Lair of the Lich-Lord!

Guard Chamber (#3/31; #184/365)

"This is a square chamber with several crude cots and a central table around which sit four weird warriors. Their heads appear virtually skull-like, with none, if any flesh, but their bodies, while extremely thin and skeletal, are recognizably human. They were playing knucklebones, but on your entrance, make a grab for their spears which were propped up against the cots. One of them snarls 'Blast and damnation! Intruders! Why now?"

Contents: The creatures are Skeleton Men mercenaries from the Kingdom of Skulls in the Down Below. Normally fanatics that fight to the death for their god, the mighty Glund, these warriors have been hired by Arvakaten to guard his chambers against marauders and adventurers, and are slightly more circumspect with their fighting.

They will fight if they have to, but are more than happy to play several rounds of knucklebones with the Heroes, with a stake of 1GP. They cannot let the Heroes travel through the far door in their chamber - insisting on this will cause a fight, as will cheating at knucklebones or refusing to drink a tot of Orc Ale.

Stats:

4 SKELETON MEN, SKILL 9, STAMINA 7, Spear, Breastplate and Small Shield.

Each Skeleton Man has 1-6 GP in a pouch at their belt.

On the table are a bunch of knucklebones and 15 GP in mixed coins, as well as a lead canister of Orc Ale and 4 pewter mugs.

Laboratory of the Lich-Lord (#4/31; #185/365)

"This large room appears to be some sort of laboratory. On one side is a workbench covered in various items of glassware full of bubbling liquids, from which drifts sulphurous smells. On the other side of the room is a furnace and forge of some sort, set up not just to produce glassware but also metal parts. Both areas are attended by weird humanoid Skeleton-type creatures in leather jerkins. Weirder still is a central desk, sitting at which is a decaying Skeleton in ancient Djaratian robes, playing around with some sort of firepowder pistol. Upon your entrance, the Skeleton points the weapon at you and croaks 'STAND AND DELIVER!' in a raspy yet powerful voice!"

Contents: This the domain of the Lich-Lord Arvakaten of the Sable Pavilion, he who ordered this tombs constructed around him centuries ago as he pondered the mysteries of unlife and undeath. 

Awoken some years ago by Aldrag the Potent, vice-Guildmaster of the Pellodian Spellcasters' Guild, Arvakaten has lately begun dreaming of renewed conquests, and the capture of Gzeld and his firepowder technology has inspired the old Lich-Lord to new heights of learning. Hence this laboratory, where he has so far been unable to replicate the technology and is thus rather tetchy and frustrated.

So, if the Heroes attack Arvakaten, he will respond with full force, plus the help of his Skeleton Men assistants. However, cunning Heroes may like to bargain their knowledge of firepowder weapons in exchange for safe passage, knowledge, or other valuable things. This does of course mean helping Arvakaten advance his plans of conquest along more quickly...

Any display of Pangarian tech (or Brain Slayer tech from the city of Grx), will of course blow Arvakaten away completely, but he may also be moved to simply take it for himself by attacking the Heroes, unless they take a lot of safety precautions.

Arvakaten's original role here was the guard the Road to Bisu. He remembers something of this job and what it entails, such as the traps and creatures that must be faced along the Road, but has largely neglected these duties recently due to current distractions.

Stats:

Arvakaten of the Sable Pavilion, a LICH-LORD (only harmed by silver or enchanted weapons)

SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 20
MAGIC: 10 (Magic Points: 28)
Talents: Dark Seeing, Natural Mage
Special Skills: Djaratian 4, Common Speech (Allansian) 4, Magic-Necromancy 4, Magic Lore 3, Second Sight 2, Undead Lore 2, Underground Lore 2, Firepowder Weapons 1, Staves 1 (Among others) 

Spells: All Necromancy Spells.

Arvakaten has a flintlock pistol, an Amulet of Domination and a Staff of Casting. The rug under the desk is a Flying Carpet, which he will use to escape if things get difficult. In a desk drawer is a bag of 83GP, 4 small Emeralds worth 10GP each, and a Bronze Key.

6 SKELETON MEN, SKILL 9, STAMINA 7, Dagger, Leather Cuirass.

Each Skeleton Man has 1-6 GP in a pouch at their belt.

On Arvakaten's desk are several non-working flintlock pistol and blunderbuss prototypes, a pile of papers (written by Gzeld Stormbringer) about firepowder technology, a bag of lead ammo, a bag of silver ammo, several weapon charges, and simple gunsmith's tools.

Tomb of the Lich-Lord (#5/31; #186/365)

"This oppressive chamber is shaped like the inside of a pyramid. In the centre of the room is a large sarcophagus, that looks like it has been opened recently, and then closed again. The floor is made from stone, and blackened by fire."

Contents: The sarcophagus has a simple stone lock that is opened by a Bronze Key. Anyone attempting to open the sarcophagus without the key sets off a fire trap, whereby the entire floor erupts in green fire that causes 1-6 STAMINA points of damage. The fire is magical and only burns flesh.

Inside the sarcophagus are some old mummy bandages, and a collection of books and papers, including:

• The Djaratian Book of the Dead: a bound series of papyrus scrolls written in Djaratian describing the journey of a dead soul and some information on the Road to Bisu.
  
• Arvakaten's Spellbook. 
• A letter written in a spidery form of Allansian, from someone called Ktuliaxus the Cruel agreeing to an informal alliance at some date in the future.