by Harley Stroh

City of the Gods City of the Gods

Credits Table of Contents
Blackmoor Creator Chapter One
Dave Arneson
Audience with the King
Executive Producers ........................................4
Dave Arneson and Dustin Clingman
Chapter Two
Writer Valley of the Ancients
Harley Stroh
........................................8
Blackmoor Line Developer Chapter Three
C.A. Suleiman
The Lost Rift
Editor ......................................40
C.A. Suleiman
Chapter Four
Cover Artist Escape from the City
John Donahue
......................................70
Interior Artists Appenix One
John Donahue, Britt Martin, and Scott Purdy
New Monsters
Cartographer ......................................92
Ed Bourelle
Appendix Two
Art Director New Equipment
jim pinto
© 2007 Zeitgeist Games, Inc. Zeitgeist Games is a trademark
.................................... 103
of Zeitgeist Games, Inc. Based on the original Blackmoor
setting, associated characters and places owned by Wizards
of the Coast, Inc. Used with permission, all rights reserved
©1975 Wizards. © 2008 Code Monkey Publishing, LLC. Code
Monkey Publishing, CMP, and the CMP logo are trademarks
of Code Monkey Publishing, LLC.
Designation of Product Identity: All elements of the
Blackmoor setting, including but not limited to capitalized
names, characters, creatures, geographic locations,
historic events, organizations; any and all storylines, plots,
thematic elements; all artwork, symbols, designs and
illustrations, except such elements that already appear in the
System Reference Document.
Designation of Open Game Content: Excluding anything
called out as Product Identity, and all works of art, this entire
document is hereby designated open game content.
Printed in the United States
CITY of the GODS
Our elders had foretold the Fall, reading it in the entrails of pigs and
in the flight of ravens. And on the appointed eve, we watched as a
thunderbolt split the dark sky, streaking across the heavens, lighting
the plains and turning night to day. It was like a moon had been
torn free from the firmament, and when it fell to the earth, the very
stones beneath our boots did tremble.
We turned our ponies towards the Valley of the Ancients. Dust,
scorched earth and ash rained down upon us, choking the air and
turning the day-star the color of blood. We rode for seven days and
nights, until we came to the jagged lip of the Valley’s rim. There we
bore witness to the destructive might of the gods.
The forest of Al-Ahuc had been set aflame, leaving only a skeletal,
charred wasteland in its place. A rift had been torn in the hard,
rocky belly of the valley, and the land crackled like the embers of a
fire. The sand flats had been turned to glass, broken, and cast afield
with the heat of the sun’s furnace.
Looking upon that glowing, hissing ruin, we knew that nothing
would ever be the same. There in the center of rift, half buried in
blackened rubble and scorched earth, it rested:
The City of the Gods.
From the journal of Yelrah the Damned
Clan of the Fallen Star
Welcome, heroes and scoundrels alike, to the latest chapter
of the greatest story ever told in the history of Blackmoor!
Before the inception of the world’s most popular roleplaying
game, the City of the Gods has lit the imaginations of
adventurers and sages, drunkards and emperors. The city
has been explored on thousands of occasions, in dozens of
worlds, and this adventure represents the latest incarnation—
though surely not the last. Now, it is your turn to take up
shield and blade, break camp, and turn your attentions to
one of Blackmoor’s most enduring mysteries.
City of the Gods
Welcome to City of the Gods, a challenging d20 adventure for
a well-equipped party of 9th- or 10th-level characters, set in
the world of Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor. To enjoy the
adventure to its fullest, it is recommended that the GM also
own or have access to Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor Campaign
Setting, the Player’s Guide to Blackmoor, and Temple of the Frog.
All three of these sourcebooks provide valuable references
and setting details that enable a GM to bring this adventure—
specifically the Valley of the Ancients and the organizations
referenced in the Involving the Characters section (see
below)—to life. In the absence of these references, GMs are
encouraged to create NPCs and organizations unique to their
campaign, making the Valley of the Ancients an integral part
of their own game worlds.
If one or more of the players are familiar with previous
versions of City of the Gods, there’s no need to worry that
their PCs will have an unfair advantage over characters that
have never set foot in the city. While similar at first glance,
with the sandfolk, odd villains, and technology that players
have come to expect of the Valley of the Ancients, the heart
of the adventure is substantially different from any other City
of the Gods, and players overconfident in their knowledge of
the city will quickly find themselves at a disadvantage, while
those who are either wholly ignorant of the city or are able to
maintain an objective point of view need not fear the mishaps
common to meta-gaming.
City of the Gods offers challenges and rewards unlike those in
previous incarnations. In order to persevere heroes will need
cunning, courage, and no small portion of luck. Many are those
who mistakenly believed that they knew they what the infamous
city held, only to discover all too late that it had more than one
surprise in store. Well-balanced parties armed with caution
and common sense will be amply rewarded, while those foolish
enough to fight their way through every encounter will quickly
find themselves out of their depth. While every encounter is
designed to be survivable by a capable and intelligent party,
not every encounter can be bested by brute force. PCs might
need to choose between fight and flight, or come to learn by
necessity the better part of valor.
A Look Inside
As an epic adventure, City of the Gods is broken into several
chapters. Those wishing to explore the city as adventurers
should read no further—not merely because it might spoil
their enjoyment, but because a cunning GM always uses
misbegotten knowledge to lead unscrupulous players into
ever more deadly traps!
For your own safety: Beware!
Chapter One: Audience With the King. In which the
legendary King Uther (once and always!) gathers the heroes
for one purpose — to solve the mystery of the City of the
Gods.
Chapter Two: Valley of the Ancients: Wherein our heroes
venture into the Valley of the Ancients, and encounter the
deadly fire-loving beasts inhabiting the valley floor. In search
of the city, the PCs must weather the intrigues of sand people,
seek out an elder who has hidden himself in a deadly tomb,
and infiltrate the fastness of a fire giant clan.
Chapter Three: The Lost Rift: Next, the heroes venture
into the Lost Rift, home to an army of rough brigands
and mutineers loyal to Saint Stephen of the Rock, and the
location of the resting place of the City of the Gods. By force
or guile, the PCs find their way past the army of the Saint,
and then onto the massive surface of the city itself.
Chapter Four: Escape From the City: Caught by the wicked
machinations of Saint Stephen, the PCs are cast into the
depths of the city, alight with fusion fire and molten metal,
where survival and escape—not exploration or conquest—
3

become their first goals. Amidst deadly hazards and even
deadlier foes, the PCs’ only escape is up through the various
ecologies that are home to beasts unlike any encountered in
the lands of Blackmoor. Fighting their way from the depths
of the city, the PCs must finally come face to face with their
foe: Saint Stephen of the Rock.
Appendix One: New Monsters: A sampling of new monsters
encountered in the Valley of the Ancients and the City of the
Gods, presented with statistics for use in the d20 game.
Appendix Two: New Equipment: A record of new magics and
technologies discovered during the exploration of the City of
the Gods, and the implications they hold for campaigns set
within Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor.
Finally, no incarnation of City of the Gods would be complete
without recognition of its predecessors. First penned by Dave
Arneson, all derivations—including this meager tome—must
be regarded as mere shadows of the original. David J. Ritchie
added his stamp to the city in the venerable adventure DA4
(which this adventure both contradicts and supports). With
such a rich and vibrant legacy, every GM should feel endowed
with the imprimatur necessary to make this version of the
city his City of the Gods.
CITY of the GODS
By undertaking exploration of the city, your players will join the
ranks of such luminaries as Rob Kuntz and E.G.G., brave souls
whose signature characters, when confronted by the horrors
lurking within, fled for their very lives. May your own players
discover as much adventure and excitement, risking their
heroes’ lives for unknown rewards and the indisputable right
to declare that they, too, have braved the City of the Gods!
Chapter One:
Audience
with the King
As a lengthy adventure spanning several gaming sessions,
the way in which the GM integrates City of the Gods into
the overall campaign becomes a factor. Three approaches,
discussed below, can serve as a guideline. As always, a GM
should look to the goals and ambitions of his own campaign,
possibly even consulting with players before unleashing the
potentially world-shattering powers and personas found
within the City of the Gods.

Heroes of Futures Past: d20 Modern and Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor

Blackmoor has always been home to a variety of odd and unique explorers. One intriguing variant of City of the Gods
is to introduce Traveler PCs foreign to the lands of Blackmoor. Aliens like Saint Stephen of the Rock, the PCs must
find a means of surviving the deadly Valley of the Ancients as well as finding a way back to their own time and place.
The creatures and environs presented herein are unique to Blackmoor but compliant with d20 Modern and d20 Future
game systems, so adventurers brought in from either game system can be introduced with little difficulty.
The easiest means of integrating alien PCs is to assign them the role of bounty hunters or interstellar police sent to hunt
down the rogue crewmembers of the Beagle. The PCs are tasked with tracking down and capturing the Saint before he
can do any more damage to the fragile young civilization of Blackmoor. The punishment for the crime of space mutiny is
death, and each PC is empowered to be both judge and executioner (though in the case of bounty hunters, their quarry
will be worth much more if brought back alive).
D20 Modern and Future equipment (especially weapons) can have an enormous impact on Blackmoor, and the GM is
encouraged to remove all but the most basic of the PCs’ equipment using one of the following scenarios:
Damage Control: The PCs are under strict orders not to disturb the fragile planetary cultures. Lest more damage be done,
the PCs must leave all of their modern gear on board their ship, trading their equipment for primitive variants that
would be available to the local species. The PCs are tasked with acquiring or destroying all the rogue tech that Stephen
has distributed to the natives, by force if necessary.
Starfall: The magic of Blackmoor wreaks havoc with future computers, drive systems and technology, disabling escape
pods and causing the PCs’ ship to come crashing to earth. Lucky to survive the wreck, the PCs pull themselves from
their starship with only moments to spare. Each PC is able to escape with just a handful of keys and portable items. All
the rest is lost in the fusion fires that quickly race through the dying starship.
Alien PCs caught on the surface of Blackmoor will be hard pressed to find relief. The sole means of escape and return
to their previous lives lies in the technology on the Beagle. Regardless of their original mission, the PCs’ fate now hinges
on their ability to survive on a planet rife with deadly monsters and hostile natives, finding the lost City of the Gods,
and taking the technology they need to escape Blackmoor.

4
CITY of the GODS
The One Shot: City of the Gods can be run as a mini-campaign
with little or no world background apart from the PCs’
mission to locate and explore the fallen Sky City. Characters
rolled up from scratch should have both appropriate levels
and equipment for exploration of the city. The term “one
shot” can prove something of a misnomer, since after several
sessions playing their PCs, players may find themselves
growing attached to the heroes, and ask that the GM
continue the campaign in the greater realms of Blackmoor
and the North.
Mysteries of Blackmoor: The exploration of the city is
a heroic quest worthy of true heroes, but there is no need
to unseat an established sword and sorcery campaign with
far-reaching technology and strange beasts torn from the
heavens. If the GM has a vested interest in maintaining a
tight rein on campaign balance, he should treat the city and
the wonders contained therein as an example of the most
unusual of Blackmoor’s unusual locales. The GM should
carefully review the appendices found at the back of this
book to ensure that the city’s inhabitants have little or no
effect on the North outside of Saint Stephen’s machinations
in the Temple of the Frog. Similarly, technological items should
be altered accordingly, so that they have little or no worth
outside of the city (see Appendix Two).
The Blackmoor Epic: Placed in its proper context, the fall and
discovery of the City of the Gods is a campaign-transforming
event with implications that span the entire North. If the GM
is dedicated to fully integrating the city into the campaign, he
can work various vital details into his game’s history of the
North. Five years prior to the discovery of the city, scholars
and sages (specifically, Cabal astrologers and any scholarly
PC mentor) witnessed a comet that streaked across the night
sky, crashing down somewhere in the vicinity of the Valley
of the Ancients. If possible, this event should bring portents
that directly affect the lives of the PCs who, in turn, see their
destinies hinged on this single night. Over the next five years
PC nobles enter their Trials of Validation, warriors rise to
become knights, wizards rise to power within the ranks of
the Cabal, and priests are recognized as the champions of
their respective deities. Then, about six months prior to the
discovery of the city, the PCs take part in the events depicted
in the Temple of the Frog, uncovering the vile plots of Saint
Stephen and his froglins. Then, mistakenly believing that
they have seen the last of such things, the PCs are contacted
by King Uther Andahar with a mission whose history harkens
back to that fateful night five years ago….
Involving the Characters
The world of Blackmoor is home to a number of detailed
organizations and groups; nearly every PC will be part of one
or more of these groups, and even those that abstain from
political life will find their dealings affected by these groups
at some point in their careers. While active membership
in these groups is not necessary for the adventure, the GM
can use the groups listed below to add another level of
intrigue to the PCs’ exploration of the city. At some point
in the adventure, each PC will be forced to choose between
loyalty to their group and loyalty to their fellow adventurers—
transforming the experience of membership into a life or
death choice, the sort of decision that defines a character as
a hero or a scoundrel.
What follows is a brief listing of the political groups with
the greatest active interest in the City of the Gods. The GM
is encouraged to use his favorite NPCs to create even more
subplots, so that conspiracies and plots spiral in on one
another until a PC has no one to trust but himself.
Agents of the Cabal: Of all the organizations in Blackmoor,
the Wizards’ Cabal has the greatest vested interest in locating
and acquiring the power held within the City of the Gods.
The Cabal is fully aware that should the powers of the city
fall into the wrong hands, the Cabal’s monopoly of power
in the North could come to a quick and violent end.
Some cabalists seek to maintain power merely to avoid the
inevitable suffering that would come with such a coup, while
others seek the power only so that they might cement their
hold over King Uther and the North. Characters beholden
to the Cabal will be sent into the Valley of the Ancients with
the express purpose of locating the city, determining if its
inhabitants can be subjugated to the will of the Cabal, and
acquiring the city’s secrets for the Cabal. Failing that, the
PCs are tasked with finding a means of destroying the city,
so that if the Cabal can’t have its secrets, none will. Those
beholden to the Cabal will be summoned for a clandestine
audience with the unusual triumvirate of Sildonis, Veda
Sonrean, and Mengar Torerdyn; uncharacteristically solemn,
the three will explain the import of the PCs’ mission and the
dire implications, should they fail.
Eldritch Underground: A shadow to the Cabal’s plots, agents
of the Eldritch Underground have little interest in power
offered by the City of the Gods, but have a strong need to
foil the plots of the Wizards’ Cabal. To this end, the Eldritch
Underground finds itself in an unenviable race with the Cabal;
if it beats the Cabal to the city, it has a chance of denying the
city’s secrets to the Cabal. Prior to their departure, agents of
the Underground will be summoned for a meeting with none
other than T’vadan of the Many Eyes. Something of an alien
creature itself, T’vadan will convey in no uncertain terms the
fate that will befall Blackmoor if agents of the Cabal succeed
in gaining the secrets of the city for their arcane masters.
Agents of the Underground will be cautioned that there
5

are groups of cabalists already active within the Valley of
the Ancients, and that these groups will stop at nothing to
acquire the secrets of the city.
Noblesse Validation: By the decree of King Uther Andahar,
upon coming of age, all nobles must adventure for at least
five years to demonstrate their worthiness to rule. But many
are the wicked rulers that would accuse young nobles of
dishonor or disloyalty to the crown, calling their validation
into question. Nobles accused of dishonor or cowardice
during their time of validation can elect to take a test to
demonstrate their courage and loyalty to the kingdom of
Blackmoor. Investigating rumors of a foreign army in the
heart of Blackmoor is just such a quest, and few are those
who would dare doubt the courage of one who rode into
the Valley of the Ancients. Nobles undertaking such a test
are expected to hold to the highest standards of chivalry and
nobility during their quest—as living examples of the finest
heroes that Blackmoor has to offer.
Howling Lords of the Midnight Hunt: The strange experiments
of Saint Stephen have unbalanced the natural order of
Blackmoor by introducing predatory creatures that Elgrath
never intended. The Howling Lords send their finest
huntsmen and women into the Valley of the Ancients to find
Saint Stephen and end his reign. Additionally, hunters are
tasked with ensuring that no others (such as the Cabal or
their enemies) acquire the unnatural secrets of the city. The
knowledge—and all those who would preserve it—must be
extinguished, lest all Blackmoor fall victim to the mad saint’s
blight.
Apprentices to the King’s Companions: While the King’s
Companions are far too valuable as advisors (and long in the
tooth, as adventurers) to risk an expedition to the Valley of
the Ancients, their apprentices are the ideal heroes for such a
mission. PCs who are apprenticed to the King’s Companions
are of prime level for their graduation quest, and the
expedition will certainly test any hero’s traits of loyalty,
courage and cunning. The King’s Companions, having heard
of the rumors of Saint Stephen and his evil workings in the
Temple of the Frog, and would want to investigate the rumors
and ensure that the Saint and his minions are no longer a
threat to the people of Blackmoor.
Brothers of the Greenwood: Although the Brothers of the
Greenwood typically turn their attentions south, agents of
Baron Oric van Rijin are intimately involved in local events.
The Brothers are dogged and diligent in their work, and it
falls to their finest to see that the madman calling himself
Saint Stephen of the Rock has been put down once and for
all. As agents of the good Baron, any Brothers among the PCs
would want to return with intelligence on the Saint’s allies
and how the villain came to find himself in Blackmoor.
6
CITY of the GODS
The Adventure Begins
The story begins, like many adventures in Blackmoor, at the
Comeback Inn. The PCs are delivered handwritten missives
politely inviting them to a covert meeting with the lovely
bardess Alwyn Morland. After finishing a performance in the
common room, Alwyn discretely signals the PCs and then
retires to her chamber.
Read or paraphrase the following:
The door opens from the hall into a small, austere chamber. Of all the
stories you’ve heard told of Alwyn Morland, nothing in them could
have prepared you for this. Instead of grand accommodations, rare
wines, and rich sweetmeats, the chamber is simply appointed with a
plain straw cot, a handful of wooden chairs, and a roughhewn table.
Alwyn sits at the table, a drinking horn in hand. At her side is a
white-bearded warrior, girded in scarred armor and a dented helm,
with a mighty bastard sword hanging from his chair. Behind them
stands an imposing guard, his features shadowed in a heavy hunting
cloak that does nothing to conceal the heavy armor worn beneath.
Alwyn smiles warmly and beckons the PCs to have a seat,
motioning for the guard to offer PCs the jacks of wine.
The drink is safe, though exceedingly rare and expensive.
(Connoisseur PCs will recognize the wine as a particular elven
vintage, over 500 years old, and never sold by the fae lords,
but only granted as a gift.) Regardless of the PCs’ reaction,
Alwyn will down her wine in a single gulp and motion for
more.
Any character with 2 or more ranks in Knowledge (nobility)
recognizes the stern warrior sitting at Alwyn’s side as Knight-
Protectorate Dorigan, once renowned for his service in the
Coot’s Watch. Those succeeding on a DC 20 Knowledge
(nobility) or bardic knowledge check will also recall that
Sir Dorigan was recalled from service five years ago, under
charges of dereliction of duty and cowardice. Finally, any PC
whose Knowledge (nobility) or bardic knowledge check equals
or exceeds 25 will also recall that court rumormongers and
gossips have alleged that Sir Dorigan was discharged from
service by none other than King Uther himself, and that he
left for the south the very next day with a pair of fresh riding
horses loaded down with supplies.
Once the PCs have settled themselves and declared any
actions, Dorigan begins:
“As you may recall, five winters ago a great comet burned in the
night sky. The elder sages and royal magicians predicted doom, and
declared that the comet portended the return of the army of the Coot,
or a defeat of our dwarf-friends in the spreading Orc-Dwarf war.
“Of course, by now we know that all of these predictions were
wrong. Our elders were too short-sighted, our sages lost in the pages
of their musty tomes. What the comet heralded was a new threat to
Blackmoor.”
CITY of the GODS
Dorigan pauses to consider his words.
“Our nation is in a dark time. Armies of Afridhi threaten from
the south. Bands of beastmen and orcs grow stronger by the day. To
have a threat lodged in the very heart of Blackmoor would tear the
kingdom apart, send the barons cowering in their manors, and cause
panic amongst the common folk. This threat demands the discretion
and subterfuge of a small group of heroes, rather than the brute force
of marching armies. Our patron has sent us in search of such heroes.
And that search has brought us to you.”
Alwyn takes a leather pouch and places it before the PCs
on the table. The GM should allow the PCs to declare any
actions before proceeding:
“One hundred pieces of platinum, taken from the richest vein in
Blackmoor, are yours simply for undertaking this quest. Return
successful, and both the mine from which they came and the castle
that sits atop it will be yours so long as civilization rules the North.”
Dorigan reaches out a weathered hand.
“Before you answer, think carefully. The kingdom needs heroes, not
merely self-serving mercenaries. Each coin is ensorcelled—if you should
abandon your quest, ruin will stalk you the rest of your life.”
The mine and castle of which Dorigan speaks can be placed
anywhere within the kingdom (GM’s discretion). The GM
should give the PCs time to formulate an answer.
If the PCs shrink from the challenge, Alwyn bids them
goodnight and Dorigan waves them to the door. If the PCs
accept, both the warrior and the bard break into their first
smile of the conversation.
In this event, continue as follows:
Dorigan raises his sheathed sword and brings it crashing down to
the floorboards, causing sawdust and bits of plaster to fall from the
ceiling. “Splendid! Then it is my great honor to introduce to you
your liege—his majesty King Uther Andahar the Rectifier, master of
Blackmoor and lord of all he surveys!”
The guard standing behind Alwyn lowers the hood of his
cloak, revealing the lean face and noble features of King
Andahar.
The PCs (nobles especially) should take this opportunity
to demonstrate their loyalty to the son of Blackmoor; no
immediate repercussions will come to those that refuse to
show proper deference, but Dorigan will take their pride for
unfaithfulness, and he will likely take the matter up with the
insolent PC at a later date (likely in private).
Uther motions for any kneeling PCs to stand, then retrieves
a map from a scroll case at his belt.
“It is the City of the Gods that we speak of, a place of untold power
and might beyond our comprehension.”
The king places a finger squarely in the center of the map, in
the center of Blackmoor.
“The Valley of the Ancients. Always a place a mystery and danger,
but now, possibly harboring an army in the midst of our own
peoples.”
Uther watches the PCs‘ reactions to this revelation closely,
then continues.
“The trouble is that we know so little. What is the source of power?
Does this fabled city truly exist? If so, what are its designs on
Blackmoor?”
The regent shakes his head.
“Two months ago I sent an expeditionary force into the valley.
Experienced warriors all, the most trusted and dedicated of my
servants. And now? Nothing. Even potent divinations won’t reveal
what became of them.”
He looks to the PCs.
“Following them could mean suicide, for any advantage of surprise
is lost. I would not make a request of any of my subjects, but I
find myself with few choices. If not for my sake, then for the sake
Blackmoor, please undertake this quest on our behalf. Seek out the
City of the Gods for me…and for your homeland.”
Uther takes his leave of the PCs, leaving Alwyn and Dorigan
to answer any of the party’s questions. The pair has little to
offer the heroes apart from the usual rumors and speculations;
the Valley and its environs remain a mystery to the people
of Blackmoor. Assume that Alwyn and Dorigan can convey
all of the details as recorded in the Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor
corebook, but otherwise have very little to convey.
At the end of the interview PCs should be left with the
understanding that this is truly an expedition into a foreign
and unknown land, where they will be forced to rely on their
own skills and talents. For all his might, Uther and his forces
will be unable to aid the PCs during their expedition. With
no powerful NPCs to snatch them from the jaws of death
or defeat, the expedition’s success or failure depends on the
heroes alone.
Those seeking to outfit themselves prior to the expedition
discover that Dorigan has already met with local merchants,
alchemists and purveyors of wonder, and can supply any
mundane item the PCs might wish for, as well as a small ration
of magic items (no item being worth more than 1,000gp, and
the sum of all items being worth no more than 6,000gp).
Once the PCs have rested and readied themselves, Alwyn
shows them to an inconspicuous bronze plated door secreted
in an unused room of the inn. Stepping through the door, the
PCs find themselves at the head of the Valley of the Ancients!
7

Chapter Two:
Valley of the
Ancients
The PCs begin their quest for the City of the Gods with a
search for traces of the first expedition sent by King Uther.
The Valley of the Ancients is hostile to life and unforgiving
to the naive, and indeed, seems to impede the heroes’ search
with steaming lakes, boiling sulfur springs, and fearsome
inhabitants that prey upon the weak and foolish. Alliances
can be made with the mysterious and secretive sandfolk, who
in turn can offer the PCs clues to the Sky City’s location, and
to the aged sandfolk shaman that was present the night the
city fell from the darksome sky: the Old Man of the Valley.
Following the old man’s mysterious clues, the PCs cross the
deadly salt flats, alternately evading or battling the Valley’s native
inhabitants or agents of the Wizards’ Cabal, until arriving at
the Caldera of the Fire Giant King. There, the PCs find their
first real trace of the Traveler’s influence: A clan of fire giants
subjected to the rule of a rogue artificial intelligence.
Deep within the smoking caldera, the PCs come upon
the broken remnants of the first expedition sent by King
Uther Andahar, and discover the knowledge they will need
to press on to their final goal…the fallen City of the Gods!
8
CITY of the GODS
Dangers of the Valley
The Valley floor is comprised largely of bleak, uninhabited
salt flats, punctuated by the occasional boiling hot spring that
feeds into mud pits. In such a desolate environ, it is hard to
imagine that any beast can survive such conditions, let alone
thrive. Those that do make their home on the Valley floor
are deadly, implacable foes that have learned to strike swiftly
and quickly retreating when the odds turn against them. The
law of the wild reigns here, and PCs who insist on tackling
every challenge with bullish, toe-to-toe battle may quickly
find themselves in over their heads as they exhaust precious
resources on trivial encounters.
To best the challenges of the Valley, the PCs will have to
adopt the practices of its natives, dealing harshly with
foes and withdrawing when faced by superior foes. Players
accustomed to adventures where every CR and EL is hand-
tailored to their characters’ levels may be quick to cry foul.
The GM is encouraged to remind PCs that Blackmoor is
a deadly place, and that not every monster encountered
is suitable for “experience grinding.” Indeed, the players
should be encouraged to play their characters as explorers
in a foreign, alien land. GMs will find that most of their
players will rise to the challenge, acting with caution in most
instances, and with courage when called for — the heart of
every true Blackmoor game!
CITY of the GODS
GMs should check for wandering monsters once every six hours
during the day, and once every four during every night. There is
a 1 in 12 chance that a wandering monster comes upon the PCs
or their camp. This chance doubles if the PCs don’t take pains to
hide their camp or fail to take basic precautions to disguise their
passage. Most of the monsters encountered will be predators
intent on making a meal of the PCs, and will stalk the party
for an hour or more, waiting for an opportune moment before
making an attack.
If a wandering monster is encountered, roll 1d10 and consult
the following table:
1d10 Encounter
1–2 Agents of the Cabal
3 Hill giant hunting party
4 Salt trolls
5 Monstrous scorpion, gargantuan
6 Dire tiger
7 Wyvern Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a monstrous scorpion
8 Sandfolk raiders
9–10 Sandfolk camp
Agents of the Cabal: If this encounter is rolled, consult encounter
area C, below. The agents of the Cabal can only be encountered
once as wandering monsters. If the PCs have already gone
through the encounter once, roll again for wandering monsters,
ignoring any roll of 2 or 3.
Hill Giant Hunting Party (3): CR 7; Large Giant; HD 12d8+48;
hp 102; Init –1; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 17,
touch 8, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +9; Grp +20; Atk Greatclub
+16 melee (2d8+10) or slam +15 melee (1d4+7) or rock +8
ranged (2d6+7); Full Atk Greatclub +16/+11 melee (2d8+10)
or 2 slams +15 melee (1d4+7) or javelin +8 ranged (1d8+7); SA
Rock throwing; SQ Low-light vision, rock catching; AL CE; SV
Fort +12, Ref +3, Will +4; Str 25, Dex 8, Con 19, Int 6, Wis 10,
Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +7, Jump +7, Listen +3, Spot +6; Cleave,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Power Attack.
Possessions: Large greatclub, six large javelins in a leather quiver,
bone creel with the corpses of two freshly killed sandfolk.
If captured and interrogated, a hill giant can give rough directions
to the fire giants’ fastness (area E–1). The giants know nothing of
the fire giants’ defenses, and convey little to the PCs, other than
an abiding fear of the fire giants’ might.
Salt Trolls (4): CR 5; Large Giant; HD 6d8+36; hp 63; Init +2;
Spd 30 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed
14; Base Atk +4; Grp +14; Atk Claw +9 melee (1d6+6); Full Atk
2 claws +9 melee (1d6+6) and bite +4 melee (1d6+3); SA Rend
2d6+9; SQ Darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5,
scent; AL CE; SV Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +3; Str 23, Dex 14, Con
23, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +5, Spot +6; Alertness, Iron Will, Track.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage to a troll. If
a troll loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6
minutes. The creature can reattach the severed member instantly
by holding it to the stump.
Rend (Ex): If a troll hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the
opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically
deals an additional 2d6+9 points of damage.
Monstrous Scorpion, Gargantuan: CR 10; Gargantuan Vermin;
HD 20d8+60; hp 150; Init +0; Spd 50 ft.; Space/Reach 20 ft./15
ft.; AC 24, touch 6, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +15; Grp +37; Atk
Claw +21 melee (2d6+10); Full Atk 2 claws +21 melee (2d6+10)
and sting +16 melee (2d6+5 plus poison); SA Constrict 2d6+10,
improved grab, poison; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,
vermin traits; AL N; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 31, Dex
10, Con 16, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Hide –8, Spot +4.
Constrict (Ex): A monstrous scorpion deals automatic claw
damage on a successful grapple check.
must hit with a claw attack.
Poison (Ex): A monstrous scorpion has a poisonous sting. The
details vary by the scorpion’s size, as follows. Fort DC 23, 1d8
Con initial and secondary.
Skills: A monstrous scorpion has a +4 racial bonus on Climb,
Hide, and Spot checks.
Dire Panther: CR 8; Large Animal; HD 16d8+48; hp 120; Init
+2; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-
footed 15; Base Atk +12; Grp +24; Atk Claw +20 melee (2d4+8);
Full Atk 2 claws +20 melee (2d4+8) and bite +14 melee (2d6+4);
SA Improved grab, pounce, rake 2d4+4; SQ Low-light vision,
scent; AL N; SV Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +11; Str 27, Dex 15,
Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Hide +7*, Jump +14, Listen +6, Move Silently
+11, Spot +7, Swim +10; Alertness, Improved Natural Attack
(claw), Improved Natural Attack (bite), Run, Stealthy, Weapon
Focus (claw).
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire panther must hit
with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the
grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.
Pounce (Ex): If a dire panther charges, it can make a full attack,
including two rake attacks.
Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +18 melee, damage 2d4+4.
Skills: Dire panthers have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move
Silently checks. *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the
Hide bonus improves to +8.
Wyvern: CR 6; Large Dragon; HD 7d12+14; hp 59; Init +1; Spd
20 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor); Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC 18, touch
10, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +7; Grp +15; Atk Sting +10 melee
(1d6+4 plus poison) or talon +10 melee (2d6+4) or bite +10
melee (2d8+4); Full Atk Sting +10 melee (1d6+4 plus poison)
9

and bite +8 melee (2d8+4) and 2 wings +8 melee (1d8+2)
and 2 talons +8 melee (2d6+4); SA Poison, improved grab;
SQ Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to sleep and paralysis, low-
light vision, scent; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6; Str
19, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Hide +7, Listen +13, Move Silently +11,
Spot +16; Ability Focus (poison), Alertness, Flyby Attack,
Multiattack.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a wyvern must hit
with its talons. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
the grapple check, it establishes a hold and stings.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and secondary
damage 2d6 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based. area B–1, below. The sandfolk camp can only be encountered
Sandfolk raiders (10): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
2d8+2d8+2; hp 24; Init +2; Spd 30ft.; AC 17, touch 12,
flat-footed 15; Base Atk +2; Grpl +3; Atk longspear +4
melee (1d8+1/✕3) or shortbow +4 ranged (1d6+1/✕3); SQ
multiweapon fighting ; AL LN; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will 0;
Str 13, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9.
10
CITY of the GODS
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +0, Hide +3, Intimidate
+0, Jump +2, Move Silently +3, Ride +5; Weapon Focus
(longspear).
Possessions: Leather armor, longspear, 2 shields (light wooden),
shortbow, quiver with 15 arrows.
The raiders are hesitant to engage the PCs. Instead, they
will watch them from a distance for several hours, hoping to
garner an inkling of the PCs’ intent. If pursued, the raiders
will attempt to withdraw. The raiders fight if attacked, and
will not give up the location of their camp unless it is tortured
out of them.
Sandfolk Camp: If this encounter is rolled, consult encounter
once as wandering monster. If the PCs have already gone
through the encounter once, roll again for wandering
monsters, ignoring any roll of 9 or 10.
CITY of the GODS
Area A–1: The Last Camp
Read or paraphrase the following:
An abandoned campsite sits atop the ridge, hidden in the lee of
several boulders, yet commanding an impressive view of the valley.
A scorched fire ring filled with long dead cinders rests against the
cliff’s edge, beside a meager stack of firewood.
The last camp is a safe site for the PCs for a number of reasons,
not the least of which is that it was once the favored hunting
perch of an ancient blue dragon. The dragon hunted the
valley’s rim for over one hundred years, and instilled in the
local beasts and monsters an instinctual dread of the ridge.
So long as the heroes remain atop the ridge, the GM should
roll for random encounters as normal, but anytime an
encounter is indicated, it is actually sighted out on the valley
floor, at a distance of 1d4 miles. The PCs can choose to
engage at their discretion, but all monsters refuse to approach
within one mile of the ridge.
This campsite is the last confirmed location of the first
expedition sent by King Uther. Past this point, all is naught
but speculation and wild theories.
If the PCs elect to search the campsite, consult the following
table. Both Survival (Track) and Search checks can turn up
valuable information. Note that some of the information
discovered, though true, might mislead PCs. Specifically,
all the details pointing towards the presence of a dragon are
decades out of date—the ancient blue hasn’t been sighted in
these parts in years, though a GM might decide that the PCs
occasionally spot an enormous winged beast circling high in
the desert sky above.
A successful check reveals the information indicated, as well
as any information imparted with a lower roll:
Track
Roll Information
15 The campsite was occupied by a party of six
humanoids and eight mounts. The camp has been
abandoned for over two weeks.
20 The party left headed northwest, along the north
rim of the valley.The trail disappears after only 1/4
a mile.
23 The campsite was occupied intermittently for
over three weeks, with the party absent for brief
periods of time.
25 A large giant was brought back to the camp, just
before the camp was abandoned. The giant was
wounded and bleeding profusely. The giant was
larger than a hill giant.
27 The party was composed of two large humans
girded in heavy armor, a barefooted halfling, a half-
elf armored in medium armor, and one human
dressed in a robe and walking with a limp.
Search
Roll Information
15 The PCs find massive scratches dug into the
rock face. A DC 17 Track check or DC 20 bardic
knowledge check identifies the originator of the
scratches as a dragon. Judging from the span of the
scratches, the claw was over 6 feet across.
20 The searcher discovers a greasy lock of wiry
hair. Dwarfs, gnomes, rangers with giants as their
chosen enemy, or bards succeeding on a DC 17
bardic knowledge check can all identify the lock as
belonging to a fire giant.
23 The PCs discover an old dragon scale partially
buried in the sand. The scale is a faded blue, with
a trio of small sapphires embedded into its lip. (All
together, worth 850gp to collectors of draconian
esoterica.)
27 The PCs discover a small wooden chest, roughly
1 foot on a side, bound in silver and masterfully
hidden beneath a rock on the far side of the
ridge. The chest is locked (DC 30) and trapped
with a chain lightning spell. Opening the lid of the
chest without first speaking the command phrase
(“Uther, once and always!”) causes the trap to
discharge, hurling a deadly bolt of lightning at the
PC closest to the chest, and then arcing to up to
eleven secondary targets.
Inside the chest are three ceramic flasks and a parchment scroll
tied with a silken red ribbon. Each flask contains a viscous
green liquid that smells of fresh soil; all are potions of cure
moderate wounds. The scroll is protected by a glyph of warding
(blast), and opening the scroll causes the ward to detonate,
destroying the parchment and dealing sonic damage to all
targets within 5 feet. The sonic blast also shatters the flasks,
spilling their contents onto the ground.
Any PC lifting the chest and succeeding on a DC 15 Intelligence
or Spot check notices that the chest is too heavy for its size. The
chest has a false wooden bottom (DC 20 Search) that conceals
5 paper-thin tablets—sacred scrolls forged in honor of the
mighty Dhumnon. Each sheaf contains a single divine spell
scribed in Dwarven. The spells are as follows: bull’s strength (CL
3), meld into stone (CL 5), divine power (CL 7), raise dead (CL 9),
and firestorm (CL 15). Note that the sheaves cannot be rolled
up like a normal scroll, and must either be carried within the
specially designed chest or somehow protected from being bent
or damaged (both of which cause a sheaf to lose all its power).
Chain Lightning Trap: CR 7; magic device; proximity
trigger (alarm); automatic reset; spell effect (chain
lightning, 11th-level wizard, 11d6 electricity to target
nearest center of trigger area plus 5d6 electricity
to each of up to eleven secondary targets, DC 19
Reflex save half damage); Search DC 31; Disable
Device DC 31.
11

Glyph of Warding (Blast): CR 6; spell; spell trigger;
no reset; spell effect (glyph of warding [blast],
16th-level cleric, 8d8 sonic, DC 14 Reflex save
half damage); multiple targets (all targets within
5 feet); Search DC 28; Disable Device DC 28.
Area A–2: Burning Lake
Read or paraphrase the following:
The boiling pool rolls with heat, the steam stinking of sulfur and
brimstone. A patina of yellow scum dances about on the surface
of the pool, forming a thin crust where it is allowed to cool.
The waters are hot to the touch, inflicting 1d4 points of heat
damage to those immersed in the waters. The scorching
waters are fed by heated springs, 25 feet below the surface
of the pool. Over the years, hundreds of creatures have
died on the shores of the burning waters, slain by predators
lurking in the depths. PCs searching the shoreline come
upon dozens of bones—partially dismembered skeletons of
humanoids and large mammals.
Mephits lurk just off the shore, preying on anything foolish
enough to come within reach of the water’s edge. Anytime
a PC comes within 10 feet of the end of the lake, roll 1d12.
On a roll of a 1 there are 1d4 mephits lurking beneath the
surface of the boiling water, awaiting an opportunity to
attack the PCs.
The mephits focus attacks on a single PC, trying to force
the target into the steaming waters, and summoning fellow
mephits (as per their ability) if the heroes prove to be a
challenge.
CITY of the GODS
Steam Mephit (3): CR 3; Small Outsider (Extraplanar, Fire);
HD 3d8; hp 13; Init +5; Spd 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (average); AC
16, touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +3; Grp –1; Atk Claw
+4 melee (1d3 plus 1d4 fire); Full Atk 2 claws +4 melee (1d3
plus 1d4 fire); SA Breath weapon, spell-like abilities, summon
mephit; SQ DR 5/magic, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 2,
immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold; AL N; SV Fort +3, Ref
+4, Will +3; Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Escape Artist +7, Hide +11, Listen
+6, Diplomacy +4, Disguise +2, Move Silently +7, Spot +6,
Use Rope +1; Dodge, Improved Initiative.
Spell-Like Abilities: Once per hour a steam mephit can
surround itself with a plume of vapor, duplicating the effect
of a blur spell (caster level 3rd). Once per day it can create a
rainstorm of boiling water that affects a 20-foot square area.
Living creatures caught in the storm take 2d6 points of fire
damage (DC 14 Reflex save for half; caster level 6th). This
ability is the equivalent of a 2nd-level spell. The save DCs are
Charisma-based.
Breath Weapon (Su): 10-foot cone of steam, damage 1d4 fire,
Reflex DC 12 half. Living creatures that fail their saves are
tormented by burned skin and seared eyes unless they have
immunity to fire or are otherwise protected. This effect
imposes a –4 penalty to AC and a –2 penalty on attack rolls
for 3 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes
a +1 racial bonus.
Fast Healing (Ex): A steam mephit heals only if it is touching
boiling water or is in a hot, humid area.
Summon Mephit (Sp): Once per day, a mephit can attempt to
summon another mephit of the same variety, much as though
casting a summon monster spell, but with only a 25% chance
of success. A mephit that has just been summoned cannot
use its own summon ability for 1 hour. This ability is the
equivalent of a 2nd-level spell.

Ember
A mighty bastard sword with a curved, scimitar-like blade, Ember is forged from blue, volcanic glass, the same material
used to build the strange arcane towers in the Valley. The heart of the blade has a peculiar, reddish glow that seems to
ebb and flow along the sword’s edge, and that gives the blade its name.
The blade was forged as a gift to the barbarian warlords, when the world was still young and the dwarves reigned over
much of the north. Forged by the legendary dwarf smith Thorwien Dur’Hail, Ember is said to have a companion set
of blackened scale mail armor, but the suit of armor was last seen centuries ago in the hoard of the ancient red wyrm,
Asarioch. What powers, if any, the suit of armor might posses, and what powers each might awaken in the other, is a
vein of speculation best left to sages.
Ember serves as a +2 bastard sword, with a special property unknown to other magical weapons in Blackmoor. When
wielded in battle against beings with any degree of either fire or cold resistance (including immunity) the blade is
wreathed with icy flames of blue and red. Against such creatures, the flames inflict an additional 1d12 points of damage,
regardless of any resistances or immunity to either cold or fire effects. In addition, when wielded, the sword bestows
upon its wielder a resistance to cold 10 and fire 10.
Many wicked races are aware of Ember and bear the sword an ageless enmity. The fire giants of the Valley of the Ancients,
in particular, have a powerful hatred of the sword, and immediately direct all of their attacks against the wielder.

12
CITY of the GODS
Area A–3: The Lady of the Lake best of her. She dives into the water, returning moments later
Read or paraphrase the following: with a curved bastard sword in her hands. She asks the PCs
to lay the flame charm at the water’s edge, then tosses Ember
A trio of large boulders stands at the boiling water’s edge. A sad, to the party and snatches up the charm in a single motion.
choking weeping wafts softly from the lee of the boulders. The nymph vanishes into the boiling waters and is never seen
A fire nymph is sitting on again.
the far side, distraught, Acendioris (Fire Nymph):
weeping into the boiling CR 7; Medium Fey; HD
water. If she notices 6d6+6; hp 27; Init +3; Spd
the PCs’ approach, she 30 ft., swim 20 ft.; AC 17,
slips into the waters touch 17, flat-footed 14; Base
up to her waist, as if Atk +3; Grp +3; Atk Dagger
to flee. After gauging +6 melee (1d4/19–20);
the PC’s reaction, she Full Atk Dagger +6 melee
will introduce herself (1d4/19–20); SA Fiery
as “Acendioris” and beauty, spells, spell-like
beg them for their abilities, stunning glance;
assistance. SQ Immunity to fire,
The nymph has had a vulnerability to cold, low-
quarrel with her lover, light vision, unearthly grace;
a fearsome salamander AL CE; SV Fort +7, Ref
of noble descent. The +12, Will +12; Str 10, Dex
salamander stole the 17, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 17,
nymph’s flame charm, a Cha 19.
black star sapphire that is Skills and Feats:
the source of many of her Concentration +10,
powers. She begs the PCs Diplomacy +6, Escape Artist
to return the jewel to her; +12, Handle Animal +13,
in return she will point Heal +12, Hide +12, Listen
them the way that the +12, Move Silently +12, Ride
previous “land walkers” +5, Sense Motive +12, Spot
(Uther’s explorers) went. +12, Swim +8, Use Rope +3
If pressed, she will even (+5 with bindings); Combat
offer the PCs a legendary Casting, Dodge, Weapon
weapon—Ember, a bastard Finesse.
sword reputed to render Spells: A nymph casts spells
its wielder immune to the as a 7th-level sorcerer.
effects of both fire and magic—as reward. Although desperate, Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/5; DC 14 + spell level): 0—daze,
the she is far from foolish, and will not reveal the information detect magic, flare, ghost sounds, mending, read magic, resistance;
or produce the sword until the PCs return with her talisman. 1st—charm person, cause fear, mage armor, protection from good, ray
If the PCs agree to undertake the mission on behalf of of enfeeblement; 2nd—invisibility, mirror image, scare; 3rd—fireball,
Acendioris, she points the way to an island located in the center water breathing.
of the boiling lake, nearly obscured by the wafting steam. Fiery Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within
30 feet of a fire nymph. Those who look directly at a fire
If the PCs elect to attack the fire nymph instead, she uses nymph must succeed on a DC 17 Fort save or be effected as if
dimension door to slip away into the waters, doing her best to by a heat metal spell. Acendioris can suppress or resume this
escape. If escape becomes impossible, she turns her attacks ability as a free action.
on the PCs with fiery spite. Unearthly Grace (Su): A nymph adds her Charisma modifier as
The Return of the Heroes: If the PCs succeed in retrieving a bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus
the flame charm, Acendioris will ask to inspect the charm to her Armor Class. (The statistics block already reflects these
before honoring her agreement. If the charm is handed bonuses).
over, the nympth uses dimension door to flee, her laughter Stun (Su): As a standard action, a wrathful nymph can stun a
echoing in the PCs’ ears as she vanishes from sight. If the creature within 30 feet with a look. The target creature must
PCs withhold the flame charm, the nymph’s desire gets the

13

succeed on a DC 17 Fort save or be stunned for 2d4 rounds.
The save DC is Charisma-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—dimension door. Caster level 7th.
Skills: A nymph has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. She can
always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
or endangered. She can use the run action while swimming,
provided she swims in a straight line.
Flame Charm: Every flame nymph carries a talisman known as
a flame charm, which provides a +2 arcane bonus to Charisma
while worn. In addition, the flame charm allows the bearer
to cast charm person 1/day (CL 10th). The charming has a
secondary, negative effect that causes any creature so charmed
to become insanely, violently jealous of the bearer. The
talisman shatters after its charming power is used 5 times.
Area A–4: Isle of the Dour Lord
The isle is located less than a quarter mile from the shore,
though without a boat, the PCs may be hard pressed to find a
way to reach it. Once they succeed in gaining the island, read
or paraphrase the following:
The desolate island barely raises its barren head above the boiling
waters. Bereft of vegetation except for a scorched-looking brush, the
only prominent feature is a sharp, rocky ridge of blackened basalt
that runs the length of the island like the backbone of some great
skeletal wyrm.
A cursory search of the ridge reveals a large cave entrance
hidden in its western slope. A natural cave, the opening is
over 20 feet in height, and shrouded in escaping steam. The
bleached bones of humanoids are scattered about the mouth
of the cavern. A DC 15 Heal check or a DC 20 Search check
reveals that many of the bones bear the tooth marks of some
massive creature. If used successfully in conjunction with a
DC 20 Survival (Track) check, the investigating PC is able to
determine the creature that slew the humanoids is of huge-
size or larger.
The cavern (and indeed, the entire cave complex) is
continually ensnared by thick, choking mists that obscure all
sight, including darkvision, beyond 15 feet. Creatures 15 feet
away have total concealment and attacks against them have
a 20% miss chance. For every ten rounds spent within the
cave, PCs must succeed on a DC 17 Fort save or become
sickened, which imposes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls,
weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks and ability
checks until the character exits the cave.
The walls, ceiling and floor of the cavern are slick with
condensed moisture, making any attempt to climb the cavern
walls extremely challenging. PCs attempting to scale the walls
or ceiling must succeed on DC 30 Climb checks.
14
CITY of the GODS
Area A–4a:The Doorkeeper
Read or paraphrase the following:
Burning steam rises up through the passageway, condensing on the
ceiling and walls, then running in rivulets back down the cave. Before
you the passage opens into a larger cavern, its true size obscured by
dense clouds of steam. The floor of the cave is a peculiar grating
composed of one-foot, by one-foot holes bored into the stone.
The stone grate conceals a 15-foot pit containing a ferocious
seven-headed pyrohydra trained to attack anyone not
accompanied by its salamander master. The hydra attacks up
through the holes in the stone grate, striking out of the mist,
keeping its true size—and nature—hidden.
Those attempting to fight atop the grate must succeed on
DC 15 Balance checks every round. Failure indicates that the
PC has lost his footing and fallen prone atop the grate. Small
creatures (and smaller) are in danger of actually slipping
through the grate, and must succeed on DC 15 Reflex saves
to avoid accidentally falling through the grate after losing
their balance. An attacker who is prone has a –4 penalty on
melee attack rolls and cannot use ranged weapons, save a
crossbow. A defender also takes a –4 penalty to AC against
melee attacks. Standing up is a move-equivalent action that
provokes an attack of opportunity from the hydra below.
Small PCs can intentionally slip through the grate, dropping
into the pit below that houses the hydra. Medium creatures
can slip through with a successful DC 18 Escape Artist check.
The pit is 15 feet deep with 8 feet of brackish water.
The unintelligent hydra keeps nothing in the way of true
treasure in its pit, but certain items have fallen through the
grating over the years. A search of the water uncovers a suit of
halfling-sized +1 elvin chain mail (still occupied by the rotting
corpse of its original owner), a rusted steel buckler, a pair of
serrated silvered daggers in a rotting calf-sheath, and 408gp
and 25 sp scattered about the muddy bottom of the pool.
The hydra is sustained by a clear spindle ioun stone that perpetually
orbits its seven-heads, alternating from head to head.
Seven-Headed Pyrohydra: CR 8; Huge Magical Beast (fire);
HD 7d10+38; hp 77; Init +1; Spd 20 ft., swim 20 ft.; Space/
Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; AC 17, touch 9, flat-footed 16; Base Atk
+7; Grp +19; Atk 7 bites +10 melee (1d10+4); Full Atk 7 bites
+10 melee (1d10+4); SA —; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., fast healing
17, low-light vision, scent; AL NE; SV Fort +10, Ref +6, Will
+4; Str 19, Dex 12, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Listen +7, Spot +7, Swim +12; Combat
Reflexes, Iron Will, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite).
Breath Weapon (Ex): Once every 1d4 rounds, all of a pyrohydra’s
heads breathe jets of fire. Each jet is 10 feet high, 10 feet wide
and 20 feet long, and deals 3d6 points of fire damage per
head. A successful DC 18 Reflex save halves the damage.
Feats: A hydra’s Combat Reflexes feat allows it to use all its
heads for attacks of opportunity.
Possessions: Ioun stone (clear spindle).
CITY of the GODS
Area A–4b:The Pit and the Door
GM’s Note: Area A–4b has a number of dynamic challenges
that, when taken together, can pose a challenge to new and
veteran GMs alike. Read both areas A–4b and A–4c carefully
before running the encounters.
The first time PCs enter this area, the first two ranks must
make DC 15 Spot checks or fail to see where the tunnel
floor turns into a ledge. Of course, PCs taking appropriate
precautions (such as tapping the floor with a pole as they
advance) notice the change. Those failing their Spot checks
must succeed on DC 20 Reflex saves or tumble down 30 feet
into the boiling water below.
If the PCs enter the cavern safely, read or paraphrase the
following:
The narrow tunnel opens into a wide, mist-shrouded cavern.
The floor is lost in mist below, but a narrow ledge wends its way
around the cavern wall.
The path is a mere 3 feet wide and slick with condensation.
As noted, it is a 30-foot fall to the waters below. The pool is
14 feet deep and hot to the touch, inflicting 1d4 points of
heat damage to any creature falling in. The walls of both the
room and the pit are slick with moisture and black algae,
making scaling the walls a challenge (DC 25 Climb).
The ledge rises to a heavy bronze portal set into the far wall.
The door is emblazoned with snakes merging with flames,
spiraling in a dizzying pattern that has a hypnotic effect on
anyone examining or searching the portal. PCs examining
the door must succeed on DC 20 Will save or be stricken
with vertigo; PCs overcome with vertigo must make a DC
20 Reflex save or slip off the ledge. The PCs falling from the
ledge can be caught by any companion standing in an adjacent
square who succeeds on a DC 15 Reflex save. Pulling a PC
back onto the ledge requires a DC 18 Strength check and is a
move action that provokes attacks of opportunity. Even PCs
making a cursory glance at the door are at risk, and must
succeed on DC 13 Will saves or suffer its vertigo-inducing
effect. Regardless of the save DC, the effects of the vertigo
only persist for one round.
The door is barred from the far side, has a hardness of 10,
and can take 60 points of damage before succumbing to
damage. PCs can batter the door down by succeeding on a
DC 28 Strength check.
While the PCs make their way up the ledge, Lord Jihzaja
watches from the overhang in area A–4c. PCs can spot
the noble salamander through the mists by besting the
salamander on an Spot check opposed by the salamander’s
Hide check (+15), but the salamander receives an additional
+5 to his check, thanks to the obscuring mist.
Lord Jihzaja waits until the PCs make it to the door, or
spot him, before launching his attacks. The salamander
casts wall of fire along the elevated ledge, inflicting 2d6+15
points of fire damage to every creature on the ledge on the
first round, and on the salamander’s turn every following
round the wall remains alight. If any 5-foot length of wall
takes 20 points of cold damage or more in 1 round, that
length goes out. (Do not divide cold damage by 4, as
normal for objects.)
If the PCs succeed in extinguishing the wall, or else manage
to threaten the salamander, Lord Jihzaja summons a huge
fire elemental at the base of the ledge, commanding the
elemental to attack his foes. While the elemental distracts
the party, the salamander withdraws through its maze-like
lair to area A–4d, where the noble makes his final stand.
Lord Jihzaja, Noble Salamander: See area A–4c.
Mesmerizing Door: Hardness 10, 60 hp, Break
DC 28.
Huge Fire Elemental (Summoned): CR 7; Huge
Elemental (Fire, Extraplanar); HD 16d8+64; hp 136; Init
+11; Spd 60 ft.; Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; AC 19, touch
15, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +12; Grp +24; Atk Slam +17
melee (2d8+4 plus 2d8 fire); Full Atk 2 slams +17 melee
(2d8+4 plus 2d8 fire); SA Burn; SQ DR 5/—, darkvision
60 ft., elemental traits, immunity to fire, vulnerability to
cold; AL N; SV Fort +9, Ref +17, Will +7; Str 18, Dex 25,
Con 18, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 11.
15

