Tomb of Annihilation

203 Pages·2017·17.09 MB·English

Contents
INTRODUCTION
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Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................................................
Contents 1
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6
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StoryOverview 6
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RunningtheAdventure 6
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Abbreviation..s................................................................................................................................................................................6
AdventureSummary ..............................................................................................................................................................7
DeathCurse .............................................................................................................................................................7
CharacterAdvancement 8
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StartingatHigherLevels 8
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StartingtheAdventure 9
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SyndraSilvane’sCurse 9
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CharacterHooks 10
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WelcometoChult 11
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Weather......................................................................................................................................................................................11
RacesofChult 12
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Chultans 12
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Chapter1:PortNyanzaru 16
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Arrival ..........................................................................................................................................................................16
SideQuests 17
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LocationsintheCity 18
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OldCity ..............................................................................................................................................................................19
Merchants’W.a..r..d.........................................................................................................................................................................19
HarborWard ............................................................................................................................................................................21
MarketWard .......................................................................................................................................................................22
Malar’sThroat 23
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TirykiAnchorage 23
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CityDenizens 24
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Volothamp“Volo”Geddarm 24
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MerchantPrinces 24
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MerchantPrince’sVilla 26
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LowerLevel 27
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UpperLevel 27
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FactionsandTheirRepresentatives 28
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Emerald..E..n...c.l.a..v..e..........................................................................................................................................................................29
FlamingFist ...........................................................................................................................................................................29
Harpers .................................................................................................................................................................29
Lords’Alliance .................................................................................................................................................................29
OrderoftheGa.u...n..t.l.e..t..................................................................................................................................................................29
RedWizard...s..o..f..T...h..a..y...................................................................................................................................................................30
YtepkaSociety 30
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Zhentarim 30
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ThingstoDo 30
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BuyingaSpecia.l.I..t.e..m...................................................................................................................................................................30
DinosaurRacing ..............................................................................................................................................................31
FindingaGuide 32
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GatheringInformation 34
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Chapter2:TheLandofChult 36
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TheExpeditionBegins 36
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TravelDistan..c..e..s.........................................................................................................................................................................36
Navigatio..n....................................................................................................................................................................................37
Dehydration ..................................................................................................................................................................37
Diseases 37
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RandomEncounters 38
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LocationsinChult 38
LocationsF-I 50
INTRODUCTION
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...........................................................................................................................................................................
LocationsJ-L............................................................................................................................................................................64
LocationsM-P............................................................................................................................................................................68
LocationsR-S 77
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LocationsV-Y 78
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Chapter3:DwellersoftheForbiddenCity 86
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Omu 86
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Approachingth.e...C..i.t.y...................................................................................................................................................................86
EnteringtheCity ...........................................................................................................................................................86
HistoryofOmu.........................................................................................................................................................................87
Legendofthe..N...i.n..e...G..o...d..s............................................................................................................................................................87
CityInhabi.t.a..n..t.s...........................................................................................................................................................................88
PuzzleCubes .....................................................................................................................................................89
Navigation ..................................................................................................................................................................89
RandomEncountersinOmu 91
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LocationsintheCity 91
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Chapter4:FaneoftheNightSerpent 105
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SchemesoftheYuan-ti 105
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RasNsi 105
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Fenthaza 105
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GettingInside 106
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InfiltratingtheTemple 106
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CapturedbytheYuan-ti 106
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LocationsintheTemple 108
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1.MainGate ....................................................................................................................................................................108
2.HallofW...a..r............................................................................................................................................................................110
3.HallofSerpents ............................................................................................................................................................110
4.Armory .............................................................................................................................................................110
5.Fenthaza’s.Q...u..a..r..t.e..r..s.............................................................................................................................................................111
6.SacrificialCha..m....b..e..r...............................................................................................................................................................111
7.EvilOracl.e..............................................................................................................................................................................112
8.Prisoner..P...i.t.s..........................................................................................................................................................................112
9.TheFane .....................................................................................................................................................................113
10.Harem .....................................................................................................................................................................113
11.ThroneRoo..m........................................................................................................................................................................114
13.RasNsi’sLair ................................................................................................................................................................115
13.Storeroom.............................................................................................................................................................................115
14.VenomDisti.l.l.e..r..y.................................................................................................................................................................115
15.Snake.P...i.t.............................................................................................................................................................................116
16.BloodBaths ......................................................................................................................................................................116
17.Sauna .......................................................................................................................................................................116
18.Yuan-tiNests ...........................................................................................................................................................117
19.SlaveGrotto.......................................................................................................................................................................117
20.Underground..R..i.v..e..r.............................................................................................................................................................117
21.Hydra’sLair .................................................................................................................................................................117
22.FungiCavern 118
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23.SecretEntrance 118
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Chapter5:TomboftheNineGods 119
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HistoryoftheTomb 119
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RiseoftheTomb 119
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NourishingtheAtropal 119
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ExploringtheTomb 119
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GeneralFeatures.....................................................................................................................................................................120
TombInhabitants.....................................................................................................................................................................120
FabledTreasures .....................................................................................................................................................121
SpellRestrictions 121
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ReplacingDeadCharacters 122
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SpiritsoftheNineTricksterGods 122
SpiritualInhabitation 123
INTRODUCTION
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................................................................................................................................................................
