottom of the proficiency in the Medicine skill and examines the
pit not for security, but as a deadly trap. The sar- wound notes that the body’s pancreas is missing.
cophagus is presently empty. Valin returns to it only If the characters need information on how to
if she is slain and re-forms, and uses the dimension permanently slay a mummy lord, any search of
door spell to leave it afterward. Mayastan’s body reveals a sheaf of papers in an
The sarcophagus radiates auras of abjuration inside pocket. These are pages copied from a tome
and evocation magic to a detect magic spell. Its first of lore regarding mummy lords, and they note the
ward triggers when any creature that is not a con- fact that a mummy lord’s heart must be destroyed to
struct or an undead moves within 20 feet of it, filling keep the mummy lord from re-forming.
the area of the well to a height of 30 feet above the
T8. ANTECHAMBER
floor with a noxious gray fog equivalent to the effect
Both doors to this area are locked, and each can be
of a stinking cloud spell. The vapors vanish after 1
opened with the key charm from area T2.
minute, and this ward resets after 1 hour.
The sarcophagus’s lid weighs 550 pounds. When * a” sn 4

opened, the sarcophagus vents a blast of stale air The wills of this 1room n converge i in a high ponsover- . =
and triggers its second magical warding. Each head. Through | the wall opposite tthe door, the room a
creature within 5 feet of the sarcophagus that is . beyond «can be vaguely seen—a vast, cubic chamber -
not a construct or an undead must make a DC 17
flied with shimmering POAT of light.
Charisma saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) necrotic @

damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on

a successful one. This ward resets when the lid of Any character who has a passive Wisdom (Percep-
the sarcophagus is closed again. tion) score of 18 or higher, or who succeeds on a DC
Treasure. Okuzor’s canopic jar also contains 18 Wisdom (Perception) check to scan the interior
eyes of minute seeing and an eye patch set with a of the chamber beyond this one, notices a strange
sapphire-and-moonstone eye (2,500 gp). Okuzor lost motion within.
her right eye in an early gladiatorial bout, and she
? wy
used both of these items while she was alive.
The points of light iin ihe chamber beyond aree shifting
T7. MEDITATION RooM slowly, like dust motes stirred bya a gentle breeze. At = .
the center of the haze of light, a flash of yellow ni |
The ceiling of thinsroom is supported Sur crystal | the ppresence 0 “a figure clad in the robes of the faith-
ful of Savras. The figure circles slowly at the apex. of i
columns with eye- shaped capstones. A dozen thick
cushions 2 are scattered around the room, in the center ther room, , motes flight swir irnghinds it. Lh
ofv which a dragonborn lies i in a pool of dried blood .
onthe floor. A dagger and an oblong rock broken into The door into area T9 opens automatically when-
two pieces | ie nearvihs body’ soutstretched arms. : ever any creature moves within 10 feet of it.

THE CANOPIC BEING

 T9. OBSERVATORY OF FATE become acclimated to the local gravity and does not
Valin's sanctum is a gravity-free chamber whose need to make checks on subsequent turns.
magic focuses her oracular sight. Having watched Valin’s Stand. When any character moves more
the characters progress through her lair, the than 10 feet into the room, read or paraphrase the
mummy lord (see the “Valin Sarnaster” sidebar for following:
changes to her statistics and roleplaying notes) is ® : @

fully prepared to face them for a final showdown— A woman in yellow robes floats in the mote-filled void.
but the characters might find fighting in this strange She wears a diadem that frames her third-eye tattoo,
environment to be a challenge.
which glows with a pulsing white light. “I have waited
for so long,” Valin Sarnaster says with a thin smile.
Each of the thousands of motes of light that fill this “Now we will discover if you are ready.”
cube-shaped room takes the form of a tiny eyeball, all @ @

of them shifting to stare at you as they drift past.

Valin challenges the characters, saying that she has
already seen their defeat written in their past and
Unusual Gravity. When any character enters this future. As you like, she can share key details from
area, a strange sense of lightness fills them, and your campaign’s past to indicate that she has been
they feel their feet begin to lift gently from the floor. watching the characters—and might even reveal
A zero-gravity effect in this chamber grants any secrets that the characters have yet to figure out.
creature a flying speed equal to its walking speed She can also offer visions of futures that might have
while in the area, but it might take a bit of practice been before the characters fell into her trap. You can
for characters to get used to the effect. A creature have the oracle describe a key encounter or chal-
that starts its turn in this area must make a DC 15 lenge you expect to play a part in your campaign's
Dexterity check. On a failed check, the creature future, or use the Adventure Climax table in the
NIKKI DAWES

has disadvantage on the first attack roll it makes on Dungeon Master's Guide to come up with an idea
its turn. On a successful check, the character has you can then direct the campaign toward.

THE CANOPIC BEING

a Sn,
fo ARON
ie Aman
Tr
 VALIN SARNASTER The validity of Valin’s threat is up to you and the
~ valin Sarnaster has been thoroughly corrupted by needs of your campaign.
visions of a future in which she sees herself as the Treasure. Valin’'s diadem remains behind when
~ immortal heir of Savras’s realm. The Canopic Being she turns to dust. It functions as a hat of disguise. A
came into her possession years ago, and an obsession search of the dust that was Valin's body also turns
with the dark rituals therein set the oracle on her pres- up a large adamantine key (50 gp) that opens the
entcourse. door to area T10.
Valin has become a powerful undead as the first step
on her path to godhood, and is now a mummy lord T10. TREASURE Room
“with these changes:
The door to this room is locked and can be opened
Ce She has the clairvoyance, dimension door, and scrying with the key in Valin's possession (see area T9).
~ spells prepared instead of animate dead, guardian of A glyph of warding cast on the door triggers if the
faith, and insect plague.
door is opened any other way. A character who
. While her heart remains in Alessia’s body, Valin's
Rejuvenation trait causes her to re-form inside the searches the door for traps spots the tiny glyph
sarcophagus in area T6. with a successful DC 17 Intelligence (Investigation)
+ Valin can use her lair actions in any area of the tomb. check. When triggered, the glyph erupts with magi-
. Personality Trait. | have seen the future. Therefore, cal energy in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on it.
nothing surprises me.” The sphere spreads around corners. Each creature
Ideal. “To know all things is the goal of the most in the area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving
. powerful oracles. And | will be the most fowerfy ora- throw, taking (31) 7d8 thunder damage on a failed
cle ofall.” | save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Bond. “This temple wiwas s made for me. It has come to
me. ltis part of me.” | ® ; : 2

Flaw. “Each future that allows a chance for my failure A large pile of clear, crystalline gems fills one cornerfof
to occur must be tracked, must be focused on, and this room, gleaming i in the light given off by the walls.
must be destroyed.”
Hovering in the middle of the room are three iets:
a six-foot-long staff made of transparent crystal, a
Fate’s Boon. All creatures in the room experience
glimpses of the immediate future flashing through shiny steel helm embossed with lidless eyes, and a
their minds. At the start of the second round, each tiny blue rhomboid about the size of a piece of candy.
creature in the room can use a bonus action to focus
on the future, granting advantage on its next attack
Treasure. Though most of the crystals piled in
roll, ability check, or saving throw. (The characters
the corner are of no value, a 10-minute search of the
are aware of the effect and the benefit it imparts. De-
pile yields ten fine gemstones worth 500 gp each.
scribe the boon to the players so that their charac-
One of these crystals radiates an aura of trans-
ters are aware of it and can use it.) Once a creature
mutation magic under the scrutiny of a detect magic
uses this boon, it can't do so again until it finishes a
spell. If this crystal is crushed (destroying it), its
long rest.
powdered remains magically coalesce into a ring of
Endgames. If Valin is reduced to 0 hit points but
spell storing that holds the spells bless and revivify.
her heart has not been destroyed, she snarls out a
The objects hovering in the middle of the room
threat before turning to dust:
cease to float as soon as they are grasped. The blue
rhomboid is an loun stone (awareness). The crystal
“|| still have lessons yet to tench you. But you will staff is a staff of fate, and the embossed steel helm is
learn. a watchful helm (see the “New Magic Items” section
for descriptions of these two items).

Unless her heart is destroyed within 24 hours of her T1l. OBSERVATORY OF HISTORY
defeat, Valin re-forms in her sarcophagus (in area
T6) after that time. See the “Conclusion” section for
The shell of this large, spherical chamber begins to
more information.
shimmer with color, forming patterns and Images,
i
If the characters destroy Valin’s heart before de-
feating her, she says the following before dying:
Creatures that enter this area feel their feet begin to
“Fate defies | me. So be it. But though you defeat me, | lift gently off the floor. As in area T9, a zero-gravity
effect grants any creature a flying speed equal to its
promise you will not survive the re have seen .
walking speed while in this chamber. Because there
is no combat in this area, characters do not need to
worry about acclimating to the unusual gravity.

THE CANOPIC BEING

 Visions of the Past. The images that begin to flow DESTROYING VALIN
and ebb along the spherical wall of the chamber are
Valin is permanently destroyed only if the charac-
random at first—creatures and places unfamiliar to
ters reduce her to 0 hit points and also destroy her
the characters. But any creature that remains in this
heart before she re-forms. Once Valin is destroyed,
area for 1 minute feels their mind open up as the
the priests of the House of the All-Seeing Orb can
room establishes a connection with them.
convert the tomb back into the temple it once was.
As an action, a character can use the room to
If the characters can’t find Valin’s heart, spells such
replay up to 10 minutes of any past event they are
as commune or divination can lead them to the truth
aware of, whether personal or historical. The event
about Alessia Baseer.
plays back in perfect detail along the wall of the
chamber for all to see and hear. When the vision VALIN'S VENGEANCE
ends, the character must make a DC 20 Intelligence
If Valin’s heart is not destroyed, the mummy lord
saving throw. On a failed save, the character gains
re-forms 24 hours after her defeat, appearing in the
the following flaw, which lasts until removed with a
sarcophagus in area T6. If the characters are still in
greater restoration spell or similar magic: “I obsess
the tomb at that point, you can set up the terms of
about the past, and I'm constantly trying to go back
the rematch. As soon as she is restored, Valin is able
to undo my mistakes.”
to see through the eyes of Savras throughout the
NEW MAGIC ITEMS tomb, and she uses dimension door to move directly
from her sarcophagus to the characters’ location
The new magic items described below wait to be
provided they're still in the tomb.
claimed in area T10 of Valin’s tomb.
If the characters leave the tomb before Valin re-
STAFF OF FATE forms, the mummy lord oracle might hunt them
Staff, very rare (requires attunement) down, becoming a recurring villain. If the charac-
ters bring Alessia with them but don’t remove Va-
This transparent crystal staff can be wielded as a
lin’s heart from her, the vengeful mummy lord tries
magic quarterstaff that grants a +3 bonus to attack
to recover her heart by the most direct means.
and damage rolls made with it.
Altered Outcome. The staff has 6 charges. As a MAYASTAN SADAAR
bonus action, you can expend 1 of the staff’s charges
Word of Mayastan Sadaar’s death hits the scholars
to give yourself or one other creature that you can
of Candlekeep hard. At your discretion, the char-
see a d4. The recipient can roll this d4 and add the
acters can return the scholar’s body to Candlekeep
number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, dam-
so that she can be returned to life (perhaps with
age roll, or saving throw it makes before the start
the characters performing the rites). Alternatively,
of your next turn. If this extra die is not used before
you might decide that the nature of Valin’s ritual
then, it is lost.
prevents Mayastan from being restored to life even
If you expend the staff's last charge, roll a d20. On
with a resurrection spell. The characters might thus
a roll of 9 or lower, the staff becomes a nonmagical
be charged with a side quest to learn more about
quarterstaff that breaks the first time it scores a hit
the ritual, with the knowledge they gain eventually
and deals damage. On a roll of 10 or higher, the staff
allowing the sage to be resurrected.
regains 1d6 of its expended charges.

WATCHFUL HELM ALESSIA

Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement) Characters who learn the rite of reclamation from
While you wear this helm, you gain a +1 bonus to the scroll in area T5 and retrieve Alessia’s heart
AC and remain aware of your surroundings even from the canopic jar in area T6 can perform the
while you're asleep, and you have advantage on Wis- rite, destroying Valin’s heart and saving Alessia. If
the characters rescue Alessia, the young priest is
dom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
As a bonus action, you can cast the see invisibility overwhelmed by the realization of what was done to
spell from the helm. Once this property of the helm her but grateful to the characters for their actions.
is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn. She might remain in the House of the All-Seeing
Orb, return to Candlekeep to take up a place among
the scholars there, or stay with the characters (espe-
CONCLUSION cially if the party has a base of operations and other
Although the treasures in Valin's tomb technically NPC followers).
belong to the House of the All-Seeing Orb, the tem-
ple priests allow the adventurers to keep what they
find as their reward for defeating the mummy lord.

- THE CANOPIC BEING

oo}
183
 AN ADVENTURE FOR 14TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS \ OG
8 @ mmm erence SRY MB Gee meee rennin. 8

WRITTEN BY BRANDES STODDARD

<4
DEVELOPED BY CHRISTOPHER PERKINS EDITED BY SCOTT FITZGERALD GRAY

N EVIL ARCHFEY IS BOUND WITHIN THE

tome known as The Scrivener’s Tale.
BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE
When the characters run afoul of the This adventure can be tied to any research under-
book’s magic, they must find a way to de- taken by the characters in Candlekeep. The Scriv-
feat dic archfey before they succumb to her power. ener’s Tale comes into their hands by accident,
Candlekeep received The Scrivener’s Tale ten courtesy of an unwitting Avowed acolyte named
years ago from Machil Rillyn, a noble and a former Ramilir. In the course of delivering the characters
adventurer from the city of Baldur's Gate. The terms an armload of requested texts, Ramilir inadvertently
of Machil’s gift stipulated that the book was to be scooped up The Scrivener’s Tale from its shelf in
locked away and never read. Alas, his stipulation fell Candlekeep’s vaults.
on deaf ears. When the book falls by accident into
BooOK DESCRIPTION
the characters’ hands, each of them is afflicted by a
supernatural malediction known as the scrivener’s The Scrivener’s Tale is bound in soft brown leather,
mark. The characters must travel to Baldur's Gate its title embossed on the book’s cover and spine. It
to learn the origin of this potentially deadly mark, is seven inches tall and five inches wide. Its pages
then retrace Machil Rillyn’s steps to a ruined library appear to be ancient, delicate parchment, but any
called the Haven of the Red Quill. All the while, the attempt to damage the book fails, confirming that it
archfey bound to the book assails their minds, beg- is indestructible.
ging to be freed from her dark prison. The writing, in Sylvan, on each of the book’s
seventy-two pages is in a fine, spidery hand, using
black ink flecked with silver. A detect magic spell
reveals that the book gives off auras of illusion
and transmutation magic, but an identify spell
does not reveal the magical mark it bestows.

TALE OF REVENGE
The Scrivener’s Tale tells the story of a selfish and
amoral archfey called the Princess of the Shadow
Glass, who is locked in a blood feud with the Queen
of Air and Darkness, the ruler of the Gloaming
Court in the Feywild. The queen is described as an
intelligent, gleaming black crystal that hovers above
a throne of twisted, petrified wood. The princess is
cast in the role of the protagonist, yet she views ev-
eryone else as a pawn in her struggle. The tale ends
with a monologue promising bloody reprisals upon
everyone the princess believes has wronged her.
Exiled to the mortal realm, the Princess of the
Shadow Glass finds a home in the land of humans,
elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings. They show
her true friendship, gifting her with treasures,
lands, and titles. In the end, her companions (in-
cluding the book’s narrator, known only as “the
OLALSSON

THE ScrIVENER'S TALE

scrivener”) convince the princess to reclaim her
rightful place as a high noble of the fey.
ROBIN

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

on
ii. 0)
 The details of The Scrivener’s Tale indicate that The mark can’t be removed from any character
the Princess of the Shadow Glass began as a fey except by a wish spell or by destroying the Princess
of indeterminate type, most likely an eladrin, and of the Shadow Glass, either of which ends the mark
ultimately became an archfey possessing power- on all the characters. If a character dies and returns
ful magical abilities relating to shadow, glass, and to life, the scrivener’s mark remains in place.
illusion. The scrivener of the title is an elf named
Zyrian, who wrote the book nine hundred years ago. SCRIVENER’S MARK EFFECTS
The content of the book suggests that the scrivener Level Benefit and Drawback
was compelled to write the tale, which contains effu- 1 Benefit: You can speak, read, and write Sylvan,
sive praise for the princess.
and magic can’t put you to sleep. Drawback: You
no longer cast a reflection or a shadow. : |
THE SCRIVENER'S MARK 2 Benefit: You can cast the message cantrip at will,
Machil Rillyn ordered The Scrivener’s Tale hidden
no components required. Drawback: Magic po-
away by the scholars of Candlekeep because he un-
tions no longer affect you.
derstood the potency of its magic, having borne the
scrivener’s mark until he paid to have a wish spell 3 Benefit: Choose one of the following spells: blur,
cast to end its effect on him. invisibility, mirror image, phantasmal force, or
When a character reads even a small part of The silence. You can cast the chosen spell once (save
Scrivener’s Tale for the first time, all the characters DC 15), no components required, and you regain 7
feel the magic of the book wash over them. After the ability to cast this spell after you fi nish a long
finishing a short or long rest, each character dis- rest. Drawback: You can’t attune or be attuned to
covers that 20 percent of their skin is covered in magic items. | |
writing that matches portions of The Scrivener’s
4 Benefit: You cease to age naturally, and magical
Tale. The text starts at the character’s fingertips
aging no longer affects you. Drawback: You be-
and winds around one arm to the shoulder, chest,
come as brittle as glass. You gain vulnerability to
and back. The lettering in the Elvish script is tiny
but precise and legible. Each character also gains bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, and
the level 1 benefit and drawback of the mark, as effects that grant you resistance or immunity to
noted in the Scrivener’s Mark Effects table. Any such damage are suppressed.
character marked in this way must make a DC 20 5 Drawback: If the Princess of the Shadow Glass
Charisma saving throw every third dawn thereafter. has not been released from her prison by the time
On a failed save, the level of that character’s mark your mark reaches this level, you transform into
increases by 1. Each additional level of the mark a statue made of solid, smoky gray glass. You are
covers another 20 percent of the character’s skin
petrified while in this state. Any magic that ends
with writing until 80 percent of the character’s body
the petrified condition restores your true form
is covered; the character also gains a new benefit
until the next dawn, when you revert toa glass
(up to level 4) and a new drawback, in addition to
statue.
retaining the ones from lower levels. A character
can choose to fail the saving throw, and a character
instantly becomes aware of any new benefits and ASSESSING THE MARK
drawbacks.
Whether making use of their own experience and
This progression means that the adventure might
knowledge or seeking information from the sages
end after 12 days as a character succumbs to the
of Candlekeep, the characters can assess the magic
highest level of the mark’s effect, assuming that
that has afflicted them to learn the following:
character fails every saving throw.
You can adjust the progression of the mark as you « Any character who has proficiency in the Arcana
see fit. If you want to run lengthy side adventures skill and inspects the writing confirms that spells
while the characters travel overland to Baldur's such as dispel magic, greater restoration, and re-
Gate, you might lower the DC of the Charisma sav- move curse aren't powerful enough to remove it.
ing throw or call for the save at longer intervals. - With a successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana)
Conversely, if the characters have access to enough check, a character determines that the affliction
magic that they're likely to finish the adventure is progressive but double-edged, granting benefits
quickly, the effects of the mark might increase as well as negative effects. (The characters would
by one level every day at dawn with no saving be correct to assume that the drawbacks outweigh
throw allowed. the benefits, but there's no way to know until the
benefits and drawbacks are bestowed.)

