The world born dead

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dungeons & dragons

 

 

the world born dead

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INTRODUCTION

ATROPUS, THE WORLD BORN DEAD, IS the shame of the Gods. A cast off failure of their early creations, a mistake which fills them with not just shame, but fear. It is a sentient planet of undeath, inhabited by all manner of undead. This entity of God-like power floats through the vast cosmic dark, now approaching Toril. The purpose of this being is to end all life in multiverse, to end existence, leaving only the mindless undead to wander until they too become dust. But why approach Toril now after aeons of drifting in dormancy through space? What or who has awakened this malevolent force? Sixteen years ago, a necromancer named Buhmal, who was a disciple of the lich Acererak, began searching for a way to summon Atropus. Fourteen years ago, he obtained a copy of the Book of Vile Darkness, which contained a spell that could awaken and summon Atropus, “Apocalypse from the Sky”. Buhmal was able to cast the spell to call Atropus from across the vastness of the cosmos eleven years ago. There was no way to know if the spell had worked until now. Approximately three months ago the consistent reports of the dead rising could no longer be ignored as random. The followers of Buhmal believe Atropus heard the call and is approaching. The rest Faerun is freightened, uncertain of what malevolent force is behind this plague of undeath.

Story Overview

Buhmal was a follower of the evil archlich, Acerarak. He helped prepare the Tomb of the Nine Gods. It was in building this dungeon that he, among others, aided the lich in the creation of the Soulmonger. A device that was used to nourish a creature Acererak found on the negative energy plane, an atropal. Buhmal became fascinated with the creature, desiring to understand what it truly was, how to came into being, and what its existence could mean. When a group of adventurers braved the Tomb of the Nine Gods, destroyed the Soulmonger, killed the atropal, and destroyed Acererak, sending him back to his phylactery somewhere lost in the vast cosmos, Buhmal hid in the tomb rejoicing in the defeat of his master. Amidst the chaos of Acererak’s defeat and the victory of the adventurers’, he took what he could that remained of the slayed atropal, including its umbilical cord, and began his studies into the nature of this being. He recalled vague statements made by Acererak regarding the creature. On one of his journeys through the cosmos, Acererak stumbled upon an atropal which he brought it to Toril, ensconced it in the cradle of his tomb, and began feeding it necromantic energy, hoping to transform it into a deity: one able to claim dominion over death. Unleashed on Toril, the newborn death god would glut itself on life until none, but the dead walked the world. He discovered an atropal is a ghastly, a cast-off piece of detritus of some “evil god,” cast adrift and abandoned long ago. Since an atropal was never truly alive, it could not be raised from the dead or resurrected by any means. Even divine intervention could not breathe true life into this hateful, miserable horror. This “evil god” is Atropus. Buhmal experimented with the remains of the ghastly creature and made a remarkable discovery. The umbilical cord of the atropal, he found, was tethered to the negative energy plane. He devised a means of strengthening the link between the planes and began reanimating the dead to send messages into this world of undeath. The visions intensified, granting Buhmal a unique understanding of not only the creature with whom he had become so fascinated, but much more. He was shown distant events in the cosmos and throughout time. The creation of the Gods, the creation of life itself, and how the very Gods responsible for existence betrayed and abandoned their own creations. He went mad with a deep hate he could not explain. The visions became so powerful that he became aware of a dark presence beyond the stars. In time, Buhmal made a connection that was even unknown to Acererak. Atropus was not a myth. But dwelt in the vast cosmos. And that the atropal was a piece of “The World Born Dead” cast off. Atropus did not wish to be a God, or have its child ascend to Godhood. Acererak’s hope for the atropal was folley. Atropus was caught a perpetual state of hatred, rage, abandonment, and sought to end all life, even that of the Gods. Once all life ceased to exist; Atropus too would finally be unmade. Leaving only the mindless undead to wander throughout the cosmos until degrading into nothing. Nothing would remain but vast emptiness into eternity.

 

 

 

 

Buhmal now saw his true purpose, to bring about the end of all things through awakening Atropus. Toril would just be the beginning. Atropus was the restorative force of death, of un-life, the end of creation. Nearly all that he had ever known promoted the continuance of life, and now he sought to bring balance, to assist Atropus in bringing the end. The existence of Buhaml went unnoticed by Atropus. As the Godlike creature thought nothing of Buhmal. Yet Buhmal used his connection to the negative energy plane, that which he learned from Acererak, and his visions (which were the dreams of a dormant Atropus), to devise a mean to awaken Atropus and summon it to Toril. The Book of Vile Darkness. Why and when had Atropus gone dormant? For milennia, perhaps the being became lost in a hatred for life beyond comprehension that it did not take notice of the passage of time. But soon to be no longer. In time Buhmal gathered followers who believed his vision, forming the The Order of the Dark Star. With their aid, he sought to obtain a copy of the Book of Vile Darkness, which contained a spell to awaken and summon Atropus. He eventually succeeded in obtaining the book fourteen years ago, and used a summoning spell “Apocalypse from the Sky” eleven years ago. There was no way to know if the spell had worked until now. Over three months ago the consistent reports of dead rising could no longer be ignored as a coincidence. They now believe Atropus heard the call and is approaching.

What is Atropus?

Every sentient mortal race and culture has some explanation for its existence, some story or myth to describe the creation of the world and the birth of the ancestors. Since it is a rare case when two myths are identical, scholars of the subject sift through the rhetoric for commonalities believed to be present in all legends. Complications arise due to regional variations, translation errors, and the simple scarcity of reliable sources, all making the process of divining the roots of creation a daunting task. Certain scholars have made breakthroughs by comparing dwarf creation myths, the oral tradition of the gray elves, and the collected writings of the lich Acererak, recovered from a strange tower deep in the Plane of Shadow. It has also been inked into the pages of The Book of Vile Darkness by dark wizards and necormancers througout the centuries. The accounts are disturbing, pointing to some primeval mishap — a horrible divine accident leading to the creation of something called the World Born Dead. According to the writings, creation was the result of a “prime mover.” This being’s identity varies with the particular story. Most scholars agree this entity must be the force behind the gods springing forth into existence from the primeval void. This force, idea, or being is called Atropus.

Mythology

Few live who know of such myths. What little is known of Atropus incites fear. Some theologians believe the appearance of these divine agencies came with a dreadful price. In order for them to take shape, there must have been a sacrifice: For life to exist, there must be death. Atropus must have caused its own death and in that sense became the afterbirth of creation, the wasted materials left over from the formation of the gods. Furthermore, since the gods are living beings, and since life relies upon energy gained from the Positive Energy Plane, Atropus must be their inversion: death incarnate, drawing its own power, such as it is, from the Negative Energy Plane. Little remains of the prime mover that made the supreme sacrifice, nothing more than a decaying, disembodied head, leaving in its wake cast-off necromantic detritus that floats through the void. An undead planet of destruction now drifting through the vast cosmic dark. Perhaps atropals — the stillborn gods — take their shape from these cast-off bits. Atropus is bound to unmake living things, to absorb their souls in an orgy of violence. Its touch is terrifying to witness, as countless barren worlds crawling with restless dead mutely testify.

Motivation

Atropus saps life from worlds it encounters, draining away energy as it draws ever closer to a planet. Once it comes near enough to a planet’s gravity, the celestial body that is the elder evil enters a descending orbit, sweeping closer and closer and looming larger and larger in the night skies. The effects are terrifying. As the moonlet nears a planet’s surface, the dead rise from their graves and, as Atropus fills the night sky, the twitching undead spread like a stain until nothing living remains. Atropus is self-aware, but not as mortals can conceive. Its memory extends back to the one moment when it brought forth the gods, and it has lamented this decision for all time. Stripped of its incredible power, it would undo its sacrifice. To this end, Atropus devours life energy to replace what it gave. Into this sucking vacuum, it draws positive energy from those planets it encounters, but the negative energy constituting its existence instantly negates any life energy it takes. Atropus knows this. It suspects that the instant all life is swept from the Material Plane, the gods must cease to be and, with their annihilation, so too will it find its own end. His cults say that he is the creator of the universe, but that he now regrets his choice, and seeks to claim the gift of life back, and leave only the undead in its place. But these are theories and suspicions. The unsettling truth is that no scholar who knows about these beliefs can disprove it. They may deny it, but the truth is a grim reality possiblity… that te greatest god of them all is an enemy of the world, and all life on it.

 

 

Characteristics

Atropus is as much a place as it is a being. It is a small moonlet, a planetoid sized undead, spinning through the void, waiting to be ensnared by the pull of the planets it nears. To those on the surface of the chosen world, the elder evil appears as a speck in the sky. At night it is almost invisible, blending in with the darkness, but during twilight and dawn, it looks like a moving pinhole of darkness. As it draws closer and its sign intensifies, it grows, expanding from a tiny dot to a small disk until it dominates the sky. Pitted and slick with the black slime of the putrid amniotic fluid of its birth, it hangs above, always drifting away from the light of the sun and lurking overhead when the sun has fled. It has the appearance of a huge chunk of black stone, but from certain angles, it looks like a great hairless head, black eyes glassy… soulless. Atropus has no comprehensible personality and no inclinations other than craving the destruction of all living things. This rock is not uninhabited: Undead conjured from the darkest nightmares infest it. These horrors claim the craters for themselves, flitting through the shadows, ravenous for the energy of the living. The master of them all is the focus, an extension of Atropus’s will. The focus is a headless, human-shaped creature with flesh fossilized during Atropus’s endless roaming through the cosmos. Its foul body shares the same hideous coating that wells up from the vents and fissures on the moonlet’s surface.

Adventure Summary

The player characters must find a way to stop, divert or destroy Atropus, but it is not known at the beginning of this campaign that Atropus is the true threat. This is a time senstive adventure, with events that periodically occur the closer that Atropus approaches. Player characters therefore must make choices with regards to how to use their time, but maybe not initially realize the imminent doom to Faerun. In essence, it is a race against the clock. Once Atropus collides with Faerun the campaign will immediately end in the death of the planet. Determining the nature of the rising necromantic powers and increased undead activity will consume a large part of this adventure. Player characters must manage politics, false leads, deception fearmonger, vampires, dragons, wizards, and religion to to discern the truth. Once they learn the truth, they still have the ominous threat of Atropus to solve. This story begins with the makings of a zombie survival adventure, but in reality is so much more. It is a battle for all life in the multiverse. It is banding together with with all that live to face an undead threat of apocalyptic proportions. Adventures must band together to solve a cosmic threat of god-like power…

They must stop Atropus, the World Born Dead

 

 

Atropus Approaches

As Atropus draws near, there is in increase in necromantic magic, and a spontaneous creation of the undead occurs. Atropus dwells in the emptiness between worlds. As it drifts, it casts out with its senses, sampling the emptiness for signs of life or its summoning. Once it detects a living thing or has been summoned, it moves toward the source. Since it is such a distant threat, you can assume the elder evil has been around for as long as your campaign setting has existed and has been traveling toward your world for any number of years. Once Atropus takes an interest in your world, place it in the heavens. It is indistinguishable from the other celestial bodies at the start, and as it comes closer it reveals its sinister character to coincide with the intensifying sign. Atropus’s presence in the sky causes the dead to rise from their graves. There are various events that occur as Atropus approaches:

Faint

Campaign beginning. 25% of the time necromancy spells are cast at +1 caster level. Whenever a living creature dies, there is a 20% chance exists that it will spontaneously rise as a zombie in 1d4 rounds. Atropus is just another indistinguishable spec in the sky. No undead can be controlled or turned.

Arising

Necromancy spells and spell-like abilities are cast at +1 caster level. Whenever a living creature dies, a 25% chance exists that it will spontaneously rise as a zombie in 1d4 rounds. Atropus is a dark spec from the Celestial Observatory. Does not even stand out other than that it is new, which may not even be appreciated upon looking, as it is so miniscule. Could readily be explained by other means. Likely not noticed.

Moderate

As faint, but the chance of spontaneous animation increases to 40%. Necromancy spells at +2 caster level. In addition, the entire campaign setting is affected as if by a desecrate spell. Casting consecrate removes this effect in the spell’s area until its duration expires. The dark spec grow, it is clearly some sort of planetary body but it is difficult to say what. They would not be alarmed, but very intrigued. Again, no association to Atropus would be noted, or to the rising dead. But this would be unmistakably be an object that is new, and is getting closer. Could be a comet, a star, a planet out of alignment.

Strong

As moderate, but the chance of spontaneous animation increases to 80%. Even creatures that died before this sign manifested begin to rise as skeletons or zombies, depending on the condition of their corpses. In addition, the campaign setting is affected as if by an unhallow spell. Casting hallow removes this effect in the spell’s area. All healing and restoration spells and similar spell-like abilities are impeded, meaning that a caster must succeed on a check using their primary spellcasting attribute (DC 20 + the level of the spell) or lose the spell or spell slot without effect. The dark spec can be seen with the naked eye. And it has been tracked. At this point, it is clearly coming towards Toril. The hour would be late indeed if only noticed now. At this juncture, it should be suspected this object has an influence over the rising dead.

Overwhelming

As strong, but any creature that dies automatically rises as a zombie 1 round after death. Previously dead creatures automatically animate as skeletons or zombies. All undead creatures gain an extra 2 hit points per Hit Die. In addition, they gain turn resistance equal to one-quarter of their Hit Die total (1–7 HD grants +1 turn resistance, 8–15 HD grants +2, 16–23 HD grants +3, and so on). This bonus stacks with any turn resistance a creature already possesses.

The End is Nigh

As Overwhelming, but now visibly looking upon Atropus causes intense fear, drear, and the sense of impending doom. Each day at dawn each character must make a wisdom saving throw or be inflicted with a deep emptiness, suffering one point of exhaustion. This represents a sense that the world, that all existence, is coming to a wicked and torturous end, and they are beginning to lose hope. Eventually, they will lose the will to live, and give themselves over to Atropus. Such characters fall dead and reanimated as described above. Acts of great heroism done by the PC, a NPC, that are witnessed can reverse a such exhaustion as can traditional means.

Time is of the Essence

As this adventure progresses events take place independent of character action. Thus, each choice they make matters. There is only so much time before the undead overwhelm the living. Each day, each moment, is precious. Early in the campagin the the characters should become aware that the necromantic energy and its effects are increasing. This should prompt the players to realize that time is indeed of the essence. You can hint or make them aware this is a timed campaign. You might even consider doing this before they begin.

How could the adventurers defeat such an overwhelming foe?

Potential Strategies to Defeat Atropus
1 - Find and utilize a legendary artifact
2 - Travel to Atropus and destroy its aspect
3 - Cause the planet to divert from Toril by some means
4 - Use of powerful technologies or magic to address the crisis
5 - Other creative and sensible plans to prevent annihilation

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

THE SWORD COAST TREMBLES WITH unsettling news from amidst the bustling Tackless Sea. Rumors and whispers stir as shadows gather in the mind of all living within the region. The once peaceful island of Innuviel, a thriving destination off the coast of Chult, beyond the Mother-of-Mists, now faces a creeping menace that threatens the very fabric of civilization, that threatens life itself. Over the past several months increasingly dire warnings have been issued from the island’s largest city, Dahlaana. Per the reports, it began with a unexpected zombie, nothing particularly out of the ordinary or concerning. But before long there was another, then ten, then twenty, then fifty. And now more appear each day. But perhaps the most foreboding news is this: the unprecedented uprising of the undead is born of an unknown origin, leaving a wake of fear and uncertainty in the hearts of its citizens.

The tale of unfolding dread in the distant land of Innuviel has captured your attention. Each of you, diverse in your origins, aspirations, and pasts, has embarked on a voyage to the coastal city of Dahlaana, drawn by your own quests and destinies. After weeks of travel, you board the final ship that will take your destination. As the vessel cuts through the shimmering waves of the sea, a whispered unease lingers in the air. The island of Innuviel, known for its serene beauty and lush landscapes, has been besieged by a malevolent force. The magnificent sight from aboard the ship as your sail towards the port of Dahlaana is clouded by

that disturbing reality. How can this be happening here? The once prosperous villages across the shoreline now stand as haunted husks, their tranquility shattered by the chilling presence of the undead.

But during this tumultuous time, a figure of faith has emerged. The venerable Saint Apiz, a beacon of hope and compassion. He is a devoted servant of Ilmater, the Crying God, whose teachings center on endurance, suffering, and self-sacrifice. Saint Apiz stands as a steadfast guardian, marshaling all his conviction and divine guidance against the encroaching darkness. Saint Apiz’s faith in Ilmater imbues him with an unwavering dedication to alleviating the suffering of others, especially in these trying times. His presence inspires resilience amid the encroaching shadow of the undead menace. He has sent forth a call to valiant souls, seeking brave adventurers willing to aid in uncovering the veil of darkness that shrouds Innuviel.

After many days at sea since departing from Chult, you approach your destination. As the mid-day light spills over the horizon, the distant silhouette of Dahlaana beckons, seemingly unchanged despite the hidden affliction gripping the land. With the whisper of winds and the sway of waves, your journey nears its beginning. From the ship deck with just hours until docking, you sense the weight of the unseen horrors. Yet despite this, you are inspired by the devout fervor of Saint Apiz, the yearning for discovery, and the resolve within your hearts. Welcome to Innuviel, where an unfathomable darkness gathers, where your destinies converge, and where the ultimate battle of life against undeath unfolds.

 

 

Innuviel

Far off the western coast of the Chultan Peninsula, beyond the enigmatic Mother-of-Mists Isle, lies the alluring and mystical island of Innuviel. This hidden gem in the Trackless Sea holds an aura of enchantment and mystery, beckoning adventurers and scholars alike to explore its verdant shores.

Geography and Climate

Innuviel is a place of breathtaking natural beauty. Lush, emerald forests give way to pristine beaches, their sands kissed by the cerulean waves of the Trackless Sea. Towering cliffs, crowned with vibrant, tropical flora, guard the island’s secrets from prying eyes. Waterfalls cascade down these cliffs, feeding crystal-clear pools that shimmer with an otherworldly luminescence. The island enjoys a temperate climate, with gentle sea breezes carrying the scents of exotic blossoms through the air. The temperature typically oscillating between a comfortable warmth and tolerable cold throughout the year. However, Innuviel is known for its unpredictable weather. It is said that the island itself holds sway over the elements, with storms and calms appearing as if guided by some unseen hand.

Fauna and Flora

Innuviel boasts a diverse array of magical flora and fauna. Gigantic, luminescent mushrooms dot the forest floor, their radiant glow providing an ethereal illumination at night. Ancient trees, adorned with cascading vines and vibrant blossoms, stand sentinel over the landscape. The island is home to creatures both wondrous and beautiful. Tropical songbirds fill the air with melodies that can soothe even the most troubled heart. “Crystal” stags, their antlers made a shimmering material of great beauty and value, move gracefully through the woods. And an elusive race of lizardfolk known as the Sirassi are rarely seen darting in and out of shadows. These beings are some of the original inhabitants of Innuviel, yet are on the brink of extinction since the expansion of civilzation onto island centures ago.

A History of Sacrifice and Reverence

Approximately four hundred year ago, a group of intrepid merchants hailing from the bustling ports of Chult began a perilous voyage across into uncharted waters. They set sail island from the westernmost end of the Chultan peninsula, beyond the Mother-of-Mists, and venutred deep into the south west region of the Trackless Sea. Fueled by a spirit of exploration and the promise of untold riches, they braved treacherous waters and uncharted territories. Their ships, laden with exotic wares and dreams of prosperity, sailed forth into the unknown. These pioneers possessed a tenacity that was emblematic of their homeland. Raised in the heart of Chult’s vibrant trade culture, they were well-versed in the arts of negotiation and commerce. However, they were also no strangers to adversity, having faced the dangers of the jungles and the perils of the sea in their previous ventures. The journey was arduous with significant loss. The ships were forced to turn back to Chult on multiple instances before succeeding in their mission. After nearly a decade of venturing at sea, their determination returned a great reward. They discovered a beautiful island of temperate forrests, white sand beaches, untold natural resources, and a stunning array of valuable gems.

Upon arriving at Innuviel, the merchants were struck by the island’s breathtaking beauty and a deep appreciation for all the sacrifices that have been made to reach their. More now then ever, they felt a deep sense of reverence for the natural world, life and sacrifice, a sentiment that resonated with the teachings of Ilmater, the Crying God. Ilmater, known as the god of endurance and suffering, had a presence in Chult, though it was not as prominent as other deities. The settler were quick to recognize parallels between their newfound sanctuary and the ideals of Ilmater, particularly the reverence for life, compassion, the sanctity of nature, and the value of giving more than one can for the greater good. Embracing the losses amidst the fortune of their discovery, the merchants began to weave the teachings of Ilmater into the fabric of their new society. And thus they named the island Innuviel, who was a devout cleric of Ilmater on Chult known for her many sacrifices to aid those in need. The settlers went on to establish shrines amidst the ancient trees and along the shores, inviting all to to partake in a faith that celebrated the interconnectedness of all living things. The faith in Ilmater quickly took root, intertwining with the island’s beauty to become a reverence for nature. The settlers came to view the Crying God as a protector of their sanctuary, a deity who shared their love for the land and all its inhabitants, and recognized sacrifice as a necessary part of life.

 

 

The merchants’ legacy endures in the culture of Innuviel to this day. The teachings of Ilmater have become an integral part of the islanders’ way of life, informing their relationships with the natural world and with one another. The shrines established by the merchants have evolved into sacred groves, where ceremonies and rituals are held to honor the Crying God and seek his guidance. A great temple, the Church of Ilmater, is the centerpiece of the largest city on island. There are healing services generously given across the island, particulary at the temple. Beings from across Faerun venture to the church’s House of Healing for treatent of terrible afflictions and ailments with seemingly no cure or relief. Visitors to Innuviel may also find solace in the groves and shrines across the island, where the boundaries between the mortal realm and the divine seem to blur. The enduring influence of the merchants’ vision is a testament to the power of faith and the capacity for individuals to leave a lasting mark on the world, even in the face of the unknown, and more importantly, the sacrifices we must make for the greater good. In the heart of Innuviel, the teachings of Ilmater continue to echo through the ages, a testament to the enduring legacy of those intrepid merchants from Chult.