LeavingaHost ............................................................................................................................................................123
FightingOveraHost 123
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RoleplayingtheSpirits 123
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Level1:RottenHalls 123
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1.Acererak’sWar..n..i.n..g..............................................................................................................................................................124
2.GalleryofTrick..s..t.e..r..s.............................................................................................................................................................124
3.FalseEntrance ................................................................................................................................................................124
4.TrueEntrance ...................................................................................................................................................................125
5.TrappedCorrido..r..................................................................................................................................................................126
6.CrystalWindow ...............................................................................................................................................................127
7.GrandStaircase....................................................................................................................................................................127
8.MagicalAttraction................................................................................................................................................................127
9.MagicFount.a..i.n......................................................................................................................................................................128
10.Obo’laka’sTom..b.................................................................................................................................................................128
11.GasPocket.........................................................................................................................................................................129
12.TrappedChe..s.t.....................................................................................................................................................................129
13.StoneSkull ...................................................................................................................................................................129
14.Moa’sTomb ....................................................................................................................................................129
16.Wongo’sTomb ..............................................................................................................................................130
17.Undergro...u..n..d...W....a..t.e..r..f.a..l.l.....................................................................................................................................................131
Level2:Dungeo.n...o..f..D..e..c..e..p..t..i.o..n................................................................................................................................................131
18.DevilPit .........................................................................................................................................................................131
19.GravityRing......................................................................................................................................................................131
20.FalseTomb ................................................................................................................................................................133
21.ZombieDoor.....................................................................................................................................................................133
22.Papazotl’sTomb ..............................................................................................................................................................133
23.BottledGenie.......................................................................................................................................................................134
24.Nangnang’sTom...b...............................................................................................................................................................135
25.ScryingPool .............................................................................................................................................135
26.SpiralStaircase.................................................................................................................................................................135
27.ForgeoftheTombDwa.r..v..e..s..............................................................................................................................................136
28.Withers’sOf..f.i.c..e..................................................................................................................................................................137
Level3:Vaultof..R...e..f.l.e..c.t..i.o..n.......................................................................................................................................................138
29.JackalMask .....................................................................................................................................................................138
30.IronBarrier ..........................................................................................................................................................138
31.ReflectedHall .....................................................................................................................................................138
32.RotatingC..r..a..w...l.w...a..y..s............................................................................................................................................................140
33.Chamberof.O...p..p..o..s..i.t.i..o..n......................................................................................................................................................140
34.Peephole ...........................................................................................................................................................141
35.I’jin’sTomb ...................................................................................................................................................141
36.ChamberofRespite .......................................................................................................................................................142
37.WindsofP..a..n..d...e..m...o..n..i.u...m......................................................................................................................................................142
38.RevolvingRoomTrap ..................................................................................................................................................143
39.GolemPit ................................................................................................................................................................144
40.CurseoftheGold.e..n...S..k..u...l.l..................................................................................................................................................144
41.TombGuard.i.a..n..s.................................................................................................................................................................145
42.Kubazan’sTomb ........................................................................................................................................................145
43.VeilsofFear 146
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44.VaultoftheBeholder 146
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Level4:ChambersofHorror 147
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45.GargoyleGuard.i.a..n..s............................................................................................................................................................148
46.LizardDen ..............................................................................................................................................................149
47.ElementalCell.s...................................................................................................................................................................149
48.Shagambi’sTomb .....................................................................................................................................................150
49.MazeofDeath......................................................................................................................................................................151
50.MirrorofLife.T..r..a..p..p..i.n...g......................................................................................................................................................152
51.GhastlyDoor .....................................................................................................................................................153
52.ThroneRoom.....................................................................................................................................................................153
