The Shielded Fortress of Hjaal

Sketch done by passing adventurers

This ancient fortress is found in the depths of the Great Marsh of Soderfjord. It dates back to before even the Nithian Empire, and was created by the strange Mogreth reptilian culture of lizard-folk and serpent-folk. It is surrounded by a powerful forcefield, a dome about 300 yards in diameter, that acts in a similar way to a Wall of Force spell, preventing creatures from entering or leaving the dome. Unlike a Wall of Force spell, this forcefield also seems to prevent teleportation and Dimension Door spells from bypassing it.  On the perimeter of the dome are six obelisks, each about 50ft high and engraved with glowing hieroglyphs and runes. Those mages and scholars who have passed by are sure that the obelisks are involved in maintaining the forcefield, and that if the obelisks were somehow deactivated or destroyed, the forcefield would collapse and the fortress could be properly investigated. 

In fact the fortress may be of Mogreth origin but the obelisks were created by the Nithians to quarantine the fortress and prevent the creatures therein from emerging. This arrangement has held for the last two thousand years but now an ambitious chaotic sorceress wants to get inside and will do whatever it takes to seize the treasures and arcane secrets for herself. 

Naztherane and the Tablets

Naztherane  has set up camp on an island in the swamp about a mile from the fortress perimeter. After a brief attempt at brute force (using summoned water elementals, charmed hill giants and various battering rams and other devices) she realised that the obelisks could not be knocked over or undermined - they were locked in place by the forcefield they generated.. She has been deciphering the glowing hieroglyphs on the obelisks and has noticed that as well as the hieroglyphs there is also a socket in each obelisk for a tablet - magical keys for six locks as it were. She has already acquired three of the tablets which bear cartouches of the Nithian mages that established the obelisks and forcefield. That leaves three more which, according to her divination, are scattered across the Known World in places once colonised by the Nithians - one is on the Isle of Dawn, another deep beneath Minrothad City and a third one somewhere on the Thyatian island of Hattias. The first three have been acquired by a combination of archaeology (the first was in Nithian ruins in the north of Ylaruam), trading (the second was bought from a curio shop in Glantri City) and brute force (ambushing and killing treasure hunters who found the third tablet on the Karameikian coast not far from Rugalov). 

Naztherane has divined the general location of the three missing tablets and is organising expeditions led by her lieutenants and apprentices to get hold of them. If she gets hold of all six tablets she will be able to deactivate the six obelisks and the forcefield will disappear. Naztherane keeps the first three tablets in Leomund’s Secret Chest, so her camp followers can’t steal them. 

Naztherane and her followers

Naztherane: human female, Magic User 12, align Chaotic,
Str 8, Int 17, Wis 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Cha 14
Equipment: Ring of Protection +2, Bag of Holding, Spellbook, Wand of Acid Arrows (8 charges), Dagger +1, Wand of Negation (10 charges)
Naztherane will try to assess other people in the marsh (such as PCs) and will usually present herself as a neutral scholar, studying these strange obelisks and the fortress they protect. She may try to use the PCs to find the missing tablets, promising significant rewards of gold and magic items, though always accompanied by one of her apprentices to make sure the job is done. If the PCs already possess a tablet and she finds out, she will do whatever it takes to take the tablet for herself, whether it be bribery, fraud, threats or straightforward attacking the PCs  and taking it off their dead bodies (as she did it before in Karameikos).  Or she might make a deal with the PCs and then screw them over once she has the tablet. 

Zeekeel: human male, Magic User 6, align Chaotic
Str 11, Int 16, Wis 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Cha 13
Equipment: Wand of Magic Missiles (15 charges), Spellbook, Dagger
Zeekeel is Naztherane's first apprentice. He is as ambitious and duplicitous as his tutor and is infatuated with her and as such is very loyal to her and a bit jealous about other apprentices. He will be protective of her around adventurers he does not trust. 

Damro: human male, Magic User 5, align Neutral
Str 8, Int 16, Wis 13, Dex 15, Con 9, Cha 9
Equipment: Spellbook, Dagger, Wand of Webs (5 charges)
Ambitious and eager to learn secrets and arcane knowledge but  he is becoming less happy with the unpleasant methods used by the group. He knows that Maygalli feels the same way but is less vocal about his concerns. 

Tannishree: human female, Magic User 5, align Chaotic
Str 10, Int 15, Wis 7, Dex 13, Con 13, Cha 10
Equipment: Spellbook, Dagger +1, Ring of Levitation
Unstable and possibly psychopatic. Naztherane views Tannishree as useful for doing dirty work such as murder and torture. Although Tannishree is ambitious, she has the attention span of a squirrel. 

Muhamrar of Ylarum: human male, Fighter 7, align Neutral
Str 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Dex 10, Con 15, Cha 14
Equipment: Scale Mail +2, Shield +1 Scimitar +1 +3 vs elementals
Muhamrar is loyal and fierce. He is nomimally a follower of the Eternal Truth but is really motivated by money, which Naztherane has promised lots of. He commands 10 warriors, his hired blades:
Hired Blade: human fighter 2, align Neutral, equipment: Scale mail, scimitar, shield, 2 javelins. 

Maygalli: human female, Cleric 6, align Neutral
Str 10, Int 12, Wis 16, Dex 8, Con 14, Cha 10
Equipment: Banded Armour +1, Mace +1, Shield, Holy Symbol, 
Maygalli worships knowledge, and reveres the Nithian deity Thoth. She wants to investigate the fortress for academic purposes and initially believed that was Naztherane's intention as well. But she is getting quite concerned with Naztherane's methods and has twice expressed worry about excessive violence and treachery. She suspects Damro feels the same way. 

Gorff: Male troll. align Chaotic. Charmed by Naztherane and completely loyal to her. Useful in dealing with other trolls and scaring away monsters of the marsh. Gorff also has some native knowledge of the surrounding marshland. 

Inside the Fortress

The Mogreth lizardfolk and serpentfolk who created this fortress used it as a major centre of military and economic activity until the collapse of the Mogreth civilization. 