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

INQUIRIES IN CANDLEKEEP In response to any discussion of the mark that has
appeared on the characters, Ramilir suggests that
Knowing that The Scrivener’s Tale came to them
they speak with one of the Great Readers of Can-
from Ramilir, the characters are likely to question
dlekeep: Teles Ahvoste, a scholar who specializes
him about the book’s origins. Horrified at having
in curses. The acolyte arranges that meeting, then
mistakenly given the characters the tome, the aco-
escorts the characters to Teles a few hours later.
lyte does what he can to make amends.
Ramilir (a human commoner) is a hardworking, GREAT READER TELES AHVOSTE
earnest man in his mid-forties. He takes great pride Teles Ahvoste (a human archmage) is Candlekeep’s
in his work—and is mortified by his mistake. He foremost expert on the subject of curses. Born
explains how The Scrivener’s Tale came to Candle- and raised in the magocracy of Halruaa, Teles has
keep under the condition that no one ever open it, always been comfortable around magic but also
and that it has been shelved with other dangerous understands its inherent dangers.
volumes for ten years. While collecting books for If the characters are still seeking any of the in-
several scholars at the same time, Ramilir guesses formation in the “Assessing the Mark” section,
that he must have accidentally taken The Scriv- Ahvoste can provide it. Teles can also reveal that
ener’s Tale instead of a book intended for another The Scrivener’s Tale was brought to Candlekeep by
scholar, then placed the unrecognized tome in with Machil Rillyn, an adventurer from a noble family
the characters’ books. A successful DC 10 Wisdom in Baldur's Gate. Teles doesn’t know what became
(Insight) check confirms that the acolyte’s mistake of Rillyn, but if the characters don’t automatically
was an honest one. think about traveling to Baldur’s Gate to question
ail |
the noble, Teles suggests they do so.
SEEKING HIGHER KNOWLEDGE At your discretion, Teles might offer to stay in
As they try to learn more about the affliction that has touch with the characters once they leave Candle-
befallen them, the characters might use magic such as keep, providing support and answering their ques-
commune, divination, or legend lore spells. The Princess tions by way of sending spells.
of the Shadow Glass has the ability to misdirect such
Personality Trait. “1 crave new experiences, per-
inquiries.
The Scrivener’s Tale. Questions asked about the spectives, and ways of connecting ideas.”
book with commune or divination spells yield only the Ideal. “The gods have hidden the great
information given earlier in the adventure. The legend truths throughout the world and tasked us with
lore spell returns only the following response: “The finding them.”
shackle that is the key, the prison built by a prisoner.” Bond. “Halruaa will always be my home.”
That cryptic clue refers to the manner in which the Flaw. “It’s not that I want to tell stories out of or-
book binds the Princess of the Shadow Glass, even as
der. It’s just important sometimes to circle back and
it allows her to magically mark the book’s readers and
others near and dear to them. explain things properly.”
Princess of the Shadow Glass. Commune and divi-
nation spells reveal nothing about the Princess of the A MYSTERIOUS DREAM
Shadow Glass, who has magically hidden her history After gaining the level 1 benefit and drawback of
under other names. If the characters learn the names
the scrivener’s mark, the characters experience a
“Nintra Siotta” or “Lady of Dread Omens” later in the
adventure and use those names in their inquiries, such dream that comes to them during a time of rest, rev-
magic returns the hoped-for results. erie, or quiet reflection. Even characters who don't
The legend lore spell returns an especially cryptic sleep have the dream. If the characters don’t rest at
result for the princess: “Glass omens, dread crowns, the same time, you might decide that only the first
three princesses, shadow lady, deathless is the seeker.” character who rests has the dream.
The response alludes to each of Nintra Siotta’s known Read the following boxed text only to the players
titles—Princess of the Shadow Class, Lady of Dread
whose characters experience the dream (preferably
Omens, and Seeker of the Three Crowns.
Haven of the Red Quill. When the characters learn out of earshot of those players whose characters
the name of the ancient library beneath the fallen city didn’t have the dream). If all the characters have the
of Delimbiyran, commune and divination return no dream, read the boxed text to everyone:
information regarding the site, because it is warded
against divination magic as a side effect of the scriv-
ener’s binding ritual. Legend lore returns the following:
“Where once was a dream of kinship and valor, dispa-
rate kin under three crowns, wisdom was preserved in
deep places. In that depth was a great deed done, the
quill named, and the scrivener showed his cunning.”
 street as they are to set up an ambush in a remote
The dream is as vivid aass anything ycyou remember from :: . location. All are fanatically loyal to the queen and
your actual life. You feel the sweltering sun beating fight to the end.
. down as you take shelter i in the shadow of a tumble: If the characters capture and subdue one or more
down tower. In the distance, a vast army is on the of these assailants, threats and intimidation do
march. across mud- churned farm fields. The need 0 nothing to break their loyalty to the Queen of Air
hide from that force overwhelms you, and you wily and Darkness. Effective roleplaying, magic, or a
successful DC 18 Charisma (Deception or Persua-
| retreat inside the tower. =
sion) check enables the characters to convince the
| Inside the tower’ s half- ruined walls you ios a elves and fomorians that they are not a threat to the
boar s spear that | is driven shaft- down into the ground, Gloaming Court.
and whose head iis adorned with three crowns. One If they believe the characters, and particularly
| limb of the spear’ S crossguard bears a narrow silver if the characters agree (truthfully or otherwise) to
| circlet. On the other hangs a crown of adamantine, help the queen destroy the Princess of the Shadow
: shaped to be worn over a helm. Around the spearhead Glass, the elves and fomorians can reveal that the
Queen of Air and Darkness sent them from the Fey-
is a golden crown adorned with emeralds. You feel the
wild to slay the marked characters and steal back
need to seize one of them—and then the dream ends. The Scrivener’s Tale. The queen is set on ending the
& i # H : ®
threat of the princess by destroying the book and all
The dream, which ends abruptly, is meant to be those connected to it.
mysterious. The dream’s imagery will make more If the characters ask about the Princess of the
sense as the adventure progresses. Shadow Glass, the elves say that she was exiled
Any character who has proficiency in the History from the Gloaming Court for treason against
skill, or who succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence the Queen of Air and Darkness. They know that
(History) check, remembers that the silver circlet, The Scrivener’s Tale is linked to a ritual that
the adamantine crown, and the golden crown were trapped the Princess of the Shadow Glass in an
symbols of Phalorm, also known as the Realm of extradimensional prison after her exile, but they do
Three Crowns. This kingdom fell to an invasion of not know that her prison is the book.
goblinoids nearly nine hundred years ago. The characters might also use the speak with
dead spell to learn some of the above information
A TROUBLED JOURNEY from fallen enemies.

Whether the characters travel overland or teleport TREASURE

to Baldur's Gate, they come under attack by forces Each wizard wears a ring of gleaming black glass
serving the Queen of Air and Darkness, who yearns (worth 10 gp) on the third finger of their left hand.
to possess The Scrivener’s Tale in order to control
the Princess of the Shadow Glass. Because the OTHER FOES
Queen of Air and Darkness banished the princess, If the characters dispatch the fomorians and the
the ritual of the scrivener that bound the princess elves, you can have other creatures loyal to the
established a connection between the queen and Queen of Air and Darkness home in on them.
the book, as well as between her and creatures Level-appropriate creatures that might serve the
marked by the book. That connection was lost when queen include an archmage with a death slaad
Machil Rillyn used a wish spell to break the mark. bodyguard, a pair of elf vampires, a team of four
When the characters became marked by the book, assassins, or an adult green dragon. After the
that connection activated once more. The Queen of failure of the first group to deliver the characters,
Air and Darkness assumes the marked characters subsequent foes might follow the party for a time,
must have the book in their possession—and she watching the characters’ movements and trying
wants it back. to determine their plans. Being shadowed by the
queen’s agents for days on end can be unsettling for
MARKED FOR DEATH
the characters and the players alike.
Agents of the Queen of Air and Darkness dispatch While being shadowed, the characters can try to
four fomorians to intercept the party. Riding in treat with the queen's fey agents. With suitable role-
howdahs strapped to the fomorians’ backs are four playing or a successful DC 20 Charisma (Deception
wood elf wizards (use the drow mage stat block but or Persuasion) check, they can convince the agents
omit the Sunlight Sensitivity trait). This attack can that they're attempting to destroy the book on the
take place at any location. The queen’s servants are queen’s behalf, buying them time to continue their
just as likely to assault the characters in a crowded investigations.

ah
THE SCRIVENER'S TALE | 18%
VOICE OF THE PRINCESS of Baldur's Gate, known as patriars, generally keep
to the Upper City, which is built on high ground.
When the characters became imbued with the scriv-
The Lower City, closer to the river, holds the middle
ener’s mark, the magic of The Scrivener’s Tale tied
classes and is the site of much of Baldur's Gate’s
them to the Princess of the Shadow Glass. After
long-simmering class conflict. The city’s poorest
the first assault by agents of the Queen of Air and
folk live in the Outer City, a series of squalid neigh-
Darkness, the princess communicates telepathically
borhoods located outside the city walls.
with a character of your choice. See the end of the
adventure for her stat block and guidance on how to RirLLyN HOUSE
portray her.
After arriving in Baldur’s Gate, the characters can
The princess, who does not reveal her true name,
make general inquiries about the retired adven-
claims to be the only one who can destroy the
turer and patriar Machil Rillyn. They learn that
Queen of Air and Darkness and free the Gloaming
Rillyn House, his noble estate, is in the Upper City.
Court from that tyrannical ruler. It’s clear that the
Their inquiries also inform the characters that
speaker’s hatred of the queen runs deep, as she’s
Machil died ten years ago (not long after gifting The
unable to keep her scorn out of her voice.
Scrivener’s Tale to Candlekeep), having built up a
The princess insists that the characters free her,
fortune as an adventurer but squandering most of it
in exchange for which she will end “the scrivener’s
before his death. His family is now led by his niece,
curse” placed upon them. The characters can't tell
Yvandre, who has only recently begun to regain her
whether she’s lying or not, since she’s nothing more
family’s former standing.
than a voice in their heads. She claims she’s being
The characters’ status as seasoned adventurers
held in the ruins where Machil Rillyn found The
means they have no difficulty entering the Upper
Scrivener’s Tale and tells the characters (truthfully)
City, finding Rillyn House, and arranging an audi-
that she doesn’t know where those ruins are. (She
ence with Yvandre Rillyn. Taresson the butler (a hu-
knows that the ghost of the scrivener, whose name
man commoner) meets them at the gate and takes
was Zyrian, still lingers where the book was found.
their message to Yvandre. If he can see the writing
She wants the characters to destroy Zyrian’s ghost
on their skin resulting from the scrivener’s mark,
so that she can free herself from The Scrivener’s
Taresson recognizes the mark from having seen it
Tale, but she doesn’t share that information yet.)
on Machil Rillyn and promptly brings the characters
If the characters require further enticement, the
to see Yvandre.
princess offers to immediately bestow upon each
of them the following supernatural charm (see the YVANDRE RILLYN
Dungeon Master's Guide for more information on The driving force behind the Rillyn family’s revival,
supernatural charms), which she can do even while Yvandre (a human veteran) is an iron-willed and
imprisoned. accomplished swordfighter as well as a rising polit-
CHARM OF THE SHADOW GLASS ical figure in Baldur's Gate. Her manner is brusque
but professional. She is happy to deal with anyone
This charm allows you to cast the shatter spell (save
who appears likely to further her family’s goals, but
DC 16) as an action, no components required. The
she can be ruthless toward those who cross her. A
next time you finish a short or long rest after cast-
former member of the Flaming Fist, she has many
ing the spell, you gain temporary hit points equal to
friends in that mercenary company who would be
double your proficiency bonus. Once it is used three
only too happy to make trouble for the characters on
times, this charm goes away.
her behalf.
If Yvandre is attacked, 1d4 guards arrive at the
BALDUR'S GATE end of each of her turns until twenty have appeared.
The city of Baldur's Gate lies some 150 miles Personality Trait. “Complicated problems are de-
north of Candlekeep. Overlooking the River Chion- feated in the same manner as overwhelming forces:
thar, it is one of the dominant trading hubs on the divide and conquer.”
Sword Coast and home to much wealth, greed, and Ideal. “The Rillyn clan must put aside its past
corruption. scandals and return to our values of honorable
A number of separate agencies keep a semblance behavior and hard work.”
of order in Baldur’s Gate. The most widely known Bond. “My family comes first, in every word
among them is the Flaming Fist, a mercenary and action.”
company that deals out violence freely to keep the Flaw. “I can’t hide my scorn for laziness, or the
middle and lower classes in line. The wealthy elite arrogance of other patriars.”

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

 WHAT YVANDRE KNOWS
Yvandre works to conceal her anger as she talks
about how her uncle, Machil, squandered the Rillyn
fortune. Instead of establishing a legacy and serving
the needs of Baldur’s Gate with the riches earned
during his adventuring career, he continued his
mercenary explorations, seeking glory and plunder
across the Sword Coast. Machil found less glory
over time, though, and even less wealth.
Yvandre knows that Machil discovered The Scriv-
ener’s Tale in a vault deep beneath the ruins of
Delimbiyran. That capital city of the lost kingdom
of the same name once stood near where the town
of Daggerford is now. Yvandre knows also that her
uncle suffered briefly from a magical malady that
produced strange writing on his skin, and which
he finally overcame only by spending the last of the
family fortune on a wish spell.
Deep in debt and clearly shaken by his experience,
Machil was killed by unknown assailants a month
later—no doubt someone calling in a debt, Yvandre
assumes. (In truth, Machil was murdered by agents
of the Queen of Air and Darkness, who were look-
ing for the book.) Those who accompanied Machil
on his final expedition were mercenaries, and
Yvandre doesn’t know who they were or where they
might be found.
With suitable roleplaying or a successful DC 15
Charisma (Persuasion) check, Yvandre informs the
characters that Machil’s possessions have been
stored away since his death. Anything of value was YvANDRE RiLLYN
sold off years ago, but a few “worthless journals and
letters” remain. She offers to let the characters look
through her uncle’s possessions in return for an
equal share of the wealth they might earn as a result
of information found in his old notes. Machil’s notes and journals are packed haphazardly
Characters who want to take a stealthier approach into three boxes in this storeroom. Taresson stays
to gaining information at the estate (or who anger with the characters and watches while they search
Yvandre) can try to approach Taresson or other the boxes. They contain the following pieces of
servants. With a bribe of at least 100 gp in addition information relevant to The Scrivener’s Tale and
to suitable roleplaying or a successful DC 15 Cha- Machil’s expedition to the ruins of Delimbiyran:
risma (Intimidation or Persuasion) check, Taresson « A vellum map labeled “Delimbiyran and Environs”
can be convinced to grant the characters access to shows a few locations in the aboveground ruins
Machil’s possessions. of the city. A note written on the map in Elvish
identifies one site as “Haven of the Red Quill.”
MACHIL'S REMAINING POSSESSIONS
The handwriting matches that seen in The Scriv-
The office that Machil once kept in the east wing
ener’s Tale.
of Rillyn House has long since been turned over
« A folio torn from an unknown tome details the
to storage for items the family has no use for but
history of Delimbiyran and Phalorm. Also called
doesn’t want to throw out.
the Realm of Three Crowns, Phalorm was one of
the many kingdoms of old in the North. When the
This dusty chamber is crammed with stacks of old Realm of Three Crowns fell, the kingdom of De-
books, barrels of broken tools and weapons, un- limbiyran rose after it.
marked crates, and shelves of bric-a-brac. The grimy Tucked into the folio is a sheaf of notes written by
SOUZA

windows barely allow a view of the city beyond. Machil. The notes talk of the adventurer seeking
“the shadow glass,” which he expected to be a
ERNANDA

great treasure.

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

. Within a stack of old bills marked “Past Due,” EXPLORING DELIMBIYRAN
the characters find an unsigned and apparently
The city of Delimbiyran, located a day’s march north
unsent letter from Machil, which reads: “To my
of Daggerford, was once part of Phalorm, the dwar-
family. Forgive me the vanity that took me from
ven, elven, and human Realm of Three Crowns. Re-
you, and must soon claim my life or soul. You
peated attacks by powerful neighboring clans even-
know how ambition corrupted my love for you. I
tually laid Phalorm low. The smaller kingdom of
pray that someone avenges the evils done by Nin-
Delimbiyran rose in Phalorm’s place with the city as
tra Siotta, Princess of the Shadow Glass, Lady of
its capital, only to fall in turn. The passage of nearly
Dread Omens, Seeker of the Three Crowns. But
nine centuries since then have left little more than a
spend not your own lives against it. The scrivener
few partially collapsed walls and archways to mark
bound her in his haven, and only there can I be
the fallen city aboveground, though its underground
free of her. But it is too late for me.” (Machil wrote
ruins are better preserved.
the letter when he knew he was being pursued by
If you have not yet staged a follow-up encounter
agents of the Gloaming Court but was killed be-
with agents of the Queen of Air and Darkness, an
fore he could send it.)
appropriate time to do so would be shortly after the
« A piece of parchment is shot through with dry rot
characters enter Delimbiyran. The surface ruins are
and crumbles when handled. What remains of the
otherwise bereft of dangerous inhabitants.
parchment afterward displays writing in Machil’s
Using Machil’s map, the characters can easily find
hand, which reads: “... stairs among the surface
the entrance to the Haven of the Red Quill.
ruins of Delimbiyran and descended deep to the
At your discretion, there might be other dungeon
Haven of the Red Quill. The guardians almost
complexes of your own design hidden amid the
finished us before the door was opened. Gods,
ruins of Delimbiyran. Previously undiscovered
how I wish ...”
trapdoors might conceal staircases leading down to
The characters are welcome to take or copy any of long-forgotten cellars, crypts, armories, workshops,
the documents, but Taresson makes a record of any shrines dedicated to dwarven deities, prisons, and
items removed from the room. tunnels to the Underdark. Terrifying creatures such
Any character who rifles through the other objects as arcanaloths, beholders, and vampires would find
in the room can make a DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight themselves at home in such places.
of Hand) check. On a success, the character pock-
ets a random trinket (determined by rolling on ENTERING THE HAVEN
the Trinkets table in the Player's Handbook). On The entrance to the library is a vertical shaft that
a failed check, the character sends a pile of dusty plunges deep into the bedrock, with a crumbling
items spilling to the floor and earns a stern look stone staircase clinging to its stark gray walls. A
from Taresson. successful DC 14 Wisdom (Survival) check indi-
cates that no one has passed this way in years.
CRIMES AGAINST HOUSE RILLYN
If the characters commit murder or other crimes DARK MANIPULATION
in House Rillyn, they are tracked down 4d12 hours As the characters prepare to explore the Haven of
later by one of Yvandre’s allies, an adult copper the Red Quill, the Princess of the Shadow Glass
dragon named Hastarglyrr, who demands gold from telepathically urges them to follow Machil’s route
them to pay for damages and for raise dead spells. into the haven and destroy the ghost of Zyrian the
scrivener, whom she describes as the queen's evil
HAVEN OF THE RED QUILL pawn—the same pawn who cursed the party with
With Machil’s notes and map in hand, the charac- his scrivener’s mark.
ters are ready to retrace the late adventurer’s steps If the characters refuse to aid her, the princess
to the place where The Scrivener’s Tale was found: continually makes telepathic contact with random
the library called the Haven of the Red Quill, hidden characters, urging them to reconsider before it’s
beneath the ruins of Delimbiyran. An overland jour- too late. She tries to convince the characters that if
ney from Baldur’s Gate or Candlekeep would take a they don’t vanquish the ghost quickly, the scrivener’s
month, so the characters’ best course of action is to mark will destroy them. At the same time, she uses
teleport to Delimbiyran or the nearby town of Dag- the link binding her to the characters to gain an
gerford. If the characters lack the means to teleport instinctive sense of their actions, though she is not
themselves, Teles Ahvoste can cast the teleport spell aware of the details of what they're doing. “Destroy
for them, or he might know a suitable spellcaster in the scrivener,” she says, “and I will rid you of his evil
Baldur’s Gate who owes him a favor, or whom the mark!” She also says, “The only way this ends well
characters can hire for the job. is with us saving each other!”