53.CryptoftheS.u..n...Q...u..e..e..n.......................................................................................................................................................154
54.RollingDoom .............................................................................................................................................................155
55.Unkh’sTo..m...b........................................................................................................................................................................155
56.GrandfatherClock 157
57.Oubliette 157
INTRODUCTION
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Level5:GearsofHate 157
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58.CogofRot .......................................................................................................................................................................158
59.CogofAcid .....................................................................................................................................................................158
60.CogofBlood ...............................................................................................................................................................158
61.ControlRoom ................................................................................................................................................................159
62.StoneJuggernaut .........................................................................................................................................................160
63.Gas-FilledRoom ............................................................................................................................................................162
64.BaseoftheWaterfa..l.l..........................................................................................................................................................162
65.UndergroundLake ............................................................................................................................................162
66.DoorofDevo.u..r.i..n..g..............................................................................................................................................................163
67.HalloftheGolde.n...M...a..s..t.o..d...o..n.............................................................................................................................................163
68.HallofDecay ...............................................................................................................................................................165
69.MechanusChain ............................................................................................................................................165
70.ArmillarySphere ....................................................................................................................................................166
Level6:CradleoftheDe..a..t.h...G...o..d.............................................................................................................................................166
71.LairoftheSewnSis..t..e..r.s......................................................................................................................................................167
72.TrialoftheTriangle .........................................................................................................................................................170
73.TrialoftheSquare ..........................................................................................................................................................170
74.TrialofthePentagon...........................................................................................................................................................170
75.TrialoftheHexagon.........................................................................................................................................................171
76.TrialoftheOct.a..g..o..n.............................................................................................................................................................171
77.DeathGod’sNu..r.s..e..r..y..........................................................................................................................................................172
78.ChapelofHa..t.e.....................................................................................................................................................................174
79.HallofFin.a..l.i.t.y.....................................................................................................................................................................174
80.RedLibrary 175
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81.EbonPool 176
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Conclusion 176
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LostTreasures ..................................................................................................................................................176
Syndra’sFa.t.e.............................................................................................................................................................................177
Artus...a..n..d...t.h...e..R...i.n..g...o..f..W....i.n..t..e..r..................................................................................................................................................177
Dragonbait ...............................................................................................................................................................177
Omu ...............................................................................................................................................................177
RedWizardsofTh..a..y.................................................................................................................................................................177
AcereraktheEternal 177
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MoreAdventures 177
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AppendixA:CharacterBackgrounds 178
Anthropologist 178
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
S
omethingevilistrappingthesoulsofthedead BeneaththecrackedandbrokenstreetsofOmuliesa
anddraininglifefromallwhohavebeenraised secretyuan-titemplecalledtheFaneoftheNightSerpent,
fromdeathbymagic.Thisworldwide“death whereRasNsiholdsswayandplotstobringabouttheendof
curse”notonlypreventstheraisingofthedead theworld.OmuisalsohometotheTomboftheNineGods.As
butalsocausescreaturesthatwerepreviously thecharactersexplorethismultileveldungeon,theyencounter
raisedfromthedeadtowitheranddie.The thespiritsofOmu’strickstergodsandarepotentially
sourceofthisdeathcurseliesinatrap-riddled inhabitedbythem.Eachgodembodiesadifferentalignment,
tombhiddenbeneathalostcityinthedepths andanycharacterinhabitedbyonegainsaspecialpoweras
ofavastjungle. wellasaflaw.Theninetrickstergodsdon’tgetalong,andthey
TombofAnnihilationisaDungeons& trytopushoneanotheroutofthecharacters’bodies.Asthe
Dragonsadventurethattakesplaceonthe godsfightovertheirlivinghosts,thecharactersmustdeal
peninsulaofChultintheForgottenRealms.Chultisatropical withthedeadlytrapsandmonstersthatguardtheSoulmonger.
wildernesscomposedmostlyofjungles,plateaus,impassable Venturingdeeperintothetomb,theyuncovercluesaboutthe
mountains,andbelchingvolcanoes.Youcansubstitutea dungeon’sevilarchitect—thearchlichAcererak—andlearn
differentjunglesetting,changinglocationnamesasneeded. thattheSoulmongerisfeedingsoulstoanundeadhorror
AlternativeD&DsettingsincludetheAmedioJungleofOerth, calledanatropal.Onceitconsumesenoughsouls,theatropal
theSavageCoastofMystara,thejunglesofXen’drikon willtransformintoanevilgod.
Eberron,oracomparablesettingonyourhomecampaign DestroyingtheSoulmongerendsthedeathcurseaffecting
world. theworld,whilekillingtheatropalincursthewrathof
Thisadventureisdesignedtobeginwithapartyoffourto Acererak.Undernormalcircumstances,theenragedarchlich
six1st-levelcharacters,whoshouldadvanceto11thlevelor wouldbefartoogreatafoeformortaladventurersto
Story Overview
higherbytheadventure’sconclusion. overcome,butwiththetrickstergodsofOmuontheirside,the
Running the Adventure
heroeshaveafightingchance.
ThecharactersaredrawnintothestorybySyndraSilvane,
aretiredadventurerandmerchantwho,yearsago,wasraised Torunthisadventure,youneedtheD&Dfiftheditioncore
fromthedead.Now,she’switheringaway.Whenshe rulebooks(Player’sHandbook,DungeonMaster’sGuide,
Textthatappearsinaboxlikethisismeanttoberead
consultedpriests,Syndralearnedthattheafflictionwas andMonsterManual).
aloudorparaphrasedfortheplayerswhentheir
widespreadandthatnospellcouldcureit.Shespoketoher
charactersfirstarriveatalocationorunderaspecific
friendsamongtheHarpers,whodeterminedthesourceofthe
circumstance,asdescribedinthetext.
affliction:anungodlynecromanticdevicecalledthe
Soulmonger.TheHarpersreceivedtheirintelligencefroma
lich,buttheydon’tknowmuchabouttheSoulmongerother
thanitsnameandgeneralwhereabouts.Adventurerswilling TheMonsterManualandVolo’sGuidetoMonsterscontain
tohelpSyndramusttraveltoChult,alandofjunglesand statblocksformostofthecreaturesfoundinthisadventure.
monsters,tofindtheSoulmongeranddestroyit. Youdon’tneedthelatterreferencetorunTombof
UnknowntoSyndraandherallies,theSoulmongeris Annihilation,asallthenecessarystatblocksfromVolo’sGuide
trappingthesoulsofthedeadanddeprivinglichesofthe toMonstersareincludedwiththenewmonstersinappendixD.
meanstotrapsoulsintheirphylacteries.(TheSoulmonger Whenacreature’snameappearsinboldtype,that’sa
snatchesupthesoulsbeforetheycanbetrappedelsewhere.) visualcuepointingyoutoitsstatblockintheMonsterManual.