Crucially this fortress also contains two magic portals to other worlds. One is to Shegdreth, the Slithering Realms, a whole world overrun by the serpent folk. The other is to an unknown world that is cold, dark and populated by undead. The Nithians tried to close or destroy these portals but could not, and found that creatures, both reptilian and undead, kept wandering out of them into the fortress. This is why the obelisks and forcefield were created - to keep the inhabitants on the other side of the portals from taking over the whole marsh and then threaten the rest of Mystara. 

Monsters found in the fortress include:

• Undead Serpentfolk
• Undead Lizardfolk, particularly Mogreth Lizard-Zombies
• Live serpentfolk and lizardfolk guarding the portal to the Slithering Realm
• Random undead creatures from portal to undead world
• Undead reptilian creatures
• Constructs including Jade and Turquoise Living Statues and Snakeskin Golems

There are also various traps dotted around the fortress, especially along routes the serpentfolk anticipated intruders would follow. Some can be deactivated if the password in the old Mogreth language is spoken, but it is unlikely that random adventurers would know this unless they searched for clues elsewhere in the fortress. 

Treasure is a mixture of old Mogreth coinage and gems (the fortress was also used by the Mogreth equivalent of tax collectors), Mogreth magic items (the armour may be fitted for reptilian forms but many of the weapons and magic-user items can be used by humans) and the library. The library is not exactly a conventional treasure - it is a vast collection of papyrus scrolls that have survived for over a millenium. Only some of those scrolls are directly useable by magic users, though those that are will often have long-forgotten spells unknown to even the wizards of Glantri or Alphatia. The great majority of the scrolls are of Mogreth history, religion and culture, plus some administrative record-keeping. These are of great interest to scholars and sages, but not to most adventurers. 

Geomorphs part 3

This post is really a follow-on to the first and second posts I have done about geomorphs, and is really to expand the collection of 190ft x 190ft geomorphs that I started with those posts. I have tried to keep these geomorph tiles interesting with pits, statues, pools, secret doors and the like but at the same time I hope they are all still reusable. I'm sure that the more distinctive layouts of some of these will be recognisable to players who encounter the geomorph more than once (such as Geo17 room 1 with its 4 large pools and trap in the centre). I still hope that this will not break the verissimilitude of wandering through the composite dungeon. 

 

Law, Chaos and Further Ideas

This post is really in response to listening to the most recent episode of one of my favourite D&D Youtubers - Daddy Rolled A One. In his latest video he talks about alignment particularly in the early editions of the game and it has got me thinking about alignment, cosmic forces and related stuff in my Mystara campaign as I have been presenting it in my blog. 

As regular readers know, this campaign primarily uses the Moldvay Basic & Cook/Marsh Expert rules. As such it has generally used the single-axis three alignment system of Law, Neutrality and Chaos. Furthermore, I have already established that these are not just shorthand for behaviour but are vast cosmic forces battling for control of reality. The forces of Law and Chaos are inspired by the fiction of Poul Anderson and Michael Moorcock, and went on to influence Warhammer Fantasy as well as D&D. 

Daddy Rolled A One suggests that alignment should not be about individual behaviour and ethics but about which side you take in this cosmic struggle. Law and Chaos should be divorced from Good and Evil. This is somewhat at odds with Moldvay Basic where it says on page B11 that "Lawful behaviour is usually the same as behaviour that could be called "good"". Conversely it also says "Chaotic behaviour is usually the same as behaviour that could be called "evil".  So how do I want to handle this? 

This does bring me to various posts on this blog, particularly about the Heldannic Knights of the Iron Eagle Monastery and the theocracy in the Ylari city of Abbashan where there are NPCs who strongly believe in law and order yet are really thoroughly unpleasant to others (either subordinates or those outside their organisation). Here the Basic D&D alignment system might not seem to work, and the AD&D alignment system of Good and Evil being independent of Law and Chaos becomes very useful and I have described such NPCs as being Lawful but  in terms of AD&D they are Lawful Evil. Conversely there are NPCs and creatures that could be considered chaotic good - the creatures that are almost openly stated in the rules as being Chaotic Good are the Djinn from the Rules Cyclopedia. In the Cook Expert set they are given Neutral alignment, but in the Rules Cyclopedia they are officially Chaotic, but with the descriptive caveat that "Djinn are basically good-hearted, in spite of their Chaotic alignment". I'm sure many DMs would treat other NPCs and monsters such as Pegasi, Storm Giants, Werebears and others that are Chaotic Good in AD&D the same way - benevolent but not necessarily bothered with rules and authority.  

My way of resolving this? "Lawful behaviour is usually the same as behaviour that could be called "good"". Usually, not always. This gives me enough lee-way to argue that lawful creatures can occasionally be evil and chaotic creatures can occasionally be good. So where do they fit in the grand clash between the cosmic forces of Law and Chaos? Their alignment in terms of Law and Chaos still stands. The cosmic powers are not as worried about individual morality as some might think, as long as mortal beings are fighting for one side or the other (even if unwittingly). This goes back to the old definition of alignment - not about individual behaviour but allegience. What team are you on in this cosmic struggle?

This may result in strange and perhaps awkward team-mates. A cleric of the Church of Law fighting a cult of Chaos may well find help from a Heldannic Knight, but then be shocked when the knight executes prisoners without trial. Chaotic sylvan creatures such as satyrs might well love freedom and individuality and might be just as opposed to ugly and uncaring civilization imposing its order on their idyllic wilderness as the brutal and savage orcs, but that does not mean that the two groups get along with each other even though they are both fighting for the forces of Chaos. 

In this campaign I don't envision cosmic forces of Good and Evil like in Tolkein's Middle Earth or AD&D. These are choices for individuals. However, I do envision that a lot of creatures that are on the side of Law will have benevolent tendencies and most creatures on the side of Chaos are malevolent. Chaotic good and lawful evil are relatively rare but not impossible. In fact when they do occur, I will typically say so in their stats or descriptions. If I just say that a creature is Lawful then it is reasonable to assume I am thinking of Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral. Similarly most creatures I say are Chaotic will be effectively Chaotic Evil unless I say so otherwise. 