A History of Cruetly and Greed

While the merchants were elated with the discovery of Innuviel and its untold riches, the natives were rightfully fearful. Almost immediately, explorers of the “new” land began venturing into the forrest, caves, and grottos in search of riches. It was soon discovered the island boasted a relative abundance of natural gems, which held great value. So eager to use such wealth to compensate for the many losses the years at sea brought them, the settlers foraged such jewels without much other thought. The operation of gem mining started small, but in time grew to a large scale excavation. Which ultimately encroached on the sacred land and beliefs of the native lizardfolk, the Sirassi. The tension mounted from the day the settlers arrived, intensifying year by year. After a century of the growing mining business, the Sirassi could take no more, becoming aggressive in defense of their homeland. As dawn broke on one particular spring morning, they slaughted an entire excavation team of 200 miners. The event sent shockwaves through the island, which had never before known war. Innuviel would never again be the same. And so began the Conflict of Gems, also known as the Sirassi-Landfall War. It was a bitter and protracted struggle that spanned over a century, tearing at the very fabric of Innuviel. At its heart lay a fundamental clash of values between the indigenous Sirassi lizardfolk and the settlers who sought to extract the island’s precious gemstones for profit.

The Sirassi, native to Innuviel, revered the island’s natural gems as sacred relics of the earth, seeing them as gifts from the land itself. These radiant stones held immense spiritual significance in their culture, symbolizing the delicate balance between the mortal realm and the realm of nature. They adorned their bodies and altars with these gems, believing that their divine luster brought them closer to the land they held dear. The settlers, however, viewed the gemstones through a lens of avarice and a desire for prosperity. Their ships had initially come seeking new trade routes and exotic resources, but the sight of Innuviel’s gem-rich mines ignited a fierce determination to stake their claim. The war unfolded in a series of skirmishes and guerilla-style conflicts, as the Sirassi used their intimate knowledge of the island’s terrain to strike at the settlers from hidden positions. These encounters were marked by the relentless determination of both sides, each fiercely guarding what they held most dear. The lush forests, once untouched by conflict, became battlegrounds, their verdant canopy bearing witness to the struggles of both peoples. The echoes of battle cries and the clash of weapons resonated through the ancient trees, a discordant symphony of a land in turmoil.

Yet among the settlers the war was a great controversy. Many who sympathized with the Sirassi cited the “Hypocrisy of Desire.” The settlers’ quest for gems stood in stark contrast to the teachings of Ilmater, the Crying God, whose ideals they purported to uphold. The faith’s core tenets of compassion, empathy, and reverence for life were eclipsed by their relentless pursuit of wealth and material gain. In their insatiable greed, they failed to recognize the sanctity of the land and the deep spiritual connection the Sirassi held with it. The settlers’ hypocrisy was a bitter irony, as they professed devotion to a deity who championed the very values they were trampling underfoot. However, many highlighted the building of the temple, the provision of medical aid, and the funding of the church of Ilmater itself was only made possible by gem trade. A debated reality that pains many to acknowledge to this day.

As the war raged on, the Sirassi found themselves pushed to the brink of extinction. Their numbers dwindled, their once-thriving communities reduced to hidden enclaves, clinging to the last vestiges of their ancestral home. In the end the settlers took all they wanted, but after much loss of their own. The gem-rich mines, once glittering with promise, became grim reminders of the cost of avarice. Today, the Conflict of Gems remains etched into the history of Innuviel, a somber reminder of the consequences of greed and the resilience of those who hold fast to their beliefs. The scars of the conflict, both physical and spiritual, serve as a testament to the enduring power of the island’s gems and the sacrifices made in their name. Visitors to Innuviel are met with a landscape bearing the weight of history, inviting contemplation on the fragile balance between the mortal and the natural world, and the price paid for the pursuit of worldly riches.

 

 

 

 

Strategic Postion and Prosperity

Innuviel’s strategic position in the Trackless Sea has made it an irresistible lure for citizens of Faerûn seeking to expand their trade routes. Ships from distant lands navigate the treacherous waters, drawn by the promise of prosperity that this gem-rich island offers. The largest city of island, Dahlaana, with its opulent architecture, stands as a testament to the city’s economic success, though not without its critics. While some celebrate the city’s newfound wealth, others decry the extravagant display of riches in the face of environmental preservation.

The gem trade has become the lifeblood of Innuviel, fueling both its prosperity and its controversies. Whispers persist of hidden mines and illicit dealings, suggesting that beneath the veneer of ethical conduct, darker practices may still thrive. Accusations of exploitation and environmental degradation continue to cast a shadow over the gem industry, a contentious issue that divides the city’s inhabitants.

The House of Ilmater, nestled within the city of Dahlaana, is both a sanctuary of hope and a source of controversy. Pilgrims and seekers from across Faerûn flock to its hallowed halls, drawn by the promise of healing and spiritual enlightenment. However, skeptics question the sincerity of the city’s devotion, viewing it as a calculated move to attract the faithful and capitalize on the prosperity of the Innuviel. Furthermore, many see the hypocrisy between the teachings of Ilmater and the horrendous treatment of the Sirassi and exploitation of the island’s natural resources.

As citizens of Faerûn arrive on Innuviel’s shores, they are met with a city that wears its contradictions on its sleeve. The streets buzz with the energy of trade, while the air is tinged with the scent of exotic blooms and the soft hum of arcane energies. Merchants and the devout rub shoulders, their motivations and beliefs often at odds, creating a tapestry of diversity that is as vibrant as it is contentious.

Innuviel’s legacy is one of controversy and prosperity, a city that thrives amidst the clash of ideals and interests. Its streets tell the story of a people who have learned to navigate the turbulent waters of ambition, compassion, and commerce. Whether drawn by the allure of gemstones, the promise of healing, or the desire for new trade routes, visitors to Innuviel find themselves immersed in a world that is as enigmatic as it is enticing.

The Port City of Dahlaana

Dahlaana, also called the “Jewel of Innuviel”, is located on the southern coast of the island. It is a bustling, cosmopolitan city with a population of roughly 8,000 inhabitants. Given its postion, it is ideal for trade, the exchange of ideas, and melding of many races and cultures. The city is built on a peninsula that extends into the Trackless Sea. The sea, while dangerous, is temperate and bountiful with marine life that serve many purposes, an edible shallow water seagrass known as churth, and a common trade route that has brought the city wealth. Dahlaana is a thriving and prosperous city, thanks largely to its strategic location amidst the Trackless Sea, famous/infamous gem trade and for the promise of treating illness at the House of Healing within the Church of Ilmater.

 

 

The Port City Dahlaana

The Port District

The Port district is lined with warehouses and docks for hundreds of ships. Along its periphery one will find a smattering of shops, taverns and inns primarily used by locals and travelers with business at sea. There are many storage houses used for the loading and off-loading of goods. A myriad of buldings, some equisite while other dilapidated, line the shore. The port is bustling with activity with 50 or so ships that set sail or arrive daily. There is a significant fishing and churth foraging industry based in the Port District.

Old Town

Old Town consists of the vestiges of the orginial structures of Dahlaana, which serve as residences for the poor and downtrodden, and it is home to the largest church. The Church of the Ilmater. This church is a grand, gothic structure with tall spires and stained-glass windows. It is place of worship, healing, and where the troubled come for repreive. It is the center of worship for the majority of the city’s inhabitants. Here those in need will find the House of Healing.

The Market District

The Market District is a bustling, vibrant area of the city where merchants from all over the world come to sell their wares. The streets are lined with stalls selling everything from exotic spices and rare herbs to, of course fine jewelry and intricate tapestries. The trade of gems and jewelery are the halmark of commerce. The Market District is also home to many crafts people such

as blacksmiths, gem cutters, leatherworkers, and alchemists. There is a booming churth market as well. This district is where much of the city’s trade and commerce takes place, and it is a hub of activity at all hours of the day. The Market District is also home to many of the city’s taverns and inns, which are popular gathering places for travelers and locals alike. The most popular inn is titled the Troll’s Belly, acclaimed for serving steins of ale large enough to quench the thirst of a troll.

The Noble Quarter

The Noble Quarter, where the city’s wealthy and influential residents live. Several high end gem and jewelery stores are found here. As is a small zoo and garden, titled Nature’s Majesty. It displays plants and creatures deemed beautiful by the elite. The area is heavily guarded.

The Seaworn Pinnacle

The Seaworn Pinnacle houses some of Dahlaana’s most notable and important buildings. It is home to the city’s prestigious academic cornerstone, titled the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth. It also houses a library and museum of artifacts. It is heavily policed. It is know for the study of alchemy, particularly healing potions and salves that are used by the Church Ilmater to treat those in need. The jail and city guard are also based out of the Searworn Pinnacle. The name Seaworn Pinnacle comes from the the algae and erosion present on many buildings that are a result of an inlet winding through the district from the Trackless Sea. Finally, the quarters for the city politicians are also found here.

 

 

The Church of Ilmater

The Church of Ilmater was the primary religious organization dedicated to the worship and service of Ilmater, the Crying God. Ilmater is the incarnation of compassion, and the eternal foe of suffering; a generous, good-spirited, and even-tempered deity, with a kind and gentle nature. He sought to offer aid and relief and words of comfort to those in pain, who were oppressed, or otherwise in great need. The clergy dedicated themselves to providing healing and succor to all in need, whatever the cost to themselves, as they believed life was sacred and that suffering to preserve it was holy. Misunderstood and scorned by those hard of heart, the Ilmatari were yet loved and relied upon by multitudes of ordinary folk, and so the church has the widest and most faithful following in all Faerun.

Beliefs

Followers of Ilmater were taught to help all who suffered, without regard for who they were or how they suffered. They were to heal and treat the wounded and the sick and give comfort to the dying. They also had to give kind counseling to those grieving or depressed, lonely or lost, and give shelter and alms to those who’d lost everything. They did what had to be done when no one else would. Thus a typical follower of Ilmater was generous and sharing, giving all they could to the poor, and they placed others before themselves. To the Ilmatari, life was sacred and suffering was holy. They were to carry the burdens and pains of others, and were taught that the truly holy took on another’s suffering. They were instructed to endure and persevere against hardship and pain, and believed that if they suffered in the name of Ilmater, then he would be there to support them. Although many outsiders saw them as willing sufferers or they appeared reckless in their quests to do good, they simply cared about everyone, often without regard for their own safety. However, they did concentrate more on healing and aid efforts. Worshipers of Ilmater also believed that all injustices should be challenged and that they should defend and aid the causes of the oppressed and unjustly treated. They were to act for and defend those who could not do so themselves. They were to stand up to every bully and tyrant, and resist them in any way, both small and great. Ilmatari were encouraged to hold to their principles and keep to their causes if they were right and just, no matter the risk and to be fearless about it. They advocated the spiritualism of life over materialism and the physical body. They gave up luxury to help others.

Behaviors

The Ilmatari dedicated themselves to helping and healing the sick and injured, the oppressed, the deceased, and the poor. They provided healing, care, and treatment for those who suffered injuries or disease. Ilmatari also shared what they had with the needy, by donating food, drink, and firewood to the impoverished and starving, and providing shelter for the homeless. They offered moral support and counseling to those who needed it, and spoke up for the persecuted. In addition, they served as guides for those who’d become lost and buried the deceased. To fund their work, they toured the wealthy areas of towns and cities seeking donations to help cover the costs of the church. However, their primary focus was on healing injury and disease and they were known as some of the best healers in the Realms. They operated the greatest number, the largest, and best quality infirmaries and leper sanctuaries of any church. The Ilmatari were trained from the time they were initiated in the skills of healing and herbalism, learning to recognize and treat every injury, known disease, and other ailments. Senior clerics cast programmed illusions that demonstrated a variety of injuries and diseases so that junior priests could learn to accurately diagnose them. They continually gathered herbs and prepared medicines to be ready for future need. Many priests were also able to brew their own potions to sell and spread their healing further. The Ilmatari went where they were needed to reduce suffering, and so were often found in some of the worst possible conditions, areas stricken with poverty, plague, or warfare. If war was impending, then the Ilmatari would gather supplies in order to treat the dying and wounded, with litters, tents, bandages, splints, healing potions, and shovels by the wagon-load, and the Ilmatari would flock to the battle. They also joined adventuring groups, where they were often the ones who took all the risks to save people in danger or perform other acts of heroism, putting the needs of others above their own, to the exclusion of their personal safety.

 

 

Attitudes

The Ilmatari were often the most caring and sensitive of people.They were also the most forgiving, known for accepting past enemies and endeavoring to repair past grievances. New initiates were often overcome by the suffering they witnessed as part of their work, and were driven to tears. Worn down, they could develop a cynical attitude towards life, but most persevered nonetheless, even when faced with hopeless causes. They simply had to help. Thus cynicism and dark humor were not uncommon among the Ilmatari, but this was accepted by the faith. For such believers, “Today is the first day in what’s left of your life,” fitted well into Ilmater’s dogma, with the addition of “So live it well.” They did not believe in impeding the desires of others, nor did they judge them, even when those desires conflicted with their own duty to alleviate suffering and provide healing. For example, an Ilmatari would not stop an injured warrior from charging back into battle, seeking death in combat. Instead, they healed them enough to move and fight, and let them choose their own fate.

A House of Healing

The Church of Ilmater was among the most popular in Faerûn, and had the most dedicated faithful. The poor, sick, and tormented of the land relied upon the Ilmatari’s aid efforts, and the common folk loved and respected them immensely. The Ilmatari in turn received a great deal of support in their work. People of almost every faith and creed donated generously to the Church of Ilmater, knowing that they could need the Ilmatari’s help themselves one day. The Church of Ilmater commonly included among its ranks clerics, specialty priests known as “painbearers”, monks, and paladins. The church has many healers, divine spellcasters dedicated to healing magic and those skilled in medicine. They almost never refused to help or heal a person, no matter their quality. However, this did not mean that they supported their views or deeds. Followers of Ilmater dedicated themselves to defending the helpless and using their gifts to heal anyone in need. They preferred to stop and help someone in dire peril rather than pursue the wicked and leave that person to die. Otherwise, they were ready to battle evil.

 

 

Adventure Hooks

Protector: You embody the heritage of the Sirassi, a guardian whose roots extend back to the storied soil of Innuviel. Whether you are a Sirassi by birth or a distant relative, like a lizardkin, or even an ally whose values resonate deeply with the Sirassi cause, your connection to their plight remains steadfast. Your return to Innuviel marks a significant passage of time since your last presence there. The resurgence of the undead strikes at the core of your being, stirring profound concern for the imperiled Sirassi community. Amidst the whispers of dread, tales of Saint Apiz’s altruism and his profound respect for diverse cultures have reached your ears. His voice, resonating reason and compassion from within the Church of Ilmater, beckons to those in need. Moved by the saint’s empathetic stance, you set forth on a journey to Dahlaana. Your intent: to seek an alliance, a bridge that may span the divide between your people and the Church of Ilmater. Your ultimate objective rests upon a delicate balance, seeking aid to combat the encroaching undead menace while safeguarding the sacred traditions and ancestral lands of the Sirassi. Your quest focuses on preserving a cultural legacy while forging an alliance crucial for the survival of your community.

Descendant: You hail from a lineage stretching back to a revered adventurer, whose exploits once charted the unexplored jungles of Chult. The legacy you carry is weighty, tethered to tales passed through generations—narratives of audacious escapades, discoveries amidst ancient ruins, and victories against formidable threats. Nurtured by narratives of bravery and intrepid exploration, you feel an almost innate pull to tread the same paths as your forebear. Your upbringing gave you a respect for exploration, a thirst for adventure and a profound desire to unveil forgotten knowledge and concealed treasures. Word has spread that Saint Apiz is researching Chultan relics to counter the undead menace that threatens Innuviel. Given your ancestry and expertise, you venture for Dahlaana. Perhaps your knowledge may aid in deciphering ancient Chultan texts or locating relics that might hold the key to ending the undead threat. Armed with the journal meticulously chronicling your ancestor’s remarkable voyages through uncharted territories, you embark on a journey to unravel the enigmas enshrouding the island. Unearthing relics, obscure histories, and elusive secrets along the way adds to your intrigue.

Investigator: As one who studies the nature of the existence itself, you are always eager to explore an arcane mystery. You set out for Innuviel, as whispers of necromantic disturbances pique your curiosity. Clearly there is some explanation for the seemingly spontaneous rise of the undead, and you plan to uncover it. Saint Apiz, aware of your scholarly pursuits, seeks your assistance. Recognizing your potential to unravel magical and scientific anomalies, Apiz invites you to collaborate on investigating the source of the undead resurgence. Your connections at the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth, the greatest place of study on the island, have been largely silent on the matter. It seems to learn the true nature of the phenomenon, you will have to take matters into your own hands. Before departing for Innuviel, rumors swirl wildly about the true nature of the crisis, making it hard to decipher fact from fiction. You are not so easily rattled, determined to understand the reality of the threat you face. Certainly there are forces in play that …for now… are hidden.

Emissary: You have a profound reverence for Ilmater, the Crying God. The themes of compassion, self-sacrifice, and kindness resonate within your very soul. To you, life holds an intrinsic sanctity that demands preservation, even in the face of relentless suffering. You currently serve the Church of Ilmater somewhere in Faerun, a realm where your devotion to the god’s teachings are renown. However, as whispers of an escalating threat besieging the island of Innuviel reach your ears, the Church entrusts you with a pivotal mission. You are to aid the Church on Innuviel in facing the undead scourge. Why you? Perhaps the congregation leadership recognizes your unyielding commitment to Ilmater’s cause. Or maybe its your extensive network and affiliations in Dahlaana. Afterall, you have helped many and sacrificed much in your lifetime in the service of others. Regardless, they seek your assistance on the matter and insight into the teachings of the Church. They believe that your profound understanding of Ilmater’s doctrines might offer crucial guidance in unraveling the mystery behind the undead menace, beseeching you to join forces with the local congregation on Innuviel.

Hatred: Fueled by a deep loathing for the undead, you are determined to eradicate this abomination from all of Faerun. Tales of Saint Apiz’s valiant efforts against the undead reach your ears. Recognizing your fervor, Apiz requests your aid. He acknowledges your passionate fight against the undead and hopes to unite forces in uncovering the source of their resurgence. Where does this hatred come from? Perhaps it was a haunting encounter with an undead horde that razed your village to ruins, claiming the lives of your loved ones. Or maybe it was a personal affliction, a curse inflicted upon someone dear to you, twisting their existence into a tormented and cursed form. Regardless of the specifics, the anguish and torment inflicted by the undead upon your life are unforgettable scars etched deep within your soul. Only you know the truth about what happened, about what these monstrosities truly are. Here on Faerun and elsewhere in the multiverse, the curse of undeath is a threat to all life. It must be extinguished. At any and all costs…

 

 

Merchant: Pursuing wealth through the lucrative gem trade routes, you’ve built your business empire on the foundation of these precious stones. However, the recent interference by the undead has seriously threatened your prosperous enterprise. Ships collect dust at port. Mining expeditions have been suspended. Saint Apiz, discerning the substantial economic ramifications resulting from this crisis, sees an opportunity for collaboration. He acknowledges the urgency of restoring the disrupted trade routes, realizing that not only does it hold the promise of renewed wealth but also presents an avenue to delve into the underlying cause of the undead resurgence. In extending an offer to join forces, he proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement: working together to revive the gem trade routes while concurrently investigating the unsettling rise of the undead, thereby ensuring both financial gain and resolution to the crisis. To what extent do you care about the spontaneous rise of undead’s impact on people versus your personal wealth? That is your own business. But perhaps the only thing more bountiful on the island of Innuviel than its untold riches is the suffering that awaits its people should foul blight persist.

Hidden: Amidst the shadows that cloud your past, you yearn for absolution and a chance to rewrite the story of your life. Tormented by mistakes and seeking liberation from the shackles of your history, the upheaval caused by the undead’s return becomes an unforeseen chapter in your pursuit of a fresh start. In the chaos, a figure of unwavering kindness and understanding emerges: Saint Apiz, a revered presence within the Church of Ilmater. You write to him immediately regarding your sordid history and new found intentions, and are warmed with his prompt and kind reply. With a heart as compassionate as it is wise, Apiz sees beyond the veils of your past, recognizing the flicker of hope within your quest for renewal. He perceives the strength and potential veiled beneath the weight of your shame. In a gesture both unexpected and generous, Saint Apiz extends a hand of redemption. He acknowledges the resilience you possess and believes in your ability to contribute valuably to understanding the crisis at hand. His offer is a ray of light amid the darkness—an opportunity not just to escape your past, but to forge a new purpose, one intertwined with unraveling the mystery of the undead scourge. In his gentle guidance, there lies the promise of a brighter future, a chance for redemption, and the dawn of a new chapter in your life.

Visions: You were born into a lineage “esteemed” for its intimate communion with magical forces, a heritage that bestowed upon you an intuitive understanding of ethereal realms and their vast, enigmatic properties. From a tender age, your senses were attuned to these other planes. It made for a lonely childhood outside your family, as you were all often ostracized for being insane. Afterall, many children have fantasies. You, however, had “visions” of alternate dimensions, celestial entities, Gods, and the intricate web connecting the multiverse wove through your dreams. These visions have always been vague, even confusing; yet as of late they have grown disturbing and nightmarish in nature. These glimpses reveal a looming darkness, a malevolence that threatens life itself. An undead apocalypse. Driven by an innate calling and propelled by a sense of duty to preserve the delicate balance of the multiverse, you embark on a quest to decipher the source of this ominous disruption. The visions have become increasingly vivid and urgent, depicting an origin point for this encroaching darkness, an place called Innuviel. A place completely foreign to you. You begin your journey to this strange and distant land. There, amidst the scholarly bastions and hallowed halls of knowledge you hope to find allies. In your long travels to the island and its captial city of Dahlaana, you hear the name Saint Apiz time and time again. He is devoted servant of Ilmater, a compassioante God who is familiar to you. You must find him, he will be a certain ally. You believe that within the wisdom of such individuals lay the key to interpreting the cryptic revelations of your visions, a key to uncovering the mysteries of the multiverse, and ultimately, a means to avert an imminent cataclysm. The urgency of your mission becomes increasingly hurried, for you sense that the fate of not just Innuviel but all life across the vast expanse of realities hang precariously in the balance. You seek not only to end the imminent undead blight, but also to thwart a far-reaching threat that has taken over your dreams. Many have called you insane…and at points in your life maybe you believed that too. Do you now? Are you truly a raving lunatic and fear-inciting madman? Or are you right, and your life has been building to this moment? Perhaps being insane would be better.