SzassTam,themostpowerfullichamongtheRedWizardsof IfastatblockappearsinappendixD,theadventure’stexttells
Thay,hassentoperativestoChulttostealtheSoulmongeror, youso.
failingthat,destroyit.LeadingtheThayanexpeditionisSzass Spellsandequipmentmentionedintheadventureare
Tam’sdevotedlieutenant,ValindraShadowmantle.Valindra describedinthePlayer’sHandbook.Magicitemsaredescribed
hasbeenwarnedthatadventurersmightcrossherpath,so
intheDungeonMaster’sGuide,unlesstheadventure’stext
she’spreparedforthem.
dAirbecbtsryeouvtioaatniitoemn’ssdescriptioninappendixC.
AlsolurkingintheheartofChultisRasNsi,amythic,
villainousfigureamongChultans.RasNsiwasahuman
paladinandaswornprotectorofthecityofMezro.He
betrayedhisoathsandwasbanished.Ratherthanredeem
Thefollowingabbreviationsareusedthroughoutthis
himself,heraisedanundeadarmytoconquerMezro.The
adventure:
would-betyrantwasdefeatedandbanishedoncemore.Mezro
waslaterdestroyedbytheSpellplague(orsoitseemed),
hp=hitpoints gp=goldpiece(s)
duringwhichRasNsilosthispowertocreateandcommand
undead.HewithdrewtothecityofOmu,leavingthevestigesof
LG=Lawfulgood CN=Chaoticneutral
hisundeadarmytoroamuncheckedthroughoutthejungle.
ThatwasnottheendofRasNsi,however.Bitteroverhisloss
AC=ArmorClass ep=electrumpiece(s)
ofpower,heforgedanalliancewiththeyuan-tilurkinginthe
ruinsofOmuandunderwentaritualoftransformation,
CG=Chaoticgood LE=Lawfulevil
becomingayuan-timalison.Asayuan-ti,RasNsiimposedhis
terriblewillontheevilsnakepeopleandbecametheirleader.
INTRODUCTION
DC=DifficultyClass sp=silverpiece(s) precioustime.Mostlyhelikestowatchthemsufferanddieas
aresultoftheirmagicalpursuitsandfolly.
NG=Neutralgood CE=Chaoticevil Althoughhehaslivedonmanyworldsandcrafted
countlessdemiplanes,Acererakspendsmostofhistime
XP=experiencepoints cp=copperpiece(s) buildingtombs.Hefillseachonewithtreasuretoattract
powerfuladventurers.Hethenkillsthemoffinterrible
LN=Lawfulneutral NE=Neutralevil fashion,usingdeadlytrapsandmonsterswhilebaitingand
ridiculingthem.Theterrorheevokesscarstheirsouls,which
pp=platinumpiece(s) NPC=nonplayer hetrapsinhisphylactery,thelocationofwhichisoneofthe
character multiverse’sgreatestsecrets.
N=Neutral Nottoolongagobyhumanstandards,Acererakfoundan
Adventure Summary
atropaladriftattheedgeoftheNegativePlaneandbuiltthe
Soulmongertonourishittogodhood.Thelichchoseoneofhis
tombs—specificallytheTomboftheNineGodsonToril—to
serveastheatropal’snursery.
Theadventureislikelytoplayoutasfollows.
FormoreinformationonAcererak,includinghisstatistics,
TheadventurersareteleportedtoPortNyanzaru,theonly
seeappendixD.
majorsettlementinChult.Afterexploringthecity(chapter1), Death Curse
theyembarkonanexpeditionintothewildsofChult(chapter
2),eventuallyfindingtheruinedcityofOmu(chapter3).The
charactersdon’tknowthatOmuistheirultimatedestination
fromtheoutset;theymustfindcluesorevidencepointingin UnderstandinghowAcererak’sdeathcurseworksisvitalto
thatdirection. runningtheadventuresmoothly.