Just to really complicate things I could say that just because a creature is aligned to Law or Chaos does not necessarily mean their behaviour is that obvious. Chaotic creatures are capable of being logical, restrained and organised. Lawful creatures are capable of being impulsive, selfish and tempermental. The way I have envisioned Arvorians is that although they worship beings of utter Chaos and are therefore aligned to Chaos, their behaviour is closer to AD&D's idea of Neutral Evil - capable of organisation, rules and society where convenient, but devoid of compassion or empathy and relishing cruelty and power. 

So what do the forces of Law and Chaos stand for? What do their most prominent champions believe in? Here I think I will revert back to the Moldvay Basic descriptions of Law, Chaos and Neutrality. 

Law (or Lawful) is the belief that everything should follow an order and that obeying rules is the natural way of life.  Lawful creatures will try to tell the truth, obey laws, and care about all living things. Lawful creatures always try to keep their promises. They will try to obey laws as long as those laws are fair and just. 

Chaos (or Chaotic) is the opposite of Law. It is the belief that life is random, and that luck and chance rule the world. Everything happens by accident and nothing can be predicted. Laws are made to be broken as long as a person can get away with it. It is not important to keep promises and lying and telling the truth are both useful. 

Neutrality (or Neutral) is the belief that the world is a balance between Law and Chaos. It is important that neither side get too much power and upset this balance. The individual is important but so is the group; the two sides must work together.

 I am reminded that way back in the early days of this blog I wrote a post about unaligned creatures. Although I have not used that term for many years, I believe the idea that some creatures (druids, blue dragons, actaeons and the like) are deliberately neutral is entirely reasonable - such creatures will strive for balance and try to curb the excesses of both Law and Chaos.  And there is also the notion that there are many creatures that are either uncaring about Law and Chaos or even simply not aware of Law and Chaos, particularly those of such low intelligence that they cannot make ethical decisions (animals, vermin and the like are effectively unaligned). I probably won’t try to reintroduce the term Unaligned when dealing with the alignment of monsters and NPCs on this blog: I reckon I will simply describe them all as Neutral. But there is a range of attitudes within neutrality that DMs should be aware of. 

Leaders of the Arvorians

The Hierarchy of Factions

The City of Madness is the foremost city of the Arvorians, and also the city most likely to be encountered by player characters. Although the Arvorians are chaotic in many ways, they are also intelligent and realise that they need at least some stability within their cities to survive, function and work towards their long-term goals. Thus there is some social structure among this ancient and decadent race in the form of an informal hierarchy of groups.

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  The top of this pyramid is the High Council, led by the High Councillor herself. There are 13 seats on the High Council and together they resolve some (but not all) conflicts between factions or groups, and generally intervene in matters affecting the City of Madness as a whole. 
• The Noble Houses are, as the name suggests, the aristocracy among the Arvorians and their retainers and followers. They answer only to the High Council. The size of each house varies but the larger ones can command 15-20 nobles and perhaps 200-300 Arvorian troops, plus goblinoid auxilliaries. 
• The Temples are dedicated to both the Great Old Ones (unfathomable alien beings of utter Chaos) and their harbingers and intermediaries, the Scions of the Outer Dark. The vast majority of Arvorians associated with these temples are Eldritch Crusader cults, with clerical spells appropriate to their chosen patron. 
• The Arcane Schools are where Arcane knights among the Arvorians are taught about magic use. Some are independent, but others are part of noble houses or associated with temples. These arcane schools, as might be expected, are repositories of spells, magic items and erudite knowledge that human mages from Glantri or Alphatia would pay any price to get hold of. 
• The Merchant Houses are focused on trading and craftsmanship. Although most Arvorians look down on physical labour, those that do become artisans are often linked to merchant houses who can act as guilds or corporations. Merchant houses often have their own security, such as a company of mercenaries, to protect their senior staff and business interests. 
• Arcane Knight Companies are groups of Arvorian arcane knights who train to work and fight together, either using physical weapons or magic to destroy their opponents. In the City of Madness some of these companies are raised and maintained by noble houses, while others are independent and often act as mercenaries. A few are linked to a Temple, or an Arcane School.

Below these there are the common Arvorians, who have no particular claim to authority or status. Although an individual Arvorian may become skilled in combat and magic, it is by joining one of the above groups that they can acquire status and recognition among their peers. Of course these groups are more likely to recruit common Arvorians who show talent and prowess.  

Arvorians rely heavily on slavery. Most of the time these are orcs, goblins and captured humans. However, occasionally an Arvorian is reduced to a slave - to proud Arvorians this is seen as a fate worse than death. Enslaved Arvorians can expect no better treatment than a human or orc slave, and given the Arvorian propensity for cruelty and domination this is harsh indeed. 

Non Player Characters of the High Council 

Shebbrethaa Zuun the High Councillor: Female Arvorians, Chaotic, 23rd level Eldritch Crusader
Str 10, Int 19, Wis 19, Dex 13, Con 12, Cha 16
Incredibly old but kept alive and active by dark necromancy.
She remembers the fall of Arvoria and of Blackmoor thousands of years ago.
Inscrutable, dispassionate and of few words.
All fear her and most respect her. She has had philosophical and religious disagreements with Remulon but she still keeps him on the High Council. 
As the High Councillor she has the final say in any matter and keeps other council members in line (especially Remulon). 
She only intervenes if something seriously threatens her, the running of the High Council or the City of Madness as whole. 

Murlanthia Kaelex, Duchess of House Kaelex: Female Arvorian, Chaotic, 20th level Arcane Knight
Str 16, Int 18, Wis 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Cha 16
Experienced ruler and politician who rules House Kaelex, the largest noble house in the City of Madness.
Focused on power struggles within the city and among Arvorians, particularly in keeping House Kaelex on top.
Not that bothered about the Scions of the Outer Dark or religious matters which annoys some council members
House Kaelex and her personal stronghold is deep within the bowels of the City of Madness.
In personal combat she prefers to fight with magic, only resorting to melee if desperate. 

