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Dungeon Magazine 201
Dungeon Magazine 201
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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The Truth Is Out There
however, the veil of misinformation might fade for the When you start a campaign that begins with the about a rampaging owlbear than a tentacled night-
adventurers: supposition that aberrant equals alien, several ele- mare living in the basement of the local tavern.
ments can figure prominently in your adventures. Certain individuals might be singled out to
F Creatures from the Far Realm are called aberrants, Aliens are among us. Aliens have found their become agents of the aliens and wield their
a term that means unnatural. Such creatures are way to the world. Commonly called aberrants, these power. Although no clear examples exist in modern
alien to the world, yet they claim no other plane of aliens don’t belong in the world, and they will do any- alien mythology, consider how well the star pact
existence. Where else might they originate if not thing to survive. warlock can work in a campaign featuring this alter-
the sky? Additionally, bizarre aberrants such as Creatures of all types are occasionally native view of the Far Realm. Maybe such warlocks
fell taints have spawned in regions thought to have abducted for bizarre purposes. People go missing have been abductees for years and have been trained
been created by an object that fell from the sky. all the time, and they could be held captive by aber- by their aberrant abductors to learn the ways of the
rant creatures. Although few can divine the motives stars. Perhaps the warlock’s strange rods and other
F Warlocks who forge star pacts claim their powers
for these abductions, sometimes these abductees implements are gifts from their aberrant benefactors:
are derived from the stars themselves. Many war-
come back with strange tales of missing time and a token of the warlock’s reluctant but loyal service.
locks further assert that powerful beings inhabit
reports of weird dreams. Such events might have Such characters might act as powerful emissaries
these stars and grant them their powers.
lasting effects on the abductee, rendering him or her between the natural world and the strange creatures
F Cults that worship strange aberrant creatures sensitive to aberrant creatures. of the Far Realm.
abound. Many of their rituals rely on knowing the Some of the aliens want to work with us. No
movement of the planets and stars in the night sky. rule states that aberrant creatures are always evil.
Some alien groups might want to work with native
Changing Your
In this variant setting option, the inevitable conclu-
sion you should allow your players to draw is that the
intelligent creatures to thwart the efforts of truly ter- World
rible aberrant entities. Because of their otherworldly
Far Realm is the collection of worlds that exist far nature, these benevolent alien creatures could Although the current lore regarding aberrant crea-
away in the night sky, and aberrants originate from remain hidden and mysterious for their own safety tures is more consistent with a Lovecraftian view of
these distant worlds. Not content with their home in your game. the Far Realm, it is not too difficult to change that
worlds, these creatures now seek to subjugate that of Organizations cover up the existence of lore to better suit a campaign featuring aliens. When
the adventurers. To gain some ideas of how to build aliens. When thinking about UFO stories, organiza- unearthing such arcana, your characters might find
this concept in your campaign, read on! tions such as the Men in Black might come to mind. out the following information.
In these stories, Men in Black seek to hide the activi- F Aboleths are an ancient race that originated on
Getting Started ties of alien creatures to avoid panicking the general a watery planet in the Ulban system, and their
population. Although a globally secret agency in a ship crashed into one of the world’s seas. As ever,
Although alien adventures might seem better suited medieval fantasy might be a stretch for you, consider aboleths remain inscrutable beings with thought
as the subject of a futuristic or d20 Modern® game, the possibility that an empire or kingdom might have processes that are beyond the ability of other crea-
aliens can play a key role in the mythology of many a secret group that serves the same purpose. Such tures to fathom, so consider using them to add
ancient cultures—including that of your fantasy cam- a group could be devoted to keeping the population an element of baffling uncertainty or the utterly
paign setting’s cultures. Our popular culture links from acting out in sheer panic if they find out that unexpected to your game.
the Egyptian pyramids, the Stonehenge monument, powerful aberrant creatures exist and are among F Eye tyrants, or beholders, are a militant race from
and Mayan temple carvings to aliens. Using these as them. Members of the group might be armed with a planet in the Nihal system known as Orbinis.
examples of how to go about adding aliens into your aberrant magic that allows them to “clean up” an Mutated into several different forms on their
own adventures shouldn’t be too difficult. The trick is event involving an aberrant creature. After all, the home world, beholders sought work among the
figuring out how modern alien mythology can trans- mayor of the local village would much rather worry stars as mercenaries, and these creatures provide
late into medieval fantasy.
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immense magical firepower to any army that humanoids on which to feast. Greatly reduced in One of the easiest ways to draw your heroes into
could pay their price. Unfortunately, the price for number since the collapse of their society, illithids an alternative Far Realm campaign is if one of the
their services was often that world’s subjugation. (or mind flayers, as they are known on this world) player characters is a star pact warlock. The connec-
Ousted beholders float silently between the stars, represent a serious threat to intelligent creatures. tion is all in the name of the build. It’s a warlock pact
awaiting an opportunity to put their despotic plans An illithid’s goal is simple: enslave the entire pop- with the stars. Work closely with the player using this
into motion. ulation as cattle upon which to feed. character, and encourage him or her to think about
F Illithids might be as ancient as the universe. Origi- what the pact means. In an alternative Far Realm,
nally from a planet around the now-dead sun that Pulling It All Together the star pact can mean a pact with powerful aberrant
creatures that come from the stars. With aberrant
warlocks and scholars call Hadar, the illithids Although a traditional band of adventurers is more
warred with the gith. The resulting battles extin- benefactors working behind the scenes, the star pact
than capable of handling the alien horrors from an warlock can be abducted frequently, gaining levels
guished that star and destroyed their home planet alternative Far Realm, consider some informal meth-
and society. As the races of gith fled to other and power with little knowledge of how it occurs.
ods that might better incorporate your heroes into an Maybe something unusual happens during the war-
planes of existence, the illithids took to the stars, alternative Far Realm adventure.
searching eagerly for other planets with suitable lock’s abduction, or perhaps the warlock wakes up in
the middle of an alien examination.
Even if your group of adventurers doesn’t include
a star pact warlock character, you can incorporate
Space Travel? other elements that introduce characters to danger-
ous aberrants and their agendas. Utilizing the Men
If all this talk of other planets, space travel, and aliens Worlds: Differing worlds can be a lot like dif- in Black idea, a simple knock on the door late at night
seems too far out for a fantasy game, consider the fering planes or astral dominions. Use the rules found by king’s warriors wearing black armor can start the
Spelljammer ® campaign setting. The setting was in Manual of the Planes, The Plane Above, and The Plane heroes on the path to investigation and adventure,
released while the 2nd Edition of Advanced Dungeons Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos ™ as guides for defeating aberrant interlopers while the king’s war-
& Dragons® was in full swing, and it introduced the creating planets. Despite the primary thrust of this riors try to keep the adventurers’ exploits secret.
concept of magical devices that allowed interstellar article, not all these worlds need to be home to aber- Cults that figure prominently in more traditional
flight. Manual of the Planes™ for 4th Edition co-opted rant creatures. The characters might find other planets Far Realm campaigns can play a part in an alterna-
the spelljammer (page 159) as the ultimate vehicle for like their own, complete with allies against the larger tive Far Realm campaign as well. Imagine a local
traveling among the planes. But what if the spelljam- aberrant threat. cult that worships an idol left behind by an aberrant
mer, and vehicles like it, were also or instead designed Adventures: Even if all the aliens of the stars visitor. Perhaps this idol contains dangerous powers.
for space travel? are aberrant creatures (such as illithids), their slaves Or maybe an entire village has come under the influ-
Vehicles: Alongside the spelljammer are other vehi- (such as derro), or their former slaves (such as githyanki ence of an illithid that is hungry for food and slaves.
cles designed to ply the Astral Sea, such as the astral and githzerai), you have as much leeway in adventure Heroes will want to investigate and eliminate these
skiff (Manual of the Planes, page 159) as well as the astral design as you might in a seafaring campaign where incursions.
clipper and the astral schooner (both found in The Plane most other seafarers are hostile. Throw in a range of Characters other than star pact warlocks can be
Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea™, page 20). If you assume non-evil, potentially nonhostile creatures, as well as abducted by aberrants, as well. Such hapless indi-
these vehicles can enter interstellar space and can also monsters that can travel space without the aid of vehi- viduals might be oblivious to their abduction except
provide artificial gravity, air, and rapid transit between cles, and space becomes a place not unlike the world’s for strange nightmares and periods of missing time.
distant points, you have created space travel in your high seas. From trading to exploration to piracy, as well Maybe the abductee begins using bizarre and deadly
game. You could tie the abilities of these vehicles into as the failure of ship systems, the adventure options are powers as a result of the abductions. Investigating
the Plane Shift ritual, as well. wide open. such a phenomenon might start the heroes on an
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adventure that leads them to a buried ship that once Gray Abductor Level 17 Lurker Gray Trooper Level 17 Soldier
traveled the stars. Small aberrant humanoid XP 1,600 Small aberrant humanoid XP 1,600
A more gradual way to incorporate an alternative HP 125; Bloodied 62 Initiative +17 HP 168; Bloodied 84 Initiative +14
Far Realm into your campaign, and one that might AC 31, Fortitude 28, Reflex 29, Will 30 Perception +14 AC 33, Fortitude 28, Reflex 29, Will 30 Perception +15
Speed 6 Darkvision Speed 7 Darkvision
work for longer story arcs, utilizes ancient landmarks
Standard Actions Traits
and similar physical features in your campaign m Alien Probe (lightning, weapon) F At-Will O Stunning Field F Aura 1
world. Ruins, monuments, and artifacts all lend Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. Fortitude A slowed enemy that willingly tries to leave the aura is
themselves to an “ancient alien” theme. A pyramid Hit: 2d6 + 13 lightning damage, and the target is slowed stunned until the start of its next turn. If the gray is dazed
or Stonehenge-like monument could have been built (save ends). If the target is dazed, it is stunned instead of or stunned, this aura deactivates.
by aberrant creatures centuries before the first civi- slowed (save ends). Standard Actions
lizations developed. Such places might be portals or R Ego Suppression (psychic) F Recharge 5 6 m Alien Probe (lightning, weapon) F At-Will
Attack: Ranged 5 (one creature); +20 vs. Will Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. Fortitude
strange communication devices. Ancient sites could
Hit: 3d6 + 14 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save Hit: 3d6 + 14 lightning damage, and the target is slowed
also hint that aberrants have been here for a long ends). (save ends).
time. Where did they go? Do they still visit? Do they Second Failed Saving Throw: The target instead falls C Mind Snare (charm, psychic) F Recharge 5 6
still represent a danger? All of these questions are unconscious (save ends). Attack: Close burst 3 (enemies in the burst); +20 vs. Will
mysteries you can seize upon to create a unique cam- M Forceful Mind Scan (psychic) F At-Will Hit: 2d4 + 13 psychic damage. The gray pulls the target up
paign full of intrigue and adventure. Attack: Melee 1 (one stunned or unconscious creature); +20 to 2 squares, and the target is slowed (save ends).
As a final option, you could introduce a new type vs. Will First Failed Saving Throw: The target is instead immobi-
Hit: 3d6 + 14 psychic damage. The gray becomes invisible, lized (save ends).
of aberrant creature into your campaign. A close read
insubstantial, and immune to damage from close and Move Actions
of the ideas presented above could indicate that some area attacks. While in this state, the gray can take only Remove Threat (teleportation) F Encounter
agency is responsible for both star pact warlocks and move actions and must end those actions as close to the Effect: The gray teleports up to 5 squares. One slowed
various abductees. One possible form that agency target as possible. creature adjacent to the gray before it teleports can be
might take could be the “grays.” On each of the gray’s turns, it deals 3d6 + 14 psychic teleported to an unoccupied square adjacent to the gray
damage to the target (no attack roll required), but only if after it teleports.
The Grays the gray is adjacent to the target. When the target is no Str 10 (+8) Dex 18 (+12) Wis 12 (+19)
longer stunned, unconscious, or alive, the gray returns to Con 24 (+14) Int 12 (+19) Cha 21 (+13)
Aptly named for their uniformly gray skin, grays its normal state at the start of its next turn. Alignment unaligned Languages telepathy 20
are aberrant creatures with thin humanoid bodies Move Actions Equipment mace
and disproportionately large heads set with enor- Remove Subject (teleportation) F Encounter
mous pupil-less black eyes. Grays are hairless and Effect: The gray teleports up to 5 squares. One stunned
have a thin slit for a mouth, and no identifiable nose. or unconscious creature adjacent to the gray before it
Although they can speak in a whispery voice, they teleports can be teleported to an unoccupied square
adjacent to the gray after it teleports.
rely instead on a form of telepathy. Originally from
Str 8 (+7) Dex 21 (+13) Wis 12 (+9)
Caiphon, grays developed magic centuries ago, which Con 17 (+11) Int 17 (+10) Cha 23 (+14)
allowed them to travel the stars. They set out to study Alignment unaligned Languages telepathy 20
other worlds and gather knowledge about the uni- Equipment mace
verse. Like many other aberrant creatures, grays
came upon this world by accident, cataloging it as
part of a larger survey of the area. Surprised at the
rich variety of life, a large group stayed behind, estab-
lishing a hidden lair and beginning a careful program
of observation and contact.
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Gray Researcher
Small aberrant humanoid
Level 18 Controller (Leader)
XP 2,000
Adventure Hooks Heroic Tier
Are you ready to embark on a new kind of adven- Missing Time: One or more of the adventurers
HP 172; Bloodied 86 Initiative +12
ture—one set in an alternative Far Realm? To get you is beginning to experience some “missing time.” The
AC 32, Fortitude 29, Reflex 30, Will 31 Perception +15
Speed 6 Darkvision started, here are a few sample adventure hooks you character cannot account for what happens during
Standard Actions can utilize. this time period, but wakes up with dreams of strange
m Alien Probe (lightning, weapon) F At-Will lights and weird talking animals.
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. Fortitude Crystalline Mystery: Strange crystals are found
Hit: 4d6 + 12 lightning damage, and the target is slowed scattered all over a field after witnesses describe a
(save ends). bright light hovering over the area the night before.
Effect: The gray slides the target up to 2 squares.
When a crystal is held to the ear, it emits a low-
R Hypnotic Harmonics (psychic, thunder) F At-Will
Attack: Ranged 5 (one slowed creature); +21 vs. Will. This
pitched hum. When different crystals are brought
attack does not provoke opportunity attacks. next to each other, they adhere together, and the
Hit: 2d8 + 16 psychic and thunder damage, and the target humming becomes louder. The villagers in the area
is dazed (save ends). want to sell the crystals, but strangers are making
First Failed Saving Throw: The target instead falls uncon- inquiries about the crystals and demand them.
scious (save ends). Swamp Gas: The adventurers crest a ridge just
R Quantum Dissection (force) F At-Will
in time to see a silent black airship hovering over a
Attack: Ranged 10 (one stunned or unconscious creature);
+21 vs. Fortitude
town in the valley below. As they watch, the strange
Hit: 3d10 + 16 force damage, and the gray and allies within black airship moves off at improbable speed. When
20 squares of it gain a +4 power bonus to damage rolls questioned, the townsfolk scoff at the adventurers,
against the target until the end of the encounter. and a local wise man characterizes the sighting as
Move Actions “swamp gas.”
Remove Self (teleportation) F Encounter
Effect: The gray teleports up to 5 squares.
Paragon Tier
Triggered Actions
C Sudden Spatial Separation (teleportation) F Encounter Flayed Minds: A dungeon complex deep within
Trigger: The gray is bloodied by an attack or hit by an attack the Underdark leads the characters to a large circular
while bloodied. room that is isolated from the rest of the complex by
Attack (Immediate Reaction): Close burst 1 (enemies in the a long straight length of corridor. Humanoid-shaped
burst); +21 vs. Will alcoves line the walls of the circular room, and a large
Hit: The gray teleports the target up to 5 squares, and the
ring-shaped stone stands vertically in the center of
target falls prone.
Effect: The gray teleports up to 5 squares.
the room. Near the ring, a dead mind flayer lies, its
Str 8 (+8) Dex 17 (+12) Wis 12 (+10) tentacles still wrapped around a dying dwarf ’s head.
Con 20 (+14) Int 22 (+15) Cha 25 (+16) The dwarf starts suddenly, saying, “More will come.”
Alignment unaligned Languages telepathy 20 He then dies.
Equipment mace
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Art Director
Kate Irwin
Epic Tier Illustrator
Definitely Not a Milk Run: A group of the king’s Redefining the Far Realm isn’t for every group, but Eric Belisle, Daniel Falconer
warriors, dressed in black uniforms, approaches the for those willing to take the chance, the night sky
Publishing Production Manager
adventurers with a mission. In the skies above, a large holds limitless possibilities—and limitless danger as
Angie Lokotz
moon-sized vessel is preparing to unleash a barrage of well.
beholder magic upon the entire world. The characters
are asked to volunteer to take on a suicide mission:
Get to the vessel, find a weak spot, and concentrate
their deadliest magic upon it.
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Tavern Profile:
The Old Skull Inn
By Brian Cortijo
Illustrations by Jason Juta
Cartography by Kyle Hunter
Although the Twisted Tower of Ashaba is the undis- spreading of fires), as well as sell the occasional riding
puted seat of power in Shadowdale, for the last or cart horse.
century and a half the place of greatest influence in Despite the general calming of Shadowdale over
the town has been the Old Skull. Also called the Old the last century, the Old Skull sees a fair amount of
Skull Inn or simply the Skull, the inn serves as the traffic because it sits on a trade route through the
not-so-secret gathering place of defenders of the dale, Dalelands. At three stories tall, the Old Skull is one
enemies of the Zhentarim interlopers who sought to of the larger buildings in Shadowdale, and it is easily
conquer the area, and bands of adventurers looking to recognized due to the light pouring from its taproom
explore Cormanthor or venture into the Underdark. windows at night. It is a blocky structure, not lovely
Locals use the Skull as their unofficial town hall, and or impressive to look at, but it stands against the wind
the inn serves as a rumor mill for many outside the and rain, and that is all its customers ask.
environs of Shadowdale as well as those within it.
P eople to M eet
L ocation and As the center of local life for Shadowdale, the Old
Description Skull sees all manner of visitors. Like any inn or
tavern, its taproom has regular patrons and core staff.
Situated where the Shadowdale Trail meets the North
Ride and named after the massive granite outcrop-
ping in whose shadow it rests, the inn is a haven for The Staff
adventurers, a center of social activity, and a fine The Old Skull is run by Ghessla Silvermane, her sons
stop for travelers crossing the Dalelands in either Xurxo, Breigo, and Glaun, and the long-serving staff
direction. Because the inn has good food, reasonable of the inn.
prices, a good staff, and warm beds, many agree that Ghessla Silvermane: The owner of the Old Skull
the inn is a quality establishment. looks older than forty-nine, her hair having turned a
In addition to meals and lodging, the Old Skull shining silver-gray a full decade ago. She is interested
offers to stable and shoe horses at its stables (which in her family’s welfare, the reputation and success of
are separated from the main building to prevent her inn, the well-being of Shadowdale, and little else.
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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The Old Skull Inn
Ghessla is well aware of the inn’s history as a haven and helps drunks get from their tables to their rooms and meals to eat. Dogsbreath has a habit of making
for Shadowdale’s defenders against the Zhentarim, (if they have coin enough to cover the nightly cost), to up tales about dangers he has seen while wandering
and she is proud of that history. The eldest Silvermane the stables (if they have some coin, but not enough for about the town during the day, but he can seldom be
does her best to preserve the tradition of the Old Skull a room), or to the door (if they have no money left). trusted if he is attempting to swindle a better meal
and its reputation as the beating heart of Shadowdale. The only time he speaks to patrons is when they have than the slop Thrad brings him for supper.
