The Upper Cargo Hold is mostly empty except for a 5-foot-tall magician’s top hat. The hat sits upside-down and is decorated with a wide band embroidered with grimacing rabbits of various sizes and colors. The hat is black, made of felt-covered wood, and has AC 15 and HP 18. The hat is able to tap into the nightmares of living creatures. If any character peers inside, the hat creates an illusion…
Benedict is in love with Cilanthé. He hopes that if he can win her heart, she will make him immortal. Cilanthé sees Benedict as a useful scapegoat who she can abandon if and when she needs to flee. Cilanthé’s previous lair was purged by paladins, she escaped with Benedict and regenerated in the tower. Isalladir’s crew were all devoured, but her keen mind made her a good choice to become a new…
Cilanthé has made her lair at the top of the tower, where the lantern that once projected bright light across the bay is housed. Banquet tables, tall chairs and a coffin decorate the circular room, and red drapes cover the windows.
If the characters accept the side quest, the journey with the calignis isn’t without incident. Urdefhan death scouts are watching for the calignis to come into the open. The denizens of areas area I35 and area I36 come together along with a summoned Ceustodaemon to assault the traveling group. This is a deadly encounter for level 9 characters, but they have the calignis on their side to help.…
Hardened masters of occult power, urdefhan blood mages trade their blood for magical might. A heavily scarred blood mage is held in esteem by their fellow urdefhans, as it shows they have survived many bargains with eerie occult patrons. Urdefhans Translucent-skinned scourges of the Darklands, urdefhans are born with certainty that they are the true foot soldiers of the world’s end. Their…
This large hold is strewn with crates filled with ship supplies like extra sails, ropes, and lumber. In addition, a dozen barrels line the walls. Seven are filled with water, three with ale, one with liquid Space Taffy, and one with Oil. There are four 4-foot-diameter portholes in the hull, two on each side, just enough space for a Medium creature to fit through. At the far end of the hold,…
Drake nest. Snake stench. Bone piles. Large Yggdrasil root, chewed and poisoned. The stench of snake hangs heavily in the air. A pile of bones lies against the western wall, an air of rot wafting from it. In the southern corner, a huge World Tree root breaks through the stone. It has been chewed and clawed. Faintly glowing sap leaks freely from wounds crusted with green-black venom. The…
This elegant hall in the northwest corner of the city appears made entirely of shining gold. The structure and the grounds around it remain untouched by the chaos and violence engulfing Asgard. Both look unnaturally clean and amazingly beautiful.
“The smell of strong incense drifts from the open archway leading to Cuda’s hut. The floor and shelves are covered in jars, trinkets and plant cuttings.” The elder’s hut sits on an elevated part of the cove and allows Cuda to view almost the entire village. The jars and trinkets within Cuda’s hut are a mixture of spell components and handmade gifts given to her by grateful villagers.
Shattered throne and back wall. Cult shrine. Discharged teleportation circle. The sound of breaking stone and rhythmic hammering echoes in this once-grand chamber. Cold air flows in through a gaping hole, where long ago something shattered the northern wall and broke a giant-sized stone throne into pieces. A ways from the ruined throne, bathed in light from candles atop a bloody sacrificial…
After dealing with the aggressive Scourge of Doom goblinoid gang, the characters are approached by Pertika, a friend of Rezzalyn. If one of the characters is wearing the acorn-embossed bandana, she approaches without hesitation and is Friendly. Otherwise, she approaches hesitantly and is Indifferent. If the characters were captured by the bandits in the previous part or by the Pirate-Queen’s…
This is where Nur-Shamash created the Flaming Skeletons in Area N and the Zombies in Area D, all while Leraizen has slept. The lab hasn’t been used in some time, but the arcane tools and implements he has employed over the decades still hang on the walls here, waiting to be used again.
“Half home, half workshop, Maisy’s house is full of shelves and cabinets. You see bottles and vials filled with different coloured liquids, all corked shut and labelled with care.” Maisy’s den is full of supplies for distilling potions and tonics. Maisy has sketches of the Blue Moon Bloom, which she will show the party to help them identify the plant when they reach the oasis.
The following locations are keyed to the Death Defier map. Any space not detailed here can be assumed to be unremarkable.
Most residents don’t realize the locations below exist beneath their feet. Bhaal’s Abattoir. A botched magical ritual long ago teleported a stout stone tower into the Sewers upside down. This isolated, inverted site has served as a refuge for explorers and a secret storage area for smugglers, but now it’s the domain of two rock gnome followers of Bhaal (Small Cultists of Bhaal; see chapter 9).…
"A huge holly wreath wrapped up in a red bow is hung on the stone chimney breast next to the counter. But there’s no fire in the cold and empty hearth." The upper floor holds five neat, well-kept bedrooms. The lower floor has a reception desk, a few tables and a small kitchen opposite the welcoming oak door. Outside, it’s quiet, as everyone is at home trying to stay warm.
An ornate lacquered ebony desk and matching high-backed chair face the door. A fireplace blazes with magical flames. By night, Ambrosia is found here.
Other urdefhans scorn the death scouts’ stealthy methods, but none can argue with their results. Urdefhans Translucent-skinned scourges of the Darklands, urdefhans are born with certainty that they are the true foot soldiers of the world’s end. Their enclaves are terrifying abattoirs filled with gruesome trophies, training grounds, and blood sports.
Origin Feat (Prerequisite: Dhakaani Ghaal’dar, Dhakaani Golin’dar, or Dhakaani Guul’dar) You gain the following benefits. Dreamwalker. You remain fully lucid when you dream and when you wake, you clearly remember everything that transpired. Mentor in the Uul. There is a spirit in the Uul Dhakaan that serves as your mentor. Work with your DM to develop the identity of this spirit; they could be…
Once the distraction is in place, the characters are free to plan and execute their heist. Having already visited the Obsidian Halls, they can easily avoid traps they previously discovered. Ambrosia’s parting words to the characters were that she would “sleep on it” when referring to parting with the artifact. If the characters are having trouble locating the artifact, one of the disgruntled…
Octagonal chamber. Pillars and altar of carved ice. Twin rows of icy pillars banded with steel lead up to an altar carved from ice. Monstrous symbols of titanic wolves and world-circling serpents decorate the shrine. The chamber appears in pristine condition, as if brand new. Angrboda’s symbol features prominently on the walls, pillars, and altar of this chamber; the berserkers and cultists in…
A Nothic is in this area, having wandered in through the secret entrance at Area A. The puddle at the eastern end of this area marked P1 is a Green Slime (see “ Hazards ” in Chapter 3 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide). Adjusting the Scene Here are suggestions for adjusting this scene: Less Challenging: Remove the Nothic.
Undead wizard’s lair. Shelves and books, tables and tools. Giant sarcophagus full of bones. This chamber of the crypt arcs around in a horseshoe shape. It’s full of arcane materials. Bookshelves line some walls, holding worn tomes and scrolls, and several cluttered tables hold bits of bones and tools for carving runes. Against the northeast wall, a giant-sized sarcophagus has been opened and…
Under Dhakaani tradition, the golin’dar—goblins—are traditionally laborers and artisans. While the guul’dar and ghaal’dar train for war, the golin’dar maintain the hearth. But there is a force that stands outside this tradition, lurking in the shadows of the Dhakaani Empire. These are the Khesh’dar—the Silent Folk—golin’dar who use their speed and cunning as spies, scouts, and assassins. While…
This content is part of the Faster, Purple Worm! Everybody Dies, Vol. 1. You can unlock it by purchasing the book in our marketplace.