Remulon Ustarres, Patriarch of the Temple of E'hillit: Male Arvorian, Chaotic, 19th level Eldritch Crusader  

source

Str 18, Int 13, Wis 18, Dex 8, Con 15, Cha 17
Fanatically devoted to his patron and always pushing hard to release the scions from their imprisonment. 
One of the driving forces behind Arvorians across Norwold gathering Eldritch Crystals. 
Cares nothing for mortals. Even other Arvorians are expendable tools. 
He has had serious disagreement with some other High Council members, some of whom think he is mad. Given his patron, this may be true. 
He has plans to become a Chaos Prince which will involve driving a lot of mortals mad. He is considering how to summon an avatar of his patron E'hillit in the middle of a human city such as Alpha. 

Maedrix Shadrinn, Duke of House Shadrinn: Male Arvorian, Chaotic, 19th level Arcane Knight
Str 15, Int 19, Wis 13, Dex 12, Con 10, Cha 17
Something of an Arvorian nationalist and wants the Arvorian Empire to rise again, Perhaps with him at its head? 
Has made diplomatic efforts towards other houses within the City of Madness and even houses in other Arvorian Cities. He wants Arvorians to be united against other races, especially humans. 
He is skeptical about releasing the Scions of the Outer Dark, and will not help Remulon. This has caused tensions., 
A very capable strategist and tactician, he has led Arvorian forces to many victories. 
He sees Murlanthia Kaelex as a worthy rival and peer. 
House Shadrinn is generally considered the third most powerful noble house in the city, after House Kaelex and House Norgolreen. 

Darnisaide Kruth, Patriarch of the Temple of Tallassia: Male Arvorian, Chaotic, 21st level Eldritch Crusader
Str 10, Int 14, Wis 19, Dex 12, Con 18, Cha 18
More pragmatic than Remulon. He sees the Scions as a source of personal and political power. 
He is head of the Temple of Tallassia in the City of Madness and wants to expand its influence. 
Darnisaide is also interested in the outside world beyond the City of Madness and even beyond Norwold and the ruins of old Arvoria. 
He has sent a number of spies and scouts out and is always open to reports from Arvorian outposts and expeditions who have encountered humans, elves and the like. 
One of his spies, Akranthis, has infiltrated nearby Agthand's Bastion. Darnisaide sees the bastion itself as of little consequence, and is confident it could be destroyed with ease but he is intrigued by this Alphatia that the human wizards speak of. 

Voldenni Scarramos, Mistress of House Tashael: Female Arvorian, Chaotic, 19th level Eldritch Crusader
Str 15, Int 17, Wis 16, Dex 12, Con 10, Cha 16
Head of Merchant House Tashael, the most powerful merchant house in the City of Madness. 
She has made her fortune primarily in slavery, the main stock in trade for House Tashael.
Voldenni took over House Tashael after the unfortunate death of Master Tashael from a brief but violent illness that some say was poisoning. 
Voldenni can be horribly sadistic with slaves under her control, particularly humans. The main reason she does not cripple and kill more slaves is they then cease to be saleable. 

Nicodellios Astrollos, Master of Jade Skull School:  Lich (former male Arvorian), Chaotic, 22nd level Arcane Knight
Str 15, Int 19, Wis 14, Dex 10, Con -, Cha 12
One of several Arvorian liches to openly walk in the City of Madness. Feared by nearly all Arvorians. 
Nicodellios is believed to be about 1000 years old and he talks about the fall of Nithia as if he remembers it clearly. He will concede he is not as old as the High Councillor and she is the one council member he truly respects. 
Nicodellios is the head wizard and researcher at the Jade Skull School, an Arcane School that has stayed independent although it maintains friendly ties to House Shadrinn The school has about 80 members, including researchers, tutors and senior students. 
Nicodellios himself is a skilled alchemist and when not at the High Council or dealing with running the Jade Skull School he will spend time in his extensive alchemical laboratory deep inside the City of Madness.
The experiments he conducts in the name of research are often lethal or painful for the test subjects, of whom he requires a steady supply. He thus has an arrangement with Voldenni Scarramos for slaves to use in his experiments. 

Descent into Avernus Homebrew #1: The Thayan Compound

 Diverging a bit from my usual Basic D&D, I thought I would go over some of the stuff I have come up with in 5E D&D for the campaign I am currently DMing, Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus. 

Spoiler alert: many of the things I will be discussing involve plot points in the published book. If you are a player playing through the same campaign book, then you have been warned. 

Descent into Avernus is a bit of a mixed bag. It has some great ideas and set pieces but joining them up in a way that the PCs want to follow is not always clear in the published book.  Furthermore, the adventure requires advancement at a much higher rate than the encounters in the book will allow. Advancing automatically after two or three encounters regardless of XP is not my preferred way of PCs levelling up. So some of these homebrew encounters are opportunities for the PCs to earn sufficient XP to get to the levels needed to move onto the next crucial parts in the adventure. 

Side Quest #1: The Red Wizard Enclave in Elturel

This side quest was created for three main reasons. Firstly to award the PCs some magic items. Secondly to award the PCs enough XP to take on the Elturel Cemetery. Thirdly to secure a source of food for the refugees in the High Hall cathedral in Elturel. The background here is that the Red Wizards of Thay have set up a trading enclave  (actually a walled compound) within Elturel, and this was dragged into Avernus along with the rest of the city. 

The acolyte in the High Hall, Pherria Jynx, knows of a magic item, a minor Cornucopia, that can conjure sufficient food to keep the refugees in the High Hall crypts alive. The Cornucopia was last seen being sold to the Red Wizards at their Enclave. The PCs are requested to retrieve it, with the incentive that they can keep any other magic items they find.

The Red Wizards tried to defend themselves against the devils of Avernus by summoning demons to protect them. This did not work out as planned and the demons have run amok in the enclave. Some red wizards are slain, others barricaded in their rooms, terrified. Thus the PCs find themselves investigating this walled compound, with a combination of angry demons, scared apprentice wizards and random magic items. 

Key to map: 

    1) Apprentices’ living quarters & Kitchen: 1 shadow demon (as Monster Manual) + 1 deceased neophyte

    2)  Apprentices’ dormitory: 3 Red Wizard Neophytes (see below for stats). All three are scared and will welcome any rescuers. Braddock in particular is questioning why he joined the Red Wizards at all. 