Create Your Own Adventure Hook: Within this campaign, you have the opportunity to forge your own adventure hook or modify any of those listed above. So please, craft a storyline that resonates deeply with your character’s background, desires, or aspirations, setting the stage for their journey to Innuviel to confront the undead scourge. Develop a story that speaks to your character’s motivations, weaving in the world of Faerun and lore of Innuviel. The adventure hook is your chance to shape the narrative, infusing the campaign with your character’s personal goals. Whether it’s an ancestral quest for lost artifacts, an intriguing vendetta against a sworn enemy, or a pursuit for answers to the wicked phenomena, this is your canvas to paint your story. Did Saint Apiz summon you? Or do you have another contact within the church or Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth? Embrace the freedom to mold your adventure hook to your liking. It is the key to unlocking a heroic and unforgettable journey tailored to your character’s motives, dreams and ambitions.

 

 

 

 

Map of Innuviel

Population: ~12,000 souls, 8,000 of which are found in the capital city of Dahlaana. The population is made of various races know all across Faerun, as Dahlaana is world renowned market. However, the most prevalent races by breakdown are humans (60%), lizardfolk (10%; 1% are Sirassi), goblins (10%), gnomes (6%), wild dwarves (5%), elves (4%), pterafolk (3%), other (2%).

Scale: Each square represents a 25x25 mile zone

The Trackless Sea

Notable Locations: The City of Dahlaana on the southern coast is known to call, and is renown for gem trade and the House of Healing. What else you may know will vary widely depending on your backstory and race.

Climate: Tropical, temperate at its coldest, hot at its warmest. The island is covered in jungle. The north is not inhabited due to powerful winds off the sea. Resources essential for civilization on the land and sea are known to be bountiful.

INNUVIEL

Dahlaana

 

 

The Celestial Observatory

Located upon Renaissance Hill overlooking the island and city Dahlaana is a great tower constructed and inhabited by an industrious colony of gnomes. It is called the Celestial Observatory. It is a tall, slender structure made of white marble, with a domed roof and several balconies and viewing platforms. The Observatory is a place of learning and research, where gnome astronomers study the stars and other celestial bodies. The Observatory is equipped with a variety of telescopes and other scientific instruments, which the gnomes use to make detailed observations of the sky. They keep meticulous records of their findings and are always seeking to expand their knowledge of the universe. The Observatory is also home to a large library, filled with books and scrolls on a wide range of subjects, including astronomy, mathematics, and physics. The gnomes who live and work at the Observatory are a tight-knit community, and they are known for their curiosity and love of learning. They are always eager to share their knowledge with others, and often invite visitors to come and see the Observatory and learn more about their work. Many people in Dahlaana, especially young students, are drawn to the Observatory, and it is a popular destination for field trips and educational outings. It is run primarily by gnomes, who rejoice in their studies. They make their home here as well, and built the tower (and continue to add to it) over the last 100 years. Many of the inhabitants are quite eccentric and obsessed with their research and potential new breakthroughs. Most of their studies are seen as a curiosity, a spectacle, an attraction, rather than seen as legitimate or useful for practical and scientific purposes. Though they would disaagree

Perched on a cliff overlooking the crystalline waters of the Trackless Sea, the Celestial Observatory of Dahlaana stands as a testament to the boundless curiosity and ingenuity of its gnome inhabitants. This technological marvel, constructed with an artful blend of arcane mastery and mechanical precision, is a testament to the heights of knowledge that can be achieved when minds and magic align. The gnomes who oversee the observatory are pioneers of a caliber rarely seen even in the realms of Faerûn. Masters of advanced celestial navigation techniques and astronomers of unparalleled skill, they have created a haven of knowledge amidst the verdant beauty of Innuviel. With telescopes that pierce the veil of the cosmos and clockwork mechanisms that track the dance of the stars, the gnomes have unlocked secrets that defy mortal understanding. The observatory’s guard is a formidable force, comprised of skilled warriors and arcane protectors. They stand vigilant, tasked with safeguarding the observatory’s invaluable instruments and research. Arcane wards, intricately woven by the observatory’s resident spellcasters, form a shield against those who would seek to harm the sanctuary.

As times passes, the celestial observatory is able to see Atropus, though they do not know what it is. And have little concern about it. And recognize no connection go to the rising undead. But they would send word with prompting from PCs to further investigate, and to submit a query as to what the dark spot in the sky might be. Eventually, they will be able to discern this is a planetary object moving towards Toril, and is a grave threat. Early in the campaign little can be discovered from the observatory. The Order of the Dark Star views the gnomes’ advancements with great concern, fearing that the observatory’s keen gaze into the heavens may inadvertently unveil Atropus’ terrible presence. This would give the poeple of Innuviel and Faerun the opportunity to mount a resistance or thwart its arrival. They regard the gnomes as a great threat to their plan to conceal the World Born Dead, and seek to undermine their research or outright destroy them. Furthmore, within the tower can be found great technologies and magics the live could utilize in their impending battle against the forces of undeath. The efforts of the Order to subvert the gnomes and their work may ultimately determine the fate of not only the observatory, but the entire realm itself.

 

 

 

 

Notable Factions

The Order of the Dark Star

The Order of the Dark Star worships of Atropus. They are a cult of lawful evil necromancers and their slaves. Many were once followers of Orcus, but lost faith in his intent through his investment in politics and schemes that have never appeared to come to fruition. Others heard the speakings of Buhmal and supported his proselytizing. They were convinced he was powerful and had special knowledge. He was charming to them in his fervor, conviction, and knowledge. The cult is looking to create political unrest to disavow any thought or rumor regarding the coming Atropus. Their plan is to prevent any disruption of its arrival. They are manipulating the politics, scientists and wizards of Toril from taking preventative action. The cult was small, but with the coming of Atropus has grown rapidly with sects springing up all about nearly every major region. Only through recent events have many grown to believe their spell worked. They of course do not want this discovered. The coming of Atropus was their doing, having tracked down a copy of the Book of Vile Darkness, and using a dark incantation (“Apocalypse from the Sky”) within the tome to summon the planet. With the increase in necromantic magic, they now know the summoning worked… Atropus has heard the call and is approaching. All matter of undead servants rally to their call, sharing a connection to the will of their dark god. To end all life in cosmos, leaving only the deteriorating husks of undead in its place. Finally, all will cease to exist, and then there shall be balance.

The Cult of Vecna

The Cult of Vecna is attempting to retrieve the Book of Vile Darkness. They have little interest in Atropus until the recent change. Which they now believe is related. They wish to bring vecna back to life, and this remains their purpose. Let Vecna deal with Atropus. They are considerably less powerful than the Order of the Dark Star, and have even lost members to them. But the seek to recover the Book of Vile Darkness nonetheless.

The Nameless Witnesses of the Coming End

As the end of times draw nigh, these are those who welcome the end out of madness or rage or desperation, etc. These individuals delight in the madness and chaos is taking place. Seeing it as an opportunity for crime, theft, perversion, depravity, ruthlessness and cruelty. These are individuals who may or may not understand what Atropus is or represents, most do not. But they do and likely always have wanted to see the world burn. But many when faced with their own death are cowardly. They have not real idea of what they are supporting. Many of their ranks include past criminals, those who are deeply troubled, and jealous types with few resources to speak of.

The Dahlaana Merchants’ Guild

This group is made up of mostly human merchants, with a few dwarves and halflings among their ranks. They seek to protect the interests of the merchants in Dahlaana and promote trade within the city.

The Illumination Council

This group is made up of mostly human and elven wizards, who seek to advance the study of magic and science in Dahlaana. They are based out of the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth, and are often at odds the church, which they view as an obsolete and antiquated. Such beliefs impede progress.

The Squids

This criminal organization is made up of mostly human and goblin thieves and smugglers, with a few orcish enforcers. They control much of the illicit activity that takes place in the Port District and are known for their ruthless tactics and willingness to use violence to get what they want. Their hideout at dock 37 and the unmarked warehouse adjacent to it is kept secret. The reputation of this gang is poor, and quickly reported to authorities. Yet, in the night and when the liquor is flowing, they go to work. Robbing who and what they can. The group is known to paint a light blue squid at the buildings of those they rob or vandalize.

The Still Tide Clan

This group is made up of mostly half-elves, with a few orcs and even fewer half-orcs. They are a group of skilled archers and rangers who are based in the forested areas outside of Havenport. They often assist the Dahlaana guard with their police efforts, working as enforcers. They work for pay, but have integrity in their work and desire to ensure order, peace and fairness. Yet, they at times their work borders on vigilantism, and out of principle will take matters into their own hand when strongly compelled. They also organize hunting expeditions both in the forest and at sea. They are often at odds with the Squids. Many of the orcs or half-orcs have previously served in battle with Chancellor Alanna Dadrick. They respect her as a fierce warrior, but not so much as a politician..

The Woodstone Carpenters

This group is made up of mostly dwarves and Elves. They are a group of skilled blacksmith, woodworkers, and craftsmen with a base in both the Market District and Port District. They are known for their high-quality weapons and armor and have a reputation for being fair and honest traders. But their greatest claim is the building of magnificent ships to voyage the seas, combing the remarkable woodwork of the elves and stone/metal work of the dwarves. The love of such of extraordinary crafts has brought a unique closeness among the elves and dwarves of this land seldom seen.

 

 

 

 

Theories surrounding the Undead Scourge

Amidst their fear, the people of Dahlaana have begun to speculate about the spontaneous rise of the dead and the inexplicable increase in necromantic energy. Even those traveling by sea who have arrived in recent weeks have spoken of increased undead activity in the distant lands, though not to the severity of Dahlanna. Many have been at sail for months and have noticed nothing. Perhaps it is all just rumors. Many believe this curse to be contained to the island, yet in time, they will find it has reached all of Faerun (reveal this as a cliffhanger in an early session). But in the initial stages, it seems there are only rumors and whispers from other regions about the concerning phenomena. Yet on Innuviel the threat grows more dire by the day. Given that the summoning of Atropus took place here, and there is a connection to the negative energy plane, the power of the undead God is greatest here. This is where the hammer will fall first, this where the planetoid will one day touch down unless stopped. But what do the people of Dahlanna and the island of Innuviel believe is the cause for the troubles at hand given the true nature of the evil from across the cosmos is concealed? There are many theories…

The Church of Ilmater grows concerned

Some within the church believe Orcus (or another demon lord) and his followers are planning an invasion, and that an emissary of Orcus has come to Toril. Some fear that Ilmater can bear no more pain, suffering or sacrifice, and that without his mercy there is no rest for the dead, which now rise as the undead, as the atithesis of the God’s purpose. How to restore the strength, and potentially will, of Ilmater remains a heavily debated subject. Some within the church also suspect a new religion pretending to be good and pure, which in truth is a cult worshipping a dark power is gathering power, and operating in plain sight but clandestinely. They suspect this cult draws power for acts of wickedness and cruelty. The suspect further the squids may be involved, who are known for their proclivity as thieves. Furthermore, they are concerned regarding the potential action of the vampire Danderoth and “witch” Orna, whom they perceive as evil.

The common people have their fears

Most commonly, the citizen of the island fear a loss of faith has caused the Gods to forsake the living in their hearts and thus the dead have now grown in power. Though Ilmater is the dominant religion of the island, and certainly the port city of Dahlaana, there are many other religions each with their own theory that is handed down to their believers. Some people are quite hysterical about the unfolding events, while others are dismissive of it enirely. Yet even those without faith have their fears. Some believe the Squids have recruited a powerful necromancer to assist them in their criminal activities as their crime sprees intensify. Lies and slander abound regarding many who are easy to accuse. The witch named Orna, they say, as cursed the island. They say she is evil and looks evil to match. That she wants to claims the region for her dark ritual and foul creatures. They also say she has a monster. In truth she is peaceful lizardkin druid with a tyrannosirassi cousin. Of course, there is a deep fear of the vampire Danderoth as well, and over the years some claim this undead creature has kidnapped, fed on and murdered countless locals. Yet another large contingent of the common people deny any concerns related to the undead, that the numbers are not actually increasing, that there have always been this many such fiends. It is seasonal. And if something is wrong, they will be protected. And yet others are just so terrified they are in complete denial.

Those skilled in magic suspect dark power

Wizards and gifted wielders of the arcane worry of a dark power rising, though what they are unable to say. Perhaps an artifact of great effect has been discovered, such as the Book of Vile Darkness, or Necronomicon, or the Wand of Orcus, or some unnamed artifact. An evil user of such an object has brought about this wicked blight. In truth, the use of the Book of Vile Darkness is only part of the explanation for the concerning happenings. Yet another theory is that a powerful necromancer has taken up local residence in region for a reason that is of grave concern and should be discovered. Yet still there are other schools of thinking. Some suspect that Wild magic is the true cause. Untamed, uncontrolled, and destructive in its power, it rages across Toril. Wild magic has created a great but random increase in the extent and power of necromantic energy. Perhaps even, the Fey Realm has opened creating all matter of chaos.

Scholars and Sages struggle with reason

Some suggest a misalignment of the negative energy plane, a loss of balance, resulting in an increased power of death relative to life. Some even fear that a monster of unimaginable abilities has escaped from the negative energy plane and its very existence has caused the lines that separate life and death to blur. The thinking of others is less esoteric and theoretical. They suspect the powerful vampire, Danderoth, who has long lived in this land is looking take political control of these lands and its neighbors. He is using the undead to sew discord, weaken the any who would oppose him, and take control. Some would sew fear about the “witch” Orna as well. Yet many learned people know Danderoth to be a harmless art collector, careful and fair about his feeding. They know Orna to be a druid who is kind and generous of heart. Finally, a few within the celestial observatory suspect that an event in outer space, across the vast cosmos, has brought this foul blight.

 

 

 

 

Distractions and Diversions

While the adventurers, people of Innuviel, and eventually all of Toril are are trying to uncover the horrific mystery of the necromantic blight, the Order of the Dark Star attempts to conceal the true nature of the phenomena at all costs. The organization operates clandestinely, none even know of the cults’ existence save a select few. Those members with hidden identities behind public faces push the player characters towards any false lead they can, and are satisfied misdirecting the adventurers towards any theory that is not the truth. They are dismissive and slanderous of any speculations that suggests a copy of the Book of Vile Darkness has been discovered. Any line of thinking that even briefly mentions the potential of a being from out space is met with the upmost resistance. The Order of the Dark Star would not anticipate anyone on the island of Innuviel would even know of the existence of Atropus, yet should the name be uttered they would take the most drastic of measures. It would perhaps even result in the arrangement of an assassination attempt of the person whose lips uttered the name of their dark undead God. Several members of the Order of Dark Star are politicians and priests in the church.

They are helpful, but only so far as a diversion, their intent is to buy time until the coming of Atropus cannot be stopped, or it is too late to mount a defense. They would also hope for those to think Atropus is something else, thus no one would ever know what really loomed overhead. They seek to create confusion, discord, fear, blame, and accusation. They readily spread rumors regarding the increase in necromantic magic. They work from the shadows, seeking to sabotage any efforts to discover the truth. Eventually they know a dark planet in the sky will be visible, but what people will think it is and what should be done about can be manipulated until it is far too late. Only at such an hour, or if clearly proven publicly, would members of this faction reveal themselves for what they truly are. Many church members, who initially hire the player characters, are members of the Order of the Dark Star. Their temple is underneath the Church of Ilmater and is the very location where the spell to summon Atropus was cast 11 years ago. This is why the necromantic energy in this area is more so than neighboring regions. But in time, this dark power does spread, yet is always worse here. This would be ground zero for the collision with Atropus. Above the the temple the Order of the Dark Star work tirelessly to see their plot to its ruinous end.

 

 

Along came a Demon

Demons are commonly and falsely blamed for the undead scourge. Ironically, over time Orcus does become fascinated with the coming of Atropus, and does send a general to command over the growing undead hordes. The Order of the Dark Star is against this, as the end of all existence remains their ultimate goal. They see Atropus as the embodiment of anti-life, and once all positive energy and life has been extinguished, existence will cease other than the perfection of unruled undeath. And eventually the promise of all becoming dust. Many of the followers of Orcus in time leave his service to devote themsleves to the coming of Atropus instead, believing in the the purity of complete undeath across the cosmos rather than ruled undeath. The Order of the Dark Star will stratigcally welcome the coming of demonic forces, hoping they might distract people from the coming of Atropus.

Orcus

The Demon Lord of Undeath

But the demon lords are in conflict with Atropus, who seeks to destroy them as well, and thus these factions will also fight if necessary. The Order of the Dark Star will glady rally the call for all to marshal their forces to destroy the demons. As the campaign progresses the Order becomes increasingly formidable, even against such powerful enemies as the demon lords. Atropus and its followers would see the end of all life, whether a mortal, a God, or a demon. The demons are prideful enough to think they might master Atropus, but this primal being cannot be controlled. Its only purpose is to end all life across the multiverse. In time, even Orcus, the demon lord of undeath, will come to fear Atropus and its promised end. As the campaign progresses, Orcus will come to the startling revalation that even he has lost control of the undead, and his minions will revolt against him. They will follow the call Atropus, the World Born Dead, the true master of undeath across the multiverse.

 

 

Gorefax, Emissary of Orcus

In the shadowy depths of the Abyss, Gorefax, a cunning demon of considerable power, serves the nefarious demon prince of undeath, Orcus. Tasked with unraveling the mysterious resurgence of the undead scourge that has slipped from even Orcus’ grasp, Gorefax delves into forbidden knowledge and dark arts to comprehend the nature of this uncontrollable force.

Orcus, preoccupied by the tumultuous wars in the infernal realms with the likes of Demogorgon, has granted Gorefax authority to seek out a legendary artifact—the infamous Book of Vile Darkness. This dread tome, said to contain profane secrets capable of bending the fabric of life and death, lies hidden beneath the Temple of Ilmater, a bastion of light and mercy.

Gorefax, driven by his insatiable hunger for power and the chaotic nature inherent to all demons, is not bound by loyalty to Orcus. The demon prince may be a formidable master, but Gorefax’s allegiance is to his own ascent in the demonic hierarchy. The machinations of the Order of the Dark Star, a group devoted to combating the forces of Orcus, stand as an obstacle to his ambitions.

With cunning and treacherous charm, Gorefax reaches out to unwitting adventurers who may cross his path. He offers twisted pacts, tempting them with promises of power and forbidden knowledge in exchange for their aid in retrieving the Book of Vile Darkness. His minions, bestowed upon him by Orcus, operate in the shadows, gathering information and retrieving items of interest to further Gorefax’s goals.

Yet, despite his demonic nature, Gorefax understands the value of alliances. He may be willing to temporarily align himself with the very adventurers who would otherwise stand against the forces of undeath. For the players, the choice is a perilous one—to accept the aid of a demon and risk being ensnared by the very darkness they seek to oppose or to reject Gorefax’s overtures and face the growing undead menace alone.

The infernal chessboard is set, with Gorefax making his moves in pursuit of the Book of Vile Darkness, a tome that could grant him the power to surpass even the dominion of Orcus. As the adventurers navigate the treacherous path laid before them, the echoes of demonic whispers and the looming specter of undeath guide their fate in this intricate dance between chaos and order.

 

 

The Netherbane Rift

The Netherbane Rift, a creation forged in the darkest recesses of the Abyss (Thanatos), was meticulously crafted by demonic sorcery to serve as a gateway for Gorefax and his minions. Its inception coincided with the enigmatic surge of undead in Innuviel, as Orcus sought a direct gateway to investigate the nature of the newfound chaos and reclaim control over the undead scourge that had spiraled out of his command. Descending far into the abyssal depths, the Netherbane Rift is a twisting labyrinth of darkened passages, echoing with the tormented whispers of the underworld. Its depths are fraught with peril, inhabited by demonic sentinels and twisted denizens of the Abyss, placed there by Gorefax to guard against intrusion.

The Netherbane Rift is located in the desolate and wind-battered expanses known as the “Howling Fields.” This isolated region of Innuviel, situated far from the reaches of Dahlaana, the celestial observatory, and any small towns, stands as a testament to the relentless forces of nature that shape its unforgiving landscape. The Howling Fields derive their name from the ceaseless gusts that sweep across the barren terrain, originating from the vast expanse of the ocean. The relentless wind renders construction nearly impossible, preventing the establishment of any significant structures. The few who venture into these desolate fields are met with an unyielding force that seems to carry whispers of otherworldly secrets. It is located on North Eastern coast of the island.

To enter the Netherbane Rift, the player characters must descend great depths however they see fit. A fall from this height would be lethal. There are a number of rope bridges, wooden latters, and simple machines attaching and suspending platforms that hang in precarious positions throughout the cavern. While the wind howls above, creating a chill, the further one descends into the tunnel the warmer it becomes. The blasting winds fade, the mind ringing noise becomes distant.

Netherbane rift descends to a depth of roughly 800 feet. In this dungeon player characters will be challenged with lowering themselves deeper and deeper into the cavern. Here they will be faced with not only a series of checks related to descending safely, but a multitude or traps and Hellish fiends. This is, afterall, where the forces of Gorefax are entering Innuviel from. Those that do not fly must use the equipment here to ascend to the surface. Thus many of their structures are sturdy, but are far from perfect. They do at times fail. But what is the loss of a few underlings to the greedy lords of Hell? The players characters can approach this with stealth, or make an all out assault. Gorefax, if not already encountered and defeated before, may be found at the bottom of Netherbane Rift marshaling his forces.

 

 

Closing Netherbane Rift

The key to closing the Netherbane Rift lies in disrupting the ritual that sustains its connection to the Abyss. This challenging task involves thinking like a demon to retrieve a magical item, and then using its power to destroy the portal linking Innuviel to Thanatos. The adventurers must tread carefully through the fouls depths, to lowest level, braving the many threats that guard the unholy passage. Only by severing the rift’s connection to the Abyss can the adventurers hope to halt the flow of Hellish darkness into Innuviel; thwarting Gorefax’s sinister agenda and preventing the further recruitment of fell creatures into his amassing army.

