Giant Lizard Stables (#22/31; #81/365)
"Sunlight! A jagged crack in the wall of this cavernous chamber lets in plenty of sunlight and opens out onto the Desert of Skulls. The chamber itself contains numerous Giant Lizards, tethered to poles driven into the sandy floor, and occasionally feasting on the carcass of a Desert Bison that has been staked to the ground. They raise their heads at your entrance, blood and offal dripping from their toothsome jaws."
Contents: This is the stables for the Caarth, housing their Giant Lizard riding steeds that they use for scouting missions across the Desert of Skulls, and travelling to the larger centres of Caarth settlement. The Lizards have been well fed and will only attack if attacked themselves. Their tethers are long enough that they can reach all parts of the stable except the exit.
As they have been trained for both riding and combat, these creatures are extremely valuable, being worth 230GP each (see Combat Companion, p. 40). However, they also carry the cult markings of each Caarth rider branded onto their flanks, and any non-Caarth riding them may find it difficult selling the beasts to knowledgeable animal traders who recognise the mark.
Other than the dead Desert Bison carcass, there is nothing else of interest in the stables.
Stats:
10 GIANT LIZARDS, SKILL: 8, STAMINA: 9, Large Bite, Light Armour. (See Out of the Pit, pp. 75-76)
Holding Cells (#23/31; #82/365)
"This large chamber has been converted into some sort of prison. Three walls have been fenced off with iron bars, creating three cells, each containing some sort of horrid reptilian monstrosity! To your left lurks a snake-headed humanoid with enormous single sickle-claws instead of hands; to your right a powerful armoured creature with the head and tail of a snake and the upper body of a man; and in front of you, a gigantic leathery-skinned cobra, with human arms sprouting from its sides, brandishing a battle-axe. All three resent your intrusion, and begin hissing violently in unison!"
Contents: These are the holding cells where the Caarth colony keep their shock-troops; mutant warriors to be brought out and unleashed upon the enemy in times of dire strife. Currently they are caged in their pens but will attack any non-Caarth who releases them or enters their cage.
None of them are happy with their captivity however, and will flee into the desert once they have slain whoever freed them. Anyone who speaks Caarth may be able to convince them to rise up against their snake-people oppressors, but it will take some fast-talking and a stead supply of fresh warm meat!
Stats:
From left to right in a clockwise direction, the cells contain:
Tharg: a GRETCH: SKILL 10, STAMINA 13, Claws do 3 STAMINA damage per hit, Medium Armour (Scales). (See Out of the Pit, p. 63)
Buried in a shallow hole at the back of Tharg's cell are 1-6GP and a hunk of green Agate (worth 25GP)
Naja: a KASSISTRA (Cobra Person): SKILL 10, STAMINA 9, Battle Axe and Large Bite (venomous - causes 1-6 STAMINA damage and paralyses its victims after six Attack Rounds), Medium Armour (Scales). (See Return to the Pit, pp. 47-48)
Naja has a gold idol of S'hghkull the Cobra Father, worth 20GP in their cell.
Ssorthos: a JUSTRALI (Serpent Guard): SKILL 10, STAMINA 10, Sword, Light Armour plus Shield. (See Out of the Pit, p. 101)
Ssorthos has a small blue vial of Blade Venom (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 110) which they will use on their Sword if attacked, as well as a leather pouch with 2-12GP.
Serpent Priest Laboratory (#24/31; #83/365)
"This large chamber is lit by brass braziers and appears to be part-shrine, part-library and part-laboratory. One wall has shelves containing strange books made from metal and stone, one wall has a work-bench covered with glass alchemical gear; and the far wall has a sleeping pod of sorts and a low table upon which rests a small gold idol of a winged serpent. Sitting in a wicker chair is a tall Caarth in blue robes with an eye-patch, who rises angrily at your intrusion and screams: 'Outlanders! How dare you disturb my sanctuary!'"