• Catrina (human female)
• Braddock (human male)
  
• Welph (human male)

    3) Stables. Contains 3 dead horses, slain by demons

    4) Senior Mage's Living Room. Nothing of interest except some nice chairs and carpet. 

    5) Senior Mage's Bedroom: Denthoros is a Mage (as per Monster Manual), a Neutral Evil human male who is the surviving leader of the Red Wizards still in the compound - his senior in the enclave has plane-shifted on his own back to Faerun leaving Denthoros and the others to their fate. Denthoros intends to survive and will do whatever it takes. He will only attack humanoids if they seem intent on attacking him, though any fiends will be treated as hostile. His wooden chest by his bed holds 250gp, 1200sp and his spellbook. Crucially Denthoros holds the key to to the Vault (room 10) and will only hand it over if offered something worthwhile. 

    6) Kitchen and Food Stores. A Barlgura Demon is in here and will attack any mortals or devils. Denthoros (room 5) is aware of this demon. The demon has devoured or spoilt any food that had been here.

    7) The Shop Floor. In here is a Chasme Demon (as Monster Manual) that will attack any mortal. There were shelves holding various baubles and trinkets for sale but the chasme has smashed everything into worthless scraps. However, behind the counter are three bags, one with 43sp, one with 60gp and one with 5pp. 

    8) Corridor

    9) Spell Components Stores: 1 Red Wizard Junior (stats as below) + 2 Veterans (as per Monster Manual). Similar to Denthoros in room 5, the Red Wizard Junior (human female, name Eriadnee) and her two guards are not interested in unnecessary fights and will try to negotiate their way out. They all know that Denthoros holds the key to the vault (room 10) but will only offer this information if pressed or offered something in return. They are trapped here by the chasme in room 7. 

    10) The Vault: This room is sealed by a locked steel door. Denthoros the mage in room 5 holds the key. Inside are 1 shadow demon +2 dretches (all as in Monster Manual). Also in here are locked boxes containing:

• The Cornucopia (a horn that constantly provides food on demand, enough to feed dozens of people every day. 
• A Bag of Holding
• A suit of Chain Mail +2
• A Wand of the War Mage
• A pair of Bracers of Defence +2

Red Wizard Neophyte:

Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil, based on 2nd level wizard

AC: 10, HP: 9,  Speed: 30ft

Str 10 (0), Dex 10 (0), Con 13 (+1), Int 15 (+2) Wis 12 (+1), Cha 10 (0)

Saving Throws: Int (+4), Wis (+3)

Skills: Arcana (+4), Insight (+3)

Senses: passive perception (12)

Languages: Common, Thayan, Abyssal

Challenge: 2 (450xp)

Special Equipment: Dagger, red robes

Action: Dagger, melee attack (+2 to hit, 1d4 damage)

Spellcasting: Red Wizard Neophytes are spellcasters of 2nd level using Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +4 to hit with spell attacks)

At Will Cantrips (3 known): Acid Splash, Fire Bolt, Light

1st L spells (3 slots): Charm Person, Fog Cloud, Silent Image

Red Wizard Junior:

Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil, based on 4th level wizard

AC 12, HP 21, speed 30ft

Str 10 (0), Dex 10 (0), Con 13 (+1), Int 17 (+3) Wis 14 (+2), Cha 12 (+1)

Saving Throws: Int (+5), Wis (+4)

Skills: Arcana (+5), Insight (+4)

Senses: passive perception (13)

Languages: Common, Thayan, Abyssal

Challenge: 4? (1100xp)

Special Equipment: Dagger, red robes of Protection +1, Ring of Protection +1

Action: Dagger, melee attack (+2 to hit, 1d4 damage)

Spellcasting: Red Wizard Juniors are spellcasters of 4th level using Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +5 to hit with spell attacks)

At Will Cantrips (4 known): Acid Splash, Fire Bolt, Light, Message

1st L spells (4 slots): Charm Person, Fog Cloud, Silent Image, Sleep

2nd L spells (3 slots): Invisibility, Detect Thoughts, Web

Description: Red Wizard Juniors are deemed competent enough by the Red Wizards of Thay to be entrusted with basic tasks and minor responsibilities. They are sometimes found looking after Thayan camps while team leaders are leading missions, or perhaps leading a patrol of minions, looking for minor foes of the Red Wizards. Red Wizard juniors have survived their apprenticeship and are a bit more aware of the manoeuvring and backstabbing among the Red Wizards, so are not as trusting of their fellows (Insight skill and Detect Thoughts spell are more used on their colleagues in the Red Wizards than their obvious enemies). 

Note that as the DM I awarded XP rewards for peacefully dealing with Red Wizards and retrieving the Cornucopia and bringing it back to the High Hall. 

Agthand’s Bastion

art by Andreas Rocha, source

 This stronghold in the north of Norwold is a collaboration between two people who would not normally work together: an Alphatian mage and a dwarf from Rockhome. Agthand's bastion is the closest haven to the legendary City of Madness. It was established 50 years ago when Agthand Nickelhelm, a dwarven prospector, found mithril bars in the possession of a barbarian from much further north than the Great Bay of Norwold. Further investigation led him north close to the City of Madness, where he found both a series of ancient mines first excavated by the Arvorians and their humanoid slaves and then Ulliza, an Alphatian mage who had come to this forsaken place to investigate the Arvorians. After an initial tense stand-off the dwarf and mage realised that neither was aggressive and that they could pool their resources. They established a temporary base inside what they named as Black Yeti Mine, clearing out the top level. Ulliza found evidence of the Arvorians civilization and Agthand found already-mined mithril ore in minecarts and some mithril scraps in the smelters. Ulliza sent magical messages to both her apprentices in Alphatia and Agthand’s colleagues in Rockhome and they gathered in Black Yeti Mine. Then construction of the bastion began on an icy hilltop not far from the mine, using both magic (Stone Shape and Wall of Stone) and dwarven craftsmanship.  

