An adventure for four 2nd level

characters

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
It is not despair
for despair is only for those
who see the end beyond all doubt,
we do not.
- J.R.R. Tolkien
A Tragedy Unfolds is an adventure for a party of four
2nd level player characters (PCs). The scenario is set
on a small tropical island.
Where a creature or NPC is mentioned in bold-faced
type, its statistics can be found either in the Monster
Manual or in Appendix C of this adventure.
Throughout the adventure, descriptions of the appearance,
personality, and motivations of important NPCs are
presented in red boxes.
Dialogue is contained in italicized boxed text.
Location descriptions are contained in plain boxed
text.
The PCs are taking an ocean voyage when their ship is
attacked by a sea creature. Putting into a small tropical
island for repairs, they find that most of the friendly
villagers are missing and signs of murder are present
in the village.
At first the PCs suspect the mistress of a strange tower
on the island, but they soon learn that the doom that
has come to the people of the island is the result of a
heinous crime committed by one of their number. With
the help of the mistress of the tower, the PCs can put a
grave injustice to right and redeem the islanders.
The adventure is set on a small tropical island in a
wide sea or ocean. It can be set in any campaign world,
including The Forgotten Realms.
On Fermengarr Isle dwell a primitive people of
islander stock. Some months previous to the party's
arrival, a young woman named Kelanni was betrothed
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to a young tribesman named Varrin. This betrothal
angered another young tribesman named Hadulo.
Kelanni and Hadulo had been in love for many years
and eagerly hoped to be married. However, just before
Kelanni's betrothal age of 17 years, Hadulo's father
was charged with cowardice by the tribe during a raid
by sahuagin. Hadulo's family was disgraced, and
Kelanni's parents refused Hadulo's offer of marriage,
not wanting their daughter to marry the son of a
coward. Instead, Kelanni was betrothed to Varrin.
This made Hadulo very angry, and he asked Kelanni to
run away with him. But Kelanni refused, not wanting
to leave the tribe or anger her parents. Over the next
few months, as the wedding neared, Hadulo's pleas
became more desperate...and more insistent, and he
began to withdraw from tribal life.
Once he even beat Kelanni, but she kept silent, fearing
him. Finally, Kelanni told Hadulo that she did not love
him anymore...that she was now truly in love with
Varrin and they were to be married.
About three months before the party arrives, Hadulo
snapped. A few days before their wedding, as Kelanni
and Varrin walked hand-in-hand along the moonlit
shores, Hadulo saw them. He snuck behind and slew
Varrin, who screamed out. Then, he violated Kelanni,
who was a virginal bride, and as the tribespeople
began to approach, used his knife to mutilate her, so
that she would never bear the children of another man.
Then he ran north, into the forest.
Kelanni saw the dead Varrin and also saw the blood
between her legs, and when she heard the tribespeople
rushing towards her, she also snapped and screamed
in shame and despair, for she could now never be a
wife or a mother. So Kelanni staggered off into the
jungle.
When the tribespeople arrived, they saw Varrin's body
and the trail of blood from Kelanni. But it was dark,
and the trail could not be followed. So, the shaman
took Varrin's body and Kelanni's blood and, with
magic, determined what had happened.
Hunters searched for Hadulo, but he was an
experienced hunter and was never found.
Likewise, Kelanni was never found, and when even the
shaman's magic could not find her, the people assumed
she was dead.
A Tragedy Unfolds

But Kelanni was not dead. She wandered blindly
through the Jam-Jum Forest and entered the Cudinarn
Jungle. There she came upon the norebo, a spirit of
deceit which, when given a body, feeds upon pain,
despair, and souls, and grows strong therefrom. How
this norebo came to be here, none can say. And the
norebo whispered to Kelanni that it could avenge
her...could make her strong...strong enough to kill
Hadulo...or even the tribal elders who had condemned
him and his father.
The norebo's whispers were like the calm eye in the
tempest that was her mind, and Kelanni listened to the
norebo and accepted its vileness into her wracked
body...and was possessed.
Over the next three months, the norebo raided the
village, killing some tribesmen as they slept, but taking
others back to its lair to torture and to feed. Now, the
village of 570 men, women, and children numbers a
mere 14 persons...
The Player Characters
The PCs are taking an ocean voyage for whatever
reason suits them and the DM. It is left to the DM to
devise some reason why the PCs are taking this voyage
across the sea.
They might be guarding a merchant who is carrying
valuable cargo, or they may be on their way to some
distant island or land, following a mysterious map. The
reasons for their voyage are not important to the
adventure, and, in fact, it is possible for the PCs to
undertake this adventure not knowing one another.
Players’ Introduction
You have taken passage on a ship called Gallon’s
Widow, for reasons that are known only to you and
your companions.
The ships is a cog in decent repair and sporting thee
well-used ballistae. The captain of the Gallon’s Widow
is on Heletarsh of Torlune. You have been told
Heletarsh is a capable captain and a consummate
smuggler. He is also one to take coin from passengers
and not ask too many questions about them or of them.
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When you arrived at the ship, the captain greeted you,
accepted your payment for passage, and directed you
below decks to stay out of the way of the crew until the
ship clears port.
For about an hour, the sounds from above decks was
all bustle and shouting as Heletarsh bellowed orders
and the crew got busy making ready and then, finally,
leaving the docks. After about five minutes of slow
sailing, the waves started to rhythmically rock the
vessel and the captain, opening the below decks hatch,
informed you that the ship was to sea.
The PCs can now come above decks and take a full
measure of the ship and its crew.
The Gallon’s Widow
Refer to the Gallon’s Widow Map presented at the end
of this adventure.
The Gallon's Widow is a cog (a smallish sailing ship),
seaworthy with a length of 75 feet and a beam of 25
feet. Its normal speed is 23 mph. Emergency speed is 3
mph. The vessel’s seaworthiness is better than most
cogs due to improvements made by Heletarsh.
Crew numbers sixteen, including captain, mate, boson,
and line crew.
The cog has an AC of 15, 300 hit points, and a damage
threshold of 15.
All crew speak Common, as well as the dialect of the
Islanders.
Captain Heletarsh (Male human, chaotic good)
The captain is a crusty salt of around fifty years of age.
He is good natured when things are going well, and
despite his criminal proclivities, is a kind man when
not playing the role of the tough captain.
If statistics are needed for the captain, use those of a
scout.
Mate (Female human, neutral good)
The mate is a muscular woman in her mid-thirties who
rules the crew with an iron hand. Fair but firm, she is
clearly extremely knowledgeable in the running and
maintenance of the ship.
If statistics are needed for the mate, use those of a
bandit.
A Tragedy Unfolds
Bosun (Male human, neutral)
The bosun is a man in his mid-twenties, with a scar
across the left side of his face and half an ear missing.
He has his eye on the mate’s position, and is
continually frowning and staring at the mate, the
captain, and the PCs.
If statistics are needed for the bosun, use those of a
bandit.
Crew (13 male and female humans, neutral)
The crew are a capable bunch, loyal to Heletarsh and
respectful of the mate. Some of them clearly are not
enamoured of the bosun, however.
If statistics are needed for the crew, use those of a
commoner.
Ballistae
Refer to page 255 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for
details. The crew have trained with the ballistae and
they are considered proficient with them.
Ballistae take three actions to fire, one to load, one to
aim, and one to fire. During times of battle, two
crewmen will man each ballista; one to load and the
other to aim and fire. Because of this and the crew’s
extensive training on this equipment, the loading and
aiming can occur in the same round (one crew loads
and then the other immediately aims).
If the target being aimed at becomes completely
concealed or has total cover after the aim action but
before the fire action, then the aim action is ruined and
must be performed again before the ballista can be
fired. This is almost never a problem when firing at
other ships, but it can be one when attacking sea
creatures,
Generally, all three ballistae can fire at a target in the
front 180 degree arc of the ship if the target is not right
next to the ship or low to the water. From the side or
rear, only two ballistae can bear at one time.