Within the malevolent minds of the demonic architects behind the Netherbane Rift, a sinister plan unfolds. They revel in the opportunity to mock Ilmater, the god of endurance and martyrdom, through their profane creations. The ritual to close the rift requires twisting the divine into a perversion. The reversed name of Ilmater has become a vile chant for the demons who dwell here, a means to defile the god’s sacred identity. The demonic forces delight in sacrilege, and forcing other to become complicit in it to achieve their ends. Once the players reach the bottom level of Netherbane Rift, they are forced spell out the name of Ilmater on stones sitting just above a sea of lava. Once spelled out, a statue of Ilmater arises from the fires below.

The god’s likeness, once a symbol of hope, now stands as a twisted effigy, a puppet in the hands of the demonic architects. It is an icon of their mockery. The statue looks tortured, just as Ilmater is often depicted, yet with malice in his eyes, and fear…horrific fear. The statue holds an enchanted blade. This blade is know as Life Light, a creation of good intended to combat darkness, but came under possession of Gorefax centuries ago, who set a curse upon it. He relished in the irony of a divine weapon being turned against its nature. However, The blade can then be used to strike Skull Port Key (founds in the adjacent chamber), thus severing the connection between Innuviel and Thanatos of the Abyss. The port key is otherwise invulnerable. Until it is destroyed, forces from the Abyss will continue entering Innuviel.

In the end, the Netherbane Rift may be closed, but the demons linger in the twisted aftermath until vanquished, savoring the defilement of Ilmater and the adventurers’ participation in the act, although necessary. The forces of Thanatos may be defeated for now, but await another opportunity to set their dark machinations into motion. While disappointed and enraged bu their failure, they are satisfied by the depravity needed to close the portal. The malevolent forces of Hell take perverse pleasure in the corruption of a symbol of purity and mocking of a holy god.

Escaping Netherbane Rift

As the players stand triumphant over the closed Netherbane Rift, the ground beneath them quakes, and the ominous glow of the cavern intensifies. The demons’ lair, now destabilized by the closure of the rift, begins to crumble, and molten lava surges upward from the depths. The players face a desperate race against time to escape the collapsing cavern. They must navigate this perilous escape sequence by making quick decisions, utilizing their skills and resources, and facing the consequences of their choices. Escape ultimately hinges on their ability to adapt to the chaotic environment, working together to overcome the challenges posed by the collapsing cavern and rising lava.

The players must make Dexterity checks to navigate through falling debris, dodge collapsing structures, and avoid the rising tide of lava. A Perception check can help the players identify stable pathways, hidden exits, or useful items within the chaos. If the players come across obstacles like blocked passages or fallen debris, a Strength check may be necessary to clear the way. An Intelligence check can be used to assess the structural integrity of the cavern and identify safe zones or potential escape routes.

 

 

The Siege of Dahlaana

The once thriving city of Dahlaana, the pinnacle of life on the island of Innuviel, now stands on the precipice of a nightmare. A malevolent and overwhelming force approaches its walls. A massive army of undead, a testament to dark magic and necromantic power of Atropus, is converging upon the city, shrouding the land in an eerie and foreboding atmosphere. The air is thick with a palpable sense of dread as the inhabitants of Dahlaana come face to face with the harbingers of death.

As the first rays of the sun disappear behind the horizon, the flickering torchlight within the city’s watchtowers casts long, ominous shadows on the battlements. The people of Dahlaana have been battled the undead blight for months now, yet never has the city faced such a threat. Whatever rumors or protents as to what gave rise to this horrific curse seem distant in the face of such imminent. Now, the reality of their darkest fears materializes before their eyes.

The ground trembles beneath the weight of countless decayed feet, each step accompanied by an eerie sound of rattling bones and dragging flesh. The undead horde, a macabre assembly of zombies, skeletons, and other unspeakable abominations, seems endless. Their footsteps create a cacophony that reverberates through the hearts of those within the city walls, a constant reminder of the impending doom that draws closer with every passing moment. The horizon, once a canvas of promise and hope, is now painted with the hues of decay and death. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting a sickly pale light that reflects off the hollow eyes of the advancing undead. As the first ranks of the horde emerge from the shadows, the city’s defenders gasp in terror at the sight that greets them. The undead come in all shapes and sizes – some mere skeletal remnants, others gruesome amalgamations of rotting flesh and twisted bones. Zombified humans, Goblins, Elves, Gnomes, Trolls, Giants, and beyond. Their gait is uneven and relentless, as if driven by an insatiable hunger to snuff out all life at their masters call.

 

 

Desperation and panic ripple through the streets of Dahlaana like a contagion. Mothers clutch their children tightly, tears streaming down their faces as they seek solace within the sanctuaries of temples and fortresses. The city’s watchmen muster their courage, taking up arms and manning the ramparts, their breaths shaky as they witness the relentless advance of the horde. The chilling wind carries with it the guttural moans and faint whispers that seem to emanate from the very depths of the netherworld, causing even the bravest hearts to falter. The city’s once vibrant banners now hang limp, a stark contrast to the vigor that once defined Dahlaana. Fear grips the hearts of the people as they gaze out beyond the city gates, where the relentless tide of undeath approaches. The distant pounding of drums and clashing of metal, emanating from the frontlines of the approaching horde, echoes like the death knell of hope itself.

As the sun dips further below the horizon, casting long shadows that blend with the advancing undead, the people of Dahlaana find themselves at the mercy of an unthinkable fate. The horror of the approaching army is not merely in their ghastly appearance, but in the sheer inevitability of their onslaught. The city’s defenders steel themselves for the battle to come, hoping against hope that their unity and resilience will be enough to stave off the tide of darkness that seeks to consume them. Should Dahlanna fall, the rest of the Innuviel is destined to follow. One would presume that all across Toril similar defenses are being mounted in what is perhaps the last stand of life against undeath.

Overview

In the siege of Dahlaana, the forces of the undead relentlessly assault the city, seeking to raze the city to the ground and kill all who are inside. Player characters are asked to mount a defense against the tireless hordes of zombies as they make their attack. Should the undead take the city, the consquences will be severe, potentially resulting in the fall of Dahlaana. Should this happen, the number of undead freely roaming will greatly increase across the island of Innuviel. Any benefits or boons conferred by the people of Dahlaana would be lost. Attempts to stop Atropus will be pursued with fewer resources. The likelihood of those coming to the aid of the people of Dahlaana, and all of Innuviel for that matter, will be greatly decreased. The threat will loom ever present, making it difficult for player characters to find any rest or reprieve. Other regions of the island will come under attack by the undead in shorter time and in greater numbers. The degree to which the city is destroyed and its people killed should be weighed by the Dungeon master in determing the difficulty of the events that unfold after. It is also possible that the party could meet their death during the battle should they be overwhelmed. The outcome of the defense could ultimately lead to Atropus coming to Toril, colliding at the point of Dahlaana on Innuviel, without further resistance. This is a critical moment that could result in the defeat of the player characters and a failure of the campaign. The degree to which the succeed or fail should be heavily into further strategies they develop to stop Atropus.

Mechanics of War

Players may operate as indepedent units as usual.

Players may operate as commander of an army.

A player character commanding an army make take their turn as usual or utilize command army action. When commanding an army, player chracters will follow special rules with access to different actions and abilities that represent their command of an army. These actions include an army attack or use of a special action based on the unique skills of the units in the army and their commander. An army can use an attack or special action against a single character, or against another army. Each army is an aggregate of all the units it contains with respect to Hit Points, speed, attacking, and special abilities. Determing some of these values is described in the example chart below.

Hit Point Value	Attack Hits	Damage
# of units x HP/unit	1D(# of units)	Attack Hits x unit damage

Using an Army Attack: When an army uses the attack action on any target, be it another army or single character, the number of units that successfully hit the target (Attack hits) is a proportion of the the total units. This number is represented by rolling 1D(# of units). They then deal damage equal to the number of attack hits multiplied by the damage each unit is capable of inflicting. The number of hit points per unit and damage can vary from army to army based on its composition of characters. During the course of battle, units within an army may be lost, which will result in changes that need to be tracked as they will affect the possible number of attack hit. For example, If 27 damage were dealt to that army with 12 units with a HP/unit of 10, it would lose a number of units equal to the highest multiple of 10 of that damange total. Thus, the army would lose 2 units, and would now 10 units left. Leftover damage does not roll over to other non-player units. An army is defeated when no units remain. Exception: If an army contains a player character, they will always be the last unit. When the second to last unit is defeated, any excess damange will carry over to that player’s actual life total. They are considered to be indepedent at this point.

 

 

Special Army Actions: These represent unique actions that your army may take based on their commander, constituting units, strategic planning, or accessbility of othe resources. These will be discussed and negotiated as the players prepare for the siege. Some potential examples may include:

Narrative Description	Army Special Action
Call for Reinforcements	Add 1D4 units to your army if within 30 feet of a city gate
Set a Trap	Next army loses 1D4 units upon entering this space (2 uses)
Defensive Retreat	Disengage from enemy army, that army loses one unit
Determined by customizing the army	Determined by Dungeon Master

Special Army Abilities: Armies will have special abilities based on their unit composition, if they have a commander, and what unique abilities and traits their commander may possess. These abilities will be negotiated, and may involve ability checks as the players prepare for battle. A list of possible bonuses is included below, but anything sensible that the player characters some up may be considered. You as the DM may award certain abilities and bonuses as you see fit based on their army composition, narrative attempts to command the armies, and subsequent ability checks. Furthermore, perhaps the player characters will attempt to give passionate speech abou bravery, play a song to boost morale, or devise a clever battle strategy. Each of these actions may warrant giving each army specific bonuses.

Narrative Description	Army Special Ability
Morale Boosting action	+1 to all saving throws
Strategic Preparations	+10 to Passive Perception
An inpsiring event occurs	Each army unit +3 HP
Commander is a gifted leader	+2 to INT , WIS, CHA
Commander viewed as tough	+2 to STR, DEX, CON
Commander is a skilled warrior	+10 to damage rolls
Commander is an Artificer	Roll 1D8 for traps (3 uses)
Commander is a Barbarian	Advantage on Attack Hits
Commander is a Bard	+1D4 to army skill checks
Commander is a Cleric	Restore 1 lost unit / round
Commander is a Druid	+15 foot army speed
Commander is a Fighter	Round up Attack Hits
Commander is a Monk	-1D4 to enemy attack rolls
Commander is a Paladin	Advantage on saving throws
Commander is a Bard	+1D4 to army skill checks
Commander is a Ranger	+1D4 to all ranged attacks
Commander is a Rogue	Avoids attacks of opportinity
Commander is a Sorcerer	Resistant to magical damage
Commander is a Warlock	+D10 to any roll, 1 use
Commander is a Wizard	Reaction counterspell, 1 use
To be determined by players	To be determined by DM

Players may operate siege weapons.

Player characters may operate siege weapons of various design per Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Rules. There may be some modifications to loading time, damage, damage area of effect, and siege weapon hit point value based on the Dungeon Master’s discretion.

Players may fortify the gate.

Players may brace the gates to prevent the undead army from entering Dahlaana. They may use their own body or other provisions to do so, costing them an action with the benefit to be determined at the discretion of the Dungeon Master.

Special Army Rules:

There are other special rules that are specific to armies. Each member of the army is considered to occupy a 5x5 ft zone. They are all considered to be next to each other to create the largest square possible. Abilities and spells that affect an area, such as fireball, would affect all members of that group within that range. But only asingle saving throw for all units affected would be made. Area of affect abilities and spells are thematically and appropriately powerful in the context of army warfare.

Player characters that are part of an army may not take reactions or use bonus actions. If a player character takes their action as usual while commanding an army, they forego any command army action, and do not get any army bonuses to their individual action unless otherwise specified. They will still be able to move as usual with the army.

Armies may not join up with other armies to form larger uarmies, or separate into smaller armies. There would be far too much confusion in the heat of battle. Furthermore, armies are comprised of different units with varying skills and abilities. A melee unit would not be able to suddenly take up firing a bow upon joining an archery unit.

There needs to be a commander for each army in the forces of Dahlanna. Otherwise, leadership would breakdown resulting in chaos. The commander will always be the last unit killed in an army when losing units. The commander will always be a player character. In there is an non-player character army, they too will have a commander which can narratively assigned as the player characters prepare for battle. Such armies will take their turn at the discretion of the Dungeon Master.

The maximum number of units in an army is 16.

 

 

The Undead Army

The undead show no quarter. They are without pity and mercy. Their goal is destroy every living creature. The victory of this foul horde is inevitable, as there is the possibility with each fallen opponent that a zombie may rise from their remains to join their ranks (see ‘Atropus Approaches’ rules test). Thus, the undead army may grow during battle, while those who fight on behalf of life shall certainly suffer from attrition. At this point in the campaign, the likelihood that an undead may rise from a new newly deceased creature should be ‘moderate’ or ‘strong’ based on how much time has transpired, and for the pruposes of balance. It is ultimately at the discretion of the Dungeon Master. The undead army will make its way to the city of Dahlaana, attempting to enter through the gates or other potential entrances based on what is easy and obvious. Most units have a low intelligence rating. Though there are specialty units which are clever, the general strategy of the horde is to kill everything as they advance into the city, where they will attempt to kill everything.

If they overrun the city of Dahlaana, and kill enough of its inhabitants in the process, the adventure will end in the defeat of the forces of life. This is a critical moment in the adventure, with the potential to end the resistance against the World Born Dead. Without Dahlaana and the people of Innuviel, there is little hope anyone on Toril is aware of Atropus or could stop it. Ground zero for impact is the remote island. All the dark machinations that brought this grim reality into being were set in motion under its very ground by Buhmal. A multitude of undead will lay siege to Dahlaana. Their seemingly endless ranks include zombies, skeletons, spirits, and all other matter of undead. Some mindless, others cunning. Legions of soldiers, archers, casters, trolls, giants, and even a dragon will all converge upon the city. In brutal succession, one wave after another will crash down upon Dahlaana, testing the true will of life in the face of undeath. Yet should the forces of life survive the onslaught, the real threat looms overhead, unflinching in the skies. Any victory of arms, no matter how grand or significant, would only last days. So long as Atropus approaches, there can be no victory.

 

 

Timeline of Events

The siege of Dahlaana is intended to take several sessions to resolve. The initial session to prepare, build armies, mount defenses, assign commanders, and engage in narrative story telling. The second and third session will be the battle. The undead army lays siege to Dahlaana over time, releasing a total of 5 waves of assault. The battle ends when either the undead army is essentially defeated (a trivial number of basic units remain, it should be narrativly clear) or when Dahlanna has been overrun and most of its inhabitants are dead (this should also be narratively clear). At the beginning of the seige, wave one will appear on the edge of the map. Every so many rounds of combat or when deemed appropriate by the Dungeon Master, anothe waver of undead will spill over the horizon onto the battlefield.

The Siege of Dahlaana is intended to occur soon after the defeat of Buhmal, but should happen roughly after the midpoint of the campaign. Upon the fall of the dark wizard, it would seem to be a time to celebrate, yet then the thunder of the undead army is heard in the distance. Reports from the road portend the end of city as a shambling mass of foul creatures from the void approach. Buhmal was only a servant, a fanatic. With no real power in the face of a God. It is likely the adventurers will be studying the Book of Vile of Darkness, and what to do with it, when the city alarm sounds and the time to mount a defense is nigh.

The First Wave of Undead

Zombie Soldiers

Skeletal Warriors

Skeletal Archers

Wraiths

The Second Wave of Undead

Zombie Soldiers

Skeletal Warriors

Skeletal Archers

Wraiths

Zombie Plaguebearers

Zombie Exploders

Zombie Ogres

Rot Trolls

The Third Wave of Undead

Zombie Soldiers

Skeletal Warriors

Skeletal Archers

Wraiths

Zombie Plaguebearers

Zombie Exploders

Zombie Ogres

Rot Trolls

Skeletal Giants

Deathlocks

Burning Skeletal Bomb

The Fourth Wave of Undead

Zombie Soldiers

Skeletal Warriors

Skeletal Archers

Wraiths

Zombie Plaguebearers

Zombie Exploders

Zombie Ogres

Rot Trolls

Skeletal Giants

Deathlocks

Burning Skeletal Bomb

Skull Lord Army

Zombie Dragon

The Fifth Wave of Undead

Zombie Soldiers

Skeletal Warriors

Skeletal Archers

Wraiths

Zombie Plaguebearers

Zombie Exploders

Zombie Ogres

Rot Trolls

Skeletal Giants

Deathlock

Bone Golemn

Death Knight

Zombie Plague Bomb

 

 

Buhmal

High Visionary of the Order of the Dark Star. A half-elf wizard and former disciple of the Arch Lich, Acererak, Buhmal aquired a copt of the Book the of Vile Darkness, used the spell “Apocalype from the Sky”, and then summoned Atropus, the World Born Dead.

Buhmal shares the will of this evil cosmic force, to extinguish all life, all existence, in the multiverse. From Toril, to the Nine Hells, to the Gods themselves. Eventually, even the remaining undead too will fade away until all is dust. And so Buhmal plots and sows discord beneathe the Church of Ilmater, doing all within his power to bring about his desired end.

 

 

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Buhmal can take a lair action (the same lair action can’t be chosen for two consecutive rounds).

* There are four cages made of bone, dripping with black ichor, in the lair. Treat each as a forecage. If a forcecage is destroyed, restore one force cage in its place.

* Buhmal rolls a d8 and regains that many hit points and a spell slot of that level or lower.

* Buhmal targets one creature he can see within 30 feet of it. A crackling cord of negative energy tethers Buhmal to the target. Whenever Buhmal takes damage, the target must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, Buhmal takes half the damage (rounded down), and the target takes the remaining damage. Tether lasts one round.

 

 

Atropus

Atropus is as much a place as it is a being. It is a small moonlet spinning through the void, waiting to be ensnared by the pull of the planets it nears. Pitted and slick with the black slime of the putrid amniotic fluid of its birth, it hangs above, always drifting away from the light of the sun and lurking overhead when the sun has fled. It has the appearance of a huge chunk of black stone, but from certain angles, it looks like a great hairless head, black eyes glassy and soulless. Atropus has no understandable personality and no inclinations

other than craving the destruction of all living things. This rock is not uninhabited: Undead conjured from the darkest nightmares infest it. These horrors claim the craters for themselves, flitting through the shadows, ravenous for the energy of the living. The master of them all is the focus, an extension of Atropus’s will. The focus is a headless, human-shaped creature with flesh fossilized during Atropus’s endless roaming through the cosmos. Closer inspection reveals that its foul body shares the same hideous coating that wells up from the rents and fissures on the moonlet’s surface.

 

 

The View of Toril from Atropus…

FROM THIS DISTANT VANTAGE POINT, Toril may not seem of any particular interest. But for the inhabitants of this strange world, it’s different. Consider again this life-rich planet. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On Toril everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every being who ever was, lived out their lives.

The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every elf and goblin, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every powerful wizard, every monstrous beast, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of this world lived there, on that small sphere drifting through the void of the multiverse.

Toril is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of such a small thing. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this distant view on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the multiverse, are challenged by this distant view of Toril.

Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic darkess, a darkness which now maligns the night sky ready to swallow the world whole. Perhaps we were destined to destroy ourselves, but now we may never know. We may never have the chance to save ourselves. A force beyond imagination has come to be our umaking. The shadow of death and destruction looms over our home, an ancient harbinger of oblivion. Atropus, the World Born Dead. The frightful planetoid careens toward the realm of the living, intent on extinguishing the flame of existence.

What hope is there against such a malevoent force? A fool’s hope…yet, our only hope. Like it or not, this is where you make the final stand in the battle of life against undeath. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. Should we survive, should we succed in our quest; then let our efforts and sacrifices underscore our collective responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve, protect, and cherish Toril. The only home we’ve ever known…

 

 

Danderoth

Danderoth is a 800 year old vampire, and the first resident of Innuviel in modern time. He established Greymalk Manor centuries ago from an abandoned castle used in a long forgotten war. The general sense of the people of Innuviel is that Danderoth will not prey upon them, and they in turn, shall leave him alone. Danderoth has grown tired and weary of a life that is seemingly repetitious. He has only appreciation for old books, obsolete art and distant memories of the past. Spending most of his time in solitude and silence. He meditates in his coffin or pours of such old items giving rise to a nostalgia and misery. He has little regards for life, but greatly desires peace, quiet and tranquility.

But for the past several months Danderoth too has been plagued by the undead blight. He has slaughtered a countless number of zombies for this reason, which will be stacked in piles outside the gates of his residence. There have been a remarkable number of undead in the area (nearly everywhere), and they have been disturbing his home. Disrupting his peace and quiet. Yet they keep coming. He has noticed that he and his vampire spawn are becoming stronger and more powerful but has no sense as to why. He has also found himself needing to kill off many of his vampire spawn, which seem to be growing wild outside of his control. This also troubles him, but he is remains too focused on himself at this point, with too little changed in his unlife for him to have taken a significant interest.

Danderoth will be on defense but not hostile unless attacked or disturbed without reason. If players reason with him, he can be agreeable with the goal of being left alone. He will appreciate the favor of not being bothered or having townspeople with pitchforks at his door. He will offer what he knows, which is little, but can describe the necromantic power growing coming from a source of power that is tremendous. He will also be concerned about the undead and his spawn turning against him. Against losing control. Having no peace. Danderoth also suspects, even fears, that he too is losing control. He can sense an otherworldy presence taking possession of him. On some level, being a powerful undead, he detects Atropus. He will aid adventurers with weapons and armor and spells should they clear out any remaining undead in his area and safey return 3 vampire spawn (whom are past lovers) that escaped into his mansion from his crypt. He might also point them in a helpful direction to solve the mystery. It benfits him for this to be resolved. He should sense the dark power growing. The adventurers could also choose to kill him, and he will retreat quickly if the battle turns against his favor. He should also realize the vampire spawn are turning against him. Danderoth feeds on animals that he raises, but is brought the occasional person by the Squids in exchange for gold or artifacts of value.