Frost giants, white dragons and other wandering monsters of the Everwinter Lands are constant threats and although the mages and dwarves can deal with such creatures when prepared, it does mean that vigilance must be constant. It was only 10 years ago that a pair of Remorhazes attacked the bastion, killing several defenders. The weather is at least as brutal as the monsters, and all residents of the bastion have to be careful not to be caught out in a blizzard or get lost while wandering the Everwinter Lands. The bastion has adequate insulation so those inside can stay warm, assisted by coal dug locally by the dwarves. 

Another threat is that the Arvorians of the City of Madness have become aware of the Bastion, and although most are not interested in the nearby presence of humans and dwarves, there are some that have started investigating whether the bastion represents a threat to Arvorian superiority over the region. 

There are now 25 dwarves and 10 mages in the bastion, and they have formed two distinct social groups. They are not yet rival factions, and most of the time get on fine, but there has been friction. 

Food is an important matter, and there are three main sources of sustenance: Firstly Ulliza has created a portal back to her home town of Sanaz north of Shiell. There are almost daily mule-loads of food travelling through this portal. Secondly the dwarves have become quite good at hunting the local wildlife including reindeer and muskoxen. This is risky on account of both the vicious weather and also other creatures that might be encountered - winter wolves are known to follow the herds on the tundra. Thirdly an enterprising dwarf has set up a fungus farm in a disused chamber in Black Yeti Mine. The dwarves are quite used to this sort of mushroom diet but the mages have not yet acquired the taste, and instead wait for the mule to come through the portal. It is worth noting that the portal to Sanaz can only be used twice per day, once in and once out, therefore it is not used frivilously. 

Trade in such an isolated outpost is limited unless one wishes to trade with Alphatians, in which case the portal to Sanaz is ideal. This leaves the dwarves in a bit of a quandary - many of the miners would like to sell the mithril and other precious minerals back to their fellow dwarves back in Rockhome, but that means a risky two month voyage by sea along the Sea of Dawn and overland through Soderfjord to Rockhome, and then back again to north-most Norwold. The less patriotic dwarves have travelled through the portal and sold their product in Sanaz, deciding that these wizards are not nearly as bad as the ones in Glantri. although all wizards are a bit peculiar and should be treated with caution. The inhabitants of Sanaz likewise appreciate this new source of precious metals. 

There is spare accomodation in the bastion, and adventurers wanting to stay here are welcome as long as they both pay for bed and board (10gp per person per night), and pull their weight when there are urgent tasks to be done or threats to be fended off. Similarly a basic level of good behaviour and respect is expected from any guests. Nonetheless, if adventurers heed these requirements, then Agthand's Bastion is an excellent base from which to venture out to explore Arvorian ruins. 

There are three known mines that the dwarves have discovered:

Black Yeti Mine is safe on the upper two levels, and has been in use since Agthand and Ulliza arrived here. There are known to be at least two more levels, both with infestation problems, particularly slimes and oozes on the fourth level and a band of orcs on the third, who may have a passage into a deeper network of caves. Nonetheless, there are profitable veins of both mithril and silver that the dwarves work, 

Odragg's Delve is another mine of Arvorian origin.  It has veins of silver and a coal seam that is useful to the bastion for staying warm, cooking food and smelting some of the easier metals. The first level is now safe but the second and lower levels are not, with both kobolds and giant rats pestering the miners. There also seem to be various items abandoned by the Arvorians, which the mages in the bastion find intriguing, 

Minotaur Maw is considered very dangerous, although the mithril found there still makes it tempting. A band of white-furred minotaurs attack anyone else who ventures in here and have killed two dwarf prospectors. Interestingly the dwarves have reported the severed heads of Arvorians mounted outside the entrance to the mine, so even the Arvorians occasionally fall prey to the minotaurs. 

NPCs of Agthand's Bastion

Agthand Nickelhelm: Dwarf leader and entrepreneur. Male dwarf Warrior 7th level, align Neutral, Str 15, Int 13, Wis 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Cha 14. Equipment: Banded armour +1, Shield +1 +2 vs normal missiles, Cloak of Cold Protection, Hand axe +2, Pick Axe of Speed (doubles rate of excavation of non-living matter). Agthand is the co-founder of Agthand’s Bastion and leader of the dwarves there. He is also the head of business and the treasurer, paying, hiring and firing the dwarves in his employment and also arranging business deals selling the metals and minerals extracted by his team. 

Ulliza of Sanaz: Alphatian mage leader, chief researcher, female human Magic User 16th level, align Neutral, Str 7, Int 17, Wis 12, Con 10, Cha 13, Equipment: Staff of Wizardry, Crystal Ball, Dagger +2, Ring of Spell Storing, Broom of Flying. Whereas Agthand views this situation as a business opportunity, Ulliza sees it as a research project. She became aware of the Arvorians after talking to some lupins outside of Barathmir and has had several encounters with the ancient race, none of which were friendly. She is putting together information about the history of the Arvorians and their current plans. To this end she has gathered a team of research assistants (Alphatian mages) to help her. She feels responsible for her team and will try to make sure they do not upset the dwarves or get into danger. Ulliza is the creator of the magic portal to Alphatia that has proved a lifeline and important trading route - one thing she has not told anyone else is that she has the ability to destroy the portal. She would only do this if the bastion was overrun and the enemy threatened to pour into Alphatia. 

Borddrad Marblehall: chief engineer. Male dwarf warrior 6th level, align Lawful, Str 14, Int 14, Wis 13, Dex 10, Con 13, Cha 10. Equipment: Chain mail +2, Warhammer +1 +2 vs goblinoids. Borddrad supervises all manner of engineering matters, including the construction of the Bastion, the safe  excavation of the mines and the forges and smelters that turn ore into metal. He is well respected by Agthand and the other dwarves and the mages certainly view him as an expert in his field.  One personal connection is that he is friends with  Orrinor Whitebeard of Ragnadir’s Air Transport Company. He has suggested to Agthand that the Rockhome based skyships could be used for either trade or emergency transport though this has not been acted on yet. 