1. Forecastle
The forecastle of the ship rises 5 feet above the level of
the main deck (area B). Mounted upon a swivel in the
center is a ballista.
Nearby, in a large basket draped in oilcloth, are 20
large iron javelins for the machine. Twelves of these
have their rounded heads pierced by a 3 inch diameter
hole though which oil-soaked rags may be set alight.
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Below the forecastle, via double wooden doors from
the main deck, is the galley. These doors are locked
when the cook is sleeping or not in the place. Steps
descend 2 feet to the galley floor, which is cluttered
with pots, pans, a stove and oven (which vent through
a porthole), a hammock (for the cook), a locked sea
chest with personal possessions, and six barrels of
rum. The latter are chained shut under lock and key.
Only the cook has the key, which he also has for his
chest and the galley double doors.
2. Main Deck
Sporting two masts with square sails and webbed with
rigging, the main deck is crowded with ropes, pulleys,
gaffs, chains, et al. A ship's boat is lashed on deck, it
being a six man rowboat with two oars and a small
mast and sail stowed under the seats. In the center of
the main deck is a wooden grill that leads down below
deck.
Steps head down to the below-deck. The walls below
deck are actually about 1.5 feet from the hull. Panels
can be removed to allow contraband to be hidden in
the narrow space between the inner walls and the hull.
Astern are the crews' quarters - a messy miss-mash of
bunks, hammocks, a table nailed to the floor, water
barrels, and fourteen sea lockers containing crew
personal effects. To the rear is space for about 90 tons
of cargo. Some of this is taken up by supplies (food,
water, tackle, tools, pitch, alchemist’s fire, etc.). The
rest is half filled with bolts of cloth. In the center of the
hold, a trap door leads down to the bilge - a wet, smelly
place about 3 feet high and half filled with sea water.
The party will have to sleep down below-decks, and
any horses must also be tied here.
3. Stern Castle
Two sets of steps lead up 6 feet to this raised area,
upon which are two ballistae (exactly like that in area
A). To the rear is the tiller, a long wooden handle
which runs to the rudder below.
Beneath the stern castle are two rooms, accessed by
wooden doors form the main deck. Each leads to steps
descending 2 feet into two rooms.
The left room, smaller of the two, is the mate's
quarters. Here is a bed, desk, cabinet with charts and
instruments, a locked sea chest holding personal
A Tragedy Unfolds
effects and coins totaling 75gp, a table and chairs, and
a wash basin.
The right room is the captain's room and is L-shaped.
The rear portion holds a sumptuous canopied bed, a
locked chest, and a washbasin. The rest of the room
holds a small wardrobe, table and chairs, a ship's
logbook (with false entries), a cabinet holding charts
and mementos, and a mirror hanging from the wall.
A poison needle is hidden within the chest’s lock.
Opening the chest without the proper key causes the
needle to spring out, delivering a dose of poison.
Poison Needle
When the trap is triggered, the needle extends 3
inches straight out from the lock. A creature
within range takes 1 piercing damage and 11
(2d10) poison damage, and must succeed on a
DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned
for 1 hour.
A successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation)
check allows a character to deduce the trap’s
presence from alterations made to the lock to
accommodate the needle. A successful DC 15
Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools) check disarms the
trap, removing the needle from the lock.
Unsuccessfully attempting to pick the lock
triggers the trap.
The chest holds the captain's personal effects,
including a spyglass. A false bottom in the chest can be
found with a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check.
Within are two vials of poison similar to that used for
the poison needle trap, along with a small silver
pendant worth 25 gp, 198 gp, 26 pp, and various maps
and charts.
A secret panel leads from this room to the mate's
quarters. A DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check will
reveal the panel. The mate is unaware of this secret
door.
Finally, covered by a loose hull plank behind the
captain's cabinet is the ship's true logbook, showing its
smuggling activities. If the cabinet is shoved aside, the
loose plank will be obvious. Needless to say, the
captain would not be pleased to have this logbook
made public.
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The Voyage
The initial voyage out will be fairly uneventful, as the
ship sails generally just out of sight of the coastline,
coming in every six hours or so just enough for a man
in the sails to check the ship's bearings. This portion of
the voyage is as long as needed to bring the PCs into a
tropical or semi-tropical clime.
Anyone with a background related to sailing may make
a check to notice that, eventually, the ship does not
continue parallel the coast but turns out towards the
open sea and a small archipelago of islands. If
questioned, the captain will explain that patrols and
whatnot (he winks at the party) will likely watch the
direct passage to their destination, but ships generally
stay away from the Heynosht Archipelago, both
because of its treacherous reefs and because various
sea monsters like to feed and mate in its warm
tropical, food-rich climes.
The captain cannot be swayed from his course. He is
wanted by the authorities of the kingdom or nation
whose coast they are nearing and he does not wish to
be caught by their naval forces. So, he intends to travel
a circuitous route through the Heynosht Archipelago
and around the hostile coastline before resuming the
course along the coast towards the ultimate
destination.
The Attack
The alarm is raised early one morning as the ship
begins to make passage through the islands. Coming
up on deck, the boson will announce he saw "critter
sign" about 300 yards off of the right front.
The captain will angle his boat away from the contact
at about a 120 degree angle, thus allowing all three
ballistae to bear. All will be silent for several minutes,
then the giant squid (see Appendix C) which has been
stalking the ship will attack.
The squid will, at first, begin to attack the ship from
below the water. It will attack the cog with three
tentacles on the first round while underwater, and
three more on the next round, During this time, those
on or in the ship will hear thumping against the hull
and see planks straining and popping under the
pressure. However, during these first two rounds, the
squid will remain entirely underwater.
By the end of the second round, the ship will come to a
complete stop as the squid’s tentacles grab the ship’s
hull.
A Tragedy Unfolds

On the third round, after six tentacles are attached to
the ship, the squid will emerge to attack those on the
deck with the remaining four tentacles. Since the squid
can only use three of its tentacles each round as an
action, it will do on of the following as its attack action
(determine randomly):
 attack the people on the deck three times and no
attacks against the ship
 attack the ship twice and the people on the deck
once
 attack the ship once and the people on the deck
twice
 attack the ship three times and no attacks against
people on the deck
The squid will attack in the middle of the ship,
between the two masts, on whichever side the DM
determines. The draft of the ship is roughly 10 feet
above the water, meaning the squid’s tentacles can
reach the entire half of the main deck on its side. It
cannot reach the opposite half of the main deck or onto
the forecastle or stern castle.
Starting on round three, if the squid will expose its
body to attacks by the ballistae, although only two
such ballistae will be able to bear on the squid at any
one time.
The squid has half cover from attacks from the ship.
As the squid has four tentacles available to attack the
deck of the ship, the DM should keep track of these and
which ones have grappled targets and which have not.
When it is determined that the squid will attack the
deck with a tentacles, the DM should determine
randomly which tentacle will make an attack. This
could be one that has grabbed a victim (in which case
it will make a tentacle attack on the grappled creature
in order to squeeze it and cause tentacle damage) or
one that is free to try to grab a new victim.
It could be, therefore, that tentacles on the deck will
have grabbed people but do not make an attack on a
given round, merely holding the target in a grapple.
If a grappled creature stops struggling, it will be
dragged over the side, into the water, and the squid
will use the tentacle to attack another person or the
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ship. The beast intends to feed at its leisure on dead or
unconscious victims in the water once it is done
fighting.
If the squid is reduced to fewer than 25% of its hit
point maximum, the squid will retreat in a cloud of ink.
In any case, no matter what the result, the ship is likely
to have sustained severe damage from the squid
attack, at the very least during the first two rounds
when it attacked the ship from underwater six times
using its Siege Monster trait. On average, the squid will
have caused 93 points of damage to the ship during
those first two rounds, plus any additional damage
caused in subsequent rounds. It is even possible for
the squid to sink the ship.