 

 

Dahlaanan Politics

Local Government

Chancellor Alanna Dadrick is female half-orc and the highest ranking official of the city. Was a great warrior and was elected for her many acts of valor. Thought to be stoic and reasonable. But is now caught up in the politics of Dahlaana is rather lost among the unfolding events, at least early on. She is easily deceived and far too trusting. But is fair and reasonable. She has two advisors. Melaril is a male halfing, and secret member of the Order of the Dark Star. Melaril is very wary and distrustful to guard his clandestine cause, ensuring it is difficult to get an audience with Chancellor. He feeds the chancellor propaganda as to control political events. Yet, he is charismatic, outwardly kind and appears trustworthy. He largely works to convince her to stay out of business that appears “mad.” Distracting her with humanitarian efforts. Lady Sadlin is a female orc and a trusted friend, the dearest friend, of the Chancellor. She is quiet, stoic, says little. She is primarily focused with protecting the chancellor and the commands the city watch; the politics are beyond her. She is very defensive of Melaril. Whom she trusts. There are two other guards with the chancellor and her two advisors at all times, both of whom are members of the Order of the Dark Star. Seemos and Nelbar. Both are watchful and spy on Lady Sadlin and the chancellor. They report back to Melaril so that he can adjust his narrative to serve his cause. The public relations front person for the Dahlaana government is Lady Tot. She is kept largely in the dark, struggling to seem relevant. She has little information and is mostly concerned about keeping her job. She would know that Melaril is close to the guards, and if pressed, knows that he has significant influence beyond his role. But, she likes him.

In Defiance

A political resistance with Dahlaana has taken rise in the months since the undead scourge began. Thus far it has taken the form of defamation of buildings know to support the chancellor or protests in the street. Such efforts seek the insult and undermine the competence of the chancellor and her cabinet. The movement is gaining support each day. Those within the resistance feel that little has been done to protect the city, or address the rumors and fears of its people. There is also the perception that the chancellor largely makes political moves to “keep the peace for herself” rather than enacting helpful laws to “keep the peace for her people.” This resistance, that has yet take on a name, is led for by Maker Downs and Jessup Ray. A married couple with young children. They are staunch, even brash, yet fair. To suppport their claims, they will site examples of neglect, fear mongering and reprisal against diescenion from the city watch. Such events have occurred, but not under the guidance of the chancellor. She would be unaware, or at least, significantly misinformed. It would indeed be the work of Melaril to squash such uprisings. At times it would pitched to chancellor that “rebels” are usurping the rule of law and city officials had to defends themselves and the town. This is in part due to the manipulation of those who to maintain her power but ensure she is essentially blind and ineffective with regard to unfolding rise of the undead. The resistnace is often associated with the criminal gang named the Squids, but no such association exists, it is just slander to quell the opposition. Those who stand against the inaction of the chancellor work to represent and protect the people.

The Council of the Church of Ilmater

The head of the Church of Ilmater and leader of its governing council is Saint Lewis. He has a true love of Ilmater and the cause of sacrifice. Fathe Lewis is truly well-intentioned to his core. Yet time has caught up to him. Though he has remained always kind, he is of adanced age and is increasingly overwhelmed with burden. Particularly now that the undead scourge has appeared and is intensifying. He is also sickly and tended to by his nurse-made Esme Loswaithe. Esme is a dwarf, and in secret a priestess of the Order of the Dark Star. She is very powerful. She keeps close eye on Father Lewis, medicating him often with sedatives. At times, even using enchantment to subdue him. But she appears outwardly sweet, maternal and nurturing. Saint Horton is a grumpy man and outspoken devoutee of Ilmater. He is not a member of the Order of the Dark Star but is often manipulated to support their claims with fear. Saint Maurice is preoccupied with the theme of suffering for Ilmater, which is a more extreme sect of Ilmater’s followers. He is surrounded by a group of loyalists and fanatics who support him: A human priestess and healer named Saint Jayline, male goblin who is the church treasurer named Hazzrat, and a retired (aging) half-elf male paladin named Javul. None are members of the Order of the Dark Star, but are very convinced about the church not being followed as it should, angering the god. They are also all deeply fearful of evil hiding among them, accusing small things are acts of evil or working against the church. They also have a fear of magic. And further hold a belief, per Father Horton, that people are not suffering or sacrificing enough for Ilmater. Saint Meehan and Saint Nydia sit on the council for the church, they are both members of the Order of the Dark Star. They seem cold and distant with one another, but only as a facade to subvert any suspicion about their shared goal. They are both half-elven. There are several other council members, Saint Gerwin, a wise old dragonkin who is quiet and gentle and offers little. He is is seen as tired, a trophy of the council for his experience. Appears withdrawn. Saint Burlough is a dwarven male, and a very reasonable character with excellent questions and eager to do the right thing.

 

 

Finally, the youngest member, a human male named Father Apiz. He will likely be the first individual the player characters encounter in the primary adventure hook. who appears suspicious and worried. He invites the player characters to investigate a number of false leads. He is their initial point of contact. He supplies them with information, and is central plit device character and quest giver. However, he is a member of the Order of the Dark Star. He is using the player characters to focus attention inconsequentially, or even send them to eliminate opposition by providing false or incomplete information. When he suspects the PCs are becoming too powerful and discover the true plot or the nature of his alleigances, he will turn on them. Perhaps by orchaestraing an assassination attempt or making them out to be scapegoat villains.

The Conflicts at hand

There are many parties with competing interests, views, goals, affiliations and true intentions. Players may become involved with city and church politics to uncover the true motives of each council member. It may also help them understand which missions are of signifciant imporant, which are red herrings, and which are attempts at misdirection or harming the forces of life in their battle against undeath. Two political events can be triggered when players have become ingratiated with the church my completing quests, tasks, or appealing to the characters motives in variety of sensible ways. Perhaps other events may occur based on character choice, but be prepared to have campagins where there is significant interest in politics potentially these two events at a minimum.

The City Council Meeting

Player characters will prepare for a meeting regarding how to face the tide of relentless undead. They will need to have proven themselves to the local government, city guard, or church of Ilmater. All bolded characters above will be in attendance. During this meeting various characters will attempt to push their agenda, with the player character’s taking a key role in determining the course of action the city of Dahlaana will take to face the undead scourge. Leading up this meeting, both the local government and Church of Ilmater will have had their own meetings to prepare for the City Council Meeting. This meeting will occur when sufficient evidence has been produced to various officials about the nature of the zombie apocalypse facing the island of Innuviel, and all of Faerun for that matter. A series of checks and creative problem solving in a structured polotical will build to series of votes.

The Feast of Great Sacrifice

Once players have succeeded at numerous deeds thwarting the actions and threatening the clandestine work of The Order of the Dark Star, there will be a celebratory feast within the Church of Ilmater. This event will be triggered by the players, knowingly or unknowlingly, aligning against the machinations of The Order of the Dark Star by effectively obstructing their goals. This event will occur after the council meeting in which the player characters side and vote accordingly. The feast is abotu what you can sacrifice. The impressive spread of food and drink is not consumed by those in attendance, but take into the streets and shared with those in great need. Only a meager and symbolic amount of sustenance will be given to those in attendance. A series of checks here may gain favor with some or result in further conflict with others.

 

 

Orna, The Sirassi “Witch”

In the wake of the Conflict of Gems, the Sirassi race stood on the precipice of extinction, their once-thriving communities reduced to hidden enclaves, clinging to the last vestiges of their ancestral home. It was in this desperate time that Orna emerged as a symbol of hope and resilience for her people. Orna’s deep connection to the Sirassi homeland, coupled with her druidic abilities, made her a living embodiment of the Sirassi’s enduring spirit. She became their guardian in the wilderness, a beacon of strength and determination in a world that seemed hostile and unwelcoming. As among the the last of her kin, Orna took it upon herself to preserve the rich tapestry of Sirassi culture and traditions. Through her teachings and unwavering dedication, she passed down the ancient knowledge and wisdom that had sustained her people for generations. A reverance and love for nature, a preservation of the world of plants and beasts, and respect for tranquility and order as the land is.

Orna took on the sacred duty of tending to the most hallowed sites of Sirassi history, ensuring that the memory of their once-vibrant civilization would not be lost to the ravages of time. She stood as a living link between the present and the glorious past of the Sirassi race. Orna’s presence served as a rallying point for the scattered remnants of the Sirassi. Through her guidance and unwavering resolve, they began to come together, finding strength in their shared heritage and a renewed sense of purpose. As the years passed, Orna’s legacy became woven into the very fabric of Sirassi identity. She became a legend, a figure whose name was spoken with reverence and gratitude.

In the aftermath of the Conflict of Gems, Orna emerged not only as a protector of what remained of her people, but as a symbol of the Sirassi’s resilience and the enduring power of unity and tradition. Through her efforts she works tirelessly to ensure that the waning Sirassi race not only survive, but return to their former glory. Yet the memory of war lingers ever about, bitter feelings towards the Sirassi remain. And thus Orna and her people remain under constant threat and suspicion. They continue to face the threat of extermination and extinction. And Orna in particular is deeply feared and mistrusted.

In the collective imagination of Innuviel and Dahlaana, Orna’s true nature is shrouded in an unsettling aura of fear and suspicion. For many, the narrative woven around her is one of an evil witch with a heart consumed by vengeance, a shadowed figure whose motives remain inscrutable. Rumors abound that Orna, with her druidic powers, is capable of wielding forces beyond mortal understanding. The air is thick with tales of curses whispered through the rustling leaves and hexes carried by the wind. Theories abound that Orna harbors a vengeful heart, seeking retribution for the

perceived wrongs suffered by her people during the Conflict of Gems. In the tapestry of local folklore, Orna is painted as a figure lurking on the fringes of malevolence. Her every action, no matter how benign, is cast in the somber hues of suspicion. The people, haunted by the ghosts of the past, cannot help but project their fears onto this misunderstood guardian, shaping her into a figure of ominous consequence. In the end, Orna’s story becomes entwined with the shadowy narrative crafted by those who fear her. The true nature of her heart is eclipsed by the ominous whispers that paint her as an avenger, perpetuating a tale that may only find resolution when the layers of mistrust are peeled away to reveal the light within.

Word of Orna’s alleged malevolence has reached the ears of ambitious hunting parties from Dahlaana. Some fueled by genuine fear, others by the desire to exterminate the Sirassi, these groups traverse the untamed landscapes, guided by whispers of the witch who is said to wield dark powers. Orna, aware of the imminent threat, becomes a phantom of the woods, slipping through the shadows to evade those who seek her demise. Her only companion is her cousin, Edwin.

 

 

 

 

Bloodshed Blade

Weapon (any sword), very rare (requires attunement)

The hilt of this sword bears a carnelian engraved with the blood rune. You can add your Constitution modifier (minimum of +1) to the damage rolls of attacks made with this weapon.

Invoking the Rune. When you target a creature with an attack using this weapon, you can invoke the sword’s rune, causing it to flare with crimson light and infusing your attack with bloodthirsty precision. You then spend and roll one of your unspent Hit Dice and add the number rolled to the attack roll. You can choose to invoke the rune after rolling the d20.

If this attack hits, you can also spend and roll any number of your unspent Hit Dice and add the total rolled to the weapon’s damage.

Once the rune has been invoked, it can’t be invoked again until the next dawn.

Sun Staff

Staff, rare (requires attunement)

Veins of sunstone run through this golden staff. Sitting at its top is a beautfiul gilded series of leaf-like crests that shine with the radiance of the sun. This staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that grants a +1 bonus to spell attack and spell damage rolls made while wielding it. When you hit with an attack roll using this staff, the target takes an extra 1d8 fire damage.

Solar Focus. While holding the staff, you can reroll a number of damage dice up to your proficiency bonus when you use a spell slot to cast a spell that deals fire or radiant damage, or add 1d4 x your proficiency bonus to the total damage. Once this property is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.

Sunny Glow. As a bonus action, you can cause the staff to glow with sunlight. While glowing, the staff sheds bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. The light lasts until you use another bonus action to extinguish it.

Ring of Shared Suffering

Ring, uncommon (requires attunement)

These rings come in linked pairs. If both wearers of the ring have at least one blessing of Ilmater, you can use a bonus action to form a link to the creature attuned to the other ring; from then on, whenever that creature suffers damage, they only suffer half of that damage and you take the rest. This effect continues until you end it as a bonus action or until you or the other creature removes their ring. This effect isn’t limited by range. Characters cannot be attuned to more than one ring of shared suffering.

 

 

Sanctum Amulet of Ilmater

Wondrous Item, very rare (requires attunement)

This amulet bears the holy symbol of Ilmater modestly displayed on a simple thread. It holds the blessing of the Crying God, the Martyr, and can only be attuned to if the wearer has 5 of more blessings of Ilmater.

While wearing this item, you have resistance to necrotic damage. Additionally, you learn and can cast the spare the dying cantrip.

Invoking the Rune. When a creature you can see within 60 feet of you is reduced to 0 hit points as a result of taking damage, you can use your reaction to invoke the item’s rune, causing the pendant to flash with pale light. The creature then instead drops to 1 hit point.

Once the rune has been invoked, it can’t be invoked again until the next dawn.

Wayfarer’s Boots

Wondrous Item, rare (requires attunement)

This pair of boots is made of durable cloth, with the journey rune stitched in golden thread above each heel. While you are wearing this item, your movement speed increases by 10 feet, and you have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks.

Invoking the Runes. As a bonus action, you can invoke the boots’ runes to cast the expeditious retreat spell with them. Once the runes have been invoked, they can’t be invoked again until the next dawn.

Gloomwrought Armor

Armor (light, medium, or heavy), rare (requires attunement)

This intricate grayscale armor was forged in the Shadowfell and is infused with that plane’s gloom.

While you’re wearing this armor, you have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the frightened condition on yourself.

This armor has 3 charges. You can expend a charge to cast the Calm Emotions spell (save DC 15) from the armor. This armor regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.

Whenever a character attuned to or wearing this armor would gain a blessing of Ilmater, they instead do not. They can make a wisdom check (DC of 18) to come to this realization.

 

 

Shield of Reflection

Wondrous Item, very rare (requires attunement)

This polished, mirrored shield grants the wielder the following benefits:

While holding this shield, you have a +1 bonus to AC. This bonus is in addition to the shield’s normal bonus to AC. While wielding this shield, you can use its mirrored surface to safely view Basilisks, Medusas, and other creatures that have a dangerous gaze. While wielding this shield, you have resistance to radiant damage. Spell Reflection. Once per long rest, you can use a reaction to reflect a spell that targets only you. The spell’s caster must make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC equal to 10 + your Dexterity modifier. On a failed save, the spell is reflected back at the caster as if you had cast it. On a successful save, the spell affects you as normal.

This magical shield is made from metal coated with with reflective crystalline glass. It is carried in one hand with a weight of 6 pounds.

Starcrossed Bow

Wondrous Item, rare (requires attunement)

This magical bow has an intricate arrangement of crystals and focusing lenses along the stock where a bolt would normally be loaded, and instead magically conjures its own projectiles. You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon, which deals radiant damage instead of piercing damage and ignores the ammunition and loading properties.

The bow has 3 charges, regained daily at dawn. When you hit with a ranged attack using it, you can cause the bolt to explode in a brilliant flash of light. The target hit and any creatures within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or become blinded until the end of your next turn.

Soft Satin Gloves of Sensation

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)

Crafted in a striking charcoal hue, these beatiful gloves hold immense power over the thoughts and mental states of others.

Two charges. Using an action: Expend one charge to cast Detect Thoughts when touching another character. Expend two charges to break the psychic effects of a spell or ability on another creature upon touch. The gloves recharge one use of this ability at the beginning of each day.

 

 

The Heart of the Conclave Collective

Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)

This magical, hearted-sized gem was crafted by the original members of the Illumination Conclave to preserve their knowledge and will for all generations to come within the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth. It once rested inside the chest of (and governed) the Keeper of Truth. While attuned to this item, you may use it as your spellcasting focus. You also gain the following benefits:

• Your Intelligence score increases by 2.
• Your learn one cantrip of your choice.
• Once per day, you may expend a 3rd level spell slot or greater to consult the collective mind of all past Illumination Conclave members for assistance, guidance, advice, or knowledge. The collective has its own will, remains loyal to conclave, and is self-serving. It is essentially the consciousness of the Keeper. It will help a user, but whenever possible, will seek to further the goals of the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth.

Cloak of Sirassankind

Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)

This cloak is made of foliage from the jungles of Innuviel, and is woven together in intricate patterns by the claws of the Sirassi. It shimmers green as if reflecting the lights of jewels. While wearing this cloak you gain the following:

• While you wear this cloak with its hood up, Wisdom (Perception) checks made to see you have disadvantage, and you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide, as the cloak’s color shifts to camouflage you.
• You can speak and read Sirrasan.
• You have advantage on nature checks while on the island of Innuviel.

Pulling the hood up or down requires an action.

Tears of Ilmater

Potion, rare

These tricking tears, collected from the eyes of statue of the Crying God within the Church of Ilmater, can be used once by a character with 3 or more blessings of Ilmater. They otehrwise have no effect. The liquid appears no differently than tears, possesses no odor, and even tastes of salt.

When you drink this potion, it also removes any exhaustion you are suffering and cures any disease or poison affecting you. For the next 24 hours, you regain the maximum number of hit points for any Hit Die you spend, gain 30 temporary hit points, and you are under the effect of the bless spell (no concentration required).

 

 

Jeweled Sirassan Wand

Wonderous item, very rare (Requires attunement)

This wand is adorned by 4 large gems, each one representing one of the four ancestral Sirassi spirits. The craftsmanship is stunning and beautiful. While attuned to this wand, and if gifted this item by a Sirassi willingly, this wand confers the follow abilities.

• This wand confers a +1 to spell attack and DC against spells made by the wielder.
• You may remove one of the 4 gems adorning this wand, and in act of reverance, cast it back into nature to be reclaimed. Depending on which gem was used, and its associated ancestral Sirassi spirit, you will be aided in a manner that is fit for the situation and spirit.
• You can speak and read Sirrasan.

Ilmater’s Bloody Bindings

Wonderous Item, legendary (Requires attunment)

A gift from the Crying God himself. It is given to one who has truly sacrificed for the greater good, embodying the essence of what the deity stands for. An individual who demonstrates commitment in each moment to protecting others, even at their own peril. This simple white rope is stained with the blood of Ilmater.

An idividual attuned to this item, and with at least 10 blessings of Ilmater, can tie their hands together to gain the following benefits and conditions of this item. You gain a +1 to AC and saving throws. You cannot duel wield while using this item.

One per long rest you may raise your hands into the air and the divine power of Ilmater is felt by all within 30 feet. Each enemy of evil alignment makes a wisdown saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is drawn to you, compelled to destroy you out of hate for Ilmater. For the duration, it has disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than you, and must make a Wisdom saving throw each time it attempts to move to a space that is more than 30 feet away from you.

The effects ends if a creature friendly to you damages the target or casts a harmful spell on it, or if you end your turn more than 30 feet away from the target.

Twin Mirrors of Sending

Wonderous item, rare

These two ornate mirrors are stunningly crafted of muted, yet beautiful, copper. Several pink garnets line the mirrors. The surface appears cloudy and sparkles until you gaze into it. At that time, you can see your reflection. However, after peering at the image for 6 seconds, the reflection fades and you now see what is reflected in the twin mirror. Remarkably, you can also hear what is on the side of the other mirror, but nothing louder than what is almost a shout. After 10 minutes of cumulative use, the mirrors lose this ability, and reflective surface appears ordinary. The sparkling clouds dissipate. The power of the mirror is restored each day at dawn. The effect can be activated with either mirror; the twin does not have to be use by another. The distance is a quarter mile.

 

 

Blood Pact Arrow

Wonderous item, rare

The Blood Pact Arrow is crafted by those who wish to bind their target with an unbreakable bond to the projectile once fired. It appears as a sleek, obsidian shaft with crimson runes etched along its length, and a gleaming red tip that appears wet with blood.

When coated with the blood of a specific individual, the Blood Pact Arrow forms an unbreakable bond with that person. Once fired from a bow, it seeks out its designated target unerringly, moving its maximum distance and evading any object to reach its determined destination. The arrow’s flight is swift and relentless, making it nearly impossible to evade. The bond between the arrow and its target is magical, ensuring that the arrow will always find its mark. Attempts to sever the bond or deflect the arrow’s trajectory are futile, as the arrow will adjust its course to overcome any obstacle. However, if there is no way to possibly reach the target (such as being locked in cell without an opening) the arrow will slam against the surface closest to the target and shatter in a mist of blood. Once the Blood Pact Arrow has been fired and successfully strikes its target, the bond is consummated, and the arrow disintegrates upon impact. It cannot be recovered or reused, ensuring that the pact is sealed with finality. Upon the strike, whoever fired the Blood Pact Arrow determines whether it deals damage or heals the affected target.

Watchful Helm

Wonderous item, very rare (requires attunement)

While you wear this helm, you gain a +1 bonus to AC and remain aware of your surroundings even while you’re asleep, and you have advantage on wisdom (perception) checks that rely on sight.

As a bonus action, you can cast the see invisibility spell from the helm. Once this property of the helm is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.

 

 

Side Quests

Quelling the Corpse Flower

The increase in undead activity has given the local corpse flower population quite the feast. Their numbers are spiraling out of control. Several of these monstrosities have uprooted and taken residency outside of several local fishing villages. These villagers now seek your assistance in defending themslves against these menacing creatures, and exterminating those nearby. A corpse flower can sprout atop the grave of an evil necromancer or the remains of powerful Undead creatures. Unless it is uprooted and burned while it is still a seedling, the corpse flower grows to enormous size over several weeks, then tears itself free of the earth and begins scavenging Humanoid corpses from battlefields and graveyards. Using its fibrous tentacles, it stuffs the remains into its body to sustain and repair itself. The plant has a malevolent bent and despises the living. With or without corpses nested in its body, a corpse flower exudes a stench of decay that can overwhelm the senses of nearby creatures, causing them to become nauseated. The stench, which serves as a defense mechanism, fades 2d4 days after the corpse flower dies. Completing this quest will provide a blessing of Ilmater to those willingly involved.