Delzarrion of Shiell: head of security. Human male magic user 12th level, align Neutral, Str 10, Int 17, Wis 13, Dex 7, Con 7, Cha 12. Equipment: Robe of Protection +2, Amulet of ESP, Wand of Lightning, Wand of Illusion. Delzarrion has been placed by Ulliza as the head of security for the Bastion, which has not sat well with some dwarves who do not entirely trust Alphatian wizards. Nonetheless he has helped keep the bastion safe over the years. He is primarily focused on external threats such as frost giants and humanoid war bands and tends not to think about trouble from within the bastion. This means he has not paid much attention to Durth Heavyhammer. 

Thelmai Whiteshield: Chaplain & medic. Female Dwarf cleric 7th level, align Lawful, Str 13, Int 10, Wis 16, Dex 10, Con 16, Cha 12. Equipment: Warhammer +2, Shield +1, Banded Armour +1, Holy Symbol. Thelmai looks after the health and wellbeing of all within the Bastion, providing healing magic and spiritual solace. Thelmai does not know much about the Arvorians but from what she gathers from Ulliza and the other mages she has decided the Arvorians are trouble and should be dealt with.

Durth Heavyhammer/Akranthis. Spy. Male Arvorian Arcane Knight 5th level, align Chaotic, Str 12, Int 15, Wis 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Cha 12. Equipment: Ring of Disguise, banded armour, hand axe, Shortsword +2, Durth Heavyhammer is apparently a dwarf miner who prefers not to sleep in the bastion but in Black Yeti Mine instead. He is considered an odd fellow by the other dwarves but they accept that he is just like that. In actuality Durth Heavyhammer is a cover used by an Arvorian called Akranthis, a spy who is finding out about the bastion and its dwarves and mages. He has been tasked with finding out about the bastion’s defences and combat capabilities. However, Akranthis has become quite distracted by Alphatian magic and on various occasions has spent time talking to Alphatian mages about their spellcasting and magic items in a way that is quite unusual for a dwarf. Akranthis’s Ring of Disguise allows him to appear as Durth Heavyhammer for up to eight hours at a time, or for 10 minutes per day to appear as any small or medium humanoid as a Change Self spell. Akranthis has been infiltrating the Bastion for just over a year. 

Logos Location #13: The Sunken Tomb

Cartography by Dyson Logos, source

Introduction and Background

Thanks to Dyson Logos' generosity, he has made a large number of his high quality maps available for use. I have decided (with his approval) to incorporate these into locations within Mystara. This is a B/X D&D adventure for a party of  characters of levels 2-4 set in the Great Marsh of Soderfjord.

Much of the lower level of this dungeon is partially flooded, with water about 2ft deep covering the floor. This means that dwarves and halflings fight at -2 to hit while nearly submerged, and all characters wade at half their normal movement. 

This tomb was created by the ancient Mogreth civilization but the human Nithians discovered it and added their own dead to the lower level. The walls are covered in friezes and engravings of strange reptilian beings, serpent folk and more recognisable lizard men. The previously human undead creatures are dressed as ancient Nithians but the lizard-zombies are far stranger. Room 10 was set up and enchanted by the Nithians to protect their buried dead from the necromantic influence of Mogreth sorcery. 

Possible hooks that might encourage the PCs to investigate the tomb include:

• A junior mage has heard from his master's divinations that there is a book of rare spells on the upper floor of this tomb (actually in area 14d). He would pay the PCs a fair price for it intact and in a readable condition. 
• The local cleric has heard of a horrible monster with a long slimy tongue that has emerged from this tomb to attack human patrols trying to keep the swamp safe. If the PCs could slay the creature and bring its corpse back for study they would be rewarded. The slavering-tongue ghoul is in room 12.  
• There is a scholar who has become aware of the ancient Nithian empire and believes the tomb to be a site of great archaeological importance. The scholar wants to investigate the tomb herself but she is well aware that there may be various monsters, so she would like to hire the PCs as bodyguards. 
• The PCs hear from a frightened would-be tomb robber that he and his fellows tried to loot the tomb as they had been told by reliable divination that it held much treasure. However, his friends paid dearly for finding out why nobody had previously plundered the tomb. 

Lower Level

1. The Atrium. This partially flooded room is dark and creepy with moss and fungi hanging from the ceiling but apart from a few harmless frogs there are no creatures of note here. To the east there is a dead end with dirt and rubble piled up. 
2. The Rat Lair: This room has a pack of 13 giant rats that will attack any intruders. If more than half are killed the rest must check morale and may try to flee. This room has a small tunnel above the water in the northern wall that leads to room 4 but only halflings, gnomes and giant rats can fit through. There is also a false door on the west wall that was put there to symbolize the passage to the next world.  
   Giant Rat: AC 7, Mv 120ft/swim 60ft, HD 1/2 (2hp each), THAC0 20, Att 1 bite for 1d3 + possible disease, Save NM, Ml 8, align N, 6xp
3. The Double Tomb. This chamber has two raised platforms above the water on either side of the south entrance. The east platform (b) has the smashed remains of a coffin, but the west platform (a) has an intact sarcophagus. If the lid is disturbed the 2 ghouls inside awaken and will attack those who disturb the ghoul’s repose. Inside the ghouls’ sarcophagus are 2600sp, 300gp and a Ring of Fire Resistance.
   Ghoul: AC 6, Mv 90ft, HD 2* (hp 6, 11), THAC0 18, Att 2 claws/1 bite for 1d3/1d3/1d3 + paralysis, Save F2, Ml 12, align C, 25xp
4. The Dais Room. Most of this room is covered in water apart from a dais on the west side. This is the lair of 2 giant toads. On top of the dais is an altar on which there is a ceremonial dagger of silver (effective against lycanthropes) worth 100gp and a silver medallion  with engraved Nithian hieroglyphs worth 100gp.
   Giant toad: AC 7, Mv 90ft/Swim 60ft HD 2+2 (11 hp each), THAC0 17, Att 1 bite for 1d4+1 or tongue (range 15ft, drags small creatures to toad). Swallows small creatures whole on natural 20. Save F1, Ml 6, Align N, 35xp
5. This room has lots of rubble lying around and an uneven floor beneath the water. On the east wall there are 2 alcoves above the water level. In the middle of the room is a sarcophagus. However, this room has already been plundered and there is nothing of value here. 
6. The Lower Crypts: The entrance to this room is partially blocked by a large sarcophagus, though there is space to climb over the top of the stone coffer to get in and out of this room. This room has 6 alcoves, all above the water level. In each alcove are various forms of undead that will shamble towards any intruders that enters the room.
   a) 2 Zombies: AC 8, Mv 60ft, HD 2 (9 hp each), THAC0 18 (always attacks last), Att 1 slam for 1d8, Save F2, Ml 12, Align C, 20xp
   b) 1 Bloated zombie: AC 7, HD 2 (9 hp each), THAC0 18 (always attack last), Att 2 claws for 1d4/1d4, Save F2, Ml 12, Align C, 25xp When defeated the bloated zombie causes 1d6 acid damage to all creatures in 10ft radius.
   c) 2 skeletons: AC 7, Mv 60ft, HD 1 (5 hp each), THAC0 19, Att 1 weapon for 1d6, Save F1, Ml 12, Align C, 10xp
   d) 2 zombie wolves. Also in this alcove there is an intact wooden coffin. Inside is an inanimate skeleton with a silver and pearl necklace worth 400gp and a silver tiara worth 500gp.
   Zombie Wolf: AC 6, Move 120ft, HD 3+2 (18 hp each), THAC0 16, Att 1 bite for 1d6+1, Save F3, Ml 12, Align C, 50xp
   e) 1 bloated zombie, stats as alcove b
   f) 3 skeletons (stats as in alcove c). Also in this alcove there is a stone sarcophagus. If it is opened there is a Bone Warrior inside that will jump out and attack. The bone warrior wields a Sword +1 and a Shield +1.
   Bone warrior: AC 5, Mv 120ft, HD 3 (15 hp), THAC0 17, Att 1 weapon for 1d8+1, Save F3, Ml 12, Align C, 35xp
7. The preparation room. This room is a bit above the water level. There are 2 tables here and on the sides is a shelf with both surgical instruments (now long rusted into uselessness) and several jars of preservatives (one of salt, one of natron and one of formaldehyde). To the north of this room is the stairs that lead to the upper level. 
   
   The Upper Level
8. The Circular Crypt. This circular chamber has a large solid pillar of stone about 10ft wide in the middle of it. There are 7 burial alcoves (a-g). Alcoves a, c, g & i all have 2 zombies each standing guard that will attack creatures entering this room (8 zombies total). Alcoves b & f both have intact sarcophagi. The sarcophagus in alcove b is empty but the one in alcove f has a false bottom - breaking it reveals 2300sp & 500gp. 
   Zombie: AC 8, Mv 60ft, HD 2 (9 hp each), THAC0 18 (always attacks last), Att 1 slam for 1d8, Save F2, Ml 12, Align C, 20xp
9. This room has 5 shallow alcoves that hold stone statues of ancient and unrecognised immortals. The statues themselves are not magical and have no effect but anyone lingering in the room for more than a turn will feel a sense of unease. Anyone behaving irreverently or disrespectfully (stealing the statues, vandalism etc) must make a save vs spells or suffer the effects of a Confusion spell. 
10. 2 Mogreth Lizard Zombies are on guard here. They will attack any intruders and have 2 javelins each .
    Mogreth Lizard-Zombie: AC 6, Mv 60ft, HD 3+1 (15 hp each), THAC0 16, Att 2 claws/1 bite for 1d3/1d3/1d6, or javelins (range 20’/40’/80’) for 1d6+1 Save F3, Ml 12, Align C, 50xp 
11. Partially Excavated room. This room has a clearly unfinished northern wall and lots of rubble and boulders against that side. It seems there was an attempt at creating several alcoves here before work stopped. 
12. 1 Slavering-Tongue Ghoul lurks here and will attack anyone. It guards a chest of treasure containing 1200gp, 3000sp and 5 gems (moonstones) worth 50 gp each.
    Slavering-Tongue Ghoul:  AC 6, Mv 120ft, HD 4+4 (22 hp), THAC0 15, Att 2 claws/1 tongue for 1d6/1d6/2d4 + tongue will grapple if it hits, Save F4, Ml 12, Align C, 200 xp
13. The circular chamber. This room has a shrieker in the middle and anyone entering will trigger it. The shrieks will attract the undead in the various alcoves of area 14. As the DM you could track the zombies movement per round of this encounter or assume that at the start of the 3rd round against the shrieker the lizard-zombies appear at the steps to the south, east and west.
    Shrieker: AC 7, Mv 9ft, HD 3 (13 hp), THAC0 none, Shriek attracts monsters, Save F2, Ml 12, Align N, 20xp 
14. The Crescent Corridor. This has 6 alcoves off it. Each alcove holds a Mogreth Lizard-zombie (6 lizard-zombies) that will attack any intruders and will shamble towards the shrieker in area 13 if it raises the alarm. Alcoves a, d & f all have treasure -
    a) has a large ceiling slab fallen down in front of it but both the zombie and most humanoids can squeeze through. Inside is an earthenware pot with 4200sp and a bronze statuette of a cow-headed deity worth 400gp. 
    d) has an intact sarcophagus but opening it unleashes an explosive rune that will cause 6d4 fire damage to all within 10ft of the sarcophagus - save vs spells for half damage. A thief has a normal chance to detect this rune as a trap, while a detect magic spell will also reveal something magical within the sarcophagus . There is also a locked iron chest that protects its contents from the explosive rune and it contains a Wand of Phantasmal Force, powered not by normal wand charges but by an eldritch crystal that can be used twice per day, and also a spellbook with the spells Explosive Rune, Rope Trick and Caustic Bolt as well as some more familiar spells including Magic Missile, Charm Person, Ventriloquism, Locate Object, ESP and Wizard Lock. 
    f) has a wooden coffin that contains 5300sp and 4 gems (green beryls) worth 100gp each.  
    Mogreth Lizard-Zombie: AC 6, Mv 60ft, HD 3+1 (15 hp each), THAC0 16, Att 2 claws/1 bite for 1d3/1d3/1d6, or javelins (range 20’/40’/80’) for 1d6+1 Save F3, Ml 12, Align C, 50xp