If the ship is destroyed, the squid will then grab up any
unconscious or dead victims (up to 10 of them, at a
rate of three per round) and retreat to the depths to
consume them.
Assuming the ship does not sink, it will be noted that
the hull has suffered severe structural damage and is
taking on water in some places. The captain (or
whomever is left in charge) will consult his charts and
announce his intent to make for a small island
inhabited by friendly tribesmen. The island is called
Fermengarr Isle and the people are of the V'narto
tribe. There, he can beach the boat, make repairs, and
resume the voyage. With help from the V'narto, he
estimates repairs can be made in a few days.
If the ship has sunk, assume the PCs and any surviving
are able to grab onto wood and swim to Fermengarr
Isle, which will be visible on the horizon. In this case,
the party will have to build a make-shift boat using
V'narto outrigger canoes as a base in order to
eventually escape the island.
After a precarious six hour journey in the damaged
Gallon's Widow (or on a raft of wood), full of more
beams splintering, a furious bailing of water, and
desperate jury-rigging, the ship will sail into V'narto
Bay and beach itself as described in area 15 of the
village.
V'narto Village, before its current problems, was a
prosperous tribal community of 570 persons. Of this
total, 160 were children, 210 were women, and 200
A Tragedy Unfolds
were men. The tribe is led by a chieftain, who is elected
for life by a council of all adults over 30 years old. The
society is monogamous, and bachelor males dwell in a
separate dormitory, while unmarried women live at
home. The community mostly fishes for sustenance,
though women sometimes forage in the southern parts
of the Jam-Jum Forest. The V'nartans worship the sea
and their ancestors, their religious needs being tended
to by a shaman.
Technologically, the V'nartans are equivalent to the
ancient Polynesians on Earth. They have dark, olive
skin with black hair and almond-shaped eyes. They
speak the language of this archipelago, called Islander,
which is itself a combination of ancient human tongues
and bits of Elven learned from aquatic elves. Most
villagers do not speak even a word of Common.
Refer to the V’narto Village Map at the end of this
adventure.
1. Meeting Hall
Outside:
This structure is made of logs with a thatched roof. It is
raised 6 feet off of the ground by four logs and
accessed via a small log ladder. The outside walls are
decorated with various totemic-looking carvings,
including various leering faces, each representing a
protective ancestor.
Inside:
Various benches are now scattered in disarray around
the single, airy chamber. A few wooden masks still
hang from the walls, but most are on the floor, broken.
A thin coating of dust covers most of the place.
This place was normally used for tribal councils,
2. High Meeting Place
The place is located on a small hillock, about 30 feet
high, which is relatively flattened on top like a mesa. A
small footpath leads up the southeast face of the hill to
the meeting place.
Atop the hill are four stone plinths, each about 2 feet in
diameter and about 8 feet tall. They are crudely carved
into representations of gods or goddesses as follows:
 a male fertility totem
 a female earth mother figure
 a male ocean deity figure
 a male ancestor figure
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Within the space bounded by the plinths is a smallish
depression about 10 feet deep ringed with terraced
seating like a small arena. In the bottom center is a
place for a large bonfire.
This is where the entire tribe meets for tribal councils,
elections, and communal activities such as storytelling
and rituals.
3. Spirit Plinths
A footpath leads from the Helorto River into the
outskirts of the Jam-Jum Forest.
Where the footpath reaches the first eaves of the
forest, there are two smallish stone plinths, about 6
inches in diameter and 4 feet tall. Each plinth is carved
with various strange runes and symbols, as well as
crude figures representing the sun, moon, stars,
winged beings, and other less recognizable figures. The
footpath continues past these plinths into the forest.
Each plinth radiates magic and contains an ancestral
spirit of the tribe. These are low-level guardian spirits
which operate on an instinctual level and cannot be
bargained or parleyed with. If a non-tribesmember
passes between the plinths, or within 30 feet of them,
the spirits will emerge, one from each plinth,
appearing as translucent, vaguely man-shaped forms
which will attempt to touch the party.
These spirits are not actually creatures. They are more
akin to a magical effect. They can fly at a speed of 60 ft.
(hover) and can make a single attack as an action,
attempting to touch a creature with a melee weapon
attack (+5 to hit, reach 5 ft.). Any creature struck must
make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be affected as if
by a fear spell that requires no concentration. Even
after the fear effect ends, an affected creature will
exhibit a compelling reluctance to approach within
300 feet of the plinth for the next 1d4 days.
The spirits may not be damaged or affected by
weapons or most spells. However, they can be warded
by a protection from evil and good spell, a dispel evil
and good spell, or a magic circle spell as if they were
undead. The spirits will not pursue beyond 300 feet
from the plinths. They will also not attack anyone
escorted by the shaman.
4. Shaman’s Hut
Outside:
A little way beyond the plinths (area 3), the path
arrives at a small clearing, in the center of which
A Tragedy Unfolds
stands a hut. The hut is made mostly of rune-carved
bones, filled in by mud, leaves, and wicker. The roof is
thatched. A strange variety of gourds, skulls, trinkets,
and other strange gewgaws hang from all portions of
the hut, which is entered by a small opening covered
with a hide.
Inside:
Within, the hut is an absolute mess. Piles of furs, a
vermin infested pallet, a rickety chair, a fire ring,
hundreds of gourds, countless animal body parts in
various stages of decomposition, and clay pots filled
with mostly pungent unidentifiable powders and
liquids are present in a shamanic mish-mash. Most
everything is covered with runes in black paint and
everything is covered in ashes and soot, probably from
the fires built in the fire ring that were not properly
ventilated out of the chimney hole in the center of the
hut's roof.
Within dwells the V’narto shaman (see Appendix C).
The shaman is closely tied to the psychic well-being of
his tribe, and most shaman are generally eccentric and
half insane anyways. The calamity that has befallen the
V'narto tribe has driven him completely insane, and he
will leap out and attack anyone who approaches his
hut.
The shaman has used up all of his priestly magic and is
too insane to reach the state of commune necessary to
prepare new spells. He can only cast cantrips. His
statistics reflect his current madness.
This shaman has no magic items, but does have a spirit
companion gained after a lengthy and difficult ritual. In
combat, this spirit will appear hovering around the
shaman's body and will ward off blows, giving the
shaman +4 to AC.
The shaman can be subdued. If he is slain, the two
tribal spirits in the plinths (area 3) will be released,
but will first attack the shaman's slayer, in this case
they will attack for 1d4 rounds each, each successful
hit causing 1d6 of necrotic damage. After that time, the
spirits will depart for the nether realms.
If the shaman is subdued, he will mutter curses and
emit much spittle, but will sometimes utter the
following snippets in Islander:
Blood from the cave!
Virgin blood speaks strange songs!
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Death like life comes and goes...in the night.
It is she!
A careful search of the mess will reveal two objects
reverently wrapped in a piece of fine velvet:
 a stone knife covered with dried blood
 a small clay stoppered urn filled with a watery red
liquid
The first is the knife used by Hadulo to commit his
heinous deed. The second is watered down blood from
Kelanni.
5. Chief’s Hut
This is a set of two buildings, one larger than the other,
done up in traditional islander style, with the floor
being raised up a few feet on stilts. The roof is thatched
and the walls outside are decorated with palm leaves,
scaly hides, and the trophies of vanquished foes
(spears, pieces of shields, et al).
The scaly hides on the outside are of sahuagin.
Within the larger building are several chambers, now
dusty and cluttered with furniture of wicker and wood
broken and overturned. In one place the wall has a
hole, as if something tore through it, and it is near this
opening that dried bloodstains cover the walls, floor,
and even the ceiling.
The other smaller building was a quarters for the
chief's wives and concubines, but that, too, is empty
and dusty.