She has been keeping a register of possible recruits failed to pay their bills. Halvar of the Dales: Gathering, selling, and cre-
for the Harpers in the hope that the group will again Breigo Silvermane (Hostler and Blacksmith): ating rumors is the sacred duty of Halvar of the Dales.
defend the Dales. The middle son of Ghessla’s brood is the shrewdest When he can’t find caravan guards or traveling mer-
Glaun Silvermane (Cook): All of seventeen, of the bunch, and he has determined that he is better chants willing to share stories of other lands or new
Ghessla’s youngest son is the head cook of the Old served minding the stables and the small forge than discoveries in nearby Cormanthor Forest, he manu-
Skull’s kitchen, and he relishes his position. Happi- dealing directly with the running of the Old Skull. factures his own. More than once, Ghessla has had to
est when standing at a roaring fire and wielding a He arrives in the taproom at dusk each day, watching defend his right to spin his tales, cautioning that fools
freshly sharpened knife, Glaun is known for his abil- for arriving guests and offering to stable their horses, who pick up dropped coins should not complain that
ity to turn even the least appealing picks of meat into or to feed their mounts if they will not be staying. they are false.
something delicious. When not preparing an ordered Lestari (Barmaid): A girl of twenty, Lestari Sehir Vugar: Seven days out of every ten, this
meal, Glaun is usually trying to figure out how to spends her hours at the inn serving drinks cheerfully slim, agreeable-looking man watches for adventur-
get a usable cut of flesh from an animal hunted and with smiles galore. Although the whole staff is ers and other travelers from whom he can purchase
and donated by one of the patrons, or practicing his protective of her, Thrad in particular watches over “interestingly acquired”—that is, stolen or tomb-
knife-throwing. her and steps in to assist her as needed—but only at looted—goods. This fence does not make much coin,
Xurxo Silvermane (Server): The eldest of the Lestari’s request. Otherwise, she handles overly flirta- but he does use his softly stated profession as a handy
Silvermane boys, Xurxo is responsible for running tious patrons herself. cover for his true role in the dale: He is a Zhentarim
the family’s farms north of the inn, and he spends his spy, gathering information on the town for the Black
days supervising the hired hands. In the evenings, he
carries meals to patrons until he grows tired, takes
The Regulars Network, which has long held Shadowdale as a
desired prize. Sehir knows of Ghessla’s hatred of the
his supper, and heads to bed. Several folk make the Old Skull their primary gather- Zhentarim and is seeking a way of leaving the dale
After enduring two seasons of attacks from the ing place, source of meals, or even home. before she learns of his affiliation.
hills, he has lost most of his herd to unknown crea- Khara Sulwood: The great-granddaughter of the
tures. Xurxo has struggled to maintain the supply former Lord of Shadowdale, Doust Sulwood, and
for Glaun’s kitchen and is secretly supplementing his his wife (and fellow Knight of Myth Drannor), Islif
stores with beef purchased from nearby farmers, who Lurelake, Khara spends many evenings at the Old
Skull, watching its inhabitants for opportunities and Adventures At the
tease him mercilessly about the fine quality of the
allies that will help her prove her worth as a future Old Skull
stew meat. He has been trying to convince his friend
Thrad that he should join him in the fields rather ruler of the dale. Khara does not make any indication Looking for some adventure around the Old Skull
than serving at the inn, but thus far has had no suc- of her ambitions, preferring to discuss the history of Inn? Want to learn more about Khara Sulwood and
cess. Xurxo hopes that Thrad will help him look into Shadowdale, the Twisted Tower, or the dale’s former the future of Shadowdale? Check out the upcom-
the disappearance of his livestock, but he keeps a drow rulers. ing season of D&D Encounters™, Web of the Spider
sharp eye for adventuring bands that might be better Old Dogsbreath: A lifelong resident of Shadow- Queen™, by Logan Bonner, starting May 16 at local
equipped for the task. dale, Old Dogsbreath has earned his name due to gaming stores. For more information about where to
Thrad (Server): Tall, broad-shouldered, and poor hygiene and advanced age. With few friends and find a D&D Encounters game, visit the D&D website.
silent, Thrad carries trays and plates from the kitchen no means of supporting himself through work, he
depends on Ghessla’s charity to have a place to sleep
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Lost: One heart, slightly used and tread upon. Last seen About the Author
in the ungrateful possession of Lestari, of late employed at Brian Cortijo is a freelance game designer who plays about
the Old Skull. If found, please post notice here, and discard in the Forgotten Realms entirely far too often. His recent
respectfully. I have no further need of it. credits include “Swords of State” and “Crowns and Mantles”
from Dragon 407, and “Cormyr Royale” in Dungeon 198.
A local boy, Batun, is hopelessly smitten with
Lestari, and this is his latest attempt to win her Editor
affections. Miranda Horner
To Hire: Strong hands with broad backs to carry and split Managing Editor
wood of mornings, and to haul bushels and barrels in Kim Mohan
afternoons. Good pay and free meals. Employment by the Development and Editing Lead
tenday or longer. Inquire with Xurxo at the Silvermane Jeremy Crawford
farms, or leave word at the Old Skull.
Xurxo always needs more help at the family’s Senior Producer
Christopher Perkins
farms, and he replaces this notice every two months
or so, after it has been torn down by someone seeking Producers
work. Greg Bilsland, Stan!
Art Director
Kate Irwin
Illustrator
Jason Juta
Cartographer
Kyle Hunter
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Traps of
Undermountain
By Matt Sernett
Illustrations by Victoria Maderna
It’s In The Cards
The Halls of Undermountain™ supplement presents The original The Ruins of Undermountain boxed set
adventures set in the first level of the infamous dun- included eight cards, each roughly the size of half a
geon and offers resources to inspire your creations sheet of paper. Every card was crammed full of text
when filling in the blank areas of the sprawling com- describing elements of Undermountain that weren’t
plex. This article presents ideas for how you might in the set’s books: treasure tables, “dungeon dressing”
use traps to create or add challenges to encounters in tables, and traps galore. Indeed, traps and various
Undermountain. lures occupy both sides of six of the cards. This article
As the largest and most devious dungeon in attempts to capture the essence of those traps and
Faerûn, Undermountain has always been littered translate them into the current rules.
with traps of all kinds. The mad wizard Halaster
placed and reset many of them for centuries, and
they still exist. His apprentices, as well as successive
generations of dungeon dwellers, set countless others. M aking T raps
Traps in Undermountain take all forms, magical and
nonmagical, simple and elaborate. They exist not only Work for You
to guard places but also to test dungeon delvers or You can deal with traps in your game in two ways: d20
simply to amuse their creators with the manner by rolls or investigation. If you and your players have a
which they kill or injure. great time rolling skill checks and breezing through
You should generally be careful not to use traps a trap scenario, all you likely need are the check DCs
without good reason—you risk annoying players and and what happens if the characters fail the checks. But
forcing them to second-guess each step their charac- if a player starts asking questions about how the trap
ters take—but Undermountain is an exception. The works, or a character pulls out a bag of flour and starts
players and their characters should know what they blowing it around to look for cracks, you’re in an inves-
are facing when they enter, and they should expect tigation scenario. The investigation might also involve
the worst. skill checks, but you might not need to roll any dice to
resolve how events turn out.
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Before you start playing through the investiga- tips over a bucket of sand that slowly empties into a sets the trap mechanism in motion. For example, a
tion of a trap, you need to give some thought to how lower bucket attached to a lever, pushing the lever bar might rise through the door to the ceiling where
the trap works. You can find great advice for how to down. When the lever is fully depressed, the door to it presses the release for a panel above the doorstep
design and use traps in Dungeon Master’s Guide 2 and the niche opens and signals the skeleton to go out into to drop a stone block, a green slime, or some other
in the “Trapped!” article in Dungeon 366. the hall, lift the pressure plate, pull and reattach the unpleasant thing on the person attempting to open
When the characters investigate an area or an chain, and replace the locking plate. It then returns to the door.
object they suspect is trapped, you should have an the niche and pours the sand out of the lower bucket Contact Poison: Contact poison is common on
idea of the trap’s mechanism and appearance, even if into the bucket above, thus closing the door behind it. doorknobs. Wearing gloves while opening a door pro-
the dice determine that the party avoids the danger. Knowing this kind of detail lets you offer the vides safety, but an unwitting person might run into
If you know the oblong flagstone is springy under- characters multiple ways to interact with the trap. trouble later when removing the gloves, or if gloved
foot or that the handle of the door pulls away when Maybe they discover the niche and the skeleton but hands touch bare flesh.
tugged, and why, then you can describe that detail to not the pressure plate, leaving them to wonder about Trapped Lock: Poisoned needles and gas-filled
the players and make the trap seem more real. the buckets. Perhaps they fall victim to the trap, and bladders can ward a door’s lock against picking. The
Here’s an example: A pressure plate under a flag- when they return soon afterward, they catch the skel- danger issues from tiny holes around the lock or a
stone in the floor might have a hook under it that eton in the act of resetting it. camouflaged cover that slides aside. Using the right
holds a weighted chain in place. When the flagstone Another possibility is one creature that is respon- key avoids all danger, but the probing and fiddling
is depressed, the hook comes free of the chain, the sible for resetting traps throughout an area. This necessary to pick a lock presses on its teeth, releasing
weight falls, and the other end of the chain pulls on situation lets you add a colorful character to your an interior spring and setting off the trap. Even when
a lever, which might squeeze a bladder of poison gas dungeon, such as a kobold trap master. The adven- detected, such a trap is difficult to avoid when pick-
or release a blade to swing out of the wall. Avoiding turers could capture and interrogate or befriend ing the lock—set it off from a distance unless you can
the pressure plate or wedging something under it and the unusually clever fellow so that they can bypass block the holes or the plate.
through the chain might circumvent such a trap. dangers. Perhaps an intelligent undead creature has Break-Warded Door: The door has interior hol-
Even when designing magic traps instead of been commanded to set and reset traps in a tomb: lows that contain poison gas or a captured ooze.
mechanical ones, you should know what causes them The crotchety engineer might not like the fact that Attempting to smash open the door ruptures the
to work. How does the lightning-throwing statue he was killed and raised as a mummy, but he is magi- cavity and unleashes its contents on the smasher.
“know” not to attack the normal denizens of the cally compelled to perform his duties. In a wizard’s Door-Close Trigger: The trap goes off when the
dungeon, or a passing rat? If it can’t tell the differ- tower, an aspiring apprentice, a simpering familiar, or door closes instead of when someone attempts to
ence between creatures that come near it, then clues a magically summoned and bound devil might have open it. In this case, some part of the frame around
should reveal the trap’s presence—scorch marks, fried this responsibility. the door is a trigger, such as a metal contact or a hair-
carcasses, and perhaps the small of ozone. thin spring. When the door swings shut and hits the
P erilous Portals trigger, the trap activates. For example, the trigger
Repeat Performances Not every door in Undermountain presents a danger,
trips a hidden wire that releases tension-held daggers
or crossbow bolts from a wall facing the door. The
Once you know how a trap works, you should but enough do that any door should warrant caution trap can be avoided by pushing down a hidden button
consider how it resets itself or becomes reset. In on the part of the adventurers. The ideas below are in the frame that keeps the trigger in place. Simply
Undermountain, a trap might magically animate and intended to inspire your trap design. For some special blocking the door open is often sufficient to circum-
reset itself, but otherwise something or someone has door traps unique to Undermountain, see “Nadrun’s vent the trap.
to come along and do the work. In the example of Doors” on the next page. False Handle: The door’s handle or knob is a trig-
the pressure plate and chain from above, perhaps a Trick Knob: Some doors have a knob that must be ger. It rests loosely in a socket and comes free when
skeleton hides behind a secret panel in a nearby wall. turned the right way or a certain number of times to someone pulls on it, perhaps releasing a wire that
When the trap is triggered, the chain’s movement avoid triggering a trap. Turning the knob incorrectly
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Traps of Undermountain
Magic Gate Level 8 Trap Portal of Powerlessness Level 11 Trap Reanimation Doorway Level Varies Trap
Object XP 350 Object XP 600 Object XP Varies
Detect Perception or Arcana DC 24 Initiative — Detect Perception or Arcana DC 27 Initiative — Detect Perception or Arcana DC (hard) Initiative —
Immune attacks Immune attacks Immune attacks
Triggered Actions Triggered Actions Triggered Actions
R Attack (teleportation) F Encounter R Attack F At-Will R Effect F Daily
Trigger: A creature passes through the doorway without Trigger: A creature passes through the doorway. Trigger: The corpse of a creature of a level up to the trap’s
saying the password or carrying the appropriate symbol. Attack (Opportunity Action): Ranged 1 (the triggering crea- level + 3 passes through the doorway.
Attack (Immediate Reaction): Ranged 1 (the triggering crea- ture); +14 vs. Will Effect (Immediate Reaction): Ranged 1 (the triggering
ture); +11 vs. Will Hit: The target is weakened (save ends). While it is weak- corpse); the target animates as an undead creature
Hit: The target is teleported to a location determined when ened, if the target uses a daily attack power or encounter hostile to all other creatures. This creature has half the
the door was placed. attack power, it is stunned until the end of its next turn. original creature’s full normal hit points, is immune to
Countermeasures Miss: The target is weakened (save ends). necrotic damage and poison damage, and gains the
F Avoid: Arcana (trained only) DC 24. Success: The charac- Countermeasures undead keyword. It has all the other statistics of the origi-
ter understands the password or the symbol needed to F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 27. Suc- nal creature and can make basic attacks, but the only
bypass the trap. cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the powers it can use are the original creature’s at-will attack
F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 24. Suc- trap. Failure (22 or lower): The character triggers the trap. powers. The target remains animated for 1d6 + 4 rounds
cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the or until it drops to 0 hit points.
trap. Failure (19 or lower): The character triggers the trap. Countermeasures
Negation Portal Level 8 Trap
F Discover: Arcana (trained only) DC 24. Success: From F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery, both DC
Object XP 350
magic symbols on the doorway, the character learns the (hard). Success: The character defaces the right runes
Detect Perception or Arcana DC 24 Initiative —
direction and distance to the location where the gate to disarm the trap. Failure (by 5 or more): The character
Immune attacks
sends a creature. takes 8 + the trap’s level necrotic damage.
Triggered Actions
R Attack F At-Will
Fearsome Portal Level 4 Trap Trigger: A creature passes through the doorway without Blinding Portal Level 5 Trap
Object XP 175 saying the password or carrying the appropriate symbol. Object XP 200
Detect Perception or Arcana DC 21 Initiative — Attack (Opportunity Action): Ranged 1 (the triggering crea- Detect Perception or Arcana DC 22 Initiative —
Immune attacks ture); +11 vs. Will. This attack is not apparent to the Immune attacks
Triggered Actions target. Triggered Actions
C Attack (fear) F Encounter Hit: The powers of any magic items the target carries R Attack F At-Will
Trigger: A living creature enters a square within 2 squares cannot be activated for 1 hour. The effect becomes Trigger: A creature passes through the doorway without
of the trapped side of the doorway. apparent only when a creature attempts to activate a saying the password or carrying the appropriate symbol.
Attack (Immediate Reaction): Close blast 3 (creatures in the magic item power of an affected item. Attack (Opportunity Action): Ranged 1 (the triggering crea-
blast); +7 vs. Will Countermeasures ture); +8 vs. Will
Hit: The target can take only move actions and standard F Avoid: Arcana (trained only) DC 24. Success: The charac- Hit: The target is blinded (save ends).
actions, and it must use these actions to move away from ter understands the password or the symbol needed to First Failed Saving Throw: The target is also dazed (save
the doorway (save ends). bypass the trap. ends both).
Miss: The target cannot move toward the doorway (save F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 24. Suc- Countermeasures
ends). cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the F Avoid: Arcana (trained only) DC 22. Success: The charac-
Countermeasures trap. Failure (19 or lower): The character triggers the trap. ter understands the password or the symbol needed to
F Disarm: Thievery DC 14. Success: The character wedges bypass the trap.
closed the sliding panel that reveals the doorway’s F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 22. Suc-
hidden magical symbol of fear, disarming the trap. cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the
trap. Failure (17 or lower): The character triggers the trap.
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Traps of Undermountain
Dreaming Door Level 1 Trap Forced Lightning Door Level 7 Trap Dread Portal Level 13 Trap
Object XP 100 Object XP 300 Object XP 800
Detect Perception or Arcana DC 19 Initiative — Detect Perception or Arcana DC 23 Initiative — Detect Perception or Arcana DC 29 Initiative —
Immune attacks Immune attacks Immune attacks
Triggered Actions Triggered Actions Triggered Actions
R Attack (charm) F At-Will C Attack (lightning) F Encounter M Attack (necrotic) F At-Will
Trigger: A creature passes through the doorway. Trigger: The door is opened without the proper key or Trigger: A creature touches the door or the doorway with
Attack (Opportunity Action): Ranged 1 (the triggering crea- password. anything other than the proper key.
ture); +4 vs. Will Attack (Immediate Reaction): Close burst 2 (creatures in the Attack (Immediate Reaction): Melee 1 (the triggering crea-
Hit: The target is dazed (save ends). While dazed, the burst); +10 vs. Reflex ture); +16 vs. Fortitude
target receives a vision chosen by the doorway’s creator. Hit: 3d6 + 4 lightning damage, and the target is dazed Hit: Ongoing 15 necrotic damage, and the target is weak-
(Halaster favors images of treasure, laughing liches, or (save ends). ened (save ends both).
beautiful, kiss-blowing females of his acquaintance.) Miss: Half damage. Miss: Ongoing 10 necrotic damage (save ends).
Countermeasures Countermeasures Effect
F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 19. Suc- F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 23. Suc- Trigger: The door in the doorway is broken or otherwise
cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the destroyed.
trap. Failure (14 or lower): The character triggers the trap. trap. Failure (18 or lower): The trap attacks. Effect (No Action): An oblivion wraith (Open Grave, page
193) appears and attacks whoever destroyed the door.
Countermeasures
Mirroring Portal Level 11 Trap Summoning Portal Level Varies Trap
Object XP 600 Object XP Varies
F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 29. Suc-
cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the
Detect Perception or Arcana DC 27 Initiative — Special: The trap is of a level equal to the level of the monster
trap. Failure (24 or lower): The character triggers the trap.
Immune attacks it summons.
Triggered Actions Detect Perception or Arcana DC (hard) Initiative —
Effect (illusion, lightning) F Encounter Immune attacks
Trigger: A creature passes through the doorway without Triggered Actions
saying the password or carrying the appropriate symbol. Effect F Encounter
Effect: One minute after the triggering creature passes Trigger: The door’s beast-head knocker is used to knock on
through the doorway, 1d4 illusory duplicates of the crea- the door.
ture emerge from the doorway and unerringly follow Effect: At the start of the second round after someone trig-
the creature. Each duplicate has the same defenses and gers the trap, it summons a standard monster of its level.
speed as the triggering creature, and one-quarter of its The monster appears in the doorway and is hostile to all
hit points. The duplicates move toward the triggering other creatures. If the door is closed, it flies back open
creature and can enter its space. If a duplicate enters the as if the summoned monster had opened the door. The
triggering creature’s space, the duplicate vanishes and monster remains for 5 rounds, and then it vanishes.
the triggering creature takes 2d6 lightning damage and is Countermeasures
dazed until the end of its next turn. F Disarm: Thievery DC (hard). Two Successes: The charac-
Countermeasures ter removes the knocker without sounding it. Failure (by
F Avoid: Arcana (trained only) DC 27. Success: The charac- 5 or more): The character triggers the trap.
ter understands the password or the symbol needed to
bypass the trap.
F Disarm: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 27. Suc-
cess: The character defaces the right runes to disarm the
trap. Failure (22 or lower): The character triggers the trap.
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Water: A pit might be filled with water or some inhabitants magically. A gelatinous cube or a green
other liquid. Unless the pit is very deep, falling in slime makes for a devilish inhabitant, since a crea-
water should deal little damage. Instead, the danger ture that falls into the pit lands inside the ooze (likely
could come from an inhabitant in the water (see becoming engulfed). An inhabitant might be its own
below) or a closing lid that seals victims in without air encounter, or you can adjust the trap’s level according
(see “Starvation, Thirst, and Suffocation,” Rules Com- to the level of the creature it holds.
pendium, page 180). The level of the trap depends on False-Trap Bait: This sort of pit trap uses the
your needs and the damage it deals. characters’ suspicion to catch them. An area of floor
Harmful Liquids: A pit filled with a harmful liquid, is obviously unusual; it might be discolored, slightly
such as acid or lava, might lessen falling damage as raised or depressed, or have a special pattern on it.
water does but deal ongoing damage to a creature The true danger is in the area that borders the seem-
that falls in. The simplest way to model such a pit is to ing trap—a hidden or disguised deadfall, for example.
replace the usual falling damage with initial damage A character who takes the bait tries to skirt the
for entering the liquid. The rest of the trap’s damage danger, falling victim to the hidden pit. In a narrow
consists of ongoing damage whenever the creature ends passage, the trap might not be in the floor but a wall
its turn in the liquid. For example, a level 3 acid-filled that pivots to tip an area of floor and dump someone
pit might deal 1d10 initial acid damage to a creature into a pit or other hazard behind the wall.
that falls in, and then 1d10 acid damage at the end of Ram: A pit trap need not be hidden to be a danger.
each turn thereafter until the creature escapes. Instead, a creature that moves within a given distance
A closing lid over a pit filled with harmful liquid from an open pit is shoved in by a lever- or spring-
is much more dangerous than such a lid over water. activated ram. The trap has the same attack bonus
A creature that doesn’t die from the ongoing damage and check DCs as the pit would, but they apply to
is likely to succumb to suffocation more quickly. the ram mechanism instead. In addition to causing
This danger is enough to increase the trap’s level and forced movement, the ram’s impact might also deal
attack bonus by 1. some of the trap’s damage.
Moving: Halaster has enchanted some pits as Reverse Pit: Some pits might not drop creatures
extradimensional spaces that can travel throughout but instead fling them up to hit the ceiling or fall
Undermountain. Some pits teleport from place to place, from a great distance. Assign damage as you would
appearing in regular locations to collect victims before for a normal pit trap, substituting the distance to the
moving on. Others slide about the halls like living crea- ceiling (or to the flight’s apex) for the depth of the pit.
tures. One moving space might replace another one, so Reverse Gravity: Some of these traps use magic to
that opening what seems to be the same pit a second make creatures fall up instead of down, so be sure to
time reveals a new danger. Whatever the case, the pit include an Arcana check for discovering and disarm-
should require a hard, trained-only Arcana check to ing them. You can use reverse gravity effects in all sorts
disable its mobility (at least temporarily). of inventive ways. For example, the effect might turn
Inhabited: The danger of a pit might not be on or off upon impact, causing a repeating cycle of fall-
only the fall but also a creature that hides within. ing up and down (until someone moves the victim out).
Such inhabitants should be able to exist for a long Ejector Plate: An ejector plate uses mechanical
time without food (or even air), although Halaster is energy instead of magic. A spring or a lever propels a
certainly capable of creating pits that sustain their creature that stands on a triggering plate.
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Traps of Undermountain
Editor
Punishment Arm Level 1 Trap Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
Object XP 100
Detect automatic Initiative — Managing Editor
HP 25 Kim Mohan
AC 13, Fortitude 10, Reflex 13, Will —
Immune necrotic, poison, psychic, forced movement, all con- Development and Editing Lead
ditions, ongoing damage Jeremy Crawford
Traits
Recess Senior Producer
The attacking arm of the trap waits in an open and obvious
Christopher Perkins
recess adjacent to the trapped square. The recess provides
Producers
the arm with superior cover.
Greg Bilsland, Stan!
Regeneration (healing)
The arm regains 5 hit points whenever it starts a round Senior Creative Director
and has at least 1 hit point. If the arm attacks or has a crea- Jon Schindehette
ture grabbed during a given round, its regeneration does
not function until the end of the next round. Art Director
Triggered Actions Kate Irwin
M Attack F At-Will
Trigger: A creature enters the trapped square or starts its Illustrator
turn there without saying the password or carrying the Victoria Maderna
proper item.