Contents: This is the lair of the Observator-Leader of the Caarth colony based at the Found Tombs; Thessistra K'Saliss, an acolyte of Xiarga the Horned Serpent. Thessistra was tasked by the nearest outpost of the Caarth empire to establish a base here in the Found Tombs, without antagonizing the locals too much, as well as keeping an eye on the Autarch of Dust Town.
However, since then, Thessistra has researched the same legends as Espereth (see #29) concerning the
artefact known as the Hammer of Bisu, and wishes to acquire it. Ostensibly, she seeks it to further Caarth power, but Thessistra has some secrets too. Her older sister-spawn Vessistra disappeared in this region many years previously (see Pellod #27), and Thessistra seeks information on her whereabouts. In addition, Caarth society is on the decline and the various serpent cults war covertly against each other; as a follower of Xiarga, Thessistra ranks lower in Caarth hierarchy than others, and has started thinking about founding her own stronghold, free from the constraints of the empire. Perhaps the Hammer of Bisu can help her attain these dreams?
Thessistra will attack immediately if the Heroes can give no good reason for their presence in her observation colony, however, a canny scholar may exploit the differences between the cults and sects to foment accord with Thessistra, though this will take excellent Caarth language skills and probably some use of magic. For more information on the Caarth, see Out of the Pit (p. 24) and Titan (pp. 86-89). The Heroes may find her a powerful ally or a devious antagonist depending on whether Thessistra thinks they can help or hinder her achieve her goal. She has no time for Wubutu, regarding the Genie as a drunkard and a fool.
The laboratory equipment is valuable glassware and worth 30-300GP to an alchemist, but requires 8 Encumbrance slots to carry and will break on a 1-2 on a 1d6 in combat or if its carrier falls down or over. On the work-bench in small stoppered vials are:
- 2 vials of Hurscht cacti extract (see The Titan Herbal, pp. 40-41)
- 4 vials of Blade Venom (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 110).
- 6 vials of contact poison from an unknown source (add +1 to the Damage Roll when smeared on an edged or bladed weapon for one combat).
The shelves contain a series of standard Caarth myths and religious works in the twisted script of the Caarth and worth 10-60GP to a collector, as well as the fruits of Thessistra's research concerning the Found Tombs of Arvakaten and their various periods of construction, occupation and rebuilding. Most of it is only of interest to sages specializing in ancient Djaratian, Vatosian or Allansian lore, but there are some things that adventuring Heroes may find useful:
- a papyrus scroll depicting a map of the Maze of Pnar, on this level of the Found Tombs, and a successful route through its twisty little passages.
- Thessistra's note-taking slates; anyone reading them, assuming they understand Caarth, can add +2 to Lore Special Skill Rolls involving Caarth culture, as well as Djaratian, Vatosian and ancient Allansian lore.
- an ancient and fragmentary vellum parchment in a box, depicting an image of the Hammer of Bisu (a large golden hammer from which projects an aura of force enveloping a horde of screaming skeletons); Djaratian hieroglyphs captioning the image indicate (if deciphered), that Bisu appears to be the Djaratian aspect of Verlang, god of the forge.
Stats:
Thessistra K'Saliss, CAARTH Priestess (see Out of the Pit, p. 24)SKILL: 12
STAMINA: 16
LUCK: 10
DEVOTION: 10
Talent: Dark Seeing, Holy
Skills: Caarth Speech 4, Common Speech (Allansian) 2, Ancient Djaratian 2, Ancient Allansian 1, Vatosian 1
Powers: As per a Beast Lord (never attacked by, and can communicate with, all Snakes and Serpents), Shape Change (into a Great Serpent), Smite vs. anything with legs, Bravery
Weapon: Scimitar, Throwing Dagger (The Caarth's weapons are poisoned with contact venom; they add +1 to the Damage Roll.)
Armour: Medium (lightweight metal and leather cuirass)
No comments:
Post a Comment