6. Palisade
This structure is a wooden palisade of irregular shape,
these being thick logs sharpened to a point at the top,
each log being about 8 feet tall and mounted into an
earthen embankment 3 feet high. Thus, the top of the
palisade is some 11 feet above the outside ground
level. A single wooden gate made of logs lashed
together sits in the northeast corner
It is here that the tribespeople come when trouble
besets them. Usually, this is when the sahuagin raid in
force, or when pirates land nearby.
A Tragedy Unfolds
The gate is closed and barred by a stout log from the
inside.
The inner walls have a plank running around them
part way up to allow defenders to mount the walls.
Within is a hut, built in traditional islander fashion,
raised from the ground and made of wood with a
thatched roof. Beside the building is a small well from
which fresh water may be accessed.
Beneath the raised building is a small round stone,
which can be moved, exposing a large chamber in the
ground which holds foodstuffs (grains, wild rice, nuts,
berries, salt, and other provisions) for hard times.
Twelve villagers dwell here. They are the survivors (so
far) of the norebo's attacks and are completely
demoralized and in a perpetual state of terror. They
will not emerge from their fortress for ANY reason,
fearing the tricks of the norebo. If entry into the
fortress area is attempted, the adults might throw
stones and a few of the males will attack hysterically,
but they can be made to calm down if their attacks are
not reacted to with hostility.
Four of the villagers are tribal warriors.
Four more are commoners (though they speak only
Islander, and not Common).
The remaining for are noncombatant children.
If calmed, the villagers can explain what they know of
the situation. The adults know of the story of Kelanni
and Hadulo, up until the point that both fled into the
jungle. However, due to the shame of the incident
involving Hadulo and Kelanni, they will not offer the
exact details of the story unless pressed or probed in
some manner.
They do not, of course, know what is causing the
deaths in the village, but they will say the following:
We were once a prosperous people who made no war except
against the evil fish folk or against the bad boat men. But
before the last day change, people began to be missing. First it
was hunters, hunting for food in the forest. And we thought it
was Hadulo, an outcast of the tribe, except that one of the
hunter's bodies was found mutilated in a way Hadulo would
not…could not do.
Then we were worried, but it became worse when people went
missing from their beds at night. We became afraid and kept
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watches over this place, but still more and more people
became missing, now whole families, sometimes without any
struggle sign, and sometimes with blood everywhere in their
huts.
We asked the spirit maker what was happening, but all he
could say was that a new evil was on the island.
Then the chieftain thought about this and decided it was the
stone dweller who was the cause of this evil, and he and a band
of the best warriors, along with a priest, went to slay the stone
dweller, but he and they never returned, and the spirit maker
told us that their souls were not in the bosom of their
ancestors.
We picked another chief, but he was taken the next night. Then
we stopped picking chiefs. One night twelve people were
gone...that was maybe three hands days ago. Some of us fled
into the forest, in despair, and have not come back. Others
stayed in their huts and prayed...they are gone too
Now there is only us. We were more before....maybe two hands,
but at night some say they would hear a voice and it promised
help, and then they would leave the log place and we would
hear their screams as they were dragged off into the forest.
Now we live here in fear. We do not know if any are left in the
village. We will not let anyone in, because the evil may be
tricking us to open the gate, which we will not do.
We ask our ancestors for help, but we have no priests, because
they are gone.
We send our curses to the stone dweller...the stone master, for
that is an unholy place.
If asked about the stone dweller or stone master, they
can tell the following story:
One hand summers ago, we saw strange lights in the sky in the
north and east of this island. And we heard sounds...strange
sounds, which were as the sounds of the wind blowing through
trees, but as if made by human tongue. And the spirit maker
cast his bones and said that the ancestors were disturbed by a
dweller within stone, and many were sundered by a great force
in the north which was preparing a place of power.
And the chief and some braves went to the place where the
lights and sounds had been, and there was a hut, but what a
hut! Larger than a mountain and made of stone...its face that
of a skull. And the chief came forth and knocked upon the door,
but no one came. The door was shut, and he camped nearby
and presented gifts to the stone dweller, but the dweller never
came forth.
And the chief sent for a priest, Mygloini, and he came to the
stone place and made ancestors come forth to destroy the
place and its evil, but a great winged thing came from the
A Tragedy Unfolds
highest part of the stone hut and drove off Mygloini and the
chief and his band.
So, Mygloini declared the place evil, and made the entire
northern half of the land taboo and bad juju, and we do not go
there. But for one hand summers the stone dweller never came
to us, and we had no evil from it, and we stayed on the south
side of the island. And we still prospered and traded even with
the evil to the north, until the takings began.
7. Bachelor’s Quarters
Outside:
This is a large hut, raised off of the ground as usual for
islander architecture. A large space is in the thatched
roof for a chimney, and within are the signs of an
overturned dormitory.
Inside:
Within is a dusty shambles and nothing of value is left.
This is where the bachelors lived; those men who had
undergone the ritual of manhood but had not yet been
married. They were the warriors of the village, and it
can be guessed that this hut could easily accommodate
50 persons spaciously.
8. Champion’s House
Inside:
The entire interior of the hut is in shambles, and blood
is prevalent everywhere.
This was the house of the bravest warrior of the tribe.
When a warrior performed an extraordinary deed or
deeds of valour in battle, he was sometimes made a
champion of the tribe and housed here. The champion
gained many wives, and all of them lived in this
spacious hut.
A careful search within will turn up the rotted bodies
of three women, with holes in their skulls, and, under
much rubble, the body of the champion. His skull is
intact, and it appears he died of strangulation, as his
neck is crushed.
Upon his person are:
 a rune-carved stone spear which is enchanted by
the tribal ancestors. It always serves as a +1 spear,
but if it is attuned and the name of "Chouchunto" is
uttered by the wielder, the spear maker's ancestor,
is uttered, the spear will burst into flame and
cause an extra 7 (2d6) fire damage. The ancestor
can be called upon only once per month, the
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flaming effect lasts for 1 minute. The tribespeople
left alive can say the name of the spear is
"Chouchunto", but do not know of its powers.
 a turquoise and pearl necklace worth 50gp, and a
jade dagger which is as sharp and hard as a metal
dagger and is worth 150gp because of its
beautifully carved handle which is shaped like two
leaping dolphins.
9. Bridge
This is a small wooden bridge, wide enough for foot
traffic but not enough for a cart. The bridge spans the
small river running along the southern portion of the
village. The river is about 40 feet wide here.
Impaled upon a post of the bridge is a rotting male
islander head, now crawling with worms and
centipedes.
10. Watch Towers
Each of these is a wooden watchtower, basically a
platform of wood with a thatched roof, set on stilts
some 20 feet above the ground below it. A ladder
reaches up to the platform, upon which is also a
knotted rope long enough to reach the ground.
Each watchtower is set upon a small rise, the largest
rise being the southwestern one, which is some 40 feet
high. Wooden steps lead up the hill to the tower. The
other two towers are merely set on small mounds
about 20 feet high.
All the towers are empty of life, although one, the
southwestern one, has a body with its head crushed,
leaning against a post, such that from a distance it
would appear as if a guard were present.
11. Racks
Here, in a muddy delta-like area, are a series of
wooden racks, ostensibly used to tan and stretch hides,
dry fish, and other such activities. Now, rotting fish
and leather emits a horrendous stench, showing long
neglect.
12. Priest’s Place
Outside:
This is a rather large hut, decorated with teak and
ebony carved into elaborate motifs. Most appear to be
angelic creatures, ocean beasts, and native warriors.
A Tragedy Unfolds
The door, once a wicker screen, is ripped to shreds, but
it appears that something large and wooden has been
dragged across the doorway. In addition, the windows
are covered with wood.
Around the entire hut has been sprinkled salt.
The barricade across the doorway is easily moved
aside.
Inside:
Within the hut, a wooden altar is what barricades the
door.
The windows have been covered by wooden planks
lashed to the sill with tough vines.
A large store of nuts and drying fruits sits in a pile in
one corner of the hut, while a bladder filled with liquid
hangs from a cord from the ceiling.