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

 ». ENTRANCE TO THE HAVEN OF
=H OITITRE

HAVEN FEATURES
A narrow spiral staircase descends fifty feet from the
The library ruins have the following features: ruins on the surface. A weathered mosaic decorates
Floors, Walls, and Ceilings. All areas of the ruins the stairwell, depicting dwarves, elves, and humans
except the cavern (area H7) are worked stone. working together to forge the Realm of Three Crowns.
Ceilings are 30 feet high, except in area H8, which The area reeks of decay, and a few birds fly out of
has a domed ceiling 50 feet high.
the shaft.
Light. Unless otherwise noted, all areas are unlit.
Golems and Mummies. Each section of wall
marked “G” or “M” on the map indicates the loca- The birds are harmless. Images of the silver cir-
tion of a hidden stone golem (G) or mummy (M) clet, the adamantine crown, and the golden crown
in stasis. A detect magic spell reveals an aura of from the characters’ dream are still recognizable in
conjuration magic emanating from that section of the mosaic.
wall. When called for in the text, the golems and Descending the crumbling stairs on foot is peril-
mummies phase out of the walls and materialize ous, and each creature doing so must make a DC 14
in the dungeon. Until then, they are hidden and Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature
can’t be harmed. either tumbles down the stairs before being able to
stop itself or pitches over the edge and falls to the
HAVEN LOCATIONS ground below, taking 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage
The following locations are keyed to the map of the in either event.
Haven of the Red Quill. When the characters reach the bottom, they see
an open archway at the base of the stairs. Beyond
Hl. DEEP STAIRWELL this archway lies area H2.
The wall near the top of the stairs has the word
“HAVEN” and a crude picture of a quill scratched
into it, left by Machil before he made his descent.

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

 H2. CoLLAPSING RooOM H4. READING ROOM
$ ® ° ’
The walls of this chamber show cracks and other Decaying desks, chairs, and lecterns fill this chamber.
signs of stress from the weight of fifty feet of earth Three smooth, one-foot-diameter crystal hemispheres
| and stone above, but have so far remained standing. protrude from the ceiling, evenly spaced along the
The floor is covered in a thick layer of rot and debris, center
of the room from east to west.
within which can be seen scraps of leather, the husks “A concave wall on the far side of the room has a
of countless dead insects, and bits of rusted metal. steel-banded stone door in the middle of it. Three
A doorway in the far wall has collapsed and is fully sharp-edged glyphs are cut into the surface of
blocked by a pile of rubble. the door.
@ ®

Though this area appears dangerous at first glance, Scholars and guests of the library once worked and
a dwarf or any character who has a background taught in this area. The furniture here is of similar
or a proficiency related to stonework can tell that construction to that seen in area H3, surviving for
it’s stable. centuries in the relatively dry environment of the
Ten years earlier, Machil and his companions haven but eventually succumbing to rot.
collapsed the archway in the north wall as they left, The room is dark when the characters enter. Any
leaving it blocked. A Small character can squeeze creature in the room that speaks the command
through gaps in the rock with a successful DC 20 word “candesca” causes the three crystal hemi-
Dexterity check, but unless the characters pass the spheres in the ceiling to glow, filling the room with
barrier by magical means, it needs to be cleared. bright light. The hemipsheres go dark again as soon
For each hour of work, one character can make a as there are no longer any creatures in the room.
DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check or Intelligence Warded Door. The door in the center of the
check using mason’s tools. On a failed check, a concave wall opens by sliding into the wall, but it’s
character triggers a short rockfall and takes 7 (2d6) sealed by powerful magic. The door is airtight and
bludgeoning damage. After three successful checks, imbued with a dimensional lock that prevents char-
the archway is cleared. acters from teleporting through it. It is impervious
to damage, and its magic cannot be dispelled or dis-
H3. CENTRAL CHAMBER missed by anything short of a wish spell. Opening
®.. SE ® the door requires fitting the three key runes carried
Though a layer of debris and dead insects coats the by the haven’s stone golems (see below) into the
floor
of this area, its contents remain largely intact. three indentations on the door. Any character who
has proficiency in the Arcana skill recognizes that
Four trestle tables, a side table set with what looks
the indentations have the shape of arcane glyphs.
like cups, and two dozen chairs stand covered in dust.
Any inspection of the indentations suggests that
é é
each is meant to have an object of the same shape
Clearing the dust from the furniture shows that pressed into it.
all the pieces are constructed of heavily lacquered The first time a character tries to damage the
wood. Half are afflicted with dry rot, but the other sealed door or open it with an ability check or
pieces are in good condition. The side table holds magic, or if a character touches any of the indenta-
a tea urn and two dozen teacups, all coated in a tions, the ghostly figure of an elf steps through the
vermilion glaze. door. (If the characters try to break through the door
Three other 10-foot-wide open archways lead by dealing damage to it with a spell, go to “Opening
out of this area, which was once a meeting and the Door” below. The fight that immediately en-
dining hall. The archway to the west has the word sues will have the characters taking on the haven’s
“CANDESCA” inscribed above it (see area H4). guardians without knowing what’s going on, but the
Treasure. The tea service is fragile but can be ghost of Zyrian the scrivener can fill them in during
sold for 150 gp if it is safely transported out of the battle.)
the ruins. The spectral elf initially ignores the characters
and wanders around the room, nodding and moving
his mouth as if speaking to unseen people. If the
characters interact with the ghost, or after a few
minutes of this one-sided silent conversation, it fi-
nally takes notice of them.

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

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Zyrian the Scrivener. The ghostly figure is Zyrian haven't sussed out. He then relates how, shortly be-
the scrivener, the archmage who created the Haven fore the fall of Phalorm, the Princess of the Shadow
of the Red Quill to preserve the lore of Phalorm. Glass attempted to subvert and destroy that king-
Zyrian (use the ghost stat block) doesn’t attack the dom and was bound into The Scrivener’s Tale by a
characters unless attacked first. He disappears if powerful ritual created by Zyrian. The ghost can’t
reduced to 0 hit points, but the magic that binds him open the sealed door into the great library (area HS),
to this place causes him to re-form at full health but Zyrian can explain how the characters can do so
after 1 minute with no knowledge of any previous (see below) and how they can end the threat posed
interaction with the characters. Zyrian can be per- by Nintra Siotta (as described in area HS).
manently destroyed by reducing his ghost to 0 hit Throughout any of the characters’ interactions
points after the haven’s guardian creatures have with Zyrian, the Princess of the Shadow Glass is
been dispatched and the door sealing off area H8 a continual presence in their minds, moving tele-
has been opened. (See “Opening the Door” and pathically from character to character to frantically
“Guardian Battle” below for more information.) If warn them that the ghost is lying, and that it and its
this is done, Zyrian screams as he passes on from guardian creatures must be destroyed.
the world. Opening the Door. Generations of the haven’s
If the characters attack Zyrian at once, he fights scholars bound themselves to defend the site beyond
back and begins to speak, saying, “You shall not death. Three stone golems and a number of undead
free her! I will protect the free peoples of the world scholars (now mummies) protect the site, held in
against the Princess of the Shadow Glass until the magical stasis until a threat is detected. The mas-
end of time!” If the characters show Zyrian the writ- ters of the haven once knew the rituals that would
ing of the scrivener’s mark on them, the ghost im- summon the keys held by the golems, allowing easy
mediately understands what has happened to them passage through the door to the great library. With
and becomes kindly and coherent. those masters long gone, the characters must now
SEAN MACDONALD

Zyrian can fill in any details of the story of the defeat the combined forces of the library's guard-
Princess of the Shadow Glass that the characters ians to claim the keys.

- of?
THE SCRIVENER'S TALE
 Zyrian knows that the guardians are summoned The floor of this room is so covered with detritus
when any damage-dealing spell is directed at that the whole room is difficult terrain. Any inspec-
the door to area H8. When the characters are tion of the debris spots fragments of well-gnawed
ready, the ghost wishes them luck. As soon as a bone, which can be recognized as humanoid with a
damage-dealing spell targets the door, the ground successful DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check. These
trembles and a cold wind gusts through the haven are the decades-old bones of unknown adventurers
as its guardians are released. who were killed by the guardians of the haven.
Guardian Battle. Three stone golems (carved to A detect magic spell reveals three magical auras
resemble an 8-foot-tall crowned dwarf, a 10-foot- in this room. Two of these auras—one of divination
tall crowned elf, and a 12-foot-tall crowned human, magic and one of conjuration magic—emanate from
respectively) guard the haven. Each golem has a key a pair of magic items hidden beneath a loose flag-
rune set into its chest that fits one of the indenta- stone in the middle of the floor (see “Treasure” be-
tions on the door to area HS. The golems are joined low). The third aura is one of transmutation magic,
by an effectively unlimited number of undead schol- and it comes from an iron wand embedded in the
ars, all of which use the mummy stat block but are north wall (see “Fresco” below).
lawful neutral. The scholar mummies are wrapped Fresco. Characters who examine the fresco that
in funeral robes set with purple-glowing runes of spans the north wall notice the following:
oath-binding, recognized as such by any character
« The dragon is as big as one would expect an adult
who has proficiency in the Arcana or History skill.
black dragon to be, and it clutches a small chest in
When the fight starts, two mummies per character
one of its foreclaws. This chest, like the dragon, is
emerge from stasis at each of the locations marked
a flat image rendered as part of the fresco, but it
“M” on the map. When half of those mummies
has a deep, half-inch-diameter hole bored into it.
are destroyed, the first stone golem and one more
« The wizards, like the dragon, are life-sized. One
mummy per character emerge from stasis. When
of them appears to hold a 1-foot-long black wand.
the first stone golem is reduced to 0 hit points, its
This wand is not part of the fresco; it’s an actual
key rune pops out of its crumbling form and the
iron wand embedded in the wall, and it looks like
second stone golem appears—along with one more
it can be removed.
mummy per character to sustain the pressure. The
third stone golem emerges 1 round later, along with The first creature that touches the wand triggers a
two more mummies per character. Reducing each chain lightning spell (save DC 17) that springs from
golem to 0 hit points allows the characters to claim it, targeting that creature. The bolts that spring from
its key rune. that creature then target other creatures randomly.
The guardians pursue characters who move Once the spell goes off, the wand is safe to handle
from area to area, but they move no farther than and can be removed from its indentation.
area H2 if the characters ascend the stairs and flee The half-inch hole in the fresco is as deep as
out of sight. the wand is long. If the wand is inserted fully into
You can adjust the number of mummies depend- this hole, there's an audible “click” as the wand
ing on whether the characters are having too easy locks into place and the dragon vanishes from the
or too hard a time, with more mummies appearing fresco. At the same time, an adult black dragon
intermittently until all three key runes are touched materializes in the middle of the room. The dragon,
to the sealed door. At that point, any remaining whose name is Caustilancer, has been trapped in
mummies disappear as they fall back into stasis, the fresco for hundreds of years. It has no quarrel
and the sealed door opens. with the characters but attacks them if they harm
Treasure. A character who succeeds on a DC it or stand in its way. If it’s given a clear path to the
15 Intelligence (Investigation) check made while exit, the dragon stomps through areas H3 and H2
searching this area finds a spell scroll of conjure fey before escaping the dungeon by flying up the shaft
jammed into a compartment in one of the lecterns. in area HI.
Treasure. A loose flagstone near the center of
H5. DRAGON FRESCO the room (at the location shown on the map) can
be lifted, but it must first be spotted beneath the
The floor ofthis room iss covered with fith and mold: filth and debris by conducting a thorough search of
the room and making a successful DC 18 Wisdom
(Perception) check. Beneath the loose flagstone is a
3-foot-deep, 4-foot-wide cubbyhole that holds three
rotted crates (empty), several empty glass vials,
a potion of giant strength (fire), and a bundled-up
robe of eyes.

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

H6. BUNKROOM The panes of smoked shadow glass on the walls
are each 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. The panes can’t
$ ; a a ®
be moved and are impervious to damage until the
This. chamber is filled with deldering wooden fumi- ol
ritual to destroy the Princess of the Shadow Glass
bur main recognizable as is completed.
nd all are close to collapse f from rot. Closer examination of the ritual circle reveals
north wall has been smashed open, that it contains a semicircle of candle stubs, a
comess from beyond it. . oo - stack of unused parchment, an inkwell filled with
an
silver-flecked black ink, and a crimson quill.
Summoning Nintra. The process for destroying
The haven’s scholars and mages once slept here. the Princess of the Shadow Glass can be learned
The floor is covered with slippery mold. If a fight oc- from Zyrian the scrivener in area H4. The first part
curs here, each creature that moves more than half of the ritual summons Nintra, who must be reduced
its speed on its turn must succeed on a DC 15 Dex- to 0 hit points. The second part of the ritual then
terity saving throw or fall prone. The stone golems destroys the Princess of the Shadow Glass for all
automatically succeed on this save. time (see “Nintra’s End” below). If the characters do
not speak with Zyrian for some reason, spending
H7. DEEP SPRING
an hour searching the books of the library turns up
. a 9 references to the ritual that created The Scrivener’s
This parursls cavern has been worn smooth by water = Tale and bound Nintra, and to the second part that
erosion and i is made cool and damp by the spray of a can destroy the evil archfey.
- four-foot-high waterfall, which feeds a small stream | To begin, a character imbued with the scrivener’s
mark must stand in the ritual circle, light six can-
that disappears into a hole at the opposite end ofthe
dles, and invoke all of the princess’s names: Nintra
cavern. A skeletal figure |lies sprawled across the floor,
Siotta, the Princess of the Shadow Glass, Lady of
itsh head pointed tctoward the. narrow stream. Dread Omens, and Seeker of the Three Crowns.
The marked character must use the parchment and
This underground spring supplied the haven with ink found in the circle to express in writing their
fresh water. The body is that of an adventurer killed intent to free Nintra—whereupon the Princess of
by the havens guardians. The body's clothing and the Shadow Glass appears in the circle and the
leather armor have rotted away to scraps. fight begins.
Treasure. Any character who searches the stream Fighting Nintra. Nintra screams in ecstasy when
finds an ivory drinking horn (500 gp) with a gilded she is finally released from The Scrivener’s Tale,
rim, which belonged to the fallen adventurer. then attacks at once. (During the fight, you can have
Teles use sending to contact the characters in a
H8. GREAT LIBRARY panic, telling them that The Scrivener’s Tale flared
% mama : *
with light just moments before, releasing a shadowy
form within.) Even if the characters have played the
- A ange, circcular chamber heavy with the scents sof dust
part of Nintra’s helpers thus far, her link to them
opens up beyond the door. A fifty- foot-
through the book makes her aware of any intention
rystal panels forms the ceiling, and tll to destroy her, and she tells the characters that their
helve stand perpendicular to the curved wall betrayal will be their undoing.
in six pl; 5. space between each pair of shelves . As a bonus action in the first round of combat,
is set with table, a scribe’ s desk, and several chairs, : Nintra summons six shadow glass warriors. Each
| with. six tall panes of smoky gray glass hanging on the one steps out of one of the wall-mounted panes of
glass around the room and resembles an elf made
. walls, one in each compartment. At the center of the
of smoky gray glass. Use the gladiator stat block to
space, : a ritual circle thirty feet across. is inscribed into
represent the glass warriors. When one is reduced
the stone floor. to O hit points, it shatters like glass, and the scat-
tered shards melt away to vapor in 1 round.
This was once the library and scriptorium of the Nintra treats the library as her lair for the purpose
Haven of the Red Quill. It has been kept in pristine of using her lair actions, but she cannot use those
condition even over nine hundred years by the same actions elsewhere in the Haven of the Red Quill.
magic that wards the door. The panels set into the Scrivener’s Marks. Nintra is aware of what type
ceiling are magicked to match the sunlight on the of scrivener’s mark each character bears when the
surface directly above the haven, ignoring weather. fight begins. If any character has a level 4 mark, or
if Nintra is having too hard a time in the fight and 1

enn
THE SCRIVENER'S TALE 195 ¥
_ ¥
needs an additional edge, she can use an action to FAVOR OF THE GLOAMING COURT
force a character to make a DC 20 Charisma saving
throw. On a failed save, the character’s mark be- Ending the threat of the Princess of the Shadow
comes one of the next higher level. Glass brings the characters to the attention of the
Nintra’s End. When Nintra is reduced to 0 hit Queen of Air and Darkness—whether they want that
points, she falls to the ground, unconscious. To
attention or not. Though the queen does not deign
complete the process, a character with one or more to consider herself in the debt of mortals, she might
levels of the scrivener’s mark must extinguish the bestow favors on them if asked, or she could be-
candles, whereupon Nintra turns to ash, as does
come a powerful but unpredictable ally or patron.
The Scrivener’s Tale in Candlekeep. The panes of
A LITTLE L1GHT READING
shadow glass lose their magic when Nintra is de-
stroyed and shatter harmlessly, and the scrivener’s The wealth of knowledge in the great library of the
mark fades from all the characters. Haven of the Red Quill represents an amazing find
If the ritual is not completed, Nintra regains all for the scholars of Candlekeep. If the characters
her hit points and expended spells in 1 hour. During offer up some or all of the collection for donation,
that time, she is immune to damage. If she returns they earn the favor of the First Reader and all the
to life, Nintra summons six more shadow glass Avowed, and might develop close, permanent ties to
warriors and sets them on the characters, then the library-fortress.
tries to flee.
DRAGON MATTERS
Treasure. Any character who succeeds on a DC
18 Wisdom (Perception) check while searching If the characters harmed or killed Hastarglyrr the
through or collecting shards of shadow glass, or copper dragon, other good-aligned dragons might
who checks the shards with a detect magic spell, track them down and try to settle accounts.
notes an aura of abjuration magic around one small If the characters allowed Caustilancer the black
piece of shadow glass. That shard functions as an dragon to escape into the wild, it returns to its old
Ioun stone (awareness). lair in the Lizard Marsh, not far from the town of
The books in the library amount to nearly ten Daggerford. If the characters spend time in Dagger-
thousand volumes and cover a host of subjects in- ford before setting out on their next adventure, they
cluding arcana, history, and nature. If the characters might encounter the black dragon once more as it
want to sell the collection, you can decide what it swoops over the town’s walls, settles on a rooftop,
might be worth, but the characters should earn at and demands tribute from the townsfolk.
least 50,000 gp for the lot (see also “A Little Light
Reading” below). Such a reward might take the NINTRA S1IOTTA, PRINCESS
form of one or two very rare magic items, a small
keep, a large parcel of land, or a seaworthy galley
OF THE SHADOW GLASS
with a full crew. Nintra Siotta, a chaotic evil archfey who was exiled
from the Gloaming Court by the Queen of Air and
CONCLUSION Darkness long ago, is known in Faer{in by three
titles: Princess of the Shadow Glass, Lady of Dread
After Nintra is defeated and the characters are freed
Omens, and Seeker of the Three Crowns. She ap-
from the threat of the scrivener’s mark, the adven-
pears as a 9-foot-tall humanoid made of smoky gray
ture might wrap up in several different ways.
glass, wrapped in a cloak-like darkness that appears
ZYRIAN’'S LEGACY to devour the light.
Nintra’s eyes burn with green fire, and she speaks
Nintra’s demise frees Zyrian from his pledge to in a high, musical voice. Deception comes naturally
guard against her return, but his ghost lingers in the to her, but imprisonment in The Scrivener’s Tale
world long enough to thank the characters before has made her impatient and prone to telepathic out-
fading away. bursts that betray her cruel nature.
The characters might decide to seal the site away Personality Trait. “I have no patience for those
or take it over as a home base or stronghold. If the who are less than me—and all are less than me.”
latter occurs, news of a group of powerful adventur-
Ideal. “After I destroy the Queen of Air and Dark-
ers setting up shop in the ruins of Delimbiyran trav- ness for her weakness and insolence, I will take my
els quickly. Other groups might become interested rightful place at the head of the Gloaming Court.”
in restoring the greatness of the fallen city or Bond. “1 have many supporters in the Gloaming
searching for other dungeon complexes buried Court who worship the ground I walk on. They de-
under the ruins—and might inadvertently stumble serve a sovereign who is worthy of their love.”
upon dangerous secrets and magic. Flaw. “Why should I worry about the schemes of
others? No one is my equal in cunning.”

THE SCRIVENER'S TALE

 LAIR ACTIONS
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Nin-
tra can take a lair action to cause one of the fol-
lowing effects; she can't use the same effect two
rounds in a row:
« Nintra targets one pane of shadow glass in her
lair, causing it to explode into shards. Each crea-
ture within 20 feet of the exploding pane must
make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 13
(3d8) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one. The shards
fade away to vapor and the pane is restored to nor-
mal at the next initiative count 20.
« Nintra targets one pane of shadow glass in her
lair, briefly transforming it into a swirling vor-
tex. One creature of her choice within 20 feet
of the pane must succeed on a DC 20 Strength
saving throw or be drawn into the vortex, taking
11 (2d10) necrotic damage. The creature is then
teleported to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of
another pane of shadow glass in Nintra's lair (de-
termined randomly).

' NINTRA SIOTTA Spellcasting. Nintra casts one of the following spells, using
Charisma as the spellcasting ability (save DC 20) and requiring
|
Large fey
no material components:
Armor Class 17 3/day each: dispel magic, faerie fire, mirror image
, Hit Points 306 (36d10 + 108)
Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) Storm of Shattered Glass (Recharge 6). Nintra targets a point

\
she can see within 60 feet of her and creates a 20-foot-radius
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA sphere of swirling glass shards centered on that point. Each
16 (+3) 24 (+7) 163) 17 (+3) 15(+2) 24 (+7) creature in the sphere must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving
throw, taking 28 (8d6) slashing damage on a failed save, or half
Saving Throws Str +8, Dex +12, Wis +7 as much damage on a successful one. If Nintra is in the sphere,
Skills Deception +12, Insight +7, Perception +7 the shards deal no damage to her.
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, stunned
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 17 LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan Nintra can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5
below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time
and only at the end of another creature's turn. Nintra regains
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Nintra fails a saving throw, spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
she can choose to succeed instead.
Attack. Nintra makes one attack.
Fey Step. Nintra teleports to an unoccupied space she can see
ACTIONS
within 30 feet of her.
Multiattack. Nintra makes two attacks. Shadow Strikes (Costs 2 Actions). Provided she is in bright
or dim light, Nintra causes her shadow to attack a creature
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
within 10 feet of her. Her shadow makes two claw attacks,
Hit: 12 (2d4 + 7) piercing damage.
each attack identical to Nintra's claw attack except that it
Shard of Shadow. Ranged Spell Attack: +12 to hit, range 120 ft., deals psychic damage instead of piercing damage.
one target. Hit: 10 (1d6 + 7) necrotic damage, and if the target
SCUZA

is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving

throw or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.
ERNANDA

Gm
THE SCRIVENER'S TALE
 AN ADVENTURE FOR15TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS

7A LKAZAAR'S APPEN
56 ® - msm sn-sonssmnesessnse oss SYS We LTT rnis re tes sss tt i Sr - PB Es

WRITTEN BY ADAM LEE

DEVELOPED BY MICHELE CARTER & CHRISTOPHER PERKINS
EDITED BY MICHELE CARTER

HIS ADVENTURE REVOLVES AROUND A THIN

book titled Alkazaar’s Appendix, brought to
Candlekeep by a renowned explorer named
Alkazaar in 1363 DR, the Year of the
Wyvern. This slim volume accompanied a thicker
tome titled Alkazaar’s Thrilling Tales, in which
Alkazaar chronicled his numerous heroic exploits.
He bequeathed these books to Candlekeep and also
gifted the Avowed with a series of live storytelling
sessions. The longer-lived Avowed remember these
performances with fondness and have passed the
stories on to the adjutants over the years. One story
stands out from all the others, and the Avowed of
Candlekeep wonder about it to this day: the tale
of the lost golem, featuring the one adventure that
Alkazaar could not complete. This story is told in
Alkazaar’s Appendix.
ALKAZAAR'S APPENDIX AND
ALKAZAAR'S THRILLING TALES
ADVENTURE OVERVIEW
This adventure begins when the characters read
the story of the lost golem in Alkazaar’s Appendix
FINDING THE BOOKS
and discover the magic picture in the book. The Alkazaar was an adventurer of great renown. Tales
picture-portal can teleport the adventurers to the proliferate about his daring and incredible discov-
golem. The book was found by members of a tribe eries across Faer(in. Knowing that the definitive
of nomadic people called the Bedine, who live in collection of Alkazaar’s adventures rests within the
the desert of Anauroch. The Bedine are discussing walls of Candlekeep is reason enough for an adven-
what to do with the golem and how they can profit turer to seek out this legendary book and claim a
from it. The golem appears inactive, but the party cozy corner to read about the escapades of Alkazaar
can figure out how to activate the golem from the and his dungeon-delving companions. Alkazaar’s
book. By talking with the Bedine, the adventurers Thrilling Tales is a hefty tome, but its smaller com-
learn about a ruined cave complex known as the panion—Alkazaar’s Appendix—contains the intrigu-
Hall of Rainbows that could contain clues to the go- ing story of Alkazaar’s one unfinished quest.
lem’s origin. But the Bedine also warn that the cave The Avowed in Candlekeep could bring Alkazaar’s
complex is in the territory of a deadly purple worm. Appendix to the characters’ attention and approach
The adventurers travel to the Hall of Rainbows. the characters (especially if the party has visited
After defeating the worm, they discover clues that Candlekeep before) in hopes that they can complete
lead to the ruined city of Azumar. They must navi- Alkazaar’s unfinished quest and perhaps procure
gate the ruins and find the vault where the golem’s for the library the fabled Nether Scroll that Alkazaar
master, Prince Hamukai, now rests. believed the golem once guarded.
In the final showdown, the party must defeat a Alternatively, an ogre named Little One (see the
dracolich named Zikzokrishka and then command “Little One” sidebar in the “Candlekeep” section
the golem to open the vault and complete its mis- earlier in this book) might approach the characters
sion—to deliver the prince’s body to Elysium. while they're relaxing in the Hearth and give them
IRINA NORDSOL

the books, thinking they might be intrigued by the

tale of the lost golem.
iRi

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
BooK DESCRIPTIONS « On the final page of the story, cryptic symbols sur-
round an illustration of the golem. If deciphered,
Alkazaar’s Thrilling Tales is a weathered and
this code reveals the magic words to activate the
cracked leather-bound tome eight inches by ten
picture portal.
inches by two inches thick. Embossed gold letters
proclaim the title on its lavishly decorated cover. Its THE PICTURE PORTAL
beautifully rendered interior abounds with images
The symbols bordering the illustration of the golem
of Alkazaar’s handsome, mustachioed face under
unlock magic that turns the picture into a portal,
his wide-brimmed hat. Alkazaar is often shown with
teleporting any adventurer willing to touch the por-
the wind whipping at his flowing shirt but having
tal to where the golem waits, thanks to the tracer
no effect on his tight pantaloons and shiny boots.
inscribed on it.
He's depicted looking marvelous in fantastical
Deciphering the code requires 1 hour of study. Af-
realms alongside his rugged and ready adventuring
ter that, a character knows the magic words needed
companions.
to activate the portal.
Alkazaar’s Appendix is barely half an inch thick
When an adventurer activates the portal, it stays
but otherwise has the dimensions of its companion.
active for 1 minute and then reverts back to an ordi-
When it is opened, a few grains of sand fall from
nary picture. Anyone who touches the activated por-
between its crisp, dry pages. It contains the story
tal appears instantly in an unoccupied space within
of the lost golem as well as detailed drawings of
50 feet of the golem (see “Arriving in Anauroch”
a stone golem with a brilliant blue sapphire for a
later in the adventure).
heart. One of these illustrations doubles as a portal
to Anauroch (see “The Picture Portal” below).
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
THE Lost GOLEM Long ago, the wizards of Netheril created a mag-
Adventurers who read the story of the lost golem in nificent stone golem to guard one of the Nether
Alkazaar’s Appendix learn the following facts about Scrolls—a collection of dangerous scrolls that
the one quest Alkazaar couldn’t complete: described the creation of magic and the nature of
the Weave. The wizards gave the golem a sapphire
. Alkazaar was searching for a Nether Scroll. This heart and magically bound a sliver from the gem to
was to be his last adventure before retiring. the right palm of its master, Hamukai. They charged
« In the Anauroch desert, he came across a wander- the young wizard-prince of the ancient nation of
ing stone golem. Alkazaar believed this golem was Anauria with guarding the priceless scroll. The
the legendary Sapphire Sentinel, rumored to have sapphires allowed both Hamukai and the golem
been created by Netherese wizards to protect one (whether together or separate) to unlock a magically
of the fabled Nether Scrolls under the control of sealed vault that held the Nether Scroll.
Prince Hamukai. The blue dragon Zikzokrishka discovered the
« The golem recognized its master’s name, Ha- scroll’s location, and she arrived at the vault ready
mukai, when Alkazaar mentioned it. From to destroy any and all in her path. In the ensuing
that point on the golem followed him, obeying battle, the golem gravely wounded Zikzokrishka,
his commands. but she blasted the golem with eldritch magic that
« The golem communicated through sign language. damaged its memory and hurled it to a far corner
It seemed lost and sad. of Faer{in. Thinking his golem destroyed, Hamukai
. Alkazaar met Bedine nomads who said they knew put a shield around the vault containing the scroll
of a place that held clues about the golem, but it that could be opened only by the sapphire’s power.
was in purple worm territory. He followed the Be- Too weak to continue the fight, Zikzokrishka limped
dine guides until a sandstorm obscured the route. away to heal her wounds. But as she left, she in-
The camels ran off, and, after losing his guides canted a powerful Netherese curse: when the prince
and his transportation, Alkazaar called an end to died, the shield would disappear and the scroll
the expedition. would be hers for the taking.
. Before he left the desert, Alkazaar inscribed a Knowing that Zikzokrishka’s curse had sealed his
magical tracer on the golem in the hope that he fate, Hamukai made a decision. Against the wishes
could find it again. of his subjects, who dearly loved him, the prince
« He begs the reader to go to Anauroch and find the ordered his wizards to perform a ritual that would
lost golem, which might lead to the discovery of a keep him on the brink of death for millennia. His
Nether Scroll. magically sustained life force would maintain the
shield that would seal him in the vault and protect
the Nether Scroll. Since opening the vault required

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 either the sapphire shard in his right palm or the THE BEDINE
golem’s sapphire heart (which he assumed was de-
The Bedine are a group of disparate nomadic tribes
stroyed along with the golem), Hamukai felt sure of
that interact with one another in the desert of Anau-
the scroll’s safety.
roch. Bedine tribes differ in how friendly or hostile
Zikzokrishka returned with an army, intent on
they are to outsiders. But all Bedine obey a code
ripping the sapphire from the prince’s head. She
of hospitality and honor, and they provide shelter,
scattered the populace and reduced the prince's
food (goat cheese and dates), and drink (strong tea
city of Azumar to ruin. To her dismay, she found
or water) to anyone who visits the desert unless the
the prince’s tomb to be impregnable. Howling with
visitors prove unworthy of such kindness.
rage, Zikzokrishka knew that the spell that kept the
Bedine guides know how to survive in the desert.
prince alive would thwart her curse for thousands
Stories about the magical destruction wrought by
of years, far beyond her draconic life span. In her
the Netherese on Anauroch make them wary of
thirst for power, she sought and achieved transfor-
wizards and abhor magic, believing that it brings
mation into a dracolich, willing to wait an eternity
destruction and ruin.
to outlast the spell that held Hamukai near death,
Bedine are dark-haired and olive-skinned, with
knowing his life force would one day dissipate and
the vault would become openable. brown eyes. They wear a loose-fitting, linen robe
called an aba, covered by a dark cloak called a
As she held her vigil, the desert wasteland of
jellaba. They carry daggers and scimitars as weap-
Anauroch consumed the city. Believing the golem
ons, and some use eagles and falcons to catch prey
and its sapphire to be destroyed, Zikzokrishka now
such as small antelope and hares.
lies coiled around the vault’s entrance, waiting with
The Bedine speak Common.
the patience of undeath for the death of the prince,
surrounded by her undead minions and jealously PESH
guarding her promise of godhood. 16-year-old human nomad
Pesh has the naive charm of a young human adult
ARRIVING IN ANAUROCH but is also wise to the unforgiving ways of Anau-
Created by fearsome magic, the ancient desert of roch. He warms up to kind adventurers quickly (es-
Anauroch hides ruined cities under its sands. The pecially if they offer gifts).
most famous include the lost cities of Netheril, an Personality Trait. “1 want to learn about
empire of wizards doomed by their lust for mag- everything.”
ical power. Ideal. “Life is an adventure.”
When the characters come through the portal, Bond. “My grandfather is my best friend.”
read the following: Flaw. “Sometimes | put curiosity before caution.”
om »
SHAMIR
- The deserts sun Binds yyour eyes, and you feel the heat
64-year-old human nomad
trying t to pull ¢every bit of moisture from your body.
Shamir is Pesh’s grandfather. He's cautious and
The bone- dry air makes each breath burn hot and
pragmatic, with a kind and honorable heart. As an
- taste of the baked earth. |
elder of a Bedine tribe, he is wary of magic users
Below you, about ify feet away, a camel watches and not above scolding them, citing the folly of the
wae desert nomads unearth 3 hulking stone golem Netherese and how their arrogance destroyed a
half: buried iin the sand. Intent on their investigation of once lush and verdant land.
the golem, they don’ t notice your arrival. Shamir is cautious and superstitious, but he’s also
® intelligent and curious. The blue circle painted on
the golem’s chest and the symbols on its body make
The two desert nomads (use the bandit stat block) him think it’s the same golem he heard about as a
and a camel they call Old Stink (for good reason) boy. His grandmother used to tell a strange story
hail from a Bedine tribe. They are discussing what about a foreigner named Alkazaar and a lost golem
to do with the golem. Their curiosity about its poten- with a sapphire heart that once guarded a powerful
tial value conflicts with their fear of disturbing items treasure. He believes this to be the same golem. His
of Netherese origin. The golem sits motionless, its grandmother tried to guide Alkazaar to the caves
eyes glowing dimly. of Haruun, but a sandstorm created by a wild djinni
The Bedine nomads are wary of the characters drove them back. A cavern inside Haruun called the
until they assess the party's intentions. A successful Hall of Rainbows holds colorful paintings, some of
DC 12 Charisma check quickly allays their fears. which depict a golem.

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 Shamir knows the story of Hamukai and his stone The disk can be removed to reveal the glowing
golem and can help the characters remember the sapphire only when the golem receives a command
details as needed. to use its power from someone whose commands it
Personality Trait. “1 know much about the an- obeys (see “Getting the Golem’s Attention” below).
cient history of Netheril.” Otherwise, the sapphire remains hidden. The gem-
Ideal. “1 want to know what my ancestors knew.” stone is 6 inches in diameter and has the following
Bond. “My grandson, Pesh, is my life.” properties: |
Flaw. “I think magic is a road that leads to ruin.”
. It is indestructible until the golem completes
THE GOLEM its mission.
. The sapphire has 3 charges. As an action, the
The Bedine allow the characters to examine golem can expend 1 charge to cast dispel magic
the 14-foot-tall stone golem known as the Sap- (as a 9th-level spell) from the sapphire using Con-
phire Sentinel. It has the following features and stitution as its spellcasting ability. The sapphire
behaviors: ceases to glow if all its charges are expended, but
« The golem understands Common but can’t speak. it regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn and
. It can open the sealed vault where the prince rests glows again once it has 1 or more charges.
(see area V3). « The golem attacks anyone who tries to remove the
+ The golem remains a noncombatant unless it is sapphire, which is worth 25,000 gp.
directly attacked.
GETTING THE GOLEM’S ATTENTION
THE SAPPHIRE The golem perks up considerably if the characters
The sapphire is inside the golem’s chest, hidden mention Hamukai’s name. Its stone face grinds
behind an 8-inch-diameter stone disk. The outer and changes into a pleased expression as its eyes
surface of the disk is inscribed with a blue circle light up. It then bonds with and follows the party
IR INA NORDSO!

that has eight golden beams radiating from it like member who mentioned the name and obeys that
rays of the sun. person's commands.

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX

is
 Attempting to pry out the sapphire in its chest
activates the golem, and it does not take kindly to
TRAVEL IN ANAUROCH
thieves. If provoked further, it fights to the death. Due to its magical history, Anauroch is more than
a barren wasteland and a hostile desert climate to
WHAT PESH AND SHAMIR THINK those who wander within its borders. Anauroch
Pesh and Shamir are both suspicious and im- holds lost cities, savage monsters, and more than its
pressed when the golem wakes. Pesh, in particular, share of otherworldly phenomena.
thinks the golem is the coolest thing since sliced Traveling across the desert by day is not recom-
goat cheese and wants to learn all about it. Shamir mended. Use the extreme heat rules in the Dungeon
thinks the golem is valuable and will lead to a big Master's Guide for daytime travel in Anauroch.
treasure. Both are keen to go on a treasure hunt and Traveling in the cool of the night is the best way
offer to guide the adventurers to Haruun. Shamir to journey across the desert, but explorers should
reminds the characters that the area is purple worm beware of nocturnal creatures hunting for prey.
territory. The Bedine travel mostly by night, along the an-
cient roads and paths that crisscross Anauroch.
ROLEPLAYING THE GOLEM Some of these paths are invisible on the ground,
The golem expresses itself through a variety of ex- and the Bedine navigate by using the stars at night.
pressions and postures, much like Frankenstein's Groups of Bedine might be traders carrying goods,
monster. Characters can infer the golem’s intent scouts looking for food, or bandits hoping to raid
through its gestures and body language. The golem merchant caravans that try to shortcut their way
rubs its head when it’s confused, becomes animated across the desert rather than circumnavigate it.
when it’s excited, and slumps its shoulders when it The Bedine nomads can act as guides for lost
loses hope. characters, offer clues for stuck players, and provide
The golem also employs a unique sign language food and water for adventurers in desperate need.
created by its master, Hamukai. Any character who
spends 1 hour observing the golem as it uses this DESERT ENCOUNTERS
sign language can, with a successful DC 20 Wis-
If the players are restless or spoiling for a fight, use
dom (Insight) check, learn enough of the language
the following encounters. Pesh and Shamir avoid
to communicate with the golem on a basic level.
combat and try their best to stay out of harm's way.
A character who fails the check can repeat it after
spending another hour watching the golem commu- WANDERING MONSTERS
nicate in this fashion. « The characters encounter three cyclopes who
The golem’s memories are damaged and it wants are bickering at each other while looking for food.
to return to its master, Prince Hamukai. It has They have Bedine prisoners tied up in their lair—a
vague impressions of its past. The golem can be as cavernous crack inside a granite escarpment that
communicative or as noncommunicative as you like. juts out from the sands.
Two rakshasas masquerading as Bedine nomads
KEEPING THE GOLEM ALIVE
named Imura and Sikkat offer to guide the party
For story purposes, the golem or its sapphire must
to a magic oasis. The rakshasas attack the charac-
reach area V3 for the vault to be opened. On seeing
ters as soon as they let down their guard.
the golem restored, Zikzokrishka can’t contain her
glee. She tries to destroy the golem so she can use STONE ANDROSPHINX
the sapphire to open the vault and steal the Nether The characters find a sandstone sphinx crouched
Scroll. If the dracolich is defeated, the golem goes to atop a granite pedestal. Bleached humanoid bones
be reunited with its master and complete its mission lie half-buried in the sand around the pedestal.
to deliver Hamukai’s body and the Nether Scroll Any character who touches the sphinx telepathi-
to Elysium. cally receives the following riddle:
Over the course of the journey, the golem might
@ : 9
face mortal peril. If it drops to O hit points, the go-
| Forked et a serpent’ Ss tongue,
lem stabilizes and topples over but isn’t destroyed.
It doesn’t make death saving throws, and it can be i spark the thunder’ s peal; .
revived and repaired using healing magic. If if has With every stroke, the storm isswung
0 hit points after being struck by a disintegrate spell Of darkness by my zeal. = Le
or similar magic, the golem is obliterated, but the What wml? -
sapphire is left behind. 4 ah i E é

The riddle’s answer is lightning. The first character

who answers the riddle correctly while touching

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 the sphinx gains resistance to lightning damage for
10 days. If an incorrect answer is given, the statue
transforms into an androsphinx and attacks the
party. If it is victorious, the sphinx returns to its ped-
estal and reverts to its inanimate state. It turns to
dust if reduced to O hit points.

VOICES OF NETHERIL
As the adventurers walk along the dunes, a cold
wind howls across the desert. The shrieks of the
wind soon turn to cries of anguish, as if coming
from tortured souls. Bedine nomads believe that
these are the voices of evil wizards who are endur-
ing an eternity of punishment for defying the gods
and dooming the land to ruin. To the Bedine, the
wind is an ill omen.

ARRIVAL AT HARUUN
Haruun was a series of natural caves set into a cliff
face that comprised one wall in a twisting maze of
canyons. Those who fled the destruction of Azumar
thousands of years ago used this area as a refuge.
Over time, they carved and painted the interiors
with the story of their prince, the golem, the battle,
and the vault containing the Nether Scroll.
Within the last five centuries, all the caverns ex-
cept one have been reduced to rubble as the area 1square
=5 feet
fell under the sway of a purple worm. Only a small
section of the old cavern complex now remains—the
Hall of Rainbows.
When the characters arrive, read the following: Hl. CAVE ENTRANCE
As the characters approach the entrance, a horrid
stench hits their nostrils. Any Bedine with the party
grip their weapons and remark grimly, “Worm dung.
Move carefully.”
As they enter the cave, the characters see that
the walls are sculpted and chiseled, empty sconces
dot the walls, and chunks of stucco—once brightly
painted with scenes and writing—lie crumbled on
the floor. Long, viscid, rubbery tubes of glistening
purple worm dung lie strewn about, giving off their
acrid odor.

As the adventurers explore this place, every so of- TREASURE

ten they feel rumbling—caused by the passage of A creature that spends 5 minutes digging through
a purple worm moving below the surface. Play up the dung can roll on the Worm Dung Treasure table.
the tension if the characters make any disturbance Once a treasure is found, eliminate that entry from
during their exploration of the caves, since it's well the table.
known that purple worms are alerted by vibrations
in the ground. WORM DUNG TREASURE
The following locations are keyed to the map of d4 Treasure |
Haruun. Unless otherwise noted, all tunnels are
sandstone, unlit, and 12 feet high.
1 Twofireopals (1000 gpeach)
1
2 An animated shield
SCHLEY

4 A bright and shiny ring of resistance (acid)

a oF
MIKE

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX 203 \

H2. WorM RUBBLE Each mural measures 10 feet by 10 feet and has
a caption below it written in Draconic. The images
Rubble from the passage of a purple worm blocks
are described below.
the tunnel, with chunks of stone reaching almost
to the ceiling. A character who clambers to the top MURAL A
of the rubble sees that the tunnel continues on the
® 9
other side, but one must make the climb with care
or risk causing the rubble to shift and alert the This mural shows three wizards wearing strange hats
worm (see below). and using magic
to bring life to a stone golem. The
Removing enough debris to allow a Small or Me- stone golem has a bright blue sapphire in its chest.
dium humanoid to fit through the opening takes Ancient script labels each wizard, and a larger inscrip-
one person about an hour, but the noise caused by tion is engraved below the scene.
the work could summon a hungry purple worm. @

To avoid doing so, whoever is clearing the rubble

must succeed on two DC 15 Dexterity or Strength The three wizards’ names translate as Abzin,
checks. Failure on either check means a boul- Kaalin, and Sharisa. The inscription reads: “Here
der falls from a height or the character slips and the Consortium of Three creates the Sapphire
causes a cascade of rubble, alerting the worm'’s Sentinel.”
tremorsense.
MURAL B
Once a gap is created, the rubble counts as diffi-
cult terrain. @ ; ®

This mural illustrates three wizards with odd hats

PURPLE WORM ATTACK
presenting a stone golem to a young man dressed in
Whenever the time is right (and it’s never not right),
royal finery. One of the wizards embeds a sapphire
a purple worm erupts from the earth and attacks
the party. This can happen anywhere in the caves shard in the right palm of the young man. Ancient
at any time. script labels the young man, and a larger inscription is
engraved below the scene. |
H3. HALL OF RAINBOWS @ 2

The name translates as Prince Hamukai of Azumar.

| The tunnel opens intoa cave fifty feet long, thirty feet The inscription reads: “Here the Sapphire Sentinel
3 wide, and twenty feet tall. Bats chitter near the ceiling, is bound to the wizard prince Hamukai of Azumar.”
| and the floor reeks with mounds of their guano. Color- MuRrAL C
. fully painted frescoes line the walls deeper in the cave.
® ®

This mural shows the golem and the prince placing

The wizards who escaped Zikzokrishka’s wrath a golden cylinder inside a vault filled with stars. A
used this cave as a scriptorium and hall of records.
beam of blue light emerges from a gem in the golem’s
They recorded what they knew and continued their
chest. There's a large inscription engraved below.
work. What remains are benches, wooden desks,
$ &
and scaffolding gnawed by beetle larva and ravaged
by time. Evidence of a cooking fire and tools lie at The inscription reads: “Here, by Hamukai’s com-
the far end of the cave, partially covered by the rub- mand, the Sapphire Sentinel unlocks the Vault of
ble from a purple worm’s passage. Stars to hide and protect the Nether Scroll.”
The brightly colored murals are intact, and detect
magic or similar magic causes the magic ink that MuRraL D
preserves the work to glow. ° | ’
Any Bedine with the party display amazement This mural portraysa battle between the young man
on seeing the murals, since the works prove that
with a blue stone embedded in his right palm and a
their legends about a city that was destroyed by a
dragon are true. Shamir says that he knows of a blue dragon and its army of monsters and men. The
cursed place in the desert that looks like the ruined dragon is wounded in one eye. Three wizards wearing |
city depicted in mural F. He is willing to guide the peculiar hats accompany the young man. The dragon
party there. has blasted the golem with dark energy that is hurling
If the golem sees the murals, it looks confused or it through a crack in the sky. The dragon has a label,
reacts with vague recognition as it tries to recall im- and there’s an inscription below.
ages from its fractured memory.

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 The dragon’s name translates as Zikzokrishka. The OPTIONAL ENCOUNTER
inscription reads: “Here the Sapphire Sentinel is
If the characters are struggling or you worry about
destroyed in the terrible battle against the dragon
their ability to defeat the dracolich at the end of the
Zikzokrishka, who curses Hamukai.”
adventure, this encounter adds a “here comes the
MURAL E cavalry” possibility to bail them out if they face se-
rious trouble. You can also use this encounter as a
® je =
purely feel-good moment.
As the characters make the trek from Haruun to
Aro with 2gion cvinder ihe the necropolis, you can place this encounter in their
1Three wwizards with Unique hats cast path. The journey to Azumar takes a few days. A Be-
dine guide fills each night around the campfire with
horrifying stories about the accursed city.
fi ru inthere's saslagerininscription below. OGRUHL THE DRAGON TORTOISE
If you use this encounter, read the following:
The labels translate as Prince Hamukai of Azumar ® : i ; ;

and the three wizards Abzin, Kaalin, and Sharisa. You crest a dune and s see a2 rocky escarpment inithe
The inscription reads: “Here Hamukai enters the
| distance with small cave entrances all over its subs .
eternal sleep to avert the dragon’s curse and is
Dozens of tiny humanoid creatures dash back: into the .
sealed in slumber with the Nether Scroll.”
caves, sensing your presence. so
MURAL F @

I. a Daa s The tiny creatures are desert-dwelling chwingas

This mural shows the destruction and slaughter ofa | | (see their stat block at the end of the adventure)
city by an assault from a one-eyed blue dragon and that live in tiny caves built up on the shell of a giant
| its horde of monsters. The blue dragon stands atop dragon tortoise. If the characters approach the es-
a mastaba under which liesa star-filled vault sur- carpment, the earth rumbles as the dragon tortoise
raises its massive head out of the sand, addresses
| rounded by a ‘magical aura. The vault holds a young |
them, and asks their intentions.
man inside a sarcophagus. On the left side of the mu- For the dragon tortoise, use the dragon turtle stat
ral, three wizards wearing curious hats flee toward a | block with the following changes:
distant series of caves. An scription below the paint-
« It speaks Draconic and Terran.
| ing iis accompanied bys a rough map. | « It lacks a swimming speed and the Amphib-
®
ious trait.
The inscription reads: “Here the dragon returns to « Its breath weapon is a 60-foot cone of abrasive
destroy the city of Azumar and open the tomb of sand instead of steam that deals slashing damage
Prince Hamukai as the survivors flee to Haruun.” instead of fire damage.
The crude map shows the location of the city of Ogruhl has been trapped here for millennia, re-
Azumar relative to Haruun. Following the map strained by magic chains. Ogruhl was the prisoner
correctly requires a successful DC 14 Wisdom (Sur- of a cruel Netherese wizard. When the city around
vival) check. If a Bedine is present to consult, the the tortoise was abandoned, Ogruhl was left to die.
check succeeds automatically. A band of chwingas found the tortoise and brought
it food and water little by little to keep it alive. Over
TRAVEL TO THE NECROPOLIS time, the chwingas and Ogruhl developed a symbi-
After seeing the murals in the Hall of Rainbows, the otic relationship—it defended them and provided a
characters know their next destination: the ruined home for them, and they helped it to survive.
city of Azumar that is now the necropolis ruled by Helping Ogruhl. A successful DC 20 Intelligence
Zikzokrishka. Any Bedine guide knows the tale of (Arcana) check determines that the chains that
the city of Azumar, which was plunged into ruin bind Ogruhl can be broken with a successful dispel
by a terrible dragon. The Bedine also know of the magic spell (DC 19).
eternally seething sandstorm there and believe that If commanded to do so, the golem uses its sap-
nothing but death and misfortune lie within the phire heart to cast dispel magic with a flash of blue
cursed city. light. If the players don’t realize that the golem can
dispel magic, you can have the golem do this auto-
matically and the players learn about it that way.

o L f J
ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX 5p
 If freed, Ogruhl expresses its immense gratitude To keep the characters on their toes, you can use
and eagerly wants to reclaim its ancestral territory. one of the following encounters.
The bravest chwingas come out to bestow a charm
on each of the characters. HANDS OF THE DEAD
A 20-foot-square area underneath the characters
NECROPOLIS OF AZUMAR erupts with hundreds of skeletal arms that try to
drag them down into the sands.
A consortium of wizards secretly used Azumar, a
Each character must succeed on a DC 17 Dex-
small Netherese city, to house one of the Nether
terity saving throw or be caught in the iron grip
Scrolls under a mastaba that they built near the city
of 1d4 + 1 skeletal arms that are anchored to the
center. The city fell into ruin thousands of years ago
sands. Each arm has AC 13 and 10 hit points. They
and is now surrounded by sand dunes that partially
try to drag a captured character underground (use
bury its outer walls and buildings. No structures
the quicksand rules in the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
on the surface aside from the mastaba remain com-
Not until all the arms holding a character are de-
pletely intact.
stroyed can that character pull itself out of the sand
This place feels like a graveyard, where battle and
or be pulled out by others.
the sands of time destroyed a city and its popula-
tion. It's eerily silent except for the hissing of the CONSORTIUM OF THREE
sandstorm in the distance. Despite the silence, the The party encounters three flameskulls floating
characters can’t shake the feeling that they're being around the ruins, each wearing an odd, tattered
watched (even though the city is clearly abandoned). hat. With a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investi-
As the characters enter the necropolis, read the gation) check, a character recalls the hats worn by
following boxed text: the wizards on the murals in the Hall of Rainbows.
(One or more players might remember this even if
YoYou see bBefore you. aa city that has long fallen to ruin. their characters don’t.) The flameskulls are startled
upon seeing the adventurers and begin chattering
red husks ofoonce-
mpgeifons stones buildings
to one another, wondering what to do about these
strange visitors.
These are the remains of the Consortium of
Three, the Netherese wizards who were loyal to
Prince Hamukai. After establishing the refuge at
Haruun, they honed their magic and vowed to return
y that s \ il in place lke the dome of an immense, to Azumar to defeat Zikzokrishka. When they did,
they discovered to their horror that Zikzokrishka
seet ing ccathedral.
had transformed into a dracolich, becoming even
more powerful. They were defeated, transformed
The golem points to the sandstorm and seems puz- into flameskulls by the dracolich, and commanded
zled about what to do next. to guard her necropolis for eternity. Though their
minds are warped by their current state, if the char-
EXPLORING THE NECROPOLIS acters try to befriend the flameskulls—invoking
As the characters explore the necropolis, describe their names and appealing to their loyalty to the
the scene to keep them on edge—the desolation, the prince—the flameskulls offer to help. A character
scent of scorched sand, and the hiss of the sand- must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion)
storm that increases in volume as they draw near. check to sway the flameskulls. Charisma (Deception
With the exception of the mastaba (see area V1), or Intimidation) checks do not work on them.
the necropolis consists of a series of ruined stone If the characters antagonize the flameskulls or fail
walls jutting out of the sand and patches of paved to communicate with them, the flameskulls either
streets revealed by the howling winds. The swirling attack or flee to alert Helmdar, the storm giant
sandstorm at its center can be seen and heard from skeleton in area V1.
anywhere in the necropolis.
The necropolis also contains buried treasures. A MAGIC SANDSTORM
character who searches for an hour and succeeds A dome of swirling, scouring sand covers the mas-
on a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check finds taba (Hamukai’s tomb) at the heart of the necropo-
some hidden treasure determined by rolling on the lis. Zikzokrishka created this disturbance to keep
Treasure Hoard: Challenge 5-10 table in the Dun- everyone else out until she gains the Nether Scroll.
geon Master's Guide. Up to four such hoards can be When the adventurers arrive at the outer edge of
found before the city is picked clean. the sandstorm, read:

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 Sl Dl a

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MIKE

|
 ?® sia : : 9

You see a dome-shaped sandstorm, four hundred feet

V1. MASTABA
wide, before you. Flashes of purple lightning course This mastaba is a 20-foot-high mesa built from 50-
through the roiling storm, and the sound of the sand to 80-ton megaliths in the form of a step pyramid
with a mausoleum on top of it. A ruined stone wall
is nearly deafening. Scoured bones litter the ground
surrounds the mastaba, which is the only structure
beneath it, and the stone of the nearby ruins has been
still standing in the area.
gouged by its ceaseless winds. | Inside the wall, sand lies in deep drifts over the
@ ¥
stone floor. Three giant scorpions and four wights
The dome of swirling sand is 80 feet thick. The hide under the sand at each end of the mastaba, in
properties of the sandstorm are as follows: the locations indicated on the map, ready to attack
anyone who climbs the nearest steps. The wights
« Any creature that enters the sandstorm for the chant a word in Netherese (“Meat!”) in a rasping
first time on a turn or starts its turn in the storm chorus as they advance. If fighting breaks out at
takes 55 (10d10) slashing damage. either end of the mastaba, a storm giant skeleton
Creatures in the sandstorm are blinded. (see the accompanying stat block) lying dormant on
The golem’s dispel magic creates a 20-foot-wide, top of the mausoleum awakens and attacks.
20-foot-high tunnel through the sandstorm that lasts The storm giant, Helmdar, was sent to destroy two
for 1 minute. frost giant criminals who stole a horn of blasting
Those who make it through the sandstorm from a storm giant king. Helmdar completed his
emerge to see the ruined wall and the mastaba that mission but was killed by Zikzokrishka and turned
houses the vault. The following locations are keyed into an undead thrall to guard her lair.
to the map of the mastaba.
TREASURE
REE
The horn of blasting hangs across the giant's back
STORM GIANT SKELETON and is sized for a storm giant. However, it magically
Huge undead resizes to fit in the hands of whoever holds it.
Armor Class 13 (armor scraps) V2. MAUSOLEUM
Hit Points 204 (24d12 + 48)
Speed 50 ft. Locked stone double doors stand at opposite ends of
this structure. Each double door requires a success-
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ful DC 15 Dexterity check to open using thieves’
29(+9) 14(+2) 15(+2) 3(-4) 8(-) 1(-5) tools. A knock spell or similar magic also opens a
~ Saving Throws Str +14, Con +7 double door. Characters can also try to smash open
~ Skills Perception +4 the doors, which have AC 17, 100 hit points, and im-
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning munity to poison and psychic damage.
Damage Resistances cold If the storm giant skeleton (see area V1) was not
Damage Immunities lightning, poison, thunder
alerted earlier, it awakens and attacks as soon as
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 either double door opens. It can enter the mauso-
Languages — leum. When the characters open a door, read the
~ Challenge 16 (15,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 following:

ACTIONS Before you is a sixty-foot-long, twenty-foot-wide, pil-

Multiattack. The giant makes two attacks with its greatsword lared hall brightly lit by torches in wall sconces. The
or hurls two rocks. carved floral motifs on the pillars have faded, and the
Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one | walls are covered with cracked and crumbling paint-
target. Hit: 30 (6d6 + 9) slashing damage plus 18 (4d8) ne-
ings of farm life in a verdant landscape. A stone stair-
crotic damage.
case leads down.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 60/240 ft., one ® : @
target. Hit: 35 (4d12 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
Lightning Strike (Recharge 5-6). The giant hurls a magical The torches that light this hall go out if removed
lightning bolt at a point it can see within 500 feet of it. Each from their sconces. The stone stairs descend 60 feet
creature within 10 feet of that point must make a DC 15 Dexter- and end at an opening into area V3.
ity saving throw, taking 54 (12d8) lightning damage on a failed
~ save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
V3. DRACOLICH'S ANTECHAMBER the line must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving
throw or take 10 (3d6) lightning damage.
If She’s Winning. All Zikzokrishka cares about is
. At the bottom of the stairs, you see a thirty. foot-wide
getting her claws on the Nether Scroll. During her
long. hall lit with blue crystals thatare encounter with the characters, she bargains with
alls and pillars i in the room. At the far them or issues threats to make them use the golem’s
tands before a limestone door inscribed sapphire heart to open the door to the vault.
nd glyphs that glow dimly. Framing the i If the fight goes poorly for the characters and they
allized bones ofa dragon are embed- helped Ogruhl earlier, the dragon tortoise might
come to their aid, tearing through the mastaba with
wall, i itsSwings outstretched.
o i an SRed : Cea : ®
its claws to aid its saviors.
If She’s Losing. If Zikzokrishka is reduced to 50
Zikzokrishka, an adult blue dracolich, guards hit points or fewer, she tries to escape. If she can’t
the doorway to the vault. She lies flush against the escape, she begs and offers extravagant lies about
wall and ceiling over the far door so that she looks fabled Netherese power—eternal life, wealth beyond
like a decoration. A character who looks closely, imagining, mastery of magic—to postpone her de-
underneath the crystalline deposits on the skeleton, mise or give her time to escape. If all else fails, she
can see that one of the dragon’s eyes has been de- fights to the death, cursing the characters and tell-
stroyed (hearkening back to the murals in the Hall ing them she will hunt them down. If the characters
of Rainbows). don’t find and destroy her phylactery, the dracolich
makes good on her threat (see “Zikzokrishka’s Phy-
PLAYING THE DRAGON lactery” at the end of the adventure).
Seeing the golem that she thought was destroyed
fills Zikzokrishka with glee, because its sapphire TREASURE HOARDS
is the key to opening the vault. Her long vigil is at Zikzokrishka has divided her treasure into two sep-
an end. She orders the characters to use the golem arate hoards (marked “a” and “b” on the map) and
to open the door. She can also try to bargain with carefully buried them under the flagstones of the
them, offering treasure from her hoard (see below) floor. A successful DC 17 Intelligence (Investigation)
or power once she obtains the Nether Scroll. or Wisdom (Perception) check discovers the troves,
Lair Actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initia- or the party can find them by spending at least 30
tive ties) whenever she is in area V3, Zikzokrishka minutes searching the antechamber.
can take a lair action to cause one of the follow-
ing effects. She can’t use the same effect two Treasure Hoard A
rounds in a row: 4,450 gp
370 pp
« Part of the ceiling collapses above one creature
Spell scroll of wish
that the dracolich can see. The creature must suc-
ceed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 21 Wand of polymorph
(6d6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone Treasure Hoard B
and buried under rubble. A buried creature is
1,240 ep
restrained and unable to stand up. A creature can
Staff of withering
use an action to try to pull itself or another crea-
ture out of the rubble, doing so with a successful +2 longbow
DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check. A petrified chwinga (see the end of the adventure for its stat
« A cloud of sand swirls in a 20-foot-radius sphere block) that reverts to flesh when touched and uses its
centered on a point the dracolich can see within Magical Gift action to reward its liberator
60 feet of it. The cloud spreads around corners.
Each creature in the cloud must succeed on a DC
SEALED DOOR
Netherese magic seals the double door that blocks
15 Constitution saving throw or be blinded for 1
passage to area V4. The only way to get past the
minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at
door is through the use of the golem’s sapphire. The
the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
dispel magic property of this gem alone unlocks and
itself on a success.
breaks the spell. There is no other way, magical or
« The dracolich chooses two points that it can see,
not, to reach areas V4 and V5.
each of which must be on a solid surface, and cre-
The character who bonded with the golem can
ates a 5-foot-wide line of lightning between them.
The two points must be within 60 feet of the dra- command it to use its sapphire to break the seal and
open the door.
colich and 60 feet of each other. Each creature in

ALKAZAAR’'S APPENDIX
 If the golem is instructed to open the door, read
the following boxed text aloud to describe this event: A glyph appears on the golem and illuminates, and at
the same time the scene on the west wall of the room
slowly comes to life. The carved river begins to flow,
The golem’ s chest opens to reveal its sapphire heart.
and the flowering plants by the river take on color |
Blue light bursts from the gem and hits the double
and start to wave in a gentle breeze. The stone frame
. door. The symbols on the doors glow with blue fire,
looks like a portal to this beautiful place. -
accompanied by a perceptible shudder and a crackle
® @®

of magical energy. With a groan and the grinding

of stone on stone, the doors open for the first time The stone golem looks at the party member who is
Jina ages. oo - bonded with it as if awaiting its next command.
The sarcophagus is 5 feet tall and covered in
Netherese incantations that have kept the prince in
suspended animation inside it for millennia. If the
V4. HALL OF RECORDS sarcophagus is opened, the spell keeping the prince
The walls along this hallway of descending stair- alive fails. Within a matter of seconds, his body
cases contain a record of the deeds the prince ac- turns to dust.
complished in his life. The plaster and the paintings The portal is a one-way door to the plane of Ely-
are perfectly intact. Scenes include images of him sium. The symbols etched around the frame form
tending to the welfare of his people and the matters the following inscription in Draconic: “May Hamu-
of the city, reading books, falling in love, and culti- kai find his way to Elysium and eternal rest for his
vating his garden. sacrifice.”
About halfway down the staircase, the paintings
turn to depicting the entombment of the prince, the TREASURE
spell cast by the wizards of Netheril, the sealing Inside the sarcophagus are the following treasures:
of the prince in the sarcophagus with the Nether « The Nether Scroll of Azumar (see the item’s
Scroll, the return of Zikzokrishka, and the destruc- description below) inside a 24-inch-long, 5-inch
tion of Azumar. As the golem views these murals, diameter cylinder made of wood and encased in
sand begins to trickle from its eyes. a sheet of gold (500 gp); the scroll is a thin sheet
Closer to area V5, the paintings depict more of hammered copper etched with Draconic writing
recent events: the characters’ journey from Candle- + Gold funerary items wrapped into the prince's
keep, their first contact with the golem, their adven- shroud (2,500 gp)
tures across Anauroch, their exploration of Haruun, A platinum death mask (5,000 gp)
and their encounter with Zikzokrishka. The final « The sapphire shard from the prince's right
painting is of the characters standing before the palm (250 gp)
prince’s tomb. It shows them in exactly the positions The prince’s memoirs, which explain the story and
they're all holding, rendered in perfect detail. the dangers of the Nether Scroll of Azumar

V5. VAULT NETHER SCROLL OF AZUMAR

When the party reaches the vault, read the following Scroll, legendary
boxed text aloud: Unlike most scrolls, a Nether Scroll of Azumar is
not a consumable magic item. It takes 30 days of
A spacious tomb holds a sarcophagus made of stone concentrated study—at least 8 hours per day—to
attempt to understand this scroll. After completing
| covered with glyphs. ‘Magically glowing stars painted = |
this study, you must make a DC 25 Intelligence (Ar-
on the stone adorn the ceiling. The west wall bearsa cana) check. If this check fails, you take 16d10 psy-
carving ofaa beautiful scene of a river and rolling hills chic damage, and you can attempt the check again
inside a a stone frame etched with symbols. after another 30 days of concentrated study.
® When you succeed on the check, you gain the fol-
lowing benefits:
The carving of the river scene is a portal to Elysium
that activates when the golem enters the room. If the Your Intelligence score increases by 2, to a max-
golem does so, read the following boxed text aloud: imum of 22. Once you gain this benefit, you can't
use this scroll to increase your Intelligence again.
« You gain advantage on saving throws against
spells and other magical effects.

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
Hamukal IN His SARCOPHAGUS

When you gain the scroll’s benefits, a stone golem profusely. He embraces his golem as it bows before
magically appears in an unoccupied space within 60 him, sands of joy pouring from its eyes. The prince
feet of you and acts as your ally. If you die, the golem speaks Common and offers the characters all the
turns to dust. treasure in his sarcophagus, except for his mem-
oirs, the sapphire shard, and the Nether Scroll of
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Azumar. Then, without hesitation, he walks into Ely-
The story can conclude in one of the following ways. sium alongside the golem, taking his memoirs and
the Nether Scroll with him.
Open the Sarcophagus. Opening the sarcopha-
gus ages the prince thousands of years in a few sec- ZIKZOKRISHKA OBTAINS THE
onds, turning him to dust but leaving his treasures
(including the Nether Scroll of Azumar) intact. If the NETHER SCROLL
golem is active, it shudders and falls to its knees, its If Zikzokrishka makes a deal or defeats the party,
sapphire heart cracks with an audible pop (render- she rips the sapphire from the golem’s chest, killing
ing it worthless), and the golem turns to dust. it. She then rushes to the sarcophagus and cracks
Let the Golem Do Its Thing. If the golem is the seal, turning the prince to dust. Then she grabs
allowed to do as it wishes, it pushes the prince's the Nether Scroll of Azumar, howling with mani-
sealed sarcophagus through the portal into Elysium. acal laughter. The dracolich’s mastery of magic
Three solars meet the golem on the other side, and her evil spirit enable her to access the darker
open the sarcophagus, welcome the prince into the aspects of the Nether Scroll of Azumar, turning the
afterlife, and take the Nether Scroll of Azumar into sky over Anauroch black and ushering in a reign
safekeeping. of terror and darkness over the desert. She rules
Revive the Prince. The prince is a human arch- the southern part of Anauroch from her lair with
mage, but only a wish spell can keep him alive after cruelty and malice. Her presence prevents caravans
the sarcophagus is opened. If a wish is used to pre- from crossing the desert, and she enslaves Bedine
vent the prince from turning to dust or to resurrect tribes or turns them into undead thralls to serve
him after he turns to dust, he thanks the characters her whims.

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 Paladins, members of holy orders, and Harpers
across Faerfin respond to the disaster in a joint
campaign to defeat the dracolich and destroy the
"Nether Scroll of Azumar.

ZIKZOKRISHKA'S PHYLACTERY
Zikzokrishka hid her phylactery deep within the
Scimitar Spires, a mountain range to the east of
the necropolis of Azumar. If the characters defeat
her, Zikzokrishka uses her phylactery to remateri-
alize, having long ago prepared a dragon’s corpse
to house her spirit upon its return to the phylactery.
She relentlessly seeks them out, using all her evil
ingenuity to recover the Nether Scroll of Azumar.
Zikzokrishka harbors a personal vendetta against
the characters, who remain targets of her wrath
even if they don’t have the Nether Scroll.

| CHWINGA CHWINGA
Tiny elemental Chwingas are tiny elemental spirits that exist all
over Faer(in. These gentle creatures tend to nature
Armor Class 15 as humble custodians. Chwingas live inside plants,
Hit Points 5 (2d4)
rocks, and springs far from civilization. Painfully
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
shy, they prefer to move about unseen.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Though no two chwingas look exactly alike, they
1(-5) 20(+5) 10(+0) 14(+2) 16(+3) 16 (+3) all resemble 6-inch-tall animated dolls with strange
masks, spindly limbs, and wild hair. Chwingas
Skills Acrobatics +7, Perception +7, Stealth +7
brighten a natural setting as they adorn their bur-
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages — rows with colorful rocks and plants.
Challenge 0 (10 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 Humanoid Fascination. Chwingas shun other
creatures, but they find the trappings of civilization
Evasion. When the chwinga is subjected to an effect that allows fascinating. They puzzle over creatures that wear ar-
it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it mor, carry weapons, use tools, and cook food. When
instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and a chwinga encounters one or more humanoids, its
only half damage if it fails. curiosity compels it to shadow those creatures for a
Unusual Nature. The chwinga doesn’t require air, food, or short time and observe them. If it takes a liking to
~ drink. When it dies, it turns into a handful of flower petals, a a particular humanoid, a chwinga uses its cantrips
cloud of pollen, a stone statuette resembling its former self, to aid it, or bestows a magical gift before departing.
a tiny sphere of smooth stone, or a puddle of fresh water The features that attract a chwinga to a particular
(your choice). humanoid vary. A chwinga might like the way a
ACTIONS humanoid walks or the way it combs its hair, or be
smitten by a humanoid’s ability to play music or to
Magical Gift (1/Day). The chwinga targets a humanoid it can
see within 5 feet of it. The target gains a supernatural charm eat copious amounts of food.
of the DM’s choice. See the Dungeon Master's Guide for more Chwingas that live in the desert can bestow the
information on supernatural charms. following additional supernatural charms:
Natural Shelter. The chwinga magically takes shelter inside Charm of the Mirage. This charm allows you to cast the halluci-
a rock, a living plant, or a natural source of fresh water in its natory terrain spell (save DC 15) as an action. Once used, this
space. The chwinga can’t be targeted by any attack, spell, or charm vanishes from you.
other effect while inside this shelter, and the shelter doesn’t im-
Charm of the Water Bearer. This charm allows you to create up
pair the chwinga’s blindsight. The chwinga can use its action to
to 1 gallon of fresh water, which fills one or more empty con-
emerge from its shelter. If its shelter is destroyed, the chwinga
tainers in your possession. You can do this up to thrice per day
is forced out and appears in the shelter’s former space, but is
for 10 days, after which this charm vanishes from you.
otherwise unharmed.
~ Spellcasting. The chwinga casts one of the following spells,
requiring no material or verbal components:
IRINA NORDSOL

At will: druidcraft, guidance, pass without trace, resistance

ALKAZAAR’S APPENDIX
 AN ADVENTURE FOR16TH-LEVEL CHARACTERS

~ SXANTHORIA_
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+#“WRITTEN BY TONI WINSLOW-BRILL d

DEVELOPED BY BILL BENHAM & CHRISTOPHER PERKINS
EDITED BY KIM MOHAN

@®
DEADLY FUNGAL INFECTION CALLED THE
A fungal plague is ravaging the Sword Coast, spread-
saprophytic plague is ravaging the Sword
Coast. The plague not only targets beasts ing quickly from one settlement to the next. Although
and humanoids but also destroys crops magic has proven effective at ridding individuals
and stored foodstuffs, causing famine and sickness of the spore infection, the plague is spreading too
on an epic scale. Religious and civil authorities are quickly to contain. Creatures that become infected fall
unable to stem the tide of the saprophytic plague, ill with a fever and sprout disgusting, gooey, fungal
| and even a wish spell can’t undo the contagion,
growths before losing their autonomy, acting like zom-
given how widespread it has become.
The mystery surrounding Xanthoria has to do with bies. They also release spores that infect other beasts
the discovery of a mad druid’s quest for lichdom and and humanoids. Eventually, the plague reduces all in-
the plague she unleashed in the process. Ordinary fected creatures and foodstuffs to puddles of ooze.
liches contain their souls in inanimate objects, but Humanoids infected with the plague drone the word
the druid Xanthoria discovered a way to house her “Xanthoria” over and over for no discernible reason
soul in a living being. before death finally claims them. You have determined
that there's a book by that name contained in the
BEGINNING THE library-fortress of Candlekeep. With luck, the book
ADVENTURE holds information that might help you end the sapro-
Read the following boxed text to the players to kick phytic plague before it wipes out every village, town,
off the adventure: and city in Faer(n.
®

Xanthoria was a powerful druid who transformed

XANTHORIA herself into a lichen lich (see the end of the adven-
ture for a description of this new monster). Liches
typically use inanimate objects as phylacteries, but
Xanthoria discovered a way to house her soul in a
living sprite named Thunderwing. Though initially
concerned with ways to end the unnatural life of the
undead, Xanthoria’s research took a dark turn as
her madness bloomed. The book titled Xanthoria
chronicles her descent into madness.

THE SAPROPHYTIC PLAGUE

Xanthoria's research into lichdom and her creation
of a living phylactery led to the emergence of the
plague spreading across the Sword Coast. Any
beast or humanoid that comes within 10 feet of a
creature infected by the saprophytic plague must
succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or
become infected as well. On a successful save, a
creature is immune to the plague for 24 hours, and
any creature that is immune to disease succeeds on
the save automatically.

XANTHORIA 213
 After a failed save, a creature experiences the first Quiet and unassuming, Zelyth concentrates on
symptoms—body aches, nausea, slurred speech, and training new acolytes and tending to those in need,
uncontrollable drooling—1d4 hours later and gains but she’s aware of the fungal plague spreading
1 level of exhaustion. Every 24 hours thereafter, like wildfire up and down the Sword Coast. She
the creature automatically gains another level of has been expecting someone to show up looking
exhaustion. Any creature killed by the saprophytic for the book.
plague transforms into a lifeless magenta ooze. Zelyth allows the characters to peruse the book
A creature infected by the saprophytic plague for and assures them it’s safe to do so. (The lichen cov-
at least 24 hours behaves like a zombie and seems ering the book poses no danger.) She also shares
barely aware of its surroundings, as fungal growths the following information with the characters:
sprout from its head, body, and limbs. It feels an
« Xanthoria was a druid of Silvanus (god of wild
overriding urge to be around groups of uninfected
nature) whose forest home was threatened by un-
creatures so that it can spread the contagion. This is
dead. By researching fungi and lichen, Xanthoria
the time when infected humanoids begin speaking
hoped to create a weapon that could protect her
the word “Xanthoria” over and over, with no under-
forest against undead invaders.
standing of what the word means. This behavior is
« At some point, Xanthoria’s research became more
the result of a mycelial network of spores that forms
geared toward creating a ward against death it-
a tenuous connection between Xanthoria and hu-
self, then finally toward achieving lichdom.
manoids that become infected by the plague.
« According to the book, Xanthoria never discov-
Foodstuffs that are exposed to the plague’s spores
ered the source of the undead incursion that
decay or go sour within 2d12 hours, leaving behind
prompted her initial research.
a lurid magenta mass of oozing fungi. Eating in-
fected food requires a saving throw as above. Zelyth doesn’t know what caused Xanthoria’s slide
Any magic that cures a disease can rid a creature into madness. If questioned about the saprophytic
of the saprophytic plague. Casting purify food and plague, Zelyth muses that the book’s information
drink destroys the infection in foodstuffs. could be helpful in preventing further outbreaks. }
Zelyth allows the characters to spend as much
FINDING THE BOOK time with the book as they need. When they're done
Upon arriving in Candlekeep, the characters can with it, Zelyth returns the book to its vault.
use an Avowed guide to help them track down the
book titled Xanthoria. This quest brings them to the
BOOK DESCRIPTION
attention of Zelyth Lightleaf, one of Candlekeep’s The book’s browned pages have become swollen
sages and the foremost expert on Xanthoria—both and wrinkled due to age and exposure to moisture.
the book and its mysterious author: Crumbling yellow lichen obscures the title on the
front cover, rendering it illegible. Harmless spores
® on : ®
puff into the air when the book is opened. Standing
Your guide does not return. Instead, you are greeted
eight and a half inches tall and five inches wide, it
by a robed wood elf with brown hair and a plain face. has been cataloged as Xanthoria, titled after the
In her hands, she holds a book so encrusted with author who is identified inside the work.
lichen that its covers can barely be closed around its
wrinkled pages. “I believe you're looking for this,” she
JOINING OF Two WORLDS
Written in Common, Xanthoria begins with a set of
says with a warm, bright smile. “My name is Zelyth
scientific essays about symbiotic relationships in na-
. Lightleaf. I'm Candlekeep’s foremost expert on this
ture before deteriorating into confusing ramblings
book and its author.” on the merits and similarities of life and death. It
describes the author’s numerous experiments both
A few months ago, Zelyth Lightleaf (neutral good natural and unnatural. One of the more thorough
wood elf sage; see the “Candlekeep” section at studies details the life cycle of a worm-like parasite
the front of the book for her stat block) joined the that infiltrates different species of wasps, taking
Avowed, using the book as her entrance gift into the over their motor functions, while essentially wear-
library. She found it in an abandoned satchel near a ing their still-living bodies as a disguise so the para-
secluded cave system called the Lykortha Expanse, sites can infect other wasps.
which is known among druids for its rare fungal Ultimately, Xanthoria found a way to link her soul
growths. Zelyth assumed the book had been lost to the life force of another creature and thereby
and took possession of it. unnaturally prolong her own life, by transforming
the other creature into a phylactery.

XANTHORIA
 Characters who peruse Xanthoria learn the fol- GENERAL FEATURES
lowing additional information:
The areas that make up the Lykortha Expanse
. Xanthoria was fearful of a surge in undead in- have several common physical features, summa-
vading the forest near her home in the Lykortha rized here:
Expanse, a cave complex. She was seeking a way
Light. The complex is dimly lit by bioluminescent
to stop their spread and preserve what she viewed
fungi growing in patches on the walls.
as the natural order of things.
Fungus. The ceilings, walls, and floors are coated
Most of the book discusses healthy symbiotic rela-
in fungal growth.
tionships in nature.
Passages. The caves and tunnels are made of un-
. The author spent time researching undead in the
worked stone. Ceilings throughout are 20 feet
hope of gaining insight into their actions and as-
high unless otherwise noted.
certaining where they could be coming from.
. As the author sinks into madness, the writing MADNESS OF ZUGGTMOY
turns into almost incomprehensible fragments, Certain effects within the Lykortha Expanse can
many alluding to her desire to combine natural life afflict characters with a type of madness brought
and the undead. on by the influence of Zuggtmoy. A greater resto-
. The end of the book records several failed at- ration spell or more powerful magic rids a char-
tempts by Xanthoria to extend her life through a acter of this madness, which otherwise lasts until
process similar to becoming a lich. There are vari- cured. The madness gives the character a new flaw
ous drawings of dissected animals and humanoids that suppresses any contradictory character trait.
alongside musings on the viability of experiment- Roll on the Madness of Zuggtmoy table to deter-
ing on fey creatures. mine the flaw.
. The sketches and margin notes get progressively
darker the farther one reads. The terms “Mycorji? MADNESS OF ZUGGTMOY
Shedaklah?” and “Lady of Lichen” appear several d100 Flaw (lasts until cured)
times each. Furthermore, the number 222 ap-
01-20 “I see visions in the world around nme e that ot ers .
pears frequently throughout the latter half of the
do not.” . :
book devoid of explanation.
21-40 “I periodically slip into a CREAIOnIC state, staring
Characters can locate the forest containing the
off into the distance for long stretches.”
Lykortha Expanse on a map. If one or more charac-
ters try to draw some conclusion about the outbreak 41-60 “I see an altered version of reality, with my mind
based on the forest's location, a successful DC 20 convincing itself that things are true even in the os
Wisdom (Insight) check allows them to safely con- face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.”
clude that the plague likely originated there. 61-80 “My mind is slipping Wa, and my ialiganes’:
Zelyth doesn’t know the meaning of the words seems to wax and wane.’
“Mycorji” or “Shedaklah,” nor does she know the 81-00 “I am constantly scratching at unseen fun al
significance of the number 222. If the characters
infections.”
have experience fighting demons or knowledge per-
taining to the Abyss, you can allow them to make
an Intelligence (Arcana) check. On a check total of ENCOUNTER LOCATIONS
20 of higher, a character recalls that the Abyss’s The following locations are keyed to the map of the
222nd layer is known as Shedaklah and sometimes Lykortha Expanse.
is called Mycorji. On a total of 25 or higher, the
character also knows that this layer is home to two Ll. ENTRANCE
demon lords: Juiblex, the Demon Prince of Oozes, $

and Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Fungi.

Ahead, a darkened cave moh bbeckons from benes th
n, andgray .
THE LYKORTHA EXPANSE the forest canopy. Growths of green, brow
l streamm floy
lichen cover the cave mouth, and a smal
Characters can use the notes in Xanthoria to locate .
deeper into the yawning darkness.
the Lykortha Expanse and the forest surrounding
®
it. This natural cave complex was created by eons of
erosion and hosts a wide array of lichen, molds, and The character who has the highest passive Wisdom
fungi—an ideal location for Xanthoria’s research. (Perception) score hears faint crying coming from
Though she worked to make it suitable for habita- a small stand of stones. Investigating the cries re-
tion, it has fallen into an unhealthy state and reflects veals a tiny winged figure, head in hands. This is
the druid’s deepening insanity.

XANTHORIA 215
 momentary feeling of intense longing and hunger.
This event occurs only once.
Thunderwing was Xanthoria’s friend until the
druid’s mind became twisted by the influence of
Zuggtmoy, causing Xanthoria to conduct grisly
experiments on living creatures. Thunderwing
is one of Xanthoria’s more recent subjects. The
sprite looks alive, yet she is subject to effects that
turn undead.
Thunderwing can’t be harmed unless she chooses
to be. This is true for as long as she functions as a
living phylactery for Xanthoria. Weapons and harm-
ful effects pass through her as though she were a
mere projection.
Thunderwing accompanies the characters as they
explore the Lykortha Expanse, providing additional
information she “remembers” if they need clues.
The sprite can’t remember if Xanthoria is home or
not, but she doesn’t recall seeing the druid outside
the cave complex recently. Since Xanthoria moves
freely throughout the Lykortha Expanse, she could
be anywhere, according to Thunderwing.
Personality Trait. “I'm very emotional.”
Ideal. “Living things should be free and wild, not
caught up in the trappings of civilization.”
Bond. “1 will always try to help a friend.”
Flaw. “I'm such a scatterbrain. I forget important
pieces of information until something reminds me.”
THUNDERWING
L2. ALCHEMIST'S ALCOVE

Spiderwebs and mold cover everything inside this

room. A rotting wood table and a set of shelves stand
Thunderwing, a sprite. She immediately gravitates
along the far wall. Glass jars, a mortar and pestle, and
toward characters who are friendly toward her.
various other alchemical supplies lie scattered about
Thunderwing looks mournfully at the adventurers
and snuffles loudly, bubbles of snot forming beneath the space.
her tiny nose. If someone is kind to her, she tells *

them the following:

Treasure. Though most of the bottles in this room
« She used to live here with her friends, Xantho- have been ruined, a few are in fairly good shape. A
ria and Bunny Blossom. Xanthoria is a druid thorough search yields a potion of healing (superior)
of Silvanus, and Bunny Blossom is a yellow and a mildewed notebook containing instructions
faerie dragon. for concocting a potion of longevity out of fungi and
- Xanthoria subjected her to some terrible exper- a pint of blood from an archfey, all harvested within
iment. It hurt badly, but she managed to escape the past 24 hours. The handwriting in this notebook
somehow. She flitted about in the darkness un- matches the handwriting in Xanthoria.
til reaching the cave mouth. She's been sitting The potion-brewing ritual described in the note-
here feeling sad and missing Bunny Blossom book requires alchemists supplies and the afore-
ever since. mentioned ingredients. The ritual takes 1 hour to
« Thunderwing has no sense of direction and no perform, at the end of which the brewer makes a
sense of time. Any questions relating to such top- DC 30 Intelligence (Arcana) check. On a successful
ics just confuse her. check, a potion of longevity is created. On a failed
check, the potion is created but loses its potency
BURDET

The first character who touches Thunderwing

after 10 minutes; on a check that fails by 5 or more,
experiences an image in their mind’s eye of a fe-
the brewer also ages 4d10 years.
CHRISTOPHER

male half-elf in a gossamer cape made of mycelial

threads. This brief vision is accompanied by a

XANTHORIA
 LYKORTHA 4 IK
SS 8
oS

EXPANSE i $°< —

174 VL
1square = 10 feet

that holds them. Either accomplishment spells

their doom.
A character with a knife or other small blade can
use an action to try to cut a subject free of the my-
celium, doing so with a successful DC 20 Strength
(Athletics) check. On a failed check, the character
takes 20 (4d8) necrotic damage and disturbs the my-
celium; roll a d6 and refer to the Mycelium Effects
table. Fungus creatures and those that have been in-
fected with saprophytic plague are immune to these
effects and are not targeted by them.
This cavern was created by Xanthoria to conduct Mycelial Threats. Three of Xanthoria’s fungal
more experiments as she descended deeper into servants lurk in this room, each indistinguishable
madness. Specifically, Xanthoria found herself able from one of the mushroom stalks. The fungal
to communicate with other beings that had been servants try to destroy intruders. For one fungal
infected with her spores and wanted to understand servant, use the mummy lord stat block, but omit
the process further. its lair actions and regional effects, and replace its
Suspended Subjects. The two beings suspended sand-based effects with spore-based ones that are
in the mycelium were a human named Konrad functionally identical. Use the vrock stat block for
and an orc named Rugga Two-Guts. Now they are the other two.
fused with the fungus and constitute something else Attacking the Mycelium. If the party is inclined
entirely. Both Konrad and Rugga are in constant to destroy the mycelium, treat it as a Huge object
agony. They can communicate telepathically out to with AC 16, 300 hit points, a damage threshold of
a range of 60 feet. Their communications consist 10, and immunity to acid and poison damage. Every
SEAN MACDONALD

of pleas to release them from their torment. This time the mycelium takes damage, a random effect
can be accomplished by cutting both creatures free occurs as determined by rolling on the Mycelium
of the mycelium or by destroying the mycelium Effects table.

XANTHORIA 217
 MYCELIUM EFFECTS on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or fall
dé Effect unconscious. Characters who are immune to any
effect that would put them to sleep succeed on the
1-2 The mycelium lashes out and makes the following
saving throw automatically. An unconscious charac-
melee weapon attack against a target of the DM’s
ter is restrained by the vines and takes 66 (12d10)
choice: +10 to hit, reach 60 ft., one creature. Hit:
piercing damage at the start of each of its turns until
24 (6d6 + 3) acid damage. it is no longer restrained in this way.
3-4 Spores fill a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a Characters can kill the vines by attacking their
point in the cavern chosen by the DM. Creatures root in the center of the room. Treat the root as an
in the area must make a DC 16 Constitution immobile, Medium object with AC 15 and 100 hit
saving throw. A creature takes 55 (10d10) poison points. When the root is reduced to 0 hit points, the
damage and is poisoned for 1 hour on a failed vines release spores into the air as they die. These
save, or takes half as much damage and is not spores attach themselves to all creatures in the cave
poisoned on a successful save. and have no effect until those covered with them
face off against Xanthoria (see area L11). Those who
5-6 Psychic energy fills a 20-foot-radius sphere cen-
are exposed to the spores but take the time to wash
~ tered on a point in the cavern chosen by the DM. themselves off with water suffer no ill effects.
Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC Development. If the characters are having trouble
16 Intelligence saving throw or take 31 (4d12 + 5) understanding the path that Xanthoria now walks,
psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A this is a good point to have Thunderwing remember
target can repeat the saving throw at the end of being subjected to an experiment like one described
each of its turns, ending the stunned condition on in Xanthoria.
itself on a success.
L5. FAERIE RING
If the mycelium is destroyed, the room is engulfed
in a psychic backlash. Those present receive visions In the center of this oval cave stands a ring of brightly
of an endless forest of tower-sized mushrooms, a
colored mushrooms ranging from three to eight feet
woman wearing a holy symbol of Sylvanus running
between them crying gooey, ochre tears, and a tall. The air smells heavily of mildew.
skull-splitting cry of anguish. Each creature in the
cavern must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving The mushroom ring in the center of the room is a
throw or take 44 (8d10) psychic damage. Thunder- fey crossing. It was through this gateway that Thun-
wing is immune to these visions. derwing and Bunny Blossom first arrived, though
the ring was not contaminated at that point in time.
L4. MoLDY BEDROOM
The ring in its corrupted state makes Thunder-
An unlocked wooden door seals off this cave.
wing feel ill, and she turns away from it in sadness.
Sn Thunderwing warns those near the ring to stay
This cave reeks of mold and mildew. Delicate white away from it, saying that something is wrong with
vines with brilliant purple flowers drape portions of it and it doesn’t lead to home anymore. Anyone who
the walls and floor. A large straw pallet in disrepair sits ignores her warning and steps into the ring to try to
in the far corner with a broken oak table next to it. use it sees an image that only they experience:
@ ® ° 0
The cave disappears and is replaced
by a field car-
This room was Xanthoria’s sleeping chamber,
though once she completed her transformation into peted in spongy moss and pockmarked with pools
a lichen lich, she had no more need of it. At the back of ooze. A colossal palace constructed of giant |
of the cave lurks a strange bundle of white poison mushrooms with interconnecting bridges rises in the
ivy with a single bulbous eye in the center (use the distance. A cloud of spores falls gently from the sky,
death tyrant stat block, but omit its lair actions covering everything in a fine layer of the substance.
and regional effects). In the middle of the room, a A tall creature beckons with a smile. Her body’s top
mold-encrusted skeleton jerkily rises, wearing ar-
half vaguely resembles that of a humanoid. Four ropy,
mor made of calcified lichen and covered in fungal
growths (use the death knight stat block). fibrous antennae grow from her forehead, somehow
White Vines. If one or more characters enter this enhancing her disgusting and compelling beauty. Her
cave, the white vines clinging to the walls quiver as lower half is a mass of writhing, pulsing tentacles cov-
the purple flowers open wide and spread their sweet ered with fungal growths, resembling a horrific gown.
scent. Each character in the cave must succeed @ @

XANTHORIA
The figure in the vision is Zuggtmoy, with her fungal L7. KITCHEN
palace in the background. Anyone who experiences An unlocked wooden door seals off this cave. The
the vision becomes afflicted with the madness of door is covered with what is obviously a patch of
Zuggtmoy (see “Madness of Zuggtmoy” earlier in yellow mold (see the Dungeon Master's Guide). Any
the adventure). intruder who opens or otherwise disturbs the door
The vision is fleeting, and characters who experi- causes the mold to release its spores.
ence it find themselves back inside the faerie ring
$® ®
when it concludes.
The stonework in this cavern suggests this area was
L.L6. FLOODED CAVERN once a kitchen. Pots and pans lie piled on the floor in
one corner, as if someone had started to gather them.
A huge pool of stagnant water fills this cave. Blooms Kitchen utensils are scattered about the floor, most of

of glowing green algae drift on the surface while tiny, them bent and misshapen. Open bags of spices rest
white bioluminescent fish flit around in the water. on shelves, and rat droppings are evident on every
surface.

The water has a layer of algae that thickens at one

end of the pool, and on the other end tiny bubbles The pots and pans are rusted, and many have bro-
rise from an underground spring that slowly flows ken handles. A bent utensil breaks if someone tries
into the pool. Tiny fish swim under the algae, occa- to repair it, and the bits of spices and other ingre-
sionally surfacing to eat water bugs. dients here and there in the room have infestations
Drinking the water or bathing in it causes no ill of mold and insects. Thunderwing looks forlornly
effects. A character who succeeds on a DC 16 Wis- about the kitchen and cries a bit, lamenting the loss
dom (Perception) check finds the image of an oak of the Xanthoria she remembers.
leaf—the symbol of Silvanus—etched on one of the Lost Memento. Searching the room uncovers
walls. This is a safe room to rest in. a recipe book wrapped in oilcloth under a pile of

Faerie RING
refuse. A successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investi- Any creature swallowed by a parasite-infested
gation) check reveals that the handwriting closely behir must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving
resembles the older writings of Xanthoria. A pre- throw at the start of each of the behir’s turns or be
served oak leaf serves as a bookmark, and sketches feasted upon by blood parasites, taking 36 (8d8)
of Thunderwing and Bunny Blossom are drawn in necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much
the margins. See area L11 for more information on damage on a successful one. (This damage is in ad-
how seeing this book affects Xanthoria. dition to the damage caused by the behir’s digestive
acids.) Targeting the behir with magic that removes
L8. MEDITATION CAVERN
a disease Kills off its blood parasites.
An unlocked wooden door seals off this cave.
Fog. The fog is confined to this chamber and cov-
ers the floor here to a depth of 2 feet. Any creature
Theaair hangs heavy and rotten in this terraced cavern. or object completely submerged in the fog is heav-
| Patches of brilliantly colored mushrooms dot the up- ily obscured.
per terrace, in the middle of which is a narrow stone The behirs avoid the fog by crawling along the
walls and ceiling. When a creature enters the fog
staircase. leading down to a roughly hemispherical
for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it
L lower chamber. The walls of the lower area sport mu- must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw
rals of animals and fey creatures depicted in fungal or gain 1 level of exhaustion. A creature that makes
reliefs. a successful saving throw against the fog becomes
immune to it for the next 24 hours (although levels
of exhaustion already gained aren't removed).
This is Xanthoria’s space for meditation and relax-
If Thunderwing sees one or more party members
ation. The murals covering the lower chamber’s
struggling with the effects of the fog, she overcomes
walls are truly disturbing; their colors, textures,
her fear of the cave and flits around it while avoiding
and patterns are nauseating to behold. Any char-
contact with the fog. Pulsing with arcane power, she
acter who takes the time to study the murals and
blows the fog away before collapsing. She recovers
succeeds on a DC 20 Intelligence (Religion) check
after 1 minute with only a hazy memory of what she
uncovers subtle symbology related to the worship of
did. A gust of wind spell or similar magic also dis-
Zuggtmoy. A character who succeeds on this check
perses the fog, which returns after 10 minutes.
must then succeed on a DC 16 Charisma saving
Cages. The cages contain some of Xanthoria’s
throw or become afflicted with the madness of Zug-
failed experiments, which she left to die and rot:
gtmoy (see “Madness of Zuggtmoy” earlier in the
adventure). The rotting corpse of what looks like a dis-
A search of the cave yields a bundle of parchment placer beast, but one with far too many tentacles
detailing research on Shedaklah, the 222nd layer and limbs.
of the Abyss. A fetid wasteland of fungus and oozes, The yellowed skeleton of a tiny dragon with a
this is the seat of Zuggtmoy’s power. second head, all its flesh rotted away. Its body is
curled up in an unnatural position, and its wings
L9. COVE OF EXPERIMENTATION are outstretched oddly as if it were suffering some
Thunderwing trembles in fear upon reaching this unknown agony. These are the remains of the yel-
area. She can’t remember why this particular loca- low faerie dragon Bunny Blossom.
tion frightens her, and convincing her to enter the « The skeletal remains of a sprite dressed in
cave requires some gentle coaxing. brightly colored but tattered clothing. Its trans-
SEE —_ ’ lucent wings are shriveled and crumble at the
The stench of rot pervades the air in this cavern. lightest touch.
The rotting and mutilated remains of four goblins
Several stone tables covered ini suspicious- looking
and two wood elves.
red stains stand amid several rusty cages. A two-foot-
deep coating of gray fog blankets the floor, and two Development. Anyone who touches Bunny Blos-
huge, reptilian creatures with twelve legs apiece crawl som’s corpse is filled with a kaleidoscope of visions:
a feverish half-elf with long blonde hair (Xanthoria),
acacrosss the damp calling.
Thunderwing screaming at the center of a runic cir-
5 : %
cle, and the two staring into each other's eyes.
The creatures crawling across the ceiling are two Treasure. Once the undead behirs are dealt with,
behirs. When they roar or discharge their lightning characters who search the cave thoroughly find Xan-
breath, thousands of gray, parasitic blood worms thoria’s staff of the woodlands leaning against a wall
can be seen writhing inside their mouths. in the eastern alcove. The staff is fully charged.

XANTHORIA
LL10. CHARNEL PIT
The scent ot decomp posing Vegetation i is overpower- .
® _— ®
ing in this area. Creatures of all shapes and sizes are.
The stench of death iis thick in© this yawning cavern. partially entombed ini fungal growths resembling a =
horrifying botanical garden. Ancient mushrooms a
large as trees loom overhead, and puddles of stinki
| 800 dot the floor. | .
#

The spores from area L4 have fully incubated by

This is where Xanthoria disposes of failed experi- the time the characters reach this location. Any
ments or anything else she dislikes. The pit is inhab- creature that was exposed to the spores and did not
ited by a purple worm bound to Xanthoria’s will. wash them off is now subject to their full effect. At
The worm consumes anything thrown into the hole. the start of its first turn after arriving here, the crea-
As the Worm Turns. Once the characters enter ture must make a DC 20 Constitution saving throw,
the chamber, the worm rumbles forth and tries to taking 50 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half
devour everyone. At the end of each character's as much damage on a successful one.
turn, roll a d4 and consult the Charnel Worm Ef- When the characters reach the north end of the
fects table to see what additional danger the party grove, read:
faces from the worm.
®

CHARNEL WORM EFFECTS The tunnel leads to a dead- end cavee supported bya |
d4 Effect natural pillar of rock. The chamber contains ariotof
1 The worm smashes a horde of thrashing, ani-
fungi and tree-sized mushrooms, ass well
mated body parts loose from the walls. Treat the dles of ooze. . -
floor of the cave as difficult terrain for Medium Under one of the giant srushro y
and smaller creatures until the worm’s next turn. works ny ona vivisected dots sp
2 The worm vomits a gout of rotten flesh in a 30-
foot cone. Each creature in the cone must make a
DC 16 Constitution saving throw. A creature takes
55 (10d10) poison damage and is poisoned for 1
hour on a failed save, or takes half as much dam-
to Vion mh she’s
age and is not poisoned on a success. her Xanthoria 2nd ooking] ber
3 Theworm thrashes about in rage. Each Large or doing in an attempt to alleviate his boredor
smaller creature in the cave must succeed on a %

DCG Dexterity saving throw or be moved 20 feet

Xanthoria, a lichen lich (see her stat block at the
closer to the pit’ s edge. If this movement forces a end of the adventure), senses the characters and
creature i into the pit, it takes 35 (10d6) bludgeon- shoots them a crooked smile. As she does so, the
ing damage from the 100-foot fall. boy’s form abruptly stiffens and his body withers
4 No additional effect. into a dry husk. Stealing the life force of the boy en-
ables her to cast antilife shell immediately and with-
Treasure. Lodged in the purple worm’s gullet out visibly doing so. She continues to concentrate on
is an emerald the size of a halfling’s head (worth the spell as she resumes her grisly work.
25,000 gp). Once the worm is dead, a search of its Xanthoria was a half-elf druid of Silvanus, and a
gullet yields the enormous gemstone. small symbol of Silvanus hangs around her neck.
L1l. XANTHORIA'S GROVE OF HORRORS Unfortunately for her, she fell into madness and her
An unlocked wooden door seals off this cave. The research became twisted due to the machinations
of Zuggtmoy. She began to perform terrible exper-
door is covered with what is obviously a patch of
iments on living creatures to try to find ways to
brown mold (see the Dungeon Master's Guide). Any
bridge the gap between life and death. Eventually,
intruder who opens or otherwise disturbs the door
she turned her experiments on herself, causing her
causes the mold to release its spores.
to transform into an unholy lichen lich.
Xanthoria is quite lonely and willing to talk to the
group that has entered her grove, though she cannot
be persuaded to discontinue her experiments. She

XANTHORIA
has been aware of the characters’ presence since Convincing Thunderwing to give up her life
they first entered the ruins of Lykortha and has should be handled through roleplaying rather than
been eagerly awaiting their arrival. ability checks, although you can require the charac-
Xanthoria should be well prepared for the adven- ters to succeed on a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion)
turers by the time they arrive at her warped druid group check if the scene proves difficult to roleplay.
grove and laboratory. She has called a nalfeshnee If Thunderwing is convinced to sacrifice herself, she
named Danjak to her service. Danjak is an emissary lets out a deep sigh before flying about and kissing
of Zuggtmoy, and the demon’s form is crusted and each character on the forehead—even the ones she
interwoven with a riotous blend of molds, lichen, doesn’t like. Finally, she approaches the character
and fungi. He lurks at the back of the cave, awaiting with whom she has made the strongest connection,
Xanthoria’s command before stepping out of the lies down in their open hands, and shivers slightly
shadows. Additionally, nearby lurks the rotting husk before expiring. Thunderwing can't be brought back
of an infected treant ready to defend its master. The to life by any means.
treant can’t use its Animate Trees action here, since If the adventurers fail to convince Thunderwing
there are no other trees in the vicinity. In addition to to give up her life, she turns invisible and leaves
the treant, four invisible will-o’-wisps flit about the the cave complex, taking refuge in the surrounding
grove, ready to use Consume Life on adventurers forest. Xanthoria re-forms 1d10 days later, appear-
who fall in battle. ing next to Thunderwing. The rejuvenated lichen
Environmental Factors. Xanthoria’s grove and lich then relocates to another lair to resume her re-
the tunnel leading to it from area L9 are warded search as the plague continues to ravage Faerfin.
against magical travel by creatures other than Xan- If the characters return to Candlekeep, they find
thoria. Such creatures can't teleport into or out of Zelyth eager to hear the tale of their harrowing ex-
this area or use planar travel to enter or leave it. perience. If the characters inform Zelyth that Xan-
Effects that allow teleportation or planar travel do thoria has been destroyed, Zelyth thanks them for
function if the starting point and the destination are putting an end to Xanthoria’s madness and granting
both within this area. her the final rest that she deserves.
Lost Memento. Showing Xanthoria the book
from area L7 awakens long-dormant memories of
her previous life and causes her to take no actions,
legendary actions, or lair actions until the end of her
next turn. The book affects Xanthoria in this way
only once.

XANTHORIA'S DEFEAT
Once Xanthoria is defeated, the characters find the
last few pages of her notes among her possessions.
They detail her growing obsession with undead
and her success at turning Thunderwing into her
phylactery.
Armed with the information about Xanthoria’s
phylactery, the characters must convince Thun-
derwing to give up her life to destroy the lichen
lich once and for all. Here are some of the
ways in which the characters might con-
vince Thunderwing to sacrifice herself for
the greater good:
« Promising to raise her friend, Bunny
Blossom the faerie dragon, from
the dead.
Promising to complete Xanthoria’s origi-
nal mission to rid the surrounding forest
of undead.
Destroying Xanthoria’s notes so that
the process of creating a lichen lich can
never be duplicated by anyone else.

XANTHORIA
 The destruction of Xanthoria and her phylactery its next turn. The cloud lasts for 1 minute or until
halts the spread of the saprophytic plague. Crea- it is dispersed by a strong wind.
tures infected by the plague continue to suffer its « The lich commands the might of its diseased
effects but no longer utter the word “Xanthoria” as grove, creating a shambling mound. The sham-
they lose their mycelial connection to the lichen lich. bling mound appears in an unoccupied space
Moreover, their spores are no longer contagious. within 30 feet of the lich, acts on its own initiative
count, and obeys the lich’s commands. The sham-
LICHEN LicH bling mound dies after 1 hour or when the lich
Lichen liches are the undead remnants of power- uses this lair action again.
ful druids. « Rotten roots and vines magically erupt in a 20-
A lichen lich looks like a skeleton covered with foot radius centered on a point on the ground that
fungi and bark-like lichen. A lichen lich has vines the lich can see within 120 feet of it. the lich is
writhing within its chest cavity. These vines exude unaffected by the roots and vines. For all other
viscid and poisonous black fluid. creatures, the area becomes difficult terrain, and
each creature in the area must succeed on a DC
LAIR ACTIONS 19 Strength saving throw or be restrained by the
roots. As an action, a creature can try to free itself
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the
or another creature within its reach, doing so with
lichen lich can take a lair action to cause one of the
a successful DC 19 Strength (Athletics) check.
following effects:
The roots and vines wilt away when the lich uses
« Poisonous spores fill a 10-foot cube that the lich this lair action again or when the lich dies.
can see within 120 feet of it. Any creature that en-
ters the cloud for the first time on a turn or starts
its turn there must succeed on a DC 19 Constitu-
tion saving throw or be poisoned until the end of

LicHEN LicH Wither. Ranged Spell Attack: +9 to hit, range 60 ft., one target.
- Medium undead Hit: 14 (4d6) necrotic damage.
Fire Storm (7th-Level Spell; 1/Day). The lich fills up to ten 10-
Armor Class 20 (natural armor) foot cubes with fire. Every cube must be within 150 feet of the
Hit Points 225 (30d8 + 90) lich and occupy a space the lich can see, and each cube must
Speed 30 ft. have at least one face adjacent to the face of another cube.
Each creature in the area must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA throw, taking 38 (7d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as
11 @*0) 16(+3) 16(+3) 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 16 (+3)
much damage on a successful one. The fire ignites flammable
- Saving Throws Con +9, Int +8, Wis +11, Cha +9 objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried. If the lich
- Skills Medicine +11, Nature +14, Perception +11, Survival +11 chooses, plant life in the area is unaffected by the spell.
Damage Resistances cold, necrotic Spellcasting. The lich casts one of the following spells using
Damage Immunities poison Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (save DC 19):
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned, stunned At will: druidcraft
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 21 3/day each: detect magic, fog cloud, pass without trace 5
Languages Common, Druidic, Sylvan 1/day each: antilife shell, dispel magic, speak with plants, trans- =
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6 port via plants :

LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the lich fails a saving throw, it The lich can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the op-
can choose to succeed instead.
tions below. Only one legendary action option can be used at
Rejuvenation. If it has a phylactery, a destroyed lich gains a a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The lich
new body in 1d10 days, regaining all its hit points and becom- regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
ing active again. The new body appears within 5 feet of the Attack. The lich makes an attack.
phylactery. Poison Prick (Costs 2 Actions). The lich targets one poisoned
creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must
ACTIONS succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or fall uncon-
Multiattack. The lich makes four attacks. scious until the poisoned condition ends on it.
Sap Life (Costs 2 Actions). The lich targets one creature it can
Poisonous Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
see within 30 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 19
one creature. Hit: 17 (5d6) poison damage, and the target must Constitution saving throw or take 11 (2d10) necrotic damage.
succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned The lich regains a number of hit points equal to the amount
for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of damage that the creature takes.
of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

il

XANTHORIA
 ea
wl,

©" \ (AONTRIBUTOR BIOS

hy €)

GRAEME BARBER has worked as a scientific and commercial diver, CHRIS LINDSAY worked in Wizards customer service for seven years
deployed multiple times overseas with the Canadian Armed Forces, before joining the D&D team where, among other things, he leads
and done wet site archaeology. He's currently living a quieter life the D&D Adventurers League as its head Dungeon Master and
in the interior of British Columbia, where he enjoys diving, writing, chief storyteller. Chris lives in the Seattle area with his family and
and being a dad. three black cats.

BILL BENHAM is a producer and sometime writer for the D&D team, SARAH MADSEN has been an author since she wrote her first
having lived all over the world during his 20-year career in the U.S. vampire story in sixth grade and can often be found dabbing in the
Army. When he’s not working on D&D, Bill enjoys overeating and background of her sons’ video chats. Her simple pleasures include
watching movies with his loyal hound, a sassy French Bulldog gin cocktails, expensive lattes, and romanceable NPCs. She lives in
named Kizzy. the Atlanta area with her sons, her husband, and their dog, Brynjolf.

MICHELE CARTER began her career as an editor for TSR in 1992. KIM MOHAN is a renowned author, editor, and game designer who
She’s been working on D&D projects ever since and still considers worked for TSR, Inc., and Wizards of the Coast for over 25 years. He
it the best job in the world. She lives in Maryland with her husband, was a longtime editor of Dragon magazine and the managing editor
Bill Slavicsek, and an increasingly vocal elder cat named Mouse. for the D&D game's third edition. He lives in the Seattle area with
his wife, Pamela, and their dog, Charmander.
KELLY LYNNE D’ANGELO has done her fair share of storytelling,
including being the Dungeon Master for Girls Guts Glory. She has CHRISTOPHER PERKINS is a world-famous Dungeon Master who has
also written for comedy television shows, animated shows, and contributed to more than five hundred D&D products and worked
stage musicals. She currently resides in Burbank, CA, with a bucket on every edition of the game. He is one of the architects of fifth
full of hope, a mind full of dreams, and a room full of mounted edition and has been a Wizards of the Coast employee since 1997.
dragon heads. He lives in Seattle, WA, with a hell hound named Milo.

SCOTT FITZGERALD GRAY is a writer of fantasy and speculative MICHAEL POLKINGHORN started his professional life as a geologist.
fiction, a fiction editor, a story editor, and an editor and designer He now works in the wine industry and can often be found walking
of roleplaying games—all of which means he finally has the job the vineyards of Sonoma County with his family and four house
he really wanted when he was sixteen. He shares his life in the tabaxis.
Canadian hinterland with a schoolteacher, two itinerant daughters,
and a number of animal companions. TAYMOOR REHMAN works with the creative teams behind D&D
and Magic: The Gathering. He misses the snow of New York, loves
ALISON HUANG began creating adventures in late 2018 and nonalcoholic beverages, and wants you to be happy. This isn’t the
contributed to the Uncaged anthology. She won two silver ENnie last you've seen of him.
Awards in 2020 and helps train new adventure writers as part of the
RPG Writer Workshop. She lives in Melbourne, Australia. HANNAH ROSE is an editor, writer, erstwhile software developer,
and perpetual nerd. When not playing games, she enjoys cooking,
MARK HULMES is the Dungeon Master for a variety of live-streamed traveling, and reading (though usually not all at once). She lives in
D&D shows and runs a TTRPG- and LARP-focused YouTube Seattle with her partner, James, and two feline familiars.
channel. Mark has just begun his writing and game design career
but has created lots of homebrew content, from adventures to DEREK RUIZ began his career in the tabletop roleplaying game
paladin oaths. business writing adventures and illustrating maps of wondrous
places for the award-winning Elven Tower Cartography blog. Derek
JENNIFER KRETCHMER is a writer, performer, consultant, and enjoys reading and playing new RPG systems for fun. He lives in
producer for television and tabletop gaming. Jen, who has Ehlers- Mexico with his wife and two cats.
Danlos syndrome, is also an advocate for disabled accessibility,
inclusion, and representation in media and storytelling. She lives in KIENNA SHAW is a wearer of many hats in the TTRPG industry,
Los Angeles, CA. working as a designer, streamer, and community creator from her
base in Canada. She is the cocurator of the TTRPG Safety Toolkit
DANIEL KWAN is a Toronto-based podcaster, game designer, and and has design credits in a variety of indie publications alongside
cultural consultant. He is the cohost and producer of the award- her self-published works.
winning Asians Represent! podcast and has published games
such as Denizens of Mountains & Seas and Ross Rifles. Daniel also BRANDES STODDARD designed crafting systems in the video game
cofounded Level Up Gaming, an organization that helps adults who industry. From there, he resorted to designing and running LARPs,
have autism and other disabilities. then degenerated into freelance writing. He lives in Atlanta, GA,
with his wife, Rabbit, their two sons, and two cats.
ADAM LEE has been a worldbuilder, story guy, character creator,
adventure writer, and narrative designer for Wizards of the Coast AMY VORPAHL is a comedy actor and writer, having worked on
for over 10 years. He likes all forms of cake and enjoys the silent several movies, commercials, and TV shows such as The Newsroom,
wilderness, which constantly calls to him. The Mindy Project, and Live from the 8th Dimension. She’s all over
the internet as a digital media host, writer, and Dungeon Master.
ARI LEVITCH toils as a writer for D&D, which he will continue to do
without complaint until the terms of the curse have been fulfilled. TONI WINSLOW-BRILL is a supermom by day and a half-dragon
His adventure is dedicated to his dad, Elliott, to whom libraries by night, prowling the frosty reaches of Superior, WI. When not
were hallowed ground. moonlighting as the Director of Research for a mergers and
acquisitions firm, she works for Baldman Games as a project lead,
writer, and editor.
CVE):
JRA 0 aah
Candlekeep attracts scholars like a flame attracts
moths. Historians, sages, and others who crave
knowledge lore Gre R library fortress to peruse its
vast collection of books, scribbled in which are the
answers to the mysteries that bedevil them. Many
of these books contain their own mysteries—each
one a doorway to adventure. Dare you SCRE
threshold? | |

Candlekeep Mysteries" is a collection Ee

short, stand-alone D&D® adventures designed for
characters of levels 1-16. Each adventure begins
with the discovery of a book, and each book is the
key to a dae which danger and glory await.
BR =I adventures can be run as one-shot games,
plugged TCR TET Forgotten Realms®
campaign, or adapted ea campaign settings.
i115 book also Teta
le poster map of the library
fortress and detailed descriptions of Candlekeep
and its inhabitants.

For use with the fifth edition

Player's Handbook", Monster Manual’,
and Dungeon Master's Guide
(

lil
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6722-3

91N78078611967223
Sug. Retail: US $49.95 CAN $65.95
Printed in USA €92780000