Inthisadventure,threecreaturesknowthatthecauseof TheSoulmongerwasactivated20daysagoandremains
thedeathcurseliesinOmu:GrandfatherZitembeinPort activeuntilitisdestroyed.WhiletheSoulmongerisactive,the
Nyanzaru,ValindraShadowmantleintheHeartofUbtao,and followingeffectsareinplay:
SajaN’bazainOrolunga.SeveralcreaturesknowOmu’s Anyhumanoidontheplanetthathasbeenbroughtback
location:theguidesEkuandSalidainPortNyanzaru,Valindra fromthedeadbeginstowasteaway.Itshitpointmaximumis
ShadowmantleintheHeartofUbtao,theaarakocraofKir reducedby20(1foreachdaytheSoulmongerhasbeenactive)
Sabal,ZalkoréofNangalore,SajaN’bazainOrolunga,andthe anddecreasesby1everymidnightuntiltheSoulmongeris
reddragonTzindelorinWyrmheartMine.Ifthecharactersare destroyed.Ifahumanoid’shitpointmaximumdropsto0,it
unabletolocateOmuorascertainthesourceofthedeath dies.Travelingtoanotherworldorplanedoesnothingtohalt
curse,thefollowingadditionalcreaturesmightpossessthe thewastingeffectonceithasbegun.
knowledgetheyseek,atyourdiscretion:Krr’ookin Ahumanoidwhosehitpointmaximumisreducedcan’t
Dungrunglung,NephyrinFirefinger,NannyPu’puinMbala, increaseorrestoreit.Thisistruewhetherthecreature’shit
BwayesO’tamuinthewreckoftheNarwhal,thesurvivorsof pointmaximumisreducedbytheSoulmongerorbysome
theStarGoddessshipwreck,andRedWizardsunderValindra otherlife-drainingeffect,suchasthetouchofawight,wraith,
Shadowmantle’scommand. orsimilarcreature.
AstheadventurersexploreOmu,theyareeithercapturedby Ifahumanoiddiesanywhereontheplanet,itssoul
yuan-tiorforcedtoconfrontthemintheirunderground becomestrappedinsidetheSoulmonger.Onlythedestruction
temple(chapter4).Notfarfromtheyuan-titempleisthe oftheSoulmongercanfreethetrappedsoul.
entrancetotheTomboftheNineGods(chapter5).The Anyspellthatbreatheslifeintothedead(including
revivify,raisedead,resurrection,andtrueresurrection)
Soulmongerliesdeepwithinthetomb,whichisriddledwith
automaticallyfailsifcastonahumanoidwhosesouliseither
puzzles,traps,monsters,andmagicalwards.Bestcase
trappedintheSoulmongerorhasbeendevouredbythe
scenario:theadventureconcludeswiththedestructionofthe
atropal(see“SoulDevouring”below).
Soulmongerandtheheroes’daringescapefromthetomb.
TheSoulmongerdoesnotaffecttheworkingsofspeak
Worstcasescenario:thecharacterssuccumbtotheevilof
withdeadspellsorsimilarmagic.Thedeathcursehasno
Acererak,andtheirsoulsaredevoured. eMffeecatotnGprreeixnisdtiengrghostsorspirits.
WHO IS ACERERAK?
TombofAnnihilationcanbeplayedaswritten,oryoucan
Acererakisapowerfullichknownandfearedthroughout
makeitevenmoredifficultbyrunningitasameatgrinder.
themultiverse.Muchofhispastisforgotten,butancienttexts
Thismodeofplayissuitableforexperiencedplayerswhohave
assertthathecomesfromaworldcalledOerth.
highlyoptimizedcharactersandwhodon’tmindputtingthose
Acereraktravelstheplanesinsearchofartifacts.Whenhe
charactersinjeopardyforthesakeofagoodchallenge.Itis
findssomethingusefulorinteresting,helocksitaway.
lessidealforplayerswhoareinexperiencedorgetanxiousat
Althoughhe’spowerfulenoughtopursuegodhoodasother
thethoughtoflosingtheircharacters.
licheshavedone(Vecnabeingaprimeexample),Acererakhas
Youmustchoosetoruntheadventureasameatgrinder
nointerestinbeingagodorbeingworshiped.Heprefersto
fromtheverybeginning.Inthismodeofplay,theSoulmonger
createevilgodsandunleashthemonmortalsandimmortals
gainsthepowertodrawcharacterswhoareclosetodeath,
whoopposehim.
andthefollowingruleapplies:
Despitepassingupopportunitiesforgodhood,Acererak
Adeathsavingthrowsucceedsonarollof15orhigher
attractshisfairshareoffollowersandworshipers.Hedoesn’t
(insteadof10orhigher).Thiseffectendswhenthe
grantspells,nordoeshegivehisdevoteesmuchofhis
FOOTER1
Soulmongerisdestroyed.Otherrulesconcerningdeath cityasaterrifyingplacesothatplayersfeelthetensionof
SouslavDinegvthorouwrsirnemgainunchanged. wCahntiangrtaocgetttehrereAqduicvkaly,nbuctenomtteoonqtuickly.