The rest of the hut is a complete mess, with piles of
junk and furniture covered with patches of dust.
One could take time to pry out the mother-of-pearl
inlays, in which case an hour's work with a dagger
would yield about 25gp worth of the stuff.
The bladder contains water.
Within dwells a single old male islander (treat as a
commoner). He is a bit off of his rocker, having gone
insane from seeing his tribe taken. The man has
loosened the floorboards in one place and uses them to
occasionally sneak out by daylight from beneath the
raised hut in order to forage for food and water.
The old man is not a priest, but has, in his insanity,
declared himself high priest of the V'nartans. He will
claim to worship the Broken Lady, and will warn that
she punishes the unfaithful. More than that he will not
say, but he will decry those holed-up in area 6 as
blasphemers and heretics.
The old man will often read from a scroll made of goat
skin (the head is, in fact, still attached) claiming it to be
the writ of the Broken Lady...but it is actually a spell
scroll of protection from evil and good.
The old man will tend to rant and rave at the PCs, but
will not attack unless an attempt is made to remove
him from the hut.
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If the place is searched, another goat skin can be found
with a crude map of the Isle (see the Fermengarr Isle
Map at the end of this adventure). It lists the northern
lands as taboo and specifies the location of the stone
dweller.
13. Wall of Ancestors
This is a large earthen wall, rounded on top, which, at
its center, is some 20 feet high and about 100 feet
wide.
Within are buried the ancestors of the tribe. Only the
important tribal shamans, priests, champions, and
chiefs are buried here, the common folk being sent into
the sea. Around each grave, which is a body-sized hole
sealed with hard clay, are drawings and paintings
showing the deeds of each ancestor.
About twelve of the graves have been torn open and
are empty, although in one case, a skeleton, broken
into pieces, can be found on the ground about 200 feet
to the northeast of the Wall.
The ancestors are buried with various trinkets and
gewgaws, but no valuables.
14. Bonfire
This is an area where a constant bonfire was kept by
the tribe, used as a signal fire and as protection. It
shows no sign of recent use.
15. V’narto Bay
V'narto Bay is unique because it is very deep almost all
the way up to the beach and is free of reefs, rocks, and
other dangers. This means even a cog-sized ship can
beach itself right onto the mud of the delta area
surrounding the racks at area 11.
While a sizable sahuagin community dwells about 10
miles to the south of the bay, they generally do not
keep a vigil on the island.
16. Huts
These are the tribal huts. Each is raised off of the
ground by about 2 feet and is about 15-20 feet a side.
They have thatched roofs and wicker doors. Each is
one large room.
All of these huts are deserted. Many show signs of
damage and forced entry, and in those cases, often
show water damage as well. Thatching is all over the
ground near these huts.
A Tragedy Unfolds

A good number of the huts show bloodstains as
well...all dried. Occasionally, a corpse can be found, of a
tribal male, female, and occasionally, grimly, children.
All of the huts have worthless personal effects and
minor furnishings strewn about in disarray, and all
sport a haze of dust over everything.
Because the huts have been abandoned, some of the
nearby wildlife has moved back in. Amongst small rats,
spiders, and other such vermin, if the party searches
the huts, allow a 1 in 6 chance for each group of 6 huts
searched that something has taken up residence
within. If such is indicated, roll a d6 and consult the
following table:
Roll Encounter
1 1d2 giant bats
2 1d3 giant centipedes
3 2d4 giant rats
4 1 giant poisonous snake
5 1 giant spider
6 1d6 stirges
Having investigated the village, the party should now
suspect that the Stone Dweller is the cause of the
V'nartan's problems. This deduction is, of course,
wrong, but also understandable and vital to the rest of
the plot.
No V'nartans will travel to accompany the party, being
deathly afraid of the place, but they can provide
enough direction that even without the map from area
12, the party can find the stone dweller.
The captain will not relish sending any of his crew
north, leaving the adventuring to the adventurers. He
will want a guard for the ship and then a guard to
guard the guards. He will also need men to start to
effect repairs (or to build a new boat), which, without
help from the villagers, will take a lot longer than
originally anticipated. Needless to say, the entire crew
of Gallon's Widow will be jumpy and superstitious.
If pressed, the captain can be persuaded to send 2
crewman and the boson along with the PCs.
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It is about a seven mile journey to the place of the
stone dweller, which is called the Dead Tower by its
mistress. The going is rough and the heat, even in
winter, oppressive enough to make wearing armour
very uncomfortable, especially as bugs and other
creepy-crawlies get inside the armour and start biting.
Anyone wearing heavy armour will suffer a level of
exhaustion after an hour or travelling.
The best route, and the one suggested by the map in
area 12 of the village or by those in area 6 of the
village, is to follow the Helorto River north until it
reaches Leedinark Mountain. Then the party should
skirt east around the mountain until the coast is
reached. Then they turn north, cross the Fast One
River, and eventually reach the promontory
whereupon sits the Dead Tower.
Such a journey will take about 12 hours of hard
marching and will pass through several regions of
Fermengarr Isle.
Refer to the Fermengarr Isle Map presented at the end
of this adventure.
Altar
This is a stone block carved with runes glorifying the
sea and the sky. Signs of burnt offerings (charred
pieces of wood, soot on the altar) tell of the seasonal
rituals normally performed by the V'nartan priests.
Cudinarn Jungle
This is a true jungle. It is choked with vegetation,
mostly palms, jacarandas, ferns, and undergrowth. As
with most jungles, there are dangerous places to be
avoided. Travel through this jungle is very slow,
involving much machete work. The place is lush with
wildlife, except for the portion marked by the 'NC',
which is where the norebo dwells. That area is devoid
of animal life.
Dead Tower
This tower is detailed in the next section of this
adventure.
Fast One River
This is a dangerously fast river, entirely unnavigable
and barely swimmable in some spots. To cross it
requires magic or a bridge of some sort. Fortunately,
like all rivers on the Isle except for the Helorto, it never
is more than 20 feet wide.
A Tragedy Unfolds
Helorto River
This river is about 40 feet wide at its flat portions, slow
flowing and pure. It is faster flowing when it tumbles
down the Leedinark.
Jam-Jum Forest
This forest is a mixture of palms and other jungle trees
and flora mixed with a few subtropical varieties of
cypress and jacarandas. The forest is not too thick and
provides ample foraging and water from various
streams and rivulets coming down from the mountain.
The forest is home to much wildlife, including large
snakes, spiders, giant frogs, and a few dangerous
plants. All in all, though, it is a wholesome wilderness.
Leedinark Mountain
This mountain is the island's dominant feature, being
some 2,800 feet tall and punctuated by many ribbon-
like water falls. The mountain itself is rather rocky,
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and the igneous rock makes it look dark, almost black
and a bit foreboding. Giant eagles are known to dwell
high up on the peak of the mountain, and the V'nartans
believe the mountain is tall enough to hold up the sky,
and they worship it accordingly.
Little One River
This is a swiftly flowing river that tumbles from the
Leedinark into an isolated cove. The river is usually
around 15 feet wide.
Naytom River
This is a small, faster flowing river winding its way
through the Cudinarn Jungle.
V’narto Village
This village has been detailed earlier in this adventure.
A Tragedy Unfolds
The Dead Tower
The journey to the tower will proceed apace.
During the journey, encounters can take place. Refer to
the Fermengarr Isle wandering encounter charts
detailed in Appendix A.
When the party finally arrives in the area, which sits
atop a high promontory accessible by a tiring climb up
a spur of Leedinark Mountain, they will catch a glimpse
of the tower.
Tower Wandering Encounters
Wandering encounters can occur throughout the
tower, mostly with zombies as they go about their
business cleaning and maintaining things. Allow a 1 in
4 chance every 10 minutes that 1d3 zombies will
appear to perform some chore. They will not hinder or
bother the PCs but will attack if property is taken or
destroyed in their sight or if they are attacked or their
tasks are hindered in any material way.