Attack (Opportunity Action): Melee 1 (the triggering crea- Digital Studio Consultant
ture); +6 vs. AC Dan Helmick
Hit: 1d8 + 3 damage, and the target is grabbed (escape DC
Publishing Production Manager
12). While grabbing a creature, the arm can attack only
Angie Lokotz
that creature.
Countermeasures
F Delay: Arcana (trained only) or Thievery DC 19. Suc-
cess: The arm cannot emerge from its recess until the
end of the encounter. Failure (14 or lower): The charac-
ter triggers the trap.
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The Ecology of the
Vegepygmy
By Teos Abadia
Illustration by Nicole Cardiff
Five brave heroes went forth to examine the disturbance the fiery crash of one of these plane-shifting vessels
that had spawned so many fell beasts. Only Eswen sometimes brings vegepygmies to a world.
returned, and she nearly insane. Accompanying her was a The first recorded appearance of vegepygmies
short creature most strange, made of plant and too primi- coincides with a long-ago cometfall. Many previously
tive to speak. It watched over her, but on the day Eswen unknown creatures were observed in the vicin-
finally passed, it departed into the Dim Forest. It was never ity, lending credibility to theories of an extraplanar
seen again. origin. How the creatures survive such cataclysmic
— From the records of Yuleth, events is unknown.
Servant of Azmekidom, Grand Duchy of Geoff
E nvironment
A plant creature that shuns civilized lands, the
vegepygmy is often incomprehensible to other sen- Regardless of origin, a tribe of vegepygmies splits and
tient beings. The creatures’ diminutive size, bizarre migrates from its initial location after reaching suf-
appearance, and crude ways belie a vicious nature— ficient size. Each group travels to a safe place that can
as well as the ability of vegepygmies to forever support its numbers, settling in a moist cavern near
change those who meet them. the surface, a wet forest, or, more rarely, a swamp.
This process continues indefinitely, with the tribe
Origins splitting and some individuals moving on whenever it
becomes too large for its current location.
Some sages claim that vegepygmies are spawned Migrations are conducted in secret, under cover
when shooting stars or comets crash down from of darkness, in dense forests, or below ground. A
the skies. Such celestial events have caused some to migrating tribe never travels close to civilized areas.
speculate that vegepygmies are divine in origin, sent Each migration is as short in distance as possible. The
by the gods to serve some purpose. Many scholars creatures seek only a suitable food supply and proper
disagree with this theory, since no divination magic shelter, while being able to avoid dangerous creatures
has been able to link these creatures to any deity. (including other humanoids).
Those who are aware of the existence of spelljammers
(Manual of the Planes, pages 20 and 159) postulate that
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
P hysiology Reproduction
Vegepygmies lack gender and have no obvious repro-
Vegepygmy History Vegepygmies are humanoid in shape and vary in
ductive organs. Instead, they reproduce much as
height from 2 feet to 4½ feet. Their muscular frames
The vegepygmy first appeared in Gary Gygax’s some plants do. The larger ones split in half when
are tightly covered with skin consisting of plant
classic AD&D adventure, S3 Expedition to the they die, creating new individuals that are similar to
matter. A vegepygmy’s face has a large wrinkled
Barrier Peaks. The adventure’s premise was that a the original but smaller. This process seems to hand
mouth with pursed lips, and its large, lidless, oval-
spaceship crash-landed in the Duchy of Geoff, in down memories from previous generations, helping to
shaped eyes gather light remarkably well. A subtle
the World of Greyhawk® campaign setting. The create a more cohesive tribe.
ridge replaces the nose and is sometimes missing
spaceship was a section of a much larger vessel, Some vegepygmies release clouds of rust-colored
altogether. Thin, long leaves and tendrils resembling
cast off decades earlier in hopes of preventing the spores, which give rise to the hazardous terrain
hair cover the shoulders and arms, hang from the
spread of a deadly plague. Though the crew per- known as russet mold (see below). This spore pro-
abdomen, and are gathered into a topknot on the
ished and the plague died out, a large number of duction increases during certain periods, creating
creature’s head. The tendrils wave strangely, as if
alien creatures and robots remained at the crash patches of russet mold throughout the tribe’s lair.
moved by an unfelt wind. Vegepygmies’ hands are
site. Many new monsters were introduced for the A living nonplant creature that comes into con-
relatively strong and end in hard, thornlike claws.
first time in this adventure, the vegepygmy being tact with or inhales the spores can become infected,
Some individuals have mottled gray skin with
one of the most memorable. slowly transforming into plantlike material. This is a
black tendrils, and others feature splotches of green
Vegepygmies sprang from the remains of painful process, weakening and draining the creature
color and brown tendrils. These distinct colorations
humans and other creatures altered by radia- until it dies, giving rise to a new vegepygmy.
separate vegepygmies into tribes and generally
tion (and radioactive russet mold). Hordes of the dictate their habitat. Gray-black vegepygmies live
creatures in two different tribes awaited explor- underground, while green-brown ones inhabit forests. Russet Mold
ers. Their chieftains were formidable opponents, A vegepygmy’s coloration matches its favored terrain, Vegepygmy spores released into the air eventually
especially because they wielded alien technology. making it all but invisible to potential prey. settle to form a rust-colored patch with a lumpy tex-
The vegepygmy (or mold man) was later an The creatures are completely unharmed by light- ture resembling that of cold porridge. The surface is
entry in the original AD&D Monster Manual II ning, which passes through them and dissipates covered in wispy growths that move in the wind and
and in the 2nd Edition Monstrous Compendium. within the ground. As plant creatures with primitive discharge more spores into the air. A successful DC
Before this article, the latest incarnation of the brains, vegepygmies are also not susceptible to charm 15 Dungeoneering or Nature check allows a charac-
vegepygmy appeared in the Famine in Far-Go™ effects. ter to identify russet mold.
expansion for the D&D® Gamma World™ Role- Effect: Any nonplant creature that starts its turn
playing Game. in a square of russet mold must make a saving throw
at the end of the encounter. If the saving throw fails,
the target contracts russet mold contagion (stage 1).
If a square of russet mold takes any acid damage
or radiant damage, it is destroyed. The Cure Disease
ritual also destroys russet mold. Divide the result of
the Heal check made for the ritual by 5 to determine
the number of squares cleared (minimum 1 square).
The affected squares must be within 10 squares of
the ritual’s performer.
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
Russet Mold Contagion Level 5 Disease Behavior and Culture Green-brown vegepygmies favor forest habitats and
are primarily carnivorous. They generally ally with
Those infected sprout red-brown mold that transforms tissue
into plant matter. A victim’s death gives rise to a plant crea- Vegepygmies demonstrate minimal intelligence. thornies (see “Enemies and Allies”) and are slightly
ture known as a vegepygmy. Their primitive culture revolves around finding food more aggressive than other vegepygmies. A tribe with
Stage 0: The target recovers from the disease. and growing the tribe. The creatures care little for this coloration has a larger population of hunters.
Stage 1: While affected by stage 1, the target exhibits patches the quality of food—they eat meat and plant matter Gray-black vegepygmies live predominantly
of red-brown mold and tendrils over 10 percent of the body, alike, even if it is raw or going to rot. A tribe is highly underground, are primarily vegetarian, and associate
and the target loses a healing surge.
aggressive and territorial, even turning against with fungi as both crops and allies (especially shriek-
Stage 2: While affected by stage 2, the target’s skin becomes
green or brown, resembling plant matter. The target loses
another tribe when food supplies dwindle. ers; see below). They are slightly less violent than
two healing surges and takes a –2 penalty to AC, Fortitude, green-brown vegepygmies, and a tribe usually con-
and Will.
Stage 3: While affected by stage 3, the target’s skin is altered
Tribal Roles tains a large number of scavengers.
Tribes of different colorations rely on different
as in stage 2, and its hair changes to resemble plantlike Vegepygmies live in tribes consisting of thirty to fifty resources and are less likely to compete against each
tendrils. The target loses all healing surges, cannot regain individuals. Once a tribe’s population exceeds this other. Thus, they can live in the same area and might
hit points, and takes a –2 penalty to AC, Fortitude, Will, and range, it splits into two groups, with at least one migrat- unite against a common foe.
Constitution-based ability and skill checks. The target still ing to a new home. A given tribe has a single chief,
makes Endurance checks against the disease, but the stage always the largest member, that usually lives alone and
cannot decrease even on a successful check. If the target dies
while at this stage, a vegepygmy hunter (see below) emerges
claims any treasure the tribe finds. Subchiefs or a sha- Communication
in its former space.
manic witch doctor sometimes help the chief impose Having only a rudimentary vocal apparatus, most
Check: At the end of each extended rest, the target makes an order. Hunters and scavengers supply the tribe’s food. vegepygmies lack the ability to speak. They issue
Endurance check. Hunters set up ambushes to secure fresh meat. sharp grunts only out of great urgency, fear, or rage.
10 or Lower: The stage of the disease increases by 1. If at They also coordinate the tribe’s defenses and con- Most of the time they communicate through a system
stage 3, the target dies. duct raids against strong foes. Hunters create simple of chest thumps and slaps.
11–14: No change. wooden or stone weapons such as clubs, axes, spears, Some evidence suggests that vegepygmies can
15 or Higher: The stage of the disease decreases by 1.
and javelins. Scavengers search for decomposed learn a language. Scraps of metal bearing strange
matter to use as fertilizer for the edible moss and inscriptions have been found in some tribes’ treasure
A vegepygmy that comes to life in this way from
fungi they grow. They also collect carrion to supple- pits. Perhaps the creatures lost the ability to use lan-
an adventurer’s corpse usually retains none of that
ment the tribe’s diet. Scavengers seldom use weapons, guage long ago but could regain it through ancestral
character’s memories, and it is likely to flee from the
preferring their thorny claws. memories passed on during the reproductive process.
others. However, you can modify this situation to suit
Regardless of station, all vegepygmies hold as sacred The members of the tribe most likely to have the
your campaign. The new vegepygmy could recognize
the duty of expanding the tribe through their death. ability to speak are the chief and the witch doctor.
its former companions and bond with the party. At
They celebrate ancestors who have given rise to many
your discretion, it might even be able to speak.
generations of tribe members, and they shun individuals
that refuse to offer their lives and help the tribe grow.
Religion
Vegepygmies’ religious practices are centered on cer-
tain objects that are considered to be sacred relics.
Coloration Some of these relics are made of unknown materi-
The variety in vegepygmy coloration seems to corre- als, and a few are dangerous weapons. No one knows
late with several cultural and ecological differences, what gods or ancient powers might have created these
likely due to distinctive qualities of the preferred hab- items, but they seem to be fickle: The sacred relics
itat for each group. have led to the death of many a chief.
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
Vegepygmy Hunter Level 4 Brute Vegepygmy Chief Level 6 Brute (Leader) Vegepygmy Witch Doctor Level 5 Controller
Small natural humanoid (plant) XP 175 Small natural humanoid (plant) XP 250 Small natural humanoid (plant) XP 200
HP 63; Bloodied 31 Initiative +6 HP 85; Bloodied 42 Initiative +6 HP 65; Bloodied 32 Initiative +4
AC 16, Fortitude 16, Reflex 17, Will 15 Perception +4 AC 18, Fortitude 19, Reflex 18, Will 18 Perception +11 AC 19, Fortitude 17, Reflex 16, Will 18 Perception +6
Speed 6 (forest walk) Low-light vision Speed 6 (forest walk) Low-light vision Speed 6 (forest walk) Low-light vision
Immune charm, lightning Immune charm, lightning Immune charm, lightning
Traits Traits Traits
Adaptive Coloration O Tribal Fury F Aura 2 Adaptive Coloration
If it has partial concealment, the hunter can make a Stealth Plant allies in the aura gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls. If it has partial concealment, the witch doctor can make a
check to become hidden. Adaptive Coloration Stealth check to become hidden.
Standard Actions If it has partial concealment, the chief can make a Stealth Standard Actions
m Handaxe (weapon) F At-Will check to become hidden. m Spear (weapon) F At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +9 vs. AC Standard Actions Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +10 vs. AC
Hit: 3d6 + 4 damage. m Spear (weapon) F At-Will Hit: 2d8 + 4 damage, and the target falls prone.
R Handaxe (weapon) F At-Will Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +11 vs. AC r Grasping Vine F At-Will
Attack: Range 10 (one creature); +9 vs. AC Hit: 2d8 + 8 damage. Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature); +8 vs. Reflex
Hit: 2d6 + 6 damage, and the target falls prone. Minor Actions Hit: 2d6 + 6 damage, and the target is slowed (save ends).
Triggered Actions C Commanding Chest Thump F Recharge 5 6 A Rampant Growth (poison) F Encounter
Vegepygmy Fission F Encounter Effect: Close burst 2 (one minion plant ally in the burst); the Attack: Area burst 1 within 10 (enemies in the burst); +8
Trigger: The hunter drops to 0 hit points. target can make a basic attack or charge as a free action. vs. Fortitude
Effect (No Action): One vegepygmy scavenger appears in the Triggered Actions Hit: 1d10 + 3 damage, and ongoing 5 poison damage and
hunter’s former space. This scavenger is worth 0 XP, and M Chest Tendril Riposte F Recharge when first bloodied the target is immobilized (save ends both).
it acts on the hunter’s initiative count. Trigger: An enemy adjacent to the chief hits it with an Miss: Half damage, and the target is slowed (save ends).
Skills Athletics +10, Stealth +11 attack. Minor Actions
Str 16 (+5) Dex 18 (+6) Wis 14 (+4) Attack (Immediate Interrupt): Melee 1 (the triggering R Verdant Command F Encounter
Con 13 (+3) Int 6 (+0) Cha 8 (+1) enemy); +9 vs. Fortitude Effect: Ranged 10 (one nonminion plant ally or two minion
Alignment unaligned Languages — Hit: 2d6 + 7 damage, and the chief pushes the target up to plant allies); the target can shift 1 square and make a
Equipment 3 handaxes 2 squares. basic attack as a free action.
C Recolonize (poison, zone) F Encounter Triggered Actions
Trigger: The chief is first bloodied. Vegepygmy Fission F Encounter
Attack (No Action): Close burst 1 (nonplant creatures in the Trigger: The witch doctor drops to 0 hit points.
burst); +9 vs. Fortitude Effect (No Action): One vegepygmy scavenger appears in the
Hit: 2d8 + 7 poison damage, and the target is immobilized witch doctor’s former space. This scavenger is worth 0
(save ends). XP, and it acts on the witch doctor’s initiative count.
Effect: The burst creates a zone of russet mold terrain. Skills Athletics +8, Nature +11, Stealth +9
Skills Athletics +12, Stealth +11 Str 12 (+3) Dex 14 (+4) Wis 18 (+6)
Str 18 (+7) Dex 16 (+6) Wis 16 (+6) Con 17 (+5) Int 8 (+1) Cha 8 (+1)
Con 15 (+5) Int 7 (+1) Cha 10 (+3) Alignment unaligned Languages —
Alignment unaligned Languages — Equipment spear, totem
Equipment spear
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
Thorny
Medium natural beast (mount, plant)
Level 4 Soldier
XP 175
Gul’gek Gul’gek, Vegepygmy Companion
Small natural humanoid (plant)
Level 6 Leader
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The Ecology of the Vegepygmy
Developer
Chris Sims
Editor
Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
Managing Editor
Kim Mohan
Senior Producer
Christopher Perkins
Producers
Greg Bilsland, Stan!
Art Director
Kate Irwin
Illustrator
Nicole Cardiff
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
8
Far Realm Fiends
By Michael E. Shea
Illustration by Christopher Burdett
How can one look into a world of pure madness and ever
hope to recover? How can one define a place that shifts like
a thousand nightmares? How can one wrap one’s mind Your Own Far Realm
around the concept of time and space and thought crashing
The Far Realm is almost completely undefined—a
together into a universe of insanity? What creatures dare
space that transforms itself around the mortals who
we imagine within it? These are questions I do not ponder
enter it. This article suggests only one possible inter
for long, for I fear what answers I might find.
pretation. Build your own version of the Far Realm
—The Demonomicon of Iggwilv
around your characters and the story you all want to
tell. Whether your Far Realm consists of transported
The Far Realm is one of the last unexplored regions
ruins floating in an endless black void, a dream
of the multiverse—a place beyond reality. Few mortals
scape built from the memories of your characters, or
dare glimpse it and fewer still travel there; of those
strangeness from your own imagination, it can still
who do, hardly any return. Such adventurers who
include the challenges presented here.
want to survive dare not stay long. While there, they
might explore vast twisted ruins, face mutated enti-
ties banished from other planes, and battle native
beings beyond mortal comprehension. whose unearthly geometry is beyond definition.
To help you flesh out a campaign that takes char- Everyone who travels into the Far Realm has a dif-
acters into the Far Realm, this article presents you ferent tale, but all depict a place that assaults mortal
with several creatures and hazards, as well as advice sensibilities and reason.
and ideas for how to make the Far Realm your own. Entwined Space, Time, and Thought: Mortals
powerful enough to travel to the Far Realm find a
M any Descriptions, place that transcends physical, mental, and temporal
barriers. They might walk a path of a million years
O ne M adness or travel between shattered worlds with a thought.
Those who enter a rift into the Far Realm might
Sages who have spent their lives researching the Far return minutes later having aged hundreds of years.
Realm without going mad differ in their descriptions Others who undertake a short journey within the Far
of the place. Some see it as a vast emptiness devoid of Realm come back to find they have been gone for a
everything thought of as life. To others it is a swirling millennium. Here, the physical principles of time and
mass of sentience that births creatures more hor- space are ripped apart.
rible than any encountered in the known world. Still
others describe lost cities of temples and buildings
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Far Realm Fiends
Doom Hulk
Large aberrant humanoid
Level 27 Brute
XP 11,000
M ind Slasher
Why enter HP 306; Bloodied 153 Initiative +18 Slicing through the Far Realm like blades, mind
AC 39, Fortitude 40, Reflex 37, Will 39 Perception +18
the Far Realm? slashers hunt down and destroy any mortal foolish
Speed 7 Darkvision
Various quest lines might bring epic tier characters enough to step into their habitat. They are physi-
Resist 15 psychic
into the Far Realm. A companion might become Traits
cal manifestations of the Far Realm’s malevolence,
trapped in the twisted domain, requiring the adven O Nightmare Being (fear) F Aura 2 defending the pure chaos of their realm from infec-
turers to undertake a perilous rescue attempt. Enemies in the aura grant combat advantage. tion by any foreign threat.
Perhaps an item critical to the party is hidden in Standard Actions Mind slashers look like humanoid shadows
m Slam F At-Will built from razors of black steel, and their eyes blaze
a ruined keep pulled into the Far Realm by a mad Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +32 vs. AC
wizard. The adventurers might need to travel through brightly when their blade-like hands tear through
Hit: 3d8 + 22 damage, and the target falls prone.
a rift to reach a secret chamber that guards a pow their targets.
M Double Slam F At-Will
erful lich’s phylactery. Whatever story brings them Effect: The doom hulk uses slam twice.
to the Far Realm, it must be vast in both scale and C Fears Awakened (fear, psychic) F Recharge when first Mind Slasher Level 28 Skirmisher
bloodied Medium aberrant humanoid XP 13,000
importance. Few characters dream of entering such
Attack: Close burst 3 (enemies in the burst); +30 vs. Will HP 254; Bloodied 127 Initiative +26
a place. Make it matter when yours do.
Hit: 4d6 + 21 psychic damage, and the hulk slides the AC 42, Fortitude 39, Reflex 41, Will 40 Perception +19
target up to 5 squares. Speed 8 Darkvision
Miss: Half damage, and the hulk pushes the target up to Resist 15 psychic
2 squares. Standard Actions
Ancient Ruins and Solitary Chambers: The Far Move Actions m Psychic Slash (psychic) F At-Will
Spatial Leap (teleportation) F Encounter Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +31 vs. Will
Realm sometimes engulfs locales from other planes,
Effect: The hulk teleports up to 10 squares. Hit: 2d12 + 24 psychic damage. Then the target cannot
separating these locations forever from reality. Those Str 29 (+22) Dex 20 (+18) Wis 10 (+13) benefit from psychic immunity or resistance (save ends).
who travel within this weird place might encounter Con 26 (+21) Int 12 (+14) Cha 26 (+21) M Mind Pierce (psychic) F Recharge when first bloodied
the ruins of cities or keeps floating in a state of sus- Alignment chaotic evil Languages Deep Speech, Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +31 vs. Will
pended animation. As well, powerful wizards might telepathy 20 Hit: 2d10 + 24 psychic damage, and ongoing 20 psychic
build pocket worlds within the Far Realm, protected damage (save ends). Until the effect ends, the slasher is
and isolated from the multiverse by the depth of the invisible to the target.
void. Adventure locations could include the decayed Doom Hulks in Combat Miss: This power is not expended.
M Spatial Slash (teleportation) F Encounter
corpses of massive beings or fantastic structures A doom hulk initially appears as a large twisting Effect: The slasher uses psychic slash, teleports up to 5
twisted into amalgamations of their former design. shape of black tentacles but quickly transforms to rep- squares, and then uses psychic slash again.
resent the worst fear of one of its enemies. It pounds Move Actions
D oom Hulk a weaker foe with brutal blows while sending terrify- Spatial Warp (teleportation) F At-Will
Effect: The slasher teleports up to 5 squares.
ing visions into the minds of its target’s companions
The physiology of the doom hulk is difficult to Str 14 (+16) Dex 30 (+24) Wis 10 (+14)
to drive them away. When forced into a bad position,
describe, since its shape depends on who beholds it. Con 22 (+20) Int 12 (+15) Cha 24 (+21)
the doom hulk teleports to a more advantageous spot Alignment chaotic evil Languages telepathy 20
The monster takes on the physical form of its foes’ and continues its brutal attacks.
greatest fears, whether real or imaginary. Those who
have faced a doom hulk recall only an enormous
being of twisted black cords.