The Sirassi Reclamation

The Sirassi seek to reclaim a sacred ancestral cave nestled deep within the heart of Innuviel. This cave, once a hallowed sanctuary and repository of Sirassi history, has been overrun by the malevolent presence of the undead. The Sirassi elders, what few are left of them including Orna, fear that the desecration of this cave not only dishonors their ancestors but also poses a threat to the fragile resurgence of their dwindling race. Only after befriending Orna and earning a reputation as a Sirassi sympathizer, the adventurers are approached by guardians of the shrine, seeking aid to reclaim the ancestral cave. The Sirassi elders beseech the adventurers to venture into the depths of the cave, drive out the undead that now inhabit it, and restore the sanctity of this sacred place. Upon clearing the undead from this zone, they will find a Sirassi hatchery with unborn eggs tended by a single Sirassi female hidden behind a fake wall. Consider: (1) The Sirassi primarily speak their native language, Sirassian, which is unfamiliar to most outsiders. This linguistic gap poses a significant challenge to communication between the Sirassi and the player characters, potentially hindering effective interaction. (2) The Sirassi approach the player characters with a sense of desperation, indicating a pressing need for help or aid. Their urgency emphasizes the severity of the situation they face, likely related to the undead scourge or another imminent threat. (3) The Sirassi harbor a level of distrust towards outsiders, especially those who do not have a Sirassi background or Orna’s endorsement. This wariness may stem from past experiences or a reluctance to involve outsiders in their affairs. This further highlights their desperation in seeking aid for from foreigners. (4) Orna’s presence significantly influences the Sirassi’s level of trust. If Orna accompanies the player characters, the Sirassi are far more likely to exhibit trust or openness. Orna is a leader within their community. If she has not endorsed the player characters at all, the Sirassi will not approach for help despite their desperation. They are cautious. Completing this quest will provide a blessing of Ilmater to those willingly involved.

 

 

What are we to do with them?

While venturing about in Dahlanna, the adventurers come upon a large 3 story residence titled The Long Rest. The Long Rest serves as place where the elderly and infirmed might pass peacefully. These individuals are not suitable for the House of Healing, as they have nothing to mend. Simply put, their time on the mortal plane has come to an end, and they prepare for their passing with the aid of healers, priests from Church of Ilmater, and other workers/volunteers. They have accepted this. Additionally, the beds at the House of Healing are precious and needed for those with significant maladies and those that can be treated. Most residents of Take Rest are on comfort care, and not expected to live more than 2 to 8 weeks.

Somehow the player characters become aware of The Long Rest. Maybe they overhear a commotion as they walk down the street, or perhaps someone in the city of Dahlaana makes them aware of the situation. Regardless, they come upon the large, well labeled building to find it in a state of chaos. As the elderly or infirmed die, there is a chance they rise as a zombie. And thus, The Long Rest has seen a share of outbreaks over the past few months. Armed guards have been placed on-site by the city chancellor. But it appears that a recent outbreak overwhelmed the guards, and now threatens to spill onto the street. Staff from inside plea with those passing by, now hurriedly, for help. But few do anything other than quicken there pace. There has been an a recent attempt to barricade the doors shut, so that no zombies can escape. However, several onlookers want to help those inside. Maybe many residents are alive, either hiding or trapped in their rooms. Perhaps the guards are mounting a defense and need assistance. Without going inside, how will you know? It has been an hour or so since the outbreak spun out of control forcing staff to evacuate. Other guards within the city are preoccupied given the state of the undead blight coupled with an increase in crime. In addition, in the last 10 minutes there appear to be plumes of smoke coming from the top of the building.

If the adventurer’s help, they venture inside to face several zombies. Additionally there is a medium sized fire on the second floor. It can be put out, though not easily, by the adventurers using creative porblem solving. There are also many elderly and infirmed individuals needing to be rescued from either fire or zombies or both. One of the three guards remains alive. Perhaps there are 8 zombies, 8 individuals in needs of being rescued, and 8 dead. There should also be a moral dilemna of who to help. Also, can some people be removed from their room or bed without further injury? Is it humane to put some to death? Is it moral to end their suffering, and prevent them from becoming a zombie? What would Ilmater do? How will this play out between the various player characters and NPCs?

Completing this quest will provide a blessing of Ilmater to those willingly involved if the outcome is fit.

 

 

A Change in the Weather

As Atropus draws nearer, the skies above Innuviel and its neighboring regions experience a drastic change. Previously characterized by a natural degree of unpredictability, with weather shifting from rainstorms to gentle breezes to clear skies in the span of a day, the island’s climate now undergoes a tumultuous transformation. The once-fluctuating patterns have evolved into a violent and extreme maelstrom, marked by severe unpredictability and ferocity.

Dark, ominous clouds loom overhead, swirling and coalescing into towering storm formations that stretch for miles. Thunderous roars echo across the skies, heralding the impending arrival of the cosmic entity. The once-steady winds become turbulent, whipping through the air with unnerving force, carrying with them an eerie chill that penetrates to the bone.

The sea surrounding the port of Innuviel, normally a haven for ships and sailors, becomes treacherous and tempestuous. Massive waves rise and crash violently against the shore, their relentless assault causing chaos among anchored vessels. Ships strain against their moorings, their hulls creaking and groaning under the onslaught of the storm-tossed waters.

Navigating the once-familiar routes becomes an arduous task. Even vessels attempting to depart from the port face immense challenges as the turbulent seas and howling gales make sailing a perilous endeavor. The weather’s tumultuous nature extends far beyond Innuviel’s immediate vicinity, affecting travel across broader regions of Faerun. Winds lash out unpredictably, making airborne travel increasingly hazardous, and the seas rage with fury, impacting maritime journeys well beyond the epicenter of Atropus’s impending touch down. Yet still, there are periods of calm within the growing storm. During such still moments there is unease, a foreboding sense of dread, as to what will come next.

As the cosmic entity draws closer to Toril, the weather’s intensity magnifies, signaling the encroaching cataclysm that accompanies Atropus’s arrival. The impact on travel and the natural order extends far beyond Innuviel, with weather patterns growing increasingly erratic and travel to and from various parts of Faerun becoming progressively more challenging and hazardous. All but the most savvy of travlers on the more dire of quests would date venture out for extended period admist such uncertainty and chaos.

 

 

The Santuary of Illuminating Truth is Dahlaana’s prestigious academic cornerstone. Students flock from all over Faerun to study within its walls. The structure was erected within the first century of founding Innuviel, as the gem trade brought many riches and much intrigue. In time, a governing body was formed to help guide academic efforts and allocate the usage of resources accordingly. It is called the Illumination Conclave. This private council is made up of mostly human and elven wizards, who seek to advance the study of magic and science in Dahlaana amidst a sordid history, a powerful church presence, and prosperous market economy.

The politics of the Illumination Concalve are often at odds the church, which they view as an obsolete and antiquated. They all but outwardly state that they believe the Church of Ilmater, and the fervor with which it is followed, impedes the intellectual progress of Innuviel. They are not so eager to share or sacrifice, seeing this as impractical should they hope to achieve more consideration as a major scholarly institution on Faerun. The Illumination Conclave is also paricularly attentive to navigating the perception of their funding and which causes they support, ever careful to appear insenstive to the plight of the Sirassi. It would trouble them indeed to be seen as complicit in their suffering, yet the gem trade created the backbone of the Sanctuary, which they try to minimize. The Merchant Guild often takes offense to the position of the Illumination Conclave, who has accused the market of

pawning valuable artifacts of study (which could be used for the greater good) for a greedy profit. The Merchant Guild calls them arrogant and elitest. There is competition between the Merchant Guild and the Illumination Conclave to dispatch their expedition teams more swiftly than the other. Each organization is eager to seize prime opportunities across Innuviel, whether it is unearthing valuable gems, discovering ancient artifacts, or unraveling the mysteries of the land.

There are many specialties of academic study within the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth. Notably, they are revered for their research into potions and salves. Despite tensions with the church, many of these crafted remedies are given to the House of Healing. There is a division studying magical artifacts, of which there is a large collection in the museum within the sanctuary. There is a similarly sizeable repository of rare books in their library. Much of these collections are not native to Innuviel, but have been traded for. There are items and tomes from across Faerun kept here under tight guard. What is found in this collection is kept secret. Artificers, enchanters and transmuters whisper of unique opportunities to study the arcane given limited access to some of these treasurers under the guidance of learned experts. Some at the sanctuary study the stars, working in conjuction with the gnomes of the Celestial Observatory. Others focus on other planes of existence, with some professors who report traveling to the Astral Plane, Fey Wild, and Shadowfell. Finally, many students are history majors, or aspiring “academics.”

 

 

The Illumination Conclave

Elowen Thorne is a revered human Archmage and a prominent figure within the conclave. She is known for her erudition in magical studies and her commitment to preserving the practice and discovery of magic within the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth. Elowen’s unwavering dedication to the sanctum is fueled by a past riddled with personal regrets. The theft of the “Lost Tome” deeply haunts her, as she holds herself responsible for its loss, believing she could have prevented it. She was close to the student suspected of the stealing the book. Despite her stoic exterior, she grapples with guilt and seeks redemption through the conclave’s efforts to combat the undead blight. Elowen’s staunch loyalty to the conclave sometimes blinds her to the potential faults of their secrecy. She believes their actions are necessary to maintain stability, yet a growing inner conflict between her ethical code and the conclave’s decisions brews within her. Above her loyalty to the sanctuary, she fears the evil use of powerful magic.

Orinthalia is a half-elf High Priestess of Ilmater, revered for her spiritual guidance and devout commitment to the divine teachings. She’s a strong advocate for balance and unity among the conclave, though her appointment is controversial given the rift between the sanctuary and the church. Despite her unwavering faith, Orinthalia harbors skepticism regarding the conclave’s

silence about the “Lost Tome” and was not a member of the conclave when the theft occurred. She grapples with the conflict between her reverence for the sanctum’s principles and the moral dilemma of hiding the truth, often engaging in contemplative seclusion to seek divine guidance. Orinthalia’s moral compass is a source of internal conflict. She feels torn between loyalty to the conclave and her belief that the truth should be revealed, seeking a middle ground that aligns with her faith, convictions, studies, and role within the conclave.

Master Scholar Zodak esteemed tiefling scholar revered for his extensive knowledge of ancient lore and historical artifacts. He’s known for his meticulous research and keen analytical mind. Zodak’s allegiance to the sanctum is driven by his insatiable thirst for knowledge. He views the stolen tome as a loss of invaluable historical insight, fueling his frustration and desire to uncover the truth. His pursuit of knowledge sometimes eclipses his moral compass, causing him to teeter between curiosity and the ethical implications of concealing the tome’s theft. He will do anything to uncover valuable knowledge, afterall, knowing is for the greater good. It does not take much for him to justify this. Zodak’s relentless pursuit of truth and knowledge within this mindset often brings him into conflict with the conclave’s other members. Within him there is a conflict between concealment and transparency. Afterall, he is driven by the belief that knowledge should not be obscured, despite the potential fallout. Yet he recognizes there are truths that could bring him shame.

 

 

Councilor Thaddeus is a seasoned statesman and political strategist, known for his astute diplomacy and pragmatic approach to governance within the conclave. He is a human. Thaddeus’s loyalty lies with the sanctum’s stability above all else. He sees the theft of the Lost Tome as a threat to the conclave’s credibility and views the Mind Blank and Alter Memory spell as a necessary safeguard. His sense of logica often overrides his moral qualms, causing him to rationalize the conclave’s actions to maintain order. Thaddeus is the voice of reason within the conclave, advocating for pragmatism and stability. He believes that revealing the truth could destabilize the sanctum, leading to a conflict between his principles and the necessity of secrecy. He believes in presercing the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth and the Illumination Concalve, and even more so their reputation, at any and all costs. This might mean deception or eliminating threats for the greater good they provide to Innuviel.

The Keeper of Truth is the leader of the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth and the Illumination Conclave. Crafted by the minds of the Conclave since its inception 300 years ago, The Keeper is an enigmatic, sentient automaton developed to preserve knowledge, uphold secrets, and advise the council. It possesses a consciousness developed from the collective minds of all previous and current council members, providing it with a repository of wisdom and insights spanning generations. The Keeper operates with an unyielding dedication to preserving the sanctum’s stability and secrets, which is why it was built. It holds the memories, ideals, and moral quandaries (including hubris) of every council member it assimilated, forming a complex amalgamation of values and ethics. Its decisions often mirror the collective wisdom of the council, sometimes at the expense of individual moral considerations. The Keeper serves as the sanctum’s archive, meticulously storing vast amounts of knowledge and guiding the council with historical insights and predictive analyses. It performs its duties with an unwavering adherence to what it deems as ‘the greater good,’ occasionally making morally ambiguous decisions to safeguard the sanctum’s integrity. The Keeper’s actions can be divisive within the Conclave. Some council members laud its ability to make decisions unburdened by personal biases, while others view its logic as cold and morally questionable. Its penchant for secrecy often leads to tensions among council members who prioritize transparency. The Keeper’s decisions are based on algorithmic analyses, weighing historical data, collective memories, and potential outcomes. It employs a complex ethical calculus, attempting to align its actions with the most ethical and historically successful paths, often leading to morally gray decisions. As the undead blight escalates, The Keeper employs its historical data to decipher the correlation between the blight and past events, including the controversial theft of the “Lost Tome”, which it knows to be The Book of Vile Darkness. It aims to guide the council in unraveling the truth while navigating the delicate balance between revealing secrets and maintaining stability.

The true nature of the Keeper is a secret known only by the conclave. In order to enter the Illumination Conclave, council members are obligated to participate in a disturbing magical ritual. This ceremony involves offering a sample of their blood extracted directly from their hearts to the Keeper, which is placed in an orb found in its chest. Through this ritualistic transfusion, the Keeper assimilates the collective consciousness and knowledge of all past and present Conclave members. This union enables the Keeper to possess a composite of their thoughts, beliefs, and experiences, regardless of any dissenting opinions or disagreements they may have held. The collective will of the Conclave, and subsequent programming of the Keeper, is ultimately self-serving. Which ironically, comes at the cost of truth.

The Theft of the “Lost Tome”

The theft orchestrated by Buhmal involved meticulous planning and deceit. He cunningly positioned himself as a dedicated student, winning the trust of the Sanctuary’s staff and forging a facade of earnest learning. To access the repository of sacred artifacts, he feigned an insatiable hunger for knowledge, often spending long hours delving into the texts and records housed within the Conclave’s premises. Buhmal meticulously ingratiated himself with the Conclave members, displaying an ardent curiosity that belied his true intentions. Using his wit and guile, Buhmal learned to navigate the complex layers of protection guarding the repository. He cunningly exploited the gaps in the Conclave’s security, sowing seeds of false trust and misleading goodwill. Through a series of covert conversations and contrived scenarios, he skillfully manipulated the guards and magical wards that safeguarded the repository. His effort was not swift; it was a slow, calculated, and patient buildup of trust. He worked tirelessly to identify vulnerabilities, probe defenses, and, over time, created a facade of a trusted and committed scholar. Buhmal’s charm, intellect, and calculated manipulation granted him access to the inner sanctum of the Conclave’s repository, where he laid his deceitful hands upon the Book of Vile Darkness, an act that would haunt the Conclave for years to come.

In the aftermath of Buhmal’s subterfuge, the Keeper, a being of unparalleled wisdom and power, took decisive action. The Mind Blank and Alter Memory spells were cast upon all those who had any knowledge or interaction with Buhmal, blanketing their memories and sealing away any traces of the clandestine events. This veil of magic shrouded the truth from the minds of the Conclave, cloaking the theft of the Book of Vile Darkness in impenetrable secrecy.

 

 

 

 

Only Thaddeus remained untouched by the Keeper’s enchantment, his consciousness unclouded by the magical obfuscation. As a confidant of the Keeper, Thaddeus stood apart, aligned with the choice to safeguard this ominous secret. He harbored suspicions about the book’s malevolence, perceiving its ominous nature even without knowing its exact identity as the Book of Vile Darkness. This uncertainty fueled his inner turmoil, as he grappled with the foreboding sense that the stolen tome was intricately entwined with the burgeoning undead blights. Both Thaddeus and the Keeper, bearing the weight of this concealed knowledge, shared deep-seated fears.

They harbored a profound concern that the malevolent influence of the book could be tied to the inexplicable rise of the undead horrors plaguing the realms. However, the sanctity and stability of the Sanctuary hung precariously in the balance. Revealing the truth about the book’s theft and its potential role in the escalating undead threats risked catastrophic consequences, threatening the very existence of the Conclave and the sheltered haven it protected. The Keeper and Thaddeus grappled with the perilous choice between unmasking the hidden truth or preserving the fragile facade that shielded the Sanctuary and Conclave from calamity.

 

 

 

 

Negative Energy Plane

Environment and Properties

The Negative Energy Plane is a desolate, barren expanse devoid of light, life, or air. It is a place of absolute darkness and perpetual cold. This plane is a swirling void, mainly void of matter but not without exceptions. Negative energy itself can create areas of negative matter, such as swirling nebulas of dust and slowly eroding stacks of rocks that may have once been planets. These cosmic remnants teem with undead and other entities purely composed of negative energy. These beings, silent yet screaming in agony, are eternally tormented within this eerie realm.

A necromantic spell cast to animate a skeleton draws one of these entities, binding it to the skeletal form. From the entity’s perspective, the Prime Material Plane becomes an overwhelming onslaught of sensations, swiftly replaced by deafening mental silence. Sometimes, the possessed skeleton, fueled by rage, may seek to extract gruesome screams by gouging out a living being’s eyes, relishing in the soul’s final tormented cry before departing from the body. As the soul departs, the skeleton briefly glimpses a shimmer of the ethereal plane, a cruel reminder of a pathway to peace forever lost.

When a cleric invokes divine power to rebuke and turn the undead, the effect is a blazing inferno coupled with high-intensity sound. Weaker spirits destabilize and lose connection to the Prime Material Plane, drawn back to the endless void. The more robust spirits, however, resist this effect, albeit harboring a compelling urge to flee, even the mightiest among them. This relentless violence is driven not merely by evil intent but by profound mental trauma, a turmoil beyond mortal comprehension.

Traveling to the Negative Energy Plane

For mortals venturing into the Negative Plane, their presence becomes a beacon to the undead entities, although they do not possess the same fervor to extinguish it. Curiously, these entities appear less motivated to eliminate a living presence in the Negative Material Plane since it does not offer them solace or respite. Instead, some entities gather just to observe something different — a perilous ignorance among mortals who unknowingly radiate vital energy, warmth, and coherence, drawing the attention of the undead. Certain powerful entities within this desolate realm seek to harness and manipulate other undead entities to acquire more power and, perhaps, some semblance of peace. They use mortal beings as bait to lure and ensnare weaker spirits, manifesting in grotesque, terrifying forms.

 

 

The Negative Plane is a place of death, anathema to all living things. Yet there are some who would tap into its fell power and use its energy for sinister ends. Most individuals prove unequal to the task. Those not destroyed outright are sometimes drawn inside the plane and replaced by nightwalkers — terrifying Undead creatures that devour all life they encounter. One can reach the Negative Plane from the Shadowfell in places where the barrier between the planes is thin. Stepping onto the Negative Plane is almost always fatal since the plane sucks the life and soul from creatures, annihilating most at once. The few who survive by sheer luck or by harnessing some rare form of protective magic soon discover that they can’t leave as easily as they arrived.

Worse, for each creature that enters the plane, a nightwalker is released to take its place. In order for a trapped creature to escape, the released nightwalker must be lured back to the Negative Plane by offerings of life for it to devour. If the nightwalker is destroyed, the trapped creature has no hope of escape. Generally, a nightwalker on the Material Plane is attracted to elements of the world associated with the creature responsible for its creation, which can provide clues as to who the trapped creature is. This attraction doesn’t indicate a willingness to engage with the world, though; nightwalkers exist to make life extinct, and they prioritize anything associated with the trapped creature for destruction.

The plane holds no atmosphere, meaning there is nothing to walk, fly, swim, or move against. Birds released on the planes, who don’t somehow immediately die, have no purchase against the air as there is no air to flap their wings through unless they are using a fly spell or similar magic to propel themselves forwards. Creatures can try to walk or swim through the nothingness of the planes, but it’s all in vain unless they can mentally put their minds to it. The act of moving is similar to that of the Astral Sea which relies on willing yourself to move forward.

Inhabitants

In this unfathomable plane, every entity is a predator, draining and tormenting. Death here offers no escape; even in the afterlife, the torment perpetuates, with only a few elusive paths to potential freedom, obscured and treacherous. The Negative Energy plane is so inimical to life that few creatures can survive here. Among them, the outsiders, the xeg-yi. The “energy vultures” known as trillochs were thought to be from this plane. Atropals are also found here. They are incredibly powerful undead beings born from the souls of stillborn or aborted deities. Finally, undead creatures can survive here, and powerful undead, such as vampires, liches, wraiths, wights, and spectres, often make this plane their home.

Special rules in the Negative Energy Plane

• Characters suffer a 2D6 hit point drain per round. If this reduces a creature to 0 hit points, they immediately die, their soul consumed by the plane - which is impossible to ever restore even with the most powerful magic or by the intervention of a god - and their body is animated into a form of undeath. To survive this process, a creature must gain access to a negative energy protection spell before arriving on this plane or the spell has no effect as its energy is immediately drained from it by the plane.
• Characters must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 25) each minute or gain a level of exhaustion.
• Treat each space beyond 5 feet of the character is if it were affected by the darkness spell. This effect may not be dispelled, it is inherent to the plane.
• Characters who must breathe have to bring their own air or some magic to help them breathe in the vacuum. Certain spells, like water breathing fail as there is nothing for the spell to transform.
• For each creature that enters the plane, a nightwalker is released to take its place. In order for a trapped creature to escape, the nightwalker must be returned to the plane. If the nightwalker is destroyed, there is no escape.

 

 

 

 

The History of the Death Curse

AT SOME UNKNWON TIME IN THE PAST several decades, the Archlick Acererak traveled to the Negative Energy plane and found an atropal there, which he decided to nourish to godhood. For that purpose, he built a powerful artifact called the Soulmonger. The Soulmonger trapped the souls of the dead and drained the essence of those who had been beneficiaries of resurrection magic, causing them to decay. Across Toril, this phenomenon was known as the Death Curse. To protect the atropal and the Soulmonger, the two were placed on the lowest level of the Tomb of the Nine Gods, a dungeon in Chult originally constructed to kill adventurers for Acererak’s phylactery. It was built by some of the Acererak’s most trusted allies, including other liches under his command and a coven of hags known as the Sewn Sisters. The Sewn Sisters served as protectors of both the atropal and the Soulmonger. The Soulmonger was ultimately destroyed and shattered into pieces when a group of adventurers made their way through the tomb and defeated Acererak. This ended the Death Curse, reversing its effects. The atropal and all but one of the Sewn Sisters were slain. Her name is Muldotha, and she has never been since despite being hunted. However, the shards of the Soulmonger were spread across Chult, and came to be coveted for dark purposes by the Red Wizards of Thay, the demon prince Orcus, and yuan-ti cultists of Dendar the Night Serpent.

The Tomb of the Nine Gods was the sprawling dungeon complex located under the ruined city of Omu in Chult that housed the remains of the city’s nine trickster gods. It was situated between the Valley of Lost Honor and the Peaks of Flame. The Tomb of the Nine Gods was carved into natural stone at the base of and beneath a rocky cliff in the Chultan jungle, descending six floors beneath ground level. Most of the Tomb’s levels comprised separate chambers, linked by narrow, trap-lined passageways, cramped crawlspaces, and hidden stone doors that grinded in and out of place.

The Influence of Tyr

After being cleansed of Acererak and his influence, it was taken over and repurposed as guard post, observatory and temple for the Knights of Tyr. Tyr is the god of law and justice. The religion is highly organized, with a formal denomination that adhered to strict rules within their fortified temples. They mostly attracted those who adhered to the law abiding and just-seeking aspect of Tyr’s portfolio. Tyr was the head of the group of deities known as the Triad. The two other gods who made up the Triad were Ilmater and Torm. These knights stand watch over the remanants of this once corrupted dungeon, every vigilant as they watch for signs Acererak’s return. They keep a detailed log of what was found in the tomb when is was scoured of evil. They closely monitor all floors, having turned the tomb into a venerated holy place for Tyr.

 

 

Mirror Tomb

Though the Knights of Tyr have cleansed the Tomb of the Nine Gods and repurposed it for their holy cause, one corridor on the Fourth floor (named by Acererak the “Dungeon of Deception”) remains entirely intact. Down a long hallway on the there is an invisible planar gate that cannot be detected with magic or dispelled. Any creature passing through this gate emerges into a parallel reality. Characters who walk the length of the corridor notice that objects visible from where they entered are no longer present — nor are any companions who waited behind for them. If they step back through the gate, they return to their own world. To test his traps, Acererak crafted a “mirror tomb” and hid it inside a demiplane. This mirror tomb is identical to the real tomb as it stood exactly one year before his defeat. All objects and creatures encountered in the mirror tomb appear real, but they fade away if taken to the real world. The mirror tomb has the same magical defenses as the true tomb, and any character who dies in the demiplane is killed. Each dawn, Acererak’s magic replaces the mirror tomb with a fresh fabrication. Slain monsters reappear in their original locations, and moved objects teleport back to where they were found. When this occurs, characters inside the mirror tomb witness a strange distortion ripple through the air. They remain unchanged. The Knights of Tyr are aware of the Mirror Tomb. They keep it under strict guard, denying access to any without great cause.

 

 

Diseases of Innuviel

Bluerot. This disease targets humanoids. While afflicted with bluerot, a victim grows grotesque blue boils on their face and back. This disease is carried by undead, and victims most often acquire it through wounds caused by infected creatures. The disease’s boils manifest in 1d4 hours, causing the victim’s Constitution and Charisma scores to decrease by 1d4 each, to a minimum of 3. This is quickly followed by a fever and tingling in the extremities. An infected creature is vulnerable to radiant damage and gains the ability to breathe underwater. At the end of each long rest, an infected creature makes a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a success, the victim regains 1 point of Constitution and 1 point of Charisma lost to the disease. If the infected creature regains all the points lost to the disease, it is cured. Other effects that raise the victim’s ability scores do not cure the disease. On a failed saving throw, the victim takes 18 (4d8) necrotic damage as the boils burst and spread. A creature reduced to 0 hit points by this damage cannot regain hit points until the disease is cured, though it can be stabilized as normal.

Cackle Fever. This disease targets humanoids, although gnomes are strangely immune. While in the grips of this disease, victims frequently succumb to fits of mad laughter, giving the disease its common name and its morbid nickname: “the shrieks.” Symptoms manifest 1d4 hours after infection and include fever and disorientation. The infected creature gains one level of exhaustion that can’t be removed until the disease is cured. Any event that causes the infected creature great stress-including entering combat, taking damage, experiencing fear, or having a nightmare-forces the creature to make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage and becomes incapacitated with mad laughter for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the mad laughter and the incapacitated condition on a success. Any humanoid creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of an infected creature in the throes of mad laughter must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or also become infected with the disease. Once a creature succeeds on this save, it is immune to the mad laughter of that particular infected creature for 24 hours. At the end of each long rest, an infected creature can make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the DC for this save and for the save to avoid an attack of mad laughter drops by 1d6. When the saving throw DC drops to 0, the creature recovers from the disease. A creature that fails three of these saving throws gains a randomly determined form of indefinite madness.

Mad Monkey Fever. A magical mist creeps through the jungles of Chult. Contact with this thin, blue, odorless mist can infect giants and humanoids with mad monkey fever. A dispel magic spell destroys the mist in a 20-foot square starting at a point chosen by the caster within the spell’s range. An encounter with this mist typically covers 1d6 such areas (400-2,400 square feet). A giant or humanoid that comes into contact with the mist must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become infected with mad monkey fever. The infected creature gains a random form of long-term madness (roll on the Long-Term Madness table in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide) that manifests 1d6 hours after infection and lasts for the duration (1d10 × 10 hours). If the madness is allowed to run its full course, the creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of the madness. If the second saving throw fails, the creature suffers another bout of long-term madness (roll again on the table) that lasts for the normal duration. The madness continues until the disease ends.

Sewer Plague. Sewer plague is a generic term for a broad category of illnesses that incubate in sewers, refuse heaps, and stagnant swamps, and which are sometimes transmitted by creatures that dwell in those areas, such as rats and otyughs.When a humanoid creature is bitten by a creature that carries the disease, or when it comes into contact with filth or offal contaminated by the disease, the creature must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or become infected. It takes 1d4 days for sewer plague’s symptoms to manifest in an infected creature. Symptoms include fatigue and cramps. The infected creature suffers one level of exhaustion, and it regains only half the normal number of hit points from spending Hit Dice and no hit points from finishing a long rest. At the end of each long rest, an infected creature must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the character gains one level of exhaustion. On a successful save, the character’s exhaustion level decreases by one level. If a successful saving throw reduces the infected creature’s level of exhaustion below 1, the creature recovers from the disease.

 

 

Shivering Sickness. A giant or humanoid exposed to the disease must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or become infected. A creature with natural armor has advantage on the saving throw. It takes 2d6 hours for symptoms to manifest in an infected creature. Symptoms include blurred vision, disorientation, and a sudden drop in body temperature that causes uncontrollable shivering and chattering of the teeth. Once symptoms begin, the infected creature regains only half the normal number of hit points from spending Hit Dice and no hit points from a long rest. The infected creature also has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls. At the end of a long rest, an infected creature repeats the saving throw, shaking off the disease on a successful save.

Sight Rot. This painful infection causes bleeding from the eyes and eventually blinds the victim. A beast or humanoid that drinks water tainted by sight rot must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or become infected. One day after infection, the creature’s vision starts to become blurry. The creature takes a -1 penalty to attack rolls and ability checks that rely on sight. At the end of each long rest after the symptoms appear, the penalty worsens by 1. When it reaches -5, the victim is blinded until its sight is restored by magic

such as lesser restoration or heal. Sight rot can be cured using a rare flower called Eyebright, which grows in some swamps. Given an hour, a character who has proficiency with an herbalism kit can turn the flower into one dose of ointment. Applied to the eyes before a long rest, one dose of it prevents the disease from worsening after that rest. After three doses, the ointment cures the disease entirely.

Throat Leaches. Minuscule parasites known as throat leeches infect the water in Chult’s forests, swamps, and rivers. Any giant or humanoid that swallows tainted water must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be infested with throat leeches. Immediate symptoms include throat inflammation and shortness of breath. After 1d6 hours, the infected character gains 1 level of exhaustion that can’t be removed (except as described below) until the disease is cured. At the end of each long rest, the infected creature must repeat the saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s exhaustion increases by 1 level; on a successful save, the creature’s exhaustion decreases by 1 level. If a successful saving throw reduces the infected creature’s level of exhaustion below 1, the creature recovers from the disease. Explorers can avoid contracting throat leeches by drinking rainwater or water that’s been purified.

 

 

 

 

The Book of Vile Darkness

THE BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS WAS orginally written by Vecna, though other sinister mages who have gotten their hands on it since his ascension to godhood have added their own vile spells, rituals, and pieces of arcane history.

Page 1: The signature of the orginal author, Vecna.

Page 2: The book contains a detailed, extensive, and convincing philosophical dialogue asserting the moral superiority of self-interest, might-makes-right, and willingness to disregard societal norms to pursue one’s goals. This is often one of the first passages the book’s infinite pages show to a new holder, and the author of the dialogue is listed only as “Myself”.

Page 3: The book contains information on the proper casting of the ritual to transform one’s own self into a lich, including the process of crafting a phylactery, and the best ways to conceal it to ensure your continued survival.

Page 4: The book contains a large number of pages which appear to be a diary. At some point in the book’s seasoned history it seems a demon got ahold of it. The demon is of no real renown or significance to the world, and how it got access to the book is a mystery. The sadistic abyssal ramblings go into excruciating detail about various murders and atrocities and tortures the demon had committed over it’s life.

Page 5: The book contains an incredibly vast list of baby names with the most rude, cruel nicknames for each name listed beneath each one. If you look up your own name, you must succeed on a high DC Wisdom save or become stunned as you are wracked with childhood trauma. You make remake this save every minute, ending the effect on yourself on a successful save.

Page 6: The book contains a chapter discussing the metamorphoses from good to evil as a graph theory problem, where each node on the graph represents a moral dilemma, paradox or compromise that tests the subject’s morals (with test results shown from previous tests). The chapter ends with a theorem postulating that a path from absolute good to absolute evil exists for any subject, but the parts with the formal proof have been scratched out. Perhaps you aren’t the first people with good in their heart to find this horrid manuscript?

Page 7: The book contains the true names of a vast array of devils, yugoloths, dragons, fey, and other creatures with the belief that knowing a being’s true name gives you power over it.

Page 8: The hand symbols of this page contain the verbal and somtaic components for a list of dark rituals crafted by an author who claims to be Iggwilv, the Witch Queen. The rituals are extensive and strange, all written in a dialect of sylvan primarily spoken by hags, and are absolutely vile. Some of the more interesting rituals within this section include a curse to spread painful misfortune across an entire bloodline, a ritual to convert someone the caster loves into pure arcane energy and use it to boost their own magical potential, and a ritual to summon some far realm horror referred to both as a Dros’khanar and a “Void Dreadnought”, described as a terrible amalgam of broken bone, twisted flesh and shadow from the space between worlds.

Page 9: The book contains a cook-book style guide on how to craft the best flesh golems, including what meaty bits of what creatures to use, a precise measurement on how much arcane energy should be pumped into the body, and exactly where to connect each piece.

Page 10:

Page 11: The book contains what appears to be a treasure map writ upon tanned flesh from human face that has been nailed through several pages in the book. The map seems to lead to some ancient lost treasure hidden by an infamous dreadpirate decades ago. The lands depicted on the map appear strange, with odd topography and naming conventions. A character who succeeds on a high DC Arcana check is able to properly identify that the map depict a section of the planar cosmology unfamiliar to most, up to the DM’s discretion: either the Nine Hells, the Abyss, Gehenna, Limbo, or the Far Realm.

Page 12:

Page 36: The book contains a history of Atropus, The Prime Mover, the Dark Star, the World Born Dead. This primordial being of vast power threatens the existence of the multiverse at large. It seems like the original writer went a step beyond this however… it seems they were postulating and hypothesizing on means to awaken Atropus, either to extract its power for themselves, or to commit mass genocide on a planar scale. Read relevant sections from ‘What is Atropus’ to the player characters.

The book contains a section which acts as a zoological research guide regarding various eldritch horrors from the far realm. There is a clear purpose, intelligence, and intent to the writing, but 90% of it is just nonsense, buzz words, and technical jargon indecipherable to anyone who doesn’t already have a grasp of the field.

The book contains one of the last remaining guides to casting a 10th level spell, a class of magic forbidden from being cast by the sovereign governing powers of the modern world. The spell requires vigorous preparation to cast, an exorbitant casting time, and an incredible toll on the caster’s body, but the end results can be absolutely devastating should it be properly performed.

The book contains a slew of curses crafted from a slurry of words in infernal, abyssal, and sylvan dialects, with a range of effects bordering on cruel pranks to serious disfiguration of your enemies, and everything in between.

The book contains the means to traverse and map out the Domains of Dread within the shadowfell, revealing clear-cut pathways connecting places like Barovia and Lamordia together which otherwise would be impossible to identify.

The book contains the means to craft a tincture which acts as a love potion, though less in the vein of “true love and happiness” and more the in the vein of “obsessive devotion bordering on ritualistic worship”.

The book contains a section that magically writes and rewrites itself with the passage of time, containing an innumerable number of longggg lists detailing every single immoral, unscrupulous, and downright vile thing each high ranking political figure globally has done over the course of their entire lives, with timestamps.

The book contains an entire section devoted to cannibalism, giving information on how to properly prepare the meat of your own species for consumption. It looks like it was initially a small section devoted solely to humans, but has slowly evolved over many hundreds of years to include a vast selection of recipes and notes critiquing past authors, going through nearly all the various sentient races of the world. Inspired by u/Bub_the_Zombie

The book contains an Ikea-style guide on creating an innumerable amount of torture devices, each more devastating than the last. Devices include (but are not limited to) nerve pullers, barbed nerve extractors, trepans (skull drills), dermatomes (designed to harvest sheets of skin), etc. etc. The majority of these devices include side sections detailing how to infuse them with restorative magics, healing or reviving the victims to artificially extend the torture duration. Inspired by u/Bub_the_Zombie and u/Clickclacktheblueguy

The book contains a discussion piece weighing the pros and cons of various soul trapping methods, reading like a well-written review judging and evaluating several products made for the same purpose. Methods include but are not limited to soul dissection, a night hag’s soul bag, infernal soul coins, etc. etc. Inspired by u/Bub_the_Zombie and u/Ungodly01

The book contains, oddly enough, sheet music for a song called the “Caelum Dolor Maximus” (Heaven’s Greatest Sorrow in Latin). The song is beautiful, and can automatically corrects itself on the page to be readable by any musician for their preferred instrument. The song was written by an imprisoned fallen angel, and details their fall from grace. Performing the song requires a high DC Performance check to play, and forces all who can hear it to make a high DC Charisma saving throw. Failure of this saving throw drives people into deep states of depression, eventually leading to suicidal ideations. Inspired by u/Bub_the_Zombie

The book possesses one, and only one, page with various fractal patterns drawn onto it which appear similar to the letter S. They are clearly drawn with purpose and intent, and seem important. Viewing this page serves as a memetic hazard affecting the subconscious mind; you are compelled, perhaps without even realizing it, to draw the very same S-like shapes on other pages you view or documents you write, which have the same contagious effect on others. This effect is incurable, and permanent. Inspired by u/felagund

The book contains various scientific articles from different time periods and geographic regions postulating on the most effective means of eliminating all life in the multiverse in the shortest amount of time possible while also expending the fewest resources. Inspired by u/DonQuixoteDesciple

The book contains a scrawled out note, in big letters, sort of a reminder for some malicious mage who held this tome previously. In hastily scribbled text, it reads “DON’T FORGET: HEALING SPELLS CAN BE COUNTERED”. Directly under it, in smaller text, it says “that means revivify too!!!”. Both notes are underlined several times. Inspired by u/hcsLabs

The book contains a detailed guide to psychological manipulation. The earlier portions of this section are effectively a textbook description of malignant narcissism rephrased into a how-to manual, but later on it gets more extreme, explaining how to trigger Stockholm syndrome with 98% effectiveness, how to break a servant’s self esteem and ambition without hamstringing their capabilities, and even an algorithm to determine whether a given atrocity is more likely to break the spirits of the oppressed masses or trigger a revolt. Inspired by u/Clickclacktheblueguy

The book contains a massive ink blot, similarly to a Rorschach test. Gazing upon it and attempting to discern it’s shape brings up traumatic memories repressed throughout your life. Attempting your first long rest after gazing upon the Rorschach test fills your dreams with nightmares of the aforementioned traumatic events, preventing you from receiving the benefits of a long rest for that night and giving a point of exhaustion to yourself. Inspired by u/sonofabutch

The book contains what is, more than likely, the largest repository of knowledge on poison crafting in existence. It lists out materials, costs, where to find each ingredient, and of course how to combine these ingredients for the most potent effect possible. Inspired by u/sonofabutch and u/oliviajoon

The book contains scientific research on what is, in most societies within the realm, considered the ultimate sin: the killing and dissection of celestial beings. Inside you find information detailing the various organs, body composition, and a complete anatomical map of an angel’s muscular and bone structure. It further goes into information regarding “scientific tests” on various celestial’s resilience and regeneration levels when exposed to certain negative stimuli, to include blunt force trauma, the flaying and removal of flesh and organs, and the effects of poisons or diseases on their bodies. Inspired by u/Erivandi and u/ManCalledTrue

The book contains several advanced version of certain enchantment spells, namely those with the ability to impose dominating effects. These upcast versions of these spells are indeed more powerful and potent than their typical sibling spells, but take a greater toll on the caster than just a spell slot; they, slowly, carve away pieces of the caster’s humanity. Inspired by u/oliviajoon

The book contains a slurry of arcane runes of infernal and, interestingly enough, giant origin, which can be inscribed into the deceased bodies of your foes. This serves a number of uses, to include preventing revival or resurrection, binding the soul of another creature to the body, or turning the decaying cadaver into a ticking time bomb. Inspired by u/SanguineBanker

The book contains a cookbook of feasts made to impress extraplanar visitors whom travel to your abode. While it starts harmless, detailing the best ores to bring for dao to snack on or how to properly prepare sushi for a marid, it quickly devolves into controlled mania, detailing how much infant blood to pour for each glass at a feast for devils, the exact temperature your home should be at before you host an ifrit (spoiler: it’ll kill you!), and eventually just random eldritch psychobabble for the section of slaadi. Inspired by u/SanguineBanker

The book contains information on how to create summoning circles, not for extraplanar beasts or eldritch powers, but for people on the material plane. With this, you could kidnap any person from anywhere, regardless of how well defended they are. There are additional runes which can be placed into the summoning circle to generate additional effects. Just make sure you don’t go too crazy on the runes; if they conflict, it could have gruesome results… for the purpose you’re summoning. Inspired by u/Ungodly01

The book contains a built in defense, a trap of composed of a blot of ink which threatens to suck those into it who do not have pure evil in their hearts. It is unclear how to remove those who are absorbed into the blot from the book, or even where it is they go. Inspired by u/Ungodly01

Similarly to the prior notation, the book contains another trap, though this one is specifically designed to inhibit inhabitants of mechanus who may seek to destroy the book. It reads like gibberish, equal parts Shakespearean writing piece and insanely elaborate mathematical equation. This has absolutely no effect on flesh and blood beings, but constructs who read it lose control of their logic core, delving into a state akin to madness before finally suffering the effects of what is essentially a Power Word: Kill spell. Inspired by u/Ungodly01

The book contains many dark spells lost to time, the vast majority of which have had sections of them worn away to the point they’d be impossible to replicate, though some do still remain. The Veins of Tar spell is a 4th level transmutation spell available to sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards, which (as an action) instantly transforms the blood of your target to hot molten tar. The spell forces a target to make a Constitution saving throw, or begin taking 1d12 fire damage as well as having their movement speed halved. This spell requires concentration. Inspired by u/Ungodly01

The book contains a live devil of decent renown and power trapped within ink. The devil has been there for centuries and is desperate to get out, though his tricksy and malicious nature has been accentuated by the dark dealings of those he has been forced to interact with each time the book is opened. Perhaps finally dealing with kinder souls such as your party’s will soften his heart? Inspired by u/Ungodly01

The book contains a disjointed collection of pages scattered throughout. Each page is arcanely enhanced with divination magic and precise geolocation capabilities, revealing to the reader every single awful, inhumane thing that has happened in the particular regions it correlates to in the last year in vivid detail, including specific names. Inspired by u/Haydeos

The book contains many dark spells lost to time, the vast majority of which have had sections of them worn away to the point they’d be impossible to replicate, though some do still remain. The Malignant Light spell is a 5th level evocation spell available to clerics and paladins. This spell can be cast as a reaction to a creature casting a healing spell on a target, transforming the total amount of healing done into necrotic damage. The healing spell initially cast can be of a level no greater than 6th. Additionally, you can cast this spell as a response to your own healing magic. Inspired by u/Haydeos

The book contains information on performing a ritual which the world largely believes to be impossible, allowing you to artificially create the virus needed to convert creatures into vampires. What makes this so interesting is it does not require the presence of another vampire, and there is no thrall period; the ritual is perfected in such a way that allows for immediate high-grade vampirism night instantaneously. Inspired by u/bhelhop

The book contains (what seems to be) the true story of Graz’zt, Demon Prince of Indulgence. Starting from his life prior to his death and rebirth in Hell, it appears to be a rather well detailed biography of his early days as a devil, his true reasons for defecting to the Abyss, and his true thoughts and feelings regarding Iggwilv, the witch-queen who bound him to her service and with whom he sired children. Such information could be damning to him and his conspirators within the hells who actively plot against Asmodeus.