In addition, a necrophidius (see Appendix C) wanders
the entire tower, pushing through any door that is not
locked. It will attack any strangers it encounters,
unless they have been previously blessed by the
Necromancer in front of the construct’s presence. All a
1 in 20 chance that any location entered that is not
barred by a locked door with contain the patrolling
necrophidius. In addition, if the PCs are stationary,
allow a 1 in 20 chance per 10 minutes that the creature
will cross the PCs’ path.
Aside from the Necromancer herself and the skeletal
wyvern contained in the top of the tower, the
necrophidius is the most fearsome guardian of the
tower.
If the necrophidius immobilizes all opposition, it will
fetch the Necromancer, who will then parley with the
PCs when they regain consciousness.
Ground Level
Refer to the Dead Tower Ground Level Map presented
at the end of this adventure.
Ceilings. The ceiling of the gatehouse is a dome
between 20 and 30 feet high. The southern 40 foot
length of the Hallway (area K) is 20 feet tall. The rest of
the ground level is 30 feet tall.
Light. Unless otherwise stated, all rooms are unlit.
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Sound. The place is as quiet as the grave…
A. Outside
The Dead Tower is a large structure of imposing
visage. It is constructed of dark grey stone and has
three major structures that make up the tower. The
first is a small gatehouse roughly in the shape of a
diamond. This gatehouse abuts the main keep, a larger
diamond-shaped structure that eventually tapers into
a cone-like shape before ending abruptly in sharp
battlements. The top of this "crown" sprouts a slender
round tower with a roof shaped like the closed jaws of
some horrific creature.
Behind the main keep is a secondary smaller tower,
square-shaped and connected to the main keep by a
ground level corridor and a second story bridge.
Windows pierce the walls at various places. These
windows are mere slits, and only the slenderest of
unarmoured halflings could squeeze through (and
then with some difficulty).
Leering from the front of the tower is a huge stone
skull. The stone that makes up the skull is bone white
in colour, providing a sharp contrast to the dull grey
stone of the rest of the tower. Below the skull, two
bone-white stone skeletal hands emerge from the main
keep and rest upon the roof of the gatehouse.
Just above the skull, in a ring around the conical
tapering of the main tower are poles bearing deep
black and purple pennons embroidered with skulls
and runes of death.
The tower structure atop the conical portion is made
of a deep jet black polished stone.
Atop the rear small tower is a three-pronged spire
made of a sickly greenish stone, almost but not quite
jade-like.
The entire face of the tower walls are covered with
ornate carvings and bas-reliefs. These decorations are
horrific in nature, with a common motif of skulls and
skeletons, but also with scenes of death and
destruction and scenes of funerals and burials.
Steps lead up to the double doors that seem to provide
entry to the place. The steps rise about 4 feet and are
made of a translucent black material like quartz. The
double doors are of a deep black metal and have bas-
reliefs in the shape of grinning skulls with sharp fangs
that seem to have black flames leaping from their
mouths. There is a large handle on each door.
A Tragedy Unfolds
The doors will not open. They doors have been subject
to an arcane lock spell cast by the necromancer
mistress of the place. A knock spell can bypass the lock,
but otherwise, a DC 30 Strength check would be
needed to burst through them.
Although there seems to be no way into the place, this
is actually not so...but the PCs must be patient.
A DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) examination of the
area will show footprints and traffic in and around the
area marked (T). This area is downhill from the main
doorway and hidden from sight, and the traffic leads
north by northeast to a small terrace where an orchard
grows. There is also a freshwater well here.
The (T) signifies the location of a secret trapdoor
leading down to area G of the Dungeon Level. A DC 20
Wisdom (Perception) check will find the trapdoor, but
this is a one-way trap door, in that there is no
mechanism by which to open it from this side. The
zombies that serve the Necromancer here use this
door to travel about a quarter of a mile to the orchard
to gather fresh food and water for their mistress. They
emerge once per day, at about noon, and then emerge
at sundown to take out refuse and dump it into the
nearby ocean. This refuse includes the detritus from
various failed experiments.
A total of ten zombies will emerge to take part in
these tasks. They will ignore anyone who does not
hinder them in their task, but if one of the zombies
attacks or is attacked, all of the zombies will seek to
defend themselves.
While the zombies are out, the trap door is visible and
left open. Each task takes the zombies about 2-3 hours.
This is, essentially, the only way into the tower
without a knock spell.
B. Gatehouse
This is an impressive chamber, with a domed ceiling
ranging from 20 feet to 30 feet above the floor. The
floor is of polished grey marble shot through with
white and black veins. The veins often congeal on the
floor to form a wispy ghost-like or skull-like visage. A
rich red carpet leads from the outer doors to another
set of double doors, these made of ivory or bone bound
in iron. The carpet is embroidered with scenes of
tendrils wrapped around eyeballs.
Flanking the outer doors are two stairways leading 10
feet up to a gallery which runs the length of the rest of
the room.
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Upon the gallery stand four zombie guards (see
Appendix C) armed with heavy crossbows. These are
under orders to attack any who enter the chamber
without escort from the Necromancer.
The interior double doors are locked from the inside
(from area K) by a thick iron bar.
C. Storage
This smallish chamber contains storage for day-to-day
items of use for the tower. These include rope, chains,
barrels (empty), lamp oil, torches, tools, candles, etc.
The place is absolutely filled with the stuff in no
discernible order and movement around the room is
very cramped and difficult.
D. Storage
This is another storage chamber, as much a cluttered
mess as the other (area C). This one contains more in
the way of foodstuffs and dining utensils, mugs, cups,
cooking gear, etc. Foodstuffs include a rack of fine
wines, all stoppered with wax and lead, barrels of rum
and ale, nuts, dried fruit, etc. Nothing perishable is
contained herein.
E. Megaron
The doors to this chamber are unlocked.
Within is a musty room, probably little used, although
it seems to be free of dust. A fireplace is against the
south wall, unused and very clean. Also in here is a
dais along the southeast wall, upon which rests an
elaborately carved ebony throne decorated with skull
and skeleton motifs. The back of the chair looks like a
giant rotting hand erupting from the earth.
Tapestries adorn the walls...these being black velvet
and displaying scenes of vivisection, mummification,
skulls, and worms.
Empty torch sconces line the walls.
The chair is very valuable but also extremely heavy.
Next to the fireplace is a secret trapdoor, which
requires a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to find.
The door is openable by removing a brick in the side of
the hearth and pulling up a metal ring and chain
therein. A DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check of
the hearth or the area around the trapdoor will reveal
this mechanism.
A Tragedy Unfolds
This trapdoor leads to area A of the Dungeon Level.
F. Barracks
The room is decorated with tapestries made from
flayed human skin decorated with art.
This is a holding chamber for the skeletons that serve
this Necromancer. Six skeletons are here.
These skeletons will attack any living creature who is
not the Necromancer opening the door or entering the
room and will pursue anywhere in the tower. They will
only spare those escorted by the Necromancer.
The art on the flayed skins is representative of each
culture from which the person's skin came. A DC 20
Intelligence (History) check will reveal this fact. The
whole is a rather grotesque patchwork, especially
when close examination reveals the nature of the
decorations.
G. Barracks
The room is decorated with coloured bones woven
amid strands of hair of different shades.
This is a holding chamber for the skeletons that serve
this Necromancer. Six skeletons are here.
These skeletons will attack any living creature who is
not the Necromancer opening the door or entering the
room and will pursue anywhere in the tower. They will
only spare those escorted by the Necromancer.
H. Stairway
This triangular room is unadorned, excepting sconces
that are lit. Stone stairs lead up to Level One.
I. Dining Chamber
This huge chamber is ornately decorated with tabards
displaying runes and sigils of death. A huge ebony
table dominates the place, with a score of chairs
assembled around it. A centerpiece is formed from two
candelabras in the shape of skeletal fingers
outstretched. Oil lamps burn fitfully, casting a gloom
over the large chamber, and braziers keep the place
warm, in a slight haze, and smelling slightly charnel.
