Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

LOST LABORATORY
OF KWALISH
™
An Adventure Supporting Extra Life
The legendary inventor Kwalish disappeared eons ago… as it turns out, finding a crashed
planar ship and studying its technology to fuel his own experiments. Only now, Kwalish’s
lost research is desperately needed! Will you dare an alternate expedition into the
Barrier Peaks to find him?
s a special offering in support of Extra Life A Note from the D&D Team
2018, we’re pleased to present the following In 2017, the D&D team added several projects to the DMs
adventure scenario, built around a new Guild in support of Extra Life (including One Grung Above,
expedition to the legendary Barrier Peaks. The Lost Kenku, and The Tortle Package). The funds raised
This adventure is suitable for characters of 5th from the sale of these packages went to this extremely
to 10th level. worthy cause—and for 2018, you’ll find even more projects
made available on the DMs Guild throughout the year.
Background As part of these efforts, it’s our privilege to contribute

the following adventure to the cause. We wanted to
In centuries long past, a common scholar named provide as much value for your donation as we could,
Kwalish took an unlikely path to becoming one of the providing new maps, monsters, and magic items—and
most powerful arcane inventors of all time, after his of course, the scenario itself, accompanied by a range of
notes and options to help cater to your preferred play style.
discovery of strange magic in the Barrier Peaks. His
We hope you enjoy Lost Laboratory of Kwalish. And you
studies of an ancient, crashed planar craft set him on a have our sincere thanks for your support of Extra Life and
path that might have seen him rival Ioun and Heward— Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
until his experiments overtook him, and he became
lost to the ages. All that’s left of his legacy is a single
took over the inventor’s laboratory for itself. Kwalish
example of his earliest work—the apparatus of Kwalish
managed to escape but left much of his lore behind,
that is the only way most folk now know his name.
while the bone devil spent the years that followed
It was Kwalish’s foray into the Barrier Peaks that set
converting the place into a dark monastery—and
his advanced studies into motion, when he joined an ill-
establishing its own cult.
fated expedition in search of Daoine Gloine, a legendary
After much wandering in the mountains, Kwalish
city said to be populated by creatures of glass. Though
relocated to an equally remote location—Daoine Gloine,
the rest of his party perished along the way, Kwalish
the mysterious city his expedition had originally sought.
stumbled upon a wrecked planar craft of unknown
The site’s isolation made it a suitable place for him to
providence and spent years exploring its secrets. He
continue his research. However, its populace turned out
even repurposed much of the craft’s unique magical
not to be creatures of glass as the legends suggested,
technology into his first laboratory, building planar
but clans of kenku that worshipped a medusa with the
gates of his own design.
unique ability to transform her victims into glass.
Testing one such gate as it forged a connection to
Before Kwalish could be made to suffer the same
the Nine Hells attracted the attention of a bone devil.
fate at the hands of the chaotic kenku and their mad
Trailing Kwalish back across the planes, the devil
Credits
Lead Designer: Bart Carroll Editing, Development, and Layout: Scott Fitzgerald Gray
Additional Design: Robert Adducci, Bill Benham, M.T. Black, Art Director: Kate Irwin
Jeremy Crawford, Will Doyle, James Introcaso, Ari Levitch, Graphic Designer: Emi Tanji
Greg Marks, Shawn Merwin, Cindi Moore, Laurence Withey Cover Illustrator: Shawn Wood
Additional Rumors: David Adams, Vladimir Barash, Rose Interior Illustrators: Mike Burns, Quinn Carroll, Dustin Fletcher,
Bell, Ethan Best, Steve Bissonnette, Wolf Bloodmoon, Devan Henderson, Aaron Hübrick, Maxx Marshall, Shauna
Kevin Boardman, Trevor Boe, Nolan Bond, Aidan Brenner- Narciso, David Rapoza, Stan!, Emi Tanji, Jason Thompson,
Slagle, Bodhi Brooke-White, Mary Burgess, Matt J Carlson, Cory Trego-Erdner, Matt Warren, Mark Winters, Shawn Wood
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Cuthbertson, Rae Cwach, Bryan Davidson-Tirca, Dominic Adam Lee, Chris Lindsay, Shelly Mazzanoble, Mike Mearls,
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Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

1
medusa, he once more opened a planar gate, this time to
the 222nd layer of the Abyss—Juiblex’s Slime Pits, from
Running the Adventure
which he summoned forth a horrific plague of ooze to To run this adventure, you need the D&D fifth edition
clear out the city and help him defend his new lab. core rulebooks (Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s
Kwalish cut off all access to Daoine Gloine, and the Guide, and Monster Manual).
city was lost to the ages. The legendary inventor has not
been heard from since. Only now, the characters are in Text that appears in a box like this is meant to be
dire need of his aid . . .
read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their
Adventure Summary characters first arrive at a location or under a specific

circumstance, as described in the text.
The characters are charged with locating Kwalish’s
long-lost laboratory and the magical technology that
might be found there. As they start their search, they’re Most of the monsters that appear in this adventure are
first directed to an accomplished gnome map merchant from the Monster Manual, along with new creatures and
named Anaxi Zephries, known as “the Cartophile.” NPCs, and monsters from Volo’s Guide to Monsters and
Information collected by Anaxi over the years has traced Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. For easy reference, all
Kwalish’s route into the Barrier Peaks—at least up the stat blocks for the creatures in the adventure can be
to the point where his expedition was lost, despite its found in appendix C. When a creature’s name appears
members’ formidable knowledge and skill. in bold type, that’s a visual cue pointing you to its stat
Working their own way into the Barrier Peaks, block in that appendix. Full information on creatures
the characters eventually arrive at Kwalish’s first from the Monster Manual, Volo’s Guide to Monsters,
laboratory—the remains of a planar craft whose and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes can be found in
technology drove the inventor’s early research. But those books.
they discover that Kwalish has long since been exiled, Spells and equipment mentioned in the adventure are
and his lab converted into a monastery now dedicated described in the Player’s Handbook. Magic items are
to the bone devil that is the site’s Grand Master. The described in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, unless the
characters must negotiate their entrance into the adventure’s text directs you to an item’s description in
monastery, and from there to its treasury. Hidden appendix D.
within the treasury are notes from Kwalish’s original
expedition that lead to Daoine Gloine, the legendary city
deep within the Barrier Peaks—and the site of Kwalish’s
Adventure Hooks
current laboratory. In the course of previous adventures, the characters
After reaching Daoine Gloine, the characters find the might have come up against a special magical-
city buried beneath a flood of gelatinous ooze, with only mechanical dilemma too challenging to overcome.
its tallest stone structures left rising above the surface. Perhaps a secret door in a dungeon complex has been
The characters must find a safe means of descent into built around an iron golem, or an array of dangerous
the ooze as they seek the entrance to Kwalish’s hidden clockwork devices discovered within a city defy any
laboratory—and avoid the empty city’s deadly guardians. attempts to turn them off. All research into the problem
Once they reach the lab, the characters meet with the suggests that the inventor Kwalish might have the
legendary inventor and can negotiate for the assistance solution—if only he hadn’t gone missing years before.
necessary to complete their quest—and they might Alternatively, you might consider any of the following
even have the chance to help Kwalish deal with one of a hooks. Several involve a pending crisis, such that the
number of problems of his own. players are seeking Kwalish not just on their own
behalf, but to prevent hardship to friends, family, or the
common folk. Just make sure that the peril doesn’t come
Placing the Adventure on too quickly, though, as an expedition into the Barrier
The original Expedition to the Barrier Peaks—1980’s Peaks will take some time.
adventure module S3 for first edition AD&D—placed
its titular mountains in Greyhawk, north of the Grand
Duchy of Geoff and the Valley of the Mage. Depending on
Thwarting Annihilation
your campaign, you can set this adventure in any similar If you’re playing through or using events from Tomb of
location: a mysterious mountain range that even dedicated Annihilation in your campaign, the characters might
explorers have failed to fully map. hear rumors that Kwalish’s laboratory holds lore that
In the Forgotten Realms, one possible location for can help deactivate the Soulmonger. If the characters
the adventure is Chult, the land explored in Tomb of have any hope of surviving the tomb and ending the
Annihilation. The mysterious and poorly mapped peninsula
death curse, they must first make the dangerous journey
contains several suitable mountain ranges, including
the Mistcliffs and the Kobold Mountains. Elsewhere in to the inventor’s lost lab.
Faerûn, the peaks surrounding Halruaa, a land known for Alternatively, in the aftermath of a Tomb of
its magical technology, are a good choice. Alternatively, Annihilation campaign, a friend, family member, or
campaigns making use of the Waterdeep: Dragon Heist mentor important to the characters might have been
adventure might look for a location closer to the city, placed in stasis within a magical sarcophagus to protect
including the Greypeaks or the Nether Mountains. them from the death curse. With the curse lifted,
this NPC can now be saved—except the sarcophagus

2
cannot be opened by any magical or mundane means. Adventure Length
After learning that the sarcophagus is one of Kwalish’s This adventure features numerous encounters and
designs, the characters must seek out his lost laboratory challenges that should keep a group entertained for
for the means to open it—or their friend will sleep multiple sessions. However, you can easily run a shorter
for eternity. version of the adventure, or even an exciting one-shot, by
making the following modifications:
Waterdeep Dangers Full Version (Five to Six Sessions). Run the adventure as
written, making use of both the monastery and the ooze-
A number of hooks can connect to the exploits of flooded city locations.
characters engaged in a Waterdeep: Dragon Heist Short Version (Two to Three Sessions). Run the adventure
campaign. The famed walking statues of Waterdeep as written, up to the monastery. Then forgo a second
are showing signs of getting ready to power up once laboratory location, instead replacing the final brain in a jar
more, and not even the Blackstaff can shut them down. in the treasury (area M10) with Kwalish, and conclude the
Old histories suggest that Kwalish’s lore might hold adventure there.
One-Shot (One Four-Hour Session). Give your players
the secrets of doing so, and the characters are sent
an adventure hook, assign them a guide (see “Part 1:
to seek that lore out before the great magical statues
Mission to the Barrier Peaks”), and start them at area C1,
can run amok. overlooking the bone devil’s monastery. Then as above,
Alternatively, the grand parade of the Day of Wonders replace the treasury’s brain in a jar with Kwalish for an
turns to deadly chaos when one of its inventive exciting conclusion.
mechanical floats goes berserk and unleashes
destruction across the city. After stopping the threat,
the characters learn that it was built based on a Planar Retribution
Kwalish design, and that other such designs might be A powerful marut (detailed in Mordenkainen’s Tome of
used to build great engines of destruction. The secrets Foes) hunts one or more of the characters for breaking
to overcoming such inventions can be found only in some cosmic contract. Their only hope of survival is
Kwalish’s lab. to find Kwalish’s laboratory, whose planar magic holds
As a more integral part of a Waterdeep: Dragon Heist the means of restoring the balance the marut seeks
campaign, characters who successfully discover the to enforce.
location of the Vault of Dragons might discover that
the keys needed to access it are lost. Rumors speak of Journey of Discovery
another means of opening the vault—a secret known
The characters are hired by a gnome sage known
only to the lost inventor.
as the Cartophile for a mission of exploration, as he
seeks to complete a failed expedition to Daoine Gloine
Ravnica in Peril undertaken by his ancestors. The characters must
If your campaign is set in the city world of Ravnica, as find their way to the lost city hidden within the Barrier
outlined in Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica, Kwalish Peaks, then return with its location.
might be a chemister from the Izzet League who left the Alternatively, the characters might hear rumors of
guild to pursue his own work away from Niv-Mizzetr’s Kwalish’s legendary powered armor (see appendix D),
prying eyes. Centuries later, Izzet researchers have and embark on a mission to find it. Or you might have
uncovered some of Kwalish’s notes. Desperate to locate them discover a set of powered armor in a previous
the chemister’s laboratory, the Izzet League reaches out adventure, leaving them needing to find a way to access
to the characters to accomplish the task. it—or to free an NPC currently trapped inside it. Either
way, finding Kwalish’s lost laboratory is the key.
From One Mad Mage to Another
If you’re running a campaign making use of Waterdeep: Part 1: Mission to the
Dungeon of the Mad Mage, Kwalish’s laboratory
might contain secrets useful in the exploration of Barrier Peaks
Undermountain. Or you could have some of the No matter what hook brings the characters into the
dungeon’s deadly features be strange mechanical- adventure, any research into Kwalish’s lost laboratory—
magical devices reminiscent of Kwalish’s work. or any NPC familiar with the inventor’s failed expedition
The secrets to controlling or disabling such devices to the Barrier Peaks—establishes that seeking out the
might be instrumental to a successful foray into the gnome known as the Cartophile is a crucial first step for
legendary dungeon. their mission.
Unnatural Invasion The Cartophile

A massive magical-mechanical golem, an unknown Anaxi Zephries is a wealthy gnome merchant and sage.
planar vessel, or some other rare threat has appeared in He is well known for his vast collection of maps, which
civilized lands. Though local settlements are safe for the cover the known world, pocket dimensions, routes
moment, the characters are charged with tracking down across the planes, and more. In this role, the Cartophile
Kwalish and his laboratory in hopes that the secrets to has served as patron for numerous expeditions of
disabling the imminent threat might be found there. exploration, sending adventurers to all corners of
the world—both to draw new maps and to verify the
authenticity of others already in his possession.

3
Hirelings
Any of the following NPCs can join the party as
custodians and translators of the materials loaned to
the characters by the Cartophile. Each hireling is also
charged with chronicling the party’s progress along the
way, in the hope of finally mapping the route to Daoine
Gloine, and has specific value to the party in certain
areas of expertise. However, each hireling also has one
or more secret agendas that might work against the
characters’ interests.
You can let the party’s size and the players’ interest
in bringing NPCs into their group determine whether
more than one of the Cartophile’s hirelings join the
expedition. Or, instead of front-loading hirelings at
the start, these NPCs can be set up as independent
explorers not connected to the Cartophile. You can
stagger their introduction throughout the course of
the adventure (as suggested in each NPC’s description
below), with each one able to provide a useful next step
to help the expedition along.
The Cartophile
The gnome’s collection contains notes and an initial

map from the early stages of Kwalish’s expedition
into the Barrier Peaks. In exchange for allowing the
characters to use that lore, he asks only that any further
journals, notes, maps, and other documents from
Kwalish’s earlier expedition be returned to him.
The Cartophile has no interest in adventuring, talking
Ctenmiir’s
of how he once stood too close to a bag of holding Coffin
accidentally placed within a portable hole and never
fully recovered from it. However, in the interest of
ensuring a successful mission, he offers the characters
the services of a number of hirelings in his employ—and
insists that at least one of those hirelings accompany the
party, to serve as custodian of his maps and materials. Ctenmiir the Vampire
If the characters develop an especially close LE male vampire
relationship to the Cartophile, the gnome might reveal Once a dwarven warrior, Ctenmiir was transformed
that his professional career commissioning expeditions into a vampire and hidden away within White Plume
and maps has been background research for a personal Mountain (see Tales from the Yawning Portal) until
obsession. One of his ancestors took part in Kwalish’s captured there by an Emerald Enclave ranger. The
lost expedition to find Daoine Gloine, the mythical city vampire has long been imprisoned within a magical
MAXX MARSHALL
of the Barrier Peaks inhabited by “people of glass.” iron coffin mounted atop animated golem legs (an early
The gnome has long sought to learn the truth of the Kwalish design), forced to atone for his evil deeds by
expedition’s demise. working for the Cartophile.

4
Ctenmiir’s coffin has a speed of 30 feet and a climbing Garret Levistusson
speed of 10 feet, and protects the vampire from sunlight CN male tiefling bard/rogue
even as it prevents him from escaping his servitude.
The Cartophile’s first choice to join the characters’
Though Ctenmiir is able to speak from within the coffin
expedition, Garret is an untrustworthy bon vivant
and help guide the expedition, the coffin obeys only the
and magpie. His mapmaking skills are first rate,
commands of the party members. Cold, calculating, and
though, and the Cartophile trusts him to accurately
manipulative, the vampire aids the party as long as he
detail the route to Daoine Gloine and sketch images
believes he can earn his release from the coffin along
of things discovered along the way. Garret claims
the way—by any means possible.
that his infernal lineage goes back to Levistus (see
Value to the Party. Originally native to an area near
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes), and he keeps his horns
the Barrier Peaks, Ctenmiir has much experience with
adorned with rings, coins and other charms, some of
the initial route into the mountains, and can provide
which he claims are powerful magic items ready to be
warnings of early encounters through the fey woods
called on. See appendix C for Garret’s stat block.
and foothills (see “Reaching the Peaks,” below, and
Value to the Party. Garret can draw the maps
appendix A). The vampire’s coffin can also serve as a
requested by the Cartophile. He also knows several
makeshift apparatus of Kwalish at your determination,
rumors (both true and false) regarding the Barrier
making it easier for characters to explore Daoine
Peaks, and provides advantage to any characters’
Gloine—though Ctenmiir will need to first be released.
ability checks made to interact with the monastery’s
The coffin can also be used as protective shelter against
Grand Master.
adversaries, including a freed Ctenmiir.
Secret Agendas. Steal the highest-valued object from
Secret Agendas. Get out of the coffin. Feed on at least
the party without getting caught; convince as many
one character.
characters as possible to sit for a sketch; and relay
Alternative Entry. If Ctenmiir does not start with the
a secret communication to the Grand Master. This
party, he might instead be found in the foothills, in the
message takes the form of a written note from Garret’s
possession of outlaws seeking the monastery who use
infernal patron, ordering the Grand Master to return to
the vampire as their guide.
Stygia in the Nine Hells to complete a service required
If he joins the expedition from the start, the vampire
by Levistus. A forged addendum adds that the bearer of
might lead the characters to the foothills, then claim
the note should be rewarded handsomely.
to no longer recognize the route ahead. He asks to be
Alternative Entry. Garret can be found as a prisoner
released so that he can scout more easily. But if he is,
in area M6 of the monastery. If he does start out
any promise of obedience he makes to the characters is
with the party, he might choose to leave them at the
ignored as he attacks them.
monastery, joining with the Grand Master.
Gearbox
LN monodrone
Garret
Levistusson A simple and kindly monodrone modron, Gearbox
has been sent as an agent of Mechanus to investigate
Kwalish’s works and experiments.
Its mechanical body has been
programmed with several unique
utility powers (see below) that make
the modron a perfect cartographer’s
assistant. If both Garret and Gearbox
join the expedition, Gearbox
assists the tiefling with his
work, even as Garret delights
in referring to the modron as
“Doohickey”, “Contraption”,
“Thingamabob”, and so on.
Gearbox
STAN!

5
Value to the Party. Gearbox’s unique programming
allows the modron to function as an orb of direction
and an orb of time (see Xanathar’s Guide to Everything),
to cast the light cantrip at will, and to grant other
characters advantage on Dexterity checks made with
thieves’ tools and on ability checks made to identify or
operate mechanical or laboratory equipment. It can also
help override the security of the monastery’s control
room (area M8) and treasury (area M10), and can pilot
the skiff first seen in area C3.
Secret Agendas. None as such. Gearbox genuinely
wishes to help the characters, but he will be tempted to
connect with the monastery control room.
Alternative Entry. Gearbox can appear with Garret
whenever the tiefling first appears, or he could be found
in the monastery’s control room. The modron might
choose to remain at the monastery, integrating with its
control room to become the site’s new integrated mind.
Mary Greymalkin
N female eladrin warlock
Mary claims to be part of a legendary lineage as
granddaughter of the vampire Drelzna—herself a
descendant of Iggwilv and Baba Yaga. Her warlock pact
has been made with those ancestors’ spirits, but she
manages her relationship with them carefully, lest she
fall too far under their dark influence.
She also claims past tutelage by Thingizzard, a witch
dwelling in the fens near White Plume Mountain. In
addition to her work for the Cartophile, Mary is eager to
accompany the expedition so that she might search the
Barrier Peaks for rare ingredients for her potions.
Mary strikes an eerie, witch-like figure, surrounded
always by swirling magical-mechanical trinkets of
her own devising. She is often seen shuffling a deck
of several things, and will try to quietly tempt party
members to draw a card. (See appendix D for more
information on the deck, and its distinct connections
to the adventure.) Mary is always accompanied by her Mary Greymalkin
familiar, a glowing-eyed cat. See appendix C for Mary’s
stat block.
Value to the Party. Mary’s expertise as a diviner can
grant advantage on any characters’ checks to determine Alternative Entry. If Mary does not start the
correct passage through the caverns leading to the expedition with the party, she might instead be found in
monastery. Her magical knowledge also provides the company of the enhanced sphinx (area C2), where
advantage on interactions with the enhanced sphinx she offers to guide the characters to the monastery’s
guarding the monastery entrance (see area C2) and on Grand Master. If she does start with the party, she
any negotiations for ferry passage with the merrenoloth might choose to remain with the enhanced sphinx,
(area C3). discoursing the secrets of the multiverse with her.
Secret Agendas. Mary’s biggest secret is that she
is actually her cat familiar, polymorphed from human Rumors and Legends
form, and using magic to create and direct the human Countless legends have arisen regarding the mysterious
simulacrum of “Mary” as a helpful decoy. (Readers Barrier Peaks, and those tales circulate constantly
of Dragon+ might alternatively make Mary one of the among adventurers, explorers, and bards. Rumors
intelligent cats of Adam Lee’s “Herding Tahra’s Cats” specific to Kwalish and his lost expedition are more
in issue 12). But of more potential peril to the party is difficult to come by. But for each day spent talking to
Mary’s long-term relationship with Ctenmiir, whom knowledgeable travelers, a character can attempt a DC
she first met when he would fly out of White Plume 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If the check succeeds,
Mountain at night to meet with her near Thingizzard’s roll percentile dice and consult the table below to
hut. Her goals are to keep the knowledge of her true determine what the character learns. False rumors are
MAXX MARSHALL
form and her relationship with Ctenmiir a secret; to free in italics.

the vampire if she can, without incriminating herself; Also see appendix F for even more potential rumors of
and to convince characters to draw from her deck of the Barrier Peaks.
several things.
6
Barrier Peaks Rumors d100 Rumor
d100 Rumor 96–00 Kwalish’s grand experiment? I’ve heard tell
1–15 The Barrier Peaks have long been damned, of a suit of armor as powerful as it is cursed.
ever since a craft of some kind crashed there Whoever dons the suit channels powerful
ages ago. A ship that could navigate the very magic, but must fuel its capabilities with their
planes, it was. Things that should not exist own body’s vitality.
escaped from its hold and now populate the
mountains. Reaching the Peaks
16–25 Kwalish did not perish on his expedition. He
The Cartophile’s maps and notes guide the characters
alone survived, taking shelter in some complex from their starting location into the Barrier Peaks,
he found in the peaks. leading them as far as a series of caverns that Kwalish’s
26–30 Fey woods surround the foothills of the Barrier original expedition believed would provide a shortcut to
Peaks. A dryad queen once ruled there, and her Daoine Gloine. From wherever the characters start, it
grave is now hidden among the trees. Beware, takes a journey of several weeks to reach the foothills of
for those trees remain guarded by sprites that the peaks. You might consider adding a few wilderness
still honor her. encounters along the way, especially within the thick
31–45 Aye, most folk know of Kwalish’s most famous band of woods that surrounds the pass leading up and
realized design, the apparatus that bears into the mountains, and which is infused with elements
of the Feywild. See appendix A, “Random Encounters,”
his name. But sages and arcanists know of
for more information.
other designs he drafted, including one for a
If you don’t want to incorporate random encounters
mechanical container that could keep a brain into the journey to the Barrier Peaks, read the following:
alive long after a creature’s death.
46–50 Kwalish never really existed. The inventor who
went by that name was really a construct, The mountains of the Barrier Peaks have grown steadily
created by Ioun to walk among mortals and closer as you near the end of weeks of travel, making use
study our ways. If you want to find the Kwalish of the old notes and maps of Kwalish’s failed expedition.
construct, you need to first find a temple to Ioun. Traversing a thick band of woods over the past several
51–65 A monastery is hidden somewhere in the days, you’ve dealt with troublesome sprites by day and
Barrier Peaks, though its followers care little swarms of blood-sucking stirges by night. But finally, the
for piety. Criminals, they are, using the peaks trees begin to thin out as you enter the rocky foothills of
as a secure hideout. It’s said that markings the range.
carved into the mountains have been left by
Exactly as indicated on the original expedition’s map,
these criminals to help point the way to their
you find a cleft in the rocks that leads to the start of a
lair.
twisting tunnel complex. As you prepare to enter, you
66–70 The Barrier Peaks are unstable. The city of
bid farewell to the world of life and light as you leave it
Daoine Gloine was destroyed in an earthquake,
and so was Kwalish’s expedition. There’s no path behind you . . .
now to find the place, unless you fancy a trip to
the Elemental Plane of Earth and sacrifice there
to Ogrémoch. Trinkets from the Barrier Peaks
71–80 Daoine Gloine was found in the Barrier Peaks,
At any point while the characters are searching through
all right, but it’s long been deserted. Its last unusual equipment or detritus in the Monastery of the
residents left ages ago, though a few of their Distressed Body or the city of Daoine Gloine, roll on
descendants are said to scratch out a meager the following table to determine what they find. Each
existence along the old mountain passes. character finds one Barrier Peaks trinket over the
81–86 The way to reach Daoine Gloine isn’t through course of the adventure.
any pass in the peaks. You’ll need to access the
right combination of controls on the Machine of Barrier Peaks Trinkets
Lum the Mad, and only then will a portal to the d100 Trinket
city open. 01–02 A handheld device containing a glowing green gem
87–95 Daoine Gloine took its name from the monster that darkens when no oxygen is present
kept there by the city’s priests. They would 03–04 A foot-long, egg-shaped object made from stitched
sacrifice victims to the medusa Gloine Nathair- leather
Nathair, using the bodies of those poor victims 05–06 A black metal cylinder that dictates the history of
as the city’s statuary. an unknown plant or animal species when held
07–08 A cylindrical jar containing a pickled crustacean of
unknown origin

7
d100 Trinket d100 Trinket
09–10 A small thumb-button storage cylinder that 65–66 An instruction manual for activating a mysterious,
releases a useless iron key when pressed world-destroying device
11–12 An unusual heraldic cloak pin that emits a short 67–68 A small supple disk that displays weird moving
musical fanfare when tapped symbols when placed over either eye
13–14 A handheld tube that sucks in dust when squeezed 69–70 A tiny desk set with large, colorful buttons, each
and captures it in a detachable compartment of which plays a discordant musical fanfare when
15–16 A scintillating disk of unknown material pressed
17–18 A dial that can be twisted to slowly click back to its 71–72 A pair of tinted spectacles that reduce the glare of
origin, whereupon it emits a loud ringing noise the sun when worn
19–20 A hovering, apple-sized orb of metal that follows 73–74 An inflatable bedroll made from an unknown
you around material, and which slowly deflates when used
21–22 The petrified cocoon of an unknown insect 75–76 A rod tipped with a blunt metal pincer whose grip
23–24 A bronze gauntlet set with many slots, and which can be adjusted by turning a screw
violently expels any object pressed into those slots 77–78 A battered helmet with a transparent orange visor
25–26 A box that plays an illusory message in an unknown that flips into place when donned
language when opened 79–80 An animated map of a mysterious city that appears
27–28 A rod that causes you to forget the last five minutes to be tracking the movements of five creatures
when you press a button near its tip 81–82 A cylinder of mist that holds your hair perfectly in
29–30 A palm-sized cylinder that emits a harmless ray of shape when sprayed onto your head
glowing blue light when squeezed 83–84 A talking wand that tells you the name of any plant
31–32 A bead that suppresses your hearing when secreted you point it at
inside either ear, causing you to be deafened 85–86 A metal bracelet that displays the number of steps
33–34 An amulet that displays your current health as a you’ve taken since your last long rest
green bar above your head, with the bar retracting 87–88 A tiny handheld device that projects a glowing dot
as your hit point total decreases onto whatever you point it at
35–36 A casket containing one hundred tasteless blue pills 89–90 A rectangular piece of glass that displays a twelve-
that produce no discernible effect when swallowed digit countdown on its surface
37–38 A metal mechanical puzzle with no apparent 91–92 A wall chart of mysterious formulae arranged into a
solution color-coded grid
39–40 A metal spinning top that never tips over when 93–94 A handheld device that solves any math problem
spun you input using its buttons
41–42 Two strips of cloth-like material, each coated with a 95–96 A ball of speckled brown fur that appears to be alive
soft, hair-like fuzz on one side 97–98 A complicated crystal board game that you don’t
43–44 A simple wire pyramid that preserves any know how to play
foodstuffs it is placed over 99–00 A large glass rectangle that displays a storm of
45–46 A star chart labeled in an unknown script black and white patterns when you press a button
47–48 A rectangle of black glass that displays on its underside
indecipherable arcane runes when you swipe your
49–50
finger across it
A schematic that shows the inner workings of an
Part 2: Monastery of
impossibly complex device the Distressed Body
51–52 An odd pair of comfortable shoes made from The known route of Kwalish’s original expedition ends
supple, multicolored material at the series of tunnels leading into the Barrier Peaks,
53–54 A mirror that makes you appear more beautiful with no sense of how that long-lost company proceeded.
when you tap your reflection However, recent carvings have been etched into these
55–56 A mechanical metal puppy that playfully follows you tunnels in thieves’ cant and Infernal, marking the route
around when activated to the monastery for new recruits. The markings can be
57–58 A talking bracelet that speaks only to correct your spotted with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception)
check, and list the names of individual outlaws that have
grammar
passed through. They also make reference to something
59–60 A bar of soap that can remove any stain
called “the Monastery of the Distressed Body” and its
61–62 A journal in Common, written by someone in a “Grand Master,” who supposedly offers shelter and
world similar to but not quite the same as your own protection to all those who submit to their authority.
63–64 A tub containing one serving of disgusting but Additional symbols also mark out the correct route
nutritious goop that refills itself slowly over the through the labyrinthine tunnels to area C1. If those
course of one week markings are deciphered with a successful DC 12
Intelligence (Investigation) check, the characters can
traverse the tunnels in a few hours. Otherwise, it takes

8
CLAUDIO POZAS
TM & ©2018 Wizards.

a day or more to reach the cliff edge, and the characters
face a greater number of potential random encounters Farther down the cliff-side ledge is a flat metal dock,
as a prelude to arriving at the monastery. See appendix on which reclines a feline monstrosity with a female
A for more information. humanoid head—a regal gynosphinx. A matching dock is
thrust out from the floating rock island across from this
Cliff-Side Approach dock, but there is no obvious way to cross the hundreds
Whether following the monks’ symbols or finding of feet of open space between them.
their own route through the caverns, the characters
eventually emerge on a narrow cliff ledge overlooking
an impossibly deep bowl-shaped valley within the The floating island is all that remains of the planar craft
Barrier Peaks. that crashed into the mountains eons ago. The force
of its impact created this valley and nearly destroyed
C1. Cliff Edge the craft. But when it tried to escape the crash site, the
planar craft tore away the massive chunk of rock it was
embedded into. For centuries, its damaged engines have
Floating hundreds of feet in the air at the center of the
allowed it to maintain a fixed location in the air, but they
valley is a large island of rock. Enormous chimney-
aren’t strong enough to ascend any higher.
engines extend from the bottom of this island, burning Before the characters can attempt any crossing to the
with fitful, deep-red fires that appear to keep the island monastery, they must contend with the guardian waiting
aloft. A series of odd structures rise from the rock, for them in area C2.
appearing almost like metallic crystals.
C2. Enhanced Sphinx
Sitting regally on the metallic dock, this enhanced
sphinx protects the approach to the monastery. It
intervenes in any attempt to fly or otherwise cross to
the floating island, but negotiates for passage if the
characters speak to it.
The Enhanced Sphinx
DAVID RAPOZA

10
Scaling Options
The gynosphinx appears to have suffered ancient injuries
This adventure is designed for characters of 5th to 10th
to its head, which have healed and been replaced by level. For lower-level parties, you can adjust the adventure
mechanical components. Both the creature’s eyes are as follows:
Part 1: Mission to the Barrier Peaks. Make sure the party
now glowing blue lenses, and its head is orbited by a
has at least two of the NPCs with them. Then downplay
number of spinning metallic devices. those NPCs’ secret agendas as needed to increase their
“Entreat with me,” the sphinx says, “if you wish to party loyalty.
cross to the monastery. You do not appear entirely Part 2: Monastery of the Distressed Body. For encounters
built around five monks led by an elder monk, use three
ignorant, and I look forward to adding whatever small monks led by an elder monk instead. You can also limit
knowledge you might possess to my collection.” those attending any audience in the central abbey to just
the elder monks.
Part 3: The Ooze-Flooded City. Adjust the ooze-folk so
Creature. Originally wounded in an encounter that that 1d4 of those defenders activate only every 20 minutes,
nearly destroyed Kwalish’s expedition, the enhanced and within 50 to 100 feet of the characters.
sphinx was subsequently repaired with magical- Appendix D: Magic Items. As a reminder, many items
mechanical parts—and (unknown to it) programmed listed in the appendix—even though thematic to the
by Kwalish to serve his needs and guard this location. adventure—are not level appropriate. The appendix offers
advice for limiting their use.
The sphinx’s head is also surrounded by a series of
mechanical devices that function as Ioun stones, which
add to its vast knowledge. The enhanced sphinx is a Dock. Created by Kwalish, this structure is built so
gynosphinx, with these changes: that a ferry summoned from the monastery slots into it,
allowing characters to easily board. An identical dock
• Its Intelligence score is 24 (+7).
juts out from the edge of the flying island.
• It has a +1 bonus to Intelligence checks and
Treasure. If the sphinx is defeated in combat, most of
Intelligence saving throws.
its mechanical Ioun stones shatter, reversing the effects
• It can speak and understand all languages.
of the sphinx’s tolls on all characters. Additionally,
The Sphinx’s Riddle. Instead of asking a traditional two Ioun stones survive and can be claimed. (If she is
riddle that the characters must solve, the enhanced with the party, Mary Greymalkin covets these magical-
sphinx demands that they ask a question that it cannot mechanical devices, and turns against the characters
answer. This could be a riddle, a secret, a logical if doing so helps her claim them.) Choose these two
contradiction, or any other question—but the sphinx unique stones from the new examples in appendix D.
warns the characters that with all the knowledge it has
collected throughout the years, it knows the answer to C3. Ferry Service
every question. If it fails to answer, the characters are The flying ferry is summoned from the monastery’s
allowed to cross to the island without paying the toll. dock at the sphinx’s mental command, crossing over
With its enhanced knowledge, the sphinx can to the cliff ledge. The ferry also comes if the sphinx
correctly answer almost any question. To simulate this is killed, adhering to the Grand Master’s orders that
around the table, you might challenge the players to any powerful visitors are to be brought to the devil’s
stump you as the DM with a riddle or trivia question. attention. Alternatively, the Grand Master might send
This might be something inherent to their characters’ over a squad of five monks (cultists) led by an elder
own knowledge, or something completely outside the monk (cult fanatic) to investigate the sphinx’s death and
context of the game. If this is a question pertaining to assess the characters’ potential threat.
the real world, you might tell the players in advance
that you’ll make use of the Internet with a 30-second
A pulse of fire marks something igniting at the edge of
time limit to mimic the sphinx’s vast knowledge base.
If this is a game-world question, you can instead let the the floating island, alongside its distant dock. Something
sphinx attempt a DC 15 Intelligence check to answer detaches and floats smoothly towards you—a flying skiff
the question, with advantage on the check (and look for piloted by a hooded figure.
further options in appendix B).
Each time the enhanced sphinx successfully answers
a question, it demands that the characters pay the The ferry is operated by a merrenoloth (originally
toll to cross: either one character’s Intelligence score from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes). It is crafted from
permanently decreases by 1, or two characters each laboratory debris attached to a small engine similar to
have another ability score of their choice permanently the large engines holding the monastery aloft. The skiff
decrease by 1. This toll is magically extracted can ferry up to ten Medium creatures at one time, and
immediately, and manifests as another of the sphinx’s can be controlled automatically by the merrenoloth,
mechanical Ioun stone-like devices. This curse can Gearbox the modron, or a rescued brain in a jar (see
be removed only by a remove curse spell cast by an area M8). A character can decipher the controls of a skiff
18th-level spellcaster, by defeating the enhanced sphinx with a successful DC 15 Intelligence check, allowing
in combat, or through mechanisms found in Kwalish’s that character to control it. A skiff also requires at least
lab in Daoine Gloine (see area O7). one fully charged energy cell from the treasury (area
M10) for fuel.

11
The merrenoloth stays silent, but any character who Teleportation-Field Devices
succeeds on a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check to One of the more impressive bits of technology from the
glimpse beneath its hood sees a skeletal face. (The crashed planar craft, teleportation-field devices consist
character can later note the resemblance between this of two matched magical-mechanical rings. Both rings
visage and the monastery’s flayed monks.) channel the power of teleportation and flight, and were
originally used to undertake repairs on the outside of the
C4. Valley Floor craft, handle dangerous substances at a distance, and
If any character is unfortunate enough to fall from the so forth.
cliff, the other characters quickly lose sight of them in When a creature passes an arm or other appendage
into one ring, that appendage appears to emerge from
a light mist that covers the valley floor. Any subsequent
the other ring, no matter how far apart the devices are.
search for a body comes up empty—because a floating The second device has a flying speed of 40 feet, and can
teleportation-field device (see the sidebar) zooms around be flown remotely under the creature’s control as part of
the bottom of the valley, and automatically teleports the its own movement. The remote device also grants the
falling character into the prison cells at area M6. creature a sensory awareness of the area around it. This
allows the appendage to be used normally, so that the
The Monastery creature can undertake any activity remotely that it could
accomplish close up, including making physical ability
The crashed planar craft still makes up most of the checks and attacks.
monastery’s general structure, having been long ago Because they are linked to the planar craft, teleportation-
converted into Kwalish’s first laboratory, then converted field devices function only in the monastery and in Daoine
again into this present sinister site. The overall sense Gloine (where Kwalish has used the magical-mechanical
of the place—as evidenced in the alien geometries of its technology of the craft to set up his new lab). If the
buildings and its exposed technology—should be one of characters manage to secure a pair of such devices, you
a brooding, otherworldly environ where nothing feels can let the players come up with novel ways to make
quite right. use of them in those locations (assigning appropriate
Over long years, the monastery has drawn hundreds Intelligence checks if you want to make the process
difficult). However, they can’t be claimed as treasure.
of dark recruits to its hidden location, through both
whispered rumor and dark outreach to criminals
seeking refuge from the law. Though the vast majority A force pike uses an energy cell (see area M10),
of those recruits have perished or been imprisoned at expending one charge for each successful attack. If
the hands of the Grand Master, twenty-five monks—all a claimed as treasure, a pike’s cell holds 2d10 remaining
motley assemblage of evil humanoids—currently occupy charges. If you prefer not to have such weapons fall into
various areas of the monastery. All wear cowled robes the hands of the characters, then whenever an elder
to conceal their features, which can be seen only if a monk is defeated, its force pike automatically overheats
monk is forced to unmask, or if a watchful character and explodes.
gets close to a monk and succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom
(Perception) check. Any monk whose face is seen shows Roleplaying the Monks
an identical grim countenance—a face flayed nearly to The Monastery of the Distressed Body has been secretly
the bone, the result of a brutal initiation to better match drawing in outlaws for decades. As such, you might add
the appearance of the Grand Master. to the ranks of the monks with any number of villainous
Wherever they are initially stationed, the monks all NPCs the players have heard about, or even foes that
gather together if a general alarm is sounded, or to slipped through their clutches in years past. Sir Bluto
witness an audience in the central abbey (area M3). Sans Pite from White Plume Mountain in Tales from the
Each monk is a cultist that carries a smaller version of Yawning Portal is a good candidate, as are Faroul and
a bone devil’s hooked polearm (see the sidebar in the Gondolo from Port Nyanzaru in Tomb of Annihilation.
“Bone Devil” section in the Monster Manual), typically The monks do not interfere as the characters
disguised as a staff or tool: initially explore the monastery, and they keep their
cowls down if they are approached. They say little
Hooked Polearm. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, about the workings of the place, but vaguely hint at
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage. how newcomers will be welcome to either join their
If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is “immured brothers” (the prisoners in area M6) or the
grappled (escape DC 10). Until this grapple ends, the “enlightened ones” (the brains in jars in the control
monk cannot use its polearm on another target. room of area M8). They readily direct characters toward
In addition, each group of five monks is led by an the Grand Master in the central abbey (area M3). If
elder monk. These are cult fanatics that have outfitted the monks are harassed, or if the characters spend too
their polearms with laser weapons secured from the much time exploring on their own, Lean Meimbaol from
monastery’s stores of technology. These weapons are area M1 arrives to personally escort them to the abbey.
notoriously ineffective against polished metal armor and If combat breaks out, the monks all reveal their true
shields, which reflect their laser bolts: natures, and attempt to overwhelm and capture the
characters.
Force Pike. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft. or range 40/100 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d10 Prisoners of the Monastery
+ 2) force damage. The attack has disadvantage against Some thirty humanoid prisoners (commoners) are
any target with polished metal armor or shield, and has held in the monastery. All have had their faces flayed to
its ranged halved when firing through smoke or fog.

12
make them barely distinguishable from the monks. Most how the doubtful are punished, and how only service
work in the engine room (area M5) during the day, and to the monastery can keep it aloft. In addition, the
are penned together at night in the cells of area M6. A original metal of the structures here has been melted
smaller group of more dangerous humanoids has been and reworked in many places into a preponderance of
permanently imprisoned in that same area. leering skulls.
Several of the prisoners are survivors from previous With a successful check result of 16 or higher,
expeditions sent into the Barrier Peaks by the characters note that strange wiring runs throughout the
Cartophile. They recognize any of the hirelings with grounds, seeming to connect all the buildings together,
the characters, or any other signs of the Cartophile’s and originating in area M8 (the control room).
patronage (maps, notebooks, and so forth). Once contact Creatures. If the check result is 14 or higher, a
has been made, they look to help the characters— character catches sight or warning of magically
especially if this also leads to their own escape. animated leather faces (from area M7, the leather
However, most of the other prisoners are former monks works) lurking around the most shadowy corners of the
that tried to leave or otherwise got into trouble, and grounds. These unnatural creatures flutter away if any
they look to curry favor with their captors by reporting characters approach them, but they attack if pressed.
subversive activity. Treat any group of leather faces as a swarm of bats, and
see the leather works (area M7) for more information.
Locations in the Monastery
M3. Central Abbey
The following locations are identified on the map
Visible from across the monastery grounds, the planar
on page 9.
craft’s former main conning tower rises several hundred
M1. Monastery Dock feet into the air. It now serves as the monastery’s
The merrenoloth’s ferry departs from and arrives at this central abbey.
metallic dock. As the characters arrive, an elder monk
named Lean Meimbaol greets them. A massive pair of cathedral doors open onto a long nave.
Rows of balconies line the walls, occupied by a couple
A figure dressed as a hooded monk stands besides the of dozen hooded monks seemingly come to watch the
dock, awaiting your arrival. Though he does not lower his audience about to take place.
cowl, he greets you warmly. At the far end of the nave, a throne resembling a
“Congratulations on your finding us! The Monastery twisted metal captain’s chair rises from a metallic
of the Distressed Body remains ever open to new dais backed by an ornate arch. There sits the Grand
prospects. I am sure the Grand Master will find suitable Master of the Distressed Body—a bone devil flanked
use for your bodies . . . or your minds. May I take you to by two massive bodyguards. The Grand Master wears
him now?” a patchwork leather robe and a gleaming crown, and
it carries a scepter set with odd crystal bumps and
If the characters agree, they are brought to the central metal flanges. With its other hand, the devil taps the
abbey (area M3). If they demure or refuse, Lean arm of the throne, showing off nails set with gleaming
Meimbaol does not interfere with their exploration of the metallic shards.
monastery. However, he does issue a subtle warning. “Welcome,” the Grand Master says. “We get few suppli-
cants here of your obvious experience and skill. You shall
“It makes no difference, really. All who come here find do well in service here at the monastery. But will that
their way to the Grand Master . . . eventually.” service be with the strength of your bodies or the strength
of your minds?”
M2. Monastery Grounds The Grand Master. As the characters draw closer to
At the surface level of the floating rock island, the the Grand Master, anyone can see that the devil’s horrid
monastery is laid out as a large campus composed of leather cloak is crafted from the faces of flayed monks
sharp-angled buildings. These jut out of the ground and prisoners, the flesh cured to leather and roughly
like massive metallic crystals, with scraggly gardens stitched together. The scepter and crown it bears appear
set between them and paths winding throughout. Five almost mechanical in nature, and are crafted from
monks led by an elder can be found here, silently going repurposed magical-mechanical parts from the planar
about the business of gardening, observing prayers, craft. Large rings seemingly crafted in the same way
scrubbing flagstones, and other mundane activities. encircle the devil’s arms and tail.
Dark Tidings. With a successful DC 12 Intelligence If a monk escorted the characters here, the Grand
(Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check made to Master makes an example of that servitor for allowing
quietly search or inspect the area, a character learns weapons to be brought into its holy presence.
a number of things regarding the monastery’s darker Otherwise, the Grand Master is making an example of
nature. Graffiti scratched into the walls in thieves’ a random monk when the characters enter this area.
cant and Infernal reveals dire sentiments regarding

13
In either event, the devil’s elder monk bodyguards (see
below) are ordered to strike with their exotic weapons,
executing the errant monk while the Grand Master
welcomes the characters.
The bone devil is an arrogant bully, and assumes
that the characters have come to join its cult. However,
it also comes across as whiny and petulant, reliant on
the protection of its bodyguards rather than making
any physical threats. If asked about Kwalish, the Grand
Master gladly recounts how it took over the floating
island and drove Kwalish to a second location—some
lost city farther into the Barrier Peaks.
The devil has seen Kwalish’s notes (found in the
treasury, area M10), which confirm that the inventor
was intent on seeking the legendary city of Daoine
Gloine. It offers to let the characters see them as well—
in exchange for the “modest fee” of all the characters’
magic items, and one year of service from either the
strongest or most intelligent character. (The devil is
always in need of fresh servants to shovel fuel in the
engine room, and fresh minds to replace the brains in
the control room.) If the characters reject this offer, the
Grand Master demands a year of service simply for the
honor of the characters having visited the monastery,
after which they are free to leave.
Any characters foolish enough to volunteer their
service are taken to the leather works (area M7) to
have their faces flayed. As soon as those characters
are out of the abbey, the Grand Master orders the other
adventurers to be murdered and looted. If it is attacked
or its orders are openly defied, the bone devil orders the
characters attacked at once. The Grand Master fights
only if directly threatened, or if its bodyguards and
monks appear to be losing the fight.
The Grand Master
Creatures. The Grand Master is a bone devil with
these changes:
• Shards of a vorpal sword once broken against target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw
the devil replace its claws. A successful DC 12 or suffer the effects of a polymorph spell.
Intelligence (Arcana) or Wisdom (Perception) check
identifies them as such. When the devil rolls a 20 on • West Wind is armed with a longsword that is a blade
an attack roll with a claw, the target is decapitated. (At of the medusa (see appendix D), granting him the fol-
your option, the attack can instead deal an extra 6d8 lowing attack:
slashing damage.) A target is immune to this effect Blade of the Medusa. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to
if it is immune to slashing damage, has legendary hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing
actions, doesn’t have or need a head, or if you decide damage. If West Wind rolls a 20 on the attack roll, the
that the target is too large for its head to be cut off by target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving
the devil’s claws. If removed, the shards lose their throw or suffer the effects of a flesh to stone spell.
magical powers.
• Local teleportation-field bracelets encircle the devil’s The Grand Master makes for a difficult fight on
arms and tail. These devices allow the Grand Master its own, and the addition of bodyguards and monks
to make its claw and sting attacks remotely, though targeting characters from the balconies could quickly
still on the devil’s turn and using its actions. overwhelm a party. You might opt to have the Grand
Master reveal some of the workings of the monastery
Two half-orc monks named East Wind and West Wind through its boasting—specifically, the existence of the
protect the Grand Master at all times. Each is a martial treasury and the brains in jars guarding its access.
arts adept with these changes: Doing so might encourage characters to escape in that
• East Wind is armed with a longsword that is a poly- direction during the commotion of a fight.
morph blade (see appendix D), granting him the If the characters are overwhelmed, the Grand Master
following attack: looks to have them captured rather than killed, as
the devil is ever in need of fresh servants. Captured
Polymorph Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to characters are taken to the cells in area M6, where
SHAWN WOOD
hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing you can create escape scenarios for them of your
damage. If East Wind rolls a 20 on the attack roll, the own devising.

14
Death of the Grand Master. If the Grand Master Treasure. Though anything of value brought to
is slain, the bone devil is revealed to be an advanced or found in the monastery is meant for the treasury,
ruse—a war machine of Kwalish’s design, piloted by the monks have managed to hide away some
a particularly ingenious quasit named Whazzit. The personal treasure. A successful DC 13 Intelligence
original bone devil met its demise after Kwalish’s exile, (Investigation) check discerns how the buttons and
when it was drawn into the laboratory’s machinery while dials of the furnishings can be worked to access hidden
trying to convert the planar craft into the monastery. compartments, revealing 10d10 gp worth of loose coins,
This rendered the devil into the treasury’s brain in three uncut sapphires (50 gp each), and a map showing
a jar. In the aftermath, the Grand Master’s servant the route to a cache of stolen goods hidden near a
Whazzit discovered Kwalish’s war machine designs thieves guild in a city of your choice.
and managed to construct it using the bone devil’s One cache also holds a Three-Dragon Ante deck with
exoskeleton. The tiny fiend has kept up this pretense one card enchanted to appear as whatever specific
for years, piloting this exoskeleton in the guise of the card its owner commands. This magic works only 25
Grand Master. If the Grand Master’s true nature is percent of the time, but the deck is worth 500 gp to any
discovered, the quasit immediately surrenders and any serious gambler who doesn’t mind the risk—or who isn’t
remaining monks quickly and chaotically revolt. They’ll told about it.
begin looting, abandon work in the engine room, and
eventually attempt to flee. M5. Engine Room
Throne Gate. The throne is an assemblage of This area contains the magical workings of the
magical-mechanical parts backed by a standing metallic monastery’s engines.
arch set with complex filigree. The armrests of the
throne are set with a complicated array of instruments,
This massive chamber is filled with the deafening hum
though many of the controls have been stripped
away. (The throne was once the control center of the and roar of machinery. Piles of rough rock ore are spread
archway—the gate Kwalish opened to the Nine Hells, throughout the area, around which a prisoner work gang
crafted from the technology of the crashed planar craft.) toils in the sweltering heat. Smooth metallic columns
A character who sits on the throne notes that many rise to the ceiling, with open hatches set into their sides
of its instruments are still operational, allowing them at ground level. Haggard prisoners frantically shovel ore
to track the comings and goings of the merrenoloth’s
into these hatches, which pulse with a deep-red glow.
ferry. If a creature seated in the throne wears the bone
devil’s crown and holds its scepter, that creature can As you watch, a prisoner collapses from exhaustion.
attempt a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check to reopen Under orders from the overseeing monks, other workers
the archway. Treat a successful check as if the character toss his body out of the way into a corner for a quick and
had cast the gate spell to open a gate to the Nine Hells. callous disposal.
Treasure. The crown and scepter are crafted of rare
metal alloys and set with jeweled crystalline buttons
plundered from the planar craft’s instrument panels. The fuel originally carried by the planar craft has long
They have no magical power outside the monastery and been exhausted, and prisoners now shovel low-grade
the city of Daoine Gloine (see area O4), but if sold as art ore mined from the surrounding mountains into the
objects, the crown is worth 500 gp and the scepter is furnaces beneath this area. The powerful fires of those
worth 750 gp. furnaces keep the monastery in the air, and instantly
destroy anything thrown into their open vents.
M4. Dormitories If ore ceases to be fed to the furnaces (most likely
When not on duty, the monks reside in this series of ill- due to the characters freeing the prisoners here and
kept rooms. breaking the Grand Master’s power) the engines begin
to fail over a 24-hour period. When the furnaces stop
burning after that point, the monastery plunges into the
Each of these dormitory cells contains only a bed, a
valley to be destroyed, along with any creatures still
trunk for personal effects, and a table. All are crafted inside it.
of scrap parts from the complex mechanical detritus of Creatures. Five monks led by an elder oversee a
the monastery, and feature residual buttons, dials, and group of twenty prisoners toiling to keep the engines
meters that have no discernible purpose. The walls here burning and the monastery aloft. If the monks are
are covered in graffiti, suggesting a steady series of new dealt with and the prisoners are freed, they can fill the
characters in on the layout of the monastery. All the
residents over long years.
prisoners are desperate to escape the monastery before
its engines fail. They can steal a skiff and follow the
Creatures. A group of five monks led by an elder marked trails out of the Barrier Peaks if left to their
monk can be found here at any time, sleeping, eating, own devices.
and taking part in decidedly non-monastic activities
(gambling, flinging chamber pots at one another,
comparing dueling scars, plotting a way to rob the
treasury, and so forth).

15
M6. Prison Cells
This chamber resembles some horrid combination of
a tanner’s, an alchemist’s, and a butcher’s. Knives and
This area is lined with boxlike metal cells, all built of the other implements lie scattered about, razor sharp and
same strange materials seen elsewhere in the monastery. streaked with blood and gore. Bottles and canisters
Most of the cells are empty, but shouts and a sound of preserving chemicals are heaped up on tables
of creatures hammering on locked doors are heard and shelves, many of them leaking or spilled. Barrels
from a few. identifiable by their sharp smell as powerful tanning
acids stand open against the walls, beneath rows of
Any prisoners not working in the engine room or mining hanging chains.
the ore fed to the engines (see “Cavern Encounters” in A limp, leather-clad figure is curled against the wall
appendix A) are kept here, as are any prisoners that beneath the chains. Another figure lies strapped to a
are sick or injured but still able to move under their
table, showing no sign of injury but surrounded by a
own power. As well, a group of prisoners deemed too
dangerous to work but too valuable to kill have been group of monks that appear to be preparing for some
designated “immured ones” and incarcerated here, horrid ceremony. Hanging on the walls around the table
where the monks attempt to break their wills and return are a number of grotesque leather masks.
them to servitude.
Cells. The cells are all repurposed metal containers
from the planar craft, and are all locked. A character The leather masks that hang around the room are the
can pick a cell’s lock with a successful DC 15 Dexterity flayed faces of monks and prisoners, recognizable as
check using thieves’ tools. The metal of the cells is such with a successful DC 13 Wisdom (Perception)
especially susceptible to the planar craft’s technology, check or by any character who has seen the horrid
allowing a lock to be automatically sliced open with an leather robe worn by the Grand Master.
attack from an elder monk’s force pike. Creatures. Five monks led by an elder are all
Characters who fall to the valley floor (area C4) sharpening tools and preparing to flay the flesh from the
from area C1 or area M9 are picked up by a floating face of a new recruit to the monastery. They attack at
teleportation-field device (see the sidebar) and teleported the first sign of intruders, with the magically animated
into one of these locked cells. leather faces detaching from the walls to attack
Creatures. Five monks led by an elder monk guard alongside them. Treat all the faces as a swarm of bats.
the prisoners here. The elder monk carries keys to all Treasure. Any inspection or a successful DC 12
the cells. The ten prisoners are humanoid commoners, Wisdom (Perception) check reveals that the leather-clad
most of which require healing in order to speak figure on the floor is actually a suit of leather golem
coherently or walk on their own. If the monks are dealt armor. See appendix D for more information.
with, freed prisoners can fill the characters in on the Development. If any leather mask is placed on the
layout of the monastery. If the engines are set to fail, all face of a flayed prisoner while that prisoner is targeted
the prisoners will be desperate to escape the monastery by healing magic, the magic of the mask is undone and
before its fall. If freed in any event, they can steal a skiff the prisoner’s original face is restored.
and follow the marked trails out of the Barrier Peaks if
left to their own devices.
M8. Control Room
Immured Ones. These three unfortunate prisoners This central area once served as the bridge of the
have been driven mad by their incarceration and planar craft.
abuse. If freed, each attacks the nearest target unless a
character succeeds on a DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) This area is a maze of damaged controls and broken
check. A successful check causes the immured ones to
machinery. Countless wires twist their way across the
run off and attempt to escape.
walls, erupting from control panels that have been pulled
Treat each immured one as a berserker with
these changes: apart to lay bare their internal components.
Five clear canisters connected by metal tubing and
• Its greataxe attack is replaced with a shackling
chains attack, using the same modifiers but dealing wires line the walls, each one filled with viscous fluid—
bludgeoning damage. and what appears to be a humanoid brain.
• While in sunlight, an immured one has disadvantage
on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight. Any wires spotted by the characters in area M2 all
eventually end up here. An inspection of the room
M7. Leather Works and its control panels show that most of the magical-
The planar craft’s medical station has been repurposed mechanical components once here have been stripped
into a torture chamber by the Grand Master. Here, out. These were worked into Kwalish’s original
new arrivals are flayed to take on the bone devil’s own experiments or otherwise repurposed.
ghastly image. Creatures. These horrid undead are the monastery’s
so-called “enlightened ones.” Through the technology
of the planar craft and Kwalish’s experimentation, each

16
brain in a jar has been chained to the others to form Negotiating with the Brains. The brains in their
a hive-mind consciousness, even as each retains its jars are currently engaged in running the monastery,
individual voice. Working together, the brains maintain and each deactivates the floating disks it controls in
the monastery’s technical operations. Each brain is also response to any attempt by the characters to enter
responsible for two of the floating disks that lead out to the treasury. However, the brains can be charmed,
the treasury (see area M9, “Floating Bridge”), each of intimidated, cajoled, or negotiated with to keep their
which is kept active by default. floating disks active. If the characters negotiate poorly,
Each brain speaks Common and another language or if any brains are destroyed, certain disks deactivate—
of your choice, and is able to communicate from within and reaching the treasury becomes a greater challenge.
its canister. Some identify themselves as members of In order to persuade the brains to keep all the floating
Kwalish’s original expedition, while others are wizards disks active, the characters must succeed on five DC
and other spellcasters enslaved by the monks. 15 Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion)
Lore and Information. With respectful discussion checks. Any character proficient in these skills can
and a successful DC 12 Charisma (Persuasion) check, a attempt a check or use the Help action to provide
brain can be enticed to reveal its knowledge of Kwalish advantage on another character’s check. For each
and his initial expedition. All of Kwalish’s companions failure, one brain deactivates both its disks.
died at the hands of the sphinx, but the inventor If the players enjoy extended dialog and more social
managed to harvest their brains in order to return them encounters, you can have them interact with each
to a semblance of life. Kwalish promised to research a brain separately. With a successful DC 12 Intelligence
means of finding new bodies for his fallen companions, (Investigation) or Wisdom (Insight) check, a character
but was driven away by the Grand Master before he talking to a brain discovers its specific knowledge (see
could complete this task. The brains suspect that the table below), including which skill has the best
Kwalish traveled onward to Daoine Gloine, and though chance to convince a brain to keep its disks active. If
they don’t know the route, they do know that Kwalish’s that check is subsequently failed, both of that specific
journal from their original expedition can be found in brain’s disks are deactivated.
the treasury (area M10). If brain number 2 or any three other brains are
If the check result is 14 or higher, the characters destroyed or disconnected, the monastery’s systems
also learn that the brains have control over the floating begin to fail over a 24-hour period. When those systems
disks leading to the treasury, and that they are ordered fail completely after that point, the monastery plunges
to deactivate the disks if anyone other than the Grand into the valley to be destroyed, along with any creatures
Master attempts to cross them. They also reveal still inside it.
the existence of the antimagic field surrounding the Gearbox to the Rescue. If Gearbox the modron
treasury (see area M10 for more information). is with the party, one character can attempt a DC 12
If the check result is 16 or higher, the characters Dexterity check to connect the construct to the controls
learn of a final, more powerful brain sequestered within in this area. Successfully doing so overrides all the
the treasury. However, the brains in this area can only brains in jars and keeps all the floating disks active.
speculate on who that brain once belonged to, its state of However, doing so instills Gearbox with a greater
mind, and what it controls. sense of purpose, after which it refuses to disconnect.
The modron thereafter integrates its consciousness
Brains in Jars
Brain (Name) Disks Knowledge Area of Control Ability Check to Deal With
1 (Alton) 3 and 9 The true, evil nature of the monks Dormitories; can lock and Charisma (Persuasion); the brain is
and the Grand Master; the story unlock the doors there eager to please
of how the Grand Master first
came to power
2 (Broderick) 2 and 7 The story of Kwalish’s escape Engine room; can overcharge Charisma (Intimidation); the brain
from the monastery; the existence the engines over a period of responds to shows of authority
of a second lab 1 hour to cause an explosion
and crash the monastery
3 (Corliss) 4 and 5 How the treasury is protected by Control room; can activate Charisma (Deception); the brain is
an antimagic field a force field to seal off that openly antagonistic but easy to fool
area from the rest of the
monastery
4 (Dunstan) 8 and 10 The true nature of the monastery Central abbey; can activate/ Intelligence (Arcana); the brain
as a crashed planar craft deactivate the Grand seeks knowledgeable discussion of
Master’s teleportation field magical matters
bracelets
5 (Editha) 1 and 6 The existence of a map to Prison and leather works; can Charisma (Performance); the brain
Kwalish’s second lab, and its lock and unlock the doors demands entertainment to alleviate
location in the treasury there its tedium

17
into the monastery’s, running its systems as its new Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion)
integrated mind. check, the brain warns them of the risks of tampering
with the journal (see below). It then negotiates for the
M9. Floating Bridge characters’ aid, claiming that only it can safely release
The route to the treasury takes characters out across the journal—but offering to do so only in exchange for
a series of ten magical floating disks—all of which are a body. Specifically, it demands that the body of the
suspended hundreds of feet in the open air above the defeated Grand Master be brought to this area. If this
valley floor. All the disks are kept active by default, is done, the brain can use the laboratory’s equipment
unless they are specifically deactivated by one of the to return to its original body. Instead of being thankful,
brains in jars in area M8. Each disk is identical to however, the devil turns against the characters at the
the effect created by a Tenser’s floating disk spell—a first opportunity.
circular, horizontal plane of force 3 feet in diameter and Kwalish’s Journal. The cover of Kwalish’s journal
1 inch thick. The disks are set in a line and spaced 5 feet is set with all manner of gears. A successful DC 12
apart. If any disks are deactivated, a not-insignificant Wisdom (Perception) check confirms that these are
leap is required to cross the empty space between them. not just decorative, but appear to be set in some sort of
Antimagic Field. As a defense against intruders working order. The same check reveals that wires lead
simply flying or teleporting across the gap, the exterior from the journal into another pile of junk, behind which
of the treasury is surrounded by a massive antimagic stands the canister of the final brain in a jar.
field, identical to the effect of the spell of the same name. If the journal is removed from this area, has its wires
Its radius extends to between the ninth and tenth disks, cut, or is opened, the gears on the cover deactivate the
which are immune to the field’s effect. treasury engine, which begins to sputter. The characters
Valley Floor. If any character is unfortunate enough have 3 rounds to flee this area before the treasury
to fall while crossing the disks, they are teleported plunges down into the valley to be destroyed, along with
into the prison cells at area M6. See area C4 for more any creatures still inside it.
information. The journal can be safely opened by the brain in a
jar, or with a successful DC 18 Dexterity check using
M10. Treasury thieves’ tools. Its pages detail how Kwalish continued
This solitary building is set atop a small floating islet his research into finding Daoine Gloine even after
within an area of open space punched down through setting up his initial laboratory on the floating island.
the main body of the monastery’s island. It is held aloft Using the notes and maps contained in the journal, the
on its own sputtering engine, and is largely filled with characters can find a route through the Barrier Peaks to
a heaping, tangled mass of wreckage. This consists of Daoine Gloine. In addition, the journal provides plentiful
old machine parts from other areas of the monastery, evidence of Kwalish’s fascination with extradimensional
broken relics of Kwalish’s earliest experiments, dead spaces, and talks about his hope of one day establishing
energy cells, and the like. a secure sanctum “beyond the bounds of the world.”
The controls that operate the antimagic field are Antimagic Controls. It takes a successful DC 12
set into a wall and completely hidden behind a pile Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception)
of junk. More piles of junk hide the monastery’s check to find the controls, which appear to have been
treasure, including the journal from Kwalish’s original constructed from an augmented beholder’s or astral
expedition—and a final brain in a jar. dreadnought’s eye set within a mechanical socket.
Creature. The brain in a jar in this area belongs to the A successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check or
bone devil that founded the monastery. It is in charge of Dexterity check made with thieves’ tools or tinker’s tools
the treasury engine, with its canister housed atop the allows a character to deactivate the antimagic field.
actual engine mounting, rendering it immobile. While Gearbox to the Rescue. As in the control room, if
investigating the laboratory workings in this area, the Gearbox the modron is with the party, a character can
devil inadvertently found its brain magically drawn into attempt a DC 12 Dexterity check to help the construct
the jar, where it remains desperate to be reunited with override the brain’s control of the treasury engine.
its body. Successfully doing so keeps the engine running, but
As with the other brains in jars, this brain can be Gearbox is unable to disconnect as a result.
negotiated with. If a character succeeds on a DC 15
5 2 1 3 3 5 2 4 1 4
EMI TANJI

18
Treasure. All manner of goods and magic items First Things Last
collected by the monastery over long years can be found As the characters enter the Barrier Peaks, the adventure
scattered throughout the junk in this area, including the has the Cartophile’s notes and maps directing them
following: initially to the monastery that was once Kwalish’s first
laboratory. Hidden in the treasury of the monastery are
• Kwalish’s journal, which has been promised to further notes and lore that let the characters push on to
the Cartophile (but which is worth 750 gp if the Daoine Gloine. But you can easily reverse that setup by
characters decide to shop it elsewhere) having the Cartophile’s lore lead the characters straight
• 515 cp, 11,215 sp, 1,925 gp, and 85 pp stored in to Daoine Gloine—with the lost city set up as the site of
various containers and coffers Kwalish’s first lab. Kwalish isn’t there, but old lore and
• 425 tiny gemstones worth 1 gp each, 44 small notes talk of how he was driven from the area by the ooze,
gemstones worth 10 gp each, 15 small gemstones and allow the characters to reach the monastery. There,
worth 50 gp each, and a black pearl worth 500 gp Kwalish can be found as the final brain in a jar in the
treasury (area M10).
• Three potions of healing, one elixir of health, and a
Alternatively, the Cartophile’s material might lead the
manual of golems (flesh). characters to the monastery, but also reveal caverns that
• An ornate wooden case carved with images of air continue past and provide a route straight to Daoine
and water elementals locked in furious battle, within Gloine. Taking that route to find Kwalish in the city, the
which is a Galder’s bubble pipe (see appendix D). characters are asked by the inventor to help purge the
• A suit of Heward’s hireling armor (see appendix D). monastery of the Grand Master and finally reunite the
• Components of value to tinkers, inventors, or brains in jars with new bodies.
artificers, worth 1,500 gp
• Kwalish’s lab notes, worth 2,000 gp from the
Cartophile or any other sage Part 3: The Ooze-
The components and notes left behind by Kwalish are
also of potential value to the characters. These include
Flooded City
When Kwalish found it, the legendary lost city of Daoine
instructions and raw materials for crafting artificial
Gloine was already an isolated mountain settlement.
bodies for the brains in jars, constructing a flying
After he took over, the inventor set about closing off
craft useful for escaping the monastery and further
any and all routes to the site. As such, as the characters
exploration of the mountains, building an ambulatory
follow the notes found in Kwalish’s journal, they find
craft capable of crawling up and down mountainous
that the narrow mountain passes begin to tighten
slopes to travel farther into the Barrier Peaks, and other
around them the closer they come to the location where
tasks of your devising. Completing any such project
the city is said to be. Many of the passes, tunnels, and
requires a successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check
trails the characters follow are deliberately blocked off
or Dexterity check using thieves’ tools or tinker’s tools.
with rockslides and other unexplained disasters. The
Alongside countless dead energy cells spread across
need to circumnavigate such areas accounts for much
this area, the characters find 1d6 + 4 charged cells, each
of the travel time to the city, unless the characters have
holding 20 charges. These are useful for powering the
arranged an alternative method of travel.
elder monks’ force pikes, or for temporarily powering a
No matter how the characters are traveling, you might
brain in a jar’s canister so it can be detached from the
consider a few encounters within the mountain passes
monastery’s power and moved elsewhere. Energy cells
of the Barrier Peaks as a prelude to arriving at Daoine
might also be used in devices the characters create
Gloine. See appendix A for more information.
(see above) or in the powered armor found in area O7.
Energy cells cannot be recharged.
Daoine Gloine
Onward Journey The city of Daoine Gloine has long been thought of
as mere legend—just another strange tale from the
Kwalish’s recovered journal and its notes on finding
already-strange Barrier Peaks. Occasionally, travelers
Daoine Gloine can be used to locate a series of
would return from the mountains with wild claims of
mountain passes on the other side of the monastery’s
having been lost in the peaks and visiting the city by
valley. These passes and trails lead to the legendary
accident. And though none of them could produce a
lost city after a journey of several weeks. Alternatively,
full map showing the route they took, their stories all
the characters might want to use the technology found
shared a common element—that Daoine Gloine was
in the monastery to expedite the journey. A bit of
populated by creatures made of living glass, tended to
bargaining—or theft—might gain the party the use of the
by kenku in love with those creatures’ shining beauty.
merrenoloth’s skiff. Or the characters could make use
These occasional tales drove more explorers—including
of Kwalish’s notes to shape the components and energy
Kwalish’s own expedition—to seek out the route to
cells of the treasury into a walking or flying vehicle. The
Daoine Gloine and learn the truth of who dwelled there.
use of a skiff or constructed vehicle cuts down the time
As is often the case, the common tales had more
it takes to reach Daoine Gloine, as you determine.
sinister origins. In ages past, the kenku that inhabited
To reduce the travel time to the lost city to nothing,
the city captured a unique medusa—Gloine Nathair-
you might have Kwalish’s notes provide instructions
Nathair, whose gaze could transform victims into glass
for reopening the planar archway in area M3. Instead
instead of stone. A cult of the medusa arose to worship
of leading to the Nine Hells, the inventor’s instructions
the creature, which was effectively incarcerated within a
open a gate directly to area O1 of Daoine Gloine.
central temple. Kenku priests brought regular sacrificial
victims—both willing and unwilling—to stand before the
19
CLAUDIO POZAS

medusa’s gaze. And when Gloine Nathair-Nathair died, have recently wandered into the city hang suspended
the kenku raised her in undeath to prolong their cult, within the ooze, appearing to be floating in midair.
continuing to fill their city with glass statues. Likewise, bits of crumbling walls and broken statuary
After Kwalish fled his first laboratory, he used the that have fallen hang suspended above the streets.
initial research of his expedition to eventually make his
way to Daoine Gloine. But instead of being welcomed O2. Tower Level
and allowed to work in peace, Kwalish found the As the characters draw closer to the city, they get a
city’s evil high priest threatening to transform him better view of the stone towers rising above the ooze.
into Daoine Gloine’s latest art installation. Desperate,
Kwalish constructed another planar gateway while
Many of the glass statues set along the exteriors of the
imprisoned in the temple, then opened a portal to the
222nd layer of the Abyss—Juiblex’s Slime Pits. A flood of towers are, in fact, humanoids. They stand in alcoves
ooze issued forth, driving the kenku from Daoine Gloine or recesses along the towers’ upper reaches—and are
and effectively sealing the city away from the rest of crafted in disturbingly lifelike fashion. Gargoyles and
the world. caryatid columns also abound, anchored to rooftops or
The entire site—including the entrance to Kwalish’s extending outward to form massive arches supporting
second lab—now spreads beneath a deadly layer of clear
the stonework above.
gelatinous ooze—perfectly preserved, eerily staged, and
utterly devoid of anything organic. The kenku that once
occupied Daoine Gloine have all long been turned to Horrid Statues. The glass statues that fill Daoine
glass or driven out. The city’s only resident is Kwalish, Gloine are the city’s sacrificial victims, forced into
but the inventor has developed potent defenses to defend intricate poses and petrified (or, rather, vitrified) by the
the entrance to his lab. cult of the medusa. Many of the statues above the ooze
The following locations are identified on the map show chips and cracks from long years of weathering.
on page 20. But below the ooze, most of the well-protected statues
are perfectly intact and appear uncannily lifelike. Many
O1. Overlook are kenku (the last inhabitants of the city before Kwalish
The mountain passes the characters follow eventually
and the ooze arrived), but explorers and mountain
open onto the top edge of a deep valley. Characters who
folk of many other races have also been trapped
arrive at this overlook can gaze down on the city below.
forever in glass.
Creature. When any intruder climbs the upper towers
The legendary lost city of Daoine Gloine spreads out or moves along the bridges created where towers
within a narrow mountain vale. Ancient and intricate have fallen, the vibration of their movement alerts
the clockwork kraken at the apparatus garage (area
stone towers rise up from the valley floor, though many
O5). The construct’s tentacles are outfitted with local
of those have toppled against one another to form teleportation-field devices (see the earlier sidebar),
dangerous-looking walkways extending between the allowing them to move throughout the city with a flying
ruins. The rooftops and upper levels of the towers are speed of 40 feet. When the tentacles reach intruders,
strewn with vines and foliage. But a strange gleam they attack in an attempt to shove those creatures into
the gelatinous ooze. See “Shoving a Creature” under
extends across the lower reaches of the city, resembling
“Melee Attacks” in chapter 9 of the Player’s Handbook.
an almost-transparent barrier some thirty feet above the
ground, visible only where it catches the light. O3. Street Level
Below that strange barrier, the buildings of the city Several trails lead down into the city, granting a better
are unnaturally clean, showing no signs of vegetation or view of the tableau beneath the ooze.
other life, and highlighting the glimmering glass statuary
that stands everywhere. Even at a distance, many of the Unlike the figures seen standing staidly along the edges
statues appear to be humanoids of different races. of the towers above, the hundreds of glass statues that
fill Daoine Gloine have been arranged on the streets and
in open courtyards as if staging scenes of city life—a
Ooze Barrier. The gleaming barrier marks the
upper edge of the ooze. Above the creature, the flora market square, a royal personage holding court, and so
of the mountains grows in abundance. But from forth. In addition to the statues, huge numbers of glassy
about the third-story level down to the streets, the city baubles are spread throughout these scenes, serving as
appears immaculately clean, with all organic matter stand-ins for fruit in a market, as huge jewels worn at
consumed by the ooze. A number of the towers that
a ball, as a scepter and orb held by a statue noble, and
have toppled from age are above the ooze, providing a
means for characters to explore and take shelter safely so forth. Looking around, the legends appear almost
above the city. true: here is a city inhabited entirely by folk of glass, and
A successful DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check made whose every possession is glass as well.
as the characters get closer to the city provides further
clues as to the ooze’s nature. The bones of animals that

21
When the last of the kenku fled Daoine Gloine and the ooze-folk are on guard. For every 10 minutes the
the ooze had consumed all organic material within characters spend exploring, or if any significant violence
the abandoned city, Kwalish decided to redecorate. disturbs the gelatinous ooze, 1d4 armatures activate
Traveling safely through the ooze in one of the within 30 feet of the characters. Individual blobs of ooze
apparatuses that bear his name, he arranged the statues congeal around these statue armatures as they erupt
throughout the city streets, creating a bizarre tableau of out of their staged scenes and attack. If a serious fight
life within the city’s dead zone. breaks out with ooze-folk, that fight attracts more ooze-
Unless they brought a fully sealed vehicle with them folk in turn.
from the monastery, there are no obvious ways for the A total of twenty-five ooze-folk can activate in this way
characters to enter the ooze safely. However, the tower before their numbers are depleted.
of the apparatus garage (area O5) holds an option for
doing so. See that area for more information. O4. Tomb of the Medusa
Creatures. The gelatinous ooze that protects the city The tallest tower in the city, this former temple once
is a single creature of incomprehensible size. It fills the housed the cult of the medusa.
valley to a depth of 30 feet, and cannot move beyond
the valley or the city. Even though it has no ability to
The top level of the city’s tallest standing tower is ringed
move, the ooze is aware of all activity around it, and has
extensive experience with drawing prey into itself. Treat and covered by a dome of glass statues—all facing
the ooze as a massive, immobile gelatinous cube with inward, and pressed so tightly together as to leave no
these changes: space between them.
• It is immune to all damage and conditions.
• Its reach is 10 feet. The statues that surround the top of the tower were
• Each round, the ooze can make one attack against sacrifices vitrified here to create a wall around the
each creature within its reach: a pseudopod attack medusa. A successful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception)
against any creature within 10 feet of its surface, or
an Engulf attack against any creature in contact with
its surface.
Alternatively, it can replace any of its pseudopod attacks
with attempts to shove a creature within 5 feet of its
surface into contact with its surface. See “Shoving a
Creature” under “Melee Attacks” in chapter 9 of the
Player’s Handbook.
To guard the entrance to Kwalish’s lab, a number of
the glass statues have been imbued with mechanical-
magical power—armatures of the inventor’s own design
that animate into ooze-folk. Once the characters Gloine Nathair-Nathair
enter the ooze to explore the streets of Daoine Gloine,
SHAWN WOOD

22
check reveals areas where the statues are in agitated • It is undead.
defensive poses. ( When the ooze began to flood the city, • It is immune to necrotic and poison damage.
the high priests quickly forced these final sacrifices • It is immune to exhaustion and the poisoned
forward to seal the medusa away.) A successful DC 13 condition.
Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check allows the statues to • Its Petrifying Gaze feature turns petrified creatures to
be carefully shifted apart to allow access inside. The glass instead of stone.
statues can also be smashed through (AC 10, 15 hit
Temple Gate. On the ground floor of the temple tower,
points, immunity to poison and psychic damage). beneath the ooze where it fills the lower levels of the
Temple. If enough statues are moved or broken open,
building, is a standing arch that is a match to the arch
they reveal a pit beyond, where a sheer drop of 25 feet in the central abbey of the monastery (area M3), but
leads down into this former temple. without the throne. If the crown and scepter from that
area are worn and held by a creature within 5 feet of
The space below the statues is a huge temple gone to the arch (including a creature within an apparatus of
ruin. A main hall lined with painted murals is abutted
Kwalish or similar device), that creature can attempt a
DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check to open the archway.
by many smaller side chambers once filled with fine
Treat this as if the character had cast the gate spell to
furnishings and decorations. All of that has rotted away open a gate to the 222nd layer of the Abyss.
to nothing now, but a series of shackles bolted to the wall Treasure. If Gloine Nathair-Nathair is defeated, the
across from some sort of large glass device hints at the medusa wears a gold necklace (1,200 gp), a pair of gold
horrid rites that must once have taken place here. bracers (375 gp each), and ten gem-studded gold rings
(50 gp each).
A thorough search of the levels of the temple above the
The wall murals can be deciphered with a successful ooze also turns up the following:
DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check. These tell the story • Spell scrolls of animate dead, flock of familiars (see
of the cult of the medusa, starting with the capture of appendix E), and greater restoration.
Gloine Nathair-Nathair, long years of sacrificial victims • One of Kwalish’s completed experiments—a set of
brought before her, and the vitrified statues now found clockwork-enhanced footwear that act as boots of
throughout the city. striding and springing
Old shackles set along one wall show where victims • A collection of tiny glass statues of creatures,
were held. A space opposite that shows where other including a pseudodragon, an imp, and several will-o’-
shackles have been removed from heavy bolts sunk into wisps, as well as several glass statues of hearts and
the stone. (The medusa’s shackles were once set here, brains—all vitrified creatures and once-living organs.
but were removed and used in the clockwork kraken’s The collection is worth 2,000 gp, but is very fragile.
engine at area O5.)
Monitor. The window-like device hangs against the O5. Apparatus Garage
wall where the medusa’s shackles were once set, and is This tower once served Kwalish as a temporary
framed by a complex mechanical filigree. This device is workshop, and still contains crucial remnants of his
a two-way monitor that can be activated by a successful experiments.
DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana) check. Doing so shows a
silent view through the similar monitor in Kwalish’s lab
(area O7). A large, squat tower dominates the surrounding
Creature. Once worshipped as a living goddess for buildings. Heaped around its base is a jumbled tangle
her unique trait of transforming victims into glass of old machinery, clockwork parts, piles of broken glass
instead of stone, Gloine Nathair-Nathair was kept a shards, and numerous oddly shaped glass statues. Some
prisoner in the temple ever since the creature was
of these statues appear stretched, as if still viscous
captured by the long-gone kenku. The medusa still
occupies the tower, but is now undead and in skeletal when fashioned, and almost as though they elongated
form, unfettered and thoroughly insane. It can be heard themselves trying to escape their fate.
hissing about the priests and their inane babble (the
kenku’s mimicry), and ranting about how it can still
sense the hated high priest’s presence in the city. If the The space within the tower is likewise cluttered with
characters descend the pit, it attacks at once. broken relics from Kwalish’s earlier experiments,
The medusa fights until destroyed unless distracted by partial armatures, and the like. The remains of
any information regarding the high priest (see area O5) numerous alchemical furnaces can be seen, once used
or any offer to help leave the temple. If the characters for shaping glass. Ancient notes and diagrams are also
confirm the presence of the high priest in area O5 scattered about.
(truthfully or otherwise), the medusa ignores them, Creatures. A clockwork kraken has been installed
scales the pit to escape using the entrance they created, in this area by Kwalish to protect the city. The main
and hunts the priest down. component of the construct’s clockwork engine is a
Gloine Nathair-Nathair is a medusa with the coffin-like structure that bears a strong resemblance to
following changes: Ctenmiir’s coffin. The engine housing can be opened
with a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check
or Dexterity check made with thieves’ tools or tinker’s

23
tools. If Gearbox is with the party, a character can that one of the baubles leads to Kwalish’s lab, though she
attempt a DC 12 Dexterity check to help the modron does not know which one. If questioned about the city’s
open and override the engine. countless sacrifices or the cult of the medusa, the evil
Within the coffin is the jellified remains of a former priest falsely denies any knowledge of such things.
kenku high priest of Daoine Gloine. Her undead body Development. A successful DC 12 Intelligence
now powers the kraken, though she does not control (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check made
it. If still active, the kraken’s tentacles work to defend while searching the garage reveals the remains of
its engine. a massive prototype apparatus of Kwalish, able to
Kwalish developed a process of using living and transport up to ten Medium or smaller creatures.
undead creatures as a control module for powerful The scattered notes and diagrams in this area can be
constructs, and placed the evil high priest here as used to repair and operate the apparatus of Kwalish,
punishment for her role in the countless sacrifices made but must first be deciphered with a successful DC
to Gloine Nathair-Nathair. If the priest is attacked, treat 13 Intelligence (Arcana) check. They also describe
her as a vampire spawn that cannot leave the coffin. Kwalish’s desire to construct a final laboratory hidden
But after endless years of undead incarceration, she within an extradimensional space, and how he
sees the characters as potential servants, not foes. experimented with the city’s materials to construct such
Priestly Bargaining. The high priest attempts to spaces within baubles of glass and crystal. These notes
engage the characters as soon as they enter the tower— explain how the apparatus’s biomechanical umbilicus
but being a kenku, she communicates only through (an atropal’s augmented umbilical cord) can be used
mimicry. Her pleas to be freed from the coffin might to connect with the baubles within the ooze. Doing
thus take the form of the last words of victims she so opens a magical portal within the apparatus that
brought before the medusa, or the rantings of Gloine allows characters to enter the extradimensional space
Nathair-Nathair while the medusa lived and railed contained within a bauble.
against her captivity. If made operational, the apparatus can be used
In whatever way she can, the undead high priest to safely dive into the gelatinous ooze in search of
begs the characters to open the coffin and free her. Her Kwalish’s hidden lab. However, if the clockwork kraken
jellified undead body is slopped around an ornamental and the ooze-folk are still active, they attempt to grab
helmet and shackles. (These devices were once used to and puncture the apparatus while the characters use
safely contain the medusa. See area O4.) A thin silver it. Use the statistics for the apparatus of Kwalish from
wire connects the helmet and shackles to the coffin, and chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide:
can be recognized as a form of astral silver cord with a Armor Class: 20
successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check. Hit Points: 200
If the high priest is disconnected (most easily by Speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft. (or 0 ft. for both if the legs and
extracting the helmet and shackles from what’s left of tail aren’t extended)
her), the clockwork kraken and all ooze-folk in the city Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
deactivate. The priest knows that after Kwalish flooded
the city, he eventually escaped into an extradimensional
space hidden beneath the ooze. She can also inform the
characters about the garage’s apparatus of Kwalish, and
its ability to connect with the glass baubles. She suspects
Apparatus of Kwalish
AARON HÜBRICH

24
If the apparatus suffers fatal damage, materials and
notes from the garage can be used to construct a new At the center of the lab, an elaborate system of glass
one. Completing such a project requires sufficient time piping and alchemical equipment flows and bubbles.
and a successful DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check or Banks of instrument panels are set against the walls,
Dexterity check using thieves’ tools or tinker’s tools. including a framed glass device resembling a window.
Treasure. A thorough search of the garage turns up
In another area, five clear canisters hold what appear to
a number of valuable components used in Kwalish’s
experiments, worth 1,500 gp to any tinker, inventor, or be still-beating hearts. Across the room, a mind flayer
artificer. appears trapped inside a glass tank.
All of the active equipment in the lab appears to
O6. Baubles connect to a suit of plate armor standing at the far
Hundreds of baubles have been set throughout the
end of room.
tableau of the city streets. If any ooze-folk (see area O3)
or the clockwork kraken (see area O2) become active in
response to the characters’ intrusion, those defenders Glass Piping. Clear glass tubes connect flasks,
do not touch or intentionally damage any of the baubles, funnels, columns, and other alchemical gear filled
instead actively protecting them from harm. with strange components undergoing constant
Most of the baubles are mere glass, and any transformation. Some are boiling, others are
inspection of them notes that light shines through condensing or solidifying into crumbling powder, and
them cleanly. A select few baubles are made of crystal, all this work is fueled by burners emitting strange-
as noted by any light shining through them creating colored flames and powered by ten steam mephits
a rainbow pattern. A successful DC 15 Wisdom trapped in retort flasks. A successful DC 15 Intelligence
(Perception) check also spots this difference. (Investigation) check grants a character enough insight
Dimensional Gateways. Touching a crystal bauble, into the instruments to gain basic control over the lab,
or connecting with one by way of the apparatus of such that the experiments here can be safely examined.
Kwalish from area O5, opens a magical connection to However, if the check is failed by 5 or more, the steam
an extradimensional space within the bauble. Entering mephits are released.
the correct bauble brings the characters into Kwalish’s Any character who succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom
laboratory. But entering one of the many decoy crystal (Medicine) check gets the disturbing impression that
baubles scattered throughout the city leads to a pocket this glass piping is not manufactured, but rather
dimension where the characters face a number of resembles intestines. (The piping derives from the
fanciful and challenging encounters. Use the Sample bodies of glass statues—former high priests partially
Bauble Encounters table on the next page to randomly revived by Kwalish so their glass intestines could be
determine extradimensional encounters within decoy drawn out for his use. With a search of the lab, the rest
crystals, or as inspiration for making up your own. of the priests’ vivisected glass bodies can be found
You determine how many decoy crystal baubles the crumpled in terrible poses in a storage closet.)
characters come across before finding the bauble that Instrument Panels. These control panels are
leads to Kwalish. If playing a shorter version of the covered with buttons, dials, and gauges, as well as
adventure, you might have only one crystal bauble (see delicate machinery containing tiny clockwork devices
below) found among the city’s glass baubles, with that reminiscent of ants performing intricate functions.
crystal bauble leading directly to Kwalish’s lab. A character who succeeds on a DC 14 Intelligence
Kwalish’s Bauble Gate. A glass workshop can (Arcana) check determines that the workings of the
be found by characters exploring the city. Its kiln panels derive from strange sources—some taken
remains magically lit even beneath the ooze, filling the from the planar craft that became the monastery, but
immediate area with an eerie light. A glass statue of an also from the bodies of modrons and inevitables (see
artisan near the kiln’s fire holds a crystal bauble as if Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes). Also set among the
shaping it. Accessing the extradimensional space within panels is a skull that has gems for its eyes and teeth (a
this bauble grants entrance to Kwalish’s lab at area O7. magically modified demilich skull; see the “Meeting
Kwalish” section below).
O7. Kwalish’s Lab Monitor. The window-like device hanging against the
The crystal bauble found in the city’s glass workshop wall is a two-way monitor that can be activated with a
opens a portal to the extradimensional space in which successful DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana) check. Doing
Kwalish maintains his personal laboratory. so shows a silent view through the similar monitor in
the tomb of the medusa (area O4). If Gloine Nathair-
The extradimensional space beyond the portal is filled Nathair is still at that location, turning on this monitor
with working laboratory equipment, similar to the ruined
brings her into view and allows her to use her Petrifying
Gaze on any creature in the laboratory that she can see
gear seen in the monastery and the city, but even more
through the monitor.
advanced. Canisters. Five clear canisters line the walls, each
one filled with fluid and the living, beating heart of some
type of creature. With a successful DC 15 Intelligence
(Nature) check, a character recognizes the hearts of
three humanoids, a troll, and a dragon. Each canister

25
is connected by a thin silver wire to multiple pieces of more adventuring you want the characters to do. See the
the laboratory’s equipment. The wire can be recognized “Meeting Kwalish” section below for more information.
as a form of astral silver cord with a successful DC 15 If the steam mephits are released, they might try to
Intelligence (Arcana) check. immediately escape (a 50 percent chance), but they
Notes scattered about the area detail how the otherwise attack everyone in the lab.
hearts in jars are fueling something called “powered A mind flayer arcanist (a variant creature in the
armor,” and of Kwalish’s attempts to fuel the advanced Monster Manual) is trapped within a glass-walled stasis
technologies of the crashed planar craft with sources chamber, kept on hand by Kwalish to be consulted for
other than energy cells. its magical knowledge. A successful DC 14 Intelligence
Creatures. Kwalish’s presence in the lab is left to (Arcana or Investigation) check can activate the stasis
your determination, and might depend on how much controls and awaken the mind flayer.
Sample Bauble Encounters

d12 Bauble Appearance Extradimensional Space
1 A royal orb held by a A shadowy, royal pavilion is filled with phantom images of courtiers and revelers. The king who holds
seated king-like figure court here is a wraith.
2 Delicious-looking The characters enter an enclosed marketplace in some fantastic extradimensional city (perhaps Sigil).
fruit being sold in a They cannot move beyond the marketplace, but they can buy, sell, and trade goods with a wide variety
market of races. (Kwalish might sometimes use this crystal to travel here and trade for needed materials, and
creatures in the market might know or remember him.)
3 An ornate diadem A grand ball is attended by numerous glass armatures engaged in a never-ending dance. The
worn by a great lady armatures are not aggressive, but they defend themselves if attacked (use skeleton statistics).
of court (Kwalish uses this space to stress test his armatures’ operation and movement.)
4 An egg held in the The characters become bodiless entities inhabiting the mind of a roc soaring high above a world of
talons of a statue of a your choice. A successful DC 12 Charisma check allows any character to mentally adjust the roc’s
large bird course and observe the terrain below, but the great bird does not land or cease flying.
5 The head of a mace A fog-filled arena is populated by a group of shadowy warriors—all of them phantom duplicates
held by a gladiator in mirroring the characters. Roll for initiative as the shadows attack, using the same weapons, spells,
an arena gear, and modifiers as the characters. If the shadows are identified as doubles with a successful DC
15 Wisdom (Insight) check, the characters can cease fighting to force their duplicates to do the same.
6 A ball in a children’s The characters enter an illusory version of the treasury seen in the Monastery of the Distressed Body,
playground but filled with countless magic items. A group of twenty-five monks (cultists) are in the process of
raiding the treasury, which the characters can defend using any magic item found in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide, making for a fun one-off fight. However, none of the items found in this version of the
treasury can leave the extradimensional space.
7 One of the eyes in a The characters find themselves inside a variant version of the apparatus of Kwalish abandoned
statue of a devil within the Nine Hells. Characters cannot leave the apparatus, but they can pilot it and explore
their surroundings. Every 10 minutes of exploration, there is a 20 percent chance that one or more
randomly determined devils happens upon the apparatus and attacks it.
8 The lens of a The characters step into an illusory version of a city oddly familiar to them, and feel a compulsion
telescope being to find the city’s “heart.” Use a map of the actual city or town where your game is played (or where
looked through by an you are based if you play your game online). The characters must reach your location to leave this
astronomer extradimensional space.
9 A jewel spilling from A series of storerooms are connected together in what seems an endless arrangement. Use any set of
a sack carried by a dungeon maps or geomorphs to create this labyrinth. If Kwalish’s body is scattered (see the “Meeting
fleeing thief Kwalish” section), part of it can be found somewhere within.
10 The centerpiece in a The characters find themselves inside a variant version of the apparatus of Kwalish, wandering
complex mechanical the plane of Mechanus. Characters cannot leave the apparatus, but they can pilot it and explore
clock in a central their surroundings. Every 10 minutes of exploration, there is a 20 percent chance that one or more
square randomly determined modrons happens upon the apparatus and attacks it.
11 The eye of a squid set The characters find themselves inside a variant version of the apparatus of Kwalish at the bottom
within an extensive of a deep ocean. Characters cannot leave the apparatus, but they can pilot it and explore their
aquarium surroundings. Every 10 minutes of exploration, there is a 20 percent chance that one or more
randomly determined aquatic creatures happens upon the apparatus and attacks it.
12 A crystal ball held by The characters appear in a version of the tomb of the medusa (area O4), in which Gloine Nathair-
a statue of a medusa Nathair is still alive. (The medusa uses normal statistics, but its Petrifying Gaze feature transforms
petrified victims to glass.) A ceremony is underway as the characters arrive, with phantom victims
being led before the medusa. If the creature is allowed to vitrify those victims, the extradimensional
gateway is breached and the illusory surroundings are flooded by ooze, with effects as you determine.

26
The mind flayer has no effective attacks while within Meeting Kwalish
the stasis chamber, as no spells or other effects can
pass through the cylinder in either direction. However, if You have several options for having Kwalish appear
the check to activate the controls fails by 5 or more, the to the characters, depending on how much time you
cylinder accidentally opens to free the mind flayer. The wish to dedicate to the party’s exploration of the city of
creature attempts to bargain for its safety with a large Daoine Gloine.
number of well-armed characters, but it betrays and
Quick Contact
attempts to slay them at the first opportunity.
The easiest approach is to have Kwalish in area O7
Powered Armor. The suit of armor at the end
when the characters arrive—an elderly gnome arcane
of the room is clearly the focus of the lab’s current
inventor (use the evoker stat block from Volo’s Guide to
experimentation, connected to various pieces of
Monsters) working on his latest experiments. Though
equipment by more silver wire recognizable as a form
surprised by visitors, Kwalish listens to the characters
of astral cord. If the characters end the adventure on
and might even be willing to bargain for whatever
friendly terms with Kwalish, he indicates that although
help they need to complete their quest. In exchange,
the powered armor is still being researched, it requires
he requires only a bit of special material to fuel his
a test subject. He is thus willing to loan the armor to any
experiments and continue his work—a piece of the
character, provided they use it as their sole suit of armor
characters’ souls, extracted by his machinery.
and report back to him periodically so as to gauge its
With a successful DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion)
efficacy.
check made to negotiate with Kwalish, the gnome
A character who accepts this offer automatically
asks only for a single bit of soul energy from any one
falls under the effect of a high-level geas spell, with
character. If unsuccessful, he demands one bit of
instructions to report back to Kwalish at least once
soul from each character in exchange for his aid or
every three levels, and to return the powered armor
information. The magically enhanced demilich skull
to the inventor if they ever desire to wear some other
built into the lab’s instrumentation panels is used to
armor instead.
channel a character’s soul energy once the bargain
If Kwalish is missing (see the “Meeting Kwalish”
is struck. A character who has a portion of their soul
section below), a character can simply don the armor
removed in this way falls under a curse. While so
themselves. However, this might lead to its own
cursed, whenever the character drops to 0 hit points,
complications. See appendix B and appendix D for more
they are treated as if they had already failed one death
information.
saving throw. This curse can be removed only by a
Treasure. If Kwalish is defeated, or if the gnome
remove curse spell cast by an 18th-level spellcaster,
is missing when the characters come to the lab, a
by defeating Kwalish and reversing the process using
thorough search of the area turns up the following:
his machines, or by completing a separate task for
• A collection of exotic materials especially valuable as the inventor.
spell components, worth 3,750 gp
• A pouch of diamond dust worth 1,750 gp Just a Bit of Trouble
• Numerous rare books worth a total of 500 gp Kwalish is missing, trapped in stasis inside his own
• A manual of golems (iron) powered armor. The characters must first discover
• A spell scroll of Galder’s speedy courier (see him there by making a close-up investigation of the
appendix E) armor, then find a way to access its controls. This can
• Several of Kwalish’s completed experiments whose be accomplished with a successful DC 16 Intelligence
mechanical effects reproduce the magic of certain (Arcana) check or Dexterity check made with thieves’
magic items: a folding boat, wings of flying, and a bag tools or tinker’s tools. Alternatively, characters who
of tricks (tan) experiment with tools found throughout the lab can
• Kwalish’s powered armor (see appendix B and access the armor’s controls given enough time. Even
appendix D) after accessing the controls, though, no one can
approach the armor without setting off its automatic
The “Alien Technology” section in chapter 9 of the
defenses. See the “Powered Armor Options” sidebar in
Dungeon Master’s Guide talks about how futuristic
appendix D.
devices are often powered by energy cells. The force
Once he is freed, Kwalish is as grateful as he is able to
pikes found in the monastery, as well as the powered
express, and willing to listen to the characters’ requests.
armor to be found in Kwalish’s lab in part 3 of the
This has the same outcome as above, but assume that
adventure, are two such devices. Alongside countless
negotiations are automatically successful and only one
dead energy cells spread across this area, the
character needs to offer up a piece of their soul.
characters also find 1d6 charged cells, each holding 20
charges and useful for the powered armor. Kwalish Who?
If the characters loot Kwalish’s lab, then rescue the Kwalish is missing, his physical body having been
gnome from stasis or a disembodied state (see below), caught up within his laboratory equipment and rendered
their ability to blame the thefts on other creatures is left into various bodily components that now make their
to your determination. way through the glass piping in perpetuity. His mind,
however, can still communicate through various
means—clockwork ants forming signals and signs,
messages drawn by mechanical hands, consultation

27
with the trapped mind flayer, and so on. As best he can, driven back. Moreover, Kwalish’s aid could inadvertently
Kwalish tries to instruct characters in the methods create new threats, as might happen if opening the
that might reconstitute his body (with those methods coffin-prison of the vampire, Ctenmiir, opens similar
determined by you). Unfortunately, some of his body Kwalish-designed prisons across the world.
parts have been installed elsewhere in the city (within The power in the Barrier Peaks likely shifts
other baubles, forming part of the kraken’s engine, and dramatically if the Grand Master is defeated, and
so forth) and must be tracked down. a new power struggle soon ensues for control of
If the characters are successful, the regenerated the monastery. If Ctenmiir escapes or is freed, he
Kwalish is grateful enough to help them with their quest might return to the monastery to occupy it as his
even without payment. He then offers an additional new lair. Mary Greymalkin joins him there, creating
boon to any interested character, granting the use of a sanctum of evil magic. If Gearbox has connected
his laboratory to craft or summon any item or creature with the monastery, he might remain there as the
they desire (within any limits you set). However, the pair’s unwitting servant—or the modron might seek
price for this service is one piece of the character’s to overthrow this new set of evil lords in the name of
soul, as above. establishing the monastery as a place of pure knowledge
and balance.
Roleplaying Kwalish
However he is met, Kwalish presents himself as a Kwalish’s Plans
detached, single-minded researcher. In his mind, his
Kwalish has long yearned to help the members of
work is more important than any other concerns, and
his former expedition trapped as brains in jars in
he believes that the secrets of the technology found
the Monastery of the Distressed Body. Knowing that
in the Barrier Peaks hold a vast potential to advance
they still survive, he might provide instructions and
knowledge. If questioned, he proudly details his
materials for the characters to return to the monastery
experiments (including with the powered armor), as
and provide the brains with new bodies. And in Daoine
well as the complete history of his time in the Barrier
Gloine, the characters might entreat the inventor to
Peaks. If pressed, he talks of how he salvaged the minds
discover a way to return the vitrified statues of the city
of the members of his first expedition only after they
to flesh. (If the characters haven’t destroyed the undead
were slain by the sphinx, and of how he buried Daoine
medusa yet, such means might involve a side quest
Gloine in ooze only after discovering its inhabitants to
where they bring Kwalish her severed head.)
be depraved cultists. In both cases, the inventor deemed
Ultimately, Kwalish might become a patron of sorts
his desperate actions as necessary measures to advance
to the party, especially if the powered armor is loaned
his research.
out. If any character has bestowed a bit of their soul to
Sphinx’s Curse the inventor, he promises to return it in exchange for
If the characters engage Kwalish successfully, or as an the completion of certain tasks he sets before them
added reward if they rescue him, the inventor can use (including helping restore his friends). The place of
his skill to remove the curse imposed by the enhanced such a valuable and powerful contact in the campaign is
sphinx (whose machinery he created). This restores yours to determine.
to normal any ability scores decreased by the sphinx
(see area C2).
New Discoveries
The Cartophile possesses a good number of treasure
Laboratory Fight maps in his extensive collections—some of which are
If negotiations break down, or if the characters take even accurate. As an added reward for returning with
unkindly to Kwalish’s cavalier attitude toward life, they maps and news of Kwalish’s original expedition, he
might decide to confront and attack him. Kwalish first might gift one such map to the characters. He might
creates a distraction by releasing the mephits and the also look to hire the characters for future mapping
mind flayer in his lab as an action. He then turns on expeditions, or to undertake specific dangerous
the monitor and ducks down to stay out of the medusa’s missions in exchange for a share of the knowledge or
field of view. During the subsequent chaos, the gnome treasure to be found there.
attempts to don the powered armor, then wreak havoc.
Kwalish Lives?
Concluding the Since his expedition vanished ages ago, it’s prudent to
Adventure think about how it’s possible for Kwalish to be found alive
and well in his lab. If the gnome is found trapped inside
Depending on your specific adventure hook and the powered armor in stasis or scattered throughout his
how this adventure fits into your overall campaign, laboratory, the answer is easy. You might also consider
completing the adventure might have multiple that Kwalish’s research into the planar craft’s magical
technology, astral cords, and similar topics might have
ramifications.
allowed him to prolong his life indefinitely by magical
means. Alternatively, given the inventor’s ability to craft
Loose Ends lifelike constructs, this version of Kwalish might not be the
If Kwalish’s knowledge was needed to oppose threats in original gnome at all.
other lands, those threats might have been permanently
quelled—or they might only have been temporarily

28
Acknowledgments and Final Thanks
To E. Gary Gygax, as author of the original Expedition Final thanks to everyone who purchased this
to the Barrier Peaks (may chocolate and peanut butter adventure—your donation is going to a truly great cause.
forever collide into one another). To Kennedy O’Day, for On behalf of the entire Dungeons & Dragons team, we
playing one of her first games of D&D next to Bart at the sincerely thank you for your contribution to Extra Life
2017 Extra Life livestream in the Wizards of the Coast and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
offices (it was awesome!).
We would also like to extend special acknowledgment
of a designer for certain spells and magic items
appearing within this adventure. To Laurence Withey—
we hope this presentation of your material does justice
to Galder, and we humbly thank you for allowing us to
include it.
QUINN CARROLL, SHAWN WOOD, SHAUNA NARCISO

29
Click to download at:

https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/DaoineGloinePlayersHandout.jpg
Appendix A:
Random Encounters
Characters undertaking this adventure will spend a
significant amount of game time on the journey to the
Monastery of the Distressed Body and the lost city
of Daoine Gloine. You can help bring those weeks of
exploration to life with random encounters—some of
which might increase or decrease the length of the
characters’ journey, as you decide.
Chapter 2 of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything includes
random forest encounters, Underdark encounters, and
mountain encounters. Or you can roll for or select more
detailed encounters using the following tables.
Wilderness Encounters
Reaching the foothills of the Barrier Peaks takes
the characters through a broad range of wild lands—
including woods infused with the power of the Feywild.
Wilderness Encounters
d10 Encounter
1 A pack of sprites pester the party, playing tricks and
attempting to steal small items until the characters
leave their territory. If they are treated with
deference, the sprites might help the characters find
the correct path and hurry them along. If assaulted
in any way, fifteen sprites riding stirges attack. (The
sprites’ invisibility extends to the stirges as well
while they are mounted.)
2 The path leads into a lonely grove that serves as
the grave of a former dryad queen. If appropriate
respects are paid, the characters have a 50 percent
chance to receive a supernatural gift (see chapter
7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide)—a charm that
allows a character to cast the Galder’s tower spell
(see appendix E) once as an action.
3 A treant and a stone golem were magically locked
together during an ancient battle. Over the centuries
since, fey gardeners have turned the two into a
temple. Characters who explore the temple might
inadvertently help the treant or the golem finally
overcome its foe.
4 A leprechaun (use quickling statistics from Volo’s
Guide to Monsters) crosses the characters’ path. If
successfully caught without being killed, the creature
negotiates its release with the location of its hidden
treasure: 1,000 gp in brightly polished coins.
5 Gathering firewood results in a visit from an angered
undead treant. (Use normal statistics, but the
creature has the undead type and cannot use its
Animate Trees feature). The treant collects all such
fallen branches to take to a hidden graveyard of
treant remains, and it angrily attacks any characters
MARK WINTERS
who get in its way.

32
d10 Encounter Mountain Encounters
6–7 Some strange creature has wandered down from The rocky trails and forbidding passes of the Barrier
the Monastery of the Distressed Body. Such Peaks hold endless mysteries, and are ripe for random
creatures might include an ancient security encounters as the characters make their way to
construct gone mad (use oaken bolter statistics from Daoine Gloine.
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes) or a gibbering mouther
with a mechanical skull housing its central brain. Mountain Encounters
8–10 The characters come across a group of roving d10 Encounter
outlaws (five to ten thugs led by a bandit captain), 1–2 A party of monks (five cultists led by a cult fanatic)
who are heading to the monastery to join its ranks. either survived the characters’ assault on the
They possess rumors and fragments of a map, Monastery of the Distressed Body or were away from
and are keen to steal the characters’ resources— the monastery and returned to find it routed. They
especially if Gearbox the modron is present. pursue the characters—to try to convince them to
take on leadership of the monastery.
Cavern Encounters 3 A party of surviving monks (five cultists) pursues
the characters in revenge, led by an escaped brain
The caverns and tunnels of the Barrier Peaks are a
treacherous maze that has claimed more than one in a jar using cobbled-together mechanical gear for
adventurer. This challenging route might involve cavern mobility. (If the Grand Master was defeated and its
encounters that can help flesh out the characters’ brain survived any encounter in the treasury (area
journey to the Monastery of the Distressed Body. M10), that brain now leads this group.)
4 The characters discover signs of past expeditions to
Cavern Encounters the Barrier Peaks—the remains of travelers crushed
d10 Encounter by fallen rocks. If searched, the bodies might still
1 A xorn and an umber hulk hunt as a team, with the possess useful gear or fragmentary maps showing
umber hulk working to herd characters toward its the layout of Daoine Gloine. But a close inspection
partner. Alternatively, the xorn and the umber hulk shows that some bodies have had part of their flesh
are rivals, with the characters caught in the middle. melted away (from encounters with wandering ooze-
2 A small war machine built at the monastery has been folk).
claimed by three kobolds, which use it to attack any 5 A galeb duhr (sibling to the one in the monastery
potential threats. Use the statistics for the oaken tunnels) blocks a key route into the lost city of
bolter (from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes) and the Daoine Gloine. A character must succeed on a DC 14
kobold inventor (from Volo’s Guide to Monsters). Charisma (Persuasion) check for the party to pass.
3 The characters’ tunnel route leads through the lair But these galeb duhr have an instinctive knowledge
of a froghemoth or some other exotic monstrosity of each other, granting advantage or disadvantage
escaped from another planar craft that crashed into on the check depending on how the other galeb
the Barrier Peaks long ago. duhr was treated. If the other galeb duhr was killed,
4 A galeb duhr serves as a kind of door between this one attacks as soon as the characters are
passageways. Negotiating with it successfully allows recognized.
access to a secret tunnel that cuts days off the 6–7 A wandering ooze-folk appears, having accidentally
characters’ journey. trekked out of the city.
5 Roving outlaws (five to ten thugs led by a bandit 8–10 An isolated village clings to the mountainside,
captain) heading to the monastery to join its ranks populated by kenku descended from Daoine Gloine
are hopelessly lost in the tunnels. In gratitude for refugees who fled the city when it was flooded with
being rescued, they offer to help the characters in ooze. The kenku still remember ancient legends their
their quest, but betray them at the first opportunity. forebears told about a cult of the medusa, as well as
6–7 Six prisoners (commoners) escaping from the Kwalish’s arrival and the “plague of ooze.” However,
monastery look to the characters for aid. They are their ability to speak only in mimicry might make
pursued by monks (five cultists led by a cult fanatic). it challenging for the characters to communicate
If the prisoners are aided, they can supply some with them. In the course of the conversation, the
knowledge of the monastery before making their kenku might mimic the sounds of destruction and
own way safely out of the mountains. screaming heard as the city was overwhelmed, relay
8–10 A monastery work party—six humanoid prisoners the mad ranting of the medusa, and so forth. They
(commoners) watched by five cultists and a might even repeat the words of Kwalish himself as he
cult fanatic—is seen collecting ore to fuel the talks of his extradimensional experiments with glass
monastery’s engines. If the prisoners are rescued, baubles, and his efforts to hide his lab inside of one.
they can supply some knowledge of the monastery
before fleeing the mountains.

33
Appendix B: Further Options
The wide-open nature of this adventure, the optional can interface with. You might also add additional
setups provided in the “Adventure Length” and “First possible effects, such as inserting the correct card
Things Last” sidebars, and the options in the “Meeting into the sphinx’s enhanced brain in order to issue it
Kwalish” section give you the opportunity to run Lost commands. Even if used in these ways, though, a card
Laboratory of Kwalish in a number of different ways. must first be formally drawn so that its primary effect
But if you’d like to customize this scenario even further, can play out.
consider any of the following options. Additionally (and especially if the characters don’t
choose to take Mary as a hireling), the deck of several
The Cartophile things might not be in her possession. Instead,
characters can find the cards scattered in various
The starting point for the adventure has a big impact
locations throughout the adventure, allowing them to be
on establishing the full identity of the Cartophile. In
collected, then used.
Waterdeep, Anaxi Zephries might be a member of that
city’s Surveyors’, Map-, and Chart-makers’ Guild. But if
the adventure is tied to Chult and Tomb of Annihilation, The Enhanced Sphinx
he might instead work as a merchant prince in Port Plenty of additional options can be used during the
Nyanzaru. And either way, no matter how genuinely you process of resolving the sphinx’s riddle, including
portray him, the Cartophile might fall under suspicion working with the idea that because the enhanced sphinx
by the characters in the manner of so many too-helpful gains much new knowledge from outlaws crossing into
NPCs. You can opt to run with such suspicions by giving the monastery, asking about good-aligned topics might
the Cartophile a secret agenda. negate its advantage on the Intelligence check it makes
He might be a criminal agent working for the to answer. Alternatively, you might decide that the dock
Monastery of the Distressed Body, sending party the sphinx sits on magically fuels its enhanced abilities,
after adventuring party to become new prisoners of and that by tricking or forcing the creature off the dock,
the Grand Master. He might even be a construct sent it has disadvantage on its Intelligence checks to answer.
from the monastery for that purpose—or his body Another obvious option is to allow the characters to
might be such a construct, and the brain in a jar from trick the sphinx with a logical conundrum, perhaps
the monastery’s treasury is actually his. As such, the along the lines of asking: How can we cross to the
Cartophile wishes to have it returned at all costs, monastery without paying the toll? The answer to the
and any hirelings accompanying the party attempt to question is to ask the question, pressing the sphinx
complete this secret agenda over any others. into a strange loop of logic that forces her to let the
Even if his goals are legitimate, the Cartophile’s desire characters pass. It’s also possible that the characters
to trace the original expedition of his ancestors might might wish to use the enhanced sphinx to ask a question
offer further connections to be developed. If one of the they truly need to know the answer to, perhaps from
brains in jars belongs to one of those relatives and is some other mystery in your campaign. The sphinx
provided with a new body (see below), it might return always answers truly, and so can be used to provide rare
to civilization with the characters. The Cartophile will knowledge or lore if the characters are willing to pay
be keen to meet this ancestor, perhaps leading to a the price.
new family business. Or considering that they’re both Seeker of Knowledge. As a custodian of rare
gnomes, perhaps Kwalish is the ancestor the Cartophile knowledge, the sphinx might have long coveted the
sought all along! knowledge of the monastery’s brains in jars—all of
them creatures with advanced intellect and a unique
Mary Greymalkin perspective on the world. She might strike a deal with
the characters if they agree to find the brains and bring
A number of options present themselves for using
her one, allowing them to summon the ferry without
the deck of several things within the adventure. As
paying her toll.
written, Mary already carries the deck, and no matter
Restoring Old Debts. If the sphinx is slain, the
how many cards are drawn from it, the complete deck
mechanical items that circle around her (functioning
reappears magically in her possession at the conclusion
as Ioun stones) might all be released. The life force
of the adventure. But if she remains as an NPC in your
they contain (in the form of decreases to ability scores)
campaign, or is first placed in an earlier adventure,
might then be usable by their original owners to reverse
consider modifying the cards’ effects to more broadly fit
the decrease. If any of those owners are still alive, the
the campaign.
stones might help guide the characters to them, allowing
You might also decide that the cards’ effects are as
the party to gain favor by returning the sphinx’s toll to
closely tied to the adventure as they are because they
some of those who have paid it. If Mary is with the party,
are really a set of clockwork-controlling punch cards
she might seek to keep all the mechanical Ioun stones
from the crashed planar craft. Whether Gearbox is with
for herself—and might stop at nothing to get them back
the party or not, the cards might be used to connect to
if the other characters seize them.
any of the technology in the adventure that the modron

34
The Grand Master thieves’ tools or tinker’s tools. Furthermore, each such
body also requires a new energy cell from the treasury.
As the leader of the monastery, the Grand Master is You could also establish that the process of returning
meant to present a difficult but not impossible challenge. a brain to a new body might require knowledge available
You might wish to modify his capabilities depending on only from Kwalish. In this scenario, one or more brains
the relative power of the characters. will secure a promise from the characters to return
Vorpal Shards. Even while keeping the idea that the with this knowledge—or they might seek to accompany
grand master’s claw shards are from a vorpal sword, you them onward. The brains can go mobile by attaching
might wish to mitigate their threat of an instant kill by their canisters to Gearbox, Ctenmiir’s coffin, the
having them deal an extra 6d8 slashing damage instead. merrenoloth’s skiff, one of the treasury floating disks
You might also have the shards be from a polymorph made mobile—or even to the characters themselves.
blade, a blade of the medusa, or some other type Conflict with the Sphinx. If you work with the idea
of weapon. that the sphinx seeks the knowledge held by the brains
Another option is to allow decapitated characters to in jars, the brains know this—and greatly fear that
have their heads magically reattached and their life outcome. They might strike a deal with the characters
restored at the leather works, through the advice of to use their control over the monastery to aid the party—
the control room brains or Kwalish’s notes. Similarly, but only if they agree to first go back and slay the sphinx.
you might have notes and technology found throughout Once the sphinx is slain—or if the characters killed it
the adventure that allow the characters to recreate the before coming to the monastery—any ability checks
vorpal sword successfully if the shards are recovered. made to deal with the brains are made with advantage.
Cloak of Faces. If an added threat is needed,
you might have the Grand Master’s cloak fly apart
into its various faces during battle, attacking as a
More Monastery
swarm of bats. The original Expedition to the Barrier Peaks mapped
Throne Gate. The Grand Master might have long ago out six levels of the adventure’s crashed ship: “a large
figured out how to activate this gate. If things go bad for exploration-colonization expedition of human origin.”
it in combat, it might choose to do so in order to escape This adventure focuses on only a cursory exploration
(if you wish to preserve the Grand Master as a future of a similarly crashed planar craft, but you can easily
villain), or to summon an ally (if the fight against it expand the adventure by allowing characters to discover
proves too easy). portals in the monastery that lead to lower levels of
the vessel.
Brains in Jars A secret entrance might be concealed behind the
Grand Master’s throne in area M3, opening to reveal
Depending on your campaign, you might wish to a spidery contraption resembling an iron golem, and
identify some or all of the monastery’s brains with operating as a climbing elevator down into the lower
other figures from D&D lore. Perhaps the monastery decks. Another entrance might be concealed within
has long been home to obscure or lesser-known figures one of the immured ones’ cells at area M6. Opening the
such as Quaal, Queen Ehlissa, Keoghtom, Nolzur, and cell could reveal the entrance standing open, with the
Tuerny the Merciless—all of them known mostly for the prisoner gone and residing somewhere below.
magic items that bear their names. If you use Nolzur, Any such entrance might need to be accessed with
the creator of Nolzur’s marvelous pigments would be one of the deck of several things’ clockwork control
of special interest to Garret, while Tuerny (creator of cards (see “Mary Greymalkin,” above). But however
the lost artifact The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless) they are reached, these lower levels might contain any
would be of special interest to Mary Greymalkin. number of threats and mysteries: escaped biological
The New Body Problem. Every brain in a jar is specimens, advanced technologies, or even the planar
desperate for a new body, and a brain immediately craft’s original pilots trapped in stasis. The means to
agrees to aid the characters any way it can if they reignite the craft’s engines might also be found there
promise to restore it to life. Any number of possible if the monastery is in imminent danger of dropping
options might be available to characters wanting to from the sky.
achieve this end. Most easily, the brains can guide As an added challenge to the task of rescuing
characters through the process of transferring characters captured by the monks (including those
their intellect into a host such as a slain monk, or a who fall to the valley floor below the monastery),
mechanical entity such as Ctenmiir’s coffin or Gearbox. such prisoners might be outfitted with teleportation-
This process requires a successful DC 14 Wisdom field devices around their necks, so that their bodies
(Medicine) check or Dexterity check with thieves’ tools and heads are separated and imprisoned in two
or tinker’s tools. However, on a failed check, the brain different locations. Characters are fully conscious and
is destroyed and any floating disks it controls in the ambulatory while in such a state, their heads operating
treasury (area M10) are permanently deactivated. independently of their bodies until both are reunited.
The characters might also attempt to craft an entirely See the “Teleportation-Field Devices” sidebar for more
new mechanical body as a brain host—either individual information.
bodies for each brain, or a single body that houses all
the brains at once. Doing so requires a suitable amount
of time, access to materials, and a successful DC 16
Intelligence (Arcana) check or Dexterity check with

35
High Priest To raise the stakes for characters attempting to
activate or reverse the abyssal gate, you can also
In the ooze-flooded city of Daoine Gloine, the high priest require that the character wearing the crown and
in area O5 might negotiate with the characters for a holding the scepter must be in physical contact with
new physical body. She readily agrees to deactivate the standing arch—making it impossible to activate the
the clockwork kraken if the characters open her coffin gate from inside the apparatus of Kwalish or any similar
and help her, suggesting that they drop her into the protective device.
gelatinous ooze covering the city so that she can sink
down and use one of Kwalish’s armatures for a new
body. However, you might decide that if this is done, the
Kwalish
priest’s still-potent magical power allows her to merge The legendary arcane inventor is presented as an
with the great ooze and control it—effectively using that obsessed, distracted, but basically benign figure in the
titanic creature as the new body she seeks. adventure. However, you might choose to present him
as a much more sinister villain. Instead of preserving
Baubles the brains of his fallen comrades in the hope of one
day reviving them, Kwalish might have worked with
As the characters search through the endless baubles of the sphinx to arrange their deaths in order to harvest
Daoine Gloine, you might want to distinguish the single their brains for his research. Any of the brains in jars
bauble leading to Kwalish’s lab from the other crystal in the Monastery of the Distressed Body can detail
baubles by having it composed of diamond. A successful those events.
DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check spots the difference Likewise, instead of flooding Daoine Gloine with ooze
between the diamond bauble and the other crystal in order to save himself from the city’s evil cultists,
specimens. Kwalish might simply have wished to drive away
In addition to crafting new options for the encounters the population and seal off the city for his own use.
inside the baubles, you can set up each bauble so that Descendants of Daoine Gloine’s original inhabitants met
leaving its extradimensional space requires some sort of on the way to the city (see appendix A) can detail these
victory condition. Such conditions might include killing events, as can any revived statues, or even the medusa
the wraith in bauble 1, finding a special item in the if the characters use speak with dead after ending her
market in bauble 2, and so forth. You can also increase threat for good.
or decrease the number of decoy baubles throughout If used as a villain, Kwalish should be presented as
the city—or even have baubles taken from the city and a final opponent to overcome in his laboratory. Any
hidden throughout the world! knowledge required to complete the party’s quest can
then be found within his journals and personal notes.
Abyssal Throne Gate
Opening either of these devices (in the central abbey or
the tomb of the medusa) creates the effect of casting a
gate spell. As per that spell, the characters might wish
to name a specific creature from the plane the gate
leads to, hoping to interact with it. Or you might have a
creature Kwalish previously met through the gate arrive
in response to it being opened. That creature might
have knowledge to impart, a debt to repay, or a grudge
to have righted. You could even have creatures from
the two gates know of each another—and, as with the
monastery’s sphinx and brains in jars—attempt to work
with the characters against one another.
Additionally, the extradimensional portal Kwalish
used to open a gate to the Abyss from Daoine Gloine
might be reversible. If the characters meet descendants
of the city’s original inhabitants, they might be asked
to free the city of the ooze, perhaps in exchange for
valuable lost lore. Kwalish might also ask for their aid in
restoring the city to its former state.
If the undead medusa guarding area O4 is overcome,
the crown and scepter recovered from the monastery
can be used to open the temple gate, as noted in the
adventure. A follow-up successful DC 15 Intelligence
(Religion) check can then trigger ritual magic that
reverses the flood of ooze and sends it back to the Slime
Pits. However, if this check is failed by 5 or more, the
botched ritual summons forth a new plague of acidic
slime—so potent that it quickly melts the stone of the
city away, destroying Daoine Gloine for all time.

36
Appendix C: Monsters and NPCs
This section includes new monsters and nonplayer
characters introduced in Lost Laboratory of Kwalish, Reckless. At the start of its turn, the berserker can gain
as well as stat blocks from the Monster Manual, Volo’s advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn,
Guide to Monsters, and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes but attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its
that are referenced in the adventure. next turn.
Actions
Bandit Captain Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 9 (1d12 + 3) slashing damage.
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-lawful alignment
Armor Class 15 (studded leather)

Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)
Speed 30 ft. Bone Devil
Large fiend (devil), lawful evil
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Saving Throws Str +4, Dex +5, Wis +2 Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft.
Skills Athletics +4, Deception +4
Senses passive Perception 10 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Languages any two languages 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +6, Cha +7
Skills Deception +7, Insight +6
Actions Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and
Multiattack. The captain makes three melee attacks: two slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with
with its scimitar and one with its dagger. Or the captain silvered weapons
makes two ranged attacks with its daggers. Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 12
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage. Languages Infernal, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3)
piercing damage. Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede the devil’s
darkvision.
Reactions Magic Resistance. The devil has advantage on saving throws
Parry. The captain adds 2 to its AC against one melee attack against spells and other magical effects.
that would hit it. To do so, the captain must see the attacker
and be wielding a melee weapon. Actions
Multiattack. The devil makes three attacks: two with its
claws and one with its sting.
Berserker Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one

Medium humanoid (any race), any chaotic alignment
Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
Armor Class 13 (hide armor) target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 17 (5d6)
Hit Points 67 (9d8 + 27) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 14
Speed 30 ft. Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute.
The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 9 (−1) 11 (+0) 9 (−1)
Senses passive Perception 10

Languages any one language (usually Common)

37
Brain in a Jar Magic Resistance. The clockwork kraken has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Medium undead, any alignment
Independent Tentacles. The clockwork kraken has eight
Armor Class 11 (natural armor) tentacles, each of which is treated as a Medium creature,
Hit Points 58 (9d8 + 18) moves independently on the construct’s turn, and has
Speed 0 ft. a flying speed of 40 feet. The clockwork kraken’s senses
operate through its tentacles as well as its main body. Each
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA tentacle can be attacked independently, with damage dealt
1 (−5) 1 (−5) 15 (+2) 19 (+4) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) to tentacles applied to the clockwork kraken’s hit point total.
A tentacle is destroyed if it takes more than 20 damage.
Saving Throws Int +7, Cha +5
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic Reducing the construct to three or fewer tentacles reduces
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, its attacks accordingly. A clockwork kraken can regrow any
paralyzed, poisoned destroyed tentacles at the end of a long rest.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages any languages it knew in life Actions
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Multiattack. The clockwork kraken makes four tentacle
slam attacks.
Detect Sentience. The brain in a jar can sense the presence Tentacle Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
and location of any creature within 300 feet of it that has an one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Intelligence of 3 or higher, regardless of interposing barriers,
unless the creature is protected by a mind blank spell.
Magic Resistance. The brain in a jar has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects. Commoner
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The brain in a jar’s innate
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15). It can Armor Class 10
innately cast the following spells, requiring no components: Hit Points 4 (1d8)
At will: detect thoughts, mage hand, zone of truth Speed 30 ft.
3/day each: charm person, command, hold person
1/day each: compulsion, hold monster, sleep (cast at 3rd level), STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Tasha’s hideous laughter 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Actions Senses passive Perception 10

Mind Blast (Recharge 5–6). The brain in a jar magically emits
Challenge 0 (10 XP)
psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area
must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or take
13 (2d8 + 4) psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A Actions
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
Clockwork Kraken
Large construct, unaligned
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft.

20 (+5) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 3 (−4) 11 (+0) 1 (−5)
Damage Resistances fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and

slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Languages understands the languages of its creator but
can’t speak

38
Cultist Evoker
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-good alignment Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 12 (leather armor) Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Hit Points 9 (2d8) Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 9 (–1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
Skills Deception +2, Religion +2 Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5

Senses passive Perception 10 Skills Arcana +7, History +7
Languages any one language (usually Common) Senses passive Perception 11
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Languages any four languages
Dark Devotion. The cultist has advantage on saving throws
against being charmed or frightened. Spellcasting. The evoker is a 12th-level spellcaster. Its
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to
Actions hit with spell attacks). The evoker has the following wizard
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one spells prepared:
creature. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) slashing damage. Cantrips (at will): fire bolt,* light,* prestidigitation, ray of frost*
1st level (4 slots): burning hands,* mage armor, magic missile*
2nd level (3 slots): mirror image, misty step, shatter*
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball,* lightning bolt*
Cult Fanatic 4th level (3 slots): ice storm,* stoneskin
5th level (2 slots): Bigby’s hand,* cone of cold*
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-good alignment
6th level (1 slot): chain lightning,* wall of ice*
Armor Class 13 (leather armor) *Evocation spell
Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6) Sculpt Spells. When the evoker casts an evocation spell that
Speed 30 ft. forces other creatures it can see to make a saving throw,
it can choose a number of them equal to 1 + the spell’s
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA level. These creatures automatically succeed on their saving
11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) throws against the spell. If a successful save means a chosen
creature would take half damage from the spell, it instead
Skills Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Religion +2 takes no damage from it.
Languages any one language (usually Common) Actions
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 2 (1d6 – 1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8 – 1)
Dark Devotion. The fanatic has advantage on saving throws bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
against being charmed or frightened.
Spellcasting. The fanatic is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11, +3 to hit
with spell attacks). The fanatic has the following cleric
spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): command, inflict wounds, shield of faith
2nd level (3 slots): hold person, spiritual weapon
Actions
Multiattack. The fanatic makes two melee attacks.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach
5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2)
piercing damage.

39
Froghemoth Galeb Duhr
Huge monstrosity, unaligned Medium elemental, neutral
Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 184 (16d12 + 80) Hit Points 85 (9d8 + 45)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft. Speed 15 ft. (30 ft. when rolling, 60 ft. rolling downhill)
23 (+6) 13 (+1) 20 (+5) 2 (−4) 12 (+1) 5 (−3) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
Saving Throws Con +9, Wis +5 Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Skills Perception +9, Stealth +5 from nonmagical attacks
Damage Resistances fire, lightning Damage Immunities poison
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 19 Condition Immunities exhaustion, paralyzed,
Languages — poisoned, petrified
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,
passive Perception 11
Languages Terran
Amphibious. The froghemoth can breathe air and water. Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Shock Susceptibility. If the froghemoth takes lightning
damage, it suffers several effects until the end of its next False Appearance. While the galeb duhr remains motionless,
turn: its speed is halved, it takes a −2 penalty to AC and it is indistinguishable from a normal boulder.
Dexterity saving throws, it can’t use reactions or Multiattack,
and on its turn, it can use either an action or a bonus Rolling Charge. If the galeb duhr rolls at least 20 feet straight
action, not both. toward a target and then hits it with a slam attack on the
same turn, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) bludgeoning
damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC
Actions 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Multiattack. The froghemoth makes two attacks with its
tentacles. It can also use its tongue or bite. Actions
Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 20 ft., Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
target is grappled (escape DC 16) if it is a Huge or smaller Animate Boulders (1/Day). The galeb duhr magically
creature. Until the grapple ends, the froghemoth can’t use animates up to two boulders it can see within 60 feet of it.
this tentacle on another target. The froghemoth has four A boulder has statistics like those of a galeb duhr, except it
tentacles. has Intelligence 1 and Charisma 1, it can’t be charmed or
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one frightened, and it lacks this action option. A boulder remains
target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) piercing damage, and the target is animated as long as the galeb duhr maintains concentration,
swallowed if it is a Medium or smaller creature. A swallowed up to 1 minute (as if concentrating on a spell).
creature is blinded and restrained, has total cover against
attacks and other effects outside the froghemoth, and
takes 10 (3d6) acid damage at the start of each of the
froghemoth’s turns.
The froghemoth’s gullet can hold up to two creatures at a
time. If the froghemoth takes 20 damage or more on a single
turn from a creature inside it, the froghemoth must succeed
on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw at the end of that
turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, each of which
falls prone in a space within 10 feet of the froghemoth. If
the froghemoth dies, a swallowed creature is no longer
restrained by it and can escape from the corpse using 10 feet
of movement, exiting prone.
Tongue. The froghemoth targets one Medium or smaller
creature that it can see within 20 feet of it. The target must
make a DC 18 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the
target is pulled into an unoccupied space within 5 feet of
the froghemoth, and the froghemoth can make a bite attack
against it as a bonus action.
Froghemoth

40
Garret Levistusson Gelatinous Cube
Medium humanoid (tiefling), chaotic neutral Large ooze, unaligned
Armor Class 14 (studded leather) Armor Class 6

Speed 30 ft. Speed 15 ft.
11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 3 (−4) 20 (+5) 1 (−5) 6 (−2) 1 (−5)
Saving Throws Dex +4, Cha +5 Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened,
Skills Deception +7, Investigation +4, Performance +5, exhaustion, frightened, prone
Persuasion +5 Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius),
Damage Resistances cold, fire passive Perception 8
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11 Languages —
Languages Abyssal, Common, Infernal, thieves’ cant Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Ooze Cube. The cube takes up its entire space. Other
Special Equipment. Garret wears a ring of warmth (included creatures can enter the space, but a creature that does so is
in his statistics) and wields a gambler’s blade longsword (see subjected to the cube’s Engulf and has disadvantage on the
appendix D). saving throw.
Creatures inside the cube can be seen but have total cover.
Bardic Inspiration (3/day). As a bonus action, Garret can
A creature within 5 feet of the cube can take an action to
give one chosen creature (other than him) a d6 inspiration
pull a creature or object out of the cube. Doing so requires
die. The chosen creature must be within 60 feet of Garret
a successful DC 12 Strength check, and the creature making
and able to hear him. Once within the next 10 minutes,
the attempt takes 10 (3d6) acid damage.
the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to
The cube can hold only one Large creature or up to four
one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The
Medium or smaller creatures inside it at a time.
creature can use the inspiration die after the roll is made but
before the DM says whether it succeeds or fails. Once the Transparent. Even when the cube is in plain sight, it takes
inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to spot a
one inspiration die at a time. cube that has neither moved nor attacked. A creature that
tries to enter the cube’s space while unaware of the cube is
Cunning Action. On each of his turns, Garret can use a
surprised by the cube.
bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Garret deals an extra 7 (2d6) Actions
damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) acid damage.
feet of an ally of Garret that isn’t incapacitated and Garret
doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. Engulf. The cube moves up to its speed. While doing so, it
can enter Large or smaller creatures’ spaces. Whenever the
Spellcasting. Garret is a 2nd-level spellcaster. His cube enters a creature’s space, the creature must make a DC
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 12 Dexterity saving throw.
to hit with spell attacks). He has the following bard On a successful save, the creature can choose to be
spells prepared: pushed 5 feet back or to the side of the cube. A creature that
chooses not to be pushed suffers the consequences of a
Cantrips (at will): blade ward, vicious mockery
1st level (3 slots): charm person, detect magic, disguise self, failed saving throw.
identify, Tasha’s hideous laughter On a failed save, the cube enters the creature’s space, and
the creature takes 10 (3d6) acid damage and is engulfed. The
Actions engulfed creature can’t breathe, is restrained, and takes 21
(6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the cube’s turns.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
When the cube moves, the engulfed creature moves with it.
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
An engulfed creature can try to escape by taking an action
to make a DC 12 Strength check. On a success, the creature
escapes and enters a space of its choice within 5 feet
of the cube.

41
Gibbering Mouther Gynosphinx
Medium aberration, neutral Large monstrosity, lawful neutral
Armor Class 9 Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Speed 10 ft., swim 10 ft. Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.
10 (+0) 8 (−1) 16 (+3) 3 (−4) 10 (+0) 6 (−2) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 18 (+4)
Condition Immunities prone Skills Arcana +12, History +12, Perception +8, Religion +8
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Languages — from nonmagical attacks
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 18
Aberrant Ground. The ground in a 10-foot radius around Languages Common, Sphinx
the mouther is doughlike difficult terrain. Each creature that Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
starts its turn in that area must succeed on a DC 10 Strength
saving throw or have its speed reduced to 0 until the start of
its next turn. Inscrutable. The sphinx is immune to any effect that would
sense its emotions or read its thoughts, as well as any
Gibbering. The mouther babbles incoherently while it can divination spell that it refuses. Wisdom (Insight) checks
see any creature and isn’t incapacitated. Each creature that made to ascertain the sphinx’s intentions or sincerity have
starts its turn within 20 feet of the mouther and can hear the disadvantage.
gibbering must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw.
On a failure, the creature can’t take reactions until the start Magic Weapons. The sphinx’s weapon attacks are magical.
of its next turn and rolls a d8 to determine what it does Spellcasting. The sphinx is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its
during its turn. On a 1 to 4, the creature does nothing. On spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16, +8 to
a 5 or 6, the creature takes no action or bonus action and hit with spell attacks). It requires no material components
uses all its movement to move in a randomly determined to cast its spells. The sphinx has the following wizard
direction. On a 7 or 8, the creature makes a melee attack spells prepared:
against a randomly determined creature within its reach or
does nothing if it can’t make such an attack. Cantrips (at will): mage hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, identify, shield
Actions 2nd level (3 slots): darkness, locate object, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, remove curse, tongues
Multiattack. The gibbering mouther makes one bite attack
4th level (3 slots): banishment, greater invisibility
and, if it can, uses its Blinding Spittle.
5th level (1 slot): legend lore
Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 17 (5d6) piercing damage. If the target is Actions
Medium or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 10 Strength Multiattack. The sphinx makes two claw attacks.
saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is killed by
this damage, it is absorbed into the mouther. Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Blinding Spittle (Recharge 5–6). The mouther spits a
chemical glob at a point it can see within 15 feet of it. The Legendary Actions
glob explodes in a blinding flash of light on impact. Each The sphinx can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
creature within 5 feet of the flash must succeed on a DC the options below. Only one legendary action option can
13 Dexterity saving throw or be blinded until the end of the be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s
mouther’s next turn. turn. The sphinx regains spent legendary actions at the start
of its turn.
Claw Attack. The sphinx makes one claw attack.
Teleport (Costs 2 Actions). The sphinx magically teleports,
along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to
120 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Cast a Spell (Costs 3 Actions). The sphinx casts a spell from
its list of prepared spells, using a spell slot as normal.

42
Kenku • The target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw
or drop one item it is holding (adept’s choice).
Medium humanoid (kenku), chaotic neutral
• The target must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving
throw or be knocked prone.
Armor Class 13
• The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving
Hit Points 13 (3d8)
throw or be stunned until the end of the adept’s next turn.
Speed 30 ft.
Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.
10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Skills Deception +4, Perception +2, Stealth +5 Reactions

Senses passive Perception 12 Deflect Missile. In response to being hit by a ranged weapon
Languages understands Auran and Common but speaks only attack, the adept deflects the missile. The damage it takes
through the use of its Mimicry trait from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + 3. If the damage is
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) reduced to 0, the adept catches the missile if it’s small
enough to hold in one hand and the adept has a hand free.
Ambusher. The kenku has advantage on attack rolls against
any creature it has surprised.
Mimicry. The kenku can mimic any sounds it has heard,
including voices. A creature that hears the sounds can Mary Greymalkin
tell they are imitations with a successful DC 14 Wisdom Medium humanoid (eladrin), neutral
(Insight) check.
Armor Class 14 (bracers of defense, ring of protection)
Actions Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)
Speed 30 ft.
target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320 ft., 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Saving Throws Str +1, Dex +2, Con +1, Int +3, Wis +5, Cha +5
Skills Arcana +4, Medicine +4, Nature +4, Religion +4
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Elvish,
Martial Arts Adept Infernal, Sylvan
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Armor Class 16
Special Equipment. Mary wears bracers of defense and a
ring of protection, and carries a deck of several things (see
Speed 40 ft.
appendix D).
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Fey Presence (Recharges after a Short Rest). Mary can cause
11 (+0) 17 (+3) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) each creature within 10 feet of her to succeed on a DC 12
Wisdom saving throw or become charmed or frightened by
Skills Acrobatics +5, Insight +5, Stealth +5 her (Mary’s choice) until the end of her next turn.
Languages any one language (usually Common) Fey Ancestry. Mary has advantage on saving throws against
Challenge 3 (700 XP) being charmed, and magic can’t put her to sleep.
Spellcasting. Mary is a 5th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting
Unarmored Defense. While the adept is wearing no armor ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell
and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Wisdom modifier. attacks). She regains her expended spell slots when she
finishes a short or long rest. She knows the following
Actions warlock spells:
Multiattack. The adept makes three unarmed strikes or Cantrips: chill touch, eldritch blast, mage hand
three dart attacks. 1st–3rd level (2 3rd-level slots): darkness, hex, hypnotic
pattern, misty step, phantasmal force, unseen servant
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If
Actions
the target is a creature, the adept can choose one of the
following additional effects: Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.

43
Medusa Merrenoloth
Medium monstrosity, lawful evil Medium fiend (yugoloth), neutral evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Armor Class 13

Hit Points 127 (17d8 + 51) Hit Points 40 (9d8)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
10 (+0) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 8 (−1) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)
Skills Deception +5, Insight +4, Perception +4, Stealth +5 Saving Throws Dex +5, Int +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 Skills History +5, Nature +5, Perception +4, Survival +4
Languages Common Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning,
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities acid, poison
Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa’s Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive
eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa Perception 14
can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if Languages Abyssal, Infernal, telepathy 60 ft.
the medusa isn’t incapacitated and can see the creature. If Challenge 3 (700 XP)
the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly
petrified. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save begins to
turn to stone and is restrained. The restrained creature must Innate Spellcasting. The merrenoloth’s innate spellcasting
repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 13). It can innately cast
petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The the following spells, requiring no material components:
petrification lasts until the creature is freed by the greater At will: charm person, darkness, detect magic, dispel magic,
restoration spell or other magic. gust of wind
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the 3/day: control water
saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it 1/day: control weather
can’t see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it
Magic Resistance. The merrenoloth has advantage on saving
can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa
throws against spells and other magical effects.
in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
If the medusa sees itself reflected on a polished surface Magic Weapons. The merrenoloth’s weapon attacks
within 30 feet of it and in an area of bright light, the medusa are magical.
is, due to its curse, affected by its own gaze.
Teleport. As a bonus action, the merrenoloth magically
Actions teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying,
up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Multiattack. The medusa makes either three melee
attacks—one with its snake hair and two with its Actions
shortsword—or two ranged attacks with its longbow.
Multiattack. The merrenoloth uses Fear Gaze once and
Snake Hair. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one makes one oar attack.
creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6)
poison damage. Oar. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. Fear Gaze. The merrenoloth targets one creature it can
see within 60 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of the
ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) merrenoloth for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat
poison damage. the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the
effect on itself on a success.

44
Monodrone Mind Flayer Arcanist
Medium construct, lawful neutral Medium aberration, lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Armor Class 15 (breastplate)

Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.
10 (+0) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 4 (−3) 10 (+0) 5 (−3) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 19 (+4) 17 (+3) 17 (+3)
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 10 Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +6, Cha +6
Languages Modron Skills Arcana +7, Deception +6, Insight +6, Perception +6,
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Persuasion +6, Stealth +4
Languages Deep Speech, Undercommon, telepathy 120 ft.
Axiomatic Mind. The monodrone can’t be compelled to act Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
in a manner contrary to its nature or its instructions.
Disintegration. If the monodrone dies, its body disintegrates Magic Resistance. The mind flayer has advantage on saving
into dust, leaving behind its weapons and anything else it throws against spells and other magical effects.
was carrying.
Spellcasting. The mind flayer is a 10th-level spellcaster. Its
Actions spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one with spell attacks). The mind flayer has the following wizard
target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage. spells prepared:
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft. Cantrips (at will): blade ward, dancing lights, mage hand,
shocking grasp
or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, disguise self, shield, sleep
2nd level (3 slots): blur, invisibility, ray of enfeeblement
3rd level (3 slots): clairvoyance, lightning bolt, sending
4th level (3 slots): confusion, hallucinatory terrain
5th level (2 slots): telekinesis, wall of force
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The mind flayer’s innate
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15). It can
innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
At will: detect thoughts, levitate
1/day each: dominate monster, plane shift (self only)
Actions
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) psychic damage. If the target is
Gearbox the Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 15) and must
Monodrone succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or be stunned
until this grapple ends.
Extract Brain. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one incapacitated humanoid grappled by the mind flayer.
Hit: 55 (10d10) piercing damage. If this damage reduces
the target to 0 hit points, the mind flayer kills the target by
extracting and devouring its brain.
Mind Blast (Recharge 5–6). The mind flayer magically emits
psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area
must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or take
22 (4d8 + 4) psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
MATT WARREN

45
Ooze-Folk Magic Resistance. The quasit has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Medium ooze, unaligned
Actions
Hit Points 19 (2d8 + 10) Claws (Bite in Beast Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
Speed 30 ft. reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and
the target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA throw or take 5 (2d4) poison damage and become poisoned
14 (+2) 3 (−4) 20 (+5) 1 (−5) 6 (−2) 1 (−5) for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at
the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, a success.
exhaustion, frightened, prone
Scare (1/Day). One creature of the quasit’s choice within 20
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 8
feet of it must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or
Languages —
be frightened for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
throw at the end of each of its turns, with disadvantage if the
quasit is within line of sight, ending the effect on itself on
Transparent. Even when an ooze-folk is in plain sight, it a success.
takes a DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check to spot an ooze-
folk that has neither moved nor attacked. A creature that Invisibility. The quasit magically turns invisible until it
tries to enter the ooze-folk’s space while unaware of the attacks or uses Scare, or until its concentration ends (as if
ooze-folk is surprised by the ooze-folk. concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the quasit wears or
carries is invisible with it.
Fragile Bones. For each 5 damage it takes, the ooze-folk’s
walking speed is reduced by 5 feet.
Actions
Multiattack. The ooze folk makes one glass longsword Quickling
attack and one pseudopod attack. Tiny fey, chaotic evil
Glass Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 Armor Class 16

ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage. If a 1 is Hit Points 10 (3d4 + 3)
rolled on an attack roll with a glass longsword, it shatters Speed 120 ft.
and can no longer be used.
Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one 4 (−3) 23 (+6) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 7 (−2)
creature. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) acid damage.
Skills Acrobatics +8, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +8,
Perception +5
Quasit Languages Common, Sylvan
Tiny fiend (demon, shapechanger), chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 Blurred Movement. Attack rolls against the quickling have
Hit Points 7 (3d4) disadvantage unless the quickling is incapacitated or
Speed 40 ft. restrained.
Evasion. If the quickling is subjected to an effect that allows
5 (−3) 17 (+3) 10 (+0) 7 (−2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage,
it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving
Skills Stealth +5 throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning,
piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Actions
Damage Immunities poison Multiattack. The quickling makes three dagger attacks.
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10 Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit,
Languages Abyssal, Common reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d4 + 6)
Challenge 1 (200 XP) piercing damage.
Shapechanger. The quasit can use its action to polymorph

into a beast form that resembles a bat (speed 10 ft. fly 40
ft.), a centipede (40 ft., climb 40 ft.), or a toad (40 ft., swim
40 ft.), or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same
in each form, except for the speed changes noted. Any
equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It
reverts to its true form if it dies.

46
Skeleton Steam Mephit
Medium undead, lawful evil Small elemental, neutral evil
Armor Class 13 (armor scraps) Armor Class 10

Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (−2) 8 (−1) 5 (−3) 5 (−3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning Damage Immunities fire, poison

Damage Immunities poison Condition Immunities poisoned
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9 Languages Aquan, Ignan
Languages understands all languages it knew in life but Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
can’t speak
Death Burst. When the mephit dies, it explodes in a cloud
of steam. Each creature within 5 feet of the mephit must
Actions succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or take 4 (1d8)
fire damage.
target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. Innate Spellcasting (1/Day). The mephit can innately
cast blur, requiring no material components. Its innate
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft.,
spellcasting ability is Charisma.
one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Actions
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 2 (1d4) slashing damage plus 2 (1d4)
Sprite fire damage.
Tiny fey, neutral good
Steam Breath (Recharge 6). The mephit exhales a 15-foot
cone of scalding steam. Each creature in that area must
Armor Class 15 (leather armor)
succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, taking 4 (1d8)
Hit Points 2 (1d4)
fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft.
successful one.
3 (−4) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 11 (+0)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +8

Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan
Actions
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 40/160
ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must
succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or become
poisoned for 1 minute. If its saving throw result is 5 or lower,
the poisoned target falls unconscious for the same duration,
or until it takes damage or another creature takes an action
to shake it awake. Skeleton
Heart Sight. The sprite touches a creature and magically

knows the creature’s current emotional state. If the target
fails a DC 10 Charisma saving throw, the sprite also knows
the creature’s alignment. Celestials, fiends, and undead
automatically fail the saving throw.
Invisibility. The sprite magically turns invisible until it
attacks or casts a spell, or until its concentration ends (as if
concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the sprite wears or
carries is invisible with it.

47
Stone Golem Stirge
Large construct, unaligned Tiny beast, unaligned
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Speed 30 ft. Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft.
22 (+6) 9 (−1) 20 (+5) 3 (−4) 11 (+0) 1 (−5) 4 (−3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 2 (−4) 8 (−1) 6 (−2)
Damage Immunities poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with Languages —
adamantine weapons Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10 Actions
Languages understands the languages of its creator but Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
can’t speak creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the stirge
attaches to the target. While attached, the stirge doesn’t
attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge’s turns, the
Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss.
that would alter its form. The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its
movement. It does so after it drains 10 hit points of blood
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving from the target or the target dies. A creature, including the
throws against spells and other magical effects. target, can use its action to detach the stirge.
Magic Weapons. The golem’s weapon attacks are magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The golem makes two slam attacks. Swarm of Bats
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Armor Class 12
Slow (Recharge 5–6). The golem targets one or more Hit Points 22 (5d8)
creatures it can see within 10 feet of it. Each target must Speed 0 ft., fly 30 ft.
make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this magic.
On a failed save, a target can’t use reactions, its speed is STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
halved, and it can’t make more than one attack on its turn. 5 (−3) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 2 (−4) 12 (+1) 4 (−3)
In addition, the target can take either an action or a bonus
action on its turn, not both. These effects last for 1 minute. Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
A target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled,
turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages —
Echolocation. The swarm can’t use its blindsight

while deafened.
Keen Hearing. The swarm has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on hearing.
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and
vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening
large enough for a Tiny bat. The swarm can’t regain hit
points or gain temporary hit points.
Actions
Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one
creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 5 (2d4) piercing damage,
Stirge or 2 (1d4) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit
points or fewer.