Thesoulofanyhumanoidthatdieswhilethedeathcurseis
activebecomestrappedinsidetheSoulmonger.Thesoul Charactersbegintheadventureat1stlevelandgainXPby
remainsthereuntilitisconsumedbytheatropalorthe defeatingmonsters.Aftereachgamesession,addupalltheXP
Soulmongerisdestroyed. earnedanddistributeitevenlyamongthepartymembers.If
OnceasoulbecomestrappedintheSoulmonger,it’sonlya thecharactersgainenoughXPtoadvancealevel,encourage
matteroftimebeforetheatropaldevoursit.Youcan yourplayerstoleveluptheircharactersbeforethenext
determinethestatusofatrappedsoulatdawnonanygiven session.Ideally,thecharactersshouldfallwithinthedesired
daybysecretlyrollingad20.Onarollof2orhigher,thesoul levelrangeforeachchapteroftheadventure,asshowninthe
remainstrappedintheSoulmonger,atleastuntilthenext SSuugggegsteedstCehadraCctehraLervaelcsttaebrle.Levels
dawn.Arollof1indicatesthatthesoulwasdevouredbythe Chapter SuggestedLevel
atropal.Acreaturewhosesoulisdevouredinthishorrific
1.PortNyanzaru 1standhigher
mannercan’tbereturnedtolifebyanymeans,including
divineintervention. 2.LandofChult 1st–6th
IftheSoulmongerisdestroyedandyouhaven’tbeen
3.DwellersoftheForbidden 5th–8th
trackingthestatusofaparticularsoultrappedwithin,graba
City
handfulofd20s—onedieforeachdaythesoulwas
trapped—androllthemtogether.Ifyourolla1onanyofthe 4.FaneoftheNightSerpent 7th–9th
dice,thesoulwasdevouredbeforeitcouldbesetfree. 5.TomboftheNineGods 9thandhigher
Spellssuchascommuneanddivinationcanbeusedto
determinewhetherasoulhasbeendevouredorwhetherit’s
stilltrappedintheSoulmonger.
YoucanslowtherateofadvancementbywithholdingXP,
Howmanysoulsmusttheatropaldevourtobecomeagod?
“banking”ituntilyou’rereadyforthepartytolevelup.
Itcouldbethousandsormillions.Ultimatelyit’stheDM’scall,
Conversely,youcanhastenleveladvancementbyawardingad
butthedefaultassumptionisthatthisapotheosiscouldtake
hocXPformakingdiscoveries,completinggoals,roleplaying
mRoenptlhsaocreymeaersn. t Characters
well,andsurvivingoravoidingdeadlytraps.Anysuchadhoc
awardshouldbenomorethanwhatthecharacterswouldearn
fordefeatingamonsterwithachallengeratingequaltotheir
Thedeathcursemeansthat,forthemostpart,deadcharacters level.Forexample,afairadhocawardforapartyof2nd-level
staydead.Ifacharacterdiesandthere’snoreasonablewayfor adventurerswouldbe450XP,whichiswhatthecharacters
theplayertocontinueplayingthatcharacter,youcanhavethe wouldearnfordefeatingachallengerating2monster.Aswith
playercreateanewcharacter.Areplacementcharactershould otherXPawards,theamountshouldbedividedevenlyamong
bethesamelevelastherestoftheparty. allpartymembers.
Chultattractsadventurersfromallovertheworld,and AstheDM,youcandispensewithXPtrackingandallow
theactivationoftheSoulmongerdrawsevenmore characterstogainlevelsatwhateverpacesuitsyourcampaign,
adventurersthanusualtoitsuntamedwilderness.Theplayer usingtheSuggestedCharacterLevelstableasyourguide.
charactersareamongtheearliesttoarrive,butadventurers Chultisloadedwithfundistractions,alluringlocations,
fromacrosstheglobebegintoconvergeinChultasthecrisis andopportunitiesforcharacterstoexplore.Consequently,it
mounts.Itshouldnotbedifficulttointroducenewcharacters canbehardtogaugewhatlevelthecharacterswillbewhen
toreplacethosewhohaveperished.Anewcharactermightbe theyarriveatadventurelocations.Again,lettheSuggested
thelastsurvivingmemberofadoomedexpedition,aguide CharacterLevelstableguideyou.Forexample,ifthe
whohaslivedinChultforyears,aloneexplorerseekingglory charactersare4thlevelandabouttostumbleintoOmu
ortreasure,orsomeoneracingagainsttimetosavealoved (chapter3),youmightwanttosteertheminadifferent
oneaffectedbythedeathcurse.Workwiththeplayertocome direction,throwrandomencountersatthemuntilthey’ve
uTpiwcikthinasgtoCrylthoactmkakessense,giventhecircumstances. reached5thlevel,advancethemto5thlevelautomatically,or
adjustencountersinOmutomakethethreatseasier
tSotovaerrcotmine.g at Higher Levels
TombofAnnihilationisatime-bombadventure.Inother
words,timeisoftheessence.Thecharactersareunder
pressuretofindanddestroytheSoulmongerquickly,since
manylivesdependonit. Althoughtheadventureassumesthatthecharactersbeginat
Timepressureaside,Chultisalandripewithadventure 1Ssttalervetli,nyogucaatns5tatrhtthLeemvoefflat5thlevelor9thlevelinstead.
possibilities,andcharactersmightbedrawnbycuriosityor
circumstancetolocationssuchasthegardenruinofNangalore,
thedwarvenforgeofHrakhamar,orthepiratehavenofJahaka
Charactersof5thlevelwillstillfindpartsofchapters1and2
Anchorage.Suchlocationspresentdangersthat,when
challenging.Ifanencounterbecomestoomuchofacakewalk,
overcome,preparethecharactersforgreaterthreatsawaiting
youcanintroduceenemyreinforcements.HoldoffonXP
theminOmu.IfthecharactersreachOmutoosoon,they
awardsandleveladvancementuntilthecharactersreachOmu
probablywon’tbehighenoughleveltosurvivethereforlong.
inchapter3.
WhenthecharactersmakeinquiriesaboutOmu,paintthelost
FOOTER1
Starting at9th Level
hSayventhdermameSeitlatvSaynndrea’SsilvCanue’srrseseidence.
Charactersof9thlevelwillsteamrollthroughchapters1and2,
andthat’sfine.Spendlesstimeonencountersinthejungle,
andsteerthecharacterstowardOmuasquicklyaspossible.
Theparty’sbenefactorisaretiredadventurernamedSyndra
Oncetheyarrive,runtheadventureasyounormallywould.
Silvane.Beingawizardandmerchantofnosmallrepute,she
Charactersatthislevelwillstillbechallengedbychapters3
hasmagictoexpeditetheparty’sjourneytoChultaswellas
and4,particularlyifyouplaytheyuan-tiasintelligent
treasurewithwhichtorewardcharactersfortheirassistance.
adversaries.HoldoffonXPawardsandleveladvancement
Whenyou’rereadyforthecharacterstomeetwithSyndra,
untilthecharactersentertheTomboftheNineGodsin
YouhavebeeninvitedtothehomeofSyndraSilvane,a
Starting the Adventure read:
chapter5.
retiredadventurerandmerchant.Auniformedattendant
leadsyouupagrandstaircasetothethirdfloor,then
ushersyouintoawood-paneledroomwithafireplace,
comfortablechairs,andaheavytablebearinggoblets
Theadventure’sdefaultstartinglocationisthecityofBaldur’s
andbottlesofwine.Thedarklypaneledwallsarehung
GateontheSwordCoast,intheForgottenRealmssetting.
withmapsandseacharts.Racks,shelves,andcabinets
However,anylargesettlementwilldo.Possibilitiesfromother
holdhundredsmorerolled-upmapsandcharts.
D&DworldsincludetheFreeCityofGreyhawkonOerth,the
cityofSpecularumonMystara,andthecityofSharnon
Eberron. Apersonisseatedinanoverstuffedchairnearthefire.
Togetthingsrolling,readorparaphrasethefollowing Youcan’tdiscernagender,becauseonlytheperson’s
inFtroordtuhcetopraysttesxetvteorathledapylasy,ethrse:talkofthestreetsand heademergesfromunderaheavyblanketdrapedover
tavernshasallbeenabouttheso-calleddeathcurse:a thechair,andanembroideredhoodandsilvermask
wastingdiseaseafflictingeveryonewho’severbeen concealthewearer’sface.Eventheperson’sdry,raspy
raisedfromthedead.Victimsgrowthinnerandweaker voiceprovidesnoclue.“Helpyourselvestowine,and
eachday,slowlybutsteadilyslidingtowardthedeath seatyourselves,friends—IhopeImaycallyouthat.”
theyoncedenied.Whentheyfinallysuccumb,theycan’t
beraised—andneithercananyoneelse,regardlessof
whetherthey’veeverreceivedthatmiracleinthepast.
Templesandscholarsofdivinemagicareatalossto ThemaskedspeakerisSyndraSilvane.SheisaTethyrian
explainacursethathasaffectedtheentireregion,and humanarchmage,withthesechanges:
possiblytheentireworld.  SyndraislawfulneutralandspeaksCommon,Dwarvish,
Elvish,andHalfling.
Syndra’shitpointmaximumhasbeenreducedto79by
theSoulmonger’sdeathcurse,anditdecreasesby1
Atthispoint,invitetheplayerstoexplainwhytheircharacters everymidnight.Ifherhitpointmaximumdropsto0,
aretogether,howlongthey’vebeentogether,andwhatthey’ve Syndradiesandcan’tbebroughtbackfromthedead
beendoing.Ifthecharactersdon’tknoweachother,youcan untilthedeathcursehasended(andifhersoulhasn’t
FOOTER1
beendevoured).DestroyingtheSoulmongeristheonly Shadowmantle,andwereneverseenorheardfromagain.If
waytohalttheattritionandrestoreherhitpoint thecharactersurgeSyndratoseekoutamoreexperienced
RolmepaxliamyuimntgonSoyrmnadl.ra Silvane pTarrteyaofsaudrveenturers,sherepliesdryly,“Ialreadyhave.”
Syndratellsthecharactersherstoryandmakesherrequest. Syndrapromiseseachcharacterarareoruncommonmagic
Roleplaytheencounter,paraphrasingthefollowing item,delivereduponsuccessfulcompletionofherquest.(At
informationandrespondinginSilvane’sdry,crackingvoiceto theendoftheadventure,eachplayercanchoosean
thecharacters’questions: appropriateitem,subjecttoyourapproval.)Syndraalso
“Iwasanadventureryearsago.Idiedonceandwas expectsthatthecharacterswillfindenoughtreasureinChult
 raisedfromthedead.Ihavesinceclosedthedooronthat tomakethemasrichaskings.
stageofmylife.” Ifthecharacterspressforcoinupfront,Syndragiveseach
“Thedeathcurseyou’veheardabouthasstruckme.I cPhlaaraycteerrs5’0MgpatopdoeffrayCehxpuenlstesinPortNyanzaru.
don’tknowhowmuchlongerI’lllastbeforeIperish.
 Clericshavenohelptooffer.They’restymiedbywhatis
happening.” Atthispoint,givetheplayersacopyofSyndraSilvane’s
“MycontactsintheHarpershavelearnedthatthecause incompletemapofChult(seehandout1inappendixE).
ofthedeathcurseisanecromanticartifactcalledthe Syndragladlyanswerstheirquestionstothebestofherability,
 Soulmonger.Accordingtotheirsources,theSoulmonger butshedoesn’tknowmuchmoreaboutChultthanwhat’son
issomewhereinChult.” themap.SheknowsPortNyanzaruwellenoughtoassure
“Chultisapeninsularingedwithmountainsandchoked cThearlaectpeorsrthtaitnthgeytcoanCbuhyusulptpliesthere.
withrainforests.Enormousreptiles,savagegoblins,and
anarmyofundeadprowlitsjunglesandruins.Mapping
theplacehasalwaysbeennighimpossible,andnothingis Intheinterestoftime,Syndraispreparedtouseateleport
knownabouttheregion’scurrentgeographybeyonda spelltotransportherselfandtheheroestoPortNyanzaru.If
fewmilesfromthecoas“Workingfromdozensofsea thecharactersagree,don’tbotherrollingtodeterminethe
charts,logbooks,andexplorers’journals,Iassembled spell’saccuracy.Syndraknowsthecity’sHarborWardwell
everythingknownaboutthecurrentstateofChultinto enoughtoarriveontarget.Shechoosesanoutdoorlocation
 onemap.I’llprovideittoyouifyouundertakemy nearthedocksasherdestination.Whenthecharactersarrive
mission.” iCnPhoratrNyaacnztareur,skHipotoothke“sArrival”sectioninchapter1.
“Whenyou’rereadytodepart,IwillteleportusalltoPort
Nyanzaru,theonlymajorsettlementinChult.I’vebeen
thereseveraltimesbefore,sothere’slittlechanceof
mishap.Oncethere,I’llstaywithafriendnamed AppendixApresentstwonewcharacterbackgroundsthat
WakangaO’tamu.He’soneofsevenmerchantprinces playerscanselectwithyourconsent:theanthropologistand
whorulethecity.” thearchaeologist.Inaddition,thePlayer’sHandbookandthe
Syndrahasmisgivingsaboutsendinginexperienced SwordCoastAdventurer’sGuidecontainanumberof
adventurersonsodangerousaquest,butsheisn’ttakingany characterbackgroundsthatarewellsuitedforthisadventure.
chances.Shefailstomentionthatother,moreexperienced
Ifyourplayersarehavingtroublefleshingouttheircharacters’
partiesofadventurershavebeensenttoChultalready.All
backgrounds,sharetheideasfromtheCharacterHooksfor
havedisappeared,andSyndrafearstheworst.Intruth,they
Character Hooks for Select Backgrounds SelectBackgroundstablewiththem.
fellvictimtotheperilsofChultorcrossedpathswithValindra
Background Reference CharacterHook
Player’sHandbook Templesarevexedbyawidespreadmagicalcursethatiscausing
peopletowasteawaywhilealsopreventingthedeadfrombeingraised.An
Acolyte
expeditionaryforceisheadedtoChulttofindtheoriginofthecurse,and
you’vedecidedtojoinit.
Anthropologist AppendixA Awizard-merchantnamedSyndraSilvaneiswastingaway,andshehas
hiredyoutojoinanexpeditiontoChulttofindacure.Syndrabelievesthat
yourexpertisewillproveinvaluable,andyou’vewantedtostudythe
culturesthere.
Archaeologist AppendixA Youhavelearnedthatawizard-merchantisplanninganimportant
expeditiontoChult—aplacefulloflostcitiesyou’reanxioustoexplore.
Yourrequesttojointheexpeditionwasapproved.
Charlatan Player’sHandbook Afterafewsuccessfulscams,you’vegottenintosometroublewith
localauthoritiesandcriminalgangs.Youwereabouttomakearunforit
whenyouheardarumorthatamerchantnamedSyndraSilvaneisoffering
goodpayforanassignmentfarfromhome.
Cloistered SwordCoast AterriblecurseissweepingacrossFaerûn,andadyingmerchantis
Scholar Adventurer’sGuide gatheringadventurersforaboldmissiontodestroythesourceofthe
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