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Far Realm Fiends
Sanity Siphons in Combat cannot take triggered actions in response to this action.
Skills Arcana +29, Insight +20
Although insane, sanity siphons continue to fight with
supernatural intellect. They can twist time, seem-
Str 10 (+14)
Con 25 (+21)
Dex 26 (+22)
Int 30 (+24)
Wis 12 (+15)
Cha 27 (+22)
Voidsphere Beholder
ing to appear in multiple places simultaneously and Alignment chaotic evil Languages Deep Speech, Beholders left to grow in the open spaces of the Far
attacking several creatures at once. telepathy 20 Realm become true horrors even among their kind.
Such voidsphere beholders are larger than those that
exist anywhere else. These swirling masses of mul-
ticolored light have many eyes that illuminate the
weird matter of their home.
What motivates voidsphere beholders is beyond
mortal reckoning, and they rarely speak to those they
come across. Instead, they dissect and study such
unfortunates, much as a sage examines insects under
a magnifying glass while pulling off their wings.
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Far Realm Fiends
Voidsphere Beholders Voidsphere Beholder Level 30 Elite Artillery 4. Vanishing Ray: Ranged 10 (one creature); +35 vs. Reflex;
4d8 + 20 damage, and the target is removed from play
Huge aberrant magical beast XP 38,000
in Combat HP 428; Bloodied 214 Initiative +24 until the start of its next turn. The target returns to play
A voidsphere beholder attacks without provocation AC 44, Fortitude 42, Reflex 43, Will 43 Perception +27 in its original space or the nearest unoccupied space.
Speed 0, fly 8 (hover) When it returns to play, the target is dazed until the end
and is unrelenting in battle. It uses force ray to rid Darkvision
Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1 of its turn.
itself of meddlesome defenders and madness ray to 5. Disintegrate Ray: Ranged 10 (one creature); +35 vs. For
convince enemies that their allies are twisted tentacle Traits
All-Around Vision titude; 3d8 + 10 damage, and ongoing 15 damage (save
horrors. The central eye of a voidsphere disrupts both Enemies can’t gain combat advantage by flanking the ends). If this ray’s damage reduces the target to 0 hit
physical and magical energy, leaving opponents hin- beholder. points or fewer, the target is destroyed.
dered or nearly defenseless if they try to use powerful Truesight 6. Death Ray (necrotic): Ranged 10 (one creature); +35 vs.
attacks against it. The beholder can see invisible creatures and objects. Fortitude; ongoing 35 necrotic damage (save ends). If the
Void Reality target is bloodied while taking this ongoing damage, the
T errain and The beholder’s attacks ignore all resistances and ongoing damage increases to 40.
immunities. First Failed Saving Throw: The target is also dazed (save
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Far Realm Fiends
Senior Producer
Geometric Impossibility Level 28 Hazard Christopher Perkins
Terrain XP 13,000
Detect Perception DC 30 Initiative — Producers
Immune attacks Greg Bilsland, Stan!
Triggered Actions
R Attack F At-Will Senior Creative Director
Trigger: A non-aberrant creature enters a square within 2 Jon Schindehette
squares of the hazard.
Attack (Opportunity Action): Ranged 2 (the triggering crea Art Director
ture); +31 vs. Will
Kate Irwin
Hit: The target is removed from play. At the start of its next
Illustrator
turn, the target reappears in a space of the DM’s choice
Christopher Burdett
at least 5 squares from the hazard. If possible, the target’s
new space must contain no hindering terrain, traps, or Digital Studio Consultant
hazards. When the target reappears, it takes 3d10 + 16 Daniel Helmick
damage, is dazed until the end of its turn, and falls prone.
Countermeasures Publishing Production Manager
F Delay: Arcana or Insight DC 30 (immediate interrupt). Angie Lokotz
Requirement: Only the triggering creature can delay the
hazard. Success: The hazard cannot attack the triggering
creature until the end of the creature’s next turn.
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
5
Trobriand’s
Machinations
By Philippe-Antoine Ménard
Illustrations by Christopher Burdett and Jorge Lacera
My patience grows thin. The death of my old master seems and beyond, thanks to the various portals linking
to have been one of many harbingers that foretold this Undermountain to other planes of existences. To this
decade-long unraveling of the Weave. All this grows pain- day, scaladars are associated with Trobriand’s infa-
fully tedious since it interferes with my precious work. mous craft.
Every day I’m reminded of how easy it was to lose pre- Before the Spellplague, Trobriand and Muiral the
cious time dealing with these failures of f lesh and bone. I Misshapen, another of Halaster’s apprentices, left
have since abandoned my original plans and left this now- the madness-inducing depths of Undermountain to
useless academy to fend for itself. . . . establish an arcane academy in the upper levels of the
. . . As I sense the Weave stabilize, I have found a way dungeon. Calling themselves Halaster’s Heirs, they
to isolate the f low of arcane energy that fuels and controls took on several spellcasters who sought to study the
my creations in such a way that they will function without darkest of arts. Shortly after the death of Halaster, the
external loci . . . Metal Mage worked out a plan to take control of the
—Research notes attributed to Trobriand, totality of the upper levels of Undermountain. Then
allegedly dated between DR 1390 and 1395 the Spellplague occurred.
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Trobriand’s Machinations
a few salvaged models after magic again stabilized. enhancements. Alternatively, he might have survived into the walls of a smoldering volcano. Not only could
They found it to be very difficult, if not downright with or without the help of mechanical prostheses. he be churning out mechanical menaces that he
impossible, to control most of the Metal Mage’s cre- In any case, the Metal Mage would have cleared out a unleashes on the surrounding lands, he could also
ations, however. In the following years, some chose lair somewhere in or near Undermountain. It would be deploying self-aware constructs, such as evil war-
to adapt or copy Trobriand’s lesser designs instead of feature numerous laboratories, libraries, storage forged, in a deranged plan to take over whole worlds.
dealing with the chaos that came out of reactivating vaults, and testing grounds for his new creations.
existing constructs.
Among the many new mechanical creatures
Whatever form he takes as a foe, he would likely
be an upper paragon tier threat. Although he would
New Constructs
that have appeared in the last few years, some hor- initially rely on his creations rather than direct con- The following are some recent arcane constructs that
rifying automatons have emerged. New models of frontation with adventurers, they could eventually have appeared after the Spellplague. Each bears the
mechanical arachnids include scaladars and spid- track him down into his deeper laboratories and face mark of the Metal Mage’s influence but might have
erlike machines that threaten any who come near him. been constructed by apprentices or copycats.
them, and rumors describe the existence of a flying Alternatively, the Metal Mage could take a more
metal beholder. This new generation of steel and iron
constructs goes beyond whatever the Metal Mage or
secondary role in a campaign, such as working on
a doomsday mechanical weapon commissioned by
Arachnars
Striking at some of the most primal fears of the deni-
his apprentices ever created—so much so that among your campaign’s main villain (see the tyrannosphere
zens of the surface world with their nightmarish
arcane circles, some have started to whisper that Tro- below). As a backdrop to the main campaign arc, the
forms and sizes, these relentless mechanical spiders
briand might still be active, unleashing newer and adventurers might meet various neutral and hostile
are constructed of dull and rusting metals, cheap
deadlier designs into the world. people who are seeking the rare materials and ele-
pieces of leather, and wormy wood. The combinations
ments necessary to build such a weapon platform.
of dark and neutral colors make them harder to spot
T robriand in Your Some of Trobriand’s former laboratories might
still be in use on the upper levels of Undermountain
before they pounce onto their hapless prey.
Campaign (what’s left of the academy) or deeper inside the dun-
Many believe these mechanical spiders to be sim-
plified adaptations of Trobriand’s scaladars. Possibly
geon. Still-functioning mechanical creatures that
Trobriand is a classic figure closely linked to the his- constructed by lesser crafters, they are usually made
show signs of recent maintenance might guard these
tory of Undermountain. He has been featured in of more common components such as low-grade iron
areas. Thus, former apprentices could occupy these
several published products throughout the years as and wood, and strips of heavy cured leather. Hushed
laboratories, or other fledgling but technically adept
a plotting dark wizard of great power with a tenuous stories describe how more complex models made
wizards might be trying to take on the mantle of the
grip on sanity. He has often been portrayed as some- with components of higher quality roam various
master crafter.
one who cares far more for his own creations than for levels of Undermountain.
Finally, various wizards might seek out lower-level
anything alive. Although his whereabouts are cur- Arachnars are sometimes deployed among military
adventurers to hunt down and recover any construct
rently unknown, you could integrate any aspect of units and have appeared under the control of bel-
that bears some of Trobriand’s genius so that it can
the Metal Mage’s history into your campaign, includ- ligerent nobles, bandit lords, and various Underdark
be rebuilt or copied. As the heroes explore lost vaults
ing his possible survival. Thus he could make a great conqueror races. Their high mobility and climbing
and ruins, they might learn more about the legends
villain or a grudging, if temporary, ally to a party of capabilities make them versatile engines of war, and
of the Metal Mage, including his possible fate in the
adventurers they can serve as scouts and artillery. Like most other
wake of the Spellplague.
If Trobriand is still active, he might not be alive. constructs, some are also found as guardians of trea-
You can also adapt Trobriand and his creations
The Spellplague has likely hampered whatever sure vaults, and other sealed underground areas.
to other D&D® settings. For example, a mad wizard
enchantments kept him living throughout the centu- obsessed with metallic automatons could have built
ries. He might have had to turn himself into a form extensive workshops, laboratories, and factories right
of lich to survive, likely one with several mechanical
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Trobriand’s Machinations
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Trobriand’s Machinations
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Trobriand’s Machinations
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Trobriand’s Machinations
Developer
Tanis O’Connor
Editor
Miranda Horner
Managing Editor
Kim Mohan
Senior Producer
Christopher Perkins
Producers
Greg Bilsland, Stan!
Art Director
Kate Irwin
Illustrators
Christopher Burdett, Jorge Lacera
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
6
Death and Taxes
A D&D® Side Trek adventure for characters of levels 4–5
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Death and Taxes
charade going, he is forced to kill his victims lest they on the west. Sir Tyros hopes to keep the characters History DC 15: You recall a knight by the name
reveal his operation and warn others. The mounting distracted until the bandits can move close enough to of Tyros Halfhelm serving a local noble, Lord Banek,
body count has not gone unnoticed, however, and spring the perfect ambush. some years ago. DC 22: If memory serves, this par-
local authorities are becoming concerned that so ticular knight was dismissed from Lord Banek’s
many travelers have gone missing of late. When the party sees the wagon, read: service for conduct unbecoming. The emblem on his
The characters might have heard the stories of Standing in the middle of the road is a tall, armored man shield belongs to the Company of the Fallen, a group
disappearances and wish to investigate. The simplest with sword and shield. His armor is the finest plate, pol- of unaligned mercenary warriors.
hook is to have them encounter Sir Tyros and his tax ished to gleaming, and his large shield bears a yellow Insight DC 22: Sir Tyros seems forthright
wagon on the road. Adventurers are just the sort of skull wearing a horned helm on a black field. His sword is enough, but subtle clues in his body language and
targets Sir Tyros hopes to catch; although he under- sheathed and his visor is up, revealing a strong, weathered inflection indicate that he might not be telling the
stands the danger in attacking seasoned explorers, face. entire truth. The tax collector, Lerix, seems content to
the prospect of piles of loot recently prized from a Behind the knight, a large wagon sits in the middle of let the knight do the talking, but he’s clearly on edge.
musty dungeon is too tempting to ignore. the road. One of its wheels has been removed from the axle
and is propped up against a nearby tree. A second figure
A dventure Synopsis in fine clothing stands next to the wagon, hands on hips,
frustration clear in his body language. A cowl obscures the
The characters meet Sir Tyros on an open road cut- person’s face.
ting through a dense forest, where the hedge knight Two green-scaled drakes lounge in the sun nearby.
attempts to use the beleaguered tax collector charade. Beyond them, two oxen, free from the wagon, graze lazily P
The first encounter is a skill challenge to determine if at the eaves of the woods. P
the characters can see through Sir Tyros’s lies before The knight smiles when he sees you, raises his hand in
the bandits get the drop on the party. greeting, and begins walking in your direction. P P
In the second encounter, the characters battle O
Sir Tyros and his band. The combat setup depends
on how the party fared in the skill challenge. If they When Sir Tyros speaks, he says: H H P
did well, the characters can avoid being surprised. If “Greetings, good travelers. My name is Sir Tyros Half helm,
a knight by trade. This tax collector, Lerix, hired me to P
they did poorly, Sir Tyros and his bandits spring their
escort him on these dangerous roads. But our wagon’s wheel O L
ambush and catch the party unawares.
is damaged. It will take the two of us to fix it and get it back D
on the wagon, but I am hesitant to take my eyes off the D
1. Knight’s Palaver road. I’ve heard tell that travelers have disappeared out this P P
Roleplaying Encounter way in recent times. Brigands, no doubt.
“I wonder if you would be good enough to offer us some H
H
Sir Tyros’s scouts have informed him that a group of assistance?”
P P
adventurers is traveling along the road. Never one to Despite Sir Tyros’s ease, something doesn’t feel quite
T
look a gift horse in the mouth, Sir Tyros has prepared right. The forest seems a little too quiet.
the wagon and his warriors for their next victims. The
knight waits in the middle of the road, while Lerix (a Sir Tyros’s goal is to keep the characters talking to StaRT P
mage) stands near the wagon posing as the tax collec- him long enough to set his ambush. Player characters P ARea
tor. The others move quietly through the thick forest who take an interest in the knight and the tax wagon
on the east side of the road and atop the small cliff can make skill checks to learn more:
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Death and Taxes
Perception DC 10: Sir Tyros’s shield and armor What happened to the wagon wheel? Simple If the characters failed the group check, read:
are of good quality and well maintained. Small dents, enough. We hit a spur of rock as sharp as an axe blade. It Sir Tyros suddenly raises his hand palm up, cutting off
scratches, and flecks of blood indicate the knight has gouged a great chunk from the wheel and left us in our cur- your questioning with an imperious gesture and a mali-
seen battle. DC 15: The tax collector is a tiefling, and rent predicament. (False) cious grin. The forest around you erupts into motion as
his clothing is too big (as though sized for a man of half a dozen hard-looking warriors reveal their presence in
larger proportions) and has curious red-brown stains Surprise! the surrounding trees. A heartbeat later, Sir Tyros’s sword
in places. DC 22: The damage to the wagon’s wheel While Sir Tyros engages characters in conversation, is in his hand and projectiles whistle from the ambushers’
looks like it was inflicted with a weapon. his forces move quietly through the forest and try to positions.
encircle the party. If the PCs do not attack Sir Tyros
Roleplaying before the trap is sprung, allow them to make a group If the group check succeeded, read:
Below is a list of possible questions the characters DC 22 Perception check. The results of the group Your focused questioning has revealed that Sir Tyros is not
might ask Sir Tyros and responses the amiable knight skill check determine the placement of Sir Tyros’s all he claims to be, and your keen eyes and ears have sensed
has at the ready. Characters who are suspicious of forces in the next encounter. the telltale signs of an ambush. Recognizing that he has
Sir Tyros’s intentions can make an Insight check given away his game, Sir Tyros stumbles back, cursing and
clawing at his sword. Behind him, in the forest, a number of
(opposed by the knight’s Bluff check) to ascertain
whether any given response is factually accurate. A
2. Ambush! warriors break cover and begin running toward you.
successful check indicates that Sir Tyros is being “less Combat Encounter Level 7 (1,575 XP)
than sincere.” Cliff: This small ridge is 15 feet high. The steep
What are you not telling us? Why, nothing at all! A fight begins, with the combatants’ initial positions slope makes climbing up it harder (DC 15 Athletics
Do you question my honor? On what grounds? determined by the results of the group Perception check) than climbing down (DC 10 Athletics check).
Is that blood on your companion’s sleeve? check (see “Surprise!” above). Oxen: These docile draft animals move away from
What an eye you have! An eye like that can only be Light: Bright daylight. combat; any attack that hits an ox kills it. The char-
acquired in battle, eh? Yes, my companion unfortunately Monsters: Sir Tyros, bandit knight (T); Lerix, Fell acters or the bandits might try to force an ox to move
cut his hand while attempting to repair our wagon. (False) Court hellmage (L); 2 guard drakes (D); 2 Raven toward enemies, but the creatures avoid conflict and
Why were you dismissed from Lord Banek’s Roost harriers (H); 6 human prowlers (P). collisions.
service? Ah, yes, Lord Banek. An unfortunate situa- Other Creatures: 2 oxen (O). Scrub: These plants on the western side of the
tion, that. I stopped him from beating a poor servant girl If half or more of the characters succeeded at the road are thick enough to provide partial concealment.
after the hapless lass spilled a bit of wine on the lord’s group Perception check, the harriers and prowlers Trees: The trunks of these 20-foot-tall trees are
new doublet. For my chivalry, I was dismissed from ser- are in the positions indicated by the black icons on blocking terrain (DC 10 Athletics check to climb).
vice. Apparently, Banek has been spreading all manner the tactical map. If more than half of the PCs failed Each tree’s foliage, which is 10 feet from the ground,
of vicious rumors about me. Most unfitting behavior for a the group check, the bandits are in the positions indi- provides partial concealment.
lord, wouldn’t you say? (False) cated by the red icons on the map. The positions of Sir Wagon: The wagon is blocking terrain, but it has a
What is that symbol on your shield? The horned Tyros, Lerix, the drakes, and the oxen are the same small space under it that can be crawled through. It is
skull is the symbol of the Company of the Fallen, knights regardless of the group check result. Their positions 10 feet high (DC 10 Athletics check to climb).
who help those in need but swear fealty to no lord. (True) are marked in green on the map.
Were you in a fight recently? You’ve a warrior’s If the characters attack Sir Tyros and Lerix before Tactics: If they gain a surprise round, most of the
instincts! Indeed, bandits set upon my companion and me the group Perception check is made, assume the bandits open with ranged attacks against the charac-
two days ago. I was forced to slay two of them, but the third other antagonists are in the positions indicated by the ters. Sir Tyros closes, trying to take down a soft target
retreated. I fear he might have warned other rogues in the black icons on the tactical map. first. The drakes take up positions to defend Lerix,
area. (False) staying in his drake regeneration aura.
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Death and Taxes
Sir Tyros, Bandit Knight (T) Level 6 Elite Soldier Fell Court Hellmage (L) Level 4 Artillery (Leader) 2 Guard Drakes (D) Level 2 Brute
(Leader) Medium natural humanoid, tiefling XP 175 Small natural beast (reptile) XP 125 each
Medium natural humanoid, human XP 500 HP 42; Bloodied 21 Initiative +6 HP 48; Bloodied 24 Initiative +3
HP 140; Bloodied 70 Initiative +7 AC 18, Fortitude 14, Reflex 17, Will 17 Perception +12 AC 15, Fortitude 15, Reflex 13, Will 12 Perception +7
AC 22, Fortitude 19, Reflex 17, Will 18 Perception +8 Speed 6 Low-light vision Speed 6
Speed 5 Resist 5 fire Standard Actions
Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1 Traits m Bite F At-Will
Traits O Drake Regeneration (healing) F Aura 3 Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +7 vs. AC
O Knight’s Aura F Aura 1 Any bloodied drake ally in the aura regains 5 hit points at Hit: 1d10 + 3 damage, or 1d10 + 9 while the drake is
Any unmarked enemy that willingly leaves the aura pro- the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point. within 2 squares of an ally.
vokes an opportunity attack from Tyros. Standard Actions Str 16 (+4) Dex 15 (+3) Wis 12 (+2)
Standard Actions m Dagger (weapon) F At-Will Con 18 (+5) Int 3 (–3) Cha 12 (+2)
m Bastard Sword (weapon) F At-Will Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +9 vs. AC, or +10 vs. AC if Alignment unaligned Languages —
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +11 vs. AC the target is bloodied
Hit: 2d10 + 4 damage. Hit: 2d4 + 7 damage. 2 Raven Roost Harriers (H) Level 4 Skirmisher
M Double Attack F At-Will r Infernal Bolt (fire, implement, radiant) F At-Will Medium natural humanoid, human XP 175 each
Effect: Tyros uses bastard sword twice. Attack: Ranged 20 (one creature); +9 vs. Reflex, or +10 vs.
HP 53; Bloodied 26 Initiative +7
Minor Actions Reflex if the target is bloodied
AC 18, Fortitude 16, Reflex 18, Will 16 Perception +4
M Shield Shove (weapon) F Recharge when first bloodied Hit: 1d8 + 3 fire and radiant damage, and ongoing 5 fire
Speed 6
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +9 vs. Fortitude and radiant damage (save ends).
Standard Actions
Hit: Tyros pushes the target up to 2 squares, and then shifts Triggered Actions m Short Sword (weapon) F At-Will
up to half his speed. If the target ends the push adjacent Infernal Wrath (fire) F Encounter
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +9 vs. AC
to one or more of Tyros’s allies, one of those allies can Trigger: An enemy within 10 squares of the hellmage hits it
Hit: 2d6 + 5 damage, and the target can’t make opportu-
make a melee basic attack against the target as a free with an attack.
nity attacks until the end of the harrier’s next turn.
action. Effect (Free Action): The triggering enemy takes 1d6 + 5 fire r Hand Crossbow (weapon) F At-Will
Miss: Tyros can push the target 1 square, and then he can damage.
Attack: Ranged 10/20 (one creature); +9 vs. AC
shift 1 square. R See You in Hell F Encounter
Hit: 2d6 + 5 damage.
Triggered Actions Trigger: The hellmage drops to 0 hit points. M Moving Attack F At-Will
M Knightly Riposte F At-Will Effect (Immediate Interrupt): The hellmage uses infernal bolt,
Effect: The harrier moves up to its speed and uses short
Trigger: An unmarked enemy in Tyros’s knight’s aura uses an and the attack does not provoke opportunity attacks.
sword once at any point during this movement. After the
attack power that doesn’t include Tyros as a target. Skills Arcana +12, Bluff +10, History +12, Stealth +11
attack, the harrier doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks
Effect (Immediate Interrupt): Tyros uses bastard sword Str 15 (+4) Dex 19 (+6) Wis 20 (+7)
when moving away from the target of the attack.
against the triggering enemy. Con 12 (+3) Int 21 (+7) Cha 17 (+5)
Skills Stealth +10
Skills Athletics +12, Bluff +11, Intimidate +11 Alignment evil Languages Common, Supernal
Str 14 (+4) Dex 16 (+5) Wis 14 (+4)
Str 19 (+7) Dex 14 (+5) Wis 10 (+3) Equipment dagger
Con 13 (+3) Int 10 (+2) Cha 8 (+1)
Con 14 (+5) Int 12 (+4) Cha 16 (+6)
Alignment evil Languages Common
Alignment evil Languages Common
Equipment studded leather, hand crossbow, short sword, 20
Equipment plate armor, heavy shield, bastard sword If Sir Tyros is slain, the prowlers have a 50 percent bolts
chance of fleeing right then. Lerix and the harriers
As the battle continues, the harriers join the melee continue to fight until bloodied, at which point they
alongside Sir Tyros while the other brigands continue attempt to escape as well. If the drakes are alive when
to make ranged attacks. The bandits try to surround Lerix flees, they bolt alongside him.
the party and cut off easy escape. Like Sir Tyros, the bandits know that the gallows
Sir Tyros fights to the death—he knows he’ll hang await them if they are captured. Any who are cor-
if he is captured. His allies, however, are not so brave. nered fight to the death.
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Death and Taxes
6 Human Prowlers (P) Level 5 Minion Skirmisher If you decide it’s appropriate, this good deed could About the Author
Medium natural humanoid XP 50 each also garner the party the reward for a 5th-level major Aeryn “Blackdirge” Rudel is a writer, editor, and game
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. Initiative +7 quest (200 XP per character). designer who has worked in the gaming industry since 2005.
AC 19, Fortitude 16, Reflex 17, Will 15 Perception +3 His recent RPG credits include the Dungeon adventures “The
Speed 6 Vault of Darom Madar” (Issue #181) and “Heart of the Scar”
Standard Actions Expanding the Adventure (Issue #197), as well as Blackdirge’s Dungeon Denizens and the
m Longsword (weapon) F At-Will Critter Cache series from Goodman Games. Aeryn lives in
This side trek can lead to further adventures. Each of
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +10 vs. AC Seattle, Washington, with his wife Melissa.
these suggestions assumes that Sir Tyros was part of a
Hit: 6 damage.
r Short Bow (weapon) F At-Will much larger group of bandits operating in the area. Developer
Attack: Ranged 15 (one creature); +10 vs. AC Bandit Tricks: Sir Tyros’s tax wagon ruse was only Chris Sims
Hit: 6 damage. one of many such scams run by bandits in the area.
Move Actions Groups of brigands are posing as traveling merchants, Editor
Flanking Step F At-Will
Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
monks on pilgrimage, and even troupes of wandering
Effect: The prowler shifts up to 2 squares. bards to lure victims. After the characters report Sir Managing Editors
Skills Stealth +10
Tyros’s activities, the authorities ask them to seek out Kim Mohan, Miranda Horner, Christopher Perkins
Str 14 (+4) Dex 16 (+5) Wis 12 (+3)
Con 12 (+3) Int 10 (+2) Cha 10 (+2)
and put a stop to these other lethal charades.
Development and Editing Lead
Alignment unaligned Languages Common Rightful Inheritance: One of the items on the
Jeremy Crawford
Equipment leather armor, longsword, shortbow, 30 arrows tax wagon belonged to a local lord who fell prey to the
bandits. The lord’s signet ring is not among the stolen Senior Producer
Conclusion items, however. Perhaps it is still on the lord’s finger,
and he is alive. The lord’s heir wants the ring back,
Christopher Perkins
Producers
After the characters defeat Sir Tyros and his bandits, whether by rescuing the lord, or finding and return- Greg Bilsland, Stan!
they can investigate the wagon. In addition to the ing his body along with the signet ring.
taxes that had been collected before it was seized, Steel Triangle: Sir Tyros was one of three vil- Senior Creative Director
the wagon has been serving the brigands as a mobile lainous hedge knights who called themselves the Jon Schindehette
vault. It contains 1,500 sp, 300 gp, three gems (100 Steel Triangle. Each of them attracted a group of
Art Director
gp each), one art object (250 gp), and two common cutthroats, and they have made local roads nearly Kate Irwin
or uncommon magic items of the party’s level + 1d4. impassable. The authorities ask the party to seek out
The total comprises about five treasures for a 5th- the remaining two brigands and put them down. Illustrator
level party. Nicole Cardiff
This loot is quite a haul. The characters can learn
Cartographer
that the majority of it was stolen from innocent Jared Blando
victims or is tax money that belongs to the local gov-
ernment. They can keep the treasure or try to return Digital Studio Consultant
it to its rightful owners. If they choose the latter Daniel Helmick
option, they receive a reward from the authorities for Publishing Production Manager
dispersing or killing the bandits. If monetary, this Angie Lokotz
reward is one-half the value of the goods on the tax
wagon.
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
5
Face of
the Moon
A D&D® adventure for characters
of levels 16–18
B ackground
When a team of illithids eliminated a surface-dwelling
scholar famous for his study of aberrant creatures,
they scoured his laboratory and destroyed his research.
Among his curiosities, they discovered the preserved
body of one of their kind, along with a strange device.
A psychic dissection of the dead illithid’s brain unrav-
eled a bizarre tale.
In its travels across the planes, this creature stum-
bled upon a remote place. Although the mind flayer
was eventually slain and its corpse sold to the eccentric
TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved.
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Face of the Moon
scholar, the mind flayer’s brain held all the knowledge Deferring only to the will of the elder brain, Ythrilnaw
that the creature had gathered, including the memory sees the devices found in the Lunar Citadel as tools to
of a stranded ship belonging to a forgotten race. further subjugate the natural world.
No Moon?
The illithids that recovered the body set about For campaign settings that have no moon, this adven-
studying these memories, combining them with their
knowledge of celestial mechanics to chart a portion of
A dventure S ynopsis ture can be set on a “wandering star” periodically
observed in the night sky. This celestial body is a
the lost vessel’s course. They discerned that their own The adventure begins when the party encounters satellite that the lost race placed in orbit. In this case,
world’s moon was once a port of call for other vessels a slain illithid bearing a strange device. This object remove references to the rocky surface in the read-
of this lost race. opens a portal to the Lunar Citadel, the base of opera- aloud text, instead describing the citadel as hanging
Meanwhile, other mind flayers studied the device tions for the mind flayers. suspended in the darkness above the world’s surface.
found with the dead illithid. Despite its lack of arcane After the adventurers pass through the portal, it Assume that gravity is provided through unseen tech-
or psionic energy, this object seemed able to manipu- closes behind them, and they are set upon by the ser- nological means.
late reality. The mind flayers devoted great resources to vants of the mind flayers. The disturbance alerts the For campaign settings with more than one moon
unlocking its mysteries and eventually discovered how mind flayer Ythrilnaw, which appears to the charac- (such as Eberron), choose which moon the illithids’
the device could open a portal, beyond which stood a ters through the base’s communication system. The base is on. Adjust the read-aloud text as required.
citadel of the lost race, filled with other potent devices. ulitharid informs the characters that escape is impos-
A pod of illithids and their thralls, led by an elder sible, since it holds the only other portal-summoning
brain, crossed over to the citadel to continue their stud- device presently in the base. Ythrilnaw then activates
the area’s defenses. Additionally, in previous adventures, you could
ies. After sealing the portal behind them so that no one
When the characters emerge from the transit area, have had secondary characters familiar to the
could interfere, they spent years in isolation.
they enter the housing module of the lost race, which adventurers begin acting in a strange fashion. This
Inside the Lunar Citadel, as the illithids came to
has been converted to quarters for the mind flayers’ foreshadowing can sow the seeds of paranoia for when
call it, a vast chamber housed a machine capable of
thralls. Windows in these chambers reveal that the the truth of the mind flayer plan is discovered.
reproducing organisms from sample material. Initially,
characters have traveled to the moon. They might Other possibilities include the following.
the illithids hoped this place would provide them with
a limitless source of food, but the brains of the cloned also discover Kelm Semersted, a prisoner whose tale F After the adventurers suffered a defeat and were
creatures yielded neither sustenance nor nuanced reveals clues regarding the mind flayers’ plans. captured, their captors sell them to the mind flayers
taste. These vacant minds proved vulnerable to manip- When the characters tangle with a horde of grim- to be cloned and returned. The characters awaken
ulation, and the vessels that housed them sometimes lock thralls, they draw Ythrilnaw’s attention anew, and in area 1A after a portal malfunction kills their
were indistinguishable from the donor material that the mind flayer sends reinforcements to deal with the captors.
created them. party. These enemies search for the characters while F A raving mad version of a friend or patron con-
And so was born a devious and far-reaching plan. another mind flayer continues its medical experi- fronts the adventurers while they are speaking to a
When the portals to the world were reopened, a subtle ments in a nearby laboratory. Defeating either group real version of the same person. The double carries
campaign of abduction and substitution began. enables the party to enter the sanctum of Ythrilnaw a transit beacon, and madness prevents him or her
and the elder brain. from providing any useful aid or information.
Ythrilnaw F A duchess is certain that her husband has under-
While the mind flayers’ elder brain devotes itself to Involving the Characters gone subtle changes to his personality, despite a
overseeing the infiltration of the world’s power struc- The most direct means of involving the characters in lack of physical evidence. Searching the duke’s
tures, the ulitharid named Ythrilnaw controls the the adventure is placing the dead mind flayer in their chambers locates the beacon.
operations of the Lunar Citadel. Ythrilnaw’s dark intel- path, as discussed in the opening event.
lect surpasses the cunning of a typical mind flayer.
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Face of the Moon
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Face of the Moon
Control Panels lair here. This is where the party appears after using
the portal in the opening event.
Control panels scattered throughout the citadel oper- Tech Appearance Grav tubes permit access between levels. Corridors
ate and manage its systems.
Though the players might guess the identity of the on the second level lead to the laboratory (area 7) and
A character must be adjacent to a control panel to
technological devices they encounter, their characters the cloning center (area 9).
discern its function or operate it. A character attempt-
ing to use a panel makes a skill check or an ability should be entirely unfamiliar with high technology.
check, modified by you according to the player’s Describe the citadel in terms the characters, rather
than the players, understand. For example, Ythril-
1. Transit Area
description of what his or her character is doing. Combat Encounter Level 16 7,900 XP
Panels in the same area are linked, so that lighting naw’s projection is not a hologram, but a flickering
and doors in that area can be controlled from multiple illusion or apparition.
When the adventurers arrive, they surprise the derros
locations. lurking here, though the sound of combat alerts the
Operating Cues: When operated, a panel other creatures in the area. When the defenders are
emits auditory cues in the language of the lost race. defeated, the characters can begin to assess their
A panel can also be attacked (AC/Reflex 5, For-
These vocalizations are audible to anyone nearby. A strange surroundings.
titude 10; immune to fire, necrotic, poison, psychic,
character who has previously used a control panel suc- Light: Dim light.
forced movement, all conditions, ongoing damage;
cessfully or who understands the language of the lost Monsters: 1 derro savant, 1 derro ironguard, 10
vulnerable 10 lightning; hp 100). Whenever a panel
race gains a +4 bonus to Intelligence checks and skill derro thugs, 2 warped slaves.
takes damage, any creature adjacent to the panel takes
checks made to discern a panel’s function, operate its
10 lightning damage.
controls, or destroy the control panel. When the characters arrive, read:
Functions: All control panels feature the following
Discern Function: Intelligence DC 17 (standard An intense feeling of motion subsides as shimmering colors dis-
default functions.
action). Success: The character understands one of the solve around you, revealing a dimly lit chamber with smooth
Lighting: Any or all lights in the area linked to the
panel’s functions and can attempt the operate con- metal walls. An archway opens into a larger space. Within that
panel can be set to bright, dim, or none.
trols action (see the entry below) to use that function. space, a flight of stairs leads up to a platform where brass cabi-
Doors: All doors, hatches, and grav tubes in the area
Failure (12 or lower): The character cannot attempt the nets emit a low hum and glimmer with lighted runes.
linked to the panel can be opened, closed, or locked.
operate controls action on this panel. Special: If a char- Six short gray-skinned humanoids stand as if fascinated,
Query: A display provides a visual demonstration
acter has discerned a specific panel function, he or staring at the cabinets with glassy white eyes. One of them
of the use of a technological item in the character’s
she can use the same function on any panel that per- possesses an elongated device that resembles an armless steel
possession.
forms that function without having to make checks. crossbow with two handles, but which is held like a staff. Blue
Use by Illithids: Because the mind flayers here
Operate Controls: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery energy occasionally shimmers across the device, while multicol-
already know about the control panels, they don’t
DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character ored studs periodically rise, then recede from its surface.
make checks involving them, and need only to take a
must have discerned the function he or she wishes
standard action to use a panel’s function.
to perform. Success: The character causes the panel to The derro savant and five thugs are watching the lights
perform the intended function. Default controls are
described below. Some control panels have additional A dministration of the control panel. Unless the characters threw more
than a couple of objects through the portal, the derros
functions detailed in an area’s description.
Destroy: Athletics or Thievery DC 31 (standard
Center are not expecting the sudden appearance of enemies
in the transit room (1A). The characters surprise the
action). Success: The panel is rendered inoperable, and The lowest level of the complex contains the transit monsters in the control room (1B) unless they hesitate
the controls are locked to their current settings. Failure machinery of the lost race. The illithids use it to travel in attacking.
(26 or lower): Any creature adjacent to the panel takes to the world, abduct their victims, and then return When battle is joined, the noise of combat quickly
10 lightning damage. indoctrinated clones. The illithids’ derro servants also draws the derro ironguard, the remaining derro thugs,
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Face of the Moon
Administration Center
One square = 5 feet
5A
SECOND LEVEL
Admin
Lunar Center 5B
(Areas 1–6)
Citadel
Overview 6A 6D
5E 5e 6C
5D
et
fe
6B
100 feet
15 5F 6E
Cloning
Center
(Areas Lab
9–10) (Areas To
7–8) Area 9 5C
To
Area 7
4f 4f
4e 2a
2B
GROUND LEVEL
3a 2d
BASEMENT
3b 2c
3g
1c
3c
4a 1B
1a
3f
3d 3e
1E
4c 1d 1d
4b 4b 4b 4d
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Face of the Moon
and the warped slaves from the workshops (1D). They The remaining derro thugs and warped slaves are
arrive at the start of the second round. in these two rooms. If they hear sounds of combat
Treasure: The derro savant carries a portal gun, but the from the control room, they move to investigate.
creature is unfamiliar with its true function. Instead, the Debris here is difficult terrain.
derro treats it as a staff and a badge of leadership. 1E. Engineering Center. This room was used to
1A. Transit Room. This bare room permits travel monitor the generator room (2C), but the controls
to and from the world below. The floor is a sheet of have been secured against tampering. The illithids
strange polished metal. When the control panels in have not mastered the power generated by the crystal-
area 1B open a portal, it appears here. line towers.
1B. Control Room. The ceiling here is 20 feet In addition to their default functions, the control
above the floor and the stairs lead 10 feet up to the panels here permit operation of nearby observation
platform. The control panels hum with energy and spheres. A character can discern the following addi-
are covered with glowing runes that hover above each tional function for these panels.
panel’s surface. An image of the characters’ departure Observe: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery DC 22
point in the world flickers among the runes. (standard action). Requirement: The character must
In addition to their default functions, the control panels have successfully discerned this function. Success: The
here control the transit system. A character can discern the character can activate observation spheres to view any
following additional function for these panels. section of area 1 and area 2.
Open Portal: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery DC Secret Door: This door is a panel flush with the wall
22 (standard action). Requirement: The character must (DC 23 Perception check to find). A concealed button
have successfully discerned this function and must beside it activates it.
possess a working transit beacon. Success: A new portal
opens in area 1A, leading to the characters’ point of 10 Derro Thugs Level 14 Minion Brute
Small natural humanoid XP 250 each
origin. Failure (12 or lower): A new portal opens to an
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. Initiative +9
unexpected location (as determined by you). AC 26, Fortitude 25, Reflex 24, Will 25 Perception +5
1C. Damaged Transit Room. The illithids sought Speed 5 Darkvision
to better understand this room by taking it apart. As a Standard Actions
result, it no longer functions. The floor is torn up, leav- m Club (weapon) F At-Will
ing gaps exposing small metal tubes and crystalline Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +19 vs. AC
objects. Unlike the other machinery found throughout Hit: 14 damage.
the Lunar Citadel, these clearly damaged objects do Triggered Actions
Mad Sacrifice F Encounter
not glow or hum. Trigger: The thug misses with an attack.
All squares in this room are difficult terrain. Effect (Free Action): The attack instead hits, and the thug
1D. Workshops. These rooms held spare parts drops to 0 hit points.
and repair equipment. Some tools bear a resemblance Str 13 (+8) Dex 14 (+9) Wis 6 (+5)
to a blacksmith’s implements, though they seem overly Con 18 (+11) Int 8 (+6) Cha 16 (+10)
delicate and there is no sign of a forge. The most inter- Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
Equipment leather armor, light shield, club
esting devices were removed by the mind flayers for
study, and the derros now lair here. Searching the area
locates a greater sleep grenade that has gone unnoticed.
A p r i l 2 012 | D U N G E O N 2 01
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Face of the Moon
Derro Savant Level 16 Controller Derro Ironguard Level 15 Soldier 2 Warped Slaves Level 16 Brute
Small natural humanoid XP 1,400 Small natural humanoid XP 1,200 Large aberrant humanoid XP 1,400 each
HP 154; Bloodied 77 Initiative +10 HP 150; Bloodied 75 Initiative +9 HP 193; Bloodied 96 Initiative +11
AC 30, Fortitude 27, Reflex 28, Will 29 Perception +6 AC 31, Fortitude 27, Reflex 24, Will 27 Perception +5 AC 28, Fortitude 29, Reflex 26, Will 29 Perception +7
Speed 5, teleport 3 Darkvision Speed 5 Darkvision Speed 6 (can’t shift) Darkvision
Standard Actions Standard Actions Traits
m Scourge (weapon) F At-Will m Spear (weapon) F At-Will Disintegrating Mind (psychic) F Aura 1
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. AC Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC Any enemy that ends its turn within the aura takes 5 psychic
Hit: 3d8 + 11 damage, and the target takes a –2 penalty to Hit: 3d8 + 10 damage, or 3d8 + 15 against prone targets. damage. Whenever a derro within the aura uses strength of
attack rolls until the end of the savant’s next turn. M Hooking Jab (weapon) F At-Will madness, the warped slave can use tentacle as a free action.
r Mind Scourge (implement, psychic) F At-Will Requirement: The ironguard must not have a creature Standard Actions
Attack: Ranged 5 (one creature); +19 vs. Will grabbed. m Bite F At-Will
Hit: 3d6 + 8 psychic damage, and the target chooses either Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. AC
to take ongoing 10 psychic damage (save ends) or be Hit: 2d8 + 5 damage, or 2d8 + 10 against prone targets, and Hit: 3d12 + 6 damage.
dazed (save ends). the target is grabbed. M Tentacle F At-Will
Window to Madness (implement, psychic, zone) F Recharge Minor Actions Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +19 vs. Reflex
when this power’s zone ends M Unbalancing Thrust (weapon) F At-Will (1/round) Hit: 2d12 + 6 damage, and the warped slave grabs the
Effect: The savant creates a zone in an area burst 1 within 10 Requirement: The ironguard must be wielding a spear. target. The warped slave then pulls the target 1 square.
squares centered on an ally. The zone lasts until the end of Attack: Melee 1 (one creature grabbed by the ironguard); C Flailing Tentacles F At-Will
the encounter. A nonderro that enters the zone or ends its +20 vs. Fortitude Requirement: The warped slave must be bloodied.
turn there takes 10 psychic damage. The savant can end Hit: The target falls prone. Attack: Close burst 2 (enemies in burst); +21 vs. AC
the zone as a minor action. Free Actions Hit: 2d12 + 6 damage, and the warped slave pulls the target
Minor Actions Strength of Madness F Encounter 1 square.
Dance of Madness F At-Will Requirement: The ironguard can use strength of madness only Str 18 (+12) Dex 16 (+11) Wis 8 (+7)
Effect: The savant slides each creature within the zone cre- during its turn. Con 23 (+14) Int 4 (+5) Cha 23 (+14)
ated by window to madness 2 squares. Effect: Roll a d6 and add the result as a power bonus to the Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
Free Actions ironguard’s attack rolls until the end of its next turn. In
Strength of Madness F Encounter addition, the ironguard grants combat advantage until the Tactics: The derro savant uses window to madness on
Requirement: The savant can use strength of madness only end of its next turn.
thugs in the midst of enemies, following up with dance
during its turn. Skills Intimidate +17, Thievery +12
Effect: Roll a d6 and add the result as a power bonus to the Str 17 (+10) Dex 10 (+7) Wis 6 (+5)
of madness to move thugs into position to gain combat
savant’s attack rolls until the end of its next turn. In addi- Con 22 (+13) Int 15 (+9) Cha 20 (+12) advantage. It then uses mind scourge while remaining
tion, the savant grants combat advantage until the end of Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech behind its allies.
its next turn. Equipment scale armor, spear The ironguard defends the savant, focusing attacks
Skills Arcana +18 on characters who try to engage the savant in melee.