Skills
a n d
Feats:
Listen +11,
Spot +12;
Alertness,
C o m b a t
Ref lexes,
D o d g e ,
Improved
Initiative, Iron
Will, Mobility,
Spring Attack,
Weapon Finesse.
Burn (Ex): A
fire elemental’s
slam attack deals
bludgeoning damage plus
fire damage from the elemental’s
flaming body. Those hit by a fire
elemental’s slam attack also must
succeed on a DC 22 Reflex save or
catch on fire. The flame burns for 1d4
rounds. A burning creature can take
a move action to put out the flame.
The save DC is Constitution-based.
Creatures hitting a fire elemental with
natural weapons or unarmed attacks
take fire damage as though hit by the
elemental’s attack, and also catch on fire
unless they succeed on a Reflex save.
Area A–4c: Maze of the Dour Lord
Read or paraphrase the following:
The natural cave wends its way into darkness. The
walls are slick with condensation, and tendrils of
the ever-present steam snake about your waist as if
to ensnare you. The heat and accompanying stink are
almost overbearing here, worming their way into clothes,
saturating books and seeming to seep into the skin.
This small maze is where the noble salamander Lord
Jihzaja makes his home. Explorers find racks with
steaming meat, the pelts of various beasts (saturated
with mineral-rich waters) and simple decorations
scattered about the maze. There seems little rhyme or
reason to it all, for the salamander spends little time
here, preferring to be with his fire nymph lover (see area
A–3), hunting the valley floor or working in his forge (area
A–4d).
16
CITY of the GODS
The steam is thicker here than in previous portions of the
caverns, limiting sight to a mere 10 feet. For every 5 rounds
spent in the maze, PCs must succeed on a DC 20 Fort save or
become both sickened (taking a –2 penalty on all attack rolls,
weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks and ability
checks) and bewildered, mistaking left for right, confusing
all cardinal directions, and being utterly unable to discern
whether or not they have been to an area of the maze before.
Cunning PCs will take measures against this induced, non-
magical confusion (such as leaving markers or signs on the
cave walls), but even these can easily mislead explorers. Lord
Jihzaja is inured to the gases and immune to their effects.
The maze is littered with hot pots—boiling springs that emit the
gases that shroud the maze. The hot pots inflict 1d4 points of
heat damage to anyone foolish enough to enter their waters.
If the salamander spotted the PCs while they advanced up
the ledge in area A–4b, he has since withdrawn to area A–4d.
If the PCs somehow succeeded in avoiding the salamander’s
notice, Lord Jihzaja is resting on the rim of a hot pot, before
venturing out to find (and capture) the fire nymph. Fully armed
and armored in either case, the salamander fights to the best
of his ability, using all of the powers at his disposal to defeat
the invading PCs. If overwhelmed by superior foes, the mighty
salamander withdraws to area A–4d to make his final stand.
Parlaying with the Dour Lord: Asute PCs might rightly
realize that a “burn and destroy” tactic is not necessary in
their expedition to the Isle of the Dour Lord. Their chief
task is simply to recover the fire nymph’s flame charm, a goal
that can be accomplished without slaying Lord Jihzaja. PCs
succeeding in treating with the Dour Lord and acquiring
the fire charm should be awarded experience as if they had
defeated the noble salamander in combat.
The PCs might consider parlaying with Lord Jihzaja:
Subduing: If Lord Jihzaja is reduced to fewer than 20 hp, he
sues for peace, offering PCs the fire charm and a portion of
his treasure in exchange for his life. The noble salamander
willingly gives the PCs the treasure openly displayed in area
A–4d, but will not direct them to hidden treasure chests.
Bartering: If the PCs initiate talks, the Lord might agree to
trade the fire charm for another two magic items, or a single
item and a minimum of 5,000gp. Note that Lord Jihzaja is an
aloof trader, but PCs that are able to tolerate the salamander’s
arrogance can secure the fire charm with little difficulty.
Bluffing: The noble salamander is secure in his position
and fears little (right or wrong) that the Valley has to offer.
The sole exception is Saint Stephen and his army of raiders.
If the PCs succeed in weaving a convincing tale (DC 25 Bluff
check) the salamander relinquishes the fire charm. A GM is
within his rights to demand that the player characters provide
a convincing story explaining why Saint Stephen would want
the nymph’s fire charm.
CITY of the GODS
Lord Jihzaja, Noble Salamander: CR 10; Large Outsider
(Extraplanar, Fire); HD 15d8+45; hp 112; Init +1; Spd 20
ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft. (20 ft. with tail or longspear);
AC 24, touch 10, flat-footed 23; Base Atk +15; Grp +25; Atk
+3 longspear of speed +23 melee (1d8+9/✕3 plus 1d8 fire); Full
Atk +3 longspear of speed +23/+23/+18/+13 melee (1d8+9/✕3
plus 1d8 fire) and tail slap +18 melee (2d8+3 plus 1d8 fire);
SA Constrict 2d8+3 plus 1d8 fire, heat, improved grab, spell-
like abilities; SQ SR 13, DR 15/magic, darkvision 60 ft.,
immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold; AL CE; SV Fort +12,
Ref +10, Will +11; Str 22, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 15,
Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +19, Craft (blacksmithing) +25, Diplomacy
+4, Hide +15, Intimidate +4, Listen +13, Move Silently +17,
Spot +13; Alertness, Cleave, Great Cleave, Multiattack, Power
Attack, Skill Focus (Craft [blacksmithing]).
Constrict (Ex): A salamander deals automatic tail slap damage
(including fire damage) with a successful grapple check. A noble
salamander can constrict multiple creatures simultaneously,
provided they are all at least two sizes smaller than it.
Heat (Ex): A salamander generates so much heat that its mere
touch deals additional fire damage. Salamanders’ metallic
weapons also conduct this heat.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a salamander must hit
a creature of up to one size larger than itself with its tail slap
attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action
without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the
grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—burning hands (DC 13), fireball (DC
15), flaming sphere (DC 14), wall of fire (DC 16); 1/day—dispel
magic, summon monster VII (Huge fire elemental). Caster level
15th.
Possessions: +2 chain shirt of spell resistance (13), +3 longspear of
speed.
Area A–4d: Abode of the Salamander
The boulder blocking the entrance to this area can only be
moved by creatures succeeding on a DC 20 Strength check.
Even a successful Strength check causes a grinding that can
be heard throughout areas A–4d and A–4c.
Read or paraphrase the following:
Past the massive boulder you spy a treasure chamber worthy of a king!
Thick carpets cover the hard stone floor, and rich tapestries adorn
the walls. A candelabra formed from living crystal hangs from the
ceiling, and flames dance amid the cups of burning oil. Embroidered
silken pillows lie cast about with careless abandon, and a low, wide
divan rests in the far recesses of the chamber.
Of more interest to you and your companions are the half-dozen
coffers lying about the room, and the nooks carved into the rock
walls, each displaying a brilliant gem!
This chamber is home to the noble salamander, and (when
she is not wroth) the fire nymph. Sadly, despite the opulence,
much of the chamber’s contents have lost their value after
years of exposure to constant moisture and heat. The pillows
all show signs of algae and mold, the divan is riddled with
rot, the tapestries and rugs all ruined with grime.
The vault is a far from worthless, though. Nestled amid the
nooks lining the walls, are a total of 7 spectacular gems, each
worth between 100 and 1,000gp (1d10 x 1,000gp); the eighth
gem in the series is a brilliant black star sapphire—the flame
charm stolen from the fire nymph.
The iron coffers contain the bulk of the salamander’s treasure,
though much has been spent foolishly by the salamander, in
his unceasing quest to win the nymph’s love. All of the coffers
are locked (DC 25). The key was stolen by the fire nymph a
week ago, and hidden somewhere deep beneath one of the
valley’s burning lakes.
Coffers (6): Hardness 10; Hp 10; Open Lock DC
25; Break DC 20.
Coffer Trap/Contents
1 Glyph of warding
15 copper ingots stamped with the mark of the
Duchy of Peaks; cast inside each ingot is a rod of
platinum worth 200gp
2 None
Empty. A DC 25 Search reveals a false bottom
concealing 4 divine scrolls: resurrection (CL 13),
righteous might (CL 9), and heal (CL 11).
3 Poisoned dart trap
An elven buckler +2 (see appendix) wrapped in
the skin of a unicorn worth 5,000gp (Cursed;
good or neutral PCs carrying the unicorn skin on
their persons are afflicted as if by a bestow curse
spell, no save. The curse remains even after they
have disposed of the skin, unless they bury it in a
hallowed sylvan grove.)
4 Fireball trap
A bolt case made from the skin of a young black
dragon (worth 300gp), containing 10 sleep bolts for
a hand crossbow.
5 None
Empty.
6 Lock smeared with contact poison
2,300gp (Counterfeit coins; a DC 15 Spot check
reveals that each coin is merely a copper coin with
a skin of hammered gold. PCs attempting to use the
coins have a 25% of being caught and prosecuted
as counterfeiters, a crime punishable by death in
most parts of Blackmoor.) The salamander noble
uses these for trade with the other creatures of
the Valley, not fearing any repercussions.
17

Glyph of Warding (Blast): CR 4; spell; spell trigger;
no reset; spell effect (glyph of warding [blast], 5th-
level cleric, 2d8 acid, DC 14 Reflex save half
damage); multiple targets (all targets within 5 feet);
Search DC 28; Disable Device DC 28.
Poisoned Dart Trap: CR 4; mechanical; location
trigger; manual reset; Atk +15 ranged (1d4+4 plus
poison, dart); multiple targets (1 dart per target in a
10-ft.by 10-ft.area);poison (Small monstrous centipede
poison, DC 10 Fort save resists, 1d2 Dex/1d2 Dex);
Search DC 21; Disable Device DC 22.
Fireball Trap: CR 5; magic device; touch trigger;
no reset; spell effect (fireball, 8th-level wizard, 8d6
fire, DC 14 Reflex save half damage); Search DC
28; Disable Device DC 28.
Lock Smeared with Contact Poison: CR 5;
mechanical; touch trigger (attached); manual reset;
poison (nitharit, DC 13 Fort save resists, 0/3d6
Con); Search DC 25; Disable Device DC 19.
18
CITY of the GODS
Area A–5: The Sea of Mud
Read or paraphrase the following:
Pools of thick mud stretch out before you, gurgling and popping with
heat, spitting flecks of burning mud into the air. The hot air reeks of
sulfur and brimstone.
The sea of mud is superheated by hot springs deep beneath
the surface of the Valley of the Ancients. Any being immersed
in this mud takes 1d8 points of heat damage every round, and
1d4 points of damage on the round after escaping the mud.
Worse, the thick, viscous mud gives birth to fiery geysers
that erupt periodically, releasing the pressures built up by
the boiling waters. The GM should make a secret roll for
each square the party crosses in the sea of mud, if the group
travels via the log bridge (see area A–5a below). Roll 1d4 each
time, as there is a 1 in 4 chance of a geyser erupting near the
PCs during their trek through a given square, showering the
surrounding area with superheated water and steaming mud.
Each time this happens, PCs in the area take 2d12 points of
heat damage (DC 20 Reflex save for half).
Area A–5a: Hell’s Highway
Read or paraphrase the following:
A crude trail of mud-spattered logs crosses the steaming pools
of mud, crossing from one island to the next. The logs are
slick with condensation and crusted with minerals, and slime
grows where the water pools in hollows atop the logs.
The logs are all large, each one foot in diameter and
between 20 and 30 feet in length. The path was built
by sandfolk, but is used by ogres in service of the fire
giants.
PCs crossing the logs are in considerable danger from
the geysers. If a geyser goes off while the PCs are on the
bridge, they must succeed on a DC 15 Balance check
or fall into the scorching mud, taking 1d8 points of
heat damage every round until freed (and another 1d4
points of damage the round thereafter).
Characters in falling into the mud must make a DC
10 Swim check every round to simply tread water, or
a DC 15 Swim check to move 5 feet in any direction
desired. If a trapped character fails this check by 5 or
more, he sinks below the surface and begins to drown
(see Drowning, DMG 304).
Characters may resurface with a successful Swim check
(DC 15 +1 per consecutive round under the surface).
To rescue a PC caught in the quagmire, a rescuer must
make a DC 15 Strength check to pull the victim, and
the victim must make a DC 10 Strength check to hold
on. If the victim fails to hold on, he must make a DC
15 Swim check immediately to stay above the surface.
If both checks succeed, the victim is pulled to safety.
CITY of the GODS
Area A–5b: Ambush!
A trio of salamanders lurks alongside the log bridge, where the
mud is only 4 feet deep. The outsiders have taken pains to hide
themselves, and PCs must succeed on Spot checks opposed
by the salamanders’ Hide roll to spot them (they receive a +4
circumstance bonus, on top of their +11 Hide modifier).
The salamanders wait until one or more PCs are on the log
bridge before springing from hiding. One salamander levers
the log over, causing it to roll. PCs standing atop the log must
succeed on DC 20 Balance checks or tumble into the burning
mud. Meanwhile, the other two salamanders concentrate
their attacks on the PCs that escaped the fall, attempting to
put them down before their companions can recover.
If two or more of the salamanders are reduced to fewer than
15 hp, the survivors flee, diving into the mud in the hopes of
eluding the heroes.
Salamander (3): CR 6; Medium Outsider (Extraplanar, Fire);
HD 9d8+18; hp 58; Init +1; Spd 20 ft.; Space/Reach 5 ft./5
ft. (10 ft. with tail); AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17; Base Atk
+9; Grp +11; Atk Trident +11 melee (1d8+3 plus 1d6 fire);
Full Atk Trident +11/+6 melee (1d8+3 plus 1d6 fire) and tail
slap +9 melee (2d6+1 plus 1d6 fire); SA Constrict 2d6+1 plus
1d6 fire, heat, improved grab; SQ DR 10/magic, darkvision
60 ft., immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold; AL LE; SV Fort
+8, Ref +7, Will +8; Str 14, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 15,
Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +11, Craft (blacksmithing) +19,
Diplomacy +3, Disguise +1 (+3 acting), Hide +11, Intimidate
+3, Listen +8, Move Silently +11, Search +12, Spot +8;
Alertness, Multiattack, Power Attack.
Constrict (Ex): A salamander deals automatic tail slap damage
(including fire damage) with a successful grapple check.
Heat (Ex): A salamander generates so much heat that its mere
touch deals additional fire damage. Salamanders’ metallic
weapons also conduct this heat.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a salamander must hit
a creature of up to one size larger than itself with its tail slap
attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action
without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the
grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.
Area A–6:The Cliffs of Flame
Read or paraphrase the following:
The sharp, craggy cliff rise up from the valley floor like the blades
of a thousand spears placed end to end. The occasional ravine, dark
and narrow, wends its way into the cliffs, but nearly all seem to
terminate within 100 steps of the canyon entrance. The cliffs stink
of sulfur and hellfire, and are even warm to the touch. A faint steam
rises off them like a corpse cooling in winter.
The cliffs mark the north-west border of the valley. Powerful
heroes like the PCs can pass them, but only at the cost of
much labor for little reward. The cliffs are sheer, and the
few hand or footholds are composed of sharp, razor like
edges. Ranging between 200 and 400 feet high, the cliffs
can be climbed with DC 20 Climb checks, but lead climbers
inflict 1d4 points of damage on themselves every 50 feet
climbed. (Those following, presumably with the aid of ropes
and suitable equipment, need not take damage.) The cliffs
radiate a dull constant heat that, when combined with the
steam, forces a DC 20 Fort save every 10 rounds, lest a PC
be sickened, suffering a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon
damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks and ability checks.
PCs failing a second DC 20 Fort save are treated as exhausted,
moving at half speed and taking a –6 penalty to Stregnth and
Dexterity. One hour of complete rest, or any magical healing
effect, remedies both conditions.
PCs gaining the top of the cliff are faced with a view of the
southern Badlands: desolate, sharp ridges, and deep ravines.
The wasteland is dotted with the occasional smoking caldera,
and cooling lava flows crawl their way across the ridges before
plunging hundreds of feet down into darkness.
Those with the means to fly can traverse the southern rim of
the Badlands to their less desolate cousins to the north, but
advancing on foot is nearly impossible. Advancing a single
mile requires climbing both up and down several hundred
feet, several times, slowing progress to a crawl. Searching
the hundreds of valleys, by foot or from the air, is a futile
experiment, yielding nothing.
For every 4 hours spent traversing the Cliffs of Flame, roll
1d12. On a 1–3 the PCs are set upon by a pair of wyverns
on the hunt for their evening meal. On a 12, the PCs are
attacked by a flock of six wyverns.
Wyvern: CR 6; Large Dragon; HD 7d12+14; hp 59; Init +1;
Spd 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor); Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC 18,
touch 10, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +7; Grp +15; Atk Sting
+10 melee (1d6+4 plus poison) or talon +10 melee (2d6+4)
or bite +10 melee (2d8+4); Full Atk Sting +10 melee (1d6+4
plus poison) and bite +8 melee (2d8+4) and 2 wings +8 melee
(1d8+2) and 2 talons +8 melee (2d6+4); SA Poison, improved
grab; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to sleep and paralysis,
low-light vision, scent; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6;
Str 19, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Hide +7, Listen +13, Move Silently +11,
Spot +16; Ability Focus (poison), Alertness, Flyby Attack,
Multiattack.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a wyvern must hit
with its talons. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
the grapple check, it establishes a hold and stings.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and secondary
damage 2d6 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.
19

Area B: Sandfolk Camp
The sandfolk are a hardy nomadic people that manage to
survive within the Valley’s harsh ecology. Read or paraphrase
the following when the PCs come across a camp:
A dozen felted tents, bleached white to reflect the heat of the sun,
stand clustered around a large fire pit. You spy at least a dozen
humanoids working about the camp; smoking meat outside the huts,
beating wool into felt, tending the fire, and so on. As you watch, the
strange physiology of these people comes into focus: All have leathery
skin, ranging in color from a smooth green to a dusky, slate grey, and
all have a second pair of arms protruding from their torsos. A circle
of small mounds surrounds the encampment.
The camp is home to a band of sandfolk raiders—nearly
thirty strong, including leaders. Although it might appear
that the camp has been caught unawares, this is only a ruse.
The mounds surrounding the camp are resting camarillas,
buried in the sand to ward off the worst of the day’s heat.
The voracious lizards are ever vigilant, and are poised to
spring as soon as any prey (anything not accompanied by a
sandfolk) comes within 15 feet of their hiding places. There
are 8 camarillas guarding the camp.
The Su-roth Sandfolk
The sandfolk have inhabited the Valley of the Ancients
for as long as Tenian scholars have known Blackmoor.
A nomadic people, their camps can be found through
out the valley. Increased activity emanating from the
City of the Gods, however, coupled with interest
from outside factions, has led most of the tribes to
seek shelter in caves hidden along the valley’s rim.
The remaining tribes are raiders—brave souls looking
to make a profit off the mysterious city by preying
off foolish explorers. Though opportunistic, the
sandfolk are excellent judges of a challenge, and will
not press dangerous groups. Indeed, if the party shows
themselves to be capable but not thoughtlessly violent,
the raiders will invite them to share their campfire.
This might seem a contradiction to “civilized” folk, but
to the sandfolk, raiding and hospitality are both useful
means of dealing with outsiders.
Sha-Su-roth’s tribe is more volatile than most because
of the young ranger, Da-Nel. A sandfolk warrior
without peer, Da-Nel threatens Sha-Su-roth’s claim to
leadership. The ranger is in love with Sha-Su-roth’s
green-skinned daughter, and serves the chieftain at his
own pleasure. Both Sha-Su-roth and Da-Nel will see the
PCs as an opportunity to advance their own agendas,
treating the heroes as witless pawns until the heroes
demonstrate otherwise.
20
CITY of the GODS
At present there are 15 sandfolk raiders in camp, along with
their warchief Sha-su-roth, and his advisor, the camp elder.
The warchief’s second in command Da-Nel is away from camp,
leading a raiding party of 8 sandfolk and 4 more camarilla;
Da-Nel returns within 1 hour of the PCs encountering the
camp, or as the GM deems best for the story line.
The sandfolk welcome the PCs into their camp, and welcome
them to spend a night safely in camp (but only one). That
evening, gathered around the crackling fire, the camp elder
selects a comely young sandfolk maid—the daughter of Sha-
Su-roth, and the love of Da-Nel—to recite the poem known as
“The Fall of the Gods” (see sidebar).
Test of Courage: While the sandfolk are quick to welcome
PCs to their fireside, they refuse to give them information or
aid until the PCs have demonstrated themselves to be worthy
allies. If pressed for information or directions to the City of
the Gods, Sha-Su-roth welcomes the PCs to prove themselves
worthy recipients of the chieftain’s “wisdom.”
The test is a simple one. The PCs are asked to choose a single
champion to face the sandfolk champion in single combat.
The goal is not to kill the other, but to not surrender. Either
champion can surrender with less than 15 hp without shame,
and is lauded for their tenacity and resolve. The winner is
awarded a gift from Sha-Su-roth: a +2 keen battle axe.
While the PCs and Sha-Su-roth are choosing their champions,
the sandfolk draw a circle in the sand, 30 feet across and
ringed by 7 greased poles. Each pole is 14 feet high and
greased with camarilla fat.
Atop each pole is tied a battle axe and a short sword—
traditional sandfolk weapons. The weapons are tied loosely
to the tops of the poles and are easily pulled free. A weapon
can be reached with a DC 24 Jump check, or a DC 25 Climb
check. Alternately, a pole can be broken with a DC 26
Strength check, or cut down (hardness 6, 15 hp).
Sha-Su-roth has secretly dusted all the weapons with a tacky
black powder called walkers’ bane, which is poisonous to
sandfolk but harmless to others (Injury, DC 18, 1d4 Str
Initial, 1d4 Con Secondary). Sha-Su-roth hopes for Da-Nel’s
defeat, giving the war chieftain the pretense for exiling Da-Nel
from the tribe.
If the PCs recognize that Da-Nel has been poisoned and
rush to his aid, they earn the enmity of Sha-Su-ruth but the
gratitude of Da-Nel and the respect of the sandfolk.
If the PCs succeed in besting Da-Nel, or earn the sandfolk’s
respect by enduring the trial, Sha-Su-roth is bound to
entertain their queries. The war chieftain sends the elder to
answer their questions.
How do we get to the Sky City? No one but the Old Man of the
Valley has ever seen the fallen Sky City. Many say that it is
nothing but a fable.
CITY of the GODS
Who is the Old Man of the Valley? A sandfolk elder that
witnessed the Fall of the City of the Gods. The sight drove Fall of the Gods
him mad and he fled the tribe. The sandfolk elder, Dra-aj’haraki, composed the epic
Where is he now? Dra-aj’haraki has hidden himself in the poem “Fall of the Gods” before his madness caused
ancestral caves of the sandfolk. The caves are found in a ridge him to flee his own tribe. The work lives on with Sha-
north of here. I can draw you a map. Su-roth and his people, and is recited around the camp’s
fires to this night. The poem is recited in the keening
Can we speak with him? If you can find the Old Man, and if religious tongue of the sandfolk, but can be roughly
you are worthy of his trust, old Dra-aj’haraki might show you translated for the benefit of non-sandfolk audiences.
to the way to the fabled city.
Fall of the Gods
The elder offers to heal any of the PCs to the best of his
ability. In the morning the sandfolk send the PCs on their way Recall that night, when the moon was a sliver in the house
with wineskins of desert wine, and satchels of dried camarilla of the Chimera,
meat. If the PCs showed exceptional kindness to Da-Nel, the and the entrails of the birds bled bile, and the camarillas
sandfolk warrior sends them off with a gift of his own: a fur- attacked their masters,
trimmed quiver containing three javelins of lightning.
and the she-cats howled in the daylight.
Sha-Su-roth, sandfolk warchief, Ari4/Ftr7: CR 9; Medium
Humanoid; HD 2d8+4d8+ 7d10+33; hp 94; Init +1; Spd Recall the night and its wicked portents, the night the gods
30 ft.; AC 21, touch 11, flat-footed 20 (+5 armor, +4 shield, were cast from heaven.
+1 natural, +1 Dex); Atk +2 Glaive +15 melee (1d10+6/3) What wicked deeds had they wrought, to be shamed so?
or composite shortbow +11 ranged (1d6+2/✕3); Full Atk +2
Glaive +15/+10 melee (1d10+6/✕3) or composite shortbow Streaking across the dark sky like a brilliant comet, turning
+11/+6 ranged (1d6+2/✕3); SQ multiweapon fighting; night to day, sand to glass,
AL N; SV Fort +9, Ref +4, Will +6; Str 14, Dex 13, Con 16, forests to flame, before their terrible city sank to the earth.
Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +10, Diplomacy +13, Handle Animal We can only pray that they are forgiven and welcomed back
+10, Intimidate +9, Sense Motive +9, Survival +7; Cleave, through the Gate of Stars,
Leadership, Negotiator; Power Attack, Stealthy, Track, before they turn their wicked gaze upon us.
Weapon Focus (glaive), Weapon Specialization (glaive).
For now, we can only pray, for gods walk the earth, armed
Possessions: Chainmail, composite shortbow [+2], +2 ceremonial
with divine lightning,
glaive, two +1 ceremonial shields (light wooden).
girded in the mail of the All-Father.
Da-Nel, sandfolk raider, Rgr9: CR 10; Medium Humanoid;
HD 2d8+9d8+27; hp 97; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch For Death follows in their shadow.
13, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +9; Grpl +11; Atk mwk scimitar
+12 melee (1d6+2/18–20) or composite short bow +12
Sandfolk elder, Drd5: CR 6; Medium Humanoid; HD
ranged (1d6+2/19–20); Full Atk mwk scimitar +10/+5 melee
2d8+5d8+5; hp 47; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 11, flat-
(1d6+2/18–20) and 3 mwk short swords + 8/+8/+8/+3
footed 15; Atk Spear +3 melee (1d8/✕3) or spear +4 ranged
melee (1d6+2/19–20), or composite short bow 12/+7 ranged
(1d8/✕3); SQ multiweapon fighting , nature sense, animal
(1d6+2/19–20); SQ multiweapon fighting, favored enemy
companion, wild empathy, woodland stride, trackless step,
(human, elf), track, wild empathy, combat style, endurance,
resist nature’s lure, wild shape 1/day; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref
animal companion, improved combat style, woodland stride,
+2, Will +7; Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha
swift tracker, evasion; AL N(e); SV Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +4;
12.
Str 15, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Handle Animal +3, Heal
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Heal +3, Hide +15, Jump +3,
+9, Knowledge (nature) +7, Listen +5, Ride +3, Spot +5,
Knowledge (nature) +3, Listen +12, Move Silently +14, Ride
Survival +10; Track, Weapon Focus (spear).
+7, Search +5, Spot +12, Survival +12; Cleave, Power Attack,
Stealthy, Weapon Focus (short sword). Druid Spells Prepared (5/4/3/2; DC 13 + spell level): ­0—create
water, cure minor wounds (✕2), detect poison, purify food and drink;
Ranger Spells Known (2/0; DC 11 + spell level): 0—delay poison,
1st—charm animal, cure light wounds (✕2), invisibility to animals;
pass without trace.
2nd—barkskin, flaming sphere, resist energy; 3rd—cure moderate
Possessions: Masterwork chain shirt, composite shortbow (+2),
wounds, remove disease.
masterwork scimitar, three masterwork short swords, quiver
Possessions: Leather armor, two shields (light wooden), spear.
with 15 arrows and five arrows of human slaying.

21

Sandfolk raider, War2 (23): CR 2; Medium Humanoid;
HD 2d8+2d8+2; hp 24; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch
12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +2; Grpl +3; Atk longspear +4
melee (1d8+1/✕3) or shortbow +4 ranged (1d6+1/✕3); SQ
multiweapon fighting ; AL LN; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will 0;
Str 13, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +0, Hide +3, Intimidate +0, Jump
+2, Move Silently +3, Ride +5; Weapon Focus (longspear).
Possessions: Leather armor, longspear, two shields (light
wooden), shortbow, quiver with 15 arrows.
Camarilla (12): CR 4; Large Magical Beast; HD 4d10+20; hp
42; Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base
Atk +3; Grpl +7; Atk Claw +7 melee (1d6+5) or bite +7 melee
(1d8+5); SA breath weapon, improved grab, rake; SQ low-light
vision 60’, darkvision 60’; AL N; SV Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +2;
Str 21, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills: Hide +13, Jump +7.
Sand Breath (Ex): 10-foot cone of irritating particles, damage
4d4, Reflex DC 15 half. Living creatures that fail their saves are
tormented by itching skin and burning eyes. This effect imposes
a –2 penalty to AC and a –2 penalty on attack rolls for 3 rounds.
A camarilla can call upon this ability once every 1d4+1 rounds.
Targets of multiple uses of this ability do not suffer cumulative
AC and attack penalties, but must still save for half damage.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a camarilla must hit
with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it
wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.
Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +7 melee, damage 4d6+5.
22
CITY of the GODS
Area C:
The Old Man of the Valley
When the City of the Gods came crashing to Blackmoor, it
was witnessed by a lone sandfolk shaman. Dra-aj’haraki was
driven mad by what he witnessed, and was exiled from his
tribe. Since that time, old Dra-aj’haraki has become a hermit,
living alone in a cave once used to bury sandfolk warlords.
The burial cave is trapped to defend against tomb robbers,
and Dra-aj’haraki has worked to make these traps even more
effective, refreshing the poison on the blades, and planting
false trails across the traps.
If the PCs discover the cave on their own, or follow the lead
offered by the sandfolk chieftain, begin with encounter C–1.
Area C–1: Cave Entrance
Read or paraphrase the following:
A narrow hole is carved into the side of the ridge. Partially concealed
by a large boulder, the cave is perfectly hidden from nearly all sides.
This cave complex has been the chosen burial place for
honored sandfolk warlords for centuries. And as long as it
has housed their sanctified remains, it has been the storied
goal of Tenian grave robbers. Rogues of every stripe have
tried their hand at raiding the cave, and if any succeeded,
they have elected not to brag of their deeds.
PCs investigating the cave entrance discover that the face of
the boulder turned toward the cave entrance is decorated
with runes, a basin, and a dozen channels. PCs able to read
sandfolk runes or succeeding on DC 20 Decipher Script
check are able to translate the carvings:
the blood of war chiefs blazes with the noonday sun
soaks the stones of our fathers
their might shall never be rivaled their secrets never revealed
only mirrored.
The runes are difficult to translate precisely; even sandfolk will
concede as much. The inscription is a crude riddle hinting at
the purpose of the channels and basin, as explained below.
The channels are cut down into the center of the rock, so
that when the sun is at its apex, a narrow shaft of line is
shone directly into the basin. Multiple channels have been
cut into the rock so that the effect is the same, regardless of
the season and the noonday sun’s position in the sky.
If the basin is filled with liquid (not necessarily blood, as hinted
at in the inscription) the reflection illuminates a narrow band
of light into the cave. Stepping in this band of light (and only
in this band of light) allows PCs to avoid the three traps in
area C–3.
A DC 15 Track check reveals that a lone humanoid uses
the cave entrance daily. A DC 20 Track check reveals this
humanoid to be a sandfolk. This is Dra-aj’haraki’s trail.
CITY of the GODS
Area C–2: Path of Light (EL 10)
Read or paraphrase the following:
The narrow cave winds its way into the hillside. The floor alternates
between rock, smooth by the passage of time, and sand. Niches have
been cut into the rocky walls at chest height every 6 feet or so. Some
of these hold extinguished candles, others just telltale traces of wax.
This corridor is littered with deadly traps placed by the
sandfolk to protect the sacred burial chamber of their
warchiefs. If liquid has been poured into the basin in area
C–1 at high noon, a narrow beam of light illuminates a safe
path through the traps. Otherwise, the PCs must pick their
own way through the corridor and suffer the consequences.
The traps are marked on the map. Each is triggered by a
sensitive panel hidden in the floor.
A DC 15 Track check reveals tracks in the sand. This trail is
a ruse; following the trail leads directly into each trap. Dra-
aj’haraki’s has disguised his true trail, but an expert tracker
alert to tricks (DC 25 Track) will be able to detect the true
path through the traps.
Following the second trail requires a DC 25 Track check
every 10 feet, and allows PCs to safely navigate the corridor.
Map
Icon Trap
X1 Wide-mouthed pit with poisoned spikes
X2 Poison spears
X3 Deathblade greataxe
Wide-Mouth Pit w/ Poisoned Spikes: CR 9;
mechanical; location trigger; manual reset; DC 20
Reflex save avoids; 70 ft. deep (7d6, fall); multiple
targets (all targets within a 10-ft.-by–10-ft. area);
pit spikes (Atk +10 melee, 1d4 spikes per target
for 1d4+5 plus poison each); poison (giant wasp
poison, DC 14 Fort save resists, 1d6 Dex/1d6
Dex); Search DC 20; Disable Device DC 20.
Poisoned Spears: CR 6; mechanical; location
trigger; automatic reset; Atk +10 melee
(1d6+4/19–20 plus poison, short spear); poison
(purple worm poison, DC 24 Fort save resists, 1d6
Str/2d6 Str); multiple targets (one target in each
of three preselected 5-ft. squares); Search DC 20;
Disable Device DC 20.
Deathblade Greataxe: CR 8; mechanical; touch
trigger; manual reset; Atk +16 melee (1d12+8 plus
poison, great axe); poison (deathblade, DC 20 Fort
save resists, 1d6 Con/2d6 Con); Search DC 24;
Disable Device DC 19.
Area C–3: Parting of Ways
Read or paraphrase the following:
The corridor splits in two sets of rough-hewn stairs. One set descends
further beneath the surface, the other climbs higher into the ridge.
Between the two sets of stairs is a narrow dividing wall, decorated
with a crudely carved glyph.
From below you hear rushing water. From above… silence.
A DC 15 Track check reveals that the stairs leading down
are in regular use. This is another false trail created by Dra-
aj’haraki. A DC 25 Track check reveals that the lower path is
false, while the stairs leading up are in regular use by someone
who works diligently to conceal his tracks.
A DC 15 Decipher Script check translates the glyph:
Climb to ignoble death, descend to the noble dead.
The glyph is both a warning and a descriptor. The steps leading
up are trapped (true), while the warlords of the sandfolk are
in the crypts below (also true). Dra-aj’haraki, however , has
taken up residence in chambers above.
The stairs leading down are trapped. When the stone steps
are weighted with more than 100 lbs., they collapse into a
slide; anyone failing a DC 20 Reflex save is sent shooting
downward. Their slide ends abruptly in a 50 feet deep pit.
Worse, at the base of the pit are a trio of sandfolk skeletons.
These are sandfolk criminals who were sentenced to an
eternity of undeath; the immediately leap to the attack,
unleashing their fury on the PCs.
The upward stairs are similarly trapped with a fusillade of
poisoned darts targeting PCs ascending the stairs.
The glyph disguises a secret panel that can be found with a
DC 25 Search check. Hidden behind the panel are two levers.
If either is pulled, a loud creaking sound emanates from the
corridor, followed by a ticking noise. The left lever disarms the
pit trap, the right lever disarms the dart trap. Pulling a lever
disarms a trap for 5 rounds. If a lever is jammed in the down
position, the appropriate trap is disarmed and cannot reset.
Treasure: At the base of the pit are the remains of the skeletons’
previous victims. Scattered amid the bones is a rusted, rotting
suit of studded leather, a set of masterwork thieves tools kept
in an ornate jade box, a +1 light crossbow of shock, two broken
ceramic flasks, one glass vial of acid wrapped in rotting cotton,
and one steel flask containing a potion of cure serious wounds.
Sandfolk skeleton (2): CR 1; Medium Humanoid; HD 2d12;
hp 20; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed;
Base Atk +1; Grpl +2; Atk spear +2 melee (1d8+1/✕3) SQ
multiweapon atk, DR 5/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft.,
immunity to cold, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +0, Ref +3,
Will +3; Str 13, Dex 16, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Improved initiative.
Possessions: Leather armor, spear, 2 shields (light wooden).
23
 CITY of the GODS
Camouflaged Collapse Stairs Pit Trap: CR Area C–5: Hall of the Holy
5; mechanical; location trigger; automatic reset; Read or paraphrase the following:
DC 20 Reflex save avoids; 50 ft. deep (5d6, fall);
multiple targets (any target on the stairs); Search A wide cave branches off from the stream here, climbing out of the
DC 25; Disable Device DC 17. water and ending in a small, circular chamber. The walls have been
polished smooth from centuries of running water, and the stalagmites
Fusillade of Poisoned Darts: CR 6; mechanical;
seem to glisten and shine in the dim light.
location trigger; automatic reset; Atk +18 ranged
(1d4+1 plus poison, dart); poison (deathblade, DC In the center of the chamber is a narrow well that descends
20 Fort save resists, 1d6 Con/2d6 Con); multiple into inky darkness.
targets (1d8 darts per target in a 5-ft. by 10-ft.
area); Search DC 19; Disable Device DC 25. This cave is where sandfolk pause to prepare themselves
before descending into the burial chambers reserved for their
mightiest war chiefs.
Area C–4: False Crypt Concealed behind a stalagmite (DC 10 Search) is a large bowl
Read or paraphrase the following: fashioned of beaten copper (stained green with verdigris), a
The stairs open into a natural chamber that has been enlarged by hollowed fang of a black dragon one foot in length, and a folded
hand. To your left, the cave opens to a shallow stream. To your right prayer cloth embroidered with obscure sandfolk glyphs.
is a series of shallow steps rising to a platform. Atop the platform are Sandfolk use the items to collect and bless water from the
a pair of bronze braziers, and a set of shining golden doors. stream before ritually washing themselves. PCs can divine the
PCs approaching the double doors can see that they are use of the horn and bowl with a successful DC 15 Knowledge
inscribed with pictographs depicting sandfolk war chiefs in (sandfolk) check or a DC 20 Bardic Knowledge check. A DC
battle against dragons, chimeras and giants. A close inspection 20 Decipher Script check reveals the meaning of the glyphs
of the doors (DC 20 Search) reveals that the portals are on the prayer cloth: “unholy,” “ablutions,” and “child of war.”
fashioned of stone and covered with beaten gold. Situated on Invaluable to sandfolk, the ritual items are worth a mere 75gp
the seam between the two doors are 4 obsidian plates, each to sages or other collectors of obscure religious relics.
cut in the size and shape of a hand. Though intriguing, these The well in the center of the chamber is only 2 feet in diameter,
sandfolk “hand plates” are nothing more than a distraction. and drops 20 feet before ending in a narrow tunnel.
The portals are trapped to collapse when any one of the
“hand plates” is disturbed, causing the ceiling above the
platform to come crashing down, inflicting 12d6 points of
crushing damage to anyone failing to leap from the platform
(DC 25 Reflex save).
The doors are false. Behind them is naught but unworked
stone. If the room is unearthed (a monumental task certain
to take days if not weeks) the beaten gold can be recovered:
the equivalent of 100gp in fragile, delicate flecks.
The stream is 1 foot deep, cool and clear. The streambed is
composed of loose stones and sand. If followed downstream,
the stream opens out onto the surface after a 1/4 mile of
winding, narrow caves. PCs following the current upstream
have a chance of discovering the secret entrance to the Old
Man’s hidey-hole (see area D–12a). Failing that, the corridor
grows quickly narrower and smaller, and after 100 feet is too
small to for even a small-sized creature to follow.
Collapsing Ceiling: CR 9; mechanical; location
trigger; repair reset; DC 25 Reflex save avoids;
ceiling collapses (12d6, crush); multiple targets
(all targets on platform); Search DC 20; Disable
Device DC 16.

24
CITY of the GODS
Area C–6:
Watcher of the Dead (EL 6)
The tunnels here are nearly filled with sand, effectively only
2 feet in height, forcing medium and small PCs onto their
hands and knees. Those in the tunnel can only fight with
Medium or Small piercing weapons—there is not enough
room to swing Large, slashing, or bludgeoning weapons.
The sand that covers the floor is 4 feet deep. Hidden beneath
the sand is a guardian, a sandfolk mummy. The ferocious
undead attacks anyone that has not washed himself in water
taken from the stream and blessed in area 4.
The horrible beast attacks from below, slamming foes with its
mighty fists before dragging them away into darkness.
Treasure: The mummy wears a +1 chain shirt. Buried in the
sand (DC 18 Search) is a bejeweled ceremonial dagger worth
40gp and a silver-plated torc worth 25gp.
Sandfolk mummy: CR 6; Medium Undead ; HD 8d12+3; hp
55; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 25, touch 10, flat-footed 25; Base
Atk +4; Grp +11; Atk Slam +11 melee (1d6+10 plus mummy
rot); Full Atk Slam +7/+3 melee (1d6+10 plus mummy rot);
SA Despair, multi-weapon fighting, mummy rot; SQ DR
5/—, darkvision 60 ft., undead traits, vulnerability to fire; AL
LE; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +8; Str 24, Dex 10, Con —, Int
6, Wis 14, Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Hide +7, Listen +8, Move Silently +7, Spot +8;
Alertness, Great Fortitude, Toughness.
Despair (Su): At the mere sight of a mummy, the viewer must
succeed on a DC 16 Will save or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4
rounds. Whether or not the save is successful, that creature
cannot be affected again by the same mummy’s despair ability
for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Mummy Rot (Su): Supernatural disease-slam, Fortitude DC 16,
incubation period 1 minute; damage 1d6 Con and 1d6 Cha.
The save DC is Charisma-based. Unlike normal diseases,
mummy rot continues until the victim reaches Constitution
0 (and dies) or is cured as described below. Mummy rot is a
powerful curse, not a natural disease. A character attempting
to cast any conjuration (healing) spell on a creature afflicted
with mummy rot must succeed on a DC 20 caster level
check, or the spell has no effect on the afflicted character.
To eliminate mummy rot, the curse must first be broken
with break enchantment or remove curse (requiring a DC
20 caster level check for either spell), after which a caster
level check is no longer necessary to cast healing spells on
the victim, and the mummy rot can be magically cured as any
normal disease. An afflicted creature who dies of mummy rot
shrivels away into sand and dust that blow away into nothing
at the first wind.
Possessions: +1 chain shirt.
Area C–7: Sand Maze (EL 8)
Read or paraphrase the following:
The sandy-floored tunnel seems to grow even tighter here. Peering
ahead you can see that the tunnel branches off to every side, each
side-cave equally narrow. The sand is covered in a fragile crust here
and the stench of sulfur is strong in the air.
The tunnels here are as confining as those in area C–6,
merely 2 feet high, forcing all but the tiniest PC to crawl, and
prohibiting the progress of those greater than large-sized.
The sand covering the floor conceals a number of sandwasp
nests. The hive can be detected with a DC 20 Search or Spot
check, and bypassed by a PC making a successful DC 15
Balance check. Each PC attempting to crawl past a nest must
succeed on the Balance check or disturb the nest, arousing
the sandwasp’s anger.
If a nest is disturbed, the wasps set off a loud droning, calling
the other hives into a single fearsome swarm, and alerting
Sha-Ce’Toth, below. The wasps light up as they swarm, filling
the tiny, confining tunnel with blinding brilliance.
Sandwasp Swarm: CR 7; Diminutive Magical Beast (Fire,
Swarm); HD 12d10+27; hp 93; Init +10; Spd 5 ft. (1 square),
fly 40 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./0 ft.; AC 20, touch 20, flat-
footed 14; Base Atk +12; Grp —; Atk Swarm (3d6 plus burn);
Full Atk Swarm (3d6 plus burn); SA Distraction, inhabit,
burn, flare; SQ DR 10/magic, darkvision 60 ft., immune to
weapon damage, resistance to fire 10, low-light vision, swarm
traits; AL N; SV Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +7; Str 1, Dex 22,
Con 14, Int —, Wis 13, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Hide +19, Listen +10, Spot +10; Ability Focus
(burn), Alertness, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Toughness.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a
sandwasp swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 18 Fort
save or be nauseated for 1 round.
Burn (Ex): Those caught in a sandwasp swarm must also
succeed on a Reflex save (DC 18) or catch on fire. Creatures
lit aflame by this ability stay on fire for 1d4 rounds, unless
they take active measures to put out the fire (see Chapter 8
of the DMG).
Flare (Ex): As a free action every third round, a sandwasp
swarm flares brightly, effecting all opponents within 30 ft.
The swarm makes a ranged touch attack; if it hits, the target
must succeed on a DC 18 Fort save or be blinded for 1d4
rounds. Eyeless creatures are immune to the blinding effect.
25

Area C–8:
Burial Antechamber (EL 10)
Read or paraphrase the following:
The tight, confining tunnel finally opens up, permitting you to stand
up and shake the sand out of your armor and robes. The chamber
before you is stained black with the soot from ancient fires.
A large golden disk, four feet across and decorated with 7 runes,
hangs on the far wall, shrouded in cobwebs and shadows.
The gold disk is actually a seal that guards the entrance to the
crypt of Sha-Ce’Toth, a mighty sandfolk wizard, who quested
for immortality and is now a lich. The seal is decorated
with series of spiraling runes. If detected, the seal radiates a
powerful abjuration magic; the engraved runes of the seal are
filled with quicksilver sealed with wax.
The seal is held in place with strange, ancient magics, seldom
seen in modern-day Blackmoor. When a living creature
comes within 15 feet of the seal, it begins to glow dimly in
the darkness of the cavern. If a living creature comes within
10 feet, the glow grows as brightly as a daylight spell, and
begins to hum softly. If a living creature comes within 5 feet
of the seal, the glow becomes so bright that any sight related
activities (including Search checks) suffer a +5 DC penalty.
The humming grows to a fevered pitch that resonates in
the walls and ceiling, causing stalagmites to break from the
ceiling. A total of 7 stalagmites fall, 1d3 every round a living
creature is within 5 feet of the seal, targeting random PCs in
the room (Atk +10 melee; 4d6, stalagmites).
The portal can be opened by puncturing the wax sealing any
one of the seven runes. The quicksilver spills from the rune
onto the floor, quickly seeping into the sand. If any of the
quicksilver comes into contact with a PCs’ flesh, it burns for
1d12 points of magical damage, but bestows spell resistance
13 for the next 5 rounds. The effect works only once. Any
remaining quicksilver is worthless other than a novelty to
alchemists and sages.
It takes one round for the quicksilver to escape; the following
round, the golden disk falls crashing from the wall, revealing a
4 feet diameter tunnel leading into the crypt of Sha-Ce’Toth.
The falling golden seal is dangerous enough on its own—PCs
standing in squares adjacent to the seal must succeed on DC
15 Reflex saves of be caught beneath the falling seal for 2d6
points of damage, and be pinned beneath the seal. The seal
can be lifted with a successful DC 20 Strength check, or a
pinned hero can slip from beneath the seal with a DC 23
Escape Artist check.
As the portal is opened, it triggers a pair of spells, both with
a 2 round onset delay: fireball, and silence. The fireball is
centered on the “F” marker. The silence spell is centered on
the “S” marker. Sha-Ce’Toth enters combat the following
round, casting spells from his sarcophagus into area C–8. See
area C–9 for the lich’s statistics and tactics.
26
CITY of the GODS
Treasure: The golden seal is indeed made entirely out of gold,
and is worth 7,000gp based on its weight alone. The seal is
incredibly unwieldy and far too large to fit into any backpack
or satchel. PCs hoping to being their treasure home must
find a way to make the seal manageable: either by breaking
the seal into pieces, melt the seal down into smaller bars,
magically shrinking the seal, etc.
Regrettably, like the rest of Sha-Ce’Toth’s crypt, the gold
of the lich’s seal is far from mundane. Anyone carrying the
slightest bit of the seal’s gold on their person is afflicted by
the Curse of Sha-Ce’Toth. Those failing a DC 21 Will save
suffer a –4 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks
and ability checks until the cursed is removed.
Fireball Trap: CR 7; magic device; touch trigger
(alarm); automatic reset; spell effect (fireball, 11th-
level wizard, 11d6 fire, DC 20 Reflex save half
damage); onset delay (2 rounds); Search DC 28;
Disable Device DC 28.
Silence Trap: CR 3; magic device; touch trigger
(alarm); automatic reset; spell effect (silence, 5th-
level cleric, DC 15 Will save negates); onset delay
(2 rounds); Search DC 27; Disable Device DC 27.
GM’s Note: The following encounter can prove a challenge
to even experienced players, and—if Lord Hersh should turn
his back on the PCs—can quickly result in the death of one
or more PCs. The encounter is not essential to the PCs’ mission.
However, one facet of being an “expert player” is being able
to recognize when a challenge poses more risk than reward.
In the world of Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor survival depends
upon quick wits and an instinct for survival, as much as a
strong sword arm. Doughty PCs might very well elect to press
on, but in doing so they take their fate into their own hands.
In this case, let the dice fall where they may, and to the victor
go the spoils!
Summary of Sha-Ce’Toth’s
Pre-Cast Spells and Durations
Mage armor: +4 armor bonus to AC.
Duration: 12 hours.
Armor of darkness: +6 deflection bonus to AC,
+2 saves versus attacks made by good creatures,
+4 turn resistance. Duration: 120 minutes.
Shield: Negates magic missiles, +4 shield bonus to AC.
Duration 12 minutes.
Mirror image: 1d4+4 images. Duration: 12 minutes.
Displacement: 50% miss chance. Duration: 12 rounds.
Globe of invulnerability: Immune to spell effects of 3rd
level or lower. Duration 12 rounds.
CITY of the GODS
Area C–9: Sha-Ce’Toth the Eternal, sandfolk lich, Wiz12: CR
14; Medium Humanoid; HD 14d12; hp 109; Init +8;
Burial Chamber Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +6;
of Sha-Ce’Toth (EL 14) Grpl +6; Atk touch +8/+3 melee 1d8+5 plus paralyzing touch
Read or paraphrase the following: or +2 quarterstaff +10/+5 melee 1d6+2 plus 1d6 frost; SQ
damage reduction 15/bludgeoning and magic; multiweapon
The sandy-floored chamber is occupied by a chariot, a team of fighting, summon familiar, scribe scroll, turn resistance; AL
mummified camarilla, several bronze shields and a dozen bronze LE; SV Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +14; Str 11, Dex 21, Con 13,
spears, arrayed in a circle. A single great stone sarcophagus stands Int 24, Wis 17, Cha 16.
against the far wall.
This chamber is the final resting place for the
dread sandfolk lich Sha-Ce’Toth. Alerted by
the PCs’ approach, the lich Sha-Ce’Toth is a
truly fearsome opponent. The lich has taken
the time to cast the following spells: mage
armor, armor of shadows, mirror image, shield,
displacement, and globe of invulnerability
(lesser).
Thus prepared, Sha-Ce’Toth’s statistics reflect
the following totals: AC 34, touch 20, flat-
footed 29; +8 turn resistance; immunity to all
spells 3rd level or lower; 1d4+4 mirror images;
50% miss chance due to displacement. Note
that with his feat selection and dexterity bonus,
Sha-Ce’Toth receives a +13 to hit bonus with
ray spells.
The lich fires spells through holes bored in its
sarcophagus into the adjoining chamber, and
waiting until two or three party members have
entered his chamber before casting wall of
force across the entrance to its crypt, dividing
the party. Then the lich emerges from its vault,
engaging the PCs trapped in its chamber, and
using its spells to their greatest devestation.
Sha-Ce’Toth has cast symbol of fear on its
tabard (the spell is mind-affecting, and has
no effect on the lich). PCs facing the lich
in combat automatically set off the symbol,
which affects all creatures within 60 feet (even
those outside the wall of force). Those failing
a DC 23 Will save are panicked and flee to
the best of their ability, or, if cornered, cower
defenselessly.
Although the lich is confident in its ability to
best the PCs, the lich is by no means foolish.
Sha-Ce’Toth slaved for years in its bid for
immortality and refuses to risk losing its work
to anything as trivial as a battle with mere
mortals. If pressed, the lich teleports away
to another vault, where it recoups its losses
and begins to plot revenge on the foolish
adventurers that interfered with the sandfolk’s
quest for immortality.

27

Skills and Feats: Concentration +16, Craft (Alchemy) +9,
Decipher Script +21, Hide +13, Listen +11, Knowledge
(arcana) +22, Knowledge (history) +9, Knowledge (nobility
and royalty) +9, Knowledge (the planes) +9, Move Silently
+13, Search +15, Sense Motive +15, Spellcraft +22, Spot +11;
Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Craft Wondrous Item,
Lightning Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (ray).
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/6/6/6/4/4/3; DC 17 + spell level):
0—detect magic, mage hand, open/close read magic; 1st—mage armor,
magic missile, shield, ray of enfeeblement (✕3); 2nd—mirror image,
scorching ray (x4), see invisiblity; 3rd—blink, clairaudience , dispel
magic, displacement, lightening bolt, ray of exhaustion; 4th—armor
of darkness, evard’s black tentacles, globe of invulnerability (lesser),
mnemonic enhancer; 5th—cone of cold, teleport, quincke’s suffocating
hands, wall of force; 6th—disintegrate, lucubration, mislead.
Fear Aura (Su): Liches are shrouded in a dreadful aura of death
and evil. Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60-foot radius that
look at the lich must succeed on Will Save (DC 20) or be
affected as though by a fear spell from a sorcerer of the lich’s
level. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected
again by the same lich’s aura for 24 hours.
Paralyzing Touch (Su): Any living creature a lich hits with
its touch attack must succeed on a DC 20 Fort save or be
permanently paralyzed. Remove Paralysis or any spell that
can remove a curse can free the victim (see the bestow curse
spell description). The effect cannot be dispelled. Anyone
paralyzed by a lich seems dead, though a DC 20 Spot check
or a DC 15 Heal check reveals that the victim is still alive.
Turn Resistance (Ex): A lich has a +4 turn resistance.
Damage Reduction (Su): A lich’s undead body is tough, giving
the creature damage reduction 15/bludgeoning and magic.
Its natural weapons are treated as magic weapons for the
purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Immunities (Ex): Liches have immunity to cold, electricity,
polymorph, and mind-effecting attacks. ✕2
Possessions: Crown of intellect +3, , +2 icy burst quarterstaff, cloak
of resistance +3, gloves of dexterity +2, gold-thread tabard with
symbol of fear.
Area C–10: Concealed Door
PCs passing by can notice the secret door on a DC 23 Spot
check. Trackers succeeding on a DC 20 Survival check notice
that a humanoid has been using the stairs, but that the signs
of disturbance do not proceed up past the landing.
28
CITY of the GODS
Area C–11: False Door
Read or paraphrase the following:
The stone stairs rise to a great bronze portal emblazoned with images
of sandfolk warriors riding into battle astride fearsome dragons.
The door is encrusted with golden studs and bright jewels. A single
massive pull ring rests in the center of the portal.
The false door is trapped. The “golden studs” are actually
the tips of spears, painted gold, and the bright jewels, merely
paste imitations. Any living creature coming within 10 feet of
the door triggers the trap, firing a salvo of spears down the
stairway.
Fusillade of Spears: CR 6; mechanical; proximity
trigger; repair reset; Atk +21 ranged (1d8, spear);
multiple targets (1d6 spears per target in a 10 ft.
by 10-ft. area); Search DC 26; Disable Device DC
20.
Area C–12: Old Man of the Valley
Read or paraphrase the following:
The low, tight caves smell of wet fur and the hot stink of feral beasts.
The rock floor is covered in matted grasses, twigs and fur. Lurking
deep within the cavernous shadows sits the ponderous shape of a
reclining cave bear.
This “cave bear” is, of course, the goal of the heroes’ quest:
the Old Man of the Valley. The aging druid sandfolk is the
Valley’s sole surviving inhabitant to have witnessed the wreck
of the Beagle. Fearing the retribution of Saint Stephen and
his raiders, the old man has hidden himself amongst the
bones of his elders, content to live out the remainder of his
days as a savage beast.
The old man’s mind was shattered by witnessing the fall of
the Sky City, so dealing with the aging sandfolk is challenging
at best. Believing the PCs to be agents of the Saint, the old
man will be hesitant to attack, but quick to flee at the first
threat of violence, springing down the hole to the stream and
quickly swimming his way out of the dungeon.
Those hoping to garner some of the old man’s knowledge
(and specifically, directions to the Lost Rift) will be forced to
put up with the old timer’s eccentric mumblings. First, they
will need to coax the old man back into sandfolk-form, or else
use magical means to communicate with him in bear-form—
an even more challenging forum!
Once the PCs have demonstrated their intentions (a task
easiest done by displaying some artifact won from the sandfolk
tribe), or won his favor through duplicity or magic, the old
man will share some tidbits with the heroes. The GM should
relay these to the players in a jumbled, disjointed fashion,
leaping from one topic to the next, all the while telling and
retelling stories of the sandfolks’ youth, further confusing
matters for the heroes.
CITY of the GODS
• The city fell from the heavens five rains ago.
• The city crashed on the north side of the Valley, creating
a rift in the Valley wall.
• The city unleashed the anger of the Earth Dragon, who
covered much of the City with lava, rubble and ash.
• The north wall of the valley is pocketed with canyons
and rifts; you will know the right one by the sign of the
dragons.
• Giants of fire and lava guard the way to the city; befriend
them with gifts for sacrifice, and they will let small-folk
pass.
• The giants’ master is known as Rai; this new master arrived
the same night the Sky City fell from the heavens.
If the PCs seem to be having an unusually difficult time
navigating the dangers of the valley’s floor, the GM is
encouraged to use the encounter with the old man to supply
the heroes with other vital clues. The exploration of the
valley floor is intended to be challenging but not frustrating
to players, and those with little experience outside of the
dungeon might need to be goaded on towards their goal.
Old Man of the Valley, sandfolk Drd8: CR 9; Medium
Humanoid; HD 2d8+8d8+24; hp 86; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +6; Grpl +5; Atk
Quarterstaff +5 melee (1d6–1); Full Atk Quaterstafff +3/–2
melee (1d6–1) and sickle +3 (1d6–1); SQ Multiweapon
fighting, nature sense, animal companion, wild empathy,
woodland stride, trackless step, resist nature’s lure, wild shape
3/day, wild shape large; AL CN; SV Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +9;
Str 9, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Heal +11, Knowledge
(nature) +9, Listen +12, Spot +8, Survival +14; Combat
Casting, Lightning Reflexes, Natural Spell.
Druid Spells Prepared (6/5/4/4/2; DC 13 + spell level): ­0—
create water (✕2), cure minor wounds, detect poison, purify food
and drink, resistance; 1st—charm animal, cure light wounds (✕2),
entangle, summon nature’s ally I; 2nd—barkskin, flaming sphere,
resist energy (✕2); 3rd—cure moderate wounds, poison, spike growth,
remove disease; 4th—flame strike, scrying.
Possessions: Quarterstaff, sickle.
Area D:
Sign of the Dragons
Read or paraphrase the following:
A canyon slithers out of the north rim of the valley here,
towards the inhospitable badlands. But this one is different
from the hundreds of others you have investigated: the rift is
bridged by a natural stone arch, carved into the shape of two
dueling dragons.
Hot wind whistles down through the steep canyon walls, and
you catch the smell of brimstone on the air.
While many rifts lead north from the valley floor, only
one leads to the Caldera of the Fire Giant King, and
ultimately to the City of the Gods.
Area E: Caldera
of the Fire Giant King
Read or paraphrase the following:
A narrow path wends its way up the side of the rocky slope.
Crusty sheets of cooled lava and fallen cinders litter the climb.
Ahead, obscured by the steep wall of the caldera, you catch
a glimpse of the massive towers of the giant holdfast. A hot
wind, buffets you from the valley, threatening to batter you
into the cliff walls.
A small clan of fire giants have ruled this caldera for
many years, raiding the sandfolk of the lowlands and
enjoying their dominance of the surrounding lands.
This changed with the coming of the FSS Beagle. A
command module was thrown free of the wreckage
and crashed into the caldera. The module, an artificial
29

intelligence aided by robotic assistants, immediately set about
bringing the fire giants and their servants under its control.
The AI believes itself to be the only survivor of the crash and
has gone rogue.
The rogue AI, or RAI, as the giants know it, is the true ruler
of the caldera. RAI has no interest in being rescued, and
instead seeks to cement its control over the giants and spread
its influence through the Valley of the Ancients, setting up a
fiefdom where it can rule uncontested.
Many weeks ago the scouting party sent by King Uther was
captured and interrogated. Loathe to waste such biomass,
RAI has had the minds of the scouting party placed in stasis,
permitting it to draw upon their collective knowledge of
Blackmoor. From the information it has gathered, RAI fully
anticipates Uther’s next move, and has taken pains to prepare
its fastness against the PCs.
For more information on RAI and its goals see area E–14.
Area E–2: Avalanche Trap (EL 9)
Careful PCs may spot a hidden staircase here, cut into the side
of the cliff. The staircase can be noted on a DC 20 Spot or
Search check. The staircase rises 35 feet to a narrow ledge.
Stationed on the ledge is a pair of ogres. The cliffs below have
been weakened, and scree added to the slope; as the heroes
pass by underneath, the ogres trigger an avalanche. The ogres
are anxious and immediately attack once the PCs enter the
slide zone. The avalanche makes an attack on every PC in the
slide zone. PCs struck by the slide (+10 melee) take 4d6 from
the falling stone blocks and must make DC 15 Ref saves or
be swept over the edge of the ledge. Those pushed off the
ledge tumble 80 feet to the base of the scree field, taking an
additional 8d4 points of damage.
After triggering the avalanche, the ogres attack surviving PCs
with their javelins, targeting spellcasters first. Once all their
javelins are spent, the ogres descend down the ragged slope
and close for melee.
The avalanche sets off reverberations throughout the caldera,
alerting the guards stationed further up the path.
Ogres (2): CR 3; Large Giant; HD 4d8+11; hp 29; Init –1;
Spd 30 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 16 (–1 size, –1 Dex,
+5 natural, +3 hide armor), touch 8, flat-footed 16; Base Atk
+3; Grp +12; Atk Greatclub +8 melee (2d8+7) or javelin +1
ranged (1d8+5); Full Atk Greatclub +8 melee (2d8+7) or
javelin +1 ranged (1d8+5); SA —; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., low-
light vision; AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref +0, Will +1; Str 21, Dex
8, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Listen +2, Spot +2; Toughness,
Weapon Focus (greatclub).
Possessions: Greatclub, 6 javelins.
30
CITY of the GODS
Avalanche: CR 6; mechanical; location trigger; no
reset; Atk +10 melee (4d6, boulders, all targets in
target zone); Search DC 25; Disable Device DC
20.
Area E–3: Slag Pass
Read or paraphrase the following:
The path rounds a gentle corner, widening considerably. A pair of
massive stone towers block your way. Atop each towers, past the
thick battlements, you spy a pair of snarling ogres girded in bright
armor.
The cliffs fall away sharply here. Anyone carried over the edge
falls for a total of 80 feet, taking 8d6 points of falling damage,
before tumbling down a boulder field for another 130 feet,
taking another 13d4 points of damage.
For the statistics and battle tactics of the ogres, see area E–3a
below.
Area E–3a: North and South Towers (EL 7)
Read or paraphrase the following:
A pair of massive towers rise before you, dominating the pass.
Between the towers is a gatehouse defended by a massive wooden
doors, bound in iron and scarred from a hundred battles.
There are 2 ogres atop each tower. Unlike their brothers
down the trail, these monsters are trained and practiced,
and use the tools at their disposal with deadly efficiency. The
ogres are armored with chain and shield, and carry massive
recurve bows at their side. Their arrows are fletched with the
blackened pegasus feathers and tipped with wickedly serrated
blades.
Atop each tower is a ballista and a rack holding 10 ballista
bolts. If the PCs set off the avalanche in area 2, the ogres
have armed and readied the siege weapons, and fire them on
the first round of combat (Atk ballista –3 ranged, 3d8 dmg).
It takes an ogre a full-round action to reload a ballista; one
reloads, while the second fires on the PCs with its longbow.
In addition to the ballista and bolts, the top floor of each
tower contains three barrels of rainwater, and a giant-sized
sack of roasted meat: halfling, dwarf and elf mutton.
The towers are both 40 feet high, and built of rough stone
that can be climbed with little difficulty (DC 20 Climb
check). Centered beneath the towers is the gatehouse. A pair
of gates and a portcullis bar entrance to the giant’s fastness.
The enormous ironbound gates are locked with a bar from
the inside, and must be broken (DC 30 Strength) or destroyed
(thickness 12 in., hardness 5, hp 120). If the bar is drawn
back, the gates can be opened with a DC 25 Strength check
CITY of the GODS
The portcullis can be raised by releasing the counterweights
atop the southern tower, lifted with a DC 30 Strength check or
destroyed (thickness 4 in., hardness 10, hp 80, Break DC 30).
The towers are connected by a catwalk that arches over the
gatehouse. The southern tower is built directly into the side
of the caldera. The only entrance to the towers is through the
elevated tunnel in the southern tower.
Ogre Sentinels (4): CR 3; Large Giant; HD 4d8+11; hp 29;
Init –1; Spd 30 ft; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 20, touch 8,
flat-footed 20; Base Atk +3; Grp +12; Atk/Full Atk Shortspear
+7 melee (1d8+7) or longbow +2 ranged (2d6+2); SA —; SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; AL CE; SV Fort +6, Ref
+0, Will +1; Str 21, Dex 8, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +5, Listen +2, Spot +2; Toughness,
Weapon Focus (longbow).
Possessions: Chainmail armor, huge shield (large wooden),
huge shortspear, huge composite longbow (+2), quiver with
20 arrows, 1d100gp each.
Area E–4: Courtyard
Read or paraphrase the following:
The rough courtyard is paved with obsidian flagstones. Against the
side of the caldera rises an enormous great hall—crudely built but on
a giant’s scale. Behind the great hall is smaller building, that emits
smoke from its wide doorway. The courtyard ends at the cliffs’ edge,
where a narrow stone walkway crosses to the top of a narrow spire.
If the PCs failed to defeat the ogres in area E–3a silently, or
cross the courtyard openly, they are noticed by the fire giant
knight in area E–5. The knight leaps astride his mighty steed
and charges across the courtyard, hoping to run down the
puny manlings in a single fell swoop.
Area E–5: Stables (EL 12)
Read or paraphrase the following:
A roughhewn building stands here. It was built from massive beams
and to a giant’s scale, with an open doorway wide enough to admit
four warhorses side by side. Past the door you can see thick piles of
cinders interspersed with glowing embers. The smell of burning wood
hangs in the air.
These stables are home to a mighty dierophant, an enormous,
mastodon-like beast suffused with a burning heat (see
Appendix One). The fire giants have trained the dierophant
for war, outfitting it with plates of iron barding and razor
sharp tusk blades.
The dierophant is tended by its master, a fire giant knight.
If battle breaks out near the towers, the giant takes the time
to outfit the dierophant and then dons his own armor. As
the PCs enter the courtyard, the giant mounts his steed and
charges into battle.
RAI has removed Gallos’ right eye and replaced it with a
camera held in place with crude iron plating bolted directly
into Gallos’ skull. The camera feeds visual data back to RAI,
permitting the AI to observe any and all that Gallo’s does.
When the camera is activated, a bright red light burns inside
Gallos’ eye socket.
The stables are littered with burning coals—the remnants of
fires started by the dierophant—and soot covers the interior
walls and ceiling. Standing inside the stables inflicts 1d3
points of fire damage per round.
Treasure: Hanging on the walls of the stables is second suit
of iron barding, and a barrel containing 13 of the giant’s
large javelins. Forgotten beneath the barrel (DC 20 Search) is
a ring of protection +2.
Gallos is plotting an escape from the fastness, and hopes to
take the king’s daughter (and the king’s considerable horde)
with him. Gallos keeps his own personal cache hidden in the
back southwest corner of the stables. Crudely secreted beneath
a pile of coals (DC 15 Search) is a large iron coffer. The coffer
once had a lock, but heat fused the delicate lock open years
ago. Inside the coffer are a pair of thoqqua. If the coffer is
opened, the elemental snakes instantly spring to the attack.
Beneath the elementals is a trove containing 650gp, 7
bloodstones (worth 50gp each), and a luck blade (0 wishes).
Behind the coffer (Search or Spot, DC 15) two scorched
boards are laid over a hole in the wall. The tunnel leads to
area A–6, the giants’ Great Hall.
Gallos, fire giant knight: CR 10; Large Giant (Fire); HD
15d8+75; hp 142; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10
ft.; AC 25, touch 8, flat-footed 25; Base Atk +11; Grp +25;
Atk Morningstar +20 melee (2d6+10) or javelin +11 ranged
(1d8+10); Full Atk Morningstar +20/+15/+10 melee (2d6+10)
or javelin +11/+6/+1 ranged (1d8+10); SA Rock throwing; SQ
Immunity to fire, low-light vision, rock catching, vulnerable
to cold; AL LE; SV Fort +14, Ref +4, Will +9;Str 31, Dex 12,
Con 21, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Climb +9, Ride +6, Intimidate +6, Jump +9,
Spot +14; Cleave, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, Mounted
Combat, Power Attack, Trample.
Rock Throwing (Ex): Adult giants are accomplished rock
throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls when
throwing rocks.
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of Large size can catch Small,
Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of similar shape).
Once per round, a giant that would normally be hit by a rock
can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free action. The DC is
15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium one, and 25 for a Large
one. The giant must be ready for and aware of the attack in
order to make a rock catching attempt.
Possessions: Half-plate armor, large shield (large steel), large
morningstar, saddle quiver with 9 large javelins, jeweled
golden torque (worth 350gp).
31

War Dierophant: CR 10; Huge Animal (fire); HD 11d8+55;
hp 104; Init +0; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; AC 19,
touch 8, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +8; Grp +26; Atk Gore +16
melee (2d12+15); Full Atk Slam +16 melee (2d6+10) and 2
stamps +11 melee (2d6+5); or gore +16 melee (2d12+15); SA
Trample 2d8+15, Burn; SQ Low-light vision, scent, immunity
to fire, heat, vulnerability to cold; AL NE; SV Fort +12, Ref
+7, Will +6; Str 30, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Listen +12, Spot +10; Alertness, Endurance,
Iron Will, Skill Focus (Listen).
Trample (Ex): DC 25 Reflex save for half.
Burning Cloud (Su): Three times per day a dierophant can
exhale a cloud of burning, choking gases. Once a dierophant
breathes, it can’t use its breath weapon for another 1d4
rounds. The breath weapon takes the form of a cloud, 40 feet
long and wide. Victims caught in the cloud take 6d6 points
of fire damage (DC 21 Reflex save for half).
Heat (Ex): Merely touching or being touched by a dierophant
automatically deals 2d8 points of damage.
Burn (Ex): When a dierophant hits with its slam attack, the
opponent must succeed on a DC 12 Reflex save or catch fire.
The flame burns for 1d4 rounds if not extinguished sooner.
A burning creature can use a full-round action to put out the
flame.
Possessions: Iron barding, tusk blades.
Thoqqua (2): CR 2; Medium Elemental (Earth, Extraplanar,
Fire); HD 3d8+3; hp 16; Init +1; Spd 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.;
Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17; Base
Atk +2; Grp +4; Atk / Full Atk Slam +4 melee (1d6+3 plus
2d6 fire); SA Heat, burn; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., elemental
traits, immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft., vulnerability to
cold; AL N; SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +2; Str 15, Dex 13, Con
13, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +5, Move Silently +3, Survival +3;
Alertness, Track.
Heat (Ex): Merely touching or being touched by a thoqqua
automatically deals 2d6 fire damage.
Burn (Ex): When a thoqqua hits with its slam attack, the
opponent must succeed on a DC 12 Reflex save or catch fire.
The save DC is Constitution-based. The flame burns for 1d4
rounds if not extinguished sooner. A burning creature can
use a full-round action to put out the flame.
32
CITY of the GODS
Area E–6: Platform
of the Storm Gods (EL 7)
Read or paraphrase the following:
A narrow rock archway spans the gap between the cliffs and a rocky
spire, thirty feet out. Atop the spire is an octagonal platform, built of
polished white marble. Lying atop the marble is the enormous body
of a rotting giant clothed in black robes.
Before the arrival of RAI, this platform was used by the
giants’ shaman, a wicked cloud giant known as Kothia-jahai,
to commune with the elemental spirits that inhabit the Valley
of the Ancients. Kothia-jahai refused accede to RAI’s rule,
and attempted a coup against the rogue AI. The cloud giant
was defeated, and marched out to his celebrated platform
and killed as an example to the others. Kothia-jahai’s fiendish
lords were angered at the death of their servant, and raised
him as a skeleton.
Now Kothia-jahai waits—a skeleton playing “dead”—for
anyone foolish enough to approach it. Then the beast rises
up, and grapples with the nearest target. The meat of the
corpse sloughs off the body of the skeleton in wet sheaves,
despoiling all it touches. If Kothia-jahai succeeds in attaining
a grapple, it leaps off the edge of spire, plummeting to the
rocky boulder slope far below.
Anyone carried over the edge falls for a total of 110 feet,
taking 11d6 points of falling damage, before tumbling down
a boulder field for another 100 feet, taking an additional
10d4 points of damage. Note that there is an excellent chance
Kothia-jahai will survive the fall, forcing a surviving PC to
battle with cloud giant skeleton alone, while her allies watch
on from the cliff top.
PCs succeeding in getting a close look at Kothia-jahai (DC 15
Spot) observe that the giant’s rotting corpse bears a number
blackened holes. Those experienced in the study of tissue
trauma (DC 15 Heal) are able to determine that the giant
died from a ranged attack that burned multiple holes into the
giant’s flesh—RAI’s lasers, though the PCs won’t be familiar
with the technology.
Treasure: Kothia-jahai’s corpse still has the treasure that the
cloud giant carried when it died. The giant wore a heavy
leather belt pouch that contained 92 pp, 158gp, and 3 violeet
garnets worth 500gp each. The giant fought with a large +2
shortspear and kept a pearl of power (2nd level) in a special
pocket sewn into its robes. A shred of tanned sheepskin kept
tucked into the giant’s belt bears the word “tairasmaun,”
giant-tongue for “visible.” This is the command word used to
disarm the trap in area 8.
Evil or neutral casters may cast spells atop the platform at +2
to their caster level. Good-aligned casters received the same
bonus, but have a cumulative 7% chance of being struck by a
bolt of lightning for 6d6 points of damage (no save).
CITY of the GODS
Kothia-jahai, cloud giant skeleton: CR 7; Huge Undead; HD
17d12; hp 142; Init +6; Spd 50 ft.; Space/Reach 15 ft./15
ft.; AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +8; Grp +28;
Atk Claw +18 melee (1d8+12); Full Atk 2 claws +18 melee
(1d8+12); SA —; SQ DR 5/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft.,
immunity to cold, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +5, Ref +7,
Will +10; Str 35, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Improved Initiative.
Area E–7: Hall
of the Forlorn King (EL 11)
If the PCs approach the hall from the courtyard, read or
paraphrase the following:
A massive great hall is built into the side of the caldera wall. Easily
four-stories high, the hall is built of heavy, scorched timbers, and
mudded over with cooled lava. A pair of giant-sized doors guard
entrance to the hall. A pair of timbers, carved to resemble ferocious
dragons, form the arch over the doors.
The portals are not locked, but are incredibly heavy. Opening
them requires a DC 25 Strength check. Alternately, the doors
can be destroyed (thickness 12 in., hardness 5, hp 120).
Once the PCs have entered the great hall, read or paraphrase
the following:
The scent of death hangs over the great hall. The bodies of a dozen
giants are scattered about the room, slumped over in their carven
chairs, or atop the wide, roughhewn table. Sitting at the head of the
hall, atop a mighty throne, slumps another giant, larger than the rest
and girded in dark plate armor, a bloody greatsword resting in his
hands. The giant’s eyes, strange metal orbs, have been plucked from
his eye sockets and cast upon the table. Fresh blood runs down the
giant’s face and into his fiery red beard.
This is the king of the fire giants, Gunot-Vanur. When the
City of the Gods crashed, the king welcomed RAI into his
fastness, only realizing his mistake all too late. Soon he and
his entire clan had fallen to the AI’s machinations. Faced
with a life of subservience, the proud regent chose defiance
instead, slaughtering any giant that had sworn loyalty to the
alien power, and then plucking RAI’s optical cybernetics from
his own eye sockets. The only giants to escape Gunot-Vanur’s
wrath are the regent’s daughter and his chief knight.
The slaughter took place a few hours before the PCs arrived.
The fire giant king intended to hurl himself to his death, but
the PCs’ arrival offers him the chance at a more noble death.
If Gunot-Vanur hears the PCs enter the hall, he slowly
pulls himself from his throne and calls out to the heroes,
demanding to face their strongest champion. If the PCs sneak
into the great hall without alerting the giant, they hear him
mutter quietly into his beard. Those making a DC 20 Listen
check hear the giant say, “The metal thing took them all,”
and “Forgive me, Mishka,” and “Damn the sky city and all its
kith,” along with other such gibberish, ad infinitum.
Once aware of the PCs, the giant hurls himself into battle,
fighting with wild abandon, hoping only for a valiant death
at the hands of merciless foes. Gunot-Vanur has been driven
mad by its hatred for RAI and immediately assumes that the
PCs are part of the alien intelligence’s plan.
Treasure: Mounted on the walls of the great hall are trophies
collected by several generations of fire giants. Most of the
trophies are worthless or valuable only to collectors: there are
broken lances from the Knights of Ten, skulls of monstrous
beasts, battered shields from baronies throughout Blackmoor,
broken weapons of adventurers foolish enough to challenge the
fire giants, and a tapestry sewn from the flayed and stretched of
skin of Blackmoor’s most prominent races.
A careful search of the walls (DC 20 Search) turns up a pair of
+2 matched short swords; lacking guards, with handles wrapped
in the skin of a green dragon, the swords are called “Fang” and
“Claw” respectively—facts known to any PC making a DC 15
bardic knowledge check. (See Appendix Two for details on the
matched ability description.) The crown adorning the giant’s
head is the fabled crown of fire. His greatsword, an enormous
blade of blackened steel with a blood groove running down its
center, is a legendary weapon named “Fellstroke.”
Gunot-Vanur, the fire giant king, Ftr3: CR 11; Large Giant
(Fire); HD 15d8+3d10+90; hp 162; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; Space/
Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 23, touch 7, flat-footed 22; Base Atk
+14; Grp +28; Atk +1 thundering greatsword +27 melee (3d6+16)
or slam +22 melee (1d4+10) or rock +16 ranged (2d6+10 plus
2d6 fire); Full Atk +1 thundering greatsword +27/+22/+17 melee
(3d6+16) or 2 slams +25 melee (1d4+10) or rock +16 ranged
(2d6+10 plus 2d6 fire); SA Rock throwing; SQ Immunity to
fire, low-light vision, rock catching, vulnerability to cold; AL
LE; SV Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +10; Str 34, Dex 12, Con 21,
Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Climb +9, Intimidate +8, Jump +9, Listen +4,
Sense Motive +6, Spot +14; Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved
Overrun, Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes,
Power Attack, Weapon Focus (greatsword).
Rock Throwing (Ex): Adult giants are accomplished rock
throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls when
throwing rocks.
Rock Catching (Ex): A giant of Large size can catch Small,
Medium, or Large rocks (or projectiles of similar shape).
Once per round, a giant that would normally be hit by a rock
can make a Reflex save to catch it as a free action. The DC is
15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium one, and 25 for a Large
one. The giant must be ready for and aware of the attack in
order to make a rock catching attempt. (The GM should roll
as if the blind giant was attacking to determine if he’s aware
enough of an attack to receive a Reflex save.)
Blind (Ex): All of Gunot-Vanur’s attacks suffer a 50% miss
chance, due to the giant’s blindness.
Possessions: +1 half-plate armor, Fellstroke (large +1 thundering
greatsword), crown of fire (see Appendix Two).
33
 CITY of the GODS
Area E–8: Greater Invisibility Trap (3): CR 4; magic device;
location trigger (alarm, set on at the T); no reset;
Storage Room (EL 8 or 6) spell effect (greater invisiblity, 4th-level wizard);
Read or paraphrase the following: Search DC 28; Disable Device DC 28.
Rotting crates, swollen wooden barrels, rolls of cloth, and rawhide Lightning Bolt Trap: CR 6; magic device; touch
sacks line the walls of this chamber. The air is thick with heat and trigger (alarm); no reset; spell effect (lightning bolt,
the walls and floor are slick with moisture. 10th-level wizard, 10d6 electricity, DC 14 Reflex
save half damage); Search DC 28; Disable Device
A trio of trained hell hounds guard this room. Unless PCs DC 28.
say the word “tairasmaun,” (found on the sheep skin in area
E–6) as they cross the square marked T, the PCs trigger three
greater invisibility traps, that instantly render the hell hounds
invisible. The effect lasts for 8 rounds.
The hounds use their size and breath weapons to their
advantage, only closing to bite, before darting back to safety.
Unable to see one another, the hell hounds cannot judge their
strength, thusly fighting to the death.
Treasure: This chamber holds the miscellaneous goods stolen
in the lowland raids. Nearly all of the food and wine has
spoiled, with worms and mold infesting the rotten containers.
One barrel contains 12 large javelins, a rack holds 3 suits of
large half-plate armor, and a crate contains 45 large arrows.
In a rawhide sack, carefully bound with a silver-laced cord,
are a pair of clay idols carefully packed in straw. The idols
depict a giant and a dragon, both threatening some foe. If
sold in a large city, the pair can fetch up to 750gp.
There is a masterfully crafted secret door hidden in the south
wall of the chamber that can be found with a DC 27 Search Area E–9:
check. The door is not locked, but when PCs attempt to open
it, the door catches with the sound of a soft click. Unless
Hoard of the Giants (EL 13)
the door is immediately pushed through, a lightning bolt trap is Read or paraphrase the following:
triggered, striking the hero closest to the door. (If the PC push Your lights reach into the darkness to reveal a glittering horde! Piles
through heedless of the danger, the trap is not triggered.) of gold, platinum and silver coins spill towards you, interspersed with
Hell Hounds (3): Medium Outsider (Evil, Extraplanar, Fire, sparkling gems. The vault is lit by the soft glow of weapons, half
Lawful); CR 3; HD 4d8+4; hp 22; Init +5; Spd 40 ft.; AC buried in the coins.
16, touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +4; Grp +5; Atk/Full This vault contains the sum of the clan’ wealth, but the giants
Atk Bite +5 melee (1d8+1 plus 1d6 fire); SA Breath weapon, are loathe to lose their hoard, and their bitter greed ensures
fiery bite; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to fire, scent, that the vault is a nest of traps and hazards. The traps are
vulnerability to cold; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4; Str carefully timed, and operate in deadly concert.
13, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
At the very entrance of the vault is the alarm trigger for a
Skills and Feats: Hide +13, Jump +12, Listen +7, Move Silently
force cage trap. The trap is set to activate 5 rounds after a
+13, Spot +7, Survival +7*; Improved Initiative, Run, Track.
living humanoid enters the vault. The windowless force cage is
Breath Weapon (Su): 10-foot cone, once every 2d4 rounds, placed at the entrance corridor to the vault, capturing anyone
damage 2d6 fire, Reflex DC 13 half. The save DC is in the square, and blocking escape from the room.
Constitution-based.
Fiery Bite (Su): A hell hound deals an extra 1d6 points of fire The following round, the second trap is triggered, causing
damage every time it bites an opponent, as if its bite were a the ceiling to begin its descent. It takes 7 rounds to reach the
flaming weapon. floor, dealing 16d6 points of damage to large-sized creatures
Skills: Hell hounds have a +5 racial bonus on Hide and on round 5, medium-sized creatures on round 6, and small-
Move Silently checks. *They also receive a +8 racial bonus sized or small creatures on round 7.
on Survival checks when tracking by scent, due to their keen
sense of smell.

34
CITY of the GODS
There is an escape from the deathtrap that its designers failed
to anticipate. A DC 15 Search or Spot reveals that the south-
west corner of the vault is weak and ready to collapse. Ruined
Any
by the hot springs below, the floor gives way if weighted with
P C s
more than 100 lbs., plunging heroes into the waters below.
w h o
It is a 20 ft. fall to the burning lake beneath the vault (area stumble
E–11). Anyone falling through the hole takes no falling over the
damage, but suffers 1d12 points of heat damage for every edge must
round spent in the waters. Those plunging into the waters make DC
must make immediate Swim checks. 15 Reflex
saves or
If the PCs succeed in looting the vault, they find the following
tumble into
Treasure: 23,000gp in loose piles, 35,000 sp in loose piles, 35
the lake. PCs
assorted gems worth a total of 7,000gp, a suit of +1 elven chain,
falling in must
“Wyrmstrike” (a +1 mighty cleaving battleaxe), a circlet of persuasion,
make immediate
and a wand of magic missiles (CL 7th) with 14 charges.
Swim checks. At
Forcecage trap: CR 7; magic device; proximity the drop-off, the
trigger (alarm); automatic reset; effect (forcecage, lake is 25 feet deep,
13th-level wizard); Search DC 32; Disable Device and the water is hot
DC 32. to the touch. Unprotected
Crushing Room: CR 13; mechanical; timed PCs entering the water suffer
trigger; automatic reset; ceiling descends to floor 1d12 points of heat damage for
(16d6, crush); multiple targets (all targets in a every round spent in the waters.
room); never miss; onset delay (4 rounds); Search
DC 22; Disable Device DC 30. Area E–11: Lake of
Steam
Area E–10: Descent Into Flame Read or paraphrase the following:
Read or paraphrase the following:
The surface of the dark lake rolls and boils
The slick stone stairs round a corner and disappear into a pool of with heat, and moisture condenses on the
water. Steam fills the air, condensing on the walls and steps, and ceiling, forming needle-thin stalactites that
slick, green algae grows on the ceiling and walls, giving off a faint gather on the ceiling in chalky white clusters.
luminescent glow.
At its lowest point the water is 65 feet
The stairs continue into the water, descending another 4 ft. deep, and as previously noted, the water is
before leveling off at the corridor running south. The water hot to the touch. Unprotected PCs entering
is heated to the point of boiling from the geothermal heat of the water suffer 1d12 points of heat damage
the lava; unprotected heroes entering the water suffer 1d12 for every round spent in the waters.
points of heat damage for every round spent in the waters.
There was once a dungeon built over the lake,
The algae is not dangerous, but the faint light reflects off but heat and water ate away at the supporting
the rolling surface of the water, obscuring the floor of the rock, causing the corridors and rooms to fall
corridor. All sight-reliant Search and Spot checks suffer a –4 away into the water. Some of the original dungeon
penalty in this area. dressings still remain, buried in the rubble at the
base of the lake.
Area E–10a: Drop-off
A DC 30 Search of the underwater rubble (or three
Read or paraphrase the following:
successive DC 20 Search checks) uncovers a large
The water-filled corridor widens into a vast underground cavern. silver coffer. The coffer has a cunning lock (DC 30,
Boiling water covers the floor of the cavern, and thick clouds of Open Lock) and is trapped with a fireball trap. Four
steam obscure the far walls. pearls adorn the coffer;
The floor of the corridor drops off here, though PCs failing
DC 20 Spot checks, not prodding the water before them may
not notice until it is too late.

35

Inside the coffer, wrapped in the cloak made of shimmering
red dragon scales, is the bright blade of a giant-sized (Huge)
battle-axe. The cloak is a cloak of heat resistance 10; the axe
blade, if hung on a handle by a master craftsman, becomes
Arbîr, the legendary giant-sized +2 throwing battle axe. Medium
creatures can use the weapon as a greataxe.
Coffer: Hardness 10; Hp 10; Open Lock DC 30;
Break DC 20.
Fireball Trap: CR 5; magic device; touch trigger; no
reset; spell effect (fireball, 8th-level wizard, 8d6 fire,
DC 14 Reflex save half damage); Search DC 28;
Disable Device DC 28
Area E–12: Junk Room
Read or paraphrase the following:
Suspended above the lake of boiling water, the hexagonal room before
you harkens back to mysteries of another age. The chamber is filled
with strange rubble—rusting gears, broken levers and the like—all
discarded into a chaotic pile of junk.
The chamber is home to clockwork parts discarded by RAI.
When the gearworks in area E–13 are worn out, they are
tossed here. There appears to be nothing of worth in the pile,
though 3 of the discarded gears are actually adamantine. There
36
CITY of the GODS
is 8,000gp worth of the precious metal in the pile, enough for
a smith to forge a suit of light armor and a weapon.
Hidden in the ceiling of chamber is a secret trapdoor (DC 25
Search). The trapdoor is neither locked nor trapped, and it
opens upward.
Area E–12a: Steamworks
Read or paraphrase the following:
The walls, floor and ceiling of this chamber are covered in plates of
hammered iron, slick with rust and red algae. A constant rumble,
like the sound of the dwarven mine, continually fills the chamber,
causing puddles of water on the floor to tremble and vibrate. The
walls, ceiling and floor are almost entirely whirling gears, levers and
pistons set at crazed angles, as if by a mad clockmaker. Weighted
pendulums swing back and forth across the room, steam vents shriek
at irregular intervals and whirling, toothed gears spin, in the hot,
stinking air, at a mind-confounding speed.
The gearworks is a complex steam-powered generator created
by RAI to provide itself with a constant and reliable energy
source. Water is fed into lava tubes beneath the floor of
the room, creating the superheat which drives the turbines
hidden in walls. Even if discovered, all of this technology is
alien to that practiced in Blackmoor, confounding even the
wisest mind.
CITY of the GODS
Crossing the chamber on foot proves to be a challenge, as the Swinging pendulums make +15 melee attacks causing
gears, pendulums and steam vents make for deadly hazards. 1d12+8 points of bludgeoning damage. Additionally, PCs hit
GMs running the encounter need to closely track movement by swinging pendulums must succeed on DC 25 Reflex saves
and time in the room. The individual components are so or be knocked into the gears below.
large as to be immune to nearly all attempts to tamper with
PCs in the line of fire of a blasting steam vents take 3d4+3
the mechanism. A successful disintegrate spell, or massive
points of fire damage (DC 13 Reflex save for half damage).
damage (200 hp, hardness 15) can destroy a single component,
PCs damaged by steam vents, must succeed on DC 20 Fort
but traditional attempts to jam or disable the gearworks are
saves or stumble backwards while shielding themselves from
ineffectual, as equipment used to jam the works is violently
the superheated steam, and fall into the gears below.
ground into bits, and heroes attempting disable device checks
are immediately sucked into the chain of gears. In any instance, a PC tumbling into the gearworks is must
make a DC 25 Reflex save each round or be caught up in the
There is no space to step on the floor where a toothed gear
gear chain, taking 2d20 points of crushing damage. PCs take
will not snag on a PC. Those attempting to cross the room
the crushing damage every round they are caught in the gear
on foot, must leap from the top of one spinning gear to the
chain. Once caught, PCs can attempt to wrench their bodies
next. Each leap is a move action, requiring a DC 15 Jump
free of the gears (or be pulled free by their companions) by
check and a DC 20 Balance check. A PC failing either
succeeding on a DC 25 Strength check.
check stumbles down amid the threshing gears (see below
for associated damages). Contrary to the jump DCs listed in Flying PCs can escape nearly all of the challenges of the
the PHB, these jumps assume the PCs are making standing room, but the GM should still check for swinging pendulums
jumps, not leaps with a running start. Since there isn’t room or blasting steam vents as the PCs cross the room. While
for a 20 feet running start, all Jump DCs and distances are airborne PCs won’t stumble down into the floor, they must
for standing jumps. still make the same saves (Reflex or Fortitude) respectively, or
be knocked into the gear chains along the walls, taking the
The swinging pendulums and steam vents present additional
damage each round as outlined above.
hazards that are far more difficult for PCs to predict. PCs
succeeding on a DC 15 Spot check and a DC 20 Int check On the north side of the room, placed within a recess, is a
can accurately predict the hazards on the following 3 rounds. single iron lever. If pulled, the lever causes all of the steam
PCs can use the Aid rules to assist one another on the Spot vents to discharge for 5 rounds, after which the gear works
check, but a PC must succeed unaided on the Int check. shuts down for 5 rounds, restarting on the eleventh round.
This alerts RAI in area E–14, and causes the steam lift (area
When a PCs advances into the gearworks, roll 1d10 to
E–13) to be inoperable until the gearworks restart.
determine the starting time for the room. For each following
round, advance 1 entry, returning back to the top of the list Weighted Pendulum: CR 3; mechanical; timed
at the end of the cycle. If at any point the PCs spend an trigger (see table); automatic reset; Atk +15 melee
extended amount of time outside the gearworks (i.e., making (1d12+3).
plans outside of the room), stop the progression and re-roll Steam Vent: CR 3;mechanical; timed trigger (see
when the PCs renter the room. table); automatic reset; area effect (3d4+3 fire, DC
Roll/Time Effect 13 Reflex save half damage).
1 Pendulums 1, 3 and 7 swing. Gear Chain: CR 4; mechanical; constant; automatic
2 Pendulum 2 swings across the room, steam vents reset; area effect (2d20 crushing, no save); DC 25
1 and 5 blast Strength check to pull free.
3 Every steam vent blasts
4 Pendulums 2, 5, and 6 swing
5 Pendulums 1 and 3 swing,
steam vent 1 and 4 blast
6 Pendulum 2 swings, steam vent 2 blasts
7 No effect
8 Every pendulum swings
9 No effect.
10 Every steam vent blasts
Both the pendulums and steam vents make attacks across the
room from east to west. If a PC is in their line of attack when a
pendulum or steam vent is indicated by the Gearworks attack
table, the PC is treated as a target of the appropriate attack.

37
 CITY of the GODS
Area E–13: Steam Lift source. RAI derives power from the steam turbine running
Read or paraphrase the following: off from the caldera’s heat, biding its time as it researches the
curious environs of Blackmoor and the land’s inhabitants.
The corridor terminates in a small cage lift. A cable runs from the RAI is slowly developing a plan of conquest, beginning with
top of the lift up into darkness. A pair of levers are set in the floor the fire giants and the sandfolk.
outside of the lift.
Toward this end, RAI is constantly in search of more accurate
The lift cage rises 100 feet to area E–14, where an identical knowledge regarding Blackmoor and its denizens. Its primary
pair of lever stand outside the lift shaft. Operation of the lift “interviewing” technique is to remove a creature’s head and
is simple to discover: pulling on the left lever causes the lift to interrogate it at its leisure. RAI captured the initial group of
ascend; pulling on the right causes the lift to descend. Pulling explorers sent by King Uther; these are the heads adorning the
on both causes the lift cable to disengage from the brake and pedestals. The heads are all still “alive,” though they die within
fall, crashing to the floor. Any PC in the lift cage when it 1d6 rounds of being removed from the suspension gel.
falls takes falling damage appropriate to their height at the
time the brake was disengaged. Otherwise, the lift rises and Tactics: As the first PCs enter the chamber, RAI cuts power
descends at a rate of 5 feet per round. to the lights, plunging the room into darkness. At the same
time, 8 serpentine metal tentacles topped by powerful
The challenge of this area lies in the fact that the lift can only pinchers descend from the ceiling. All of the tentacles can
be operated if one of the party remains behind to operate attack anywhere in the chamber, and focus on as many or as
the lever. The lever can be jammed in place with a DC 15 few opponents as RAI chooses.
Disable Device check, but any PC successfully
jamming the lift must then succeed on a DC
15 Jump check to leap aboard the lift before
it rises out of reach.
The lift shaft can be climbed with a DC 20
Climb check. PCs reaching the top of the
shaft after the lift has already ascended (or
attempting to enter the shaft while the lift is
still at the base) must succeed on DC 20 Escape
Artist checks to squeeze between the iron lift
cage and the lift of the shaft. Alternately, the
PCs can hammer their way through the floor/
ceiling of the lift by succeeding on DC 25
Strength checks, or by inflicting 30 points of
damage (hardness 5).

Area E–14: RAI

Read or paraphrase the following:
The hall opens into a circular chamber, roughly
30 feet across and made entirely of iron. The floor
glistens with condensation and a thin film of green
algae. Hanging from the center of the ceiling is a
sort of metallic pyramid, festooned with glowing
gems. Stationed about the room at regular intervals
are short, metallic pedestals. Atop each pedestal is
a glass containing a humanoid head suspended in
glowing green gel. The heads—human, elf, dwarf
and halfling—look to you in wide-eyed terror,
mouthing silent screams.
This chamber is lit by a dim light that pulses
in time with the sound of groaning turbines.
The rogue artificial intelligence that rules the
fire giants (known simply as RAI) built the
chambers as a protective housing and power

38
CITY of the GODS
PCs succeeding on a DC 20 Spot check notice the lip of
a heavy metal plate drawn into the ceiling. The round
following the PCs’ entrance into the chamber, RAI drops an
iron blast door, attempting to trap half the party inside the
room, isolating them from their companions. RAI’s tentacles
attack those inside the room viciously. Additionally, once
every 5 rounds, RAI can electrify the floor, ceiling and walls
of the chamber, inflicting 4d4 points of electricity damage to
anyone touching one of the room’s surfaces (DC 15 Fort save
for half damage).
Attacking in return is a challenge. The PCs can either attack
the tentacles or the pyramid hanging from the center of the
chamber, but if at any point in the battle a PC is reduced
to unconsciousness, a single tentacle immediately devotes
itself exclusively to the PC’s care. The tentacle injects a
powerful anesthetic into the PC (DC 23 Fort save, initial
unconsciousness, secondary unconsciousness for 2d4 hours)
that also heals 2d12 points of damage. Over the next four
rounds, the tentacle uses a microsaw to remove the PC’s head
from its still-living body. On the fifth round, the tentacle
takes the severed head and places it within one of the empty
canisters containing life support gel, to be interrogated once
all the PCs have either been killed or placed in suspension.
If the PCs emerge victorious over the crazed entity, they must
address the severed heads. PCs skilled in reading lips, or with
the ability to communicate telepathically, can interview the
heads, learning that they all were part of the first exploration
group, and that they were captured during a raid on the fire
giants’ citadel. The heads believe that the citadel guards the
pass to the narrow valley leading to the City of the Gods.
RAI is at war with Saint Stephen and his army of raiders—on
RAI’s orders, the heads relate, the fire giants have collapsed
the mountain above the pass, sealing off any means of
passage. Only one other way remains, the heads tell: a secret
door from this very chamber. The door leads to a passage that
winds its way up through empty volcano tubes, up to the base
of the caldera. From there, the heads believe, it should be
easy work to find the City of the Gods. The severed heads ask
to be destroyed before they leave, ending the misery of their
imprisonment. This can be done as easily as breaking open
the glass canisters. The heads silently mouth desperate, futile
gasps before slowly expiring.
The PCs find the small, 2’ by 2’ door hidden behind a sliding
service panel on the north side of the chamber.
Iron Door: Hardness 10; 120 hp; Break DC 32.
RAI, unique robot: CR 8; Huge construct; HD 8d10+40;
hp 84; Init –2; Spd —; AC 12, touch 1, flat-footed 12; Base
Atk +6; Grp +24; Atk 8 claws +14 melee (1d8+10); Reach 20
ft.; SQ Construct traits, DR 5/adamantine, darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 30, Dex —,
Con —, Int 23, Wis —, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Knowledge (local) +5, Knowledge (arcana)
+10, Spellcraft +10, Knowledge (religion) +5; Multiattack.
Area E–15: Lava Tubes
The hidden door in area E–15 leads to a narrow service
corridor between the RAI’s chamber and the natural lava tubes
lining the caldera lip. Only 3 feet high, the corridor contains
a series of large, flexible black tubes (nanite constructed steel
weave encased in thermal rubber) running along the floor.
The tubes radiate heat, raising the temperature of the corridor
and forcing those inside to make DC 15 Fort saves every three
rounds spent in the service corridor, or suffer 1d4 points
of heat damage. After 150 feet the corridor gives way to the
natural lava tubes that riddle the interior of the volcano.
PCs can follow the thermal tubes to the caldera, but those
exploring the tubes have an excellent chance of getting lost in
the maze of tunnels. Every 15 rounds spent in the lava tubes,
roll 1d8. On a 1 or 8, the PCs encounter 1d4 magma mephits.
The mephits perceive the PCs as intruders and respond with
violence, heedless to the risk of their own lives.
Magma Mephit: CR 3; Small Outsider (Fire, Extraplanar);
HD 3d8; hp 13; Init +5; Spd 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (average); AC
16, touch 12, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +3; Grp –1; Atk Claw
+4 melee (1d3 plus 1d4 fire); Full Atk 2 claws +4 melee (1d3
plus 1d4 fire); SA Breath weapon, spell-like abilities, summon
mephit; SQ DR 5/magic, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 2,
immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold; AL N; SV Fort +3, Ref
+4, Will +3; Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Escape Artist +7, Hide +11, Listen +6,
Diplomacy +4, Disguise +2 (+4 acting), Move Silently +7, Spot
+6, Use Rope +1 (+3 bindings); Dodge, Improved Initiative.
Breath Weapon (Su): 10-foot cone of magma, damage 1d4
fire, Reflex DC 12 half. Living creatures that fail their saves
are tormented by burned skin and seared eyes unless they
have immunity to fire or are otherwise protected. This effect
imposes a –4 penalty to AC and a –2 penalty on attack rolls
for 3 rounds.
Fast Healing (Ex): A magma mephit heals only if it is touching
magma, lava, or a flame at least as large as a torch.
Summon Mephit (Sp): Once per day, a mephit can attempt to
summon another mephit of the same variety, much as though
casting a summon monster spell, but with only a 25% chance
of success. Roll d%: On a failure, no creature answers the
summons that day. A mephit that has just been summoned
cannot use its own summon ability for 1 hour. This ability is
the equivalent of a 2nd-level spell.
Spell-Like Abilities: Once per hour, a magma mephit can use
shapechange to take the form of a pool of lava 3 feet in diameter
and 6 inches deep. The mephit’s DR improves to 20/magic
when in this form. The mephit can’t attack while in lava form
but can use other spell-like abilities. It moves at a speed of 10
feet, but can’t run. In this form the mephit can pass through
small holes or narrow openings, even mere cracks. The pool’s
touch ignites flammable materials such as paper, straw, or dry
wood. Once per day a magma mephit can use pyrotechnics (DC
14). It can use itself as the fire source without harm. Caster
level 6th.
39
 CITY of the GODS
Area E–15a: Crystal Cache Area E–16: The Caldera
Although the mephits have little in the way of true treasure, Read or paraphrase the following:
they have made a practice of cultivating the growth of delicate
crystalline structures that are hidden in narrow clefts in the After what seems like days of exploring the endless, meandering
walls and ceiling of the volcano tubes. volcano tubes, you finally see a hint of natural light. Following the
curving tunnel, you climb out into glorious sunlight and fresh air!
PCs passing by notice a hidden crystal cache on a DC 20 Spot You are standing on the lip of an enormous caldera. Below, you
check. Each cache is a spiraling growth of delicate crystals, can see the bright, bubbling light cast off by pools of molten rock.
roughly the size of a large fighting dagger, though some are up Down the blackened slope, the caldera gives way to a narrow valley
to 2 ft. in length. Each is worth between 6,000gp and 10,000gp surrounded by steep cliffs. You can see what looks to be a small fort
if sold intact to a gem dealer, but the crystals are extremely built into the side of a cliff and protected by an enormous overhang.
delicate. Removing a crystal without ruining it requires a DC Further down the valley, atop a sheer cliff, you see the blinding
25 Disable Device or Dexterity check. Crystals fail any saving gleam of metal….
throw, have a hardness of 1, and are crushed into worthless bits
if they sustain more than 3 points of damage. After a journey fraught with peril the PCs have at last reached
the Lost Rift, resting place of the fallen City of the Gods!
A huge earth elemental has taken to secretly watching over
the work of the mephits, and guarding the crystals while the
mephits are away. There is a cumulative 13% chance that for
every cache the PCs discover, the elemental is watching from
inside the walls of the volcano tubes. If the elemental catches
the PCs destroying a crystal formation, it launches into a
furious attack, unleashing its awesome wrath upon those
who would destroy its charges.
Earth Elemental, Huge: CR 7; Huge Elemental (Earth,
Extraplanar); HD 16d8+80; hp 152; Init –1; Spd 30 ft.;
Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; AC 18, touch 7, flat-footed 18;
Base Atk +12; Grp +29; Atk Slam +19 melee (2d10+9); Full
Atk 2 slams +19 melee (2d10+9); SA Earth mastery, push; SQ
DR 5/—, earth glide, darkvision 60 ft., elemental traits; AL
N; SV Fort +15, Ref +4, Will +7; Str 29, Dex 8, Con 21, Int
6, Wis 11, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Listen +10, Spot +9; Awesome Blow, Cleave,
Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack.
Earth Mastery (Ex): An earth elemental gains a +1 bonus on
attack and damage rolls if both it and its foe are touching
the ground. If an opponent is airborne or waterborne, the
elemental takes a –4 penalty on attack and damage rolls.
(These modifiers are not included in the statistics block.)
Push (Ex): An earth elemental can start a bull rush maneuver
without provoking an attack of opportunity. The combat
modifiers given in Earth Mastery, above, also apply to the
elemental’s opposed Strength checks.
Earth Glide (Ex): An earth elemental can glide through stone,
dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily
as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no
tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of
its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area containing a
burrowing earth elemental flings the elemental back 30 feet,
stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a DC
15 Fort save.

40
CITY of the GODS

41

Chapter Three:
The Lost Rift
The Lost Rift is home to both the City of the Gods and
to Saint Stephen and his raiders. Stephen’s raiders are
desperate, vicious foes, fully aware of the punishment that
awaits mutineers if they are captured. Although their loyalty
to Saint Stephen might come into question, they fight to the
death with the bitterness known only to wanted men.
The PCs must defeat the raiders (be it by stealth, deception
or brute strength) and find their way to the City of the Gods.
But even the surface of the city holds deadly challenges to
the PCs, as they scour in search of an entrance. Once the
entrance is found, the PCs can finally square off with the
notorious Saint Stephen of the Rock, only to discover too
late that they have been drawn into a deadly trap!
Frequently Appearing Monsters
The presence of the Saint’s raiders has had an enormous
impact of the rift’s ecosystem, wiping out nearly all of the
native fauna, a fact which is readily apparent to druids, rangers,
or heroes with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (nature).
Equipped with deadly weapons, the raiders’ depredations
have affected nearly every creature in the rift; the sole
survivors are the predators that stand atop the food chain.
Deprived of their regular prey, these predators in turn have
become unusually aggressive, attacking at all hours of the day
and with no regard for their own safety. Druids and rangers
will notice that the animals encountered are gaunt, displaying
signs of malnutrition and species infighting—evidence of a
shortage of prey.
While the PCs are exploring the rift, the GM should check
for wandering monsters every hour. On a 1d6, a result of 1 or
2 indicates an encounter, with the table below determining
the nature of the encounter. Note that even driven on by
starvation, the rift’s monsters are loath to approach the
raiders’ outpost or the City of the Gods. Driven mad with
hunger, the monsters encountered receive a +2 bonus to
resisting charm effects, though attempts to distract the beasts
with food will nearly always be successful. (Certain beasts,
though, always disdain “carrion” in favor of living prey.)
GMs and alert PCs should note that these violent encounters
offer little in the way of reward to PCs, and can quickly drain
precious resources. Cunning PCs will find ways to avoid such
encounters, saving their strength for truer enemies. At the
GM’s discretion, PCs displaying wisdom should be awarded
partial to full experience for such encounters.
42
CITY of the GODS
1d10 Encounter
1 Fire giant
2 Ogre mage
3 Four Griffons
4 Dire boar
5–7 Raiding party
8–9 Three Wyverns
10 C-Bot
Fire Giant: CR 10; Large Giant (Fire); HD 15d8+75; hp
142; Init –1; Spd 30 ft. in half-plate armor; base speed 40
ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 23, touch 8, flat-footed 23;
Base Atk +11; Grp +25; Atk Greatsword +20 melee (3d6+15)
or slam +20 melee (1d4+10) or rock +10 ranged (2d6+10 plus
2d6 fire); Full Atk greatsword +20/+15/+10 melee (3d6+15)
or 2 slams +20 melee (1d4+10) or rock +10 ranged (2d6+10
plus 2d6 fire); SA Rock throwing; SQ Immunity to fire, low-
light vision, rock catching, vulnerability to cold; AL LE; SV
Fort +14, Ref +4, Will +9; Str 31, Dex 9, Con 21, Int 10, Wis
14, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Climb +9, Craft (any one) +6, Intimidate +6,
Jump +9, Spot +14; Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun,
Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Power Attack.
Rock Throwing (Ex): Adult giants are accomplished rock
throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls when
throwing rocks. A fire giant can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50
pounds each (Small objects) up to five range increments. 120
ft range increment. A Huge giant can hurl rocks of 60 to 80
pounds (Medium objects).
Rock Catching (Ex): A fire giant can catch Small, Medium, or
Large rocks (or projectiles of similar shape). Once per round,
a giant that would normally be hit by a rock can make a
Reflex save to catch it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a
Small rock, 20 for a Medium one, and 25 for a Large one.
(If the projectile provides a magical bonus on attack rolls,
the DC increases by that amount.) The giant must be ready
for and aware of the attack in order to make a rock catching
attempt.
Ogre Mage: CR 8; Large Giant; HD 5d8+15; hp 43; Init +4;
Spd 40 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 18,
touch 9, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +3; Grp +12; Atk Greatsword
+7 melee (3d6+7/19–20) or longbow +2 ranged (2d6/✕3);
Full Atk Greatsword +7 melee (3d6+7/19–20) or longbow
+2 ranged (2d6/✕3); SA Spell-like abilities; SQ Darkvision
90 ft., low-light vision, regeneration 5, spell resistance 19; AL
LE; SV Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +3; Str 21, Dex 10, Con 17, Int
14, Wis 14, Cha 17.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Listen +10, Spellcraft
+10, Spot +10; Combat Expertise, Improved Initiative.
CITY of the GODS
Spell-Like Abilities: At will—darkness, invisibility; 1/day—charm
person (DC 14), cone of cold (DC 18), gaseous form, polymorph,
sleep (DC 14). Caster level 9th.
Flight (Su): An ogre mage can cease or resume flight as a free
action. While using gaseous form it can fly at its normal
speed and has perfect maneuverability.
Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage to an
ogre mage. An ogre mage that loses a limb or body part can
reattach it by holding the severed member to the stump.
Reattachment takes 1 minute. If the head or some other vital
organ is severed, it must be reattached within 10 minutes
or the creature dies. An ogre mage cannot regrow lost body
parts.
Griffon (4): CR 4; Large Magical Beast; HD 7d10+21; hp 59;
Init +2; Spd 30 ft., fly 80 ft. (average); Space/Reach 10 ft./5
ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +7; Grp +15;
Atk Bite +11 melee (2d6+4); Full Atk Bite +11 melee (2d6+4)
and 2 claws +8 melee (1d4+2); SA Pounce, rake 1d6+2; SQ
Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +8,
Ref +7, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 13, Cha
8.
Skills and Feats: Jump +8, Listen +6, Spot +10; Iron Will,
Multiattack, Weapon Focus (bite).
Pounce (Ex): If a griffon dives upon or charges a foe, it can
make a full attack, including two rake attacks.
Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +8 melee, damage 1d6+2.
Dire Boar: CR 4; Large Animal; HD 7d8+21; hp 52; Init
+0; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC 15, touch 9,
flat-footed 15; Base Atk +5; Grp +17; Atk gore +12 melee
(1d8+12); Full Atk gore +12 melee (1d8+12); SA Ferocity; SQ
Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +8;
Str 27, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Listen +8, Spot +8; Alertness, Endurance,
Iron Will.
Ferocity (Ex): A dire boar is such a tenacious combatant that
it continues to fight without penalty even while disabled or
dying.
Raiding Party, War3 (8): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or laser pistol +4 ranged (2d8) or light crossbow +4 ranged
(1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13,
Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (laser pistol), Weapon
Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, laser pistol (4 charges),
horn, belt pouch with 1d20 sp and 1d12gp, steppe pony.
The raiders will be astride hardy steppe ponies (treat as riding
horses). The raiders send one of their riders back to alert the
outpost, while the remainder investigates the PCs. The raiders
call for the PCs the surrender, but brook no argument. If the
PCs dissemble or attempt to stall, the raiders respond with
overwhelming violence, erring on the side of caution.
If the PCs are captured (or allow themselves to be captured)
the raiders cut a thumb off each PC before escorting them all
back to the outpost (area A) to be interrogated.
Wyvern (3): CR 6; Large Dragon; HD 7d12+14; hp 59; Init
+1; Spd 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor); Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC
18, touch 10, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +7; Grp +15; Atk Sting
+10 melee (1d6+4 plus poison) or talon +10 melee (2d6+4)
or bite +10 melee (2d8+4); Full Atk Sting +10 melee (1d6+4
plus poison) and bite +8 melee (2d8+4) and 2 wings +8 melee
(1d8+2) and 2 talons +8 melee (2d6+4); SA Poison, improved
grab; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to sleep and paralysis,
low-light vision, scent; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6;
Str 19, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Hide +7, Listen +13, Move Silently +11, Spot
+16. Feats: Ability Focus (poison), Alertness, Flyby Attack,
Multiattack.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a wyvern must hit
with its talons. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
the grapple check, it establishes a hold and stings.
Poison (Ex): Injury, DC 17 Fortitude, initial and secondary
damage 2d6 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.
C-Bot: CR 6; Huge Construct; HD 8d10+40; hp 84; Init –2;
Spd 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor); AC 12, touch 6, flat-footed 6;
Base Atk +6; Grp +24; Atk 4 claws +14 melee (1d8+10) or
2 laser rifles +2 ranged (3d8); Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA
Autofire; SQ Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., DR 5/—,
low-light vision; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +2; Str 30, Dex 6,
Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Listen +15, Search +20, Spot +15.
Autofire (Ex): A centurion robot may saturate an area with
automatic fire from its laser rifle. The c-bot targets a 10-foot
by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC 10. If
the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area
must make a DC 15 Reflex save or take 1d8 points of laser
damage.
43

Area F: Raider Outpost
Read or paraphrase the following:
Ahead looms an enormous rock overhang. Carved into the rift wall
by wind and time, the overhang is sheltered from the weather and
foes on the wing by a thick arch of dark, volcanic rock. A tiered
stockade has been built beneath the rock ceiling. You can see a spindly
watchtower, a wooden donjon, and in the very back of the overhang,
a series of switchbacks climbing into shadows. Smoke hangs over the
stockade, and you catch glimpses of rough-looking brigands at work
behind the crude wooden walls.
This permanent camp is the center of operations for Stephen
Rocklin and his band of marauding raiders. Unlike the
froglins (see Temple of the Frog) the raiders are far too cynical
to be taken in by Rocklin’s claims to divinity. At the same
time, all have witnessed the Rock unleash devastating powers
that dwarf those of all but the most powerful spellcasters.
The reigning theory among the raiders is that the Rock is
some sort of rogue mage on the run from the Wizards’ Cabal,
a rumor that the Rock has done nothing to discourage.
Since his crushing defeat at the Temple of the Frog, the Rock
has focused his attentions on rebuilding his army. He has
hand-picked loyal rogues, and is now training them in the use
of weapons stolen from the wreckage of the city.
44
CITY of the GODS
Area F–1: Palisade Wall and Gate
Read or paraphrase the following:
A low mound of packed earth and stone rises to a palisade built of
tree trunks. The base of the trunks are buried in the rampart and
sharpened to a point. The trunks are laced with spools of glittering
metal strands.
The palisade wall is crudely built of massive tree trunks and is
a mere 25 feet high. The wall can be easily climbed with a DC
15 Climb check. The “glittering metal strands” pose more of
a challenge. Electrified razor wire, the strands are coated in an
insulating jelly that prevents the wire from simply grounding
itself against the wooden palisade.
Anyone climbing around the razor wire must succeed on a
DC 20 Climb check and DC 20 Escape Artist check. Failing
either causes the PC to come in contact with the wire, taking
1d4 points of slashing and 3d6 points of electric damage.
Discharging the wall triggers a siren at the head of the camp
(area A–7), putting all the raiders on high alert. For 8 hours
following the alarm, all of the raiders will be fully armed and
manning the various stations throughout the camp.
The palisade gate is kept closed, but unbarred at all times.
Palisade Gate: 1 foot thick; hardness 5; hp 120
per 5 feet; Break DC 30; Climb DC 20.
Palisade Wall: 3 feet thick; hardness 8; hp 300
per 5 feet; Break DC 40; Climb DC 15.
CITY of the GODS
Area F–1a: Sentry’s Walk
A narrow wooden catwalk runs the length of the palisade. A
pair of sentries patrols both halves of the catwalk, keeping a
sharp watch for monsters or sandfolk raiders. If they catch
sight of the PCs, one of the sentries blows his war horn,
alerting the rest of the camp. After dark, torches are lit every
10 paces.
Sentry, Thonian War3 (4): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or light crossbow +4 ranged (1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort
+5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11,
Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, horn, belt pouch with
1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
Area F–2: Watchtower
Read or paraphrase the following:
The spindly watchtower rises above the palisade, no more than a
platform supported by three tall timbers.
The tower is 40 ft. tall, and occupied by a pair of sentries.
The sentries keep a watch over the valley floor, anticipating
an attack from the sandfolk.
A railgun with an infrared scope is fitted to a wooden
tripod atop the platform. The railgun fires heavy rounds at
supersonic speeds, throwing up plumes of soil and shattered
stone when the rounds miss, and tearing massive holes
through flesh when it hits.
The infrared scope grants the shooters darkvision, 200 ft.
The rail gun has a range increment of 100 feet.
The railgun is fed by a partially depleted power cell and has 13
shots remaining. The railgun weighs 50 lbs and is seven feet
in length, making the weapon difficult to transport except on
pack animals or in a wagon.
Sentry, Thonian War3 (2): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or railgun +4 ranged (4d12); AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will
+1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (rail
weapons).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, shield (heavy wooden), belt
pouch with 1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
Area F–3: Mud Yard
Read or paraphrase the following:
The yard is covered in mud and puddles. The mud clings, rising to the
knee, sucking at boots and shoes. On the far side of the yard is stocky
stone edifice. To the right is short wooden palisade surrounding a
deep pit; to the left is a corral with a score of muddy horses.
Movement across the yard is slow and tedious. Movement
rates are reduced by 15 feet per round, turning the yard into
an effective killing field. Anyone knocked prone into the
mud must make a DC 13 Strength check in order to stand.
Area F–3a: Slave Pits
Read or paraphrase the following:
A pair of fearsome ogres stand before a muddy wall built of sharpened
stumps. Behind the wall are a pair of dark holes that stink of flesh
rot and feces. Broken cries and feeble moans sound from the depths,
weeping for mercy.
The paired ogres are twins, raised by the raiders from mere
ogrelings. The beasts have learned their lessons well, taking
the worst of humanity’s vices and combining with an ogre’s
animalistic desires. Wicked beyond redemption, cruel beyond
description, and fearless in battle, the pit masters have never
fought a foe they couldn’t beat.
The ogres charge eagerly into battle, hurling foul insults and
fully expecting the PCs to give way before them like a hundred
opponents before. If the PCs manage to hold their ground,
it leaves the ogres dumbfounded by the possibility that
someone might be more powerful than themselves. Unable
to coordinate their attacks, the stupefied ogres fight to the
death simply because they can’t think of anything else.
The pit is 18 feet deep. At the bottom of the pit is 3d12+7
slaves of various races, standing in 2 feet of filthy muck.
Weakened by disease, starvation and the constant torment
rained down by the ogres, the slaves are all near the point of
death. A narrow staircase descends into the pit, but most of
the slave are so weak that they need to be carried out of the
pits to safety.
Upon closer inspection, the slave master’s true depravity
becomes apparent. Warriors thumbs’ are cut off and suspected
spellcasters have had their tongues gouged out. While one of
every three slaves has 1d3 levels in adept, aristocrat or warrior,
they can offer little or no real aid to the PCs.
Notable Slaves: At the GM’s discretion, some of the slaves
may be exceptional, with information of value to the party,
or worthy of reward if returned to civilized Blackmoor.
Returning rescued slaves to their homelands can be a time
consuming process and could easily derail an adventure,
but if the GM is willing to entertain the idea of a side quest
or two, roll 2d6 and consult the following table to generate
exceptional NPCs:
45

2d6 Result
2 Lady Briarever. Late of Maus, this once
exceedingly lovely High Thonian maiden was captured while
on a diplomatic mission to Ten. If the Lady is delivered safely
to Maus, her father will award the rescuers 10,000gp and
their pick of any of his daughter’s seven lovely ladies-in-
waiting. Nobles who turn down the offer of gold (all of it!)
rightfully earn themselves +2 Nobility points.
3 Berlo Snomar. A lecherous dwarf hailing from
the Mines of the Regent, Berlo’s keen mind has learned the
secret of Traveler laser weapons. Berlo can teach a PC how
to use Traveler weapons, forgoing the dangers that come
with experimentation.
4–5 Korus Kolnae. Korus is an agent of the Wizards’
Cabal sent to infiltrate St. Stephen’s army. A 4th-level cleric
of Tsartha, Korus will do his best to aid the PCs, providing
healing and the blessing of his god, only to betray them to
the Cabal at the first opportunity.
6–7 Coethur Pteo, is an burly halfling decorated
with tattoos and strange bone piercings that hint at his
travel to foreign lands. A rogue and warrior, the halfling is
actually one of the raiders placed in the pit as punishment
for attacking a fellow raider. Koethur will pretend to be an
adventuring rogue, and offer to lend the PCs his aid. He will
aid the party until they are engaged in combat with raiders,
at which point the halfling betrays the PCs, attempting to
kill or disable crucial spellcasters.
8–9 Martic the Black, a half-orc rogue infamous
across the span of Blackmoor, Martic is more than willing to
join forces with the PCs against the raiders.A black-hearted
villain, Martic betrays the party at his first convenience,
making off with as much treasure as possible.
10 Tau No’rrog, a Peshwah noble cast out from his
homeland for the sin of falling in love with a Cumasti elf,
Tau was captured by the raiders a week ago while fleeing
across the Valley of the Ancients. His new bride is hiding in
a cave in the northern rim of Valley. If the PCs rescue Tau
and return him to his wife, the elven princess awards the
group with her dowry: a suit of +1 elfin chain, a +2 elven
longblade of speed, a wand of elemental ball (23 charges) and
a finely wrought silver necklace set with three small rubies.
Astute PCs succeeding on a DC 20 Sense Motive check
realize these items are all that the pair have, and that without
them, the couple is likely to perish while crossing the Valley
of the Ancients. If the PCs refuse the couple’s wealth, the
goddess Phellia herself bears witnesses to their selflessness,
and grants a special blessing to the PCs—the next time
a party member dies, the PC is instantly returned to life
with full hit points, with a mysterious mark resembling a
red spider on his or her forehead, marking the PC a one
blessed by the Spider Goddess. This miraculous blessing
takes place only once.
46
CITY of the GODS
11 Iserna, the Witch of the Peaks. This spiteful,
foul crone was captured in a moment of weakness, and has
been bound, gagged with an iron mask and left to starve.
Born of a demon and a sorceress, Iserna embodies all the
worst vices of her kind. If the witch is set free from her
manacles and mask, she surveys the group of PCs, choosing
just one to serve as her love and consort. From this PC, and
this PC only, she begs a kiss; if the PC acquiesces, the wicked
crone takes a liking to the PC; the witch takes an active
roll in the remainder of the adventurer’s career, dropping
morsels of wisdom when needed, directing the PC to ever
greater challenges and treasures, and otherwise serving as
a mentor.
I f the PC should be so foolish as to spurn the old crone’s
advances, she bestows a curse before vanishing in a flight
of crows. For the remainder of the PCs’ life, he is dogged
by silent ravens that keep a close watch on the one that
spurned their mistress.
` 12 Roll Twice, ignoring any duplicates or 12s.
GM’s Note: If a PC has died in the course of the adventure,
the slave pits are an excellent opportunity to introduce a
replacement character. Through cunning deception, the new
PC has managed to avoid the worst of the ogres’ sadism (i.e.,
the PCs has all his fingers, toes and organs). With food, clean
water and a few days of rest, or, alternately, a cure serious wounds
spell or its equivalent, the PC returns to full strength. Note
that the slaves have only loincloths. Any PC joining the party
will need to be outfitted with weapons from the party’s cache,
or with weapons, armor and gear taken off of the raiders.
Pit masters, ogre Ftr2 (2): CR 5; Large Giant; HD
4d8+2d10+15; hp 42; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 21, touch 10,
flat-footed 20; Base Atk +5; Grp +10; Atk Large flail +11
melee (2d6+6) or large longspear +5 ranged (2d6+6/✕3); AL
CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +2, Will +3; Str 23, Dex 12, Con 15, Int
7, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Intimidate +0, Listen +2, Spot +2; Improved
Overrun, Iron Will, Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon
Focus (flail).
Possessions: Large longspear, large flail, scale mail, shield
(heavy wooden).
Area F–3b: Corral
Read or paraphrase the following:
A short fence surrounds a muddy corral. Scenting you, a herd of
spottled horses snort and rear, tossing their heads about in anger.
They buck and prance with nervous energy, their neighs sounding off
the rocky cliff walls.
The horses are difficult to ride. An individual horse can be
tamed with a DC 15 Handle Animal check, but if anyone
is caught in among the herd, he is attacked and trampled.
There are 42 horses in all.
CITY of the GODS
Horse, light (42): CR 1; Large Animal; HD 3d8+6; hp 19; The raiders fight a holding action, attempting to stall the
Init +1; Spd 60 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC 13, touch party until their companions can ready a counter attack. They
10, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +2; Grp +8; Atk Hoof –2 melee fight until one of their number falls, then make a fighting
(1d4+1); Full Atk 2 hooves –2 melee (1d4+1);SA —; SQ Low- withdrawal from the room.
light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2;Str 14,
A simple wooden table sits in a corner of the room, scarred
Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6.
with knife cuts and stained with spilled wine. A ceramic jug,
Skills and Feats: Listen +4, Spot +4; Endurance, Run. half-filled with wine, and a pair of bone dice sit atop the table.
The dice are loaded, and roll double sixes 50% of the time.
Area F–4: Donjon
Read or paraphrase the following:
A sturdy guardhouse built of fitted stone stands
against the back wall of the muddy courtyard.
Squat, iron-bound doors deny entrance to the
guardhouse, and siege weapons sit behind
crenellations atop the roof.
Behind the building, the ground rises to a
sharp abutment. The only way to proceed
is to climb the rocky slope or through the
guardhouse.
Several guardsman are stationed atop the
dunjon, and if an alarm has been raised,
they are at their stations, ready to turn the
considerable might of their siege weapons
against their enemies. For statistics on the
rooftop defenders and the weapons, see
entry A–4e below.
The slope is 30 feet high, and though easy
to climb (DC 15), is loose and crumbling.
PCs attempting to ascend the crumbling
slope must succeed on three separate
DC 17 Reflex saves (one check for every
10 feet climbed) or fall from the slope,
tumbling back to the ground.
If the PCs are spotted climbing the slope,
the guards in areas 1a, 4-g and 5 all turn
their attacks toward the climbers.

Area F–4a: Guard Room

The southern entrance to this chamber is
a pair of stout wooden doors, reinforced
with iron, and barred with a heavy oaken
beam. When barred, the door cannot be
picked and must be broken in or beaten
down. The double doors have a hardness
of 7, 45 hp, and a break DC of 25.
Once the doors are bypassed, read or
paraphrase the following:
The doors break in with a shower of splinters
and wooden shards. Just inside, you see a trio
of raiders, axes at the ready. As one, they give
a war cry and charge!

47
 CITY of the GODS
Guards, Thonian War3 (3): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD 4 Wool blanket, short sword with a masterwork
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed set of thieves tools hidden the pommel, a pouch
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +5 melee (1d8+1/✕3); containing 10sp.
AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, 5 A pair of boots (high, hard); hidden in the floor
Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9. of the coffer (DC 20 Search check) is a sliding
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump wooden panel concealing four small emeralds
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2; worth 75gp each.
Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon focus (battleaxe).
6 A roll of cotton bandages, 5 slabs of smoked
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, shield (heavy wooden), belt venison, and a belt pouch containing 1d20pp.
pouch with 1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
Guards, Thonian War3 (4): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
Area F–4b: Bunk Room 3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
Read or paraphrase the following: 16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +5 melee (1d8+1/✕3);
AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14,
A set of bunk beds fill this chamber, six in all. The plastered walls Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.
are decorated with trophies: shattered shields, broken swords, dented Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
helms, and torn banners. Shards of ceramic jugs lie on the floor, +3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
amid dried bones, stripped of meat. Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon focus (battleaxe).
The bunk room is home to the rotating units of guards that Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, shield (heavy wooden), belt
serve on the wall and donjon. If the PCs reach the bunk room pouch with 1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
without alerting the donjon, the guards are found
resting their bunks, with the following unarmored
statistics: AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 11.
If alerted by battle in area 4a, the guards have
donned their armor and are prepared to do
battle. The guards attempt to fight past the PCs,
to the Captain’s Quarters (area 4d), where they
make their stand.
Treasure: One of the guards carries an iron
double key hidden in his boot (DC 15 Search
check). One head of the key is cast in the shape
of a dragon, the other is shaped like a frog. The
key is used to open the lock to the armory and
to disarm the traps within. See area 4c for more
information on the armory and its defenses.
A pair of coffers rest beneath each bunk. There
are six in all; each is unlocked with a DC 20 Open
Locks check. None are trapped.
Coffer Contents
1 Change of dirty clothes, a half-empty
bottle of wine, and a bandolier of three
silvered daggers.
2 Winter cloak trimmed with dire-tiger
fur worth 25gp. Hidden in the seam of
the cloak (DC 15 Search check) are
four darts coated with drow poison.
3 Loaf of hard bread, an empty ceramic
jar and a small wheel of cheese. Pressed
into the cheese (DC 15 Search check)
is a ring of protection +1.

48
CITY of the GODS
Area F–4c: Armory
The door to the armory is locked. Bound and reinforced with
iron, the doors have a hardness of 7, 45 hp, and a break DC of
25. Just inside the door is an elaborate pit trap (see below).
The key to the armory’s lock (found on the guard man in area
A–4b) has 2 heads, one shaped like a dragon, the other like
a frog. If used properly, the key both unlocks the door and
disarms the trap.
First, the dragon key is inserted and turned clockwise. PCs
hear click as the door is unlocked. Then the key must be
removed, the frog head inserted, and the lock turned counter
clockwise, disarming the trap.
The door can be unlocked with a DC 25 Open Locks check,
but this leaves the pit trap activated. If a rogue succeeds on a
DC 20 Search check after the door is unlocked, she discovers
the extra set of tumblers, but otherwise the party has no
cause to suspect that anything is amiss. Searching for traps
before the door is unlocked reveals nothing. For statistics on
the trap, see below.
Whether or not he PCs succeed in disarming the trap, read
or paraphrase the following once they open the door:
Dozens of racks, laden with weapons and armor, stand inside the
darkened chamber. Spears, unstrung crossbows, and axes hang from
the racks, while shields hang along the walls. In the back of the
chamber is a single, long crate resembling nothing so much as a
coffin. The air is thick with the smell of weapon oil.
Just inside the door is a well camouflaged pit trap. The pit
opens up when weighted with more than 50 lbs. dumping
targets in each of two adjacent 5-feet squares down a 20 feet
pit. The walls of the pit are nearly sheer; those falling into
the pit will needs to make a DC 25 Climb check, or aid from
above to escape the death trap.
The base of the pit is a thicket of poisoned blades driven by
gears and clockworks. The instant a target strikes the base of
the pit, the blades activate, hacking and slashing any target
in the pit. The trap is automatically reset by clockworks each
round, and continually attacks PCs until they succeed in
escaping the pit, or are diced to bits and fall through the
grate beneath the clockworks.
The ranks, shelves, and barrels in the armory contain the
raider’s surplus weapons. There are 23 battleaxes in the
armory, 17 spears, 10 heavy crossbows, 24 replacement
crossbow-strings, 120 bolts, 15 chainshirts, and 22 shields
(heavy, wooden).
The coffin-shaped crate is made of the rough wooden plants
that bear peculiar dark stains. A DC 10 Heal check determines
that these stains are not blood, but some sort of oil. The top
of the crate is held down with wooden pegs, and can be pried
off with a DC 20 Strength check.
If the PCs open the crate, read or paraphrase the following:
Inside the crate is the torso and head of a Thonian male cradled in
a bed of straw. The body was once a handsome young man, with a
dignified, trimmed beard, and a well-muscled physique. The torso
is severed at the waist, and where there should be a spilled mass of
intestines and organs, is only a strange collection of corded black
tubes, slowly leaking glistening black ichor.
The “corpse” in the crate is actually the partial frame of an
android sent from the City of the Gods to infiltrate the army
of the Saint. The raiders discovered the spy in their midst,
but were only able to capture it at a great loss of life. The
deactivated android is being kept here until the Rock can
return from his expedition to the city.
Hidden in the straw beneath the android is a battered laser
rifle, covered in mud and hydraulic fluids. The weapon has
6 charges remaining.
Camouflaged Pit Trap: CR 4; mechanical;
location trigger; manual reset; DC 25 Reflex save
avoids; 20 feet deep (2d6, fall); multiple targets
(first target in each of two adjacent 5-ft. squares);
Search DC 29; Disable Device DC 19.
Whirling Poison Blades: CR 5; mechanical;
touch trigger; automatic reset; Atk +10 melee
(1d4+4/19–20 plus poison, dagger); poison (purple
worm poison, DC 24 Fort save resists, 1d6 Str/2d6
Str); multiple targets (any target in pit); Search see
above; Disable Device see above.
Area F–4d: Captain’s Quarters
If the half-orc captain has been warned of the impending
attack—either by the warhorns of his men, or the sounds of
battle—he takes the opportunity to pre-cast a number of his
spells, including a glyph of warding (blast) on the entrance to his
chamber (see page 50 for more).
Once PCs gain the chamber, read or paraphrase the
following:
This chamber is surprisingly well furnished with a writing desk,
small table, and bed, complete with quilted covers. A half-eaten meal
of mutton and hard tack sits atop the table, and a single candle is
burning atop the writing desk, before an open tome. The straw bed
still has a depression in it, as if someone were sleeping upon the bed
not moments before you entered.
If Stornhan has had the chance to quaff his potion of invisibility
and pre-cast his spells (see page 50), he is lurking in the corner
of the room, prepared to unleash a devastating rain of melee
and spell attacks upon the PCs.
If the PCs have succeeded in penetrating the guardhouse
without engaging in combat or otherwise creating a
disturbance, the half-orc is visible and standing in the center
of the room, having just finished donning his armor ahead of
a regular inspection of the troops.
49

Tactics: If the captain has had the opportunity to pre-
cast spells before entering combat, his statistics reflect the
following changes:
AC 22, touch 11, flat-footed 21; Grpl +12; Atk
+14/+9 +1 longsword melee (1d8+7/19–20); 20%
miss chance to ranged attacks.
In addition, he will also have quaffed his potion of invisibility
and cast the following spells with specific, conditional
effects:
Guidance: +1 to hit on a single attack.
Bane: Enemies take –1 penalty to attack rolls and
saving throws against fear-related spell effects.
Glyph of warding: Cast on the door to the chamber;
2d8 points of fire damage to anyone within 5 feet of
the door when it is opened.
Magic circle against good: +2 to AC and saves against
attacks and spells made by good creatures.
Stornhan is a fearless opponent and cagey, and fights to the
best of his ability, hammering foes with his magic blade. The
half-orc fights until reduced to 20 or fewer hit points, then
sues for peace, offering his blade and spells against Stephen
the Rock. The half-orc claims that the Saint has forced the
raiders to serve as his muscle, and that if the PCs make a
stand against the Rock, the raiders will rise to support them.
This is a bald faced lie, but Stornhan does his best to convince
the PCs that he can be an aid to them, then betrays the PCs
to his best advantage.
Given the opportunity—either during combat or afterwards—
Stornhan attempts to flee to area 5a, where he retrieves his
hidden chest and makes his escape from the compound.
Summary of Stornhan’s
Pre-Cast Spells and Durations
Given the chance to prepare for battle, Stornhan
will quaff his potion of invisibility and pre-cast the
following spells (with the duration for each provided
in parentheses):
Guidance (1 minute or until discharged)
Bane (5 minutes)
Divine favor (5 minutes)
Entropic shield (5 minutes)
Bull’s strength (5 minutes)
Magical vestment (5 hours)
Magic circle against good (50 minutes)
50
CITY of the GODS
Treasure: Resting atop a shelf on the north wall is a sculpture
depicting a crumbling tower above a skull. The sculpture is
cast in blackened (scorched) gold and is worth 200gp by
weight, or 350gp to a priest or priestess of Hella. (Of course,
any devotee of the goddess would much rather slay and rob
the PC than pay for the idol, and any good-aligned merchant
will almost certainly refuse to purchase the idol.)
Two incense burners, a curved sacrificial dagger, and a trio of
red candles also sit atop the shelf. All are ceremonial, and are
worth a total of 100gp to traffickers in unholy artifacts.
A close search of the bed reveals a simple key hidden in the
straw. This key opens the secret door to the south (area 4d).
The hidden door stands on the south wall (DC 20 Search).
The secret door has a false keyhole in its face; if any key is
used in this fake keyhole it triggers a burning hands trap.
The true keyhole to open the door is on the western wall.
Masterfully hidden, the door’s keyhole can be found with a
DC 25 Search check. If turned clockwise, the key triggers a
latch, opening the secret door. If turned counter clockwise,
the key fires a poisoned dart.
PCs unable to find the hidden latch can batter down the
door. The secret door has a hardness of 4, 15 hp, and a break
DC of 15.
Beneath the bed is a coil of thin rope, with a two-pronged
grappling hook tied to one end. The rope is oiled, and if
inspected it is readily apparent that the rope is wet, and the
grappling hook is slightly rusted. Stornhan uses this rope and
hook to retrieve the chest hidden at the bottom of the well
in area 5a.
Stornhan, half-orc Ftr4/Clr5: CR 9; Medium Humanoid;
HD 4d10+5d8+18; hp 71; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch
11, flat-footed 20; Base Atk +7; Grpl +10; Atk +12/+7 +1
longsword melee (1d8+5/19–20); SQ turn and rebuke undead;
AL LE; SV Fort +10, Ref +3, Will +8; Str 17, Dex 12, Con 15,
Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +7, Concentration +6, Intimidate +9,
Listen +6, Spot +6; Cleave, Combat Casting, Great Cleave,
Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (longsword),
Weapon Specialization (long sword).
Cleric Spells Prepared (5/4+1/3+1/2+1; DC 13 + spell level):
0—Guidance (✕3), light, read magic; 1st—Bane, cause fear, divine
favor, entropic shield, magic weapon*; 2nd—Bull’s strength, cure
moderate wounds, hold person, spiritual weapon*; 3rd—glyph
of warding (blast), magic circle against good, magic vestment*;
*Domain spells.
Possessions: Longsword +1, scale mail +2, shield (heavy wooden)
+1, potion of invisibility, necklace with a holy symbol of Hella
(worth 25gp), belt pouch with 20 pp.
CITY of the GODS
Burning Hands Trap: CR 3; magic device; proximity
trigger (alarm); automatic reset; spell effect
(burning hands, 5th-level wizard, 5d4 fire, DC 11
Reflex save half damage); Search DC 26; Disable
Device DC 26.
Poison Needle Trap: CR 2; mechanical; touch
trigger; repair reset; lock bypass (Open Lock DC
30); Atk +17 melee (1 plus poison, needle); poison
(blue whinnis, DC 14 Fort save resists (poison
only), 1 Con/unconsciousness); Search DC 22;
Disable Device DC 17.
Area F–4e:Treasure Hold
Read or paraphrase the following:
The hidden door slides away to reveal a narrow chamber containing
a single large chest. Bound in iron and decorated with bolts cast in
the likeness of snarling dragons, the chest bears four keyholes—one on
each facing of the lid.
The chest contains a small portion of the raiders’ treasure, loot
used to curry the favor of new recruits. Each of the identical
locks is challenging in its own right (DC 25 Open Lock), but
in order to lift the lid, opening the chest, all four locks must
be picked at the same instant—a physical impossibility for a
single rogue. A pair of thieves might succeed on picking two
locks at the same time by succeeding on two DC 30 Open
Lock checks in a single round, or a talented rogue might work
in conjunction with several spellcasters, but regardless of the
means used, all four locks must be tripped at the same time.
If a single lock fails to trip, the lid remains secure.
The treasure chest can also be broken open, either with a DC
25 Strength check, or after taking 30 hp (hardness 7). Breaking
open the chest shatters a glass vial strapped to the lid. The vial
contains a solution that reacts with the air, turning into poison
gas that targets all living creatures within 15 feet; those failing
DC 18 Fort saves suffer 1 Con drain primary damage and 3d6
Con secondary damage 2 rounds later. The vial is impossible to
detect from the outside of the chest.
Inside the chest are 10 leather sacks, each containing 250gp
each; a fur-trimmed cloak of resistance +2; a necklace of fireballs
(type III); and a wand of summon monster II with 7 charges
remaining.
Area F–4f: Stairway
At first glance there is nothing unusual about this stairway,
save that it is unusually steep. However, in conjunction with
the defenders in area 4g, the stairway has the potential to
become a deathtrap.
On a DC 10 Search or a DC 15 Spot check, PCs entering
the base of the stairway notice the slot concealing a raised
portcullis. PCs succeeding on a DC 10 Disable Device check
(or simply hammering a spike over the slot) effectively prevent
the portcullis from dropping.
The trapdoor at the top of the stairway is bound in iron and
difficult to destroy (hardness 7, 45 hp, Break DC 25).
The sentries in area 4g attack anyone coming up through the
trapdoor until the “all clear” signal is given by the captain.
For the sentries’ tactics, see below.
Area F–4g: Rooftop Defense
Read or paraphrase the following:
The roof of the guardhouse is protected by high stone battlements.
Hastily built, with crude edges, the fortifications nevertheless
provided an adequate defense to the paired ballista, cauldron and
crossbowmen that stand atop the guardhouse.
Four sentries stand watch from behind the battlements, their
crossbows and ballista at the ready. The sentries benefit from
hard cover (+4 AC, +2 to Reflex saves against attacks that
originate or burst out from a point on the other side of the
battlement), and attack any intruder crossing area 3 below,
first with ballista shots, and then with crossbows as the PCs
close. It takes a sentry two full-round actions to reload the
ballista after firing. If the PCs persist in trying to kill the
sentries from below, the guardsmen call for their allies,
rousing the raiders in area 5.
If the PCs attempt to batter down the doors to area 4a, the
sentries dump the cauldron of flaming down upon them,
inflicting 3d8 points of fire damage to anyone within 10
feet failing a DC 15 Reflex save. Those succeeding on the
save take only half damage. On the round following a direct
hit, the target takes an additional 1d6 points of damage. If
desired, the target can use a full-round action to attempt to
extinguish the flames before taking this additional damage.
Extinguishing the flames requires a DC 15 Reflex save.
Rolling on the ground provides the target a +2 bonus on
the save. Magically extinguishing the flames automatically
smothers the fire.
The sentries also serve to guard the trapdoor rising from
area 4f; the guards know that if the PCs succeed in fighting
their way past the defenders and the captain below, then
they must do everything in their power to stop the attackers.
The sentries drag the cauldron of oil over to the trapdoor,
emptying the cauldron into the stairway (area 4f) when the
PCs attempt to force their way past the trapdoor. At the same
instant, one of the guardsmen drops the portcullis at the base
of the stairway, potentially sealing the PCs’ fiery fate.
Those caught within the stairway are faced with an
exceptionally deadly challenge: PCs must succeed on a DC 25
Reflex save or take 3d8 points of damage. Those succeeding
manage to avoid taking damage altogether. PCs catching fire
take an additional 1d6 points of fire damage per round until
extinguished.
Note that for PCs caught within in the stairway, there is no
quick escape for extinguishing the flames. Either the PCs
must ascend the stairs through the fire, or find a way through
51

the portcullis. The portcullis can be lifted with a DC 30
Strength check, broken through with a DC 25 Break check,
or battered down (hardness 10, hp 40).
The instant the oil is rained down upon the PCs, the stairway
catches fire, further complicating matters. Smoke obscures
all sight beyond 5 feet, and those standing amid the flames
take an additional 1d6 points per round (stacking with the
damage for being on fire, for a total of 2d6 points of fire
damage per round).
After 2d6+4 rounds, the stairway collapses, causing 1d6
points of damage to anyone in the stairway, and trapping
anyone that fails a DC 20 Reflex save. The sentries abandon
their post, dragging away the ballistas if they are not engaged
in combat. The rooftop of the donjon collapses after another
2d6+15 rounds, inflicting 3d6 points of flame damage to
anyone inside the structure, and trapping anyone failing a
DC 25 Reflex save.
If left to burn unchecked, the flames gut the interior of the
donjon, but leave the exterior stone walls largely undamaged.
It takes the raiders two weeks of constant work to rebuild the
donjon.
Treasure: There is little in the way of treasure to reward the
PCs for a hard-won fight. The barrels in the north-west corner
of the roof hold a total of 18 ballista bolts. Hidden in the base
of one barrel (DC 20 Search) is one sentry’s secret Treasure: a
silver necklace bedecked with emeralds (worth 350gp).
CITY of the GODS
Sentry, Thonian War3 (4): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or light crossbow +4 ranged (1d8/19–20) or ballista –1
ranged (3d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str
13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, horn, belt pouch with
1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
Area F–5: Tent Tier
Read or paraphrase the following:
The rocky tier is home to 5 simple rawhide tents. Before each tent is
a fire ring, with a simple iron stand and small cooking cauldron.
Two raiders are resting in each tent, a total of ten in all. The
raiders are quickly roused, ready to join battle 2 minutes after
they are alerted.
If the raiders are caught unawares and don’t have the time to
don their armor before battle, their armor class drops to the
following: AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 11. Terrified of Saint
Stephen, the raiders will fight to the death.

52
CITY of the GODS
Each tent contains a pair of cots, a weapons rack, an armor
stand, and two coffers. The coffers contain tools for repairing
armor, whetstones, spare blankets and a change of clothes.
There is a 10% chance that a coffer might also have a minor
treasure. If a treasure is indicated, roll 1d12 and consult the
following table. Each item, or collection of items, can only
be found once.
1d12 Treasure
1 A tome detailing the hunting habits of blue
dragons (worth 150gp). At the GM’s discretion, a
folded sheet of parchment is hidden in the spine of
the book (Search, DC 20), detailing a wyvern lair
hidden in eastern Blackmoor.
2 A quiver containing 1d6 arrows +2.
3–4 A pouch containing 2d20gp, and a small ruby
(worth 100gp).
5–6 A boiled leather wand case, embroidered with
golden thread (worth 30gp). Stornhan’s Flight: If Stornhan succeeds in fleeing to the well,
7–8 1d12 small gold nuggets (worth 10gp each)
9–10 A silvered +1 short sword with a handle wrapped in
platinum wire (worth 50gp). Maus, where he disappears into the criminal underground.
11 The portrait of an elfin queen; painted in runes on
her robe (DC 18 Search; DC 21 Decipher Script)
is the key to an ancient tomb.
12 Roll twice, ignoring duplicates.
Guards, Thonian War3 (10): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or light crossbow +4 ranged (1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort
+5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11,
Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, horn, belt pouch with
1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
Area F–5a: Well
Read or paraphrase the following:
A crude stairway descends its way into the cave, ending at the
entrance to a small chamber. A simple hole is dug in the center of
the chamber. Beside the well is a rope and large wooden bucket.
A DC 20 Search of the top of the stairs reveals a narrow niche
dug into the stone wall. Hidden in the niche are a pair of
wet leather gloves, with the palms and fingertips discolored.
Stornhan, the captain of the guard, uses these gloves to
avoid the contact poison coating the chest and oil skin (see
below).
The well is 50 feet deep, and supplements the raiders’ supply
of rainwater during the dry months. The bottom 15 feet of
the well is covered in water.
Hidden at the base of the well is a small silver chest wrapped
in an oil skin. The chest belongs to the captain of the guard,
Stornhan. The chest is locked (DC 25 Open Lock) and the
oil skin is smeared with nitharit contact poison.
Inside the chest is Stornhan’s secret cache, a safeguard for
the day when Uther’s armies come hammering down on the
Saint’s army. When that day comes, Stornhan intends to have
long since fled. Hidden inside the chest are 5 small rubies
(worth 100gp each), a pouch containing 75gp, 2 potions of
cure serious wounds contained in a single large ceramic jug, 3
spore shuriken, and a golden ring of teleportation (see Appendix
Two for details on both of these items). The ring’s command
word, Drahav, is inscribed in dwarven inside the ring. The
ring has 3 charges remaining.
it takes him 5 rounds to fish the chest out from the base of the
well, and then open the chest. If pressed, Stornhan hurls the
poison oilskin at his pursuers, then teleports to the City of
Oil Skin Smeared with Contact Poison: CR 5; mechanical;
touch trigger (attached); manual reset; poison (nitharit, DC
13 Fort save resists, 0/3d6 Con); Search DC 25; Disable
Device DC 19.
Area F–6: Shooter’s Climb
Read or paraphrase the following:
A packed, earthen ramp winds up the next tier. Above, high atop
steep slopes, you can see a sheer wall built of sharpened logs. Arrows
slits are cut into the wall, providing cover for guards above.
PCs can avoid taking the ramp by climbing the steep slope
leading directly to the wall. Climbing the crumbling slope
requires a DC 20 Climb check, and ascending the wall, a
second DC 15 Climb check. The top of the wall is lined with
sharpened stones and ceramic shards; climbers can avoid the
shards by taking an extra round to carefully pick their way
over the wall, or by succeeding on a third and final Climb
check (DC 25).
A total of 4 shooters watch from behind the wall, marked by
A. Regardless if the whether the PCs advance up the ramp,
or attempt to scale the walls, they are assailed by shooters
crouched behind the wall. While firing through the arrow
slits, the shooters enjoy hard cover (+8 AC, +4 to Reflex saves
against attacks that originate or burst out from a point on
the other side of the battlement). The raiders attack first with
their laser pistols, and then—once the pistols’ power supplies
are exhausted—with their light crossbows. Note that if the
PCs engage the shooters in melee combat, the defenders have
a +1 bonus to their attack rolls for higher ground.
53

If the PCs succeed in taking the tier, the surviving shooters
withdraw to the back of the overhang, hammering on the
doors to area 7, begging to be let in. To the defenders despair,
the doors are not opened; instead, those inside area 7 use the
time to prepare for the final stand of the Saint’s raiders.
Shooters, Thonian War3 (4): CR 2; Medium Humanoid;
HD 3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-
footed 16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee
(1d8+1/✕3) or laser pistol +4 ranged (2d8) or light crossbow
+4 ranged (1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1;
Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (laser pistol), Weapon
Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, laser pistol (8 charges),
horn, belt pouch with 1d20 sp and 1d12gp
Upper Gate: 1 foot thick; hardness 5; hp 120 per
5 ft.; Break DC 30; Climb DC 20.
Area F–7: Stephen’s Hold
The paired doors to area 7 are barred closed and must be
broken through (Break, DC 30) or destroyed (hardness 5, hp
100 per 5 feet) before the PCs can pass. PCs succeeding on
DC 15 Listen check hear a low, pulsing hum that causes the
very doors to vibrate.
Once the PCs succeed in bypassing the doors, read or
paraphrase the following:
Inside the walled-off overhang, the air is warm and crackles with
energy. Pulsing white orbs hang from the rocky ceiling, providing
dim light. An enormous silver egg occupies the bulk of the cave,
with bundles of thick black cords running from its polished, reflective
surface. Standing before the egg is an enormous humanoid shape,
girded in armor and decorated with dozens of small, glowing crystals.
At a glance it can be seen that the armor was at one time as bright as
the egg, but now is scratched, scorched and dented. A deep, rumbling
hum emanates from the man-thing.
The “golem-like” creature is an alpha battlesuit, a suit of
powered armor used by the Saint on his expeditions to the
City of the Gods. The “silver egg” is the escape pod used by
the Saint to escape the Beagle when it came crashing down to
Blackmoor. With a small, internal fusion drive, the escape
pod provides power to the compound’s electrified fence,
lighting to the cave, and is currently charging the battlesuit’s
internal power pack.
Hidden in the back of the cave is an robotic replicant of Saint
Stephen. The android is visually indistinguishable from the
actual Saint; PCs succeeding on a DC 20 Sense Motive check
or Spot check will sense that there is something “wrong”
about the android, but without a working knowledge of
54
CITY of the GODS
robotics will be unable to place what “wrong” is. The truth of
the replicant’s nature becomes immediately apparent when
the robot takes damage from piercing and slashing weapons.
Instead of bleeding, the wounds reveal wires, braided metal,
and hydraulic fluids.
Knowing that it has little chance of defeating the PCs, the
android has set the battlesuit’s power cell to overload and
hidden itself behind a pile of containers in the rear of the
cave. The humming increases in volume over 5 rounds,
causing the cavern’s ceiling, walls and floor to tremble with
the vibrations. On the sixth round the battlesuit’s power cells
explode, showering the chamber with acid. Anyone in the
room not hidden behind complete cover takes 2d12 points of
acid damage; unless neutralized, the acid continues to burn
for 4 rounds, doing 1d12 points of damage the second round,
1d6 points the third round, and 1d4 on the fourth round.
Disconnecting the cables from the back of the battlesuit
prevents the power cell from overloading. The cables can be
disconnected by PCs succeeding on a DC 25 Disable Device
check, or by doing 30 points of slashing damage to the cables
(0 hardness).
The Saint android waits for the power cell to explode, then
sprints past the PCs, fighting its way to freedom.
Saint Stephen Bioreplica: CR 5; Medium Robot; HD
7d10+10; hp 71; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 12, flat-
footed 18; Base Atk +5; Grpl +9; Atk Slam +9 melee (1d6+4)
or laser pistol +7 ranged (2d8); SQ Construct traits, DR 5/
adamantine, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; AL N; SV
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 15, Wis
10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Disguise +5, Hide +4, Jump +6, Listen +4,
Move Silently +6, Spot +4.
Possessions: Integrated battle armor, laser pistol (7 charges).
Area F–7a:The Silver Egg
Read or paraphrase the following:
The enormous egg has no apparent seams, doors or panels. It glimmers
in the dim light like quicksilver. The skin of the egg trembles and emits
a soft hum. The sole exception is a purple handprint emblazoned on
the egg’s underbelly, beside a short series of runes that pulse with a
dim light. The air around the egg tastes of copper, and a trio of thick,
ropey cables protrude from the egg’s underside.
The silver egg has a single entrance, a narrow 3 ft. square
hatch on the egg’s reflective underbelly. The hatch has a
print reader and is programmed to open only to the Saint’s
right hand. Even the android can’t open the pod (which is
why the robot was forced to hide in the cave). If any creature
other than the Saint presses a hand to the print activate the
egg’s defenses: an electrical charge shoots across the surface
of the egg, shocking anyone touching the egg for 5d6 points
of damage (DC 14 Reflex save for half).
CITY of the GODS
The glowing runes beside the print reader are the pod’s serial
number. A DC 20 Decipher Script check reveals that the
runes translate roughly to “Beagle 31-A.”
The hatch has a hardness of 25, can sustain 200 hp of
damage, and is immune to all spells of 6th level or lower, so
there is little that the PCs can do to harm it. If the heroes do
somehow find their way inside, they discover that the inside
of the pod is nearly filled with life support systems. A single,
claustrophobic, gel-lined crash glove designed to accept a
medium-sized humanoid is the only accessible space. The
interior of the glove is fitted with oxygen, water and feeding
tubes, as well as waste tubes.
At the foot of the glove, where it meets the hatch, is an
unopened locker containing survival gear. Inside the locker
is the following: one reflective tarp that doubles as a sleeping
bag; one laser pistol (ranged, 2d8) with 25 charges; one
survival knife (treat as a dagger); ten one-gallon containers
of water; one flare pistol (ranged, 1d4+fire) with ten flares
of varying colors; one nanite water filter; the equivalent of
ten weeks worth of rations, in ten concentrate tubes; one
headlamp; and a hand-held plasma fire starter.
The escape pod itself is designed to serve as shelter, providing
warmth and safety indefinitely, while synthesizing water from
the air. The pod’s homing transmitter is designed to broadcast
distress calls, but the Saint disabled the transmitter and used
slaves to move the egg beneath the rock overhang, making it
difficult to detect the escape pod with base scans. (The crew
of the Beagle has been unable to accomplish even this much,
but the Rock refuses to take chances.)
Electrified Skin Trap: CR 6; magic device; touch
trigger; automatic reset (3 rounds); 5d6 electricity,
DC 14 Reflex save half damage; Search DC 35;
Disable Device DC 35.

The Alpha Battlesuit

Essentially a large suit of armor, the alpha battlesuit excels in close combat and starship boarding actions. An alpha suit
is the easiest of the powered battlesuits to operate, however it doesn’t carry the array of weapons that a larger battlesuit
can, nor is it as strong or durable.
Combat Statistics: An alpha battlesuit adds a +8 equipment bonus to a character’s Strength score. It imposes a –1 size
penalty on attack rolls and a +7 armor bonus to AC (already modified for size). An alpha battlesuit has 50 hit points,
which are added to the character’s total and subtracted first when the character takes damage. It confers a –6 penalty
on Hide checks upon its wearer.
An alpha battlesuit has a single slam attack that deals 1d8 points of damage (plus the character’s increased Strength
modifier). Its reach is 10 feet, and its base speed is 30 feet.
An alpha battlesuit comes outfitted with the following equipment. All of the gear is connected to the suit by power
cables and has a range of motion of three feet. If disconnected from the suit, the gear ceases to function.
Helmet: The battlesuit’s helmet automatically scans the surrounding topography and highlights living targets, granting
darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision. The sensor array grants a +3 equipment bonus on the operator’s Listen and Spot
checks. Auto dampeners grant a +3 equipment bonus to saves against sonic and visual attacks.
Right Arm: Built in plasma blade (plasma blade +0 melee 3d6/✕3).
Left Arm: Built-in laser rifle (laser rifle +0 ranged 3d8, 100 ft.).
Activation: With the exception of its weapons, all of a battlesuit’s powers activate automatically when the suit is donned.
In order to activate a weapon, a character must succeed on a DC 21 Intelligence check. If the wearer fails the check by
10 or fewer, the weapon does not activate. If the wearer fails the check by 11 or more, the weapon activates but strikes at
a random target within the weapon’s range. If the check succeeds, the weapon works as intended.
A character may make an Intelligence check once per round as a standard action. Once a character has succeeded on an
Intelligence check, he can use the weapon at will, and can instruct others in how to use the item safely.
Note that non-Travelers who attempt to use the suit’s weapons suffer a –4 penalty for being non-proficient.
The battlesuit’s power cell has an 8-hour running time. Once the suit’s batteries are exhausted, or it has suffered 50
points of damage, the armor collapses into a useless heap from which nothing can be salvaged.

55

Area F–7b:Treasure Cave
Read or paraphrase the following:
An iron gate, embedded into the rock walls of the cave, bars your
way. Past the gate you spy a veritable king’s ransom. Rolled tapestries
embroidered with gold and silver thread rest atop might chests filled
to overflowing with coins and gems.
Surely this must be the storehouse of the raiders’ ill-gotten
wealth: their treasure cave.
The gate is locked (DC 20 Open Lock) and has hardness of
10, 30 hp, Break DC 25.
An electric eye has been hidden in the wall at the entrance to
the cave. Crossing more than 10 feet into the cave triggers a
series of small explosives that collapse the ceiling burying any
unfortunate soul caught in the first 10 feet of the cave.
The electric eye can be detected with a DC 28 Search check,
but this places the rogue directly in line of the collapse. The
act of detecting the eye activates the trap, and any rogue
failing the DC 30 Disable Device check triggers the collapse,
likely burying the unfortunate soul beneath several tons of
boulders. Rogues with the skill Knowledge (Traveler tech)
gain a +5 synergy bonus to disabling the trap.
Just past that the trap is the sum of the raider’s treasure, a
considerable horde gleaned from hundreds of merchant
trains, looted ruins, pillaged farmsteads and the like.
Concealed inside the treasure vault is the following: one
silken white sleeve protecting a blue key card (see Through
the Pod Bay Doors, p. 63); five tapestries embroidered with
gold and silver thread, depicting the early reign of King
Uther (each is worth 200gp and weighs over 100 lbs.); four
chests containing a total of 3,500gp, 17,000 sp, and 4,000
cp; one coffer containing 35 various gems totaling 12,000gp
in value; ten crates containing exotic Thonian spices (each
weighing 400 lbs., and if sold in a large, city market, bringing
as much as 500gp; one mighty greatsword with a silver blade
(the legendary blade, Stormreach, as recognized by anyone
succeeding on a DC 15 bardic knowledge check) which
functions as both a +2 greatsword, and a wand of lightning bolts
(12 charges remaining); one leather bandoleer holding four
+1 throwing knives (dmg 1d3+1/✕3, range increment 20 feet);
one large ceramic jug containing four potions of cure serious
wounds; one necklace containing a pearl of power (3rd); and
one lion’s shield.
56
CITY of the GODS
Also found in the horde is a pair of obsidian statuettes
depicting baying wolfhounds. The eyes of each wolfhound
are small rubies, and the fangs are slivers of bone. If appraised
as mere mundane items, the statuettes appear to be worth
500gp each. The value, however, is entirely negated by the
statuettes’ curse. Every night the wolfhounds are kept in the
PCs’ possession, there is a cumulative 13% chance that the
PCs are attacked by a pair of shadow mastiffs. The outsiders
attack during the dead of the night, when the majority of the
PCs are sleeping without their arms or armor. Even on nights
when the mastiffs don’t attack, they encircle the PCs’ camp,
howling in the distance.
On a night following an attack, the cycle begins anew, with
the cumulative likelihood of an attack on the following night
a mere 13% chance. The attacks continue for as long as any
PC carries one or both of the statuettes, regardless of how
many times the PCs succeed in slaying the mastiffs.
Shadow Mastiffs (2): CR 5; Medium Outsider (Extraplanar);
HD 4d8+12; hp 40; Init +5; Spd 50 ft.; Space/Reach 5 ft./5
ft.; AC 14 (+1 Dex, +3 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13; Base
Atk +4; Grp +7; Atk/Full Atk Bite +7 melee (1d6+4); Full
Atk Bite +7 melee (1d6+4); SA Bay, trip; SQ Darkvision 60
ft., shadow blend, scent; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +5;
Str 17, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: Hide +8, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Spot +8,
Survival +8*; Dodge, Improved Initiative, Track.
Bay (Su): When a shadow mastiff howls or barks, all creatures
except evil outsiders within a 300-foot spread must succeed
on a DC 13 Will save or become panicked for 2d4 rounds.
This is a sonic mind-affecting fear effect. Whether or not the
save is successful, an affected creature is immune to the same
mastiff ‘s bay for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based
Trip (Ex): A shadow mastiff that hits with its bite attack
can attempt to trip the opponent as a free action (+3 check
modifier) without making a touch attack or provoking an
attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent
cannot react to trip the shadow mastiff
Shadow Blend (Su): In any condition of illumination other
than full daylight, a shadow mastiff can disappear into the
shadows, giving it total concealment. Artificial illumination,
even a light or continual flame spell, does not negate this ability.
A daylight spell, however, will.
Cave-in: CR 7; mechanical; location trigger
(electric eye); repair reset; Atk +20 melee (6d6,
boulders); multiple targets (all targets in a 10-foot
by 10-foot area); DC 28 Search; DC 30 Disable
Device.
CITY of the GODS
Area G:
The City of the Gods
Read or paraphrase the following:
Climbing to the top of the rise, you spy something that surely should
not exist. A giant metal sliver—larger than any castle or citadel—
buried into the seething ground. Its metal skin shimmers and gleams
like quicksilver, while delicate towers rise from its metallic surface.
Hundreds of multicolored lights skim across its surface, flaring
brightly before vanishing into darkness.
The object is so large that it defies comparison. Perhaps two or three
miles long, half as wide, and laying in the earth like an enormous
broken spearhead.
This must be the subject of your quest—the fabled City of the Gods!
The city’s alien nature runs counter to the magic-infused
land of Blackmoor. The two forces war like magnetic poles,
each twisting the other so that both are changed in the end.
Characters succeeding in a DC 20 Spellcraft check will
recognize that the city projects an ethereal aura that warps,
distorts and opposes Blackmoor’s magic.
The zone extends 100 yards from every side of the city with
the following effects: Spellcasters within this zone of magical
distortion must succeed in a DC 25 Concentration check to
cast any spell of the transmutation school; all teleport spells
have an additional +33% chance of resulting in a mishap.
When any other spell (divine or arcane) is cast, roll d% + the
caster’s Wisdom bonus and consult the following table:
1d100 Result
1–2 The caster erupts into a burning pillar of fire,
inflicting 3d12 points of fire damage to himself and
any creature within 5 feet The spell is wasted.
3–5 The spell detonates in a flash of light and smoke,
blinding all within 100 feet for 1d4 rounds (DC 15
Reflex save avoids). The spell is wasted.
6–10 The spell targets a random creature within 150
feet
11–15 No effect; the spell is wasted.
16–25 No effect; the spell is not expended.
26–55 The spell functions normally.
56–75 The spell’s area of effect (if any) is doubled.
76–85 The spell’s duration (if any) is doubled.
86–90 The spell is duplicated, affecting both the intended
target and one additional randomly determined
target (if applicable).
91–94 The spell is cast at +2 caster level.
95–97 The spell is cast at +3 caster level.
98–99 The spell is cast at +4 caster level.
100+ The spellcaster experiences a flash of arcane or
divine insight while casting the spell: The spell is
cast at +5 caster level and the caster instantly
receives 500 XP.The spell is not expended and may
be cast again. (If this result occurs more than once
per character per scene, the GM should roll again,
ignoring this result.)
Except where noted, this warped magic zone extends to all
encounter areas inside the city.
57

Area G–1: The Approach
The scale of the city is so great that even though the city is
buried relatively flush with the ground, its surface is still a
good 200 feet in the air. Climbing the walls requires a DC 30
Climb check, a task made considerably more difficult if PCs
fail to note the location of defense emplacements (locations
marked as G–5).
If the PCs taking the time to scout the perimeter of the city,
read or paraphrase the following:
A crude webbing of rope and braided vines hangs from the face of
the city wall. Anchored periodically on torn metallic wreckage, and
a pair of strange towers built perpendicular to the wall, the netting
climbs the entire way to the city’s surface.
The improvised rigging was hung by Saint Stephen’s raiders.
Climbing the webbing requires a DC 15 Climb check, but
anyone falling can attempt a DC 15 Reflex save. Success
indicates that the PC managed to hook an arm or leg in the
webbing, arresting his fall. Failure indicates a fall inflicting
1d6 damage per 10 feet fallen The webbing is 8 feet across.
Halfway up the wall, a dead defense emplacement extends
out like a tower, perpendicular to the wall. Four of Saint
Stephen’s Raiders sit atop the tower, ensuring that no one can
ascend to the city’s surface without a fight. The guards wait
until most of the party is on the webbing before attacking,
58
CITY of the GODS
targeting obvious spellcasters first. If it looks like the PCs will
succeed in reaching their post, two of the guards cast down
their crossbows and begin hacking at the webbing with their
battleaxes. The webbing can take 25 points of damage before
collapsing under its own weight, tearing free and falling to
the rocky base of the city, 100 feet below. Any PCs caught in
the falling net suffer 10d6 points of damage.
Terrified of the consequences of failing the Saint, the sentries
fight to the death.
The raiders have built a small camp atop the wall of the
tower. A small campfire is burning beside a pitched tent.
Inside the tent is a supply of firewood, two weeks worth of
salted mutton, a water barrel, 3 bedrolls, and a small crate
containing 50 heavy crossbow bolts and a thin iron chain
secured to an iron grappling hook. (The hook and chain are
used to bypass the malfunctioning generator in area B–13.)
Sentry, Thonian War3 (4): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or heavy crossbow +4 ranged (1d10/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort
+5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11,
Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Rapid Reload.
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, shield (heavy wooden),
heavy crossbow, quiver with 15 bolts, belt pouch with 1d20
sp and 1d12gp.
Area G–2: City Surface
Read or paraphrase the following:
A vast metallic plain stretches out before you. The surface of the
city is metallic, hard and cold, but you fail to see any seams in the
unusual metal. Silver towers glimmer in the distance, where squat
metallic beings scurry across the face of the city.
The surface of the city is alive with hundreds of robots, all
diligently doing their best to repair the Beagle. The repair-
bots scour the surface of the Beagle, welding plates over holes
punched by asteroids, re-raising sensor towers that collapsed
during the crash, and all of the thousands of other repair
tasks demanded by the Beagle’s master computer. Their
charge is impossible and will never be accomplished, but still
the r-bots labor on.
Part of their programming is to remove any organic material
from the surface of the Beagle before it can cause any damage
to the ship. Scouts sent by the Army of the Saint have spent
entire weeks surveying the movements of the r-bots, and have
carefully mapped out a trail across the deck of the starship,
a path that avoids the work of the of r-bots. (See area 2 for
information on the Saint’s Highway.)
CITY of the GODS
If the PCs strike out on their own across the city’s surface, or starship, the only path that avoids the sensor range of the
otherwise stray from the Saint’s Highway, four r-bots home in laser towers and the majority of the r-bots.
on them after 1d12 minutes. The r-bots circle the PCs, intent
For every minute spent on the Saint’s Highway, roll 1d12. On
on their mission to methodically disassemble the interlopers
a roll of 1, a single r-bot crosses the path of the PCs, scouring
with their plasma torches before disposing of the parts.
the ship’s surface for organic material. If incapacitated, the
If the PCs succeed in incapacitating an r-bot, the robot r-bot attempts to summon a c-bot (that would arrive in 1d8
broadcasts a distress beacon that has an 80% chance of rounds).
bringing a c-bot to the scene within 1d8 rounds. If the c-bot
The symbols on the flags follow a simple sequence: Bull,
and all of the r-bots are destroyed, no other robots investigate,
Cross, Sword, Tiger, Spear, Tiger, Sword, Cross, Bull.
but proceeding to cross the city’s surface draws repair robots
anew within 1d12 minutes. Between the first tiger flag and the spear flag, the safe path is
crossed by a second path, forming a crossroads. See area B–4
The city’s “skin” was built to weather the dangers of space
for more information.
travel, and is nearly impervious to damage of the sort inflicted
by the PCs. In addition to being immune to all spells of R-Bot: See statistics above.
6th level or less, the city’s armor plated surface enjoys the
C-Bot: See statistics above.
following stats: Hardness 30; hp 900/ft.; DR 15/magic.
The ship was built for travel through the etheric realms,
resulting in certain peculiar qualities in regards to its exterior
structures; incorporeal, etheric, or astral creatures will find
themselves unable to pass through the ship’s skin, or any of
the exterior structures (e.g. emplacement towers and the like).
R-Bot (4): CR 4; Medium Construct; HD 5d10+20; hp 55;
Init 0; Spd 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor); AC 14, touch 10, flat-
footed 14; Base Atk +2; Grp +4; Atk 3 plasma torches +4
melee (2d8); SQ Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., low-light
vision; AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +1, Will –4; Str 14, Dex 10,
Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1.
C-Bot: CR 6; Huge Construct; HD 8d10+40; hp 84; Init –2;
Spd 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor); AC 12, touch 6, flat-footed 6;
Base Atk +6; Grp +24; Atk 4 claws +14 melee (1d8+10) or
2 laser rifles +2 ranged (3d8); Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA
Autofire; SQ Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., DR 5/—,
low-light vision; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +2; Str 30, Dex 6,
Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Listen +15, Search +20, Spot +15.
Autofire (Ex): A centurion robot may saturate an area with
automatic fire from its laser rifle. The c-bot targets a 10-foot
by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC 10. If
the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area Area G–4: Crossroads
must make a DC 15 Reflex save or take 1d8 points of laser Read or paraphrase the following:
damage.
The trail of cairns splits here. One runs to the left, between a series
of tall silver towers. The other heads north and wends its way around
Area G–3: the lip of a deep, smoking gash torn in the surface of the City.
Saint’s Highway (EL Variable) Despite initial appearances, the trail to the left is safe, while
Read or paraphrase the following: the trail to the right was designed specifically to lead intruders
A series of piled rock cairns mark a line across the smooth, silver face to their doom.
of the city. A standard is placed in the center of the cairn; cloth flags, On a DC 13 Spot check (or simply a declaration of close
decorated with red and black symbols, flap in the wind. inspection by the PCs) the heroes notice that the flag on the
The cairns were built by the Army of the Saint through a cairn to the left flies a flag decorated with a spear icon, while
rigorous process of trial and error, at the cost of many lives. the cairn on the path to the right flies a dragon flag.
The piles of stacked stones mark a path across surface of the

59

Area G–5: Defense Emplacement
Read or paraphrase the following:
A gleaming watchtower, perhaps two stories high, sits atop the city’s
slick metal skin. A trio of glowing red orbs sit above an appendage of
hollow black rods, bound together like a bundle of reeds.
The many-eyed tower is an ever-watchful sentry emplacement;
the “bundled reeds” are the multiple barrels of the sentry’s
cyclic laser cannon, a weapon capable of unleashing a deadly
hail of laser blasts. Defended by heavy plates of ablative
armor, the emplacements are the city’s first line of defense.
Each sentry was originally programmed to attack anything in
its field of fire not broadcasting the Beagle’s digital “friend”
code. In his madness, Captain Riesling has disabled the
friend codes, so that the emplacements fire on any organic
forms coming within 100 feet, be they friend or foe. So long
as PCs don’t stray from Saint’s Highway (and avoid the false
cairns) they are safely out of range of the tower’s sensors.
The tower’s sides are smooth plates of neovulcanium,
punctuated by sensor arrays, antennae and communication
relays. A tower can be climbed with a DC 25 Climb check, but
unless the laser turret is distracted by more attractive targets (see
Tactics below) climbing a tower can prove extremely perilous.
Tactics: If any living creature comes within 200 feet of a
defense emplacement, the tower comes alive, the laser cannon
rotating to target the nearest creature while the cyclic laser
cannon comes online. This warm-up period is a one-time
requirement that takes 2 rounds. Once “awakened” the tower
lays down regular fields of automatic laser fire, drenching its
opponents in laser blasts, favoring groups of two or more
over individuals.
The laser turret can fire directly down the tower walls and at
targets flying above it, but anyone directly atop a turret cannot
be attacked by its laser cannon. Besides raw damage, the
turrets can also be disabled by anyone succeeding on a DC
25 Disable Device check. A PC must be directly atop a turret
to attempt to disable it.
Only attacks made to the laser turret (20 feet above the
surface of the city) are effective at causing damage to the
actual emplacement. Strikes to the base of the emplacement
are treated as attacks on a structure. The armored base of the
tower enjoys DR 20/— that effectively ignores all but the most
deadly attacks. If the base of the tower sustains 300 points of
damage, the tower come crashing to the surface of the city,
destroying the laser turret.
Defense Emplacement: CR 7; Medium Construct; HD
9d10+20; hp 70; Init +0; Spd —; AC 25, touch 5, flat-footed
25; Base Atk +6; Grpl —; Atk Cyclic laser cannon +10 ranged
(5d8); SA Autofire; SQ Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft.,
DR 10/—, low-light vision; AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will
+3; Str 20, Dex —, Con —, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.
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CITY of the GODS
Autofire (Ex): A sentry emplacement may saturate an area with
automatic fire from its cyclic laser cannons. The sentry targets
a 10-foot by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC
10. If the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected
area must make a DC 20 Reflex save or take 2d8 points of
laser damage.
Area G–6: Dead Emplacement
Either deactivated in the crash, or disabled by Stephen and
his team of rogue techs, the “dead” emplacements are nearly
indistinguishable from the functioning emplacement towers,
but are defunct and pose no threat to PCs. (See area G–3 for
descriptions of the towers.)
The sole difference between functioning and deactivated
towers are the glowing sensors that sit atop the towers. A DC
20 Spot check notices that the sensors of a dead emplacement
are “dead” and do not glow with the crimson light that
identifies the active laser towers.
Those atop the towers can see that armor plates have been
removed from the very top of the tower and dozens of cables
have been torn from inside the turret. The damage was done
by Stephen and his techs in order to clear a safe path across
the surface of the city.
Area G–7: The Great Rift
Read or paraphrase the following:
A deep gash has been torn in the skin of the city here. The canyon
walls fall sharply away; the base of the canyon is hidden in dense
gray clouds. Blue and white lights sparkle and flash within clouds
and the smell of scorched metal wafts up from below.
When the Beagle crashed to Blackmoor, several defense
towers tore free, ripping a great gash in the surface of the city.
Though PCs might mistake the rift as a possible entrance into
the city, the repair robots have already succeeded in sealing
the gaps, welding massive armor plates over the destruction.
The rift walls are extremely smooth and steep, but there are
slight seams in the plates that permit climbing by extremely
skilled (or well-prepared) explorers. The walls are 200 feet
high and can be scaled with DC 25 Climb checks.
A narrow path, once used to transport armor panels, runs
down the western wall of the canyon, through the dense
clouds of plasma smoke, to the valley floor. The r-bots have
just begun the process of disassembling the ramp, and have
removed the bottommost sections. Unless the PCs take
precautions as they descend the ramp (such as prodding the
ramp with poles) the first two ranks must succeed on a DC
20 Reflex save or walk off the edge, falling 60 feet to the base
of the canyon, amidst 4 r-bots.
CITY of the GODS
If the PCs fall from the ramp or otherwise descend to the
base of the canyon, they are swarmed by the 4 r-bots. An
additional 1d3 r-bots arriving every 1d4+1 rounds. There are
a total of 60 r-bots working in the rift. The r-bots do not
summon c-bots if incapacitated.
R-Bot (4 or more): CR 4; Medium Construct; HD 5d10+20;
hp 55; Init 0; Spd 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor); AC 14, touch 10,
flat-footed 14; Base Atk +2; Grp +4; Atk 3 plasma torches +4
melee (2d8); SQ Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., low-light
vision; AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +1, Will –4; Str 14, Dex 10,
Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Pit Trap: CR 3; mechanical, location trigger; manual
reset; DC 20 Reflex save avoids; 60 feet deep (6d6,
fall); DC 20 Seach; DC 20 Disable Device.
Area G–8: The Watcher Above
Atop a dead emplacement tower lurks the animated skeleton
of a young red dragon. The skeleton is possessed by a
malevolent stalker (see below and Appendix One for details
regarding the malevolent stalker). Unable to comprehend the
workings of the city, the stalker has retreated to the top of the
emplacement.
If the PCs pass within 50 feet of the emplacement, the dragon
hurls itself from the top of the tower, using its bulk to crush as
many of the PCs as possible. The drop inflicts 5d6 points of
crushing damage to any hero within the dragon’s facing and
failing a DC 20 Reflex save. The dragon, with its enormous
bulk, takes no damage from the minor fall.
The dragon, as directed by the stalker, proceeds to focus its
attacks on the seemingly weakest member of the party. If
the dragon succeeds in slaying a PC, the stalker abandons
the skeleton and possesses the dead PC, causing the dragon
skeleton to collapse into a pile of bones.
The stalker then does its best to pretend that it is the PC,
albeit addled by her near brush with death. If questioned,
the possessed body will suggest that some strange effect of
the City raised it from the dead, and will point to this fact to
explain away any erratic behavior. At its first opportunity, the
stalker will use the possessed corpse to safely flee the City,
abandoning the corpse as soon as it has exhausted its worth.
Malevolent Stalker: CR 3; Medium Undead (Incorporeal);
HD 3d12; hp 19; Init +2; Spd Fly 40 ft. (good) (8 squares);
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +1; Grp —; Atk/
Full Atk Incorporeal touch +3 melee (1d6 Wis); SA Wisdom
damage; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., incorporeal traits, +2 turn
resistance, undead traits; AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +3, Will
+4; Str —, Dex 14, Con —,Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +5, Hide +6, Listen +2, Spot +5;
Alertness, Dodge.
Corpse Possession (Su): Once per round the stalker can merge
itself with the deceased body of a creature on the Material
Plane, animating that body as if by the spell animate dead,
granting the corpse the skeleton template. To use this ability
the stalker must move into the corpse’s space; moving into
the target’s space to use this ability does not provoke attacks
of opportunity. If turned or subjected to a dismissal spell
while possessing a host, the creature is ejected.
Young Adult Red Dragon Skeleton: CR 8; Huge Undead
(Fire); HD 19d12; hp 123; Init +5; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach
15 ft./10 ft.; AC 12, touch 9, flat-footed 11; Base Atk +9; Grp
+27; Atk Bite +17 melee (2d8+10); Full Atk Bite +17 melee
(2d8+10) and 2 claws +12 melee (2d6+5) and 2 wings +12
melee (1d8+5) and tail slap +12 melee (2d6+15); SA —; SQ
DR 5/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold and
fire, undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +8; Str
31, Dex 12, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Area G–9: Escape Pods
Read or paraphrase the following:
A sloped metallic ridge rises out of the city’s skin here. The far side
of the ridge is a vertical wall punctuated by a row of strange raised
bulges, each in the shape of a half-egg. Each is over fifteen feet high
and nearly as wide.
One of the eggs is missing. In its place is a curved depression
matching the backside of an egg. In the very center of the depression
is an octagonal hole, with something wedged into place.
Twin stone cairns stand to on either side of the depression, raised
banners flapping in the wind. The banners are stained red, with
white skulls in relief.
When the Beagle came crashing to Blackmoor, Captain
Riesling disabled the escape pods, preventing the flight of his
mutinous crew. Saint Stephen succeeded in overriding the
command and fled the ship. The sole empty pod bay is also
the only safe entrance to the Beagle.
PCs approaching the escape pod bay discover that the hole
at the base of the escape pod launcher is wedged open with a
steel shield, a low-tech answer to a high tech problem.
The shield is an effective short-term solution, but is far from
foolproof. PCs climbing over the shield must succeed on a
DC 15 Balance or Climb check or risk disturbing the shield.
On a failed check, there is a 1 in 6 chance that the shield is
knocked free, permitting the airlock doors to close. A PC
climbing through the hole when the shield is knocked free
must succeed on a DC 17 Reflex save or be caught by the
closing airlock, taking 10d6 points of crushing damage and
becoming pinned in the airlock. Every round spent caught
in the closed doorway, the trapped creature must succeed on
a DC 20 Fort check or take an additional 1d12 points of
crushing damage.
Wrenching the airlock open is a difficult proposition,
requiring a DC 35 Strength check. Alternately, PCs inside the
61

ship can attempt to override the airlock’s programming. Just
inside the airlock is a panel of glowing gems—a security panel.
The code is too complex to be methodically deciphered, but
PCs flailing wildly at the panel (even Disable Device checks)
have a non-cumulative 1% chance per round of accidentally
opening the door.
Alternately, the doors can be destroyed from inside or outside.
The door can sustain 100 hp of damage, and has a hardness of
20, and is immune to all spells of 6th level or lower.
Area G–10: Airlock
Read or paraphrase the following:
The door-like aperture opens at your approach, revealing a circular
chamber, roughly 30 feet across, with three exits, not counting the
portal before you. A dim light emanating from the ceiling brightens
as the door opens, flaring to light the chamber.
The airlock was the first area penetrated by Saint Stephen
when he retook the upper bridge of the Beagle. A cursory
inspection of the airlock reveals narrowly focused spots on
the walls and doors that resemble burn marks (the result of a
laser battle). The same quick search of the airlock reveals that
the western door is partially open.
62
CITY of the GODS
The western door was deactivated by the Saint, but mechanic
counterweights cause the door to slide nearly closed when it is
not being held open. The door can be pulled opened with a
DC 20 Strength check, but doing so causes a terror gas grenade
to fall from behind the door and detonate, filling every square
within 5 feet of the door with green tendrils of wafting gas.
Those caught within the area of effect must succeed on DC
16 Will saves or witness their worst nightmare crawling its way
through the door. Those failing to disbelieve must succeed on
DC 16 Fort saves or die from fright. Even those succeeding on
the save take 1d6 points of Wisdom damage (not drain). The
gas does not affect non-living or non-breathing creatures.
The grenade can be easily detected by anyone, rogue or
otherwise, reaching around to the far side of the door, but
in order to do this, the door must be partially opened (just
enough to permit an arm to reach through the aperture) and
then searched. Any other non-magical action (e.g., searching
the fully closed door) does not reveal the trap.
Once the trap is detected, it requires a rogue’s careful touch to
puzzle out the grenade’s trigger mechanism, simply by sense
of touch. Those with the feat Exotic Weapon Proficiency
(Traveler grenade) have a +4 bonus to their Disable Device
check, but those ignorant of Traveler tech face a much greater
CITY of the GODS
challenge. (Note, even if the grenade is successfully disabled,
a user must still succeed on all of the appropriate Traveler
tech activation rolls before using the grenade.)
The other doors have not been deactivated, and only open
if approached by someone carrying a red or higher access key
card. Alternately, if the PCs wait 1d4 hours, an r-bot enters
through one of the doors. The door closes 1 round after
the r-bot passes through, but quick thinking PCs can leap
through or pin the door open.
Terror Grenade: CR 6; magic device; location
trigger (opening the door); no reset; hallucinatory
gas (behaves in all respects as phantasmal killer,
7th-level wizard, DC 16 Will save for disbelief and
DC 16 Fort save for partial effect); multiple targets
(any breathing, living target in a square within 10
ft. of the western door) DC 20 Search; DC 29
Disable Device.
Area G–11: Undisturbed Airlock
These airlock are similar in all regards to area G–10, save that
none of the doors have been pinned open or trapped. All of
the doors open with a red or higher level key card.
Area G–12: Cargo Bay
Entrance to this chamber does not require a key card. Read or
paraphrase the following:
The portal scissors open to reveal a great chamber, easily as large as
many a cathedral. The chamber is in disarray, with large metallic
blocks cast about like Hersh’s own dice. Some of the massive blocks
are crumpled while others are perched at precarious angles. The air
is still and smells of scorched metal.
This chamber was one of the Beagle’s many cargo bays. The
crash of the Beagle tore the cargo containers free of their
strappings and sent them tumbling across the bay. While the
cargo containers initially presented little danger to shipmates,
now many are hazardous in the extreme.

Through the Pod Bay Doors

PCs gaining the interior of the City are treated to a mystical wonderland. The interior of the City is molded of a spongy
gray substance that resists cutting. The walls are reactive, hardening in response to force. The walls have a hardness of
5, and 200 hp per 5 feet.
The ship was built for travel through the etheric realms, resulting in certain peculiar qualities in regards to its interior
structures; incorporeal, etheric, or astral creatures will find themselves unable to pass through the ship’s interior
structures, though they will not trigger doors like invisible or hidden creatures (see below).
All doors, except where noted, are made of a similar substance, and spiral open and closed at a creature’s approach.
This function is heat and weight based, so that even hidden or invisible creatures trigger doors, potentially revealing their
locations to on-lookers.
The doors have a hardness of 10 and 250 hp. Some doors open only to creatures displaying specific security card keys.
The card keys are ranked according to color, and a higher rank card keys open all doors of lower security ranks. From
lowest to highest, cards are ranked Red – Yellow – Blue – Black. (Card keys are described in greater detail under the
Appendix Two.)
Once opened, doors remain open for 1 round after the key-bearer has passed through them. The door can be spiked
or wedged open by any character succeeding on a DC 20 Int check or a DC 15 Disable Device check. GMs should ask
players to describe how the PCs are locking the door open—nearly any sharp item can be used, but if the door is to be
kept open, the item must be left behind.
The ruined Beagle is host to a variety of lighting conditions. The standard, undamaged lighting is a pale blue glow that
emanates from “crystals” in the ceiling. The glow grows brighter as living creatures approach. Much of the Beagle is
damaged however, and the lighting conditions are specifically addressed in these locations.
Finally, computers are a constant in the Beagle, woven into nearly every location. These have largely little impact on the
adventure, other that providing a constant background of flashing colored “crystals” that seem to mystically glow and
fade, with no discernable rhyme or reason. The GM should feel free to use the blinking lights to mislead and deceive
PCs into believing that they have some sort of control over the Beagle’s systems. Even more ominous to alert explorers
hailing from Blackmoor is a constant, oppressive hum that seems to follow them wherever they go. This is merely the
ever-present drone of machinery, but to natives of Blackmoor it is surely a restless spirit, haunting them from inside the
very walls.

63

Containers marked by an F are perched precariously atop other
containers, and moving within 5 ft. of the container causes a
container collapse. This can take the form of one container
tipping free, one container to crumble beneath another, a
container wall to break free, or any other of a variety of hazards.
The result of these collapses is the same: PCs within 2 squares
adjacent to the F marker are targeted by a falling container.
The container attacks with a +15 melee bonus, and inflicts
8d6 points of damage to anyone caught beneath the collapse.
Targets hit by the attack and failing a DC 18 Reflex save are
also pinned beneath the collapsed container.
A falling container creates a resounding crash that has a 1 in
6 chance of drawing the attention of Stephen’s raiders. Five
raiders arrive to investigate in 1d10 minutes after the crash.
Upon sighting the party, the raiders launch an attack, but as
soon as two or more raiders fall in combat, their captain orders
a retreat, falling back to the bridge (area G–18).
Investigating the Containers: A container is 15 feet high, 10
feet wide and 20 feet long, and are composed of a metallic
composite created by injecting a honeycombed metal
superstructure filled with high-density plastics. There are
a total of 20 containers in the cargo bay, but only 8 can be
opened without risking a collapse from above. A DC 20 Search
check reveals that the containers are bolted closed. Each bolt
has a hardness of 5 and 20 hit points; a total of 6 bolts must
64
CITY of the GODS
be sheared off in order to open a container. The walls of a
container have a hardness of 10 and 100 hp per 5 feet.
Roll % and consult the table below to determine a specific
container’s contents.
1d100 Contents
1–15 The container once held drums of industrial
acid, but the drums were damaged in the crash.
If opened, the container spills several thousand
gallons of acid across the cargo bay floor. The acid
dissolves any organic material, causing 3d6 points
of damage per round for 11 rounds (DC 15 Reflex
save for half damage.)
16–25 The cargo container is empty.
26–30 Terraformer (ruined from the crash)
31–32 45 crates of computer parts, all ruined from the
crash.
33 Ten desalination tanks
34–50 Several tons of freeze-dried textured vegetable
protein.
51–65 30 50-gallon drums containing machine oil.
66 Fifteen foam-padded crates, each containing a
specialized diamond-tipped drill bit for hard rock
drilling. Each drill is 4 feet long and tapering to a tip
1/2 in. across, and weighs 200 lbs. If the diamonds
are chipped free, a drill yields 10 gems worth
100gp each. Alternately, an enterprising dwarf or
gnome might recognize the purpose of the drills,
which would yield a Baron’s ransom if sold to the
dwarf-lords. (Cunning nobles can earn the dwarf-
lords’ esteem, and nobility points, by freely giving
the intact drills to the dwarven clans.)
67–68 Automated trackdrill (ruined from the crash).
69–75 30 drums containing various species of seeds (all
high-yield food crops)
76–90 120 crates, each containing100 plastic toy guns
(indistinguishable to PCs from real laser pistols).
90–84 29 empty drums.
95–99 25 inactive S-Bots (these robots have no
programming or power source, but their shells can
be used by the PCs as crude disguises or decoys).
100 Four carefully secured, oversized crates, each
containing an antique weapon or armor, all intended
to be museum pieces. If used by PCs in combat,
non-proficiency penalties still apply. Included are
the following weapons: one utomatic pistol, with
13 bullets (ranged, 2d6, 40 feet, 13 shot magazine);
one assault rifle, with 15 bullets (Ranged, 2d8,
70 feet, 20 shot magazine); 5 shrapnel grenades
(slashing, 5d6/19–20); one flame thrower (fire, 3d6,
15 feet, 5 shots).
CITY of the GODS
Raider captain, Traveler Ftr3: CR 3; Medium Humanoid;
HD 3d10+3; hp 28; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 12, flat-
footed 18; Base Atk +3; Grp +5; Atk Longsword +5 melee
(1d8+2/19–20) or laser pistol +6 ranged (2d8); AL LE; SV
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 14, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 14, Wis
8, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Craft (weaponsmithing) +3, Intimidate +7,
Listen +1, Pilot +8, Ride +5, Sense Motive +1, Spot +2;
Persuasive, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Exotic Weapon
Proficiency (laser pistol), Weapon Focus (laser pistol).
Possessions: Chain shirt, force shield (lesser), laser pistol (15
charges), longsword, belt pouch with 1d12pp, yellow card key.
Sentry, Thonian War3 (4): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or light crossbow +4 ranged (1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort
+5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11,
Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, horn, belt pouch with
1d20 sp and 1d12gp.
Falling Container: CR 6; mechanical; location
trigger; no reset; Atk +15 melee (8d6); multiple
targets (can strike all characters in two adjacent
specified squares); DC 20 Search; DC — Disable
Device.
Area G–13: Emergency Generator
A yellow card key (or greater) is required to enter this area.
Read or paraphrase the following:
The doors scissor open to reveal a dark chamber sporadically lit by
bright flashes. In the rear of the chamber is a large metal box. The
box has been split down the center by long metal beam. A loud
buzzing fills the room and the air is thick with the taste of copper.
An emergency generator sits in the back of the room. When
the Beagle crashed a support beam tore free of the ceiling,
tearing through the generator’s housing and transforming
the room into a death trap.
The generator builds up voltage, which discharges once every
1d4 rounds, arcing through the room. The arc strikes any
creature in the room; if there is more than one target in the
room, the arc strikes the creature closest to the beam. Any
creature struck by the arcing electricity takes 10d6 points of
electricity damage, DC 14 Reflex save for half.
The Raiders use a grappling hook affixed to a chain to ground
out the generator when they need to pass this area. The hook
and chain can be found in area B–1, though PCs, with no
working understanding of electricity, will be hard pressed to
understand the principles behind the solution.
Area G–14: Security Hold
A blue card key is required to enter this area. Alternately, the
doors can be battered down. The doors have a hardness of
10 and 250 hp.
Once the door is bypassed, read or paraphrase the following:
A small, darkened chamber stands before you. The room is austere,
even by the city’s standards, with short benches lining two walls, and
a simple desk against the left wall. Across the room, on the far wall,
is a door reinforced with heavy black panels.
The security hold is where criminals are processed before
being placed in the brig. The crash of the ship has triggered
a programmed lockdown of the security hold and brig that
can only be overridden by direct voice command of Captain
Riesling or at the command of the hold’s s-bot (see below).
Two rounds after the first PC enters the chamber the robots
begin their intruder protocol, triggering flashing red sirens
and ear-shattering klaxons.
At the start of the third round, blast doors drop over each
exit. PCs may leap past the falling doors with a DC 25 Reflex
save. Anyone failing the save is trapped beneath the blast door,
suffering 4d6 crushing damage and becoming pinned in place.
The blast doors have a hardness of 15 and 300 hp, but can lifted
with a successful DC 30 Strength check; up to 4 medium-sized
PCs can aid a lifting character. Once raised, the doors must be
held in place. Supporting a door for a round requires a DC 20
Strength check or the blast door drops back in place.
On the fourth round, a door on the south wall of the chamber
slides open, releasing an S-Bot. The robot uses its web attack
in an attempt to restrain any PCs in the hold, but failing that,
attacks with lethal force. If the S-Bot succeeds in restraining
all the intruders, it gives reports the all-clear command to
the hold computer, which raises the blast doors, silences the
klaxons and ends the flashing sirens.
S-Bot (security robot): CR 7; Large Construct; HD 9d10+30;
hp 79; Init –1; Spd 30 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 23,
touch 8, flat-footed 23; Base Atk +6; Grp +15; Atk Slam +10
melee (2d8+5) or laser rifle +4 ranged (3d8/✕2); Full Atk 2
slams +10 melee (2d8+5); SA Autofire, web; SQ Construct
traits, darkvision 60 ft., DR 5/adamantine, immunity to
magic, low-light vision; AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +3;
Str 21, Dex 9, Con —, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Listen +10, Search +10, Spot +10.
Autofire (Ex): A security robot may saturate an area with
automatic fire from its laser rifle. The s-bot targets a 10-foot
by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC 10. If the
attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area must
make a DC 15 Reflex save or take 1d8 points of laser damage.
Web (Ex): Once every 4 rounds a security robot can fire a
sticky, synthetic restraining web that targets a 4 square area
of effect (a 20-foot square). Anyone in the effect’s area must
make a DC 15 Reflex save. If the save succeeds, the creature
65

is entangled, but not prevented from moving. If the save fails,
the creature is entangled and cannot move from its space, but
can break loose by spending 1 round and making a DC 20
Strength check or a DC 25 Escape Artist check. Once loose,
a creature remains entangled, but may move through the web
very slowly. Each round devoted solely to moving allows the
creature to make a new Strength check or Escape Artist check.
The creature can move 5 feet with each successful check.
The strands of the restraining web are not flammable, but
dissolve if treated with alcohol (one pint dissolves one 5 square
feet of webbing) or dissolve of their own accord in 10 rounds.
Area G–15: Brig
A blue card key is required to open the door to each of the
brig’s cells. Alternately the doors can be battered down. The
doors have a hardness of 10 and 250 hp. The cells are empty
save a single bunk, toilet, sink and food synthesizer.
All of the cells are empty, save one, which contains a ferrous
doppelganger, an alien lifeform akin to the traditional
Blackmoor doppelganger, but far more deadly. The
doppelganger was part of Stephen’s mutinous crew, but was
captured prior to the crash of the Beagle, and has languished
in the cell since, nursing a bitter hatred of both Captain
Riesling and Stephen the Rock.
The ferrous doppleganger uses detect thoughts to assume a
form it believes will confuse the PCs, perhaps even assuming
the role of a recently deceased or captured comrade. The
doppleganger uses the confusion to make its escape, returning
stalk the PCs as they proceed on their exploration of the city.
If the PCs encounter Saint Stephen (or any of his robotic
decoys), the doppelganger will fly into a murderous rage.
Ferrous Doppelganger: CR 5; Medium Shapechanger;
HD 6d8+6; hp 35; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 12,
flat-footed 15; Base Atk +4; Grpl +8; Atk Limb blade +8
melee (1d8+4/19–20); Full Atk 2 Limb blades +8/+4 melee
(1d8+4/19–20); SA Detect thoughts, attach, blood drain; SQ
Change shape, immunity to sleep and charm effects; AL NE;
SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 10,
Wis 14, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Disguise +8, Listen +11, Move Silently
+4, Sense Motive +6, Spot +8; Dodge, Great Fortitude.
Change Shape (Su): A ferrous doppelganger can assume any
shape of the same mass. A doppelganger can remain in
its humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one.
A change in form cannot be dispelled, but a doppelganger
reverts to its natural form when killed. A true seeing spell or
like ability reveals its natural form.
Detect Thoughts (Su): A doppelganger can continuously use
detect thoughts as the spell (caster level 18th; DC 13 Will
negates). It can suppress or resume this ability as a free action.
66
CITY of the GODS
Limb Blade (Su): As a free action a ferrous doppelganger can
transform either or both of its limbs into hardened, razor
sharp blades.
Attach (Ex): If a ferrous doppelganger hits with its limb blades,
its causes the blade flare out inside the opponents body,
effectively grappling its prey. The ferrous doppelganger loses
its Dexterity bonus to AC, but holds on with great tenacity.
If the grapple is broken, the opponent takes 1d4 points of
damage as the flared blade is torn from the wound.
Blood Drain (Ex): In any round when it begins its turn attached
to a victim, a ferrous doppelganger drains blood, dealing 1d4
points of Constitution damage.
Area G–16: Armory
A blue card key is required to enter this area. Alternately the
doors can be battered down. The doors have a hardness of
10 and 250 hp.
Read or paraphrase the following:
The small, circular chamber is walled in translucent crystal cases that
house strange instruments resembling wands, small black eggs and
strange black vests, helmets and trousers. The entire chamber is bathed
in a dim blue light, and the cases emanate a pale yellow radiance.
The armory houses weapons and armor for the ship’s security
crew. The Saint has not bothered with taking this equipment
yet, intending to award the gear to generals that demonstrate
their loyalty in the campaign against the armies of Blackmoor.
Following the crash, the armory’s computer locked down
the weapons. The cases can only be opened with the verbal
command of Captain Riesling or by the ship’s main computer.
The cases can be broken in, and have a hardness of 15 and
50 hp. Doing so causes the armory’s computer to flood the
armory with 2 forms of gas. The first causes unconsciousness
in breathing creatures that fail their Reflex saves; the second
dissolves metal-based materials. Both clouds dissipate in
5 rounds. On the 6th round, an s-bot enters the armory,
summoned by the ships computer. The robot attempts to
capture any PCs that remain conscious, destroying those that
resist. Any PC captured by the s-bot are placed into one of
the brig’s cell.
Contained in 4 separate cases are the following Traveler Tech
items:
Case 1: 10 concussion grenades, 5 EMP grenades.
Case 2: 4 suits of tactical ballistic armor
Case 3: 5 laser pistols (10 charges each)
Case 4: 4 laser rifles (15 charges each)
Poison Gas Trap: CR 4; mechanical; touch trigger;
auotmatic reset; lock bypass (Open Lock DC 30);
poison (tranquilizing gas, DC 14 Fort save resists,
Unconsciousness /Unconsciousness for 1d4
hours); DC 22 Search; DC 17 Disable Device.
CITY of the GODS
Rust Gas Trap: CR 1; mechanical; location trigger;
repair reset; gas; never miss; poison (cloud of rust
dust, DC 15 Item Reflex save resists, destruction
of metallic items); multiple targets (all targets in
armory); DC 15 Search; DC 10 Disable Device.
S-Bot: See statistics, page 65.
Area G–17: Head Invasion
At first glance this corridor appears no different from any
other that the PCs have encountered during their exploration
of the city, but Saint Stephen has turned it into an ambush,
critical to his plans to invade Blackmoor.
PCs entering the corridor should make DC 20 Spot (or
Smell, if the GM prefers) checks. Those succeeding notice a
strange taste in the air. The air of the corridor is filled with
memory spores, emitted by an interrogation drone lurking
just around the corner in the hall. Immediately, effected
PCs (any breathing creatures standing within the corridor)
are effected by the spores, taking 1d4 points of Intelligence
damage as the spores steal their memories and transmit them
back to the ship’s master computer.
The unthinking drone, placed by Saint Stephen, rolls around
the corner, continuing to emit clouds of spores as it rolls
toward the PCs. The drone will likely be quickly destroyed,
but by then the damage is already done.
PCs searching their memories in an attempt to determine
what has been accessed, are permitted DC 18 Intelligence
checks. Succesful checks indicate that the PCs realize that
their memories of the land of Blackmoor, its geography,
armies and defenses, have all been tampered with.
Interrogation Drone: CR 4; Large Construct; HD 4d10+30;
hp 52;Init +0; Spd 60 ft. wheels; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft./5
ft.; AC 14, touch 9, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +3; Grp +10;
Atk Pincher +5 melee (1d8+4); Full Atk 2 Pinchers +5 melee
(1d8+4); SA Memory spoers; SQ Construct traits, darkvision
60 ft., low-light vision, hardness 10, impervious to EMP
effects; AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +1, Will –4; Str 16, Dex 10,
Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: —
Trample (Ex): An interrogation drone creatures two or more
sizes smaller than itself, dealing 1d8+6 damage. Opponents
who do not make attacks of opportunity against the object
can attempt Reflex saves (DC 16) to halve the damage.
Hardened (Ex): An interrogation drone is immune to EMP
effects. Its nanites are not.
Memory Spores (Ex): An interrogation drone release a cloud
of nanite spores from its body once every 3 rounds as a free
action, targeting any breathing creature within 15 feet. The
spores penetrate the skin and seek out blood streams, rushing
to the brain and spinal cord, where they deal 1d4 points of
Intelligence damage each round for 5 rounds, as they copy
the victim’s memories and transmit them back to the ship’s
master computer.
Wizards and other classes that memorize spells suffer terribly,
losing 1 memorized spell for every point of Intelligence lost,
beginning with the highest-level spells.
Bless, neutralize poison, or remove disease spells have no effect on
the nanites. The nanites can be disabled if the victim is takes
more than 10 points of fire or electrical damage, is the target of
a heat metal spell, or is subjected to an EMP blast.
67
 CITY of the GODS
Area G–18: Bridge robot built to masquerade as the Saint. Stephen of the Rock
A yellow card key is required to enter this area. Alternately has anticipated the PCs’ assault on the city, and the robot
the doors can be battered down, though this alerts the raiders replicant is just part of an elaborate ploy to lure the PCs to
inside the room and makes surprise impossible. The doors their doom. The raiders are utterly ignorant of their role as
have a hardness of 10 and 250 hp. disposable pawns in the Saint’s plot, and while the robot is
technically aware of the plan, with no survival instinct it goes
Read or paraphrase the following: readily to its doom.
A large chamber stretches out before you, arrayed in three tiers. The When the PCs enter the bridge “Stephen” and his Raiders
chamber is host to a number of plush chairs set before strange desks immediately duck behind the cover of command chairs and
alight with glowing crystals. On the far side of the chamber is a series computers banks, and begin firing at the PCs with their
of large flat panels. ranged weapons. The bioreplica also harasses PCs with
Six rough brigands are scattered about the chamber, laying out black concussion grenades, giving little thought to allies that might
rope around the chamber’s perimeter. Their apparent leaders, one in also be caught in the blast radius. The concussion grenades
a chain shirt, the other in fitted black armor, stand at the head of have a 15-foot blast radius, and do 4d6 points of non-lethal
the room surveying the work. concussion damage, or half damage with a successful DC 15
Reflex save. Concussion grenades do not affect robots or other
nonliving creatures.
While the PCs are
distracted by the battle,
the Saint’s plan goes
into effect. On the first
round following the
PCs entrance to the
bridge, projected force
fields drop to cover the
exits. These are non-
magical effects that
act as walls of force that
cannot be dispelled and
are immune to EMP
blasts.
On the fifth round
following the PCs’
entrance, the screens
above the bridge come
alive, showing the leering
face of the real Saint
Stephen, gloating in
true, villainous fashion.
As the Saint mocks the
PCs, the battle rages on.
Read or paraphrase the
following:
If the raiders are aware of the PCs, read or paraphrase the
following: “Champions of Blackmoor! Your time in the City of the Gods has
come to an end.” The lean, gray-haired man holds up a small cube.
The tall, lithe raider in fitted black armor calls out to you. Dancing on the faces of the cube you see images of Blackmoor—its
“Companions! The Saint welcomes you! Alas, you are too late.” armies, geography and defenses; all your memories depicted as visual
The Saint raises his right hand, pointing a metal wand menacingly records. “You have given me what I need for my invasion, and so now
towards you! your usefulness has ended.”
PCs who have adventured through the Temple of the Frog The Saint raises a black metal rod and depresses a red button.
instantly recognize this as Saint Stephen of the Rock, but Instantly, the panels go black.
their senses mislead them. The “saint” is only a replicant

68
CITY of the GODS

What About the Rogue?

So despite your every attempt to keep the PCs all in one place, they violated the cardinal rule of dungeon exploration
and went running, pell mell in different directions. Not all of the party made it to the encounter with Stephen the Rock,
leaving some PCs stranded as their companions crash through to the heart of the City.
The destruction of the bridge creates a structural vacuum that tears through the heart of the City. Though it wasn’t
in the Saint’s plan, assume the remains of the bridge level tear away. Wherever PCs might be within the City, their
chamber is sucked along with the collapse of the bridge. Like those aboard the bridge, these other PCs must immediately
find a way to immediately secure themselves or take 6d6 points of falling damage
All areas come crashing down in area H–1 of Chapter Four.

At the end of the Saint’s monologue pre-set explosives
detonate all around the outside of the bridge. All living
creatures on the bridge must make DC 15 Fort saves against
the sonic blast or be stunned and deafened for 1d4 rounds.
As the blasts rip through the superstructure of the city, the
bridge goes dark. The following round, PCs feel the structure
of the bridge warp and break free. The bridge tumbles down
into the heart of the ruined city, tearing holes in levels as it
falls.
The GM should count down from 15. When the count
reaches 1, the bridge comes crashing to a stop, and PCs that
haven’t somehow secured themselves take 6d6 points of
damage. Assume that the raiders and the Stephen replicant
die in the crash. Proceed to Chapter Four: Escape from the
City of the Gods.
Saint Stephen Bioreplica: CR 5; Medium Robot; HD
7d10+10; hp 71; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 12,
flat-footed 18; Base Atk +5; Grp +9; Atk Slam +9 melee
(1d6+4/✕2) or laser pistol +7 ranged (2d8); SQ Construct
traits, DR 5/adamantine, darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision;
AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 10,
Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Disguise +5, Hide +4, Jump +6, Listen +4,
Move Silently +6, Spot +4.
Possessions: Integrated battle armor, laser pistol (10 charges), 3
concussion grenades.
Raider captain, Traveler Ftr3: CR 3; Medium Humanoid;
HD 3d10+3; hp 28; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 12, flat-
footed 18; Base Atk +3; Grp +5; Atk Longsword +5 melee
(1d8+2/19–20) or flame thrower +6 ranged (3d6); AL LE;
SV Fort +4, Ref +3, Will 0; Str 14, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 14,
Wis 8, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Craft (weaponsmithing) +3, Intimidate +7,
Listen +1, Pilot +8, Ride +5, Sense Motive +1, Spot +2;
Persuasive, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Exotic Weapon
Proficiency (flame thrower), Weapon Focus (flame thrower).
Possessions: Chain shirt, force shield (lesser), flame thrower
(5 shots), longsword,belt pouch with 1d12 pp and a yellow
card key.
Sentry, Thonian War3 (6): CR 2; Medium Humanoid; HD
3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed
16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe +4 melee (1d8+1/✕3)
or light crossbow +4 ranged (1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort
+5, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11,
Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver with 10 quarrels, horn, belt pouch with
1d20 sp and 1d12gp.

69

Chapter Four:
Escape From
the City
The Beagle was built to travel the streams of the Ethereal, space
and time, and cannot long withstand the stresses of planetside-
gravity. Worse, when the Beagle came crashing to Blackmoor,
its plasma drives continued to burn, reducing entire sections
of the ship into a fiery sea of molten metal and plastic, and
weakening the ship’s already fragile superstructure.
With the destruction wrought by Saint Stephen of the Rock,
the command deck comes crashing down through the heart
of the ship. Like paper cells torn from the center of a wasps’
nest, the City of the Gods collapses from the inside. Above,
the Beagle collapses in to fill the void, wreaking destruction
and removing any of the PCs hopes for escaping back the way
they came. Instead, if the PCs have any hope of survival, they
must fight their way through the remainder of the ship and
back to the surface of the City.
The second stage of the adventure is focused on PC survival.
No longer explorers bent on conquest, the PCs’ sole goal is to
escape the ruined City of the Gods. This demands a dramatic
shift in play-style. PCs will be forced to calculate the risks and
rewards of deadly challenges, and escaping the massive ship
requires creativity, caution and careful planning.
The GM shouldn’t forget that experience is awarded for
“overcoming challenges,” which does not necessarily mean
defeating monsters in toe-to-toe battles. Accordingly, some
of the monsters found on this level are likely too challenging
to tackle in direct combat. Players unused to facing monsters
tougher than the usual CR range might have to learn this
the hard way. If PCs charge into combat without a plan, and
then complain about the encounters being “unbalanced,” the
GM might remind them that from the day of its inception,
Blackmoor has been a deadly, dangerous world, full of unfair
encounters, and that it is up to the PCs to judge the best
solution to each challenge. The GM will find that most players
rise to the challenge, relishing the increased danger and risk.
Chapter Summary
The interior of the city is vast. A tome ten times this size
could not exhaust all its challenges and dangers. The contents
of this chapter detail only the areas encountered in the PCs’
fight to reach the surface, and assume that other connecting
corridors, tubes and lev-ways were all destroyed or blocked in
the ship’s collapse.
In their trek out of the bowels of the city, the PCs must find
their way past a sea of molten metal, monster-filled ecologies
dedicated to extreme environments, and a maze of sublevels
infested with escaped aliens. Finally, the PCs encounter
70
CITY of the GODS
Captain Riesling and the surviving members of the Beagle’s
crew, who show them the escape route back to Blackmoor,
only to discover that the way is blocked by Saint Stephen of
the Rock and his army of raiders!
Area H:
Into the Heart of the City
A dozen levels below the bridge is one of the ship’s many
plasma propulsion drives. The crash of the Beagle shifted
certain key contact points, resulting in the current state of
the drive chamber: a fiery sea of molten metal and plastic
continually fed by vertical pillars of searing plasma. The bridge
comes crashing down into the heart of this sea of fire, and
immediately begins to sink. The PCs must escape the bridge
then find a means of gaining the ruined observation decks and
making their escape before they are incinerated by the streams
of plasma, crushed by falling debris, or pulled to their doom by
the fearsome beast that now inhabits the molten sea.
The GM should begin by determining damage from the crash
(see area G–18). Then read or paraphrasing the following:
The darkened bridge finally comes to a rest, bobbing slowly like a
ship at sea, the entire chamber canted at a sharp incline. Through
the darkness you try to take stock of the situation and your fellows.
A soft yellow glow begins to creep along the far wall, shedding a dim
light through the chamber. The broken bodies of raiders, killed in
the crash, are scattered about the room. Slowly, as the room grows
brighter, you are able to survey the damage wrought by the crash.
The bright liquid continues to seep into the chamber, and you can
feel the heat coming off the liquid as it pulses white. To your horror,
you realize the bubbling, searing substance is melting its way through
the floor, consuming all it touches!
The searing liquid is a superheated mix of metal and plastic.
The encroaching tide fills the bridge from floor to ceiling in 7
rounds, slowly creeping from eastern portion of the chamber,
west toward the door. The bridge continues to sink lower
into the sea, forcing PCs to seek higher ground.
Anything or anyone coming into contact with the searing
liquid is set aflame and suffers 4d6 fire damage per round. As
the bridge melts, it gives off toxic vapors, filling the air. PCs
remaining in the bridge after 2 rounds must make DC 20 Fort
saves each round or suffer 1d6 Constitution damage.
The bridge is canted at a 70 degree angle. PCs must succeed
on DC 15 Climb checks before making their way to the
bridge’s exit. Those failing, risk tumbling back into the rising
tide of molten metal, and must succeed on DC 15 Reflex
saves to arrest their fall prior to landing in the searing pools.
PCs who climb to the head of the bridge, discover the exit
blocked by rubble. Breaking through requires a DC 20 Strength
check. Alternately, PC can batter through by inflicting 30
points of bludgeoning damage.
CITY of the GODS
Radiation Hazards
The malfunctioning plasma drive puts off an incredibly
amount of radiation, that—when combined with the magical
nature of Blackmoor’s natives—can produce an unusually
high likelihood of mutation. While these mutations take
place on a genetic level, they are not impossible to reverse.
The gene-scrubbers found in the radiation pills rebuild
mutated tissue and replace altered genes. The medical labs
of the city could accomplish even greater wonders, but the
Beagle lost nearly all its qualified medical personnel in the
crash, as the valiant men and women risked their lives to save
their fellow crewmen. None of the surviving doctors have
access to the gene-tech labs, and even if they did, their time
is better spent treating the physical injuries sustained in the
crew’s daily fight for survival. Thus, at best, the doctors of
the city (found in area 11) can offer affected PCs radiation
pills, hoping that the radiation damage hasn’t progressed so
far as to be irreversible. While mutations due to radiation
cannot be treated by the usual battery of cure spells, a heal
spell removes all traces of radiation mutations.
The radiation thrown off by the plasma drives affects a large
portion of the ship (as marked on the map). The circumscribed
area reflects not only the radiation, but also accounts for
irradiated particles passed along when the PCs raise blast
doors and enter previously uncontaminated areas. Particles
cling to the PCs’ clothes and skin, work their way into the
heroes’ lungs, infect tissue exposed by raw wounds, and work
their way into the heroes’ bodies in hundreds of other subtle
vectors. Thus the “irradiated area” shown on the map is a
crude approximation of both the PCs exposure radiation and
irradiated particles. The creatures in the far reaches of the
radiation zone are only exposed once the PCs open the various
blast doors, and don’t suffer measurable effects in the time of
this adventure. PCs that later return to affected areas, though,
might be surprised by the strange and unusual monsters with
terrible new abilities that defy explanation.
Finally, it should be noted that the bodies of dead PCs
continue to absorb radiation even though they do not mutate.
Track the body’s cumulative exposure, applying the chances
of mutation if and when the PC is brought back to life.
For every hour spent within the circle of radiation exposure,
a PC must make a DC 20 Fort save or suffer 1d4 points on
Con damage due to radiation sickness. For every point of
Con damage taken the PC incurs a 10% chance of suffering a
mutation. Although the Con damage can be healed normally,
the chances of mutation remain until the PC is cured as noted
above. Once per day the GM can, at his discretion, roll d%
to see if the irradiated PC suffers a mutation. If a mutation is
indicated, roll 1d20 and consult the table on page 72.
71

1d20 Mutation
1–3 Fur: The PC develops a thick coat of fur that
grants a +4 equipment bonus to cold-related skill
checks and saves. If this mutation is indicated a
second time, the coat becomes thick and heavy,
granting a +1 AC bonus for natural armor.
4–5 Unearthly Glow: The PC’s skin radiates a soft
glow (typically green or blue) that sheds light over
a 5-foot area and makes it extremely difficult to
hide in darkened or shadowed areas (–3 to Hide
checks). The glow cannot be controlled by the PC.
If this mutation is rolled a second time, the glow’s
brightness expands to a 15-foot area, increasing
the penalty of Hide checks to –6.
13–14 Unnatural Aura: The PC radiates an aura of
15–18 Horns: The PC grows a short pair of spiked horns
19–20 Detect Thoughts: The mutant can continuously
72
CITY of the GODS
6–8 Claws: The PC’s hands grow heavy, long claws that
grant an augmented, unarmed melee attack. Claws
on medium-sized creatures do 1d6 points of lethal
damage, small-sized creatures do 1d4, large-sized
creatures do 1d8 points, and huge-sized creatures
do 1d10. If this mutation is rolled twice, the claws
grow even larger and sharper, raising the damage
to the next size, but making fine manipulation
difficult. To make an attack with a weapon, or
any other action that requires fine manipulation
under pressure, the PC must succeed on a DC 15
Dexterity check.
9–12 Scales: The PC develops a coat of scales that
covers her entire body, granting a +1 natural armor
bonus. If the mutation is rolled a second time, the
scales grow in thickness, granting a total of +2 to
the PC’s AC, but impeding movement, reducing
her max Dex bonus to +2 and reducing her base
movement by 10 feet per round.
“wrongness” that causes an irrational fear in
others. Those coming within 10 feet must succeed
on a DC 15 Will save or be shaken for 1d6 rounds;
creatures with 5 or more HD are unaffected by
the aura.The aura cannot be controlled by the PC.
If this mutation is indicated a second time, the Will
save DC rises to 20 and the aura affects creatures
up to 7 HD.
that, while intimidating, are neither long nor sharp
enough to be used effectively in combat. If the
mutation is rolled a second time, the horns grow
long enough to be used in battle, inflicting damage
according to the PC’s size. Horns on medium-
sized creatures do 1d6 points of lethal damage,
small-sized creatures do 1d4, large-sized creatures
do 1d8 points, and huge-sized creatures do 1d10.
detect thoughts as the spell (DC 12 + the PC’s
Charisma bonus), at a maximum range of 15 feet.
Caster level equals the PC’s Hit Dice.The PC’s mind
is filled with an unending stream of disassociated
thoughts, urges and desires, and he must succeed
on a DC 15 Concentration check to focus the
ability properly. This is a move-equivalent action,
and the check must be made each time he wishes
to focus on a target. If the mutation is rolled twice,
the detect thoughts DC increases to 20 + the PC’s
Charisma modifier, the range increases to 30 feet,
and the Concentration DC increases to 20.
CITY of the GODS
Area H–1: Sea of Fire
Read or paraphrase the following:
You pull free of the wreckage to behold an awesome sight. You
are standing atop a floating island of metal in a sea of flaming,
molten metal. Massive pillars feed and stir the churning ocean, while
tumbling blocks of metal the size of small houses break free from the
ceiling and come splashing down, catching flame and throwing out
great plumes of searing liquid. High above, partially concealed in
the smoke and heat, you spot thin, delicate bridges that span the
burning waves.
The bridge remains afloat for a scant 10 rounds, before finally
catching fire and sinking into the molten sea, forcing the
PCs to seek another perch. Those immersed in the burning
liquid suffer 5d6 points of fire damage per round of contact.
Although the air is choked with smoke and heat, hot winds
continue to cycle through the chamber, drawing in enough
fresh air to stave off the danger of toxic inhalants.
The engineering catwalks sighted by the heroes are 50 feet
above the surface of the sea. The can be reached by flight or
PCs throwing grapples (DC 20 Use Rope or DC 25 Strength
check to successfully rope onto an observation deck).
On one of its passages through the Ethereal streams the Beagle
picked up a microscopic, alien stowaway—a thermal godmite—
drawn to the heat of the ship’s drives. Following the crash
and the subsequent malfunction of the plasma drive, the
godmite has grown to titanic proportions, becoming a thing
of fiery horror. It swims in the molten soup, drawing on the
heat and continually growing. The collapse of the bridge
and surrounding superstructure has angered and frightened
the godmite, and the beast lashes out at the PCs like a cruel
child would swat a fly. The godmite’s size has also become its
weakness; it cannot leave the sea of fire, nor fit through any
of the exits, and will remain trapped for as long as the city
stands.
The thermal godmite lurks beneath the surface of the molten
sea, emerging as the PCs make their escape from the sinking
bridge. If the PCs succeed in gaining the engineering platforms,
the godmite alternates its attacks at the PCs with attempts to
smash down the catwalks. (See area H–2 for more details.)
Thermal Godmite: Gargantuan Magical Beast (Alien, Fire);
CR 13; HD 20d10+180; hp 290; Init +4; Spd 10 ft., Swim 20
ft.; Space/Reach 30 ft./15 ft. (30 ft. with tentacles); AC 20,
touch 6, flat-footed 20; Base Atk +20; Grp +44; Full Atk 6
tentacles +28 melee (2d8+12/19–20 plus 2d8 fire) and bite
+23 melee (4d6+6 plus 2d8 fire); SA Improved grab, constrict
2d8+12 plus 2d8 fire; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to fire,
low-light vision, vulnerability to cold; AL CE; SV Fort +21,
Ref +12, Will +13; Str 34, Dex 10, Con 29, Int 5, Wis 20,
Cha 20.
Skills and Feats: Intimidate +16, Listen +30, Search +28, Spot
+30, Survival +5 (+7 following tracks), Swim +20; Alertness,
Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical (tentacle),
Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Iron Will.
Burn (Ex): A thermal godmite’s tentacle and bite attacks deals
bludgeoning/piercing damage plus fire damage from the
godmite’s flaming body. Those hit by either of the godmite’s
attacks also must succeed on a DC 25 Reflex save or catch
on fire. The flame burns for 1d4 rounds. A burning creature
can take a move action to put out the flame. The save DC
is Constitution- based. Creatures hitting a thermal godmite
with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take fire damage as
though hit by the thermal godmite attack, and also catch on
fire unless they succeed on a Reflex save.
Constrict (Ex): A godmite deals automatic tentacle damage
with a successful grapple check.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the godmite must hit
with an arm or tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start
a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of
opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold
and can constrict.
Area H–2: Engineering Catwalks
Read or paraphrase the following:
The narrow, metallic catwalk is dwarfed by the boiling, raging sea
below. Portions of the catwalk have been torn free by falling debris,
and even now massive metal blocks tumble from the ceiling crashing
down amid the catwalks, showering the air with molten rain.
Despite all the destruction, a humanoid form in some sort of white
armor, stands atop a catwalk in the center of the chamber, watching
with an eerie stillness.
The platforms were constructed to permit engineers to
observe the plama drives. Now the platforms serve as the
sole means for safely traversing the sea of molten metal. The
catwalks are supported by hanging cables; with a DC 20 Spot
check, PCs note that many of the cables have been torn loose
from their moorings and sprawl, dangling from the catwalk
or hanging over into the sea of fire.
The humanoid form “watching” the PCs is actually the
charred corpse of a Beagle engineer. Her heat suit was unable
to protect her when a rogue plasma blast welded her body,
upright, to the catwalk. Any PC raising the shielded visor
finds a blackened corpse within, the skin desiccated and
drawn tight around the brittle skeleton.
A quick search of the engineer’s suit discovers a pocket on
the outside of the suit containing a small silver capsule.
Inside the capsule are 10 pills the color of chalk. If ingested,
the pills absorb any unhealthy doses of radiation, eliminating
any need to check to radiation sickness. A single pill is good
for 24 hours. If a PC ingests more than one pill in a 24 hour
period he must succeed on a DC 20 Fort save or take 1d6
points of Constitution damage. The suit worn by the dead
engineer is ruined and worthless, the interior of the suit
fused to the charred body.
73

The falling debris presents a constant danger to the debris.
Every round the PCs remain in the area, roll 1d10. On a 2 or 3,
the catwalk is struck by falling debris. The blow sends tremors
throughout the catwalks, forcing PCs to succeed on a DC 15
Balance check or be thrown from the catwalk. Those thrown
off may attempt a DC 20 Reflex save to catch hold of the lip
of the catwalk; also anyone within 5 feet of the falling PC may
attempt a DC 20 Strength check (DC 25 for Large creatures) to
pull them to safety. On a roll of 1, a PC (determined randomly)
is struck by the falling debris for 2d10 points of crushing
damage (DC 20 Reflex save for half damage).
When the plasma drive began to malfunction blast doors
dropped, sealing all of the exits from the drive room. PCs
succeeding in gaining one of the 2 exits discover that their
way is blocked. The blast doors have a hardness of 15 and 300
hp, but can lifted with a successful DC 30 Strength check;
up to 4 medium-sized PCs can aid a lifting character. Once
raised, the doors must be held in place. Supporting a door
for a round requires a DC 20 Strength check, or the blast
door drops back in place. The squares immediately adjacent
to the blast doors are not part of the catwalk, and cannot be
torn down by the godmite. PCs standing in the squares can
still be attacked by the godmite’s tentacles.
If the thermal godmite attacks the catwalks, it can pull down
one 10 feet section per round. The godmite has little in the
way of intelligence and only realizes the PCs’ escape route
after one PC succeeds on escaping the engine chamber.
Only after at least one PC escapes does the godmite begin
to tear away the catwalk leading to the escape route.
CITY of the GODS
PCs ascending the tube find that it rises for 200 feet before
coming to a lit exit. The top 30 feet of the tube is covered in
thick webs that glisten wetly. These are the stinging webs of an
arachnicid, an alien giant spider that has escaped from one of
the ecologies. PCs touching the webs find them suffused with
a mild acid. Any item touching the web takes 1d6 points of
acid damage (items—but not creatures—may attempt a DC 20
Fort save for no damage).
Those attempting to burn the webs find them resistant to
flame. The webs must be hacked through or dealt with in
another manner. Any tremors alert the arachnicid lurking at
the top of the tube. The arachnicid, eager for prey, descends
through the webbing and attempts to web the uppermost PC,
dragging the victim up through the webs to be dissolved and
devoured.
At the top of the tube is pair of open sliding doors like the ones
the PCs entered. Hanging in webbing between the doors are
a trio of a arachnicid web sacks. Close inspection shows that
the insides of the sacks are teeming with thousands of baby
arachcinids. Break a web sack releases an arachcinid swarm;
a released swarm hungrily attacks the nearest PC, injecting
the victim with digestive acid. Additionally, any action taking
place within 5 feet of the egg sacks has a chance of causing
sufficient tremors to release the arachnicid swarms. Cautious
PCs must succeed on DC 15 Balance checks every round

Area H–3: Transportation Tube

Read or paraphrase the following:
A pair of metallic sliding doors, partially drawn apart, block
your way.
The doors can be pulled apart with a DC 25 Strenght
check, revealing a vertical tube that rises and descends
further into the city. The tube is pitch black, and the
transport cars (essentially high speed elevators) can no
longer reach the tube. Ascending or descending the tube
requires a DC 20 Climb check every 50 feet, though
roped assistance removes any need for a climbing check.
The tube descends roughly 150 feet. before ending in a
pile of metallic rubble (the crushed top of a transport
car). A DC 20 Search check uncovers a hatch opening
to the car below. PCs climbing into the transport car
discover the corpses of a pair of Travelers. Resembling
High Thonians, the Travelers were trapped in the car
when the Beagle crashed and died of dehydration. Both
wear uniforms of a silky, light gray material that serves
to regulate body temperature (granting a +1 equipment
bonus to fire- or cold-based saving throws).

74
CITY of the GODS
that they make attack or move actions within 5 feet of the
egg sacks or else awaken and release the swarms. Note that
PCs unaware of the dangers might not take precautions, and
thereby automatically release the swarms.
Arachnicid: CR 5; Huge Vermin (Alien); HD 8d8+16; hp 52;
Init +3; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.;
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +6; Grp +18; Atk
Bite +9 melee (2d6+6 plus acid bite); Full Atk Bite +9 melee
(2d6+6 plus poison); SA Acid bite, web; SQ Darkvision 60
ft., tremorsense 60 ft., vermin traits, immunity to acid; AL
N; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 19, Dex 17, Con 14, Int
—, Wis 10, Cha 2.
Skills and Feats: Climb +12, Hide –1*, Jump +4*, Spot +4*.
Acid Bite (Ex): Following a successful bite attack and arachcinid
can inject into the victim a concentrated stream of acid that
deals 8d8 points of damage. A DC 17 Reflex save halves the
damage. The arachnicid must wait 5 rounds between acid
bites.
Skills: Arachnicids have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Spot
checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. An arachnicids
can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed
or threatened.
Tremorsense (Ex): An arachnicid can detect and pinpoint any
creature or object in contact with the arachnicid’s webs.
Stinging Web (Ex): Arachnicid webs are suffused with acid
and contact with the webs causes 1d6 points of acid damage.
Arachnicids can throw a web eight times per day. This is
similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range
of 50 feet with a range increment of 10 feet An entangled
creature can escape with a successful DC 16 Escape Artist
check or burst it with a DC 20 Strength check. Each 5-foot
section of webbing has 14 hp. An arachnicid can move across
its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location
of any creature touching its web.
Arachnicid Swarm (3): CR 2; Diminutive Vermin (Swarm,
Alien); HD 2d8; hp 9; Init +3; Spd 20 ft., climb 20 ft.; Space/
Reach 10 ft./0 ft.; AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14; Base Atk
+1; Grp —; Atk Swarm (1d6 plus acid bite); Full Atk Swarm
(1d6 plus acid bite); SA Distraction, poison; SQ Darkvision
60 ft., swarm traits, tremorsense 30 ft., vermin traits; AL N;
SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0; Str 1, Dex 17, Con 10, Int —,
Wis 10, Cha 2.
Skills and Feats: Climb +11, Listen +4, Spot +4.
Skills: An arachnicid swarm has a +4 racial bonus on Hide
and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. It
uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its Strength modifier
for Climb checks. It can always choose to take 10 on a Climb
check, even if rushed or threatened.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with
an arachnicid swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 11
Fort save or be nauseated for 1 round.
Acid Bite (Ex): A successful swarm attack also causes 1d10
points of acid damage (DC 11 Fort save for half).
Area H–3a: Jungle’s Reach
Read or paraphrase the following:
Before you are a set of the spiraling doors so common in this abhorrent
place. This portal is different, however: a spiked, green tentacle-like
tendril is caught in the center of the door.
The tendril belongs to the alien jungle growth lurking just
beyond the doors. The tendril is far from harmless, and
attacks any living creature coming within 10 feet. The tendril
is part of a large plant-like creature, the feared massive creeper,
lurking just beyond the door (see area H–4). For all its mighty
strength, the creeper has not the intelligence to pry the doors
open; as long as the doors remain closed the creeper can
attack the heroes with only 1 of its 4 tendrils. The tendril can
be lopped off by inflicting 17 points of damage.
The doors have a hardness of 10 and 150 hp, and will only
open to a yellow card key or higher. Partially opened, the door
can also be pulled open with a DC 25 Strength check. Once
opened, doors remain open for 1 round after the key-bearer
has passed through them. If the doors are opened, the creeper
lashes out with its remaining tendrils, attempting to drag a
target through the doors before they close once more.
Massive Creeper: CR 7; Huge Plant (Alien); HD 8d8+40; hp
76; Init +2; Spd —; Space/Reach 15 ft./15 ft.; AC 22, touch
10, flat-footed 20; Full Atk 4 tendrils +13 melee (2d6+9); SA
Ferocious bite, improved grab; SQ immunity to cold, low-
light vision, vulnerability to fire; AL N; SV Fort +11, Ref +4,
Will +2; Str 28, Dex 14, Con 20, Int—, Wis 10, Cha 9.
Ferocious Bite (Ex): The central head of a creeper is a ferocious
mouth full of sharp spikes and rasping tongues. Attack bonus
+14, 2d8+9 points of damage.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a creeper must hit a
Large-sized or smaller opponent with a tentacle attack. It
can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple
check, it establishes a hold and can use its bite attack the
following round.
75

Area H–4: Jungle Ecology
Read or paraphrase the following:
Before you rises an awesome sight: a living, steaming jungle, here
in the heart of this alien city. A dense canopy of fronds cast deep
shadows over the moist jungle floor. The air is hot and thick with
moisture, and a hundred foreign smells and sounds.
This large chamber serves as a jungle-ecology for all the tropical
beasts and monsters abducted during the course of the Beagle’s
travels. The jungle is thick with alien plants, vines, fronds,
ferns and mist. Creatures 20 feet away or more have total
concealment and attacks against them have a 20% miss chance.
The canopy obscures the chamber’s artificial sunlight; creatures
with sensitivity to light do not suffer any of the usual ill effects.
The floor of the chamber is made up of a moist, mealy soil that
grants a +5 circumstance bonus to Track checks.
The ecology teems with life. Insects buzz through the air,
eerie chirps, squawks and cries ring down from the canopy,
and the tracks of massive beasts abound. Flowers droop from
enormous trunks, serpentine vines litter the air and floors,
and a constant light rain falls on the jungle’s canopy.
Since the crash of the Beagle there have been no caretakers
to cull the ecology’s inhabitants or supply them with prey,
transforming the jungle into a highly lethal exercise in
Darwinism. Creatures encountered have little or no fear of the
PCs, and attack ferociously, hoping to make a quick meal of
the heroes before a larger, more ferocious predator arrives.
For every 10 rounds spent in the ecology (areas 4b to 4d)
roll 1d20 and consult the random encounter table below. If
combat lasts longer than 5 rounds, roll 1d20+5; if the result
is higher than the initial roll, consult the table again. The
second beast arrives to fight the first for the right of devouring
the PCs. In chaos ensuing, the PCs might have the chance to
slip free of the battle.
1d20 Encounter
1–5 No encounter
7–10 1d3 Lazariks
11–15 1d4 Ridgeback apes
15–17 Massive creeper
18–20 Ythrak
21–23 Maned drazin
24+ Advanced tyrannasaurus
Lazarik: CR 4; Medium Magical Beast (Alien); HD 4d10+16;
hp 38; Init +2; Spd 60 ft.; Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AC 16,
touch 12, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +4; Grp +8; Atk Talons
+6 melee (2d6+4); Full Atk Talons +6 melee (2d6+4) and 2
foreclaws +1 melee (1d3+2) and bite +1 melee (2d4+2); SA
Pounce, sneak attack +1d6; SQ Blink, darkvision 60 ft., low-
light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +2; Str 19,
Dex 15, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
76
CITY of the GODS
Skills and Feats: Hide +10, Jump +26, Listen +10, Move Silently
+4, Spot +10, Survival +10; Run, Track.
Blink (Su): The creature can use blink as the spell (CL 4) and
can evoke or end the effect as a free action.
Pounce (Ex): If a lazarik charges, it can make a full attack.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Any time a lazarik’s opponent is denied his
Dexterity bonus to AC, or if a lazarik flanks its opponent, it
deals an extra 1d6 points of damage. This ability is just like
the rogue’s sneak attack and subject to the same limitations.
Skills: A lazarik has a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, Listen,
Spot, and Survival checks.
Ridgeback Ape: CR 5; Large Animal (Alien); HD 7d8+14; hp
40; Init +2; Spd 30 ft., Climb 30ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.;
AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 17; Atk Claw +11 melee (1d6+7);
Full Atk 2 claws +11 melee (1d6+7); SA Rend; SQ Blood
frenzy, low-light vision, scent; AL NE; SV Fort +7, Ref +7,
Will +3; Str 24, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Climb +15, Listen +3, Move Silently +9,
Spot +9; Alertness, Power Attack, Toughness.
Blood Frenzy (Ex): Once per day a ridgeback ape that suffers
damage in combat can fly into a blood frenzy the following
round, clawing and biting madly until either it or its opponent
is dead. The ridgeback ape gains +2 Constitution and +2
Strength, and takes a –2 penalty to AC.
Rend (Ex): A ridgeback ape that hits with both claw attacks
latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh, doing
an extra 2d6+14 points of damage.
Skills: Ridgeback apes have a racial bonus of +8 on Climb
checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks,
even if rushed or threatened.
Massive Creeper: See statistics in area A–3.
Yrthak: CR 9; Huge Magical Beast HD 12d10+36; hp 102;
Init +6; Spd 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (average); Space/Reach 15 ft./10
ft.; AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +12; Grp +25;
Atk Bite +15 melee (2d8+5) or sonic lance +12 ranged touch
(6d6); Full Atk Bite +15 melee (2d8+5) and 2 claws +13
melee (1d6+2); or sonic lance +12 ranged touch (6d6); SA
Sonic lance, explosion; SQ Blindsight 120 ft., immunities,
vulnerability to sonic; AL N; SV Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +5;
Str 20, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Listen +12, Move Silently +10; Endurance,
Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Snatch.
Sonic Lance (Su): Once every 2 rounds, a yrthak can focus
sonic energy in a ray up to 60 feet long. This is a ranged touch
attack that deals 6d6 points of damage to a single target.
Explosion (Su): A yrthak can fire its sonic lance at the ground,
a large rock, a stone wall, or the like to create an explosion
of shattered stone. This attack deals 2d6 points of piercing
damage to all within 10 feet of the effect’s center. This counts
as a use of the sonic lance attack and thus is usable only once
every 2 rounds, and never on the round following a sonic
lance attack.
CITY of the GODS
Blindsight (Ex): A yrthak can ascertain all foes within 120
feet. Beyond that range it is considered blinded. Yrthaks are
invulnerable to gaze attacks, visual effects of spells such as
illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight. A yrthak
whose sense of hearing is impaired is effectively blinded,
treating all targets as having total concealment.
Immunities: Yrthaks have immunity to gaze attacks, visual
effects, illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight.
Skills: Yrthaks have a +4 racial bonus on Listen checks.
Maned Drazin: CR 10; Huge Animal (Alien); HD 18d8+54;
hp 134; Init +4; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; AC 18,
touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+6 natural, +4 Dex, –2 size); Base
Atk +14; Grpl +30; Atk Claw +20 melee (2d6+8); Full Atk
2 claws +20 melee (2d6+8) and bite +18 melee (2d6+4); SA
Improved grab, pounce, rake, roar, trample; SQ Low-light
vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +14, Ref +15, Will +9; Str 26,
Dex 18, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4*, Jump +14, Listen +5, Move Silently
+12, Spot +5, Survival +4; Alertness, Endurance, Iron Will,
Multiattack, Run, Toughness, Track.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a maned drazin must hit
with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it
wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.
Pounce (Ex): If a maned drazin charges, it can make a full
attack.
Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +20, damage 2d6+4.
Roar (Ex): This attack is a directed cone of sound 60 ft. long.
Any hearing target caught in the drazin’s roar must succeed
at a DC 18 Will save or be stunned for 1d4 rounds. The
drazin may call upon this ability once every 1d4 rounds.
Skills: Maned drazins have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and
Move Silently checks. *In areas of deep jungle or heavy
undergrowth, the Hide bonus improves to +8.
Advanced Tyrannosaurus: CR 12; Gargantuan Animal; HD
25d10+175; hp 317; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 14, touch 5, flat-
footed 13; Base Atk +18; Grp +25; Atk/Full Atk +25 melee
(5d10+13); Face/Reach 20 ft./ 20 ft.; SQ Scent, improved
grab, swallow whole; AL N; SV Fort +21, Ref +15, Will +10;
Str 36, Dex 12, Con 25, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +14, Spot +14; Alertness, Improved
Natural Attack (bite), Run, Toughness, Track.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tyrannosaurus must
hit an opponent of up to one size smaller with its bite attack.
It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple
check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the
following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A tyrannosaurus can try to swallow a
grabbed opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a
successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 2d8+8
points of bludgeoning damage and 8 points of acid damage
per round from the tyrannosaurus’s gizzard. A swallowed
creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing
weapon to deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 16).
Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole;
another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
Area H–4b: Mist Pool
Read or paraphrase the following:
The thick jungle parts to reveal pool of water shrouded in heavy
mists. Fed by a small waterfall, the pool seems a peaceful reprieve
from this horrid place. The illusion of safety is shattered when you
recognize the shape of a humanoid floating face down in the water.
The pool is home to a lampine lurker, a fearsome beast that
employs illusions and the ability to detect thoughts to lure
victims within reach. The “body” floating face down in the
water is one such illusion. If closely inspected (and if the
illusion stands up to disbelief) the body seems to be High
Thonian, and wearing a silver-gray body suit.
The lurker waits until the heroes approach the pool, then
lunges out of the water, latching its massive jaws around a
victim and dragging the poor soul to the bottom of the pool
to drown. The pool is 30 feet deep and murky, obscuring sight
beyond 5 feet, so that even those that dive after their fellows
might find it difficult to locate the lurker and its prey.
The illusion is based on a pair of the lurker’s previous
victims. The two Travelers, caretakers for the ecology, were
trapped in the chamber when the Beagle crashed and quickly
killed by their charges. Their corpses remain hidden in a
small, muddy burrow at the base of the pool. The burrow can
be found by searching the pool (DC 20 Search). The bodies
of the Travelers are torn and gashed, thoroughly saturated
with the filthy pond water. Their environmental suits are
ruined, though 2 laser rifles (15 charges each) have survived
submersion, and one of the suits has a blue passkey and 5
radiation pills zipped into its pocket.
Lampine Lurker: CR 11; Huge Animal (Alien); HD 13d8+52;
hp 116; Init +1; Spd 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 9, flat-
footed 15; Base Atk +9; Grp +27; Atk +18 melee (2d8+15) or
tail slap +17 melee (1d12+15); Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.; SA
improved grab; SQ Detect thoughts, hold breath, low-light
vision, silent image; AL N; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +5; Str
30, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 15.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2*, Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +18;
Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (hide), Weapon Focus
(bite).
Detect Thoughts (Su): A lampine lurker can continuously use
detect thoughts as the spell (DC 15 Will, CL 6). It can suppress
or resume this ability as a free action.
Hold Breath (Ex): A lampine can hold its breath for 10 minutes
before it risks drowning.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a lampine must hit
with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple
as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
77

If it wins the grapple check, the lampine establishes a hold
on the opponent with its mouth and drags it into deep water,
attempting to pin it to the bottom of the pool.
Silent Image (Su): This effect duplicates a silent image spell (DC
15 Will, CL 6).
Skills: A lampine has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can
always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming,
provided it swims in a straight line. *A lampine gains a +4
racial bonus on Hide checks when in the water. Further, a
lampine can lie just beneath the water’s surface, gaining a
+10 cover bonus on Hide checks.
Area H–4c: No Way Out!
This set of portals is no different from any of the other doors
encountered previously in the Beagle, save that they have
been cut off from power, and refuse to open to any color
passkey. Worse, even if the PCs batter their way through the
doors, they discover that the corridor beyond collapsed in
the crash. Several thousand tons of debris blocks the way,
preventing passage.
78
CITY of the GODS
Area H–4d: Onyx Pyramid
Read or paraphrase the following:
A polished black pyramid stands in the center of the clearing.
Roughly 50 feet wide at the base and rising 40 feet in height, the
pyramid shows no seems or cracks. The structure is curiously free of
all lichen, moss and vines. A simple staircase climbs one side of the
pyramid, stopping just short of the peak.
To all tests, the pyramid seems to be cut from a single block of
polished onyx, and extends over 20 feet beneath the jungle’s
surface. The pyramid once served as the means for supplying
the predators of the ecology with fresh prey, but the crash
of the Beagle and the death of the ecology’s handlers (see
area 4c) the feeding pyramid has gone unused. With the sole
exit from the ecology blocked by fallen rubble, the feeding
pyramid is the sole means of escaping the ecology.
A casual search of the clearing reveals that the ground is
littered with bones. Most are broken or show signs of massive
bite marks. A DC 15 Heal or Track check reveals that the
bulk of creatures are large-sized quadrapeds, with skeletons
similar to Blackmoor horses or cattle.
If the PC carrying a yellow or higher passkey ascends the
pyramid, it triggers the following sequence. The peak of the
pyramid descends into the pyramid, revealing a vertical tube
that descends 70 feet into the heart of the pyramid, before
running north (see area 4e). The interior of the tube is sheer
and perfectly vertical, and cannot be climbed without aid.
The creatures of the ecology have learned to recognize the
noise of the pyramid opening as the arrival of prey. Within
1d6 rounds of the feeding pyramid opening, an advanced
tyrannosaurus appears in the clearing, ravenous for prey.
Alert PCs will see other of the ecology’s beasts lurking on
the periphery of the clearing, hoping to pick at the scraps left
behind by the king of the jungle.
Advanced Tyrannosaurus: See area H–4 above.
Area H–4e: Feeding Corridor
This smooth-sided, unlit corridor runs the length between
the jungle and arctic ecologies. Before the crash of the Beagle,
a system of moving platforms transported prey to both of the
ecologies, but now must be traversed by foot.
The northern end of the corridor terminates in a vertical tube
like the one leading from area 4d. Like the tube leading from
area 4d, the tube rising to area H–5 is perfectly smooth and
cannot be climbed without aid. The tube rises 70 feet before
ending at a portal that opens automatically when touched by
a living creature. The portal opens to the top of the feeding
pyramid in the arctic ecology.
CITY of the GODS
Area H–5: Arctic Ecology
Read or paraphrase the following:
An endless waste of blowing snow and ice reaches as far as the eye
can see. The howling wind tugs at your clothing, and the cold stings
your eyes and steals the breath from your lungs.
The arctic ecology is severely cold, and when combined with
the endless wind, presents a serious danger to unprotected
heroes. Every hour spent in the ecology, PCs must make a DC
25 Fort save; the DC is reduced to 15 for those wearing suitable
cold weather gear. Those failing the Fort save suffer 1d6 points
of nonlethal damage. PCs taking any nonlethal damage from
cold and exposure are beset by frostbite and hypothermia (treat
as fatigued). These penalties end when the character recovers
the damage caused by the cold and exposure.
Although at first glance a wasteland, the arctic ecology is far
from lifeless. For every hour spent in the ecology, roll 1d20
and consult the following table.
1d20 Encounter
1–6 No encounter
7–11 1d6+3 abducted Skandaharians
11–14 Dire bear
15–17 Remorhaz
18–20 1d3 black ice giants
Skandaharian, War4: CR 4; Medium Humanoid; HD
4d8+4; hp 22; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed
13; Base Atk +4; Grpl +6; Atk/Full Atk Battleaxe +7 melee
(1d8+2/✕3) or longbow +5 ranged (1d8/✕3); SA Rage 2/day;
SQ Skandaharian traits; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +0; Str 15,
Dex 13, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 6.
Skill and Feats: Climb +0, Intimidate +6, Jump +3, Swim +0;
Cleave, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Hide armor, battle axe, longbow, quiver with 10
arrows, pouch with flint and steel, tinder, and 3 days dried
meat.
Dire Bear: CR 7; Large Animal; HD 12d8+51; hp 105; Init
+1; Spd 40 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; AC 17, touch 10,
flat-footed 16; Base Atk +9; Grp +23; Atk Claw +19 melee
(2d4+10); Full Atk 2 claws +19 melee (2d4+10) and bite +13
melee (2d8+5); SA Improved grab; SQ Low-light vision, scent;
AL N; SV Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +9;
Str 31, Dex 13, Con 19,
Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +13; Alertness,
Endurance, Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus (claw).
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire bear must hit
with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Remorhaz: CR 7; Huge Magical Beast; HD 7d10+35; hp 73;
Init +1; Spd 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.; Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.;
AC 20, touch 9, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +7; Grp +23; Atk
Bite +13 melee (2d8+12); Full Atk Bite +13 melee (2d8+12);
SA Improved grab, swallow whole; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., heat,
low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; AL N; SV Fort +10, Ref
+6, Will +3; Str 26, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Listen +8, Spot +8; Awesome Blow, Improved
Bull Rush, Power Attack
Skills: Remorhazes have a +4 racial bonus on Listen checks.
Heat (Ex): An enraged remorhaz generates heat so intense that
anything touching its body takes 8d6 points of fire damage.
Creatures striking a remorhaz with natural attacks or unarmed
attacks are subject to this damage, but creatures striking with
melee weapons do not take damage from the remorhaz’s heat.
This heat can melt or char weapons; any weapon that strikes a
remorhaz is allowed a DC 18 Fort save to avoid destruction.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a remorhaz must hit
an opponent least one size category smaller than itself with
its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can attempt to
swallow the opponent the following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): When a remorhaz begins its turn with
a grappled opponent in its mouth, it can swallow that
opponent with a successful grapple check. Once inside, the
opponent takes 2d8+12 points of bludgeoning damage plus
8d6 points of fire damage per round from the remorhaz’s
gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a
light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 25 points of damage
to the gizzard (AC 15). Once the creature exits, muscular
action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must
cut its own way out. A Huge remorhaz’s interior can hold 2
Large, 4 Medium, 8 Small, 32 Tiny, 128 Diminutive, or 512
Fine or smaller opponents.
Black Ice Giant: CR 11; Large Giant; HD 16d8+80; hp 154;
Init +2; Spd 40 ft.; AC 25, touch 11, flat-footed 23; Atk Huge
greataxe +21/+16/+11 melee (2D8+10/✕3) or rock +13/+8/+3
ranged (2d6+10/crit ✕2, Rock); SA Rock throwing, rage, death
throes; SQ Immunity to cold, low-light vision, rock catching,
vulnerability to fire; AL LE; SV Fort +15, Ref +7, Will +7; Str
30, Dex 14, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14, Intimidate +2, Jump +14, Spot +8;
Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder,
Power Attack; Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Sunder.
Rock Catching (Ex): A black ice giant Small, Medium, or Large
rocks (or projectiles of similar shape). Once per round, a giant
that would normally be hit by a rock can make a Reflex save
to catch it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20
for a Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. (If the projectile
provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by
that amount.) The giant must be ready for and aware of the
attack in order to make a rock catching attempt.
Rock Throwing (Ex): Black ice giants are accomplished rock
throwers and receive a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls when
throwing rocks. An ice giant can hurl rocks weighing 40 to 50
pounds each (Small objects) up to 600 feet.
79

Rage (Ex): A black ice giant that takes damage in combat flies
into a berserk rage on its next turn, attacking madly until
either it or its opponent is dead. It gains +4 Strength, +4
Constitution, and –2 AC. The creature cannot end its rage
voluntarily.
Death Throes (Ex): When killed, a black ice giant turns to ice
and shatters in an explosion that deals 8d6 points of cold
damage and 6d6 points of piercing damage to everything
within 50 ft. (DC 22 Reflex save for half damage).
Possessions: Breatplate, huge greataxe, rock.
Area H–5b: Feeding Pyramid
Read or paraphrase the following:
A polished black pyramid rises from the windswept snow and ice.
Long, high drifts of snow trail behind the pyramid, and a single
staircase descends one face into the snow. A low wall, built of blocks
of packed snow and ice, surround the obelisk’s base.
If the PC carrying a yellow or higher passkey approaches the
pyramid—either from above or below—it causes the peak of
the pyramid to open, revealing the vertical tube running
down to area 4e.
A tribe of skandaharians, abducted by researchers of the
Beagle, are camped out around the base of the pyramid.
Although the savages have no conception of the pyramid’s
purpose, they are drawn to its unique nature. Desperate for
food, the tribe attacks anything coming out of the pyramid.
The savages have established a crude camp around the base
of the pyramid, including squat snow caves, a simple hut for
smoking meat, and a small bonfire. A close search of the camp
(DC 16 Search) reveals a small, emerald idol buried in ice
floor of one of the snow caves. The idol is a holy relic, depicts
the war god Thyrm, and is sacred to the Skandaharians. If
carried by a cleric, warrior, fighter or barbarian who worships
the savage war god, the idol grants the PC the ability to rage
once per day. If the character already has the ability to rage,
the idol adds to the number of times the character can rage.
If the idol is carried by a PC who hasn’t professed their
devotion to Thyrm, the idol begins to haunt the hero’s
dreams, appearing as a starkly beautiful Skandaharian
princess that beckons the hero to chase her. Unless the hero
succeeds on a DC 25 Will save, he spends his night chasing
the princess in his dreams. The nightmare prevents restful
sleep and causes 1d10 points of damage, leaves the subject
fatigued, and unable to regain arcane spells for the next 24
hours. The dreams end the moment the PC puts down the
idol and leaves it behind.
Skandaharians, War4 (12): CR 4; Medium Humanoid; HD
4d8+4; hp 22; Init +1; Spd 40 ft.; AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed
13; Base Atk +4; Grpl +6; Atk/Full Atk Battleaxe +7 melee
(1d8+2/✕3) or longbow +5 ranged (1d8/✕3); SA Rage 2/day;
SQ Skandaharian traits; SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +0; Str 15,
Dex 13, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 6.
80
CITY of the GODS
Skill and Feats: Climb +0, Intimidate +6, Jump +3, Swim +0;
Cleave, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Hide armor, battle axe, longbow, quiver with 10
arrows, pouch with flint and steel, tinder, and 3 days worth
of dried meat.
Area H–5c:The River of No Return
Read or paraphrase the following:
The icy tundra slopes down to a slow moving ice flow. Thick blocks
of ice swirl and bob in the dark current.
PCs can cross the river by leaping from ice block to ice block.
The river is 30 feet wide and leaping from one block to the
next covers 5 feet. In order to safely leap from one ice block
to the next requires a DC 15 Balance check. Those failing slip
off the ice block and plunge into the dark waters.
The river is home to a pair of orcamen. The pair wait for the
PCs to cross the ice flow, then hurl themselves at the PCs,
attempting to knock the heroes into the water. Alternately,
each round an orcaman can slam a block office that a hero is
standing on, forcing the PCs to succeed on a DC 20 Balance
check or be knocked into the water. Once a PC has been
knocked into the water, the orcamen concentrate all of their
attacks on the unfortunate soul. The water is bitterly cold,
and any PC falling in must succeed on a DC 20 Fort save
each round or suffer 1d4 points of Str damage, dramatically
impairing the ability to swim and fight.
Those sinking beneath the ice must risk the danger of
drowning. Any character can hold her breath for a number
of rounds equal to twice her Constitution score. After this
period of time, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution
check every round in order to continue holding her breath.
Each round, the DC increases by 1.
When the character finally fails her Constitution check, she
begins to drown. In the first round, she falls unconscious
(0 hp). In the following round, she drops to –1 hit points and
is dying. In the third round, she drowns.
Orcaman (2): CR 5; Huge Animal; HD 9d8+45; hp 85; Init
+2; Spd 50 ft.; AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +6;
Grpl +12; Atk/Full Atk Bite +12 melee (2d6+8) or Huge
Spear +12 melee (3d6+12/✕3); SA —; SQ Blindsight 120 ft.,
hold breath, low-light vision; AL N; SV Fort +11, Ref +8, Will
+5; Str 26, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +9, Spot +9.
Skills: Listen +14*, Spot +14*, Swim +16; Alertness, Endurance,
Run, Toughness.
Blindsight (Ex): Orcamen can “see” by emitting high-frequency
sounds, inaudible to most other creatures, that allow them to
locate objects and creatures within 120 feet. A silence spell
negates this and forces the whale to rely on its vision, which
is approximately as good as a human’s.
CITY of the GODS
Hold Breath (Ex): An orcaman can hold its breath for a
number of rounds equal to 8 x its Constitution score before
it risks drowning.
Skills: An orcaman has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can
always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming,
provided it swims in a straight line. *An orcaman has a +4
racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks. These bonuses are
lost if its blindsight is negated.
Possessions: Huge Spear.
Area H–5d: Wardens
Read or paraphrase the following:
The snowy slope rises to a high, ice-locked plateau. Placed at the rear
of the plateau is a large portal set into the nigh-impervious walls,
but standing at the ready before the portal is a troupe of the massive,
metal automatons. Blowing snow obscures the golem-things and the
portal, but you count at least ten of the fearsome watchers.
The plateau portal is but one of two potential exits from the
arctic ecology. The sheer number of centurion robots makes
this exit extremely challenging, and—if the PCs charge in
blindly—potentially deadly.
Unlike the other robots encountered thus far in the city,
these 13 have been stationed by Captain Riesling to keep the
ecology’s starving beasts from breaking into the adjoining
chambers. The robots are under orders not to leaver their
posts. Even if the PCs assault them with spells from beyond
the range of the c-bot’s laser rifles, the robots will not pursue.
(They will, however, alert Captain Riesling, who will organize
a party of armed troopers to investigate.) The sole means of
luring the robots away from the door is by approaching close
enough to activate the robots’ melee programming. If the
robots calculate that they close with the PCs in 2 rounds or
less, they will charge.
C-Bot (13): CR 6; Huge Construct; HD 8d10+40; hp 84; Init
–2; Spd 20 ft., 30 ft. fly (poor); AC 12, touch 6, flat-footed 6;
Base Atk +6; Grp +24; Atk Claw +14 melee (1d8+10, 4 claws)
or 2 laser rifles +2 ranged (3d8); Space/Reach 15 ft./10 ft.;
SA Autofire; SQ DR 5/—, Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 30, Dex 6,
Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: Climb +14; Multiattack.
Autofire (Ex): A centurion robot may saturate an area with
automatic fire from its laser rifle. The c-bot targets a 10-foot
by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC 10. If
the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area
must make a DC 15 Reflex save or take 1d8 points of laser
damage.
Area H–5e: Geyser
Read or paraphrase the following:
A geyser tears free of the icy ground, intermittently hurling searing
water hundreds of feet into the air. The steaming water freezes before
even striking the ground, piling as sleet and snow about the geyser.
The geyser is the second means of escape from the arctic ecology,
and though it is less dangerous than facing down the unit of
c-bots in area 5d, it is far from safe. Those coming within 5 feet
of the geyser can peer down the neck, spotting not one but two
vertical tubes rising from below. The first is a metallic pipe (the
source of the eruptions), but the second is a hole torn in floor
of the ecology—an escape from the arctic wasteland.
The crash of the Beagle tore a series of pipes free from the
coolant sublevel. The piping punched a hole through the
floor of the ecology. PCs can escape into the coolant sublevel
through the hole beside the piping, but only when the geyser
isn’t erupting.
The neck of the geyser is a 30-foot long ice chimney. Climbing
the chimney without the aid of gear (or magic) is nearly
impossible, requiring a DC 35 Climb check. Rappelling down
the chimney with a fixed rope takes 2 rounds and requires
only a DC 15 Rope check; with a DC 25 Rope check, the
rappel can be done in a single round, but PCs failing the
checks take damage as if they had fallen the entire distance.
To complicate matters, the geyser doesn’t erupt on a regular
basis. There is a 34% chance on any given round that the
geyser erupts; if an eruption is indicated, it continues for 1d3
rounds. At the end of the cycle re-roll to following round to
see if the geyser erupts again.
Heroes within 5 feet of the geyser when it erupts take 2d10
points of fire damage (DC 20 Reflex for half). Those within
15 feet take 1d10 points of fire damage (DC 15 Reflex save
for half). Those caught within the chimney (or poking their
heads directly into the neck) take 3d10 points of fire damage
(DC 27 Reflex save for half), 1d12 point of bludgeoning
damage from the sheer force of the blast, cannot descend
further down the chimney, and at the end of the erruption
must make a DC 25 Rope use or Climb check to avoid falling
to the base of the chimney.
All damage values listed are per round, so an unlucky climber
caught within the chimney for a three-round eruption
would take 3d10 points of fire damage and 1d12 points
of bludgeoning damage each round, and after surviving
the blast, risk falling to the base of the chimney (or being
dropped if his fellows fled their anchor stations at the top of
the geyser).
81

Area H–6: Coolant Sublevel
Read or paraphrase the following:
A wide corridor with a low ceiling leads into darkness. Large, black
pipes occupy the bulk of the corridor, leaving only a narrow path to
one side. The corridor radiates a sweltering heat, and the metal-like
floor is covered in several inches of lukewarm water.
Chamber Specimen
1 A 14-foot long black worm, with its head
ending in a dozen tentacles. Each tentacle is
tipped in a hooded talon.
2 A translucent jelly-fish like creature with
long, dangling stingers and an enormous
central eye.
3 A creature resembling an idealized High
Thonian, with long, graceful wings.
4 A collection of irridescent crystals, roughly
the size of a human fist. The laboratory once held a multitude of deadly specimens,
5 This chamber appears empty (the alien
creature contained inside is invisible under
normal conditions).
6 An amorphous black goo with a trio of
spider-like legs extending from the center of
its mass.
7 An unimportant (but recognizeable) NPC
from Blackmoor. Either the unfortunate
soul disappeared when the Beagle first came
to Blackmoor, or has been replaced by a
Traveler doppleganger and is still active in
the North!
8 An ape-like creature, with tentacles for arms,
curved horns, and massive fangs.
9 A single enormous ant. On close inspection,
it is readily apparent that the ant is wearing
a metallic belt, and its pinchers have been
augmented with opposable metal grippers.
10 Hundreds of small gray worms, bundled
together into a ball.
11 Two halfling-sized humanoids joined at the
waist and head with long, fleshy cords.
12 A scaled quadruped resembling a dog-sized
black dragon.
13 An inconspicuous black mote, the size of a
robin’s egg.
82
CITY of the GODS
The coolant sublevel draws heat from the arctic ecology and
feeds it to the jungle sublevel. The massive pipes are filled with
a water-based coolant, that while sweet tasting, is virulently
poisonous. Anyone drinking the water from the floor must
make a DC 20 Fort save or be poisoned (1d6 points Con
damage, initial and secondary).
The sublevel is accessible only by the hole torn in the arctic
ecology and a service door located so several hundred feet
down the corridor.
Area H–7: Laboratory
This area can only be accessed by blue or higher passkeys. When
the portal is opened, read or paraphrase the following:
As the portal slides open your ears fill with a deafening wail. Bright
red lights flash in time to the rise and fall of the screeching noise. The
chamber before you is in disarray. Multiple glass cases line the walls,
but most are shattered, their contents spilled onto the floor. In very
center of the chamber is what looks like a low sacrificial altar, and
multiple metallic appendages hang from the ceiling.
creatures abducted from a number of worlds, planes and
times. The crash of the Beagle, and the subsequent loss of
power in the lab, resulted in an end to the stasis fields. The
beasts that were able to break free of their physical containers
fled the chamber, while those that were unable to sunder
their prisons died slow deaths.
The sirens and klaxons cannot be silenced, so PCs investigating
the lab are forced to put up with the ear-splitting wails and
disconcerting lighting. The floor is covered with shards of
glass and translucent, cryogenic ooze that sticks to the boots
and sandals of explorers.
PCs giving the chamber a cursory inspection discover the
body of a researcher behind the examination/surgery table.
The Traveler resembles a high Thonian, with long-dried
blood crusting multiple savage wounds. A DC 15 Heal
check or DC 15 Track check confirms that the injuries were
caused by a creature with massive claws and large fangs. The
researcher carried little that could be mistaken for treasure,
but in the pocket of his white lab coat is a black keycard.
In the opposite pocket, secured to a nylon cord is a voxbox
and three radiation tablets.
Those inspecting the surviving stasis chambers find a
horrifying menagerie of beasts. Thirteen of the original
26 chambers remain intact. Each is filled with the same
translucent fluid that covers the floor, and each contains a
captured specimen. The GM is encouraged to come up with
his own nightmarish ideas or build upon the suggestions
below. Alternately, a PCs might find a long-lost NPC floating
in the cryogenic jelly. All of the specimens are dead, their
internal organs rotting from the inside.
CITY of the GODS
Area H–8: Devil in the Halls
Read or paraphrase the following:
Ahead, the body of a humanoid lies in the center of the corridor.
From a distance you can see that the humanoid appears to be a High
Thonian dressed in a white coat and trousers, and carrying a crude
spear fashioned of a length of metal ending in a sharpened tip.
The body was once one of the Travelers, and PCs investigating
the corpse will gain a fair amount of insight to the condition
of the Beagle’s surviving crew members. First, though, the PCs
will have to deal with the invisible tamer. The beast leads off
combat with its bite, then disgorges its tamerian ooze to finish
off the victim while the tamer moves on to another victim. If
reduced to 30 hp or less, the tamer reclaims its ooze and flees
into the corridors, using its invisibility to elude pursuers.
Heroes inspecting the body of the dead Traveler find that
unlike the previous Travelers discovered so far, this one is
filthy. The dead man’s skin is blackened with soot and grime,
his beard is matted with grease, and his hair is a tangled mess
of greasy knots. A DC 15 Heal check determines that the
man was killed recently, inside the last 8 hours.
His spear is no more than
a crudely sharpened metal
rod. His white lab coat is
stained with blood and
grease, and the corpse
wears a primitive suit of
armor fashioned from
ceramic and metal plates
held in place with corded
wire. The Traveler carried
a creel of spitted space
rats and has a rat-skin
pouch containing (which
the PCs likely don’t
recognize), four hand-
rolled cigarettes, a vial of
cinnamon liquor and a
blue passkey.
Tamer: CR 8; Large Magical Beast (alien); HD 10d10+70; hp
125; Init +0; Spd 60 ft.; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; AC 19,
touch 9, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +10; Grp +20; Atk Bite +15
melee (2d6+6); Full Atk Bite +15 melee (2d6+6) or 2 claws +10
melee (1d6+3); SA Improved grab, disgorge; SQ Darkvision 60
ft., low-light vision, invisible in light, scent; AL N; SV Fort
+14, Ref +7, Will +4; Str 23, Dex 10, Con 24, Int 3, Wis 12,
Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Hide +2, Spot +10, Survival +3; Cleave, Power
Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Track.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tamer must hit with
its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Disgorge (Ex): A tamer that wins a grapple check after a
successful bite attack vomits forth a gout of tamerian ooze.
The ooze immediately inflicts slam and acid damage (1d6+3
slam, plus 1d12 acid). A tamer may vomit only a single ooze.
If a tamer is within 5 feet of its ooze, it can retract the ooze as
a move action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Invisible in Light (Ex): A tamer is invisible in any area lit well
enough for a human to see. In a darkened area, it shows up
as a faintly glowing outline visible up to 30 feet away (60 feet
if the viewer has low-light vision). Magical darkness smothers
the glow and conceals the outline.
Skills: Tamers have a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks due to
their three keen eyes.
Tamerian Ooze: CR 5; Medium Ooze; HD 7d10+35; hp 73;
Init –5; Spd 10 ft.; AC 5, touch 5, flat-footed 5; Base Atk +5;
Grp +8; Atk/Full Atk Slam +8 melee (1d6+3 plus 1d12 acid);
SA Acid, constrict 1d6+1 plus 1d12 acid, improved grab; SQ
Blindsight 60 ft., immunity to cold and fire, ooze traits; AL
N; SV Fort +7, Ref –3, Will –3; Str 16, Dex 1, Con 21, Int —,
Wis 1, Cha 1.
Skills and Feats: —.
Acid (Ex): A tamerian
ooze secretes a digestive
acid that quickly dissolves
any non-tamer organic
material and metal, but
not stone. Any melee hit or
constrict attack deals acid
damage. Armor or clothing
dissolves and becomes
useless immediately unless
it succeeds on a DC 16
Reflex save. A metal or
wooden weapon that
strikes a tameriarn ooze
also dissolves immediately
unless it succeeds on a DC
18 Reflex save. The ooze’s
acidic touch deals 16 points
of damage per round to
wooden or metal objects, but the ooze must remain in contact
with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage.
Constrict (Ex): A tamerian ooze deals automatic slam and
acid damage with a successful grapple check. The opponent’s
clothing and armor take a –4 penalty on Reflex saves against
the acid.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tamerian ooze must hit
with its slam attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as
a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it
wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.
Symbiote (Ex): The ooze relies on its host to survive. If the
ooze’s tamer is destroyed, the ooze dies as well. (If a tamer’s
ooze dies, the tamer dies of starvation in 2d10 days.)
83

Area H–9: Blockade
Read or paraphrase the following:
Up ahead you see a barricade that crosses the entire corridor.
The blockade is lit by torches stuck at odd angles in the rubble,
and you can see a number of sharpened stakes placed in the mass
of rubble to ward off attackers. The air is tainted with the smell of
burning cloth and the sooty smoke of torches.
Three guards lurk behind the barricade, spying down the
corridor for the approach of monsters. It has been several
months since a survivor appeared from lower in the ship, so
the guards are quick to assume that the PCs are alien beasts
in the shape of strange humans (the more exotic races, like
half-orcs, gnomes and docrae look like monsters already). The
Travelers call out, ordering the PCs not to come any closer.
If the PCs win the Traveler’s trust (such as it is), the guards ask
one PC to come forward to speak for the party.
The Travelers’ fright has made them trigger-happy. If the
PCs make the slightest misstep, the guards retreat behind the
barricade and take defensive measures.
The floor before the barricade if coated with highly flammable
machine oil. PCs notice the oil slick with a DC 20 Spot check.
84
CITY of the GODS
The oil slick covers the 20 feet directly before the barricade.
The guards hurl flaming torches over the barricade, igniting
the oil and causing 1d4 points of fire damage per round to
anyone standing in the oil. The slick burns for 6 rounds.
While the slick burns, the guards fire their missile weapons
over the barricade.
The PCs can scale the barricade with a DC 20 Climb or
Balance check. Those failing the check slip and fall into 1d3
spikes, taking 1d4 points of damage per spike. The spikes are
coated with a mild poison; poisoned heroes must make DC
15 Fort saves or fall unconscious for 1d6 rounds.
On the back side of a barricade is a trio of mattresses, a bucket
of water, and a small cooking fire with space rats roasting on
a spit.
The ideal resolution to this encounter is a peaceful meeting
with the Travelers, but the PCs, inurned to violence from
their previous encounters within the Beagle, might not see
things that way. This is an opportunity for the socially-
skilled members of the party to excel. Though suspicious and
cautious, if the Traveler guards can be won over by the PCs,
the heroes will reap rewards that might otherwise be lost.
CITY of the GODS
If the PCs resort to combat, the Travelers do their best to
hold them off, while sending one of their number back to
raise an alarm. Even if the guards are unable to alert their
companions, unless the battle is perfectly silent, 1d12 + 6
additional Travelers with identical statistics arrive within 5
minutes. The reinforcements will call for a truce with the
PCs, immediately recognizing them as distinct from their
true enemies, the Army of the Rock.
Traveler guard, male human Exp2/War1 (3): CR 2; Medium
Humanoid; HD 2d6+1d86; hp 25; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC
13, touch 11, flat-footed 12); Base Atk +2; Grpl +3; Atk
Club +3 melee (1d6+1) or improvised crossbow +3 ranged
(1d6/19–20) or improvised javelin +3 ranged (1d4+1); AL
NG; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +4; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int
12, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Knowledge (science) +7, Knowledge
(architecture & engineering) +5, Listen +5, Move Silently +3,
Profession (crew member) +7, Search +4, Spot +6, Survival +3;
Alertness, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (improvised crossbow),
Toughness.
Possessions: Club, 3 improvised javelins, layered cloth armor,
improvised crossbow, space-rat quiver with 6 bolts.

Area H–10: Wild Town

Read or paraphrase the following:
The portal scissors open to reveal a vast, dark chamber occupied by
what appears to be—by all standards—a refugee camp. By smoky
firelight you can see improvised tents, pitched about the chamber
in small clusters. The air stinks of smoke and humanity, like the
worst slum you’ve ever seen. On the far side of the flame-lit chamber
is a small shelter built from stacked cargo containers, with guards
standing at attention. Scores of men and women, thin and dirty,
turn their hollow, haunted eyes toward you as you enter.
The original crew of the Beagle numbered over 2,500 souls.
The Rock’s mutiny led to the death of over two-thirds of the
crew, either by violence or in the crash of the Beagle. Following
the crash, radiation, asphyxiation, and deadly beasts released
from the ecologies did away with hundreds more. As the PCs
can attest, the Beagle is a hazardous environment, deadly to
the weak and foolish. Within weeks of the crash, mutineers
loyal to the Rock sealed off all avenues of the crew’s escape;
cut off from supplies of food, water and fresh air, the crew
was forced to seek shelter here, organizing a defense against
the beasts below, and the Rock’s men above.
While the crew hasn’t reverted to savagery in the usual sense
(they can all recall what life was like before) their current
existence is little better than that of savages. The Rock has
succeeded in cutting off all electricity to this section of the
ship, forcing the crew to light their way by improvised torches.
(To date the Rock has failed to cut the section’s supply off
fresh air, though he will succeed in the next several weeks.)
The people of Wild Town have erected tents to provide some
small semblance of privacy, but after months living in close
quarters with one another, many go about only partially
clothed. The shelters are built from bed sheets, covers, and
cubicles walls.
The crewmembers get their drinking water from a meta-
distiller intended for terra-forming; the machine draws
moisture from the air, organic material and reclaimed waste
to produce purified water. However, the meta-distiller was
designed to run off solar power. Though it has been converted
to run off batteries, the supply of batteries is limited, forcing
the Travelers to limit their use of the distiller to creating
only drinking water—no one in Wild Town has showered or
bathed in months.
The people of Wild Town have little need of fire for warmth;
the fires are used exclusively for cooking, since heat has proven
to be the only way to sterilize the meat of the space rats and
the other alien creatures the inhabitants manage to kill. And
while there was originally an abundant supply of Traveler
weapons, most have been confiscated for their batteries to
power the distiller, or for use by Riesling’s Court (see area
H–11 below). For hunting and defense, the crewmembers
have resorted to using improvised weapons; mostly spears
and javelins salvaged from metal components exposed in
the wreckage and weak crossbows built from the same. The

85

crewmembers subsist off a diet of space rats, scavenged food,
the few predatory beasts that they manage to kill, and—when
one of their own dies—cannibalism.
Thus, the surviving men and women of the Beagle are
desperate indeed. Recent attacks by the Saint have driven this
home. The crewmembers realize that their time is drawing
short, but the PCs’ arrival (from the depths of the Beagle no
less!) offer them their first glimmer of hope in months. Who
are these strange folk? Do they come in peace? Do they bring
food, weapons, a chance at escape? These questions and
hundreds of others roll through the crowded chamber. The
crewmembers immediately cluster about the PCs, hoping for
some clue of their origins and nature.
If the PCs were escorted here by the guards in area H–9, the
guards will force back the mob and escort the PCs to the
Captain’s Court (area H–11). If the PCs have fought their way
here, the crew gathers their weapons and prepares to defend
their home, but the they prefer to meet with outsiders, rather
than fight with them.
There are 50 or so tents littering the common room, each
home to 1d3+1 crewmembers. Each tent is outfitted with
a collection of water bottles strung from the ceiling, and a
rack of meat smoking over a fire. There is a 15% chance that
any given tent has a small cache hidden under a bedroll or
secreted in the seams of the tent (DC 15 Search). Roll 1d8 to
determine contents of the cache.
1d8 Result
1–3 A pair of skiv (treat as daggers) made from
scavenged metal; the hilts are wrapped with space rat hide.
4 A spare water bottle filled with rum.
5 One concussion grenade.
7 A pair of radiation tablets.
8 A laser pistol with 5 shots remaining.
Life in Wild Town: The people of Wild Town welcome the
PCs into their midst, clearing a space for the heroes to set
up a camp, and sharing their meager supplies of food and
water. The crewmembers are also willing to trade weapons
and radiation pills, but only if the PCs have something of
worth to barter in turn. (The crewmembers have no use for
gold or gems, and have little faith in “magic.”)
It is left to the GM to determine if the PCs are successful
in their dealings with the crewmembers of the Beagle. The
crewmembers have up to 20 laser pistols (with 3d4 charges
each), 50 radiation pills, and a single laser rifle (with 5
charges).
Average Crewmember (150): See guard above.
86
CITY of the GODS
Area H–11: The Court of Riesling
A pair of guards stand watch over the entrance to Riesling’s
compound, refusing entrance to those that would enter without
the Captain’s blessing. There are another four guards inside
the compound, who immediately come to their brethren’s aid,
if the compound is under attack.
If the PCs are brought to see Captain Riesling, read or
paraphrase the following:
The guard draws aside the curtain, to reveal a small chamber
dominated by a humble throne, a simple chair crafted from leather
and raised off the floor by a collection of pallets. An older man with
a short gray beard sits atop the chair, radiating a solemn, charm and
quiet presence. To his side stands what must be an advisor, garbed in
tattered robes. A pair of guardsmen stands to either side of the throne,
each holding an improvised club tipped with fearsome spikes.
This is the once-great Captain Riesling, master of the Beagle.
Once he traversed the ether-streams in the mighty Beagle, now
he finds himself simply fighting for his people’s survival. The
captain is a charismatic man with a powerful presence; nearly
everyone who meets him is drawn to the captain, hoping to
win their way into his good graces. The captain is careful not
to abuse this power, treating all his people and the PCs with
the same objective kindness.
Riesling’s Gambit: The captain is in a tight spot. He knows
that it is only a matter of time before the Saint and his army
find a way of shutting off air to the refugee camp. Captain
Riesling has but a single principle that guides and informs
all his actions: the welfare of the men and women under his
command. Already thousands of lives have been lost, and
the knowledge of his failures weighs heavily on Riesling. The
captain is desperate to do whatever it takes to get his people
to safety, even if it means resorting to betrayal and violence.
For the good of his crew, Riesling will sacrifice his own life,
the PCs, and even his honor.
The PCs are the first Blackmoorians to make contact with
the surviving crew of the Beagle. Just a week before the PCs
arrival, a wizard with glowing blue eyes named Sabernius Fah
won past the army of the Saint and found his way to Wild
Town. Sabernius immediately ingratiated himself to the crew,
serving as an advisor to Riesling and as an ambassador to the
people of the Blackmoor. Unbeknownst to Captain Riesling
or his crew, Sabernius is a thrall beholden to the fell Egg
of Coot. On behalf of the Egg, Sabernius has proposed an
alliance: The Egg will raise a small army to annihilate the
Saint and his raiders; in exchange, the Captain will give the
Egg and its minions unrestricted access to the City’s alien
technology. This goes against the captain’s every general
operating order, but with his time running short, this might
be the only chance the captain has.
The arrival of the PCs changed all that. The army of the Saint
believed that they killed the PCs when the bridge collapsed,
but divinations by the Saint’s agents proved that the PCs
CITY of the GODS
were still alive. Desperate to capture the PCs before they can Treasure: The captain has colleted the bulk of the crew’s
lend their aid to Riesling and the surviving crew, the Saint supplies for rationing. He keeps the gear in large trunks.
sent messengers to the surviving crewmembers requesting a There are 7 fully charged laser pistols (20 charges each), 3
trade: the PCs in exchange for the crew’s freedom. fully charged laser rifles (20 charges each), 10 first aid kits,
7 fragmentation grenades, 5 concussion grenades, 3 EMP
Thus, Captain Riesling has two choices: Ally with a native
grenades, 2 voxboxes, and 2 suits of medium-sized tactical
being of unknown motives, or betray the PCs to the Saint.
ballistic armor.
Given that his hands are already stained with the blood
of many innocents, and that handing the ship’s Captain Riesling, male Traveler Exp10/
technology over to a local faction could result War2: CR 7; Medium Humanoid; HD
in the death of untold thousands, Riesling’s 10d6+2d8+24; hp 80; Init 0; Spd 30 ft.;
choice is clear: Deliver the PCs to the AC 10, touch 10, flat-footed 10; Atk
Saint in the hopes that he wants them Laser pistol +10/+5 ranged (2d8);
badly enough to deal honorably. (Of AL LN; SV Fort +8, Ref +3, Will
course, the Saint will renege on +12; Str 13, Dex 10, Con 15,
his deal, killing the PCs before Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 17.
moving on to Riesling and Skills and Feats: Bluff +10,
his crew, but the captain is Diplomacy +23, Intimidate
desperate enough to believe +20, Knowledge (the
just about anything.) planes) +17, Knowledge
Accordingly, the captain (the ether) +17, Knowledge
will welcome the PCs into (science) +17, Pilot +15,
his camp, offering them Profession (ship’s captain)
whatever meager supplies +18, Sense Motive +20,
he has on hand. He will Swim +3; Exotic Weapon
explain (truthfully) how he Proficency (laser pistol),
and his crew are trapped Iron Will, Leadership,
here by the Saint. Once the Negotiator, Persuasive,
PCs have had a chance to Skill Focus (Diplomacy).
rest and heal any wounds, Possessions: Laser pistol with
Riesling asks them to help 20 charges, 2 concussion
him and his crew fight their grenades, 2 EMP grenades,
way free of the city. This is 1 fragmentation grenade.
actually a ruse; Riesling’s Elite Traveler guard,
true plan is to lead the PCs War5 (6): CR 5; Medium
into an ambush. (See area Humanoid; HD 5d8+10;
H–12 below.) hp 41; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.;
Riesling’s duplicity is AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed
complicated by Sabernius 13; Base Atk +5;gpl +7;
Fah, whose leverage over the captain ends as soon as the crew Atk Morningstar +7 melee
is freed from the city.” Therefore, even though Sabernius (1d8+2) or laser pistol +6 ranged (2d8, laser Pistol ); AL LN;
hungers to see the PCs fall into the Saint’s clutches, he may SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +2; Str 14, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 10,
be forced to fight on their behalf if it appears that Captain’s Wis 12, Cha 12.
gambit might win out. The Thrall’s first goal is to secure the Skills and Feats: Bluff +3, Intimidate +9, Jump +6, Knowledge
forbidden technology of the city for his master, the Egg, but (science) +4; Exotic Weapon Proficency (laser Pistol), Power
failing this, will do everything in his power to deny others Attack, Toughness.
such precious secrets, even if that means destroying the City Possessions: Laser pistol (10 charges), morningstar, scavenged
of the Gods. armor.
Sabernius is served by Dross, a dwarf assassin who is infamous Sabernius Fah, High Thonian Thrall of Coot/Wiz9: CR
throughout the North. Dross is lurking about, invisible, and 11; Medium Humanoid; HD 9d4; hp 27; Init +2; Spd 30
doesn’t show himself unless Sabernius is attacked, and only ft.; AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Atk +2 dagger +8 melee
then to land a sneak attack/death strike augmented by the (1d4+2/19–20) or +2 dagger +8 ranged (1d4+2/19–20);
true strike spell. SQ Summon familiar, scribe scroll, fast healing, magical
puissance, mage’s sight, resilient, immunities, resilient; AL

87
 CITY of the GODS
LE; SV Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +10; Str 15, Dex 14, Con 9, Int Area H–12: Betrayed
21, Wis 14, Cha 6. Up until a week ago, the corridor leading to area H–12 was
Skills and Feats: Concentration +11, Decipher Script +17, Hide sealed by 5 separate blast doors, all controlled remotely the
+5, Intimidate +4, Knowledge (arcana) +25, Move Silently +6, Saint, and used to keep the surviving crewmembers trapped
Search +11, Sense Motive +8, Spot +6, Use Magic Device +7; within the Beagle. Within the last week, the Saint has raised
Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Spell Penetration, Toughness ✕3, the blast doors and sent emissaries to meet with Captain
Weapon Finesse. Riesling and his band of motley survivors.
Possessions: Bracers of armor +2, dagger +2, ring of protection +1,
The chamber is a prepared ambush for the PCs. Whether
tattered robes, spell focus, ring of teleportation.
Captain Riesling succeeds in duping the PCs, or the heroes
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/6/5/5/4/3/1; DC 15 + spell level): proceed on their own, the Saint and his men are waiting
0—acid splash, detect magic, ghost sound, resistance; 1st—mage for them. When the PCs proceed into area H–12, read or
armor, protection from good, ray of enfeeblement (✕3), shield; paraphrase the following:
2nd—blur, mirror image, scorching ray (✕2), see invisibility; 3rd—
blink, displacement, dispel magic, ray of exaustion (✕2); 4th—black Some great cataclysm in the past tore a massive gash in the far wall of
tentacles, fire shield, phantasmal killer (✕2); 5th—cone of cold, this chamber. Looking out over the rubble, you can see pools of flames
dominate, feeblemind; 6th—chain lightning. that dance and shift, throwing up thick clouds of black smoke. Past the
Magical Puissance (Ex): A thrall of Coot cast all spells and uses pools of flame you can see blue sky, wavering in the heat.
spell-like abilities at +2 caster level. Saint Stephen and his raiders are hidden in the rubble,
Mage’s Sight (Sp): The thrall’s eyes glow an eerie blue and allow waiting in ambush. The rift on the far side of the chamber
it to see magical emanations from all objects and creatures. is a major image cast by the Saint’s chief war-caster, Gelmyr
This ability continually duplicates the detect magic spell. of the Third Eye. The actual exit is in the north-east corner
Fast Healing (Ex): A thrall heals 1 point of damage each round, of the chamber, hidden by a pile of rubble. The exit can be
as long as it has more than 1 hit point. found with a DC 15 Search or Spot check.
Resilient (Ex): A thrall takes 1d6 less damage from a successful
The agents of the Saint are arrayed about the chamber,
sneak attack and takes one-half the additional damage
launching their attacks when the first PCs cross between the
normally dealt by a critical hit.
pools of flaming oil. The enemy combatants are located as
Immunities (Ex): A thrall is immune to mind affecting effects, noted on the map:
poison, charm and sleep effects, paralysis and stunning.
Skills: A thrall has a +8 racial bonus on Knowledge (arcana),
Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device checks.
Dross, male dwarf Rog5/Ftr3/Asn2: CR 10; Medium
Humanoid; HD 5d6+3d10+2d6+40; hp 90; Init +2; Spd 20
ft.; AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14; Base Atk 7; Grpl 11; Atk
+2 short sword +14 melee (1d6+4/19–20) or dagger of venom
+13 melee (1d4+5) or light crossbow +9 ranged (1d8/19–20);
Full Atk +2 short sword +14/+9 melee (1d6+4/19–20) or dagger
of venom +13/+8 melee (1d4+5) or light crossbow +9/+4
ranged (1d8/19–20); SQ stonecunning, sneak attack +4d6,
trapfinding, evasion, trap sense +1, uncanny dodge, death
attack, poison use, +1 save vs. poison; AL LE; SV Fort +8, Ref
+10, Will +3; Str 18, Dex 15, Con 19, Int 16, Wis 8, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Appraise +5, Balance +6, Bluff +2, Climb
+6, Disguise +3, Hide +10, Intimidate +6, Listen +7, Move
Silently +10, Open Lock +10, Search +11, Sleight of Hand
+10, Spot +7, Swim +6, Tumble +7; Alertness, Iron Will,
Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (short sword),
Weapon Specialization (short sword).
Possessions: Belt of giant strength (+4), dagger of venom, +2 leather
armor, light crossbow, ring of invisibility, +2 short sword, bolt
quiver, 10 bolts, four bolts of human slaying, two bolts of elf
slaying, 50 ft. rope, masterwork thieves tools, belt pouch.
Assassin Spells Known (2; DC 13 + spell level): 1st—true strike
(✕2).

88
CITY of the GODS
S: The Saint of the Rock. The Saint uses his blade
to hound the PCs with bolts of lightning, closing
for combat only when the PCs begin to close with
Gelmyr or appear close to making an escape. If
the battle goes against the Saint, he redoubles his
efforts, knowing that this may be his only chance to
eliminate the heroes.
G: Gelmyr of the Third Eye. Gelmyr does his best
to avoid melee combat, hanging back and directing
spells at spellcasters. If reduced to 10 hit points or
less, Gelmyr beats a hasty retreat.
R: Raider. There are a total of 6 raiders concealed
about the rubble, all benefiting from cover. The
raiders attack with their ranged weapons, and close
to melee range once their laser pistols are expended.
The raiders fight until they are reduced to 5 hit
points or less, before retreating from the chamber.
If the PCs arrived with Captain Riesling, he brings Sabernius
Fah and his six elite guards with him. The captain waits for
the combat to begin before attacking the PCs from behind,
turning the battle into a deadly crossfire. The instant battle is
joined, the Saint commands the blast doors to the south to fall,
trapping both the Captain and the PCs in the chamber. The
blast doors have a hardness of 15 and 300 hp, but can lifted
with a successful DC 30 Strength check; up to four medium-
sized PCs can aid a lifting character. Once raised, the doors
must be held in place. Supporting a door for a round requires
a DC 20 Strength check, or the blast door drops back in place.
For statistics on Captain Riesling and his men, see area A–10.
The Terrain: The ambush is but one of the dangers faced
by the PCs. The pools of flame are composed of a viscous
mixture of oil and synthetics, that causes 1d8 points of
damage to any creature it touches. Worse, the liquid sticks
to whatever that touch it, and can only be extinguished if
completely cut off from every oxygen source (i.e. submerged
in some liquid, placed in a vacuum, etc). Otherwise, even
a small vial of the liquid burns for 1d6+5 rounds; larger
amounts burn for respectively longer durations.
The flaming liquid can be used by both the heroes and the
agents of the Saint, but GMs should carefully adjuncate any
attempts to use the liquid as a weapon. Those reaching into
the pool to “scoop” flaming oil into vials and jars are certain
to burn themselves, and any quick action is sure to splash
nearby characters with the sticky, persistent flames.
Strange Bedfellows: Once the blast doors drop behind them,
Sabernius Fah instantly recognizes that the Saint intends to
kill not only the PCs, but also and Captain Riesling and his
men. And while Sabernius has no love for the PCs, he can see
that the deluded Riesling is no match for the Saint. The only
way Sabernius can hope to escape with his life is to throw his
lot in with the PCs.
The Saint’s Arms and Armor
GMs that have played through Temple of the Frog will
recognize the Saint’s gear. For those that have not
faced the horrors of the temple, the powers of the
Saint’s alien items are recounted here. (Where there
are discrepancies, these stastistics take precedence):
Nimbic Shield: The nimbic shield is a +3 reflecting buckler
that grants the wearer and all allies within 10 feet resistance
to cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10, and sonic 10. It also
grants all allies within 10 feet a +3 resistance bonus on
all saving throws and can generate an invisibility sphere
three times per day (CL 12). It is a standard example
of Traveler tech. It must be activated to make use of its
reflecting property, to generate the resistance and save
benefits, or to create the invisibility sphere.
Saint Stephen’s Battle Armor: In addition to acting
as +3 full plate, the battle armor grants the wearer a
+3 resistance bonus on all saving throws, as well as
resistance to fire 10, cold 20, electricity 20 and sonic
20. It imposes no penalty to land movement (30 feet
base speed) and grants the wearer a fly speed of 30
feet (average) and a swim speed of 30 feet. While clad
in the battle armor, the wearer is is protected as from
a death ward spell and is immune to all spells of the
Enchantment and Transmutation schools. Finally, the
armor bestows a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength
and Dexterity to anyone wearing it.
Saint Stephen’s battle armor is a taxing, complex example
of Traveler tech, and moving while in the armor
requires activation.
Saint Stephen’s Sword: The sword Saint Stephen
wields is a blade of blue lightning, a complex example
of Traveler tech. On top of being a +3 brilliant energy
bastard sword, it acts as a wand of lightning bolts (CL 6th,
7 charges remaining) and can detect living creatures
(presence and number only) within a range of 120 feet
as a standard action. It is unbreakable by any means
short of employing a miracle or wish.
Immediately, Sabernius leaps into the fray, running to the
PCs’ side (which might be construed as an attack) and calls
to the party leader. In the heat of battle, Sabernius calls
for a truce, offering his spells in defense of the PCs if they
guarantee his safety out of the city. On Sabernius’orders,
Dross stays hidden, ready to launch a sneak attack if the PCs
betray his master.
While Sabernius fights valiantly for the PCs, as soon as the
Saint and his men are defeated, the wizard signals Dross,
and the wicked dwarf launches his attack against the heroes,
hoping to wipe them out before they can recover. Alternately,
if the PCs appear to be making short work of Riesling and
89

the Saint, Sabernius and Dross do their best to destroy the
PCs so that the agents of the Coot are the only ones standing
when the battle draws to a close.
If things go badly for Sabernius and Dross, the pair fight their
way past the Saint to the hidden door. If they make it outside
the City, Sabernius uses his ring to teleport them both back to
the realm of the Egg.
Saint Stephen, male Traveler Exp9: CR 8; Medium
Humanoid (human); HD 9d6+27; hp 72; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.;
AC 28, touch 12, flat-footed 22; Base Atk +6; Grp +10; Atk
+13 melee (1d10+5/19–20, brilliant energy bastard sword
+1); Full Atk +13/8 melee (1d10+4, brilliant energy bastard
sword +1); AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 18, Dex
18, Con 16, Int 32, Wis 15, Cha 20.
Skills and Feats: Craft (metalworking) +23, Craft (etherworking)
+23, Decipher Script +23, Diplomacy +17, Disable Device
+23, Disguise +17, Heal +14, Handle Animal +17, Intimidate
+17, Knowledge (religion) +23, Knowledge (the planes)
+23, Knowledge (the ether) +23, Profession (navigator) +17,
Search +23, Spellcraft +23, Survival +14, Use Magic Device
+17; Armor Proficiency (heavy), Exotic Weapon Proficiency
(bastard sword), Shield Proficiency.
Possessions: Battle armor, blade of blue lightning, nimbic shield.
Gelmyr of the Third Eye, human Wiz7: CR 7; Medium
Humanoid; HD 7d4; hp 16; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch
12, flat-footed; Base Atk +3; Grpl +1; Atk Light crossbow +5
ranged (1d8/19–20) or quarterstaff +1 melee (1d6–2); SQ
summon familiar, scribe scroll; AL LE; SV Fort +3, Ref +4,
Will +9; Str 7, Dex 15, Con 9, Int 17, Wis 14, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Concentration +9, Decipher Script +5, Hide
+7, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Move Silently +5, Search +6,
Spellcraft +13, Spot +5; Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative,
Iron Will , Spell Penetration, Toughness.
Possessions: Light crossbow, quarterstaff, bolt case with 10 +1
bolts and 5 bolts of human slaying, spell focus.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/5/4/3/1; DC 13 + spell level):
0—daze, flare, read magic, resistance; 1st—expeditious retreat,
mage armor, magic missile (✕2), ray of enfeeblement; 2nd—hideous
laughter, invisibility, scorching ray, web; 3rd—deep slumber, fireball,
major image; 4th—ice storm.
Saint’s raiders, Thonian War3 (12): CR 2; Medium
Humanoid; HD 3d8+6; hp 19; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17,
touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk Battleaxe
+4 melee (1d8+1/✕3) or laser pistol +4 ranged (2d8) or light
crossbow +4 ranged (1d8/19–20); AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +2,
Will +1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +1, Intimidate +5, Jump
+3, Knowledge (geography) +1, Listen +2, Ride +7, Spot +2;
Alertness, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (laser pistol), Weapon
Focus (battleaxe).
Possessions: Battleaxe, chain shirt, light crossbow, shield (heavy
wooden), belt quiver, 10 quarrels, laser pistol (8 charges).
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CITY of the GODS
Conclusion:
Return to the City
The final battle with Saint Stephen of the Rock, Captain
Riesling, and Sabernius Fah quickly devolves into chaos,
with all three sides vying for victory, and the PCs caught in
the middle. In order to survive, let alone win out over their
foes, the PCs have to find a way to let the Riesling and the
Rock exhaust themselves attacking each other, while avoiding
Sabernius and his dwarf assassin. Success depends less on the
heroes’ actual skills and battle prowess, and more on their
ability to track multiple opposing forces. If the PCs can keep
their cool in the midst of the battle, they have the chance
of escaping with their lives, and perhaps, some of the city’s
fabled treasures.
Once the dust settles and the PCs escape the City, the
adventure need not be over. The unexplored city is vast, and
given untold number of cybogs, mutated crewmembers and
alien horrors, there is no end to the challenges the heroes
could face. The agents of the Cabal and Coot will still vie for
control of the city’s technological marvels, and the city still
poses a potential threat to the nation of Blackmoor. One way
or another, the barons of Blackmoor will be forced to deal
with the city again.
GMs looking to make the City of the Gods an integral part
of their campaign can begin by integrating hints of the
technology into Blackmoor culture. Clockwork scientists will
take their inspiration from the city’s cyborgs. And barons,
seeking to augment their armies, will try to acquire laser
weapons for their elite forces.
Alternately, GMs can limit the impact of the city’s technology
by simply tracking the use of charges and waiting for the PCs
to exhaust their weapons and items. Given the PCs inherent
inability to recharge the items, it will only be a matter of
months before they are drained of charge. Meanwhile, the
PCs become the target of every ambitious Cabal and Coot
agent hoping to impress her superiors. Played correctly,
a cunning GM might even be able to convince the PCs to
destroy the items themselves, since they are more trouble
than they are worth.
Finally, consider the question of the Travelers themselves.
Although the PCs might not recognize it at first, in many
ways a single scientist is far more dangerous than the worst
weapon the city can muster. Presented with a choice between
slaughtering the last surviving crewmembers in cold blood,
and the knowledge that at some point, somehow, one of
those crewmembers will fall into the hands of the Egg of
Coot, unleashing a torrent of technological horrors upon
the North, the PCs are forced to make a very, very difficult
choice. Such is the heart of any good roleplaying game!
CITY of the GODS

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 CITY of the GODS

Appendix One: heat metal spell. An acendioris can suppress or resume this
ability as a free action.

New Monsters Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day—dimension door. Caster level 7th.

Acendioris (Fire Nymph)
Medium Fey (Fire) detect magic, flare, ghost sounds, mending, read magic, resistance;
Hit Dice: 6d6+6 (hp 27)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft.; swim 20 ft.
AC: 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14
Base Atk/Grapple: +3/+3
Attack: Dagger +6 melee (1d4/19–20)
Full Attack: Dagger +6 melee (1d4/19–20)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Fiery beauty, spells, spell-like abilities,
stunning glance
Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold,
low-light vision, unearthly grace
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +12, Will +12
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 17, Cha 19
Skills: Concentration +10, Diplomacy +6, Escape Artist
+12, Handle Animal +13, Heal +12, Hide +12,
Listen +12, Move Silently +12, Ride +5, Sense
Motive +12, Spot +12, Swim +8, Use Rope +3
(+5 with bindings)
Feats: Combat Casting, Dodge, Weapon Finesse cast charm person 1/day (CL 10th). This ability has a secondary,
Environment: Temperate aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
The beautiful woman seated before you has hair the color of fire, and
eyes that glow with a fierce passion.
Fire nymphs (or acendioris, as they like to call themselves)
are sisters to the nymphs. The guise of beauty conceals a
wicked, devious mind and fire nymphs are notorious for their
cruelty in luring men into fiery love affairs that almost always
spell doom for the mortal. All that usually remains of such
dalliances is a pile of ash and charred bone.
Combat
Fire nymphs do their best to avoid combat, relying on their
beauty, or failing that, their spells to extricate themselves
from dangerous encounters.
Fiery Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within 30
feet of a fire nymph. Those who look directly at a nymph
must succeed on a DC 17 Fort save or be effected as if by a
Spells: A fire nymph casts spells as a 7th-level sorcerer.
Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/7/5; DC 14 + spell level): 0—daze,
1st—charm person, cause fear, mage armor, protection from good, ray
of enfeeblement; 2nd—invisibility, mirror image, scare; 3rd—fireball,
water breathing.
Stun (Su): As a standard action, a wrathful nymph can stun a
creature within 30 feet with a look. The target creature must
succeed on a DC 17 Fort save or be stunned for 2d4 rounds.
The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unearthly Grace (Su): A nymph adds her Charisma modifier as
a bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus
to her Armor Class. (The statistics block already reflects these
bonuses).
Skills: A nymph has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. She can
always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
or endangered. She can use the run action while swimming,
provided she swims in a straight line.
Flame Charm: Every fire nymph carries a talisman known as a
flame charm, which provides a +2 arcane bonus to the bearer’s
Charisma. In addition, the flame charm allows the bearer to
negative effect that causes any creature so charmed to become
insanely and often violently jealous of the bearer. The talisman
shatters after its charming power is used 5 times.
Arachnicid
Huge Vermin (Alien)
Hit Dice: 8d8+16 (hp 52)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft.; climb 20 ft.
AC: 16, touch 11, flat-footed 13
Base Atk/Grapple: +6/+18
Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+6 plus acid bite)
Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+6 plus acid bite)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Acid bite, web
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,
vermin traits, immunity to acid
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 17, Con 14, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +12, Hide –1*, Jump +4*, Spot +4*
Feats: —
Environment: Underground

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CITY of the GODS
Organization: Solitary, pair Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., swarm traits,
Challenge Rating: 5 tremorsense 30 ft., vermin traits
Treasure: Incidental Saves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
Alignment: Always neutral Abilities: Str 1, Dex 17, Con 10, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Advancement: 9–13 HD (huge) Skills: Climb +11, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: —
The large, black creature, with its chitin hide, bulbous body, and eight
legs, extends a pair of hooked fangs towards you. A drop of liquid falls, Environment: Underground
sizzling, from a fang, hissing loudly as it strikes the ground. Organization: Swarm
Challenge Rating: 2
As its name implies, the arachnicid shares much in common
Treasure: Incidental
with other huge spiders. The arachnicid’s frame is covered in
glossy black plates of chitin that slowly dull to a subdued violet Alignment: Always neutral
as the creatures ages. The pieces of chitin can be used as shields, Advancement: —
or to construct chitin-plate armor, and are resistant to acid. A swarm of chittering, hissing black spiders swarms towards you like
a wave of inky darkness.
Combat Once every five to ten years an arachnicid lays a clutch of
Acid Bite (Ex): Following a successful bite attack and arachnicid eggs more than 10,000 strong. When the eggs hatch, the
can inject into the victim a concentrated stream of acid that result is a swarm of ravenous arachnicids. The small creatures
deals 8d8 points of damage. A DC 17 Reflex save halves the attack anything in their path in their battle for survival. After
damage. The arachnicid must wait at least 5 rounds between 10 weeks, 99 percent of the swarm dies off, leaving a few
acid bites. survivors to find their own way in the world.
Stinging Web (Ex): Arachnicid webs are suffused with acid
and contact with the webs causes 1d6 points of acid damage. Combat
Arachnicids can throw a web eight times per day. This is
Arachnicid swarms are deadly and terrifying, but harmless if
similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range
avoided.
of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 ft. An entangled
creature can escape with a successful DC 16 Escape Artist Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with
check or burst it with a DC 20 Strength check. Each 5-foot an arachnicid swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 11
section of webbing has 14 hp. An arachnicid can move across Fort save or be nauseated for 1 round.
its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location
Acid Bite (Ex): A
of any creature touching its web.
successful swarm
Tremorsense (Ex): An arachnicid can detect and pinpoint any attack also causes
creature or object in contact with the arachnicid’s webs. 1d10 points of acid
damage (DC 11
Skills: Arachnicids have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Spot
Fort save for half).
checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. An arachnicid
can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed Skills: An arachnicid
or threatened. swarm has a +4
racial bonus on
Hide and Spot
Arachnicid Swarm checks and a +8
Diminutive Vermin (Alien, Swarm) racial bonus on
Climb checks. It
Hit Dice: 2d8 (hp 9)
uses its Dexterity
Initiative: +3 modifier instead
Speed: 20 ft.; climb 20 ft. of its Strength
AC: 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14 modifier for Climb
Base Atk/Grapple: +1/— checks. It can always
Attack: Swarm (1d6 plus acid bite) choose to take 10
Full Attack: Swarm (1d6 plus acid bite) on a Climb check,
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. even if rushed or
threatened.
Special Attacks: Distraction, acid bite,

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 CITY of the GODS
Abilities: Str 30, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 15
Skills: Hide +2*, Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +18
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide),
Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 11
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 14–18 HD (Huge), 19–23 (Gargantuan)
The water erupts in a violent boil as a massive creature, nearly all
jaw and fangs, lunges forward!
The lampine lurker is an aquatic predator, occupying a similar
place on the food chain as Blackmoor’s giant crocodile. Pale
and nearly translucent of skin, mature lurkers develop a
coat of algae and aquatic plants that serve to camouflage the
lurker’s form. Some native cultures make use of the lurker’s
long, needle like fangs to tip their warclubs and spears, with
the smaller fangs being used as needles.

Combat
Though far from intelligent or even cunning, the lurker has
the innate ability to detect thoughts, and it projects silent
images to lure its prey within striking range. As per its name,
the lurker lurks in shallow water, preying upon those that
come to drink.
Detect Thoughts (Su): A lampine lurker can continuously
use detect thoughts as the spell (DC 15 Will, CL 6). It can
suppress or resume this ability as a free action.
Hold Breath (Ex): A lampine can hold its breath for 10 minutes
before it risks drowning.
Lampine Lurker Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a lampine must hit
Huge Animal (Alien) with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as
Hit Dice: 13d8+52 (hp 116) a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If
Initiative: +1 it wins the grapple check, the lampine establishes a hold on
Speed: 20 ft.; swim 30 ft. the opponent with its mouth and drags it into deep water,
AC: 16, touch 9, flat-footed 15 attempting to pin it to the bottom of the pool.
Base Atk/Grapple: +9/+27 Silent Image (Su): This effect duplicates a silent image spell
Attack: +18 melee (2d8+15) (DC 15 Will, CL 6).
or tail slap +17 melee (1d12+15) Skills: A lampine has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
Full Attack: +18 melee (2d8+15) to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can
or tail slap +17 melee (1d12+15) always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming,
Special Attacks: Improved grab provided it swims in a straight line. *A lampine gains a +4
Special Qualities: Hold breath, detect thoughts, silent image racial bonus on Hide checks when in the water. Further, a
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +5 lampine can lie just beneath the water’s surface, gaining a
+10 cover bonus on Hide checks.

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CITY of the GODS
Lazarik
Medium Magical Beast (Alien)
Hit Dice: 4d10+16 (hp 38)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 60 ft.
AC: 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14
Base Atk/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Talons +8 melee (2d6+4)
Full Attack: Talons +8 melee (2d6+4) and 2 foreclaws
+3 melee (1d3+2) and bite +3 melee (2d4+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Pounce, sneak attack +1d6
Special Qualities: Blink, darkvision 60 ft.,
low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 15, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +10, Jump +26, Listen +10, Move Silently +4,
Spot +10, Survival +10
Feats: Run, Track
Environment: Jungle, temperate plains
Organization: Pack (5–24)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 5–9 HD (Large)
The feral, upright lizard circles you slowly, its dark eyes and fangs
glistening. In an instant, the beast has vanished!
Cowardly when encountered alone, a pack of lazariks is a
deadly force to be reckoned with. Covered in tough scales,
and armed with long, hooked claws, the lazarik is a killing
machine, hunting without remorse. Lazariks hunt only for
food, but a pack of these beasts is always hungry.
In some places, lazariks tamed and used as mounts for
smaller-sized creatures. Although, the lazarik has never
been successfully domesticated—to date, and every lazarik is
captured from the wild. Even “tame” lazariks rebel against
their captors, perceiving a rider as a meal it carries.
Combat
Lazariks attack with brutal efficiency, using their blink ability
to surround prey before making pounce and flank attacks.
Blink (Su): The creature can use blink as the spell (CL 4) and
can evoke or end the effect as a free action.
Pounce (Ex): If a lazarik charges, it can make a full attack.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Any time a lazarik’s opponent is denied his
Dexterity bonus to AC, or if a lazarik flanks its opponent, it
deals an extra 1d6 points of damage. This ability is just like
the rogue’s sneak attack and subject to the same limitations.
Skills: A lazarik has a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, Listen,
Spot, and Survival checks.
Malevolent Stalker
Medium Undead (Incorporeal)
Hit Dice: 3d12 (hp 19)
Initiative: +2
Speed: Fly 40 ft. (good) (8 squares)
AC: 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11
Base Atk/Grapple: +1/—
Attack: Incorporeal touch +3 melee (1d6 Wis)
Full Attack: Incorporeal touch +3 melee (1d6 Wis)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Wisdom damage
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., incorporeal traits,
+2 turn resistance, undead traits
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4
Abilities: Str —, Dex 14, Con —,Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 13
Skills: Bluff +5, Hide +6, Listen +2, Spot +5
Feats: Alertness, Dodge
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: —
A cool chill passes by. You can smell grave soil and moldering flesh,
and sense a faint aura of wickedness.
Malevolent stalkers delight in raising corpses from the dead,
turning the walking dead against loved ones and old friends.
Opportunistic stalkers have even grander plans, seeking out
the largest corpses for animation. Throughout the history of
Blackmoor there have been reports of mighty, skeletal creatures
attacking small towns and settlements, and a fair number of
these incidents can be traced to malevolent stalkers.
Combat
The malevolent stalker exists to torment the living, and if
ever a battle goes against it, the stalker abandons the corpse,
retreating to raise a different corpse on a different night.
Corpse Possession (Su): Once per round the stalker can merge
itself with the deceased body of a creature on the Material
Plane, animating that body as if by the spell animate dead,
which grants the corpse the skeleton template. To use this
ability, the stalker must move into the corpse’s space, an act
which does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If turned
or subjected to a dismissal spell while possessing a host, the
creature is ejected and cannot attempt to possess that same
corpse for another 24 hours.
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 CITY of the GODS
Maned Drazin Skills: Hide +4*, Jump +14, Listen +5, Move Silently +12,
Spot +5, Survival +4
Huge Animal (Alien)
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Iron Will, Multiattack, Run,
Hit Dice: 18d8+54 (hp 134) Toughness, Track
Initiative: +4 Environment: Jungle, temperate plains
Speed: 40 ft. Organization: Solitary, pair
AC: 18, touch 12, flat-footed 14 Challenge Rating: 11
Base Atk/Grapple: +14/+30 Treasure: Incidental
Attack: Claw +20 melee (2d6+8) Alignment: Usually neutral
Full Attack: Atk 2 claws +20 melee (2d6+8) Advancement: 19–23 HD (Huge)
and bite +18 melee (2d6+4)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. An enormous leonine creature plunges out of the underbrush, saber-
Special Attacks: Improved grab, pounce, rake, roar, trample like teeth thrown wide, its crimson mane matted with dried blood.
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent The maned drazin is at the very apex of its native food chain.
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +15, Will +9 Consequently, the maned drazin has no instinctual concept
Abilities: Str 26, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10 of fear or caution, immediately assuming that whatever it
encounters will simply be prey. In most cases this is correct,
but drazins abducted by planar travelers
seldom survive for long, attacking foes
that are the apex of their food chain.

Combat
The maned drazin is simple and to the
point. At its most devious, the drazin lurks
amid tree limbs to ambush its prey, but this
is to save the drazin the effort of stalking
and chasing its prey, rather than to give
the beast a crucial tactical advantage.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a
maned drazin must hit with its bite attack.
It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
free action without provoking an attack of
opportunity. If it wins the grapple check,
it establishes a hold and can rake.
Pounce (Ex): If a maned drazin charges, it
can make a full attack.
Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +20, damage
2d6+4.
Roar (Ex): This attack is a directed cone of
sound 60 ft. long. Any hearing creature
caught in the drazin’s roar must succeed
at a DC 18 Will save or be stunned for
1d4 rounds. The drazin may call upon this
ability once every 1d4 rounds.
Skills: Maned drazins have a +4 racial
bonus on Hide and Move Silently
checks. *In areas of deep jungle or heavy
undergrowth, the bonus to Hide checks
improves to +8.

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Massive Creeper Ridgeback Ape
Huge Plant (Alien) Large Animal (Alien)
Hit Dice: 8d8+40 (hp 76) Hit Dice: 7d8+14 (hp 40)
Initiative: +2 Initiative: +2
Speed: — Speed: 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
AC: 22, touch 10, flat-footed 20 AC: 19, touch 11, flat-footed 17
Base Atk/Grapple: +6/+23 Base Atk/Grapple: +5/+16
Attack: Tendril +14 melee (2d6+9) Attack: Claw +11 melee (1d6+7)
Full Attack: 4 tendrils +14 melee (2d6+9) Full Attack: 2 claws +11 melee (1d6+7)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./15 ft. Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, ferocious bite Special Attacks: Power Attack, rend
Special Qualities: Immunity to cold, plant traits, Special Qualities: Blood frenzy, low-light vision, scent
vulnerability to fire Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +2 Abilities: Str 24, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6
Abilities: Str 28, Dex 14, Con 20, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 9 Skills: Climb +15, Move Silently +9, Spot +9
Skills: — Feats: Alertness, Power Attack, Toughness
Feats: — Environment: Jungle
Environment: Any Organization: Solitary, pair, band (5–8)
Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 5
Challenge Rating: 7 Treasure: Standard
Treasure: Incidental Alignment: Usually neutral (evil)
Alignment: Always neutral Advancement: 8–12 HD (Large); 13–17 HD (Huge)
Advancement: 9–13 HD (Huge)
The muscular, ape howls at the sky, the red and black spines along
Long, dark green tendrils resembling, thick, corded vines hang from its back flaring wide. It drops onto all fours, white fangs bared, and
above. Each tendril sports a dozen, spiky thorns that seems to quiver charges!
softly at your approach.
The ridgeback ape is as territorial and violent as killer apes
The massive creeper is a large, carnivorous plant found in of other worlds, but the ridgeback displays signs of a cunning
dense jungles, fetid swamps, and in moist, wet caverns. The intelligence. Although the ridgeback has never been witnessed
massive creeper exists by attacking creatures that pass within using weapons (and indeed, given its natural arsenal, it has
its reach, devouring bones and all, that is turned into rich little need to), some bands of apes have taken to wearing
humus that feeds the other nearby plants, resulting in thicker, thick coats of mud or the skins of other beasts to augment
lush undergrowth the serves to conceal the creeper. their tough hides.

Combat
The massive creeper mindlessly attacks any living thing that
comes within its reach.
Ferocious Bite (Ex): The central head of a massive creeper is
a ferocious mouth full of sharp spikes and rasping tongues.
Attack bonus +14, 2d8+9 points of damage.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a creeper must hit a
Large-sized or smaller opponent with a tentacle attack. It
can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple
check, it establishes a hold and can use its bite attack the
following round.
Combat
A band of ridgebacks will track prey for days, waiting for the
opportune moment to attack, dropping out trees, charging
through the underbrush, and otherwise hoping to overwhelm
their prey with fear and terror.
Blood Frenzy (Ex): Once per day a ridgeback ape that suffers
damage in combat can fly into a blood frenzy the following
round, clawing and biting madly until either it or its opponent
is dead. The ridgeback ape gains +2 Constitution and
+2 Strength, and takes a –2 penalty to armor class.
Rend (Ex): A ridgeback ape that hits with both claw attacks
latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh doing
an extra 2d6+14 point of damage.
Skills: Ridgeback apes receive a racial bonus of +8 on Climb
checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks,
even if rushed or threatened.

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Robots
Automatons programmed to carry out instructions and
perform particular duties, robots are common aboard the
ship. The Beagle manufactures its own robots at an amazing
pace, and continues to do so despite the crash, slowly repairing
and rebuilding itself. The extensive construction of robots has
forced the Beagle to gut itself for parts, shutting down extensive
sections of the ship to be pillaged for construction materials.
While the robots of the Beagle are programmed for a
rudimentary artificial intelligence, they respond slowly
to new situations and challenges, a weakness that can be
exploited by PCs. This changes the more the robots of the
ship are exposed to the actions of the PCs—all the robots feed
collected data back to the mother computer, so that by the
time the heroes succeed in infiltrating the ship, the may find
that the robots are able to anticipate their every move. The
GM should play this carefully, reflecting the slow learning
curve of the robots, with each encounter proving less amusing
and more dangerous.
Any skills demonstrated by a robot reflect built-in sensors
and programming, not actual trained skills. A robot cannot
increase its skills without a software and parts upgrade.
Centurion Robot (C-Bot)
Huge Construct AC: 25, touch 1, flat-footed 25
Hit Dice: 8d10+40 (hp 84)
Initiative: –2
Speed: 20 ft.; 30 ft. fly (poor)
AC: 12, touch 6, flat-footed 6
Base Atk/Grapple: +6/+24
Attack: Claw +14 melee (1d8+10)
or laser rifle +2 ranged (3d8)
Full Attack: 4 Claws +14 melee (1d8+10)
or 2 laser rifles +2 ranged (3d8)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Autofire
Special Qualities: DR 5/—, Construct traits,
darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +2
Abilities: Str 30, Dex 6, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1
Skills: Listen +15, Search +20, Spot +15
Feats: ­—
Environment: —
Organization: —
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: —
Alignment: Usually lawful neutral
Advancement: —
98
CITY of the GODS
Like a titan crafted of glowing metal, the argent giant rises into the
air. It turns its gaze towards you, and an ominous humming fills
the air….
Unlike the security robot, the c-bot has but a single express
purpose: to eliminate threats. Sent into the field on search and
destroy missions, the c-bot is dangerous when encountered
alone and deadly when encountered in a group.
Combat
The c-bot’s tactics are simple: surround the enemy, and
lay down overlapping fields of laser fire until the threat is
eliminated. C-Bots are most often encountered in teams of
two, four, six, or eight.
Autofire (Ex): A centurion robot may saturate an area with
automatic fire from its laser rifle. The c-bot targets a 10-foot
by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC 10. If the
attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area must
make a DC 15 Reflex save or take 1d8 points of laser damage.
Defense Emplacement
Medium Construct
Hit Dice: 9d10+20 (hp 70)
Initiative: +0
Speed: —
Base Atk/Grapple: +6/—
Attack: Cyclic laser cannon +10 ranged (5d8)
Full Attack: Cyclic laser cannon +10 ranged (5d8)
Space/Reach: 10 ft. /10 ft.
Special Attacks: Autofire
Special Qualities: Construct traits, DR 10/—,
darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4
Abilities: Str 20, Dex —, Con —, Int —, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Listen +15, Spot +20
Feats: —
Environment: —
Organization: —
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually lawful neutral
Advancement: —
The silver tower rises to a small black globe. A strange rod, resembling
nothing so much as bundled reeds, extends from the globe.
Stationary robots used solely for defense, emplacements
are found across the surface of the Beagle, most often atop
armored towers.
CITY of the GODS
Combat Hardened (Ex): An interrogation drone is immune to EMP
Defense emplacements continually scan to the limit of their effects. Its nanites are not.
sensors for unauthorized robots or life forms, immediately Memory Spores (Ex): An interrogation drone release a cloud
attacking upon target acquisition. of nanite spores from its body once every 3 rounds as a free
Autofire (Ex): A sentry emplacement may saturate an area with action, targeting any breathing creature within 15 feet. The
automatic fire from its cyclic laser cannons. The sentry targets spores penetrate the skin, rushing to the brain and spinal
a 10-foot by 10-foot area and makes an attack roll against AC cord, where they deal 1d4 points of Intelligence damage each
10. If the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected round for 5 rounds, as they access the victim’s memories and
area must make a DC 20 Reflex save or take 2d8 points of transmit them back to the ship’s master computer.
laser damage. Wizards and other classes that memorize spells suffer terribly,
losing one memorized spell for every point of Intelligence
lost, beginning with their highest-level spells and working
Interrogation Drone backwards.
Large Construct
Bless, neutralize poison, or remove disease spells have no effect on
Hit Dice: 4d10+30 (hp 52) the nanites. The nanites can be disabled if the victim is takes
Initiative: +0 more than 10 points of fire or electrical damage, is the target
Speed: 60 ft. wheels of a heat metal spell, or is subjected to an EMP blast.
AC: 14, touch 9, flat-footed 14
Base Atk/Grapple: +3/+10
Attack: Pincher +5 melee (1d8+4) Repair Robot
Full Attack: 2 Pinchers +5 melee (1d8+4) Medium Construct
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. Hit Dice: 5d10+20 (hp 55)
Special Attacks: Memory spores Initiative: +0
Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft., Speed: 30 ft.; 30 ft. fly (poor)
low-light vision, hardness 10, impervious to EMP effects AC: 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will –4 Base Atk/Grapple: +3/+5
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 10, Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1 Attack: Plasma torch +4 melee (2d8)
Skills: — Full Attack: 3 Plasma torches +4 melee (2d8)
Feats: — Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Environment: — Special Attacks: —
Organization: — Special Qualities: Construct traits, darkvision 60 ft.,
Challenge Rating: 4 low-light vision
Treasure: — Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will –4
Alignment: Usually lawful neutral Abilities: Str 14, Dex 10, Con —, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1.
Advancement: — Skills: —
Feats: —
The large metallic structure wheels towards you, pinchers raised. You
hear a soft hissing sound as it advances. Environment: —
Organization: —
The interrogation drone is deceptively plain. It refrains from Challenge Rating: 4
barbaric behavior like torture and threats, and does not seem
Treasure: —
outfitted to harm any creature. Instead, the drone releases
nanite spores that infect a target’s blood stream, ripping Alignment: Usually lawful neutral
memories from it’s subject’s very mind. Advancement: —
The metal box extends eight segmented legs and scuttles across the
Combat surface of the floor.
The interrogation drone is not suited for combat, and its The repair robot, or r-bot, is by far the most common robot
programming directs it to avoid battle if at all possible. If aboard the Beagle. The r-bots can be seen nearly everywhere,
cornered or unable to flee, the robot summons allies and welding sheets of metallic fabric onto the ship’s hull, rewiring
does its best to fend off opponents. and repairing electronics, and doing the myriad of other tasks
that will be necessary to complete before the Beagle becomes
ether-worthy once more.

99

Combat
If forced into combat, a r-bot’s programming dictates that
it flees battle as quickly as possible. If cornered, or if its
programming is overridden, the r-bot enters battle with 4
plasma torches, slicing its foes into cauterized bits.
While the r-bots might not immediately respond to the PCs’
presence, they do watch and observe, transmitting all data
back to the mother computer for analysis.
Security Robot (S-Bot)
CITY of the GODS
Combat
The s-bot leads off combat by firing its web, in the hopes
of restraining a threat. Failing that, the s-bot resorts to its
laser rifle, using autofire if it becomes necessary to suppress
a large number of foes. If at any point during the combat
apprehension becomes possible again, the s-bot reverts back
to web and melee attacks.
Autofire (Ex): A security robot may saturate an area with automatic
fire from its laser rifle. The s-bot targets a 10-foot by 10-foot area
and makes an attack roll against AC 10. If the attack succeeds,
every creature within the affected area must make a DC 15
Reflex save or take 1d8 points of laser damage.

Large Construct Web (Ex): Once every 4 rounds a security robot can fire a
Hit Dice: 9d10+30 (hp 79) sticky, synthetic restraining web that targets a 4 square area of
effect. Anyone in the effect’s area must make a DC 15 Reflex
Initiative: –1
save. If the save succeeds, the creature is entangled, but not
Speed: 30 ft. prevented from moving (thought moving is more difficult
AC: 23, touch 8, flat-footed 23 than normal for being entangled (see below). If the save fails,
Base Atk/Grapple: +6/+15 the creature is entangled and cannot move from its space, but
Attack: Slam +10 melee (2d8+5) can break loose by spending 1 rounds and making a DC 20
or laser rifle +4 ranged (3d8) Strength check or a DC 25 Escape Artist check. Once loose
Full Attack: Atk 2 slams +10 melee (2d8+5) (either by making the initial Reflex save or later Strength or
Space/Reach: 10 ft. /10 ft. Escape Artist checks) a creature remains entangled, but may
move through the web very slowly. Each round devoted solely
Special Attacks: Autofire, web
to moving allows the creature to make a new Strength check
Special Qualities: Construct traits, DR 5/adamantine, or Escape Artist check. The creature can move 5 feet with
darkvision 60 ft., immunity to magic, low-light vision each successful check.
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +3
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 9, Con —, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 1 The strands of the restraining web are not flammable, but
do dissolve if treated with alcohol (one pint dissolves one
Skills: Listen +10, Spot +10, Search +10
5-foot square of webbing) or dissolve of their own accord in
Feats: — 10 rounds.
Environment: —
Organization: —
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually lawful neutral
Advancement: —
An enormous man, crafted from glowing metal, strides towards you,
one arm extended accusingly. A female voice sounds from the thing’s
head, incongruous with its masculine form. “Stand down,” the she-
thing says flatly. “You have five seconds to comply.”
The security robot, or s-bot, is created for the dual purposes
of capturing or eliminating threats. While the s-bot does not
hesitate to resort to violence, its programming dictates that
its first choice in any conflict is communication, followed by
apprehension.

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CITY of the GODS
Tamer
Large Magical Beast (Alien)
Hit Dice: 10d10+70 (hp 125)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 60 ft.
AC: 19, touch 9, flat-footed 19
Base Atk/Grapple: +10/+20
Attack: Bite +15 melee (2d6+6)
Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (2d6+6) or 2 claws +10 melee
(1d6+3)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, disgorge
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., invisible in light,
low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +7, Will +4
Abilities: Str 23, Dex 10, Con 24, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +2, Spot +10, Survival +3
Feats: Cleave, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Track
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 11–15 HD (Huge)
You hear the scrabble of hard talons on the ground, and a sudden
breeze passes nearby.
The tamer is a deadly predator, invisible in normal light, and
only partially visible in dim light. It’s true form resembles a
large, upright lizard with pasty, fatty flesh. The tamer’s head
is oversized, with a wide jaw, filled with small but sharp fangs.
The tamer’s forelimbs end in sharp spikes.
Combat
The tamer enjoys stalking its meals, savoring the cat-and-
mouse relationship of predator and prey. But rather than
claw or fang, the tamer’s chief attack is to disgorge its
stomach onto a creature. The stomach, a tamerian ooze, lives
independent of the its tamer host. The ooze, detailed below,
consumes the prey with acid, before being absorbed back into
the host tamer.
Disgorge (Ex): A tamer that wins a grapple check after a
successful bite attack vomits forth a gout of tamerian ooze.
The ooze immediately inflicts slam and acid damage (1d6+3
slam, plus 1d12 acid). A tamer may vomit only a single ooze.
If a tamer is within 5 feet of its ooze, it can retract the ooze as
a move action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tamer must hit with
its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Invisible in Light (Ex): A tamer is invisible in any normally lit
area. In darkened areas, it appears as a faintly glowing outline
visible up to 30 feet away (60 feet with low-light vision). Magical
darkness smothers the glow and conceals the outline.
Skills: Tamer’s have a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks due to
their three keen eyes.
Tamerian Ooze
Medium Ooze (Alien)
Hit Dice: 7d10+35 (hp 73)
Initiative: –5
Speed: 10 ft.
AC: 5, touch 5, flat-footed 5;
Base Atk/Grapple: +5/+8
Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d6+3 plus 1d12 acid)
Full Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d6+3 plus 1d12 acid)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./ 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Acid, constrict, improved grab
Special Qualities: Blindsight 60 ft., immunity to cold
and fire, ooze traits
Saves: Fort +7, Ref –3, Will –3
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 1, Con 21, Int —, Wis 1, Cha 1
Skills: —
Feats: ­­—
Environment: See Tamer
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 8–11 HD (Large)
The milky white ooze covers your torso, burning as it undulates
around you, crushing ribs and flesh into a meaty pulp.
The tamerian ooze is a tamer’s stomach, disgorged to
consume weakened prey. Resembling a milky, fleshy sheet,
with muscles ringing its circumference.
Combat
The ooze has only limited ability to move, relying instead on
the tamer to gout it forth upon its prey.
Acid (Ex): A tamerian ooze secretes a digestive acid that
quickly dissolves any non-tamer organic material and metal,
but not stone. Any melee hit or constrict attack deals acid
damage. Armor or clothing dissolves and becomes useless
immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 16 Reflex save. A
metal or wooden weapon that strikes a tameriarn ooze also
dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 18 Reflex
save. The ooze’s acidic touch deals 16 points of damage
per round to wooden or metal objects, but must remain in
contact with the object for 1 full round to deal this damage.
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Constrict (Ex): A tamerian ooze deals automatic slam and mite can grow to gargantuan proportions over the course of
acid damage with a successful grapple check. The opponent’s a mere 10 months, making the thermal godmite the bane of
clothing and armor take a –4 penalty on Reflex saves against interstellar and interplanar travelers.
the acid.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tamerian ooze must Combat
hit with its slam attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple The thermal godmite is a crude and direct opponent, lashing
as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. out in cruel delight at all living creatures than invade its fiery
If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can demesne.
constrict.
Burn (Ex): A thermal godmite’s tentacle and bite attacks deals
Symbiote (Ex): The ooze relies on its host to survive. If the bludgeoning/piercing damage plus fire damage from the
ooze’s tamer is destroyed, the ooze dies as well. If a tamer’s godmite’s flaming body. Those hit by either of the godmite’s
ooze dies, the tamer dies of starvation in 4d8 days. attacks also must succeed on a Reflex save DC 26 or catch
on fire. The flame burns for 1d4 rounds. A burning creature
can take a move action to put out the flame. The save DC
Thermal Godmite is Constitution-based. Creatures hitting a thermal godmite
Gargantuan Magical Beast (Alien, Fire) with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take fire damage as
Hit Dice: 20d10+180 (hp 290) though hit by the thermal godmite attack, and also catch on
Initiative: +4 fire unless they succeed on a Reflex save.
Speed: 10 ft., swim 20 ft. Constrict (Ex): A godmite deals automatic tentacle damage
AC: 20, touch 6, flat-footed 20 with a successful grapple check.
Base Atk/Grapple: +20/+44 Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the godmite must hit
Attack: Tentacle +28 melee (2d8+12/19–20 plus 2d8 fire) with an arm or tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start
Full Attack: 6 tentacles +28 melee (2d8+12/19–20 a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of
plus 2d8 fire) and bite +23 melee (4d6+6 plus 2d8 fire) opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold
Space/Reach: 30 ft./15 ft. and can constrict.
Special Attacks: Burn, improved grab, constrict 2d8+12 Skills: A thermal godmite receives a +8 racial bonus on all
plus 2d8 fire Swim checks. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., immunity check, even if distracted or threatened. It can use the run
to fire, vulnerability to cold action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Saves: Fort +21, Ref +12, Will +13
Abilities: Str 34, Dex 10, Con 29, Int 5,
Wis 20, Cha 20
Skills: Intimidate +16, Listen +30, Search +28,
Spot +30, Survival +5, Swim +20
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise,
Improved Critical (tentacle), Improved Initiative,
Improved Trip, Iron Will
Environment: Interplanar space, underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: Incidental
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: 21–30 HD (Gargantuan),
31–40 (Colossal)
A glowing god-thing emerges from the sea of molten fire. Flailing
whip-like tentacles crack through the smoky fumes, sending shudders
through the air.
The thermal godmite exists as a small mite in the frigid
depths of space, only growing to its god-like proportions when
exposed to overwhelming supplies of heat. The diminutive

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103

Appendix Two:
New Equipment
The beings referred to as “Travelers” in this adventure are
beings from outside the ether sphere surrounding Blackmoor.
Their treasures are not fully compatible with either the natural
or magical realms of the North. These items are all curious
and arcane, their appearance unfamiliar, their operation
complex; in order to activate them, both physical and mental
commands need to be performed. Until one has become
accustomed to an item, each activation is a challenging test
of the wielder’s dexterity and willpower.
To activate any of this Traveler tech, one must make both
a Reflex save, to place the fingers or other limbs in the
appropriate pattern, and a Will save, to align the mind with
the crystal. Practice, experimentation, and the use of certain
skills can make use of such items much easier, but to the
natives of Blackmoor (but not to the Travelers themselves)
there is always a chance of failure in their use. The base
save DCs for operating each of the three types of Traveler
tech—complex, elaborate, or taxing—as well as the possible
modififers to each roll, are presented on the table below. New
activation rolls need be made only when it is appropriate
to do so. For example, wearing a suit of tech armor would
require one pair of rolls when first donned, but then not
again until the armor was taken off and put back on again.
The exception would be if the wearer tried to activate an
ancillary power of the armor worn, at which point another
pair of rolls would be required.
Attempting to operate Traveler tech is a full-round action that
provokes attacks of opportunity. The activation modifiers
listed on the table below are all cumulative.
DC Modifier
Condition Base DC (Reflex/Will)
Complex device 20 —
Elaborate device 16 +2/0
Taxing device 14 0/+2
4+ ranks in:
Use Magic Device — –2/–2
Sleight of Hand — –2/0
Concentration — 0/–2
Previously activated this Traveler tech/effect
— –4/–4
Failure: If one of the two saves is failed, but the other is made,
the attempt has no effect. If both saves are failed, the user
suffers a possible mishap from the following table. Even after
a mishap, the user can attempt to activate the item again on
the following round (unless, of course, the item is destroyed
in the mishap). Certain specific types of Traveler tech (as
noted in their descriptions) are immune to being destroyed
by activation mishaps.
1d10 Mishap
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CITY of the GODS
1–2 None
3–4 Harmless discharge: light (colored light shines
brightly from device; –8 penalty to Hide checks for
one round).
5–6 Harmless discharge: sound (snapping sound
emanates from device; –8 penalty to Move Silently
checks for one round).
7–8 Harmless discharge: smell (plumes of foul-smelling
smoke emanate from device).
9 Dangerous discharge (as per all three harmless
discharges combined, plus the wielder takes 2d4
points of electricity damage and is dazzled for one
round).
10 Accident (as dangerous discharge, plus a 20%
chance that the item is destroyed).
First-Aid Kit (Elaborate)
This medical kit comes in a small gray bag, roughly 6 inches
square. The kit has no obvious mean of opening, but can be
torn open with a DC 15 Strength check. Tearing the kit open
releases a cloud of nanites, 10 feet in diameter. The nanites
seek out living creatures within the cloud, healing them for
2d12 hp, coagulating blood, and stabilizing all those who are
unconscious and/or dying within radius.
Held within the kit are the following items: One canister of
spray skin (3 applications, each heals surface wounds for 1d8
hp); 5 radiation pills (each pill consumed reduces the chance
of mutation by 10%); 2 doses pneumatic syringes loaded with
steroids (each allows a living creature to function normally
below 0 hp for 3d4+2 rounds; at the end of the duration, the
PC suffers all the effects of his new hit point total).
Flamethrower (Elaborate)
(Damage: 3d6; range increment: 15 feet)
The flamethrower resembles a two-foot rod attached to a
short hose that runs to a small backpack. When the thrower
is triggered, it fires a jet of flammable liquid that catches fire
on contact with air. Victims targeted by the flamethrower
take 3d6 points of fire damage and catch fire. A creature
can take a full-round action to extinguish itself. Otherwise,
it suffers an extra 1d6 points of fire damage per round for
1d6 rounds.
Both the backpack and the hose are extremely vulnerable.
Both have a hardness of 5, and if either takes more than 8
points of damage, it ruptures, causing 8d6 points of damage
to the wielder of the flamethrower (and, of course, setting
him on fire).
CITY of the GODS
Grenade (Taxing)
A Traveler grenade resembles a black, egg-shaped ball that
fits easily into the palm of a Medium creature’s hand, with a
small seam down the center of the egg. The color of the seam
indicates the type of grenade.
To activate a grenade, the two halves must be twisted in
opposite directions until it makes a click. A grenade has
three settings, each corresponding to a click: At one click, the
grenade detonates the same round it is activated (meaning
at the end of the round, as using the grenade is a full-round
action); at two clicks, it detonates the following round; and
at three clicks, the grenade detonates two rounds after it is
activated. A user can choose to throw a grenade during the
same round in which he activates it.
Traveler grenades have a range increment of 30 feet, and all
that is required to target a specific square is a ranged attack
roll against AC 10. Failure indicates that the grenade lands a
number of squares away (in a randomly determined direction)
equal to 1d4 plus the number of range increments covered. A
fumble on the ranged attack roll results in the grenade landing
1d4 squares away from the thrower. Throwing a grenade that
has already been activated is a standard action.
Grenade, Concussion: Red Seam
(Damage: 4d6 nonlethal; blast radius: 30 feet)
Living creatures within the grenade’s 15-foot burst radius take
4d6 points of non-lethal concussion damage, or half damage
with a successful DC 15 Reflex save. Concussion grenades do
not affect robots or nonliving creatures.
Grenade, EMP: Blue Seam
(Damage: variable; blast radius: 15 feet)
Robots, cyborgs and other constructs within the grenade’s
blast radius take 5d6 points of electrical damage.
Equipment with electrical components caught within the blast
radius must succeed on a DC 15 Fort save or be destroyed.
(This includes all non-hardened blasters, powered armor, and
most other items of equipment found on board the Beagle.)
Items succeeding on the save simply cease to function for 1d4
rounds. Hardened items are unaffected by an EMP blast.
The EMP grenade deals no damage to living creatures. Crew
members of the Beagle use EMP grenade only as a last resort,
for fear of causing damage to the Beagle’s computer systems.
Grenade, Fragmentation: Green Seam
(Damage: 5d6; blast radius: 20 feet)
By far the most deadly of the grenades, the fragmentation
grenade releases hundreds of monofilament wires that whip
through the air, slicing everything within their blast radius.
Creatures with DR 10+ and objects with Hardness 8 or
greater do not suffer any damage.
Creatures caught within 15 feet of the blast may attempt a DC
20 Reflex save for half damage. Those within 10 feet of the blast
may attempt a DC 25 Ref save for half damage, and those within
5 feet of the grenade when it detonates may attempt a DC 30 Ref
save for half damage.
Key Cards (N/A)
Many of the Beagle’s portals open only to creatures displaying
specific security passkeys. The key cards, or passkeys—as they
are also known—are thin rectangular cards, 2 inches long and 1
inch wide. Each card displays a color. The passkeys are ranked
according to color, and a higher rank card keys open all doors of
lower security ranks. From lowest to highest, passkeys are ranked
Red – Yellow – Blue – Black.
The cards are used by advancing towards a portal; if the portal
requires a specific card key, and if the PC is carrying a card that
can open that door, the portal opens. Otherwise, the portal
remains sealed. No activation rolls are necessary when using key
cards.
A portal remains opens for 1 round after the key-bearer has
passed through.
Laser Pistol (Elaborate)
(Damage: 2d8; range increment: 100 feet)
Resembling a short metallic rod, attached to what might be
the handle of a handsaw, the laser pistol is typically blue-grey
in color, though silver and black instances can also be found. A
fully charged laser pistols has 25 shots.
Laser Rifle (Elaborate)
(Damage: 3d8; range increment: 150 feet)
A laser rifle is a larger version of the laser pistol, with a longer
barrel and a butt behind the trigger. Laser rifles are always black.
A fully charged laser rifle has 15 shots.
Railgun (Complex)
(Damage: 4d12; range increment 100 feet)
The railgun resembles a long set of blackened iron rods, bound
together by a curiously soft, but firm casing and grip. The railgun
fires heavy rounds at supersonic speeds, and is fitted with an
infrared scope that grants the shooters darkvision to a range of
200 feet
The railgun must be fed by power cell, and fully charged power
cells permit 25 shots. The weapon weighs 50 lbs. and is over
seven feet in length, making it very difficult to transport except
on pack animals or in a wagon.
105

Tactical Ballistic Armor (N/A)
(Armor bonus —; max Dex bonus +6; armor check penalty
–2; arcane spell failure chance 10%; weight 10 lbs.)
A suit of TBA resembles a lightly padded black vest and
pants. When donned, the vest and pants provide DR 10/—
against most laser and ballistic weapons. Note that this has
absolutely no effect against archaic weapons like swords,
maces, or even arrows, whose greater mass and edged
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CITY of the GODS
blades easily slice through the reflective mesh weave. No
activation roll is required to use the armor.
Voxbox (Complex)
A small, metallic box attached to a cloth loop. Hanging from the
box are a pair of retractable earphones. The box translates all
spoken language (and only spoken language) into the wearer’s
language, which is then broadcast into the earphones.
CITY of the GODS
New Magic Items
Crown of Fire
Crafted from scorched iron, this spiked crown …has been
handed down through the ages from one owner to the next.
Inevitably, the crown’s regent falls to a usurper,” And later in
the same entry: “The crown cannot be recharged by mortal
magic, but once a given owner has exhausted its power, it will
resurface—fully charged—in the hands of another, often many
years later.
When found, the crown has 20 charges. The crown permits
the wearer use of the following spells:
Burning hands (1 charge)
Fireball (1 charge)
Wall of fire (2 charges)
In addition, the crown allows a spellcaster to store a single
targeted spell of up to 3rd level. (The spell must have a
casting time of 1 standard action or less.) At any time, the
wearer can cast the crown’s stored spell as a free action. (This
special ability is an exception to the general rule that casting
a spell from an item takes at least as long as casting that spell
normally takes.) Once the stored spell has been cast from
the crown, any spellcaster can cast any other targeted spell
of up to 3rd level into it. The crown magically imparts to the
wielder the name of the spell currently stored within it. The
crown cannot “absorb” spells not specifically targeted at it,
nor can it store spells with no Target. All XP and material
component costs must be paid when the spell is stored.
The crown uses the wielder’s ability score and relevant feats
to set the DC for saves against its spells. Unlike similar magic
items, the wielder can use his caster level when activating the
power of the crown if it’s higher than the caster level of the
crown (12th).
After the last of the crown’s charges is expended, the item
devolves into a crown-shaped hunk of inert lead, losing all
magical properties (and stored spells) in the process. The
crown cannot be recharged by mortal magic.
Strong evocation; CL 12th; Craft Wondrous Item, burning
hands, fireball, wall of fire, creator must be a caster of at least
12th level; Price 23,750gp.
Spore Shuriken
This shuriken resembles a normal shuriken, made not of
metal but some strange brown, organic material. When the
shuriken strikes a target, it deals 1d8 points of damage to
the target creature. The shuriken’s points then penetrate the
skin and grow, dealing an additional 1d4 points of damage
each round for 10 rounds. At the end of this time, the victim
is covered with a tangle of viny growths. (The vines are
harmless and wither away in 1d4 days.) A delay poison spell
stops the spores’ growth for its duration. Neutralize poison or
remove disease kills the spores, as does any spell or effect that
successfully inflicts fire damage upon the host.
Minor evocation; CL 10th; Craft Wondrous Item; Price
2,500gp.
Elven Buckler
A light, narrow shield used almost exclusively by elven
war casters, the elven buckler is designed with spellcasters
in mind. Carried by elven nobles into battle, the buckler
provides excellent protection at a reduced arcane spell chance
penalty.
The cost of such a shield is almost always exorbitant, a
reflection of the rare metals necessary for its construction.
Secondly, the use of the shield is challenging to those not
specifically trained in its use; those donning the shield must
take an Exotic Armor Proficiency feat to make use of the
buckler. Otherwise, the shield performs as a normal heavy
shield.
Cost 175gp; shield bonus +2; armor check penalty –2; arcane
spell failure chance: 5%.
New Magic Weapon Ability:
Matched
Matched weapons are perfectly balanced and designed
specifically for two-weapon fighting, giving a +2 circumstance
bonus to primary and off-hand attack roll modifiers. This is
in additional to any other magical qualities the blades might
have. Thus, a hero wielding two +1 matched shortswords would
have +3 to hit and +1 to damage when wielding both matched
swords at the same time.
Note that this benefit only functions when both weapons
being wielded have this ability.
Moderate evocation; CL 7th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor;
Price +1 bonus.
107

This printing of Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor: Clock and Steam is done
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System Rules Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast Inc.:
Authors Jonathon Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on Original
material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor by Dave Arneson, Dustin Clingman, Jeffrey
Quinn, Richard Pocklington and Richard Iorio II, Copyright 2005 Zeitgeist
Games, Inc. Contact info@zeitgeistgames.com, or see www.zeitgeistgames.
com. Published by Zeitgeist Games, Inc.
City of the Gods by Harley Stroh. Copyright 2008 Zeitgeist Games Inc.