48
Thug Animate Trees (1/Day). The treant magically animates one or
two trees it can see within 60 feet of it. These trees have the
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-good alignment
same statistics as a treant, except they have Intelligence and
Charisma scores of 1, they can’t speak, and they have only
Armor Class 11 (leather armor)
the Slam action option. An animated tree acts as an ally of
the treant. The tree remains animate for 1 day or until it dies;
Speed 30 ft.
until the treant dies or is more than 120 feet from the tree;
or until the treant takes a bonus action to turn it back into an
15 (+2) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) inanimate tree. The tree then takes root if possible.
Skills Intimidation +2
Umber Hulk
Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
Pack Tactics. The thug has advantage on an attack roll Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
against a creature if at least one of the thug’s allies is within Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)
5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated. Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.
Actions STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Multiattack. The thug makes two melee attacks. 20 (+5) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 9 (−1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Senses darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,
creature. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage. passive Perception 10
Languages Umber Hulk
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, range Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d10) piercing damage.
Confusing Gaze. When a creature starts its turn within

30 feet of the umber hulk and is able to see the umber
hulk’s eyes, the umber hulk can magically force it to make
Treant a DC 15 Charisma saving throw, unless the umber hulk is
Huge plant, chaotic good incapacitated.
On a failed saving throw, the creature can’t take reactions
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) until the start of its next turn and rolls a d8 to determine
Hit Points 138 (12d12 + 60) what it does during that turn. On a 1 to 4, the creature does
Speed 30 ft. nothing. On a 5 or 6, the creature takes no action but uses
all its movement to move in a random direction. On a 7 or
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 8, the creature makes one melee attack against a random
23 (+6) 8 (−1) 21 (+5) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) creature, or it does nothing if no creature is within reach.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the
Damage Vulnerabilities fire saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing can’t see the umber hulk until the start of its next turn, when
Senses passive Perception 13 it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the umber
Languages Common, Druidic, Elvish, Sylvan
hulk in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
Tunneler. The umber hulk can burrow through solid rock at
half its burrowing speed and leaves a 5 foot-wide, 8-foot-
False Appearance. While the treant remains motionless, it is
high tunnel in its wake.
indistinguishable from a normal tree.
Siege Monster. The treant deals double damage to objects Actions
and structures. Multiattack. The umber hulk makes three attacks: two with
its claws and one with its mandibles.
Actions
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Multiattack. The treant makes two slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Mandibles. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 60/180 ft.,
one target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

49
Vampire Harmed by Running Water. The vampire takes 20 acid
damage if it ends its turn in running water.
Medium undead (shapechanger), lawful evil Stake to the Heart. If a piercing weapon made of wood
is driven into the vampire’s heart while the vampire is
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) incapacitated in its resting place, the vampire is paralyzed
Hit Points 144 (17d8 + 68) until the stake is removed.
Speed 30 ft. Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The vampire takes 20 radiant
damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
18 (+4) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 18 (+4)
Actions
Saving Throws Dex +9, Wis +7, Cha +9
Multiattack (Vampire Form Only). The vampire makes two
attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack.
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from nonmagical attacks Unarmed Strike (Vampire Form Only). Melee Weapon
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17 Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 8 (1d8 +
Languages the languages it knew in life 4) bludgeoning damage. Instead of dealing damage, the
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP) vampire can grapple the target (escape DC 18).
Bite (Bat or Vampire Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +9
Shapechanger. If the vampire isn’t in sunlight or running to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is
water, it can use its action to polymorph into a Tiny bat or a grappled by the vampire, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 7
Medium cloud of mist, or back into its true form. (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage.
While in bat form, the vampire can’t speak, its walking The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount
speed is 5 feet, and it has a flying speed of 30 feet. Its equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the vampire regains
statistics, other than its size and speed, are unchanged. hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until
Anything it is wearing transforms with it, but nothing it is the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect
carrying does. It reverts to its true form if it dies. reduces its hit point maximum to 0. A humanoid slain in this
While in mist form, the vampire can’t take any actions, way and then buried in the ground rises the following night
speak, or manipulate objects. It is weightless, has a as a vampire spawn under the vampire’s control.
flying speed of 20 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile
creature’s space and stop there. In addition, if air can pass Charm. The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within
through a space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and 30 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target
it can’t pass through water. It has advantage on Strength, must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this
Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, and it is immune magic or be charmed by the vampire. The charmed target
to all nonmagical damage, except the damage it takes regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be heeded and
from sunlight. protected. Although the target isn’t under the vampire’s
control, it takes the vampire’s requests or actions in the
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the vampire fails a saving most favorable way it can, and it is a willing target for the
throw, it can choose to succeed instead. vampire’s bite attack.
Misty Escape. When it drops to 0 hit points outside its resting Each time the vampire or the vampire’s companions do
place, the vampire transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving
Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious, provided throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise,
that it isn’t in sunlight or running water. If it can’t transform, the effect lasts 24 hours or until the vampire is destroyed, is
it is destroyed. on a different plane of existence than the target, or takes a
While it has 0 hit points in mist form, it can’t revert to its bonus action to end the effect.
vampire form, and it must reach its resting place within 2 Children of the Night (1/Day). The vampire magically calls
hours or be destroyed. Once in its resting place, it reverts to 2d4 swarms of bats or rats, provided that the sun isn’t up.
its vampire form. It is then paralyzed until it regains at least 1 While outdoors, the vampire can call 3d6 wolves instead.
hit point. After spending 1 hour in its resting place with 0 hit The called creatures arrive in 1d4 rounds, acting as allies
points, it regains 1 hit point. of the vampire and obeying its spoken commands. The
Regeneration. The vampire regains 20 hit points at the start beasts remain for 1 hour, until the vampire dies, or until the
of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight vampire dismisses them as a bonus action.
or running water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or
damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the Legendary Actions
start of the vampire’s next turn. The vampire can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
the options below. Only one legendary action option can be
Spider Climb. The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn.
including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make The vampire regains spent legendary actions at the start
an ability check. of its turn.
Vampire Weaknesses. The vampire has the following flaws: Move. The vampire moves up to its speed without provoking
Forbiddance. The vampire can’t enter a residence without opportunity attacks.
an invitation from one of the occupants. Unarmed Strike. The vampire makes one unarmed strike.
Bite (Costs 2 Actions). The vampire makes one bite attack.

50
Vampire Spawn Wraith
Medium undead, neutral evil Medium undead, neutral evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Armor Class 13

Speed 30 ft. Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
16 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 6 (−2) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +3 Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder;
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6 bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and attacks not made with silvered weapons
slashing from nonmagical attacks Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, grappled,
Languages the languages it knew in life paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages the languages it knew in life
Regeneration. The vampire regains 10 hit points at the start
of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn’t in sunlight
or running water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or Incorporeal Movement. The wraith can move through other
damage from holy water, this trait doesn’t function at the creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes
start of the vampire’s next turn. 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
Spider Climb. The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the wraith has
including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom
an ability check. (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Vampire Weaknesses. The vampire has the following flaws: Actions

Forbiddance. The vampire can’t enter a residence without
Life Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
an invitation from one of the occupants.
Harmed by Running Water. The vampire takes 20 acid creature. Hit: 21 (4d8 + 3) necrotic damage. The target
damage when it ends its turn in running water. must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or its
Stake to the Heart. The vampire is destroyed if a piercing hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the
weapon made of wood is driven into its heart while it is damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes
incapacitated in its resting place. a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point
Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The vampire takes 20 radiant maximum to 0.
damage when it starts its turn in sunlight. While in sunlight,
Create Specter. The wraith targets a humanoid within 10 feet
it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
of it that has been dead for no longer than 1 minute and died
Actions violently. The target’s spirit rises as a specter in the space of
its corpse or in the nearest unoccupied space. The specter
Multiattack. The vampire makes two attacks, only one of is under the wraith’s control. The wraith can have no more
which can be a bite attack. than seven specters under its control at one time.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage. Instead of
dealing damage, the vampire can grapple the target
(escape DC 13).
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing
creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire,
incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing
damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target’s hit point
maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic
damage taken, and the vampire regains hit points equal to
that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a
long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point
maximum to 0.

51
Xorn
Medium elemental, neutral

Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft.

17 (+3) 10 (+0) 22 (+6) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 11 (+0)

Damage Resistances piercing and slashing from nonmagical
attacks not made with adamantine weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,
passive Perception 16 Umber Hulk
Languages Terran
Earth Glide. The xorn can burrow through nonmagical,

unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the xorn doesn’t
disturb the material it moves through.
Stone Camouflage. The xorn has advantage on Dexterity
(Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.
Treasure Sense. The xorn can pinpoint, by scent, the location
of precious metals and stones, such as coins and gems,
within 60 feet of it.
Actions
Multiattack. The xorn makes three claw attacks and one
bite attack.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) piercing damage.
MIKE BURNS, CORY TREGO-ERDNER
Xorn

52
Appendix D: Magic Items
he unique magical-mechanical crafting techniques
T Deck of Several Things
seen in the Monastery of the Distressed Body and the Wondrous item, legendary
lost city of Daoine Gloine are the basis of a number of
Stored in a leather pouch, this unique deck contains
unique magic items found in the adventure. Because
twenty-two colored cards made of some strong but
of their power and rarity, the items in this section (or
unknown metal, each of which features a design printed
at least those that aren’t cursed) are best suited for
as a mosaic of raised dots. Before you draw a card, you
characters in a high-magic campaign. Alternatively, treat
must declare how many cards you intend to draw and
each item as the equivalent of two or more magic items
then draw them randomly (you can use an altered deck
appropriate for characters of 5th to 10th level.
of playing cards to simulate the deck). Any cards drawn
You can also treat this section as potential treasure
in excess of this number have no effect. Otherwise, as
for future play at higher levels. Some of these items
soon as you draw a card from the deck, its magic takes
might be experiments that Kwalish is working on, which
effect. You must draw each card no more than 1 hour
can be made available to the characters if they return to
after the previous draw. If you fail to draw the chosen
the Barrier Peaks. Alternatively, if you’d like to make full
number, the remaining number of cards fly from the
use of these items during the adventure but don’t want
deck on their own and take effect all at once.
to make them part of your long-term campaign, some
Once a card is drawn, it fades from existence. Unless
of them might function only in the monastery or Daoine
the card is the Fool or the Jester, the card reappears
Gloine, while others might be charge-dependent. When
in the deck, making it possible to draw the same
an item’s charges run dry, its magic drains away—or
card twice.
the item might malfunction or explode, with effects
determined by you. Playing Card Card
The “Alien Technology” section in chapter 9 of the Ace of diamonds Vizier
Dungeon Master’s Guide offers useful general guidelines King of diamonds Sun
for dealing with strange devices of the sort found in this Queen of diamonds Moon
adventure. If Kwalish’s notes can’t be deciphered (or if Jack of diamonds Star
the inventor doesn’t show up when the characters need Two of diamonds Comet
him), you might ask for successful Intelligence checks Ace of hearts The Fates
on the Figuring Out Alien Technology table from anyone King of hearts Throne
trying to operate magical technology. It might take one Queen of hearts Key
success to operate a trinket, two successes to operate
Jack of hearts Knight
a force pike or a teleportation-field device, and four
Two of hearts Gem
successes to operate Kwalish’s powered armor.
Ace of clubs Talons
Blade of the Medusa King of clubs The Void
Weapon (any sword), very rare (requires attunement) Queen of clubs Flames
When you attack a creature with this magic weapon and Jack of clubs Skull
roll a 20 on the attack roll, the creature must make a DC Two of clubs Idiot
15 Constitution saving throw in addition to suffering the Ace of spades Donjon
attack’s normal effects. On a failed save, the creature is King of spades Ruin
restrained and must make another Constitution saving Queen of spades Euryale
throw at the end of each of its turns. If it successfully Jack of spades Rogue
saves against this effect three times, the effect ends. Two of spades Balance
If it fails its saves three times, it is turned to stone and Joker (with TM) Fool
subjected to the petrified condition for 1 hour. Joker (without TM) Jester
A creature is immune to this effect if it is immune
to damage of the weapon’s type, does not have a body
Balance. Your mind suffers a wrenching alteration,
made of flesh, or has legendary actions.
causing your alignment to change for the duration of the
Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned
adventure. Lawful becomes chaotic, good becomes evil,
to it extends the curse to you. Until the curse is broken
and vice versa. If you are true neutral or unaligned, this
with a remove curse spell or similar magic, you are
card has no effect on you.
unwilling to part with the weapon. Whenever you attack
Comet. If you single-handedly defeat the next hostile
a creature with this weapon and roll a 1 on the attack
monster or group of monsters you encounter, you have
roll, you must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving
advantage on ability checks made using one skill of your
throw or be restrained and forced to make additional
choice for the duration of the adventure. Otherwise, this
saves against being petrified, as above.
card has no effect.
Donjon. You are instantly teleported to and confined
within the prison of the Monastery of the Distressed
Body (area M6). Everything you were wearing and
carrying stays behind in the space you occupied when
you disappeared. You draw no more cards.

53
Euryale. The card’s medusa-like visage curses you. Using the Deck of Several Things
You take a −1 penalty on saving throws for the duration The special nature of this deck (carried by Mary
of the adventure. Greymalkin if she is used as an NPC) means that many
The Fates. Reality’s fabric unravels and spins anew, of its effects operate only within and with respect to
allowing you to avoid or erase one event as if it never this specific adventure. This typically covers any time
happened. You can use the card’s magic as soon as the characters spend between setting out for the Barrier
you draw the card or at any other point during the Peaks and the resolution of whatever events transpire in
Kwalish’s lab (area O7).
adventure.
For cards that effectively remove a character from
Flames. The Grand Master of the Monastery of play for a period of time (Donjon and the Void), you can
the Distressed Body becomes your enemy. The bone allow a player to take on the role of one of the party’s
devil seeks your ruin, savoring your suffering before NPC hirelings, or introduce a temporary character as an
attempting to slay you. If the Grand Master has NPC met during the party’s journey. Alternatively, you
already been defeated, you gain the enmity of Garret can decide that only some aspect of the character’s will
Levistusson’s patron—a similarly powerful devil. disappears and is imprisoned, leaving the character to
Fool. For the duration of the adventure, you lose operate in a robotic state until freed.
proficiency with one skill or gain disadvantage on
all checks made with one skill (with the skill and the until you die or it drops to 0 hit points, whereupon
penalty determined by the DM). Discard this card and it disappears. If anyone tries to help you, the helper
draw from the deck again, counting both draws as one summons its own avatar of death. A creature slain by an
of your declared draws. avatar of death can’t be restored to life.
Gem. The 1,000 gp hoard of the leprechaun from the Star. Increase one of your ability scores by 1 for the
Wilderness Encounters table (see appendix A) appears duration of the adventure. The score can exceed 20 but
at your feet. If that treasure has already been claimed, can’t exceed 24.
you gain an equivalent hoard. Sun. You gain proficiency in the skill of your choice
Idiot. Reduce your Intelligence by 1d4 + 1 (to a for the duration of the adventure. In addition, a common
minimum score of 1) for the duration of the adventure. or uncommon wondrous item appears in your hands.
You can draw one additional card beyond your The DM chooses the item, which you possess for the
declared draws. duration of this adventure.
Jester. You gain proficiency in a skill of your choice Talons. Every magic item you wear or carry is lost to
for the duration of the adventure, or you can draw two you. These items can be recovered either in the treasury
additional cards beyond your declared draws. of the Monastery of the Distressed Body (area M10) or
Key. A common or uncommon magic weapon with Kwalish’s lab in Daoine Gloine (area O7), whichever
which you are proficient, or a spell scroll featuring a comes later in the adventure.
spell of a level you can cast, appears in your hands. The Throne. You gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill
DM chooses the weapon or spell, which you possess for and you double your proficiency bonus on checks made
the duration of this adventure. with that skill for the duration of the adventure. In
Knight. You gain the service of any of the NPCs in the addition, the Monastery of the Distressed Body’s brains
“Hirelings” section not currently with the party, who in jars regard you thereafter as the monastery’s rightful
appears in a space you choose within 30 feet of you. The master. You must defeat or otherwise clear out the
NPC serves you loyally for the duration of the adventure, Grand Master and its servants before you can claim the
believing that the fates have drawn them to you. You monastery as yours.
control this character. Vizier. At any one time you choose within the duration
Moon. You are granted the ability to cast any spell of of the adventure, you can ask a question in meditation
5th level or lower, and can use that ability 1d3 times for and mentally receive a truthful answer to that question.
the duration of the adventure. Besides information, the answer helps you solve a
Rogue. An NPC of the DM’s choice becomes secretly puzzling problem or other dilemma. In other words, the
hostile toward you. The identity of your new enemy isn’t knowledge comes with wisdom on how to apply it.
known until the NPC or someone else reveals it. Any The Void. This black card spells disaster. Your soul
enchantment spell cast on the NPC at 6th level or higher is drawn from your body and held within machinery
can end the NPC’s hostility toward you. in either the control room of the Monastery of the
Ruin. All forms of wealth that you carry or own, other Distressed Body (area M8) or Kwalish’s lab in Daoine
than magic items, are lost to you. This wealth can be Gloine (area O7), whichever comes later in the
recovered either in the treasury of the Monastery of adventure. While your soul is trapped in this way, your
the Distressed Body (area M10) or Kwalish’s lab in body is incapacitated. Divination, contact other plane, or
Daoine Gloine (area O7), whichever comes later in the a similar spell of 4th level or higher reveals the location
adventure. of the machinery that holds your soul. You draw no
Skull. You summon an avatar of death—a mechanical more cards.
skeleton (use bone naga statistics) clad in a tattered
black robe. It appears in a space of the DM’s choice
within 10 feet of you and attacks you, warning all others
that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights

54
Galder’s Bubble Pipe Ioun Stone
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) Wondrous item, rarity varies (requires attunement)
This finely carved pipe blows odorless bubbles instead Ioun stones (detailed in chapter 7 of the Dungeon
of smoke when used. The pipe has 3 charges, and it Master’s Guide) are named after Ioun, a god of
regains all spent charges daily at dawn. While you hold knowledge and prophecy. In addition to the stones
the pipe, you can expend charges to gain access to the presented in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, the following
following properties: new Ioun stones can play a part in this adventure.
• You can cast fog cloud as an action (1 charge). Supreme Intellect (Rare). You gain a +1 bonus to
• You can cast misty step as a bonus action (2 charges). Intelligence checks while this faceted sphere orbits
• You can summon a steam mephit as an action (3 your head.
charges). The mephit is friendly to you, obeys your Historical Knowledge (Rare). You gain proficiency in
verbal commands, and acts on its own turn in the the History skill, or a +1 bonus to checks with that skill
initiative order. It disappears in a harmless puff of if already proficient, while this polished, steely sphere
steam after 1 minute or if it ends its turn more than 60 orbits your head.
feet from the pipe. Natural Knowledge (Rare). You gain proficiency in
the Nature skill, or a +1 bonus to checks with that skill
Gambler’s Blade if already proficient, while this burnished, brassy stone
Weapon (any sword), rare (requires attunement) orbits your head.
Choose a magical bonus of +1 to +3. This sword gains Religious Knowledge (Rare). You gain proficiency in
that bonus to its attack and damage rolls. For each the Religion skill, or a +1 bonus to checks with that skill
point of bonus you choose for the sword, you take a if already proficient, while this tiny golden gem orbits
corresponding penalty (−1 to −3) to your death saving your head.
throws. You can change this magical bonus each Language Knowledge (Rare). You are fluent in one
day at dawn. additional language while this pulsating bit of red
Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned jeweled crystal orbits your head. The DM chooses the
to it extends the curse to you. Until the curse is broken language bestowed by the stone.
with a remove curse spell or similar magic, you are Self-Preservation (Rare). You gain a +1 bonus to
unwilling to part with the weapon. Intelligence saving throws while this silvery gem orbits
your head.
Heward’s Hireling Armor
Armor (leather), very rare (requires attunement) Leather Golem Armor
Armor (leather), rare (requires attunement)
A number of Kwalish’s experiments were attempts to
research the works of the legendary mage Heward, Strange rituals have repurposed the body of a flesh
who first crafted what he named hireling armor. While golem into this partially sentient suit of leather armor.
wearing this armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. In While wearing this armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC
addition, the armor’s animated straps can assist with and to saving throws against spells and other magical
the drawing and sheathing of weapons, such that you effects. In addition, you gain the following properties:
can draw or stow two one-handed weapons when you • Immutable Form. You are immune to any spell or
would normally be able to draw or stow only one. effect that would alter your form.
This armor also has six pockets, each of which is an • Lightning Absorption. You gain resistance to light-
extradimensional space. Each pocket can hold up to 20 ning damage. Whenever you take lightning damage,
pounds of material, not exceeding a volume of 2 cubic you gain 5 temporary hit points.
feet. The armor always weighs 10 pounds, regardless of
its pockets’ contents. Placing an object into one of the Curse. This armor is cursed, and becoming attuned
armor’s pockets follows the normal rules for interacting to it extends the curse to you. Until the curse is broken
with objects. Retrieving an item from a pocket of the with a remove curse spell or similar magic, you are
armor requires you to use an action. When you reach unwilling to part with the armor. In addition, while
into a pocket for a specific item, the item is always you wear the cursed armor, you gain the following
magically on top. properties:
Placing the armor inside an extradimensional • Aversion of Fire. If you take fire damage, you have
space created by a bag of holding, a Heward’s handy disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until
haversack, or a similar item instantly destroys both the end of your next turn.
items and opens a gate to the Astral Plane. The gate • Berserk. Whenever a critical hit is made against
originates where the one item was placed inside the you, roll a d6. On a 6, the armor causes you to go
other. Any creature within 10 feet of the gate is sucked berserk. On each of your turns while berserk, you
through it and deposited in a random location on the attack the nearest creature you can see. If no creature
Astral Plane. The gate then closes. The gate is one-way is near enough to move to and attack, you attack an
only and can’t be reopened. object, with preference for an object smaller than
yourself. Once the armor causes you to go berserk, it
cannot be removed. You continue to attack until you
are incapacitated or until another creature is able
to calm you with appropriate magic (such as a calm
emotions spell) or a successful DC 15 Charisma
(Persuasion) check.
55
Polymorph Blade Powered Armor Options
Weapon (any sword), very rare (requires attunement) Depending on where and how it appears in the adventure,
you might wish to modify the features of Kwalish’s
When you attack a creature with this magic weapon and
legendary powered armor.
roll a 20 on the attack roll, the creature must make a Automatic Defenses. Unless Kwalish deactivates the
DC 15 Wisdom saving throw in addition to suffering the suit’s automatic defenses, no one can approach the armor
attack’s normal effects. On a failed save, the creature without setting those defenses off. Treat the armor as a
also suffers the effects of a polymorph spell. Roll a d20 shield guardian that has stored a magic missile spell cast
and consult the following table to determine the form using a 4th-level spell slot. When the armor is reduced to
the target creature is transformed into. 0 hit points, its defenses are rendered inert and it can be
safely approached.
d20 New Form d20 New Form
Battle of Wills. When donned by a new user, the armor
1 Tyrannosaurus 11 Wolf deems itself superior and attempts to take possession of
2 Giant ape 12 Horse that user. The user must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma
3 Elephant 13 Ox saving throw or be possessed by the armor. While
possessed, the user is incapacitated and loses control of
4 Giant scorpion 14 Giant frog
its body but retains its awareness. The armor uses the
5 Rhinoceros 15 Poisonous snake possessed user’s statistics (as adjusted by the armor), but
6 Polar bear 16 Hawk doesn’t gain access to the user’s knowledge, features, or
7 Giant toad 17 Octopus proficiencies.
Freeing a creature trapped inside the armor first requires
8 Giant eagle 18 Cat
defeating the armor’s automatic defenses (as above).
9 Black bear 19 Rat The trapped creature can also attempt a DC 20 Charisma
10 Crocodile 20 Rabbit saving throw each day at dawn. On a successful save, the
armor no longer controls the creature and can be safely
A creature is immune to this effect if it is immune to donned by that creature at any time.
Stasis. Whenever a creature wearing the armor drops
damage of the weapon’s type, is a shapechanger, or has
to 0 hit points, the armor places that creature into a state
legendary actions. of stasis. While in this state, the creature is stable and
Curse. This weapon is cursed, and becoming attuned does not make death saving throws, but the armor takes
to it extends the curse to you. Until the curse is broken control of the creature (as above). Additionally, the armor
with a remove curse spell or similar magic, you are attempts to assume the identity of the user, assuring their
unwilling to part with the weapon. Whenever you attack allies that nothing is amiss. Freeing the user first requires
a creature with this weapon and roll a 1 on the attack defeating the armor’s automatic defenses (as above). A
roll, you suffer the effect of a polymorph spell for 1 hour, creature in stasis does not make Charisma saving throws
rolling on the table to determine your new form. to break the armor’s control.
Alternative Power. Powered armor originally required
Powered Armor energy cells to fuel it, but was adapted by Kwalish to be
Armor (plate), legendary (requires attunement) fueled by the life energy of the creature wearing it. You
might decide that the armor can also draw power from
Powered armor resembles a suit of unusual plate armor, additional sources, or that energy cells can be recharged
with finely articulated joints connected by an oily, black, with the aid of a tinker, inventor, or artificer. It might also
leather-like material. The armor has been worked to be possible for allies to connect to the armor through the
create the appearance of a heavily muscled warrior, and use of magic that generates a conduit something like an
its great helm is unusual in that it has no openings—only astral silver cord. While so connected, a willing ally can
a broad glass plate in the front with a second piece of give up hit points as a reaction to fuel the armor’s abilities.
glass above it. Strange plates, tubing, and large metal
bosses adorn the armor in seemingly random fashion. • Activate boosters to gain a flying speed of 15 feet for 1
On the back of the armor’s left gauntlet is a rectangular minute (1 charge or 5 hit points).
metal box, from which projects a short rod tipped with a • Fire arm-mounted laser: Ranged Weapon Attack:
cone-shaped red crystal. +8 to hit, range 120 feet, one target. Hit: 2d6 radiant
While wearing this armor, you gain the damage (1 charge or 5 hit points).
following benefits: • Translate any writing you can see in any nonmagical
language, to a total of one thousand words over 1
• You have a +1 bonus to AC.
minute (1 charge or 5 hit points).
• Your Strength score is 18 (this has no effect if your
• Fill the armor with air, allowing you to breathe
Strength is already 18 or higher).
normally in any environment for up to 1 hour (1
• You have advantage on death saving throws.
charge or 5 hit points).
The armor has further capabilities that can be • Gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet for up to 1 hour
powered either by energy cells or by your own life (1 charge or 5 hit points).
energy. You can use a bonus action to draw power from
The armor can accept only one energy cell at a time.
an energy cell or sacrifice hit points to gain one of the
It is found with one energy cell attached, containing
following benefits:
2d10 charges.
• Emit a force field to gain 2d6 + 5 temporary hit points
(1 charge or 5 hit points).

56
Appendix E: New Spells
The following new spells can be found as spell scrolls been removed, the elemental and the chest disappear.
and supernatural charms in this adventure. The elemental also disappears if the target creature
orders it to return the items to you. When the elemental
Flock of Familiars disappears, any items not taken from the chest reappear
2nd-level conjuration on the ground at your feet.
Casting Time: 1 minute At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using an
Range: Touch 8th-level spell slot, you can send the chest to a creature
Components: V, S on a different plane of existence from you.
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Classes: Warlock, wizard Galder’s Tower
You temporarily summon three familiars—spirits that 3rd-level conjuration
take animal forms of your choice. Each familiar uses Casting Time: 10 minutes
the same rules and options for a familiar conjured by Range: 30 feet
the find familiar spell. All the familiars conjured by this Components: V, S, M (a fragment of stone, wood, or
spell must be the same type of creature (celestials, fey, other building material)
or fiends; your choice). If you already have a familiar Duration: 24 hours
conjured by the find familiar spell or similar means, Classes: Wizard
then one fewer familiars are conjured by this spell. You conjure a two-story tower made of stone, wood,
Familiars summoned by this spell can telepathically or similar suitably sturdy materials. The tower can be
communicate with you and share their visual or auditory round or square in shape. Each level of the tower is 10
senses while they are within 1 mile of you. feet tall and has an area of up to 100 square feet. Access
When you cast a spell with a range of touch, one of between levels consists of a simple ladder and hatch.
the familiars conjured by this spell can deliver the spell, Each level takes one of the following forms, chosen by
as normal. However, you can cast a touch spell through you when you cast the spell:
only one familiar per turn. • A bedroom with a bed, chairs, chest, and
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a magical fireplace
spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you conjure an additional • A study with desks, books, bookshelves, parchments,
familiar for each slot level above 2nd. ink, and ink pens
• A dining space with a table, chairs, magical fireplace,
Galder’s Speedy Courier containers, and cooking utensils
4th-level conjuration • A lounge with couches, armchairs, side tables and
Casting Time: 1 action footstools
Range: 10 feet • A washroom with toilets, washtubs, a magical brazier,
Components: V, S, M (25 gold pieces, or mineral goods and sauna benches
of equivalent value, which the spell consumes) • An observatory with a telescope and maps of
Duration: 10 minutes the night sky
Classes: Warlock, wizard • An unfurnished, empty room
You summon a Small air elemental to a spot within The interior of the tower is warm and dry, regardless
range. The air elemental is formless, nearly transparent, of conditions outside. Any equipment or furnishings
immune to all damage, and cannot interact with other conjured with the tower dissipate into smoke if removed
creatures or objects. It carries an open, empty chest from it. At the end of the spell’s duration, all creatures
whose interior dimensions are 3 feet on each side. and objects within the tower that were not created by
While the spell lasts, you can deposit as many items the spell appear safely outside on the ground, and all
inside the chest as will fit. You can then name a living traces of the tower and its furnishings disappear.
creature you have met and seen at least once before, or You can cast this spell again while it is active to
any creature for which you possess a body part, lock maintain the tower’s existence for another 24 hours.
of hair, clipping from a nail, or similar portion of the You can create a permanent tower by casting this spell
creature’s body. in the same location and with the same configuration
As soon as the lid of the chest is closed, the elemental every day for one year.
and the chest disappear, then reappear adjacent to the At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
target creature. If the target creature is on another spell slot of 4th level or higher, the tower can have one
plane, or if it is proofed against magical detection or additional story for each slot level beyond 3rd.
location, the contents of the chest reappear on the
ground at your feet.
The target creature is made aware of the chest’s
contents before it chooses whether or not to open it,
and knows how much of the spell’s duration remains
in which it can retrieve them. No other creature can
open the chest and retrieve its contents. When the
spell expires or when all the contents of the chest have

57
Appendix F: Additional Rumors
Tales of the legendary Barrier Peaks have circulated d100 Rumor
for centuries, passing from person to person and town
11 Lightning struck one of the Barrier Peaks, bringing it
to town across the length and breadth of the land—and
to life. Though it’s still rooted in the soil, a maw-
the only one who knows the full truth of those tales is
you. None of the following rumors connect directly to like cave entrance now howls in frustration in the
this adventure. But you can use them as alternative false Primordial tongue.
rumors for the “Rumors and Legends” section, or as 12 It’s claimed that one of the Barrier Peaks rises so
true inspiration for side treks and new adventures. high, it tore a hole in the sky, allowing elemental
creatures of air to enter this world.
Additional Barrier Peaks Rumors 13 The Barrier Peaks are said to house a vile laboratory,
d100 Rumor capable of reanimating undead that are immune to a
1 An ancient castle lies buried in the foothills of the cleric’s holy power.
Barrier Peaks. Hidden somewhere in its vaults are a 14 A family of space hamsters is looking for their long-
suit of invisibility and a ring of teleportation! lost child up in those mountains. Those otherworldly
2 A group of charitable drow who worship Bahamut creatures won’t rest until they’re reunited.
have taken refuge in the Barrier Peaks. They are said 15 I’ve heard tell of a terrible warrior who roams the
to help travelers in need. Barrier Peaks—a beast of a man trapped in a suit of
3 Legend tells of a cave inhabited by minotaur shamans armor with gleaming golden eyes, and which spits fire
that have fled the command of Baphomet, and that and lightning from strange metallic wands. The only
seek to free all their people from the demon lord’s way to escape him is to put a body of water between
control. Those that bring them the knowledge and the two of you, as he won’t cross it.
supplies they require are rewarded with gold and 16 Children speak of a ten-fingered raven that flies
gemstones. down from the peaks to open doors and whisper
4 They say shadar-kai appear from time to time in those nightmares into the dark.
mountains, kidnapping aloof adventurers for the 17 The owlbears that prowl the slopes of the Barrier
Raven Queen. Peaks are not what they seem.
5 The Tharguard dwarves of the Barrier Peaks were 18 A glowing dragon has crawled out from the roots of
powerful smiths. Channeling magic within their the Barrier Peaks. It searches now for an artifact that
forges, they crafted the finest weapons in the might save the creatures that live off its light.
land—until they vanished centuries ago. Recently, 19 Deep within the valleys of the Barrier Peaks grows an
though, the clamor of hammer on anvil has been ancient fungus sought by a sect of mad druids. If they
heard in remote chasms in the peaks once again. The find it, they believe it will help them destroy the cities
Tharguard have returned, but no one knows why. of the civilized races.
6 A dead god was buried beneath the Barrier Peaks 20 The tarrasque slumbers beneath the Barrier Peaks,
eons ago. The blood of this god permeates the stone and none know when the great beast might stir.
of the mountains, and its magic is channeled by the 21 I’ve heard tell of an order of knights running a way
flora and fauna of the peaks. station up in the Barrier Peaks. They promise rest and
7 Hunters have found wildlife in the Barrier Peaks respite to anyone trying to cross the mountains. But
slain by the precise burn marks of magic. Whatever most folks never make it to the other side.
creature is killing these beasts, it has no need for food 22 There’s a town of civilized mice somewhere in the
or trophies, as the carcasses are simply left to rot. peaks, where you can get a magic sword in trade for
8 On nights of the full moon, airships piloted by a cup of milk. Of course, the sword is the size of a
lycanthropes roam the mountain passes of the peaks, needle, but any tailor will pay you good coin for it.
looking for travelers to infect and add to their savage 23 An old kenku who can interpret dreams and has
crews. knowledge of the future hides out in a cavern in the
9 Folk foraging for truffles near the base of the Barrier foothills of the peaks.
Peaks swear they saw three metal golems marching 24 On some nights, a burst of yellow-white light flashes
abreast, set with glowing red eyes that shot fire, and up above the peaks, visible for miles. Once in a while,
levitating over any obstacle in their path. a beam of emerald green descends from the heavens
to the same spot.
10 There ain’t nothing good in them mountains, I can 25 There’s something peculiar about a pool a few
tell you that much. I’ve heard that magic works wrong days’ trek into the mountains. Magical trinkets and
up there, and every few weeks, some unseen cave treasures have their effects amplified if submerged in
belches out a new monstrosity hungering for flesh. it even a little while, but nothing good seems to come
to anyone who wields that magic.

58
d100 Rumor d100 Rumor
26 A large, finely crafted metal elk roams the Barrier 39 Some say those peaks are so sharp that the gods
Peaks. It’s a phylactery gone rogue, and the souls cut their feet on them. That’s why the rivers of the
consumed by the lich that crafted it can converse with mountains run red every few years.
those that stumble across it. 40 Some fool claimed that goblins kidnapped him and
27 Beneath the Barrier Peaks lies a vast maze patrolled his cattle from the foothills of the Barrier Peaks,
by undead minotaurs. dragged them high up into the mountains—and then
28 They say there’s a cave in one of the high passes that let them all go back home again like nothing had
even the gods can’t see inside. But if you leave a silver happened.
piece at the entrance every sunset for a year and a 41 Strange metallic constructs haunt the Barrier Peaks,
day, you’ll be granted a wish. and only one wizard is said to have discovered the
29 There’s a strange curse or hex up in those peaks, and secret of controlling them.
people who wander there should be wary. First, they 42 A metal-walled cave in the mountains is sealed
get real tired and can’t keep food down to save them. behind a magic door that opens and closes whenever
After a fortnight at the most, any cuts or scrapes a worthy traveler draws near. But who judges those
don’t mend right. It’s not long after that they fall into travelers’ worthiness, none can say.
a sleep and never wake up. 43 A horrible whispering can be heard up in the
30 There’s an ancient book hidden in a library in the mountains. Folks claim it’s the ghosts of ancient
peaks. Anything you write in that book, no matter how explorers, trying to entice others into joining them in
big or small, comes true in this world in the end. death.
31 One adventurer I heard of came back safe from an 44 The Barrier Peaks are home to an ancient league of
expedition to the Barrier Peaks—then promptly grew aboleths, whose members conspire to punch a hole
extra arms, turned purple, and lost his ability to to the Far Realm in the fabric of reality.
speak. Folks say that the monsters in the peaks are all 45 A mysterious armored beholder roams the caverns
made that way. Adventurers transformed into beasts of the Barrier Peaks, silent in its execution of all who
from the other realms by a curse that not even the intrude into its realm. Its eyestalks send forth rays of
most devoted clerics can heal. light that shine out suddenly in the darkness—and
32 In ages past, a star fell from the heavens and crashed turn creatures they catch into dust!
within the Barrier Peaks. The first expedition to reach 46 A mysterious order of monks guards a lone keep high
the site of this fallen star died inside a strange maze in the Barrier Peaks, said to imprison an immortal
made of metal and light, guarded by golems with knight.
unnatural cunning. 47 Old Otus came through town the other day, needing
33 A bizarre combination of beholder and flumph is said fresh supplies. He said huge frogs with tentacles ate
to float through the caves of the mountains, its eye his camp! Can ye believe that?
rays inducing laughter and generosity . . . or turning 48 Beneath the Barrier Peaks is an ancient iron god
one into a squirrel. What mad wizard would create once worshiped by the gnomes. Inside its metal form
such a thing? reside nightmarish creatures without souls.
34 Silent metal spheres lurk in the subterranean depths 49 Adventurers that have returned recently from the
of the mountains, following adventurers who explore Barrier Peaks have lost the ability to talk about their
those depths. emotions. Whenever they attempt to, they are simply
35 Within a cave in a secluded valley, time twists and struck dumb.
distorts. Travelers have returned from that place with 50 A group of rats that once belonged to a demented
stories of their companions frozen motionless for wizard have formed a tiny village within one of the
long minutes, or of repeating the same actions many lower crags of the Barrier Peaks. If you hear singing
times over before managing to escape. and the clinking of tiny mugs on a windless night,
36 In a mysterious village in the Barrier Peaks foothills, you’ll know you’re close.
the inhabitants slaughter one another to the last each 51 Folk dwelling in the foothills of the peaks have been
night. Yet the next day dawns with all the villagers caught wandering as if in a trance into the mountains.
alive, as if nothing had happened. When rescued, all reported the same thing: a long,
37 A beholder is trapped within a cavern of the bony finger beckoned them into the darkness, where
mountains, as the result of some strange draw from writhing tendrils waited to snatch them up.
a deck of many things. To pass the time, the creature 52 In more than one spot within the peaks, a strange
stages plays with the monsters and prisoners it keeps. hum emits from the earth without warning, and
38 The strangest noises come rumbling down from the anything smaller than a fist begins to float a few
Barrier Peaks at times. Screeches and howls, and inches off the ground.
enormous echoing thumps. It’s enough to give a
person the shudders.

59
53 My brother’s best friend’s uncle got lost up in the 64 Rumors tell of an iron fortress nestled deep within
high trails of the peaks, swearing up and down that the Barrier Peaks. No one knows how it got there, but
he’d fallen through a wall of wind and found a garden some histories tell of how it appeared about the same
behind it full of strange plants. We all thought he was time that a comet crashed into the mountains. The
half mad, but he had the weirdest blue vine growing gods delivered this fortress, some say, and no mortal
through the soles of his boots. We had to burn it off, can enter without their permission.
and I tell you, that plant screamed. 65 A small group of humans and dwarves went into the
54 A rare type of creature escaped a wizard’s tower in Barrier Peaks seeking archeological finds. News was
the Barrier Peaks, resembling tiny plant people. Their promising at first, including reports of a cave that
bodies have begun washing up in the foothill rivers, held artifacts from ages long past, and the remains of
still clutching little spears. creatures unlike anything ever discovered before. Then
55 Somewhere deep within the peaks lies the lost tower all word from the expedition suddenly ceased . . .
of Mundar, named after a gnome wizard who loved 66 Symbols appear in the Barrier Peaks, scribed into the
children and created many magnificent magical toys. deepest caves and on the highest mountains alike.
Those who claim to have found the tower tell tales of These glyphs glow and pulse, and come from no
giant teddy bears and toy soldiers that guard against language ever spoken by mortals.
those who would ransack its workshop. 67 An old roc’s nest clings to one of the higher slopes of
56 Even the best trackers are afraid of those mountains. the Barrier Peaks, with an old iron footlocker hidden
They’ll tell you that if you count the number of peaks within it. A reclusive mystic is said to have stored
before dark and make the same count the next secretive writings in that chest, behind powerful
morning, you’ll never get the same number. magic wards.
57 The Barrier Peaks house a guild of cunning gnomes, 68 Some sort of frog-god fell from the skies an aeon ago,
who love to test their creations on the settlements in and it waits now for one worthy enough to carry its
the foothills below. religion to the world. Whoever finds this being and
58 A sage dwelling in the foothills of the peaks was found bows before it will become a demigod, leading the
dead, the top of her head cut off and her brain cleanly world into a new age of prosperity and order.
removed. Then a hunter returned from the high 69 One of the highest of the Barrier Peaks has
mountains says he saw a scuttling, crab-like monster mysteriously lost its snowpack. No snow clings to its
there, with a brain floating in a transparent blister crags now, even in the middle of winter.
atop its head. 70 A trading caravan traveling through the Barrier Peaks
59 A farmer says he saw a metal humanoid wandering returned without any of its merchants. All the pack
through the foothills while he was tending his sheep. animals and supplies were accounted for, none the
The thing was screaming at the top of its lungs, worse for wear—except the caravan had lost every
babbling in some language he couldn’t make out. It trace it carried of silk or cloth.
threw fire from its fingertips when it spotted him, and 71 I’ve heard tales of a haunted monastery up in the
he says he was lucky to get away alive. peaks. Something about vengeful dead coming
60 Folks say that when the spring warmth melts the down to steal corpses, and taking them back to their
snow on the Barrier Peaks, strange metal objects are forsaken abode.
washed downriver and eaten by fish. The halflings 72 No, it’s not all woe and misery in the Barrier Peaks.
call this season “Fisher’s Fortune” in their small river There’s a lost tavern up there, filled with perfectly
villages in the foothills. preserved dwarven ale from the past millennia.
61 It’s said that the spirits of twin children haunt the 73 I’ve heard an old woman sometimes appears on the
Barrier Peaks—poor tykes who froze to death looking trails of the peaks, staring at you with huge black eyes.
to pick flowers for their mother. Each seeks the other She might offer you some berries to eat, but those
now, lost forever and begging strangers for aid. Tales who take one are never heard from again!
talk of how one spirit will lead explorers to safety, 74 A swarm of rust monsters wanders up in those
while the other guarantees malicious calamity. mountains. Hundreds of them. Maybe thousands.
62 A few folks have reported seeing strange lights just What kind of metal they’re finding up there to let
above the peaks. Some claim they’re the work of them sustain those numbers, no one knows.
occultists performing diabolical rituals, while others 75 All this talk about yetis in the Barrier Peaks is just a
say they’re lost souls trying to lure folks to their rumor. I say there’s a pack of wizards pretending to be
doom. yetis, trying to scare folks away from the peaks’ real
63 The tarrasque dwells within the deepest caverns of secret!
the Barrier Peaks—but the creature is undead, held in
a perpetual state of decay.

60
76 In ages past, the gods cast a flaming star down upon 89 Folk talk about the Barrier Peaks as home to wraiths
the Barrier Peaks. And all the time since, the peaks and other apparitions, but I say those mountains are a
have been infected with horrors too shocking to laboratory for the mind flyers. I’ve walked those trails.
fathom. I’ve have heard the blood-curdling screams that come
77 A mummy lord resides in an ancient tomb of the from deep within those mountains. And I’ve seen the
Barrier Peaks, guarding a huge treasure that once empty look in those that survive the journey to the
belonged to a family of vampire slayers. peaks and back.
78 Most kobolds are mere nuisances. But the members 90 On a stormy day, elemental power surges in the
of the Brightclaw Clan of the Barrier Peaks wield Barrier Peaks, and the clouds between the mountains
strange metal crossbows that hum and glow with become thick enough to walk on.
esoteric symbols. I saw my dwarf guide disintegrated 91 A cabal of gnome mages built an arcane engine in
by a red beam emitted from one of those unnatural the Barrier Peaks meant to open up a gate to another
magical things! world.
79 An ancient deity dwells within the Barrier Peaks, and 92 Metal creatures up in the higher passes of the peaks
speaks to its followers only in dreams. Those who make strange musical sounds. But most of those who
meet this deity become blessed with eyes that glow in investigate that music never return to talk of it.
different colors, depending on who they speak to and 93 The higher reaches of the Barrier Peaks stay frozen
what they say. even into summer. Digging in these spots can turn up
80 Somewhere within the Barrier Peaks, a massive the corpses of explorers who died there, along with all
city built into the cliffs is populated by a society their gear—and the spirits of those angry dead.
of aarakocra and genasi. These creatures guard a 94 I once heard a loudmouth explorer show off what they
passage into the Elemental Plane of Air, aided by called a “power coin” in an adventurer’s tavern. It
tamed elementals. looked like blue glass to me, but they swore it could
81 A vault full of strange flying devices is hidden within charge up magical devices.
the Barrier Peaks—and rumors say that a dragon has 95 Somewhere deep in a cave in the Barrier Peaks flows a
recently claimed the place. waterfall of molten gold.
82 A lost temple of the storm god is said to be hidden 96 A deranged transmuter had a secret lab somewhere in
in the Barrier Peaks, and is home to a magical gem the Barrier Peaks, folk say. No one’s found it yet—but
that can control the weather. Countless of the god’s adventurers have spotted a creature in the mountains
faithful have made expeditions to seek the site—and partway between a sloth and a porcupine, attacking
none have ever returned. with razor sharp claws and poisoned quills.
83 A sheer wall of ice at the height of the Barrier Peaks 97 Many of the stones in the Barrier Peaks are hollow,
has a surface that is marred by peculiar shapes. Tales and those stones sing their secret knowledge during
tell that those shapes are magical molds through storms. Those songs can lead discerning listeners to
which creatures of elemental cold are spawned. hidden treasures . . . or unseen dangers.
84 The top of one of the Barrier Peaks is fake. An illusion! 98 A hidden glade of petrified trees in the Barrier Peaks
Tales tell of a village up there, populated by halflings is tended by a stone giant dreamwalker.
who love the cold. 99 Some say the paths and tunnels of the Barrier Peaks
85 I heard there be rabbit-men in the peaks, with spears take weeks or months to traverse, while others
that throw fire. claim to navigate the same routes in mere days.
86 Caverns abound in the Barrier Peaks that are filled Stranger still, charting your route in the peaks is most
with rubies—all of them crystallized out of the blood unreliable. Many’s the explorer that’s used stars and
of innocents and cursed to bring an early death to compass to plot a course, only to find themselves
those that carry them. back at the beginning edge of the place where the trip
87 The entire range of the Barrier Peaks is actually the began.
ribs of some great, sleeping skeletal beast. Those 100 The Soul Catcher, they call it. Its victims stagger
quakes that tremble through the mountains from time out of the Barrier Peaks with nary a scratch on their
to time? That’s it starting to wake up. It’s coming. bodies, but their hearts aren’t right anymore. The
88 People know the Barrier Peaks but often forget what lucky ones are caught by the healers and confined to
it is they were named for. Those mountains make places where they can’t hurt anyone. The ones who
a protective wall guarding civilized lands from the aren’t so lucky . . . Well, you tell me. What would you
nightmares and dark magic that spawn on their far call an adventurer who can’t feel the slightest tinge of
side. And every time some explorer cuts a new trail remorse or guilt or fear?
across the peaks, that barrier weakens.

61

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LOST LABORATORY

An Adventure Supporting Extra Life

Background As part of these efforts, it’s our privilege to contribute

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Adventure Summary characters first arrive at a location or under a specific

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Unnatural Invasion The Cartophile

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The gnome’s collection contains notes and an initial

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

form and her relationship with Ctenmiir a secret; to free in italics.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Sample Bauble Encounters

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who get in its way.

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Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Armor Class 15 (studded leather)

Berserker Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one

Senses passive Perception 10

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Actions Senses passive Perception 10

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Damage Resistances fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Skills Deception +2, Religion +2 Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Armor Class 14 (studded leather) Armor Class 6

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Armor Class 9 Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Lost Laboratory of Kwalish | TM & ©2018 Wizards.

Skills Deception +4, Perception +2, Stealth +5 Reactions