Str 9 (+7) Dex 14 (+10) Wis 6 (+6) Warped slaves use their tentacle power to draw foes
Con 18 (+12) Int 21 (+13) Cha 23 (+14)
into their aura and closer to the ironguard and thugs.
Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech,
telepathy 10
They know to avoid the savant’s window to madness zone.
Equipment scourge, orb The derros are thralls of the illithids, turning their
race’s typical madness into fanaticism. Even faced with
overwhelming force, they do not retreat.
If the characters retreat, the derros contain them
while awaiting guidance from Ythrilnaw. The ulitharid
sends the creatures from area 2 to aid the monsters
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here. After the creatures from area 2 arrive, includ- When the characters enter area 2A, read: In addition to their default functions, the control
ing the rakshasas, the combined force attacks and This large chamber houses a humming, glowing cabinet similar panels here can also access observation spheres to
attempts to take captives for cloning. to those in the area of your arrival. An elevated walkway with a show areas 1–5. A character can discern the observe
railing is suspended in one corner of the room. Two illuminated function (see area 1E, page 7) for these panels.
Conclusion columns of blue glass reach from the floor to the ceiling at one Secret Door: This door is a panel flush with the wall
Captives: If captured, the derros cackle madly and end of the chamber, with a pair of openings in each one. (DC 23 Perception check to find). A concealed button
shout, “Wait till you see the sky!” They have no under- An eight-foot tall spectral humanoid stands in the center of beside it activates it.
standing of how the devices here operate, but they are the room, hovering several inches above the floor. Six tentacles 2C. Generator Room. The floor of this room is 30
aware of the secret door in area 1E. dangle from its bulbous head, reaching to below its waist. Its feet below the walkway that bisects the room. The ceil-
Transit Beacon Burnout: When it is returned to hollow voice seems to emerge from the ceiling above it. ing rises 10 feet above the walkway.
the Lunar Citadel, the malfunctioning transit beacon “At least your ignorance has left the portal undamaged. Crystalline Machinery: The carved crystalline
that the characters recovered in the opening event The broken beacon is of little consequence. In fact, it ensures machines that power the transit system shimmer with
burns out. This safety feature is intended to prevent a you will be staying. I would prefer to have you to dinner, but I pale blue light and emit a humming sound. The force
faulty beacon from being used. am afraid I can take no chances. The plan cannot be revealed they channel has the side effect of magnifying ambi-
After 5 minutes, or if the characters try to open before its time.” ent energy in the area. Whenever a creature adjacent
another portal, the beacon emits a wavering, high- The dim light shifts from white to red, and the glowing to one or more machines takes untyped damage, that
pitched tone. The device smokes and hisses, then falls columns go dark. creature takes 5 extra damage.
silent and ceases to glow. Attacking a machine causes a backlash that deals
In conjunction with the controls in area 1B, a tran- Passive Perception DC 16: The character sees a 20 lightning damage to the attacker. The machine
sit beacon enables creatures to come and go from the device clutched in one of the mind flayer’s tentacles, then stops glowing and humming and ceases func-
Lunar Citadel. Unless they obtain a new beacon, the recognizing it as a transit beacon like the one that tioning for 1 hour. If half or more of the pillars are
characters are marooned. A character who discerns brought the party here. disabled, the transit system does not work.
the “open portal” function for the panels in area 1B Dungeoneering DC 31: The character identi- Stairways: The steep stairs down to the floor are dif-
understands the party’s predicament. fies Ythrilnaw as an ulitharid, a powerful mind flayer ficult terrain. A creature can ignore the difficult terrain
revered by others of its kind. by succeeding on a DC 23 Acrobatics check.
2D. Emergency Access. This plain room features
2. Access Center If the characters bypass area 2A, Ythrilnaw addresses a single grav tube leading up to area 3A. Because it is
Combat Encounter Level 17 9,700 XP them through an observation sphere elsewhere. for emergency use, it cannot be sealed.
2A. Access Hall. This room provides access to the
Ythrilnaw takes note of the party’s arrival, thanks to the personnel quarters and formerly served as a check-
observation spheres. The ulitharid addresses the char- point, monitoring the use of the transit portals. The
acters when they enter the access hall (2A), locks the ceiling here is 20 feet high, and the elevated walkway
doors to area 1B, and orders a pair of rakshasas to lead is 10 feet above the floor.
derros from area 2C against the intruders. See the Tac- Grav Tubes: These tubes, which lead to area 4E, have
tics section for more information. been sealed by Ythrilnaw. Characters can use the con-
Light: Bright light. trol panel here to unseal them and unlock the door to
Monsters: 2 rakshasa archers, 2 derro harvesters, 2 area 1B.
derro ironguards, 10 derro thugs. 2B. Guard Post. Guards used to monitor the
access hall from here. Ythrilnaw uses its own control
panel to handle those functions now.
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2 Rakshasa Archers Level 15 Artillery 2 Derro Harvesters Level 15 Lurker 2 Derro Ironguards Level 15 Soldier
Medium natural humanoid XP 1,200 each Small natural humanoid XP 1,200 each Small natural humanoid XP 1,200 each
HP 110; Bloodied 55 Initiative +12 HP 116; Bloodied 58 Initiative +17 HP 150; Bloodied 75 Initiative +9
AC 28, Fortitude 24, Reflex 26, Will 25 Perception +16 AC 30, Fortitude 27, Reflex 28, Will 26 Perception +10 AC 31, Fortitude 27, Reflex 24, Will 27 Perception +5
Speed 6 Low-light vision Speed 6 Darkvision Speed 5 Darkvision
Standard Actions Traits Standard Actions
m Claw F At-Will Combat Advantage m Spear (weapon) F At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC The harvester deals 2d6 extra damage against any creature Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC
Hit: 2d6 + 6 damage, and ongoing 5 damage (save ends). granting combat advantage to it. Hit: 3d8 + 10 damage, or 3d8 + 15 against prone targets.
r Longbow (weapon) F At-Will Standard Actions M Hooking Jab (weapon) F At-Will
Attack: Ranged 20 (one creature); +22 vs. AC. The rakshasa m War Pick (weapon) F At-Will Requirement: The ironguard must not have a creature
makes two attack rolls and uses either result. Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC grabbed.
Hit: 1d10 + 9 damage. Hit: 3d8 + 10 damage. Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC
R Double Attack F At-Will M Harvest (weapon) F At-Will Hit: 2d8 + 5 damage, or 2d8 + 10 against prone targets, and
Effect: The rakshasa uses longbow twice, making each attack Requirement: The harvester must have started its turn the target is grabbed.
against a different target. hidden from the target. Minor Actions
R Ghost Arrow (necrotic, weapon) F Recharge 5 6 Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +18 vs. Fortitude M Unbalancing Thrust (weapon) F At-Will (1/round)
Attack: Ranged 20 (one creature); +20 vs. Reflex Hit: The target falls unconscious (save ends). Requirement: The ironguard must be wielding a spear.
Hit: 3d10 + 18 necrotic damage, and the target cannot Flee to the Shadows F At-Will Attack: Melee 1 (one creature grabbed by the ironguard);
spend healing surges (save ends). Effect: The harvester moves its speed. If it has concealment +20 vs. Fortitude
Minor Actions at the end of its move, it can attempt a Stealth check to Hit: The target falls prone.
Deceptive Veil (illusion) F At-Will become hidden. Free Actions
Effect: The rakshasa disguises itself to appear as a Medium Life in Chains F Encounter Strength of Madness F Encounter
humanoid until it uses deceptive veil again or until it drops Requirement: The harvester must be holding shackles. Requirement: The ironguard can use strength of madness only
to 0 hit points. Other creatures can make a DC 35 Insight Effect: The harvester shackles one Medium or smaller during its turn.
check to discern that the form is an illusion. helpless creature that is adjacent to it until the creature Effect: Roll a d6 and add the result as a power bonus to the
Triggered Actions succeeds at using the escape action against the harvester. ironguard’s attack rolls until the end of its next turn. In
Illusory Escape (illusion) F Recharge when first bloodied While shackled, the creature is restrained. In addition, it addition, the ironguard grants combat advantage until the
Trigger: An enemy makes a ranged attack against the falls prone whenever it is hit by a melee attack. end of its next turn.
rakshasa. Free Actions Skills Intimidate +17, Thievery +12
Effect (Immediate Reaction): The rakshasa becomes invisible, Strength of Madness F Encounter Str 17 (+10) Dex 10 (+7) Wis 6 (+5)
and an illusion of it appears in its square. The transition is Requirement: The harvester can use strength of madness only Con 22 (+13) Int 15 (+9) Cha 20 (+12)
indiscernible to observers, and the illusion lasts until the during its turn. Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
start of the rakshasa’s next turn or until a creature attacks Effect: Roll a d6 and add the result as a power bonus to the Equipment scale armor, spear
the illusion. After the illusion appears, the rakshasa shifts harvester’s attack rolls until the end of its next turn. In
up to its speed. addition, the harvester grants combat advantage until the
Str 17 (+10) Dex 20 (+12) Wis 18 (+11) end of its next turn.
Con 14 (+9) Int 12 (+8) Cha 14 (+9) Skills Stealth +18
Alignment evil Languages Common Str 10 (+7) Dex 22 (+13) Wis 6 (+5)
Equipment longbow, 20 arrows Con 20 (+12) Int 11 (+7) Cha 17 (+10)
Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
Equipment leather armor, war pick, 1 set of shackles
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10 Derro Thugs
Small natural humanoid
Level 14 Minion Brute
XP 250 each
3. Central Functions Charming and ruthless, Kelm was valued as an
ally and feared as a foe. But the guild master has
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. Initiative +9
Exploration Encounter
been thoroughly broken by his ordeal here. His last
AC 26, Fortitude 25, Reflex 24, Will 25 Perception +5 memory of the world was sneaking into an arcanist’s
Speed 5 Darkvision The core of the ground floor presents several areas for
study. After that, he recalls being taken under guard
Standard Actions the party to explore and gain information regarding
m Club (weapon) F At-Will
to a place where the illithids forced him into a metal
the illithid plot. The education center provides a look
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +19 vs. AC coffin. He talks of standing face to face with himself as
at the indoctrination process, and finding the prisoner
Hit: 14 damage. the illithids compared him to his clones, and of being
Kelm Semersted in the security center exposes the full
Triggered Actions forced to watch while the mind flayers dissected faulty
Mad Sacrifice F Encounter
horror of the mind flayers’ plots.
clones.
Trigger: The thug misses with an attack. Light: Bright light.
Kelm begs to be allowed to accompany the char-
Effect (Free Action): The attack instead hits, and the thug Monsters: Kelm Semersted.
acters, hoping they can lead him to an exit. He is
drops to 0 hit points.
Str 13 (+8) Dex 14 (+9) Wis 6 (+5)
unaware that he is currently on the moon. He flees
Illithids are found in this area only when a new victim
Con 18 (+11) Int 8 (+6) Cha 16 (+10) from combat unless faced with a mind flayer, in which
has been brought from the world or when a clone is
Alignment chaotic evil Languages Common, Deep Speech case he is paralyzed with fear.
being prepared for its return. Rakshasas come here to
Equipment leather armor, light shield, club 3C. Armory. Cases made of unbreakable clear
sleep or to give food to Kelm. Otherwise, the area sees
material contain racks housing strange devices. The
little activity.
Tactics: Ythrilnaw has ordered two rakshasas to illithids have removed many items for study, but sev-
At your option, loud noise in this area can cause the
enter the area through the emergency access grav tube eral remain locked in the cases. The cases can be
creatures from area 4 to investigate.
(area 2D). Leading one derro harvester, one derro unlocked using the control panel in the security center
3A. Emergency Access. This grav tube provides
ironguard, and five derro thugs from area 2C, they (area 3B). The lockers contain two greater sleep grenades
access to area 2D. Because it is for emergency use, it
move into area 2B. From there, the derros move into and a level 20 laser pistol T.
cannot be sealed. The control panel here cannot affect
area 1B, attacking from the doorway into area 2A. 3D. Officers’ Lounge. Small tables and large,
doors in areas 3B and 3C.
When the derros engage the characters, the rakshasas comfortable chairs fill this room. On a shelf are six
3B. Security Center. The four cells that are part of
move onto the walkway above area 2A to snipe at the unbreakable crystal bottles containing a variety of
this room are used to hold abductees while the mind
adventurers. exotic liquors (500 gp for each crystal bottle, plus 50
flayers create viable clones. When the illithids are sat-
The derros fight to the death. The rakshasas retreat gp for the liquor).
isfied with a clone, the prisoner becomes food for the
when all the derros are slain or the rakshasas are both A successful attempt to discern the function of the
mind flayers.
bloodied. If they flee, the rakshasas return to area panel reveals that it is damaged. If tampered with, the
The control panel here is the only way to open the
2C and the remaining derros, hoping to exploit the panel causes keening music to emanate from the ceil-
doors to the cells and the armory (area 3C). Equip-
effect of the crystalline machinery during combat. In ing, drawing the attention of the grimlocks (area 4A).
ment lockers in the armory can also be unlocked here.
area 2C, the rakshasas take up positions on the upper 3E. Officers’ Quarters. This well-maintained
The panel can access observation spheres to show
walkway. room serves as the quarters for the rakshasas. A long-
areas 1–5. A character can discern the observe func-
bow and several quivers of arrows are stored here.
tion (see area 1E, page 7) for the panel.
Three bunks have been slept in recently, indicating the
Kelm Semersted: An infamous spymaster heading
presence of a third rakshasa.
a guild with widespread influence, the human male
The control panel here has default functions.
Kelm Semersted is imprisoned in one of the cells. (At
3F. Artifact Museum. Sealed cabinets display
your discretion, you can use a different minor char-
objects the lost race encountered on other worlds. The
acter here instead of Kelm. See the “Familiar Faces”
sidebar, page 12).
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Face of the Moon
illithids have made use of several of the cases to pre- Education Programming: Intelligence DC 17
serve items. or Thievery DC 22 (standard action). Requirement:
In addition to its default functions, the control The character must have successfully discerned this Familiar Faces
panel here also opens the cases (use the default function. Success: Ghostly illusions showing unfa-
Although Ythrilnaw has determined how to operate
mechanic for opening doors). Additionally, the panel miliar landscapes and strange architecture appear,
the cloning machinery, the illithids’ experiments have
can activate a crystalline table that displays a map of interspersed with cities and people of influence from
so far produced frustratingly inconsistent results. Each
the world. A character can discern the following addi- the world. Images of illithids occasionally manifest,
batch of twenty or more clones might yield one viable
tional function for the panel. accompanied by voices in Deep Speech saying, “Obey.
candidate to indoctrinate as an illithid agent. The rest
Display Map: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery DC Ythrilnaw directs you. Await your moment. Appease
of the malformed or uncontrollable clones are used for
22 (standard action). Requirement: The character must your superiors.”
experimentation.
have successfully discerned this function. Success: The
It is left to you to determine the appearance of
crystalline table glows pale green as an image of the
world shimmers into view along its surface. The image
4. Lodging and clone corpses the characters encounter, as well as the
transitions quickly, showing changes in land and Recreation Areas living specimens discovered in the clone racks. These
clones might bear the features of minor characters the
settlements across the face of the planet. (You can use Combat Encounter Level 17 9,600 XP adventurers have previously encountered or heard of.
this effect to drop hints and create adventure hooks,
You can replace Kelm Semersted with an ally or a
allowing moderate or hard History checks to identify Grimlock thralls linger here when they have noth- former rival of the characters. Use Kelm’s experiences
places displayed on the map.) ing to do for their illithid masters. Ythrilnaw aids its and reactions as guidelines for how humanoids from
Cases: The cases have several items of interest servants by cutting the lights in this entire building as the world react to mind flayer experimentation.
within them. In addition, you can insert curiosities to soon as the adventurers are drawn into combat.
be claimed as treasure, hooks for future adventures, or Perception DC 18: The character hears the grim-
clues regarding the lost race. locks gathering food from the garden (area 4F).
F A bloated mind flayer is suspended in clear fluid, Light: Bright light. After 2 rounds of combat, 4A. Lounging Area. This large open area is filled
with its head deflated and brain removed. (This is Ythrilnaw remotely deactivates the light panels, plung- with trash the grimlocks have discarded. The piled
the mind flayer whose corpse enabled Ythrilnaw ing areas 3–5 into darkness. Dim light from outside refuse is difficult terrain in the marked squares.
to locate the Lunar Citadel.) If the case is opened, continues to fill areas 4A and 4F. 4B. Living Quarters. Much of the strangely
foul-smelling liquid covers the floor and the Monsters: Intellect predator, 4 grimlock berserk- shaped furniture in these chambers has been broken
ancient corpse falls out. ers, grimlock hulk, 8 grimlock thugs. or altered for use by the grimlocks. An evasion shard is
F Four nautiloids crawl in a terrarium.
Until the party attracts their notice, the grimlocks among the debris in one of the rooms.
are gathering food in the garden (area 4F) and car- 4C. Grav Tube. This grav tube leads to area 5C.
F An extensive collection of rocks and gems, some rying it back to their living quarters (area 4B). Two
whose alien colors and textures are entirely unfa- 4D. Converted Quarters. As part of their plots,
berserkers and four thugs work near the mushroom the illithids converted this chamber to look like a
miliar to the characters, rests in the case. Ten are forest, with a grimlock hulk guarding them. Two ber-
unworked gems of obvious value (500 gp each). room at an upscale inn. Indoctrinated clones live here,
serkers and four thugs are on their way to and from believing themselves to be in the world until they are
the garden.
An intellect predator lurking near the fully reintroduced to it. Ornate furniture and tapestries
3G. Education Center. Rows of seats fill this garden pond is kept by Kymohl (see area 7) as a pet. decorate the area. One of the tapestries is silk, embroi-
room, which is used to indoctrinate clones. The creature stays near the pond unless it suspects dered with gold thread, and bejeweled (1,000 gp).
In addition to its default functions, the control worthwhile prey is nearby. The other creatures in this Several personal effects have been left behind
panel here can project holograms. A character can encounter do not consider the intellect predator to be by clones already sent into the world. You have an
discern the following extra function for the panel. an ally. opportunity to seed clues here regarding which minor
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characters have already been replaced in the world for Intellect Predator Level 14 Controller 4 Grimlock Berserkers Level 13 Brute
when the party returns home. Medium aberrant magical beast (blind) XP 1,000 Medium natural humanoid (blind) XP 800 each
4E. Central Grav Tubes. These tubes are sealed HP 140; Bloodied 70 Initiative +12 HP 156; Bloodied 78 Initiative +7
off from the basement access hall (area 2A) unless AC 25, Fortitude 26, Reflex 23, Will 27 Perception +18 AC 25, Fortitude 27, Reflex 22, Will 23 Perception +8
Speed 8 Blindsight 10 Speed 6 Blindsight 10
the characters have opened them. They also provide
Immune blinded, gaze effects Immune blinded, gaze effects
access to area 5A on the level above. Standard Actions Traits
The control panel here features the default func- m Claw F At-Will Grimlock Rage
tions and can be used to unseal the tubes. Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +19 vs. AC Whenever its attack bloodies an enemy, the grimlock gains
4F. Garden. This self-sustaining garden was a rec- Hit: 4d6 + 8 damage. 10 temporary hit points.
reation area. None of the vegetation here is familiar to M Body Thief (charm, psychic) F At-Will Standard Actions
the adventurers. The ceiling is 30 feet high. Attack: Melee 1 (one stunned creature); +17 vs. Will m Greataxe (weapon) F At-Will
Hit: 2d6 + 6 psychic damage, and the target is dominated Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +18 vs. AC
(save ends; the target takes a –2 penalty to the saving Hit: 2d12 + 13 damage, or 2d12 + 37 damage on a critical
When the characters enter area 4F, read: throw). While the target is dominated by the predator, the hit.
The doors sweep open to reveal a carpet of lush blue-green predator occupies the target’s space and cannot be tar- M Power Attack (weapon) F At-Will
grass. Multihued toadstools as large as small trees tower geted or take damage. The predator cannot use claw while Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +16 vs. AC
above unfamiliar shrubs and flowers, and a pond spreads out the target is dominated. When the target saves, the preda- Hit: 2d12 + 19 damage, or 2d12 + 43 damage on a critical hit.
in their midst. Wide windows line the walls beneath a ceil- tor appears in the unoccupied space nearest to the target. M Frenzied Attack F At-Will
ing high above, providing a full view of the sky and the rocky Aftereffect: The target is dazed (save ends). Effect: The grimlock uses greataxe twice against a bloodied
R Thought Lance F Recharge 5 6 enemy.
landscape beyond the area.
Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature); +17 vs. Will Skills Athletics +17
Hit: The target is stunned until the end of the predator’s Str 22 (+12) Dex 12 (+7) Wis 15 (+8)
Balcony: This walkway (part of area 5B) overlooks next turn. Con 16 (+9) Int 7 (+4) Cha 9 (+5)
the garden from 20 feet above. C Mind Shock (psychic) F Encounter Alignment evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
Pond: This pool is difficult terrain in squares that Attack: Close burst 5 (enemies in burst); +17 vs. Will Equipment greataxe
touch dry land. It is 5 feet deep in all other squares. Hit: 1d6 + 6 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save
The water is clean and drinkable. ends). In addition, the predator slides the target 1 square.
8 Grimlock Thugs Level 18 Minion Brute
Mushroom Forest: Native to the lost race’s home Minor Actions Medium natural humanoid (blind) XP 500 each
Puppet Master (charm) F At-Will (1/round)
world, these large mushrooms produced spores that Effect: The predator causes the creature dominated by its
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. Initiative +14
exhibited a calming effect on lost race members. The AC 30, Fortitude 31, Reflex 29, Will 29 Perception +14
body thief power to take a move action or a minor action.
thick mushroom stalks are difficult terrain, and they Speed 6 Blindsight 10
Triggered Actions
Immune blinded, gaze effects
provide partial cover to creatures among them. Mind’s Resilience F At-Will
Trigger: The predator takes damage while subject to an
Standard Actions
m Greataxe (weapon) F At-Will
effect that a save can end.
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +23 vs. AC
Effect (No Action): The predator makes a saving throw.
Hit: 15 damage, or 18 damage to a bloodied target.
Skills Stealth +17
Str 24 (+16) Dex 20 (+14) Wis 21 (+14)
Str 16 (+10) Dex 20 (+12) Wis 16 (+10)
Con 14 (+11) Int 7 (+7) Cha 9 (+8)
Con 20 (+15) Int 8 (+6) Cha 22 (+13)
Alignment evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
Alignment chaotic evil Languages telepathy 10
Equipment greataxe
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Grimlock Hulk
Medium natural humanoid (blind)
Level 16 Brute
XP 1,400
5. Dining and Meeting Halls When the characters enter area 5C, read:
Two thick columns stretch to the roof high overhead. The ceil-
HP 190; Bloodied 95 Initiative +12
Combat Encounter Level 17 8,200 XP
ing and walls are set with panoramic windows revealing the
AC 28, Fortitude 30, Reflex 27, Will 27 Perception +12 bleak landscape beyond.
Speed 6 Blindsight 10 Reinforcements enter the building from the cloning
A pair of enclosed bridges can be seen leading to two
Immune blinded, gaze effects center 5 minutes after Ythrilnaw becomes aware of
Trait
more structures in the distance. Although one glimmers with
the party’s presence in area 4.
Bloody Wrath light that suggests activity, the other building appears dark
Light: None. Dim light from outside fills area 5C
The grimlock’s weapon attacks deal 1d10 extra damage to and empty.
even with the lights out.
bloodied targets.
Standard Actions
Monsters: Mind flayer unseen, rakshasa mage, 2
5D. Cafeteria. This large room is a dining hall. A
m Morningstar (weapon) F At-Will grimlock hulks, 2 grimlock bodyguards.
successful DC 25 Perception check as part of a thor-
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. AC The mind flayer and its allies attempt to stalk the
ough search of the area locates a nautiloid crawling
Hit: 3d10 + 15 damage, and the target falls prone. party after the creatures arrive in area 5F. If they do
C Reaping Star (weapon) F At-Will
beneath a cabinet.
not encounter the adventurers, they make their way
Attack: Close burst 1 (enemies in the burst); +21 vs. AC In addition to their default functions, the control
to the balcony (area 5B) to scan the garden for foes. If
Hit: 1d10 + 17 damage, and the grimlock can push the panels here dispense food. A character can discern the
they still spot no enemies, the mind flayer sends four
target 1 square and knock it prone. following additional function for these panels.
grimlocks down the grav tubes in area 5A to scout area
Skills Athletics +20, Endurance +18 Dispense Food: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery
Str 24 (+15) Dex 19 (+12) Wis 19 (+12) 4E. The rakshasa guards the balcony while the illithid
DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character
Con 20 (+13) Int 7 (+6) Cha 9 (+7) lingers in the cafeteria (area 5D) with the remaining
must have successfully discerned this function. Success:
Alignment evil Languages Common, Deep Speech grimlocks, listening for the intruders.
Equipment morningstar
A slot expels a foul-smelling yet edible paste, which
Rakshasa’s Ruse: The rakshasa uses deceptive veil to
provides a character’s food and water needs for 1 day.
appear as a half-elf named Gwen, then claims to have
5E. Meeting Halls. These rooms each contain a
Tactics: As soon as the grimlocks become aware of been abducted by the illithids. As long as the ruse
single large table and six chairs.
the party, they attack and shout out an alarm. Other holds, the rakshasa tries to learn how the characters
The tables have control panels built into them.
grimlocks and the intellect predator join the fray arrived at the base while it leads them to the cafeteria.
In addition to their default functions, these control
as soon as they can move to the area of the battle. If 5A. Central Grav Tubes. These tubes connect
panels also operate visual displays built into the walls.
combat begins outside area 4F, the grimlocks make a with area 4E on the ground level. If the tubes have
The wall displays are not visible until they are acti-
fighting retreat toward that area until all of them have been unsealed between areas 4E and 2A, a creature
vated. A character can discern the following additional
joined the battle. The grimlocks focus their attacks to can proceed all the way to the basement level.
function for a table’s panel.
quickly bloody foes, then benefit from their abilities The control panel here features the default func-
Planning Display: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery
related to that condition. tions and can be used to unseal the tubes.
DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character
At the start of the third round, Ythrilnaw shuts off 5B. Garden Balcony. This balcony looks down on
must have successfully discerned this function. Suc-
the lights throughout the building (areas 1–5) to give the garden (area 4F) 20 feet below.
cess: The wall display shows detailed images of areas
the grimlocks a temporary advantage. Dim light from 5C. Observation Deck. Two large columns sup-
familiar to the characters, places that the illithids have
outside fills areas 4A and 4F even with the lights out. port the ceiling 40 feet overhead. Windows provide
targeted for their future plans. Use these images to
a view of the other two modules (the cloning center
Conclusion plant hooks for future adventures.
and the laboratory) and the access corridors leading to
5F. Access Corridor. The control panel here fea-
Ythrilnaw sends a mind flayer and grimlocks from the them. Lights can be seen in the cloning center, but the
tures the default functions and can operate the open
laboratory to deal with the party. The creatures arrive laboratory is dark.
bulkhead door. In addition, it enables the use of an
5 minutes after combat begins (see area 5). The grav tube here leads to area 4C.
emergency protocol. Another panel 15 squares away
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down the corridor has the same functions. A character Mind Flayer Unseen Level 18 Lurker Rakshasa Mage Level 16 Controller
can discern the following additional function for these Medium aberrant humanoid XP 2,000 Medium natural humanoid XP 1,400
panels. HP 126; Bloodied 63 Initiative +20 HP 153; Bloodied 76 Initiative +10
Barrier Protocol: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery AC 32, Fortitude 28, Reflex 31, Will 30 Perception +18 AC 30, Fortitude 26, Reflex 29, Will 28 Perception +11
Speed 7 Darkvision Speed 6 Low-light vision
DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character
Traits Standard Actions
must have successfully discerned this function. Unseen Focus (illusion) m Claw (teleportation) F At-Will
Success: A bulkhead door next to the control panel The mind flayer is invisible while it has a creature grabbed. Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. AC
shuts, as does the bulkhead next to the other panel Standard Actions Hit: 3d6 + 10 damage, and the rakshasa teleports the target
with the same function. Life support shuts down in m Tentacles F At-Will up to 3 squares.
the 15 squares between these bulkheads, and the Requirement: The mind flayer must not have a creature Miss: The rakshasa can teleport the target 1 square.
atmosphere is instantly evacuated from the area. grabbed. A Misleading Visions (illusion, psychic) F At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. Reflex. This attack Attack: Area burst 1 within 5 (enemies in the burst); +19 vs.
A creature in the area takes 10 cold damage at the
automatically hits a dazed or stunned target. Will
end of each of its turns, and could suffocate (Rules Hit: 1d6 + 6 damage, and the mind flayer grabs the target Hit: 2d10 + 11 psychic damage, and the rakshasa slides the
Compendium, page 180). (escape DC 23) if it does not have a creature grabbed. target up to 4 squares.
M Extract Brain (healing) F At-Will Miss: The rakshasa can slide the target 1 square.
2 Grimlock Hulks Level 16 Brute Attack: Melee 1 (one creature grabbed by the mind flayer); A Visions of Terror (fear, illusion, psychic) F Recharge 5
Medium natural humanoid (blind) XP 1,400 each +21 vs. Fortitude 6
HP 190; Bloodied 95 Initiative +12 Hit: 6d6 + 20 damage, and the target is dazed until it is no Attack: Area burst 1 within 5 (enemies in the burst); +19 vs.
AC 28, Fortitude 30, Reflex 27, Will 27 Perception +12 longer grabbed. If the attack reduces the target to 0 hit Will
Speed 6 Blindsight 10 points or fewer, the target dies and the mind flayer regains Hit: 3d10 + 13 psychic damage, and the target is immobi-
Immune blinded, gaze effects 15 hit points. lized (save ends).
Trait C Mind-Clouding Blast (illusion, psychic) F Encounter Miss: Half damage, and the target is slowed until the end of
Bloody Wrath Attack: Close blast 5 (enemies in the blast); +21 vs. Will the rakshasa’s next turn.
The grimlock’s weapon attacks deal 1d10 extra damage to Hit: 3d8 + 7 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save Minor Actions
bloodied targets. ends). Deceptive Veil (illusion) F At-Will
Standard Actions Miss: Half damage. Effect: The rakshasa disguises itself to appear as a Medium
m Morningstar (weapon) F At-Will Move Actions humanoid until it uses deceptive veil again or until it drops
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. AC Mental Cloak (illusion, teleportation) F Recharge when an to 0 hit points. Other creatures can make a DC 36 Insight
Hit: 3d10 + 15 damage, and the target falls prone. attack hits the mind flayer check to discern that the form is an illusion.
C Reaping Star (weapon) F At-Will Effect: The mind flayer teleports up to its speed, and it Persistent Image (illusion) F At-Will
Attack: Close burst 1 (enemies in the burst); +21 vs. AC becomes invisible until the end of its next turn. Effect: The rakshasa creates an illusion of a Medium or
Hit: 1d10 + 17 damage, and the grimlock can push the Skills Arcana +20, Insight +18, Stealth +21 smaller object or creature in an unoccupied square within
target 1 square and knock it prone. Str 18 (+13) Dex 25 (+16) Wis 18 (+13) 10 squares of it. The illusion can be animate, but it does
Skills Athletics +20, Endurance +18 Con 12 (+10) Int 23 (+15) Cha 22 (+15) not produce noise. The illusion lasts until the end of the
Str 24 (+15) Dex 19 (+12) Wis 19 (+12) Alignment evil Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 20 rakshasa’s next turn. A creature that succeeds on a DC 22
Con 20 (+13) Int 7 (+6) Cha 9 (+7) Insight check can see through the illusion.
Alignment evil Languages Common, Deep Speech Sustain Minor: The illusion persists until the end of the rak-
Equipment morningstar shasa’s next turn, and the rakshasa can move the illusion
up to 6 squares.
Str 12 (+9) Dex 14 (+10) Wis 16 (+11)
Con 17 (+11) Int 24 (+15) Cha 21 (+13)
Alignment evil Languages Common
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2 Grimlock Bodyguards Level 14 Soldier reach the farther control panel and activate the barrier medical table. Success: The target regains hit points as
Medium natural humanoid (blind) XP 1,000 each protocol to hinder the party. If it escapes, it waits in if it spent a healing surge. A creature can benefit from
HP 139; Bloodied 69 Initiative +14 area 9B, joining in any combat there. this treatment only once per day. Failure (12 or lower):
AC 30, Fortitude 27, Reflex 26, Will 25 Perception +11 The grimlocks use their powers to keep attackers The target takes 15 damage.
Speed 6 Blindsight 10
away from the rakshasa and the mind flayer.
Immune blinded, gaze effects
Trait
When the characters enter area 6B, read:
Bodyguard Shift
When the grimlock shifts no more than 1 square, it can
6. Medical Center A gaunt mind flayer with ashen skin toils over strange equip-
ment, making adjustments to control panels. A mass of metal
slide an adjacent enemy marked by it 1 square and shift
Combat Encounter Level 18 10,300 XP arms tipped with blades prods and cuts a bloody humanoid
into the square the enemy vacated. form on a table in the center of the room. Roars and shrieks
Guarded Mark The mind flayer Kymohl uses this area to experiment can be heard down an adjacent corridor.
Any enemy that ends its turn adjacent to the grimlock is with the lost race’s medical technology. Absorbed in its
marked by the grimlock until the end of the enemy’s next work, the illithid pays no attention to intruders until
turn. Any enemy marked by the grimlock cannot gain
6C. Recovery Room. Mind flayers use the beds
they invade this section of the citadel. in this area to nurse immature clones to full health.
combat advantage by flanking any grimlock bodyguard.
Kymohl’s obsession with technology has overridden Devices connected to the control panel here monitor
Standard Actions
m Greatsword (weapon) F At-Will
its ties to the elder brain, making it an outcast. The the clones.
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +19 vs. AC knowledge Kymohl gathers concerning failed clones In addition to its default functions, the control
Hit: 3d10 + 6 damage. is the only reason Ythrilnaw allows it to remain in the panel here also operates the medical records database.
Stick and Shift F At-Will Lunar Citadel. A character can discern the following additional func-
Effect: The grimlock uses greatsword, then shifts 1 square. Light: Dim light.
Triggered Actions
tions for the panel.
Monsters: Kymohl (mind flayer thrall master), 2 Medical Advice: Intelligence DC 17 or Heal DC
C Mindlash (psychic) F At-Will
thoon hulks. 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character must
Trigger: An enemy within 5 squares of and marked by the
grimlock makes an attack that does not include the grim-
Using the technology here, Kymohl has created have successfully discerned this function, and the
lock as a target. a pair of thoon hulks. These enraged creatures are target for which advice is sought must be reclining on
Effect (Immediate Interrupt): Close burst 5 (the triggering sealed in the isolation room (area 6D). a medical table. Success: The panel’s user receives a +5
enemy); 10 psychic damage 6A. Medical Lab. Displays on the walls show ana- bonus to the next Heal check performed on the target.
Str 23 (+13) Dex 20 (+12) Wis 19 (+11) tomical graphics of a variety of familiar and unfamiliar
Con 19 (+11) Int 11 (+7) Cha 11 (+7)
Patient Records: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery
creatures. Medical supplies fill several shelves here. DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character
Alignment evil Languages Common, Deep Speech
Any search locates three stimulant injectors. must have successfully discerned this function. Suc-
Equipment mismatched plate armor, greatsword
6B. Operating Chamber. Kymohl is here, using cess: The panel displays images of clones that have
the area’s medical machinery to dissect a failed clone recently recovered in this room, potentially revealing
Tactics: The rakshasa employs misleading visions
of Kelm Semersted. If the real Kelm is with the party, mind flayer spies back in the world. Use this informa-
and claw to either force foes toward the grimlocks or
he screams uncontrollably, then faints. tion to plant adventure hooks—or to reveal that one of
over the balcony. It reserves visions of terror to cover the
In addition to its default functions, the control the adventurers is a clone (see the “One of Us” sidebar,
mind flayer’s retreat.
panel here also operates the medical machinery. A page 3).
Opening with mind-clouding blast, the mind flayer
character can discern the following additional func- 6D. Isolation Room. This room served as a quar-
then uses its tentacles to grab a target for its extract brain
tion for the panel. antine chamber. A single bed is molded into one of its
power. Using mental cloak, it performs hit-and-run
Administer Medical Aid: Intelligence DC 17 oddly soft walls. The thoon hulks created by Kymohl
attacks. If the fight goes poorly, the mind flayer retreats
or Heal DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The are confined here.
through the access corridor (area 5F), attempting to
character must have successfully discerned this func-
tion, and the target of the aid must be reclining on a
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Face of the Moon
2 Mind Flayer Level 14 Elite Controller (Leader) C Mind Blast (psychic) F Recharge 5 6 2 Thoon Hulks Level 22 Brute
Thrall Masters Attack: Close blast 5 (enemies in the blast); +17 vs. Will Large aberrant humanoid, mind flayer XP 4,150 each
Medium aberrant humanoid XP 2,000 each Hit: 3d8 + 10 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save HP 255; Bloodied 127 Initiative +18
HP 260; Bloodied 130 Initiative +9 ends). If the mind flayer scores a critical hit against the AC 34, Fortitude 35, Reflex 33, Will 32 Perception +19
AC 28, Fortitude 23, Reflex 27, Will 26 Perception +10 target, the target is dominated instead of dazed (save Speed 6 Darkvision
Speed 7 Darkvision ends). Resist 10 psychic
Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1 Miss: Half damage. Standard Actions
Standard Actions Minor Actions m Eviscerate F At-Will
m Tentacles F At-Will Thrall Strike (charm) F At-Will (1/round) Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +27 vs. AC
Requirement: The mind flayer must not have a creature Effect: Ranged sight (one ally or creature dominated by the Hit: 4d10 + 16 damage (6d10 + 16 against a creature
grabbed. mind flayer). The target makes a basic attack as a free grabbed by the Thoon hulk).
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +17 vs. Reflex. This attack action. C Mind Blast (psychic) F Recharge 6
automatically hits a dazed or stunned target. Triggered Actions Attack: Close blast 5 (enemies in blast); +25 vs. Will
Hit: 3d6 + 5 damage, and the mind flayer grabs the target Teleport Thrall (teleportation) F At-Will Hit: 1d12 + 7 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save
(escape DC 21) if it does not have a creature grabbed. Trigger: An enemy targets the mind flayer with a melee ends).
M Manipulate Brain F At-Will attack. R Call of Thoon (charm, psychic) F Encounter
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature grabbed by the mind flayer); Effect (Immediate Interrupt): Close burst 5 (one ally or crea- Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature); +25 vs. Will
+17 vs. Fortitude ture in the burst dominated by the mind flayer). The mind Hit: 4d12 + 20 psychic damage.
Hit: 4d6 + 10 damage, and the target is stunned until it flayer teleports up to 5 squares and teleports the target Effect: The Thoon hulk pulls the target 10 squares to a
is no longer grabbed by the mind flayer. If this attack to the square it vacated. The triggering attack targets the square adjacent to it.
reduces the target to 0 hit points or fewer, the mind flayer target instead of the mind flayer. Minor Actions
does one of the following. Skills Arcana +18, Insight +15 M Tentacles F At-Will
Eat Brain (healing): The target dies, and the mind flayer Str 14 (+9) Dex 15 (+9) Wis 17 (+10) Requirement: The Thoon hulk must not have a creature
regains 20 hit points. Con 10 (+7) Int 23 (+13) Cha 20 (+12) grabbed.
Thrall Surgery (charm): Instead of dropping to 0 hit points Alignment evil Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 20 Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +25 vs. Reflex
or fewer, the target remains at 1 hit point. It is dominated Hit: The Thoon hulk grabs the target.
until the mind flayer dies. Triggered Actions
C Psychic Explosion (psychic) F Encounter
Trigger: The Thoon hulk drops to 0 hit points.
6E. Triage Center. Gurneys in this chamber are Tactics: The moment it becomes aware of intrud- Attack (No Action): Close burst 2 (enemies in burst); +26 vs.
laden with the remains of creatures on which Kymohl ers in area 6, Kymohl uses the control panel to open Will
has experimented. Some of the corpses might resem- the door to area 6D, releasing the thoon hulks. If Hit: Ongoing 15 psychic damage (save ends).
ble minor characters familiar to the adventurers, but prevented from doing so, the illithid outcast negoti- Str 28 (+20) Dex 24 (+18) Wis 26 (+19)
their deformity makes positive identification difficult ates with the party, expressing an interest in any lost Con 25 (+18) Int 6 (+19) Cha 23 (+17)
(DC 23 Heal check). The adventurers can clearly note race technology the adventurers might be carrying. In Alignment evil Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 10
bodies that are based on the same person, providing exchange for several such items, Kymohl might permit
another clue to the illithids’ cloning scheme. the characters to pass unmolested through area 6E, target’s brain. Kymohl keeps the thoon hulks close to
A character who succeeds on a DC 17 Dun- confident that the elder brain and its guards can deal dangerous party members using teleport thrall.
geoneering check notices that most of the bodies’ with them. Despite their frenzied appearance, the thoon hulks
brains have not been consumed, contrary to expecta- In combat, Kymohl employs mind blast before using obey Kymohl, fighting to the death to protect him.
tion for the victims of mind flayers. tentacles to concentrate on dazed or dominated oppo- They use call of thoon to divide their opposition and
The control panel here can be used to unseal the nents. It creates dominated thralls with manipulate keep foes from reaching their master.
bulkhead that leads to area 7. brain unless it is bloodied, in which case it eats the
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L aboratory and Mind Flayer Level 14 Elite Controller (Leader) C Mind Blast (psychic) F Recharge 5 6
Thrall Master Attack: Close blast 5 (enemies in the blast); +17 vs. Will
Cloning Center Medium aberrant humanoid XP 2,000 Hit: 3d8 + 10 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save
HP 260; Bloodied 130 Initiative +9 ends). If the mind flayer scores a critical hit against the
Much of the equipment in the two-story laboratory AC 28, Fortitude 23, Reflex 27, Will 26 Perception +10 target, the target is dominated instead of dazed (save
building was shut down when the lost race departed. Speed 7 Darkvision ends).
The illithids continue experimenting with what Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1 Miss: Half damage.
remains, and they have converted the space into living Standard Actions Minor Actions
m Tentacles F At-Will Thrall Strike (charm) F At-Will (1/round)
quarters for them, their guards, and the elder brain.
Requirement: The mind flayer must not have a creature Effect: Ranged sight (one ally or creature dominated by the
Ythrilnaw has taken great care with the cloning grabbed. mind flayer). The target makes a basic attack as a free
machinery, and that area of the citadel remains in Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +17 vs. Reflex. This attack action.
excellent shape. Only the ulitharid and its bodyguards automatically hits a dazed or stunned target. Triggered Actions
are permitted in the heart of the complex. Hit: 3d6 + 5 damage, and the mind flayer grabs the target Teleport Thrall (teleportation) F At-Will
(escape DC 21) if it does not have a creature grabbed. Trigger: An enemy targets the mind flayer with a melee
M Manipulate Brain F At-Will attack.
7. Laboratory Upper Level Attack: Melee 1 (one creature grabbed by the mind flayer); Effect (Immediate Interrupt): Close burst 5 (one ally or crea-
Combat Encounter Level 18 10,000 XP +17 vs. Fortitude ture in the burst dominated by the mind flayer). The mind
Hit: 4d6 + 10 damage, and the target is stunned until it is flayer teleports up to 5 squares and teleports the target
no longer grabbed by the mind flayer. If this attack reduces to the square it vacated. The triggering attack targets the
The illithids experiment with the lost race’s dimen-
the target to 0 hit points or fewer, the mind flayer does target instead of the mind flayer.
sional warping technology here. one of the following. Skills Arcana +18, Insight +15
Light: Dim light. Eat Brain (healing): The target dies, and the mind flayer Str 14 (+9) Dex 15 (+9) Wis 17 (+10)
Monsters: 2 mind flayer thrall masters, 6 ironskin regains 20 hit points. Con 10 (+7) Int 23 (+13) Cha 20 (+12)
warriors. Thrall Surgery (charm): Instead of dropping to 0 hit points Alignment evil Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 20
The upper level of the laboratory houses the mind or fewer, the target remains at 1 hit point. It is domi-
flayers and their guards, as well as several chambers nated until the mind flayer dies.
containing lost race technology. Currently, the illithids
are experimenting with using the lost race’s transit and dine here. Unlike the illithids, the minotaurs are such a connection, the portal produces a strange effect
system to reach the Far Realm. They have isolated happy to eat failed clones. Among their possessions instead (see below).
themselves while conducting this experiment, so are 1,000 gp in various containers and a bejeweled
Ythrilnaw cannot warn them of intruders. gold idol of Baphomet (3,000 gp). When the characters enter area 7D, read:
The mind flayers are initially in area 7D. Four of the 7C. Illithid Chambers. These quarters house illi- Hanging in the air, a swirling field of light offers glimpses
ironskin warrior minotaurs are supposed to patrol the thids, and the rooms are filled with an assortment of of a disturbing reality of twisting tentacles. One mind flayer
corridors between the various chambers, but only two devices the mind flayers use for eating and personal manipulates a control panel while another stares at the
currently do so. Two others are in the psychic lab (area grooming. One such set of illithid cutlery is platinum writhing portal. Its tentacles squirm as if it is communicat-
7E), playing with the machine. The remaining mino- and set with rubies (2,500 gp). A box in one of the ing with its cohort.
taurs are resting in their lair (area 7B). If the guards rooms also contains 70 pp.
spot intruders, they shout out to raise the alarm. 7D. Portal Lab. This lab is used to conduct experi- In addition to its default functions, the control
7A. Grav Tube. This tube leads down to area 8A. ments with the lost race’s portal technology. The panel here operates the portal. A character can dis-
The control panel here features the default functions. illithids have opened a semifunctional portal to the cern the following additional function for the panel.
7B. Minotaur Lair. Rough bedding and bloody Far Realm. Because the technology cannot support Close Portal: Intelligence DC 17 or Thievery DC
stains on the floor indicate that the minotaurs sleep 22 (standard action). Requirement: The character must
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To
UPPER LEVEL
7G
7E
To
Area 5
7F
7D
8A
8B
LOWER LEVEL
9b
8D 8C
8E
10 9A
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have successfully discerned this function. Success: The 4. Calm: The creature gains a +2 power bonus to If one of the mind flayers is slain, the other
portal disappears. Failure: The portal pulls each crea- ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws. attempts to flee by way of the functioning grav tube
ture in the room 1 square. 5. Confidence: The creature is immune to fear effects (area 7A) to reach the elder brain.
Far Realm Portal: The field of light is a portal to the and gains a +2 power bonus to attack rolls.
Far Realm. If a nonaberrant creature enters the por- 6. Love: The creature treats one random creature 6 Ironskin Warriors Level 14 Soldier
tal’s space, that creature is removed from play until that it can see as a dear friend. The creature is sus- Medium natural humanoid, minotaur XP 1,000 each
the start of its next turn. At the start of its next turn, ceptible to Bluff checks and Diplomacy checks from HP 140; Bloodied 70 Initiative +15
the creature returns in a nonhazardous, unoccupied the friend, taking a –4 penalty to Insight checks made AC 30, Fortitude 27, Reflex 26, Will 25 Perception +13
square of your choice in the room, then takes 15 psy- against such checks. The creature does everything it Speed 6
Resist 10 poison
chic damage, falls prone, and is dazed (save ends). can to aid the friend, both in and out of combat.
Standard Actions
7E. Psychic Lab. This lab houses a device to 7F. Chemical Lab. The devices here were among
m Greataxe (weapon) F At-Will
manipulate clones’ psyches. The lost race never the first the illithids experimented with, leading to Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +19 vs. AC
completed its experiments, so the device remains disastrous results. A ruined machine now continually Hit: 2d12 + 9 damage, and the target is slowed and cannot
unreliable. leaks glowing goo that has dissolved a hole in the floor shift (save ends both).
In addition to its default functions, the control panel and pours down into area 8E. (If the carrion crawler M Goring Charge F At-Will
operates the psychic machinery. A character can dis- in that area hears movement, it readies an action to Effect: The warrior charges and makes the following attack
in place of a melee basic attack.
cern the following additional function for the panel. attack creatures that fall into the habitat.)
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. AC
Psychic Programming: Intelligence DC 17 or The control panel here has shut down and cannot
Hit: 2d10 + 11 damage, and the target falls prone.
Thievery DC 22 (standard action). Requirement: The perform even default functions. C Heart of the Gorgon (poison) F Encounter
character must have successfully discerned this func- Caustic Goo: Any creature that enters or starts its Attack: Close blast 5 (enemies in blast); +17 vs. Fortitude
tion. Success: The machines in this room hum and turn in the goo takes 15 acid damage. A creature can Hit: 3d6 + 5 poison damage, and the target is slowed (save
project light into the space between them. If no crea- take this damage only once per turn. Any creature that ends).
ture is in a square between the machines, nothing else comes in contact with the goo glows for 5 minutes, First Failed Saving Throw: The target is immobilized instead
of slowed (save ends).
happens. If one or more creatures move between the taking a –10 penalty to Stealth checks.
Second Failed Saving Throw: The target is petrified.
machines, roll a d6 for each creature to determine the 7G. Damaged Grav Tubes. The grav tubes here
Triggered Actions
effect. Each effect lasts for 5 minutes. have malfunctioned, indicated by a flashing red light. M Ironskin Ferocity
1. Hatred: The creature treats one random creature Any creature that steps into a malfunctioning tube Trigger: The warrior drops to 0 hit points.
that it can see as an enemy. A successful DC 23 Bluff falls 20 feet to area 8D, alerting the elder brain. Effect (Immediate Interrupt): The warrior uses greataxe. If the
check, Diplomacy check, or Intimidate check con- attack hits, the target is immobilized until the end of the
vinces the creature that its belief is erroneous, ending Tactics: When confronted by intruders, the ironskin target’s next turn.
Skills Athletics +18, Endurance +17
the effect. warriors use heart of the gorgon to slow the adventurers
Str 23 (+13) Dex 23 (+13) Wis 23 (+13)
2. Fear: The creature takes a –2 penalty to attack while shouting for reinforcements. When the other
Con 20 (+12) Int 20 (+12) Cha 20 (+12)
rolls. In addition, if it is bloodied, it flees from combat. minotaurs arrive, they enter combat with goring charge. Alignment evil Languages Common
A successful DC 23 Bluff check or Diplomacy check The thrall masters remain out of melee range, rely- Equipment greataxe
calms the creature, ending the effect. ing on mind blast and thrall strike as they evade their
3. Despair: The creature sobs uncontrollably, grant- foes, fall back, and wait for mind blast to recharge.
ing combat advantage. A successful DC 23 Bluff Given the opportunity, the mind flayers force foes into
check, Diplomacy check, or Intimidate check calms the chemical lab (area 7F).
the creature, ending the effect.
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8. Laboratory Lower Level Elder Brain Level 23 Elite Controller M Flailing Warp F At-Will
Large aberrant magical beast (blind) XP 10,200 Effect: The elder brain uses tentacle warp three times, making
Combat Encounter Level 19 13,400 XP
HP 436; Bloodied 218 Initiative +17 each attack against a different target.
AC 37, Fortitude 33, Reflex 35, Will 37 Perception +19 C Mind Burst (psychic) F Recharge 5 6
The elder brain lives and schemes here. Speed 2, teleport 6 Blindsight 10 Attack: Close burst 5 (enemies in burst); +27 vs. Will
Light: None other than dim light in area 8E. Light Immune blinded, gaze effects Hit: 3d8 + 6 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save
panels do not function here. Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1 ends).
Monsters: Elder brain, enormous carrion crawler. Traits Miss: Half damage.
8A. Grav Tube. This grav tube leads to area 7A. O Warp Reality F Aura 5 Minor Actions
8B. Storage. Ythrilnaw has a collection of tech- Any enemy that teleports while within the aura takes 10 C Sensory Overload (psychic, teleportation) F Recharge 5
damage. 6
nological items here for experimentation. Arrayed on
Absorb Thoughts Attack: Close burst 5 (enemies in burst); +27 vs. Will
several tables are two greater sleep grenades, two stimu- Whenever a nonminion ally within 10 squares of the elder Hit: 2d8 + 6 psychic damage, and the target is blinded and
lant injectors, and a level 19 blaster rifle T. brain drops to 0 hit points, the elder brain makes a saving deafened until the end of the elder brain’s next turn. The
8C. Ythrilnaw’s Chamber. This room is furnished throw or a power recharge roll. elder brain then teleports the target 3 squares.
with the unusual trappings of a mind flayer, such as Unseeing Telepathy Triggered Actions
a furnishing of whorled stone that looks designed for The elder brain can communicate with other creatures Baleful Transfer F At-Will
reclining and similar designs on the wall. A large stone telepathically even if it does not have line of effect to those Trigger: The elder brain saves against an effect.
creatures. Effect (No Action): An enemy within 5 squares of the elder
chest here contains platinum cutlery (500 gp), 90 pp,
Standard Actions brain is subjected to the same effect the elder brain saved
and an unusual luminescent jewel (2,500 gp). m Tentacle Warp (teleportation) F At-Will against (save ends).
8D. Brain Pool. This open space has been con- Attack: Melee 3 (one creature); +26 vs. AC Skills Arcana +25, Bluff +24, Diplomacy +24, Dungeoneer-
verted to serve as a lair for the elder brain. This Hit: 1d8 + 8 damage. The elder brain teleports the target 3 ing +24,
creature normally rests in its pool, and it attacks squares, and the target is immobilized until the end of the Str 23 (+17) Dex 23 (+17) Wis 26 (+19)
intruders the moment they are detected. elder brain’s next turn. Con 26 (+19) Int 28 (+20) Cha 27 (+19)
Alignment evil Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 50
When the characters enter area 8D, read:
The atmosphere here is warm and thick with the odor of stag- Brain Pool: Because the elder brain and Ythrilnaw Bulkhead Door: This door is normally sealed. The
nant water. The walls are dark and glossy, and they are cast of have determined that their operation cannot currently nearby control panel can open it.
a strange material impressed with unsettling spiral patterns. A sustain more mind flayers, the brain pool is seething Damaged Grav Tubes: These tubes have malfunc-
railing blocks a drop into a larger adjoining chamber. with mind flayer tadpoles desperate for hosts. These tioned, as indicated by a flashing red light. Characters
Dominating the room is an expansive pool, within which illithid infants magnify psychic trauma. Nonaberrant climbing the tubes can reach area 7G above.
glistens an immense, quivering brain draped in tentacles. It creatures have vulnerable 10 psychic while in the pool. Treasure: One of a pair of dimension hoops sits at the
shudders as if in response to your presence, and the air fills A creature that ends its turn in the pool is subject edge of the pool. It is linked to the one in Ythrilnaw’s
with palpable thoughts of pure hate. to the following attack as young illithids swarm in a possession. If the characters discover how the hoop is
hungry frenzy. used, anything they send through arrives in area 10.
Perception DC 23: The character sees tadpole- 8E. Creature Habitat. This sunken habitat for-
M Feeding Frenzy F At-Will merly held unusual creatures for study. It is now the
like creatures swimming throughout the pool.
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +20 vs. Fortitude domain of an enormous carrion crawler trained to the
Hit: 4d6 + 12 damage, and the target is slowed (save ends).
Aberrant Walls: Illithids sculpted the walls to ema- illithids’ service. Plants and grass here are of the same
First Failed Saving Throw: The target is also dazed (save
nate an aberrant aura. Nonaberrant creatures in the ends both).
unfamiliar types found in area 4F. The floor is 20 feet
room take a –2 penalty to saving throws. Second Failed Saving Throw: The target is dominated by the below the railing.
elder brain (save ends).
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Ulitharid Level 21 Elite Controller Minor Actions 2 Tanarukk Steel Warriors Level 18 Soldier
Medium aberrant humanoid, mind flayer XP 6,400 R Compulsion (charm, psychic) F At-Will (1/round) Medium elemental humanoid (demon), orc XP 2,000 each
HP 386; Bloodied 193 Initiative +16 Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature); +24 vs. Will. This attack HP 177; Bloodied 88 Initiative +13
AC 35, Fortitude 32, Reflex 34, Will 33 Perception +17 does not provoke opportunity attacks. AC 33, Fortitude 30, Reflex 29, Will 30 Perception +12
Speed 7 Darkvision Hit: 3d8 + 16 psychic damage, and the ulitharid slides the Speed 5 Darkvision
Saving Throws +2; Action Points 1 target up to the target’s speed. Resist 5 fire
Standard Actions Miss: The ulitharid slides the target up to 2 squares. Standard Actions
m Tentacles F At-Will Triggered Actions m Broadsword (weapon) F At-Will
Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +24 vs. Reflex. This attack One Step Ahead (teleportation) F At-Will Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +23 vs. AC
automatically hits a dazed or stunned target. Trigger: An enemy enters a square adjacent to the ulitharid. Hit: 3d10 + 10 damage.
Hit: 4d6 + 15 damage, and the ulitharid grabs the target Effect (Immediate Reaction): The ulitharid teleports up to 5 Effect: The target is marked until the end of the steel war-
(escape DC 26) if it isn’t already grabbing a creature. squares, and the triggering enemy grants combat advan- rior’s next turn.
M Manipulate Brain F At-Will tage until the end of its next turn. r Crossbow (weapon) F At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature grabbed by the ulitharid); +24 Manipulate Reality (teleportation) F Encounter Attack: Ranged 15/30 (one creature); +23 vs. AC
vs. Fortitude Trigger: An enemy hits the ulitharid with an attack. Hit: 3d8 + 6 damage.
Hit: 4d8 + 18 damage, and the target is stunned until it is Effect (Immediate Interrupt): Close burst 5 (one ally or crea- M Burning Cage (fire, weapon) F Recharge 5 6
not grabbed by the ulitharid. If this attack drops the target ture in the burst dominated by the ulitharid); the ulitharid Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +21 vs. Reflex
below 1 hit point, the ulitharid does one of the following. teleports up to 10 squares and teleports the target to Hit: 3d10 + 20 fire damage, and the target takes 5 fire
Eat Brain (healing): The target dies, and the ulitharid the space it vacated. The triggering attack hits the target damage whenever it enters a square during its turn (save
regains 30 hit points. instead of the ulitharid. ends).
Thrall Surgery (charm): Instead of dropping below 1 hit Skills Arcana +23, Insight +22 Triggered Actions
point, the target drops to 1 hit point, and it is dominated Str 20 (+15) Dex 22 (+16) Wis 24 (+17) M Combat Awareness F At-Will
until the ulitharid dies. Con 17 (+13) Int 26 (+18) Cha 23 (+16) Trigger: An enemy marked by the steel warrior shifts or
C Mind Blast (psychic) F Recharge 5 6 Alignment evil Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 20 makes an attack that does not include the steel warrior as
Attack: Close blast 5 (enemies in the blast); +24 vs. Will a target.
Hit: 4d8 + 16 psychic damage, and the target is dazed (save Effect (Opportunity Action): The steel warrior can use broad-
ends). sword against the triggering enemy.
Miss: Half damage, and the target grants combat advantage Indomitable Fury
(save ends). Trigger: The steel warrior drops to 0 hit points for the first
time.
ulitharid’s extreme familiarity, it uses the control panel sample a creature’s flesh to create a clone. A creature Effect (No Action): The steel warrior instead has 1 hit point,
and it gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls and a +4 bonus to
to perform the preceding functions as minor actions within a pod takes 15 damage at the start of each of
damage rolls until the end of the encounter.
instead of standard actions. Ythrilnaw still needs to its turns. When the creature takes damage, the near- Skills Athletics +20
use a standard action to operate any mechanical arm est empty clone pod starts to produce a clone in the Str 22 (+15) Dex 15 (+11) Wis 17 (+12)
in the citadel. image of the creature in the duplication pod. Con 25 (+16) Int 8 (+8) Cha 10 (+9)
Mechanical Arm: A mechanical arm is mounted Walkway: This walkway is 50 feet above the floor Alignment chaotic evil Languages Abyssal, Common
in the center of the ceiling. It functions like the ones in under the inner platform. A railing on the walkway Equipment plate armor, heavy shield, broadsword, crossbow,
areas 9A and 9B. gives anyone forced to the edge a +5 bonus to the 10 bolts
Platform: The central platform is 10 feet higher saving throw to avoid falling over.
than the outer walkway and 60 feet above the floor. A
railing gives anyone forced to the edge a +5 bonus to
the saving throw to avoid falling over.
Pods: The pods here function like those in areas
9A and 9B. The blue pods are duplication pods that
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8 Undeveloped Clones
Medium natural humanoid
Level 18 Minion Brute
XP 500 each
C onclusion L ost R ace D evices
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. Initiative +12 The characters can use the transit beacon as described When items of the lost race are first discovered, their
AC 30, Fortitude 30, Reflex 30, Will 29 Perception +9 in area 1 to return home. The adventure does not end function is unclear. Witnessing a device’s operation
Speed 6
there, though. The illithids might already have cloned can still leave its means of control uncertain. Charac-
Standard Actions
m Slam F At-Will
and replaced many powerful individuals, and even ters have to experiment with such devices.
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +23 vs. AC with no more clones forthcoming, the mind flayers are
Hit: 16 damage, and the clone grabs the target (escape DC
23).
free to activate their various sleepers and sow chaos in
the world.
Experimentation
Str 16 (+12) Dex 16 (+12) Wis 10 (+9) Any characters captured by the illithids are slated A character can spend a short rest experimenting with
Con 12 (+10) Int 10 (+9) Cha 12 (+10) for cloning. They might escape the cells, but they a device, making an Intelligence check (moderate DC
Alignment unaligned Languages understands Common
must recover the transit beacon before they can return of the item’s level) to determine the result. A character
home. A darker plot might see the characters awak- can attempt to use an item without experimentation, but
Tactics: Ythrilnaw first opens all the pods in this ening in the world after capture, with no memory of doing so imposes a –10 penalty to the Intelligence check.
room as a minor action, releasing the undeveloped what happened. Instead of searching for other agents, A character receives a +2 bonus to the check if he or she
clones within them. It relies on its minions and body- they must instead determine whether they are clones, has seen the device previously used, or if he or she is
guards to hold foes at bay while it uses the mechanical and if they are somehow aiding the illithids’ plans. capable of understanding the language of the lost race.
arm or compulsion to force victims into duplication If Ythrilnaw is successful in its attempt to flee the Success: The character understands how to use the
pods. If pressed by foes, it attacks with tentacles and citadel, the adventurers are stranded on the moon for device and can use it.
mind blast, saving manipulate reality in case it needs to three days while the ulitharid gathers Underdark allies, Failure: The character fails to comprehend how to
flee. then returns to attack. While stranded, the characters use the device and cannot benefit from its properties
The tanarukks block the staircases and use burning can sustain themselves using the food dispensers in or activate its powers. The character can try again,
cage on any character who tries to move to the main area 5D. If permanently stranded (perhaps because with a cumulative –4 penalty to the check.
platform. The clones flank with the tanarukks when- you decide to not have Ythrilnaw return, saving the uli- Failure by 5 or More: The character suffers the result
ever possible. tharid as a foe for a different day), another group with of the device’s malfunction property without need-
If Ythrilnaw is forced to flee when confronted in a transit beacon teleports to the citadel. What their ing any other trigger, such as rolling a 1 or suffering a
area 10, it activates the clones in whichever part of motives might be is left to your discretion. critical hit. This consumes the item if it is consumable.
area 9 the characters have yet to enter. The ulitharid
then flees through that room, trusting the clones to Dimension Hoops Level 17 Uncommon
hinder the party. Each of these thin metal rings is approximately one foot in
Ythrilnaw flees to area 8D, protecting the elder diameter. An emerald crystal slides freely around each hoop.
Doors in Space and Time
brain if it is still alive. Otherwise, it tries to evade the Wondrous Item 65,000 gp
party in the Lunar Citadel, rallying any surviving It is possible that the portals to the Lunar Citadel Property
thralls to mount a counterattack. If it has no allies to did more than transport the characters across a vast ✦ These matched hoops are linked. When an object (up to a
distance. The adventurers might also have traversed maximum of 15 pounds) is placed in one hoop, roll a d20.
rally, Ythrilnaw attempts to recover the transit beacon
time or dimensions. A radical twist in the campaign On a result of 2–20, the object placed in the hoop disap-
and flee the citadel. pears and reappears in the other hoop instantly, regardless
could return the characters to a world that is differ-
of the distance between them, as long as both hoops are on
ent from the one they left. You might use this as an the same plane.
excuse to change the nature of your campaign in any ✦ Malfunction: On a result of 1 on the d20 roll, any creature
way you see fit. adjacent to either hoop takes 10 force damage.
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Developer
Chris Sims
Editor
Scott Fitzgerald Gray
Managing Editors
Kim Mohan, Miranda Horner
Senior Producer
Christopher Perkins
Producers
Greg Bilsland, Stan!
Art Director
Kate Irwin
Illustrators
Eric Belisle, Miles Johnston
Cartographer
Jason A Engle
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