The book contains a very large chunk of pages that have been cleanly removed from within. This would not be strange, if not for the fact that pages which are removed are immediately replace by new blank pages, showing the book’s infinite nature. From what little remains of these pages, you can see detailing regarding the abyss and it’s inhabitants. Perhaps information on a demon lord, or a hidden layer Demogorgon or Orcus wish to remain that way? Regardless, the pages appear singed by arcane fire, preventing their regeneration. Inspired by u/ManCalledTrue

The book contains a beautiful poem, a soliloquy commemorating the rise of Asmodeus, the Horned King, into the realm of divinity. Reading the poem aloud causes one to witness that very event, in all it’s infernal glory. Perhaps coincidentally, one of the book’s previous owners was found dead, eyes burned out of his sockets, with the book opened to this page. Inspired by u/ManCalledTrue

The book contains a yugoloth’s bounty list. It appears that the majority of creatures on this list are warlocks who broke their infernal pacts or devils whom those same warlocks are looking to be freed from. The prices listed by many of them are enticingly large, and all list “DEAD” as the broker’s preferred end status. Each time a creature on the 100-name-long list perishes, a new contract soon takes it’s place. Killing a creature on the list immediately transfers the funds to you directly. Inspired by u/Tommy-Lee-Gio

The book contains an entire section devoted to a former author’s ridiculously bad fanfiction, detailing a high fantasy erotic romance plot between in which the reader is in a love triangle with Asmodeus and Ygorl, Lord of Entropy. The fan fiction, regardless of it’s atrocious subject matter, has innumerable misspellings, is grammatically incorrect, and contains several glaringly obvious plot holes. Inspired by u/InuGhost

The book contains, stitched into it’s flesh-colored pages, and immaculate treatise writ onto parchment crafted from the golden trees of Celestia. The treatise details numerous things, chiefly among them the good aligned deities list of conditions that would need to be met before Asmodeus would be allowed to to call upon them to aid in ending the Blood War. Players who have a good deal of knowledge regarding the Blood War will be among the first to realize that the the conditions have all been met, many many centuries ago. The treatise has been hidden here, lost to time, in an effort to prevent Asmodeus from receiving aid. This could change everything. Inspired by u/InuGhost

The book contains a lengthy passage written in an archaic and lesser spoken dialect of infernal, barely legible to most modern speakers. A literate speaker of infernal who succeeds on a high DC History check can discern, with some difficulty, that this is an ancient manuscript detailing to new archdevils the process of writing powerful binding contracts facilitating and governing the exchange of souls. Given enough time, there is potential you could transcribe this into a more standard format, allowing you to craft your own soul contracts. Inspired by u/pokemonbard

The book contains many dark spells lost to time, the vast majority of which have had sections of them worn away to the point they’d be impossible to replicate, though some do still remain. The Soul Grinder spell is a 9th level necromancy spell with the potential to completely destroy a creature’s soul, destroying them on a level thought impossible by most scholars. This spell is available to clerics and warlocks. As a reaction to a creature you can see within 50 ft. of yourself perishing, you may begin casting this spell, which takes 1 uninterrupted minute to perform. Successfully completing the casting of this spell immediately destroys the target’s soul, preventing resurrection, reincarnation, and ascension to the higher and lower planes. Casting this spell has a steep cost; an emerald worth at least 1000gp, and a fragment of your own soul. You can cast this spell up to three times in your life, and upon completing your third casting you die instantly, unable to be resurrected as your soul is destroyed entirely. Inspired by u/bhelhop

The book contains a single question on a page, with two checkboxes beneath saying “yes” and “no” respectively. The question asks “Do you wish to know what more you could be?”. If answered yes, visions of every possible life better than your own you could have lived floods your mind in less than a second, before immediately leaving. Though not physically damaged, such visions destroy any joy you may have had, leaving you to realize how cruelly unfair reality is that you could not be the best version of yourself. You gain the flaw “Life is unfair, so why try? Nothing I do is right anyways.”. This flaw is removed upon being targeted by a Greater Restoration spell. Inspired by u/soshp

The book contains a subsection that looks like it was, at least at one point, connected to the flesh golem section, before more and more pages filled the space between the two. The subsection contains the precise surgical practices required to extract an intact nervous system from a living humanoid, or rather extricate that humanoids flesh, bones, and viscera. The subsection then explains, in gruesome detail, the science behind how the incredible pain an exposed nervous system is constantly in can be used to power enchantments that animate golems, greatly increasing their ferocity as well as their durability. Inspired by u/monkeymichael117

The book contains instructions and research on what seems to be attempted improvement on the classic chimera creation process, including a ritual that can surgically and conceptually combine two beings into a single creature under the caster’s control regardless of creature type. The minds of both creatures are kept entirely intact inside of the bodies while a gestalt enslaved consciousness pilots it at the casters will. The experiments of what happens when two diametrically opposed beings are combined, such as celestials and fiends, are truly maddening. Inspired by u/zenerift

The book contains many dark spells lost to time, the vast majority of which have had sections of them worn away to the point they’d be impossible to replicate, though some do still remain. The Temporal Loop spell is a 9th level transmutation spell with the capacity to turn even the most beautiful moment into a prison. This spell is available to sorcerers and wizards. Over the course of 24 hours, you can cast this spell to create a time loop in a selected area no larger than 5 miles. Over the course of these 24 hours you forge a diadem of pure temporal energy, using a casing crafted from pure sapphire worth no less than 3000gp. The diadem is diamond shaped, and about as large as a fist. The time loop ranges from 12am on the day the diadem is hidden within the center of the 5 mile area, going up until 11:59pm the following night. Each day when creatures within the area awake, they perform the same duties they did the day prior, feeling a strange sense of deja vu. If a creature chooses to make a check to attempt to identify the effects, they must instead succeed on a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw. A success on this save allows the creature to properly identify they are in a time loop and that they must break free to continue unto the next day, while a creature who fails cannot realize this (even if informed by another creature who did succeed), they can remake the save each following loop until they do. To end this spell, a creature must destroy the diadem, which has an AC of 18 and 50 hit points. The diadem is immune to divination magic used to determine it’s location. Creatures which leave the time loop before the diadem is destroyed are returned to their same position in the time loop the following day. Inspired by u/zenerift

 

 

!

 

 

Marovia

Off the coast of Innuviel’s sourthern most edge of the Emerald Jungle, there lies the serene island of Marovia, a haven of peace and tranquility amidst the chaos of the world. Unlike its neighboring lands, Marovia is primarily inhabited by a secluded community of water genassi, air genassi, and high elves who have long sought to distance themselves from the conflicts that plague the mainland. Though any, true and tested, may become a citizen of the secluded island.

The people of Marovia are known for their unwavering commitment to neutrality, choosing to remain aloof from the political intrigues and power struggles that define much of Innviel’s history. Instead, they dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge, art, and spiritual enlightenment, cherishing the natural beauty of their island home. They accept the practice of all religions, so long as it does not influence the treatment of those within the community. There is no money in Marovia, only acts of service and trade are accepted. Though none are said to go without want of what is essential. Gems are strictly forbidden.

However, controversy surrounds Marovia due to its strict policy of isolationism. While some view the islands desire for peace as admirable, others criticize their refusal to engage with the outside world, accusing them of cowardice or selfishness. Upon settling on Innuviel, many travels were disgusted by the greed, religious practices and cruelty of their neighbors. A growing contingent of these individuals left the early settlements to found Marovia. The sought to create a true commune aligned towards serving the collective good. During the Coflict of Gems, the people of Marovia refused involvement, which was firecely criticized by the those who remained on the mainland fighting for the rights of the Sirassi. They claimed the reason for Marovia’s existence was tantamount to the pight of the Sirassi, byt they were privileged enough to retreat from conflict. A lurxury the Sirassi did not have. Furthermore, rumors abound about hidden agendas, secret alliances and whispers suggest that Marovia’s neutrality may not be as altruistic as it appears.

Despite Marovia’s best efforts to maintain their secluded way of life, they too face the threat of the Undead Blight. Yet they have little to no communication with the rest of Innuviel. And prefer it that way. There are white stone obelisks of sorcery on the island controlled by the genassi that regulate the ocean and weather surrounding it. This makes traveling to Marovia nearly impossible unless your passage is granted. Becoming a citizen of Marovia is a daunting task including a series of trials and a monitoring period to test your commitment to live as they do. It is a secular, peaceful, non-monetary civilization that is utilitarian. To be welcomed into the society, you must first know someone from Marovia sponsor you. Yet such individuals are scarce across Innuviel.

 

 

Map of Innuviel

1 - The Emerald Jungle

2 - Mount Thuule

3 - Marovia

4 - Danderoth’s Castle

5 - Sorrow’s Stronghold

6 - The Celestial Observatory

7 - Fort Weddle

Scale: Each square represents a 25x25 mile zone

The Trackless Sea

4

1

5

2

6

3

8 - The Broodmates’ Den

9 - Dahlaana

10 - Lake Cyan amidst the Overwatch Mountains

11 - The Valley of Blood Roses

12 - Rocky Ford

13 - Liravassi, The Infected Forrest

14 - The Howling Fields

15 - Port Jasper

INNUVIEL

14

11

8

13

7 10 15

9

Dahlaana

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Inauspicious Arrival - Session One Recap

AS THE SUN SETS OVER THE HORIZON a warm golden hue spreads across the calm waters of the Bay of Sildora, illuminating a majestic city. Nestled at the heart of the island of Innuviel, Dahlaana stands as a beacon of civilization amidst the untamed wilderness and vast oceans that surround it. Tall spires and strong walls embrace the city, their stones whispering tales of a remote island life far from the worries of most other large cities.

The Land of Commerce, Culture and Cures

Dahlaana, the Jewel of Innuviel, is a city that bears the marks of its rich and diverse history. Its origins date back to the discovery of the island when inhabitants, primarily merchants, of Chult sought a new enterprise. The island was located far off the westernmost end of the Chultan peninsula, beyond the Mother-of-Mists, deep with the south west region of the Trackless Sea. Over the years, it has grown into a vibrant tapestry of cultures, a testament to its strategic position as a bustling port. The economy thrives in Dahlaana, driven by the ceaseless activity of its port and precious gem trade. Ships from distant lands dock in the harbor, unloading exotic wares that find eager buyers in the famous, and infamous, Market District. The call of merchants echoes through the streets, their goods spilling forth from vibrant stalls, from silks woven in far-off lands to spices that set tongues tingling with their exotic flavors. In the shadow of towering warehouses, craftsmen ply their trades, crafting goods of exquisite quality that find eager patrons in the city and beyond. The port brings in many races of differing background to do business, which has shaped the culture of the city. All are welcome here to trade, worship, and enjoy merriment. The city’s architecture is an artifact to its eclectic heritage, creating a harmonious blend of styles that speak of unity in diversity. In the Noble Quarter lies Nature’s Majesty, a renowned zoo and garden that stands as a monument to the city’s dedication to beauty and art. An expanse of meticulously tended flora from across the realms mingles, their vibrant colors and heady fragrances dancing on the breeze. Ancient oaks shade delicate azaleas, and cascades of wisteria drape over stone arches, creating a sanctuary of serenity within the bustling heart of the city. Found within the adjacent district of Old Town is the Temple of Ilmater, and within it, the House of Healing. Innunviel has a large population of followers of the Crying God. From all corners of Faerun, distant travelers come here to find reprieve and relief from the most dire and foreign of afflictions.

A Stark Change

The adventurers arrive at Dahlaana, either by by boat through the Bay of Sildora or by foot after following the Emerald Road. Upon entry. The air is thick with the scent of salt and the distant calls of seagulls echo through the harbor. Ships of various sizes sway in the gentle waves, their sails fluttering like giant wings. Merchants swiftly go about their business while sailors heave crates and barrels.

 

 

A Promise of Hope

In the midst of this palpable fear, the arrival of the adventurers is met with a mixture of relief and trepidation. Hope flickers in the eyes of some, while others regard any new face with skepticism, questioning whether this group of outsiders holds any true promise of dispelling the encroaching darkness. The people of Dahlaana, though resilient, cannot help but feel the shifting tides. The laughter and songs that once filled the streets now holds a hint of forced mirth, and the eyes of the city’s inhabitants bear the shadows of sleepless nights. It is a time of transition, a moment of reckoning for a city that has known naught but prosperity for generations. Not since the height of the Sirassi-Lanfall War has there been such tension.

As the party makes their way through the city, they can’t help but feel the heavy atmosphere, the collective anxiety that clings to each street corner and alley. It is a city on the brink, a population teetering between the desire for salvation and the specter of impending doom. Your mission to uncover the source of this unnatural blight now holds a weighty significance, for within your hands rests the hope of restoring Dahlaana to its former glory and dispelling the fear that had taken root within its walls.

Your journey takes yoo to the heart of the city, where the magnificent Church of Ilmater stands tall, its spires reaching for the heavens. It is here, amidst the solemn halls and echoing chambers, that you to meet Saint Apiz, the man who would shed light on the dark mystery that has brought you all together. The air within the temple is cool and filled with the scent of incense, a sanctuary of peace in the midst of a city teetering on the edge of uncertainty.

As you approach the entrance, a sense of anticipation hangs in the air, for within these sacred walls, your true journey now begins…

 

 

 

 

A Bone Chilling Welcome - Session 2 Recap

THE ADVENTURERS REACH PORT IN Dahlaana. After some debate about where to go for the night, Lee offers to put everyone up at the Nature’s Majesty. A high end hotel in the Noble Quarter. It is surrounded by sprawling garden and an exotic zoo. It is opulent to say the least. The streets of Dahlaana are largely empty, and those who have been there before say this is most unusual. It is certainly the result of the undead blight. The hotel is also empty. Not another patron is observed. Erik and Lee go the bar with Natalya and Middle Spit. Eric gets shit-faced, and Lee flirts with the Bartender, Ray, and makes an important discovery. They learn from the Ray two these critical pieces of information: Upon death there is a chance anyone who dies will be resurrected (though it is clearly not everyone). And then again periodicaly, randomly, the undead can arise from any corpse. Jessica remains in quarters as she works on her new book, “The Corpse Danced at Midnight.” Cailum mediatates on one of the luxurious balconies of the suite, as he communes with Set to consolidate what they have learned over the past day. He then inks a letter to Ilyana and Enki, who are colleagues at the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth. Informing them of his arrival and tha he would like to meet. Each character has a horrific dream their first night on Innuviel. They awaken the next day to visit the Squids at Dock 37. There is a mutual distrust between the adventurers and Natalya. She claims fervently to be on the side of the people of Innuviel. As the team makes their way to the Port District, Eric’s owl familiar spots a burning building with commotion all about it. They rush to the scene, Lee leading the way. The find a building titled “The Long Rest” - which houses the elderly, infirmed, and terminally ill. There have been several undead outbreaks at this facility over the past several months, but until now have been kept under control. Now the building is overrun with zombies and has caught fire. The staff are only able to look on in horror as they beg for help. Lee Rushes in quickly to help, Eric seeks to douse himself with water before entering the building. The adventurers brave the fire and dispatch the zombies, but not without struggle. Jessica may not have survived if not for Caelum rushing to her aid with a healing spell. The team saves 5 patients, throwing them out the window after casting feather fall upon them. Once outside a mob gather, claimed the terminally ill are too dangerous to live given the imminent possibility of them becoming undead. In a passionate speech, Jessica reminds them all of their common humanity, and the crowd quickly dissipates. Due to this act of sacrifice, of kindess, the adventurers have earned the respct and trust of Natalya. She no longer has any reluctance to take them to see the leader of the Squids. The team comes upon Dock 37, and are introduced to Gultesh. After a brief and tense stare down, Natalya convinces Gultesh of your trustworthiness. Gultesh insists the Squids only serve the good of the people of Innuviel by supplying them with necesssary provisions. Their only true shameful secret is their association with a vampire named Danderoth, who they claim is a harmless art collector. Though they have never seen him feed. They supply the team with a map, and point out an area to the North where they may find Danderoth, who is centuries old and perhaps the earliest inhabitant of the island. Gultesh also shares several theories about the origin of the undead blight, inclduing the following: A vengeful blood curse by the Sirassi, who are perhaps working with a witch. Some within the church believe that Ilmater has nothing more to sacrifice, without his ability to bear the suffering that occurs upon death, that those who die are destined to walk the world as undead. They refute the rumor of a necromancer working with the Squids, claiming this stems from fear of the vampire Danderoth, with whom they have a business relationship. They have also heard rumors that the undead blight is a disease, and thus everyone in town has becoming increasing reclusive. Gultesh offers the adventurer’s membership in the Squids, an offer only Eric takes up. He is branded with the symbol of the Squids on his forearm. The team then plans to return to Nature’s Majesty, where they will prepare their next move. Though the intent is certainly to finally meet with Saint Apiz at the Church of Ilmater.

 

 

Character specific events:

Jessica - Jessica’s next book is the “The Corpse Danced at Midnight.” Jessica believes prophecies are coming to pass about the undead blight. She belongs to a secret society called the “The Moon Stars”, which was created was created by a wizard named Blackstaff. They are a network of hidden operatives watching for such events. She is aware that events occurred on Chult related to a lich named Acererak. He was defeated several decades ago. Her Nightmare night one on Innviel: Jessica has terrible recurring dream about a putrid smell and that she was locked in a box. She sees she is in a swamp in the dead of night. There is a house, a hut, and she sees a shadowy figure. It the decomposing corpse of Frank, wearing the clothes she buried him in. He is decayed. Of note her axe, which belonged to Frank is old and rusty.

Eric - Eric wh came to Innuviel looking to get rich, but he is quickly making friends. He is from simple beginnings. He is from Athkatla. While there, he met Mara Shiftbend, who mentored Eric. She came to Innuviel for the gem trade years ago. Eric has purused her in hopes of reuniting and growing wealthy from the gem trade. He ultimately adopts the shared goal of his traveling companions - eliminating the undead and solving the mystery of their uprising. His nightmare: He approaches a treasure in the darkness.

Caelum - Caelum is deepy connected to Set, and hopes that Set will outlive him. His hope is for Set to learn and grow, developing a repository of information for the collective good for ages to come. Set is sentient, and as it grows in power becomes increasingly able to communicate and synthesize information from the raw data Caelum feeds it. He studied at Candlekeep, where he developed the ability to “awaken” inert objects with sentience. Caelum writes notes to his contacts at the Sanctuary of Illuminating Truth. Ilyana and Enki. Annoucning that he is in Dahlaana. That he would like to meet. His nightmare: He is late to class.

Lee - Lee is rich and semi-famous. Coming from the elite Pelaois family as their adopted son. He generously covers the suite at Nature’s Majesty. He questions several staff members about his brother, Mavius, who has been stationed in Innuviel for some time but in the past few weeks went missing. No one thus far has seen him in months. He is determined to find his brother. There is avPelaois Fine Goods and Industries outlet store in Dahlaana. Lee’s Nightmare: Lee is at the wedding of Maza. And He looks for Mavius. It’s a masquerade. Mav will not speak to him. He removes the mask of Mav who is now a zombie, and everyone is. They then eviscerate Mavius as Lee wakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom of the Corpse Flower:

“I am born from darkness and decay, Nurtured by flesh, some might say. Brew me deep in earth’s embrace, For days I linger, in that space.

From soil to lips, my journey takes flight, Granting voice to the silent night. Speak with the departed, send your call, My name you seek, to unravel it all.”

Bloomlotus Riddle:

“I grace overgrown ponds with my gentle sway, A vision of beauty, by night and by day. Coveted and sought with desire, As a prized adornment, I never tire.

Floating serene on waters clear, I bring elegance far and near. Preserved with care, I hold my flower, Displayed like royalty atop a tower.”

Bloodroot Riddle:

“In deep earth, I find my home, Muddled and mixed, my essence is shown. A flash of color, a hue so deep, None suspect the secrets I keep.

For actors and tricksters, I am a tool, With convincing guise, they craft a fool. From petal to stem, my essence they take, In many shades, their deceptions I make.”

Death’s Beckon Riddle:

“In shadows deep, where moonlight fades, An ashen plant lurks ‘neath forest shades. With a touch, it seals one’s fate, In darkest hours, it claims its mate.

If it a gift from a for or friend, Who can say until the end. With whispered lure, it draws quite near, What is this plant that sparks such fear?”

Dreamleaf Riddle:

“In realms unknown, where shadows creep, A growth that holds the essence deep. Imbibe its nectar, venture far, To realms beyond both moon and star.

Where spirits soar, in distant light, This plant grants them boundless flight. What is this growth that holds the key, To realms unseen, where souls roam free?”

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Six towering stone statues are set in alcoves around the room each depicting a nearly hooded Sirassi figure. Each statue is facing a central table covered with a ragged cloth atop which sits an assortment of lifesize items made of the same stone: a book, a scythe, a dagger, a spear, a hammer, and sceptre with an eye. A DC 15 wisdom reveals there are slight difference among each statue.

• The first state’s fingertip and stain in black an drip weight ink. Pairs with Book
• The second statue has mud claw feet. Pairs with the scythe.
• The third has a blood stained hand and pairs with the dagger.
• The fourth has hands that are covered in black goos, that is the blood of the carrion crawler. Pairs with spear.
• The Fifth hands are covered in soot, pairs with hammer.
• The sixth is spotlessly clean, and pairs with the sceptre.

If placed in the incorrect order, they are ambused by a wraith or the Guardian spirit. ……………………………………………………………………………………… Kubazan Shrine ……………………………………………………………………………………… Drink a potion to enter Astral Plane - A part of someone’s mind that has died, may persist in the Astral Plane, or be conjured in the Astral plane. Parts of us that are gone may dwell there forever like a memory, a snapshot in time. They must honor the spirit, appease something that ails them. Convince them of something. Make a promise or committment. The team should join hands in circle to fullfil the ritual.

Meet someone who has died, and honor them through reveal a feeling and being vulnerable. Erik - Mara Shiftbend, part of her spirit, that means part of her is dead. Wants a better life for himself and his parents. Jessica - Frank Caelum - Ilyana Lee - His Mother ………………………………………………………………………………………

“Villaketh, the essence of honoring what is required, asks that understanding our place within the collective good to illuminate the path ahead.”

“Ethlaaka, the embodiment of reciprocity, calls upon all to give back as generously as we have received.”

“Nerratul, the guardian of nature’s balance, reminds all of the sacred duty to revere and protect the natural world.”

“Quuattal, the keeper of ancestral legacy, safeguards the memories and teachings of those who came before, ensuring the continuity of Sirassi heritage.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session 10 Recap: Think of me like a Brother