Various cabinets of fine workmanship stand against
the walls.
Two large hearths are here, one along the west wall
and the other long the south wall. These show signs of
use.
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The cabinets are unlocked and hold dishes, goblets,
and utensils, many of fine quality silver and worth a
total of 1,200 gp to an enterprising thief. The sum total
of the silverware weighs over 50 pounds.
J. Kitchen
This kitchen is crowded with pots and pans, knives
and spits, a large clay oven, and a bin of salt.
Additionally, cabinets hold serving platters and other
mundane serving utensils.
K. Hallway
This impressive hallway is done in flagstone,
decorated with ornate sconces in the shape of skulls.
The sconces hold torches which light the hallway.
Between the sconces are hung grey tabards each
showing a nude male standing with a portion of his
skin peeled away showing the skeletal structure
underneath.
The double doors in the center of the southwest wall
maw about to devour those who enter.
The double doors at the southeast end of the hallway
are valves of bronze inlaid with lapis lazuli and other
semi-precious stones set to form a mosaic of a man's
life from birth to death represented as a successive
string of human images. However, whereas most such
murals end with death, this one continues, showing
burial, resurrection as a ghoul, and an eternity of
unlife.
Level One
Refer to the Dead Tower Upper Levels Map presented
at the end of this adventure.
Ceilings. All ceilings here are 30 feet overhead.
Light. Unless stated otherwise, areas are unlit.
Sound. There are no ambient sounds on this level.
A. Hands of Stone
These are a pair of white stone wooden hands which
are normally at rest atop the gatehouse roof. However,
via levers and dials in area B of Level Two, they can be
made to move as if they were alive. See area B of Level
Two for more details.
A Tragedy Unfolds
B. Hallway
This is a small hallway dimly lit by oil lamps. It is
unadorned.
C. Antechamber
This area is lit by torches in sconces.
A zombie cleaner is here, its broom stuck in between
the wall and a sconce. Since the zombie has
instructions not to break the cleaning tools but it also
cannot damage the sconce and also must clean at the
appointed times, the undead creature is in a sort of
logical loop. It has been struggling with this dilemma
for several hours, and will continue to do so until
someone helps it extricate the broom or attacks it,
forcing it to drop the broom and attack.
D. Bridge
This bridge is exposed to the outside. It has a stone rail
that rises up 3 feet on each side to prevent accidents.
The bridge is slightly arched and is decorated with
skeletal serpents along its sides. The floor of the bridge
is designed to look like a spinal column.
Both doors are locked from the inside, each door being
solid oak with iron bindings. The locks on these doors
are key locks the keys being on the Necromancer's
person. A DC 20 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools) check will
open the locks.
E. Library
This chamber is accessed via the bridge (area D Level
One) and comprises the top story of the rear tower.
Within, the walls are covered with bookshelves and
scroll racks. Also within this place are several unlit
braziers, lit lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and
several divans and chairs and a reading desk.
Also present is a single zombie holding a bucket of
sand with instructions to put out fires. It will only
enter combat to defend itself or if hindered from
putting out a fire in this chamber.
The contents of this room represents a major library,
most of the works dealing with death, necromancy,
undead, extra-planar creatures, spell research, strange
ingredients, and other such arcane subjects.
Within the desk are ink and quill and a supply of good
quality paper and vellum.
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Behind one scroll rack is a loose brick in the wall. A DC
20 Wisdom (Perception) check will spot the brick if
the rack is moved. If the brick is pivoted in place, a
stone in the ceiling will slide open, revealing an attic of
sorts in the 30 foot high ceiling. A rope ladder, coiled
up atop the sliding stone will fall to the ground.
Within this attic space, which is 10 feet by 10 feet by 4
feet tall, are the magical works of the Necromancer.
These include:
 a spell scroll of banishment
 a spell scroll of sleep
 a spell scroll of hold person
 a spell scroll of fog cloud
 a spell scroll of identify
 a spell scroll with gust of wind
 a spell scroll with ice storm
 a storybook that will speak its words as each
pages is turned
 a tome with diagrams and incantations necessary
to activate magic circles and other protective
diagrams
 fine quality giant squid sepia and various quills
made from magical creatures and vellum made
from the hides of various extraordinary creatures
for use in magic scroll creation
 a book full of blank pages that, if one's hand is
pressed onto the title page and an inscription is
read (the inscription is on the spine of the book),
then the entire life history of the person touching
the book is transcribed onto the page; such
transcription lasts until another touches it or until
1 month passes, whereupon the words fade
F. Specimen Storage
This room stinks of formaldehyde.
Within are a great number of barrels, both large and
small, and coffin-like wooden crates.
A Tragedy Unfolds
All contain specimens, both human and otherwise,
some sapient and some animal, including babies and
adults, including whole bodies, fetuses, and organs and
body parts. Most are stored in pungent chemicals or
strange powders. None are V'nartans, as can be seen
from the eyes and, in some cases the skin colour, if
such has been retained.
Each container bears black writing (in scrupulous
Common) detailing the origin, date of expiration, and
nature of the specimen.
G. Laboratory
This is a typical laboratory, if such a thing can be called
typical. Scattered around wooden tables and benches
are scales, alembics, weights, beakers, clay urns, lead
stoppers, scoops and spoons and tongs, scattered
papers and notes and a few open books Bits and pieces
of bone and skin and unidentifiable organs are here
and there in various little containers.
Lamps of oil light the place, and a few oil fires burn
under vials of liquid, which are bubbling and frothing.
The jars are filled with strange multicoloured powders
of indeterminate origin and there is even a half-eaten
lunch of fruit, bread, and cheese, which the zombie
cleaners have not yet cleaned.
The books here are similar to those found in area E on
Level One.
H. Laboratory Storage
This room contains many shelves and racks holding a
bewildering array of experimental ingredients.
The ingredients are organized by some system whose
basis cannot immediately be determined, and most of
the containers have writing on them, presumably
labels, but although written in Common, they are
mostly some sort of code or scholarly notation
indecipherable without a studious amount of research.
I. Stairway
This small chamber contains a spiral staircase that
winds up to area C of Level Two.
J. Bed Chamber
Within is a gothic canopied bed all done in black, with
bats as a motif for the ebony posts and the canopy
itself. Also here are a wardrobe, table and chairs, a
nightstand with washbasin, a divan, a fireplace, several
braziers and oil lamps, and two ornate mirrors. All of
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these furnishings are finely wrought, but with ghoulish
or macabre motifs worked into the design.
To the northwest and southwest are areas screened by
curtains.
This is the Necromancer's bedchamber.
The wardrobe contains woman's clothes, but they are
garish, gothic, and sinister in appearance and of the
style one would expect from an ostentatious, wealthy
debutante.
In the northwest corner is a curtained area that
contains a toilet. Another curtained area to the
southwest contains a bathtub of copper, decorated
with skeletons in various sexual poses with other
skeletons. Jars of cosmetic powders and personal care
substances are nearby, as are several black drying
cloths.
K. Living Quarters
There are several plush divans and comfortable chairs
in this room. Also here is a common table and chairs of
darkened oak, a large hearth with grinning gargoyle
figures looming above it, and an ornate chessboard
with figures of ivory shaped like skeletons and figures
of ebony shaped like wraiths.
This is the Necromancer's living area, although she
spends most of her time in study in the library, in her
sanctum, or in her laboratory.
L. Antechamber
This chamber is decorated with tapestries depicting a
small manor house near a gloomy looking swamp.
Within the swamp a far-off will-o’ wisp glows between
the trees.
This is the Necromancer's homeland, which she lived
in as a child
There are two skeletons here, who will attack any
living creatures who are not the Necromancer or
escorted by the Necromancer.
Level Two
Refer to the Dead Tower Upper Levels Map presented
at the end of this adventure.
Ceilings. All ceilings here are 30 feet overhead.
A Tragedy Unfolds
Light. Unless stated otherwise, areas are unlit.
Sound. There are no ambient sounds on this level.
A. Stone Skull
This area is accessed by several steps ascending up
about 5 feet. Within is the interior of the great stone
skull as seen from the outside. Hanging on a chain in
this place is a metal gong and hammer and nearby on
the floor is a metal cone.
The cone can be used as a megaphone, and it, along
with the gong, are used to scare away curious
islanders who would be made to think the skull is
speaking to them…warning them to flee or perish.
B. Manipulation Room
This chamber is full of chains, levers, pulleys, and dials.
These controls can be used to manipulate the stone
hands (see area A on Level One) to move like a giant
puppet. Many of these require a decent amount of
strength, and when the Necromancers wants to use
these, she has help from zombies.
The Necromancer designed the stone skull and stone
hands as a hobby and in order to scare away anyone
who approaches the tower, especially superstitious
natives.
C. Vivisection Chamber
Several operating benches are here, each capable of
being raised or lowered and/or independently tilted
by a series of cranks. Currently, there are three tables,
and one of them has a human female's corpse with its
chest cavity spread wide open. The internal organs are
missing.
Various vivisection tools are here, as well as a water
basin, a refuse bin, several tomes, and a few jars of
powders and liquids.
This chamber is where the Necromancer experiments
on the specimens from area F on Level One.
The tomes are books on anatomy.
A spiral staircase descends to area I of Level One.
D. Creation Chamber
Several tables and benches are here, along with a
variety of metal implements and tools. Near these are
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leather sacks and some metal bins that are filled with a
soupy greenish liquid.
This is where the Necromancer creates her undead
servitors. The implements and tools are used to sow
back limbs onto zombie bodies. The sacks contain
plaster to mend bones, and the bins hold, submerged
in the liquid, sets of replacement body parts of various
sizes and types.
A spiral staircase ascends to area A of Level Three.
Level Three
Refer to the Dead Tower Upper Levels Map presented
at the end of this adventure.
Ceiling. The ceiling here is 30 feet overhead.
Light. Continual flame torches provide light for the
place. There are four of these set into sconces. These
can easily be removed.
Sound. There are no ambient sounds on this level.
A. Sanctum
There are several types of protective circles etched
into the floor and inlaid with lead. Various charts and
arcane formulae are hanging from the walls and there
are many more that appear to be rolled up into tubes.
Several books and scrolls of are scattered on the floor
or on a small table shoved against the wall. A podium
holds a tome of extremely large size (at least
2,000 pages) that is attached to the podium by a chain.
On a bookshelf along one of the walls are two tomes,
and a cabinet stands near these.
The scattered books and scrolls are all text relating to
arcane subject matter of various sorts.
The large, chained tome is the Necromancer's main
spellbook. The chain can be broken with a DC 16
Strength check or by smashing it (AC 19, 8 hit points,
immune to poison and psychic damage and to piercing
attacks).
Necromancer's Spellbook
The spellbook is guarded by a 4th level glyph of
warding spell. This is a spell glyph set to activate if
anyone except the Necromancer or an undead creature
touches it. When activated, the creature who triggered
A Tragedy Unfolds
the glyph is the target of a phantasmal killer spell (DC
15).
Within the thick front cover of the book is a hollowed
space where a tiny (6 inch long) skeletal serpent rests.
Its teeth are dipped in venom and it will bite any hand
but the Necromancer's that opens the book. Characters
wearing heavy armour or who have magical gauntlets
on are immune to this attack. Otherwise, the snake
attacks with surprise with a +6 attack bonus. Its attack
does no damage but injects a venom that causes 14
(4d6) poison damage. If a DC 14 Constitution saving
throw is successful, this damage is halved. The snake
can be automatically hit and destroyed after its first
attack.
The spells contained within are many:
Level 1: alarm, feather fall, fog cloud, protection from
evil and good, unseen servant
Level 2: arcane lock, enhance ability, knock, levitate,
elf’s acid arrow, see invisibility, web
Level 3: animate dead, blink, dispel magic, feign death,
remove curse, slow
Level 4: arcane eye, fire shield, polymorph
Level 5: cloudkill, scrying, telekinesis
Level 6: circle of death, globe of invulnerability, magic
jar
On a bookshelf along a wall are two travelling
spellbooks.
These each contain six spells in them, which the
Necromancer found useful when she used to travel:
Book One: detect magic, fly, invisibility, jump, magic
missile, shield
Book Two: charm person, comprehend languages,
haste, rope trick, sleep, unseen servant
The cabinet has spell components for most of her
spells in the spellbooks.
A spiral staircase leads down to the Creation Chamber
(area D of Level Two), while an iron ladder leads up to
the Observatory (area A of Level Four).
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Level Four
Refer to the Dead Tower Upper Levels Map presented
at the end of this adventure.
Ceiling. The ceiling here is 30 feet overhead.
Light. Continual flame torches provide light for the
place. There are two of these set into sconces. These
can easily be removed.
Sound. There are no ambient sounds on this level.
A. Observatory
The windows here are bigger, wide enough to admit
a man-sized creature, but they are also equipped with
iron shutters that can be, and currently are, latched
shut from the inside.
A ladder in the floor here leads down, and an open
trapdoor can be closed over the ladder, eliminating
any hazard of falling.
A telescope made of brass stands on a tripod here,
pointed up and out of an unshuttered window. Nearby
are an unrolled astronomical chart and a scroll with
scribbled notes on the movement of heavenly bodies
and various conjunctions of these same bodies.
A large chain dangles from the center of the ceiling
here.
This small chamber is the highest chamber in the
tower.
The chain can be pulled with a moderate effort, and
this opens the jaws of the top of the tower, releasing a
skeletal wyvern (see Appendix C) from its 30 foot tall
chamber set above this one. The skeletal wyvern will
then emerge to chase away any who are within sight of
the tower. It will only attack any who do not flee.
While skeletal creatures cannot normally fly, even if
they had wings in life, this creature has been imbued
with the power of flight through its creation process; it
was one of the triumphs of the Necromancer’s studies.
Dungeon Level
Refer to the Dungeon Level Map presented at the end
of this adventure.
Ceilings. Unless otherwise stated, passages are 10 feet
high and chambers are 15 feet high.
A Tragedy Unfolds
Light. The area is unlit.
Sound. There are no ambient sounds on this level.
A. Entry Passage
This passageway ends at an iron ladder bolted to the
cave wall which ascends up to the megaron (area E of
Level One).
B. Wine Cellar
This cave actually holds more than just wine. Many
wooden racks do hold wine, as well as barrels
containing beer, ale, rum, and many barrels of water.
C. Food Storage
This large chamber holds the perishable supplies of
the tower. Included are bushels of fruit, dried jerky,
and meat held in bins of salt, grain, hops, barley, flour,
etc.
A dozen small skeletal snakes (see Appendix C)
slither around the place, looking to keep vermin away
from the food.
They are instructed only to attack Tiny creatures that
enter this chamber. A few rat bodies ripped to shreds
by the guardians can be seen here and there where the
cleaners have not yet tidied up.
These miniscule undead are relatively harmless to the
PCs, but could pose a danger to familiars.
D. Captive
Held in cold iron chains is a ghoul captive of the
Necromancer. It is chained tightly to the wall by wrists,
feet, and chest. Its head is covered by a black hood and
a metal knob has been stuffed into its mouth. Dressed
in torn rags, the ghoul might appear to be a human
captive at first, and if released it will attack.
E. Dangerous Captive
This passageway is blocked off by a brick wall pierced
by a closed iron door that has been barred and chained
from the outside.
A DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check will catch a foul
scent coming from within the barricade.
Inside is a horrific undead monster, once the lover of
the then young Necromancer. He died tragically and
she tried to restore him with an experimental spell far
beyond her powers to cast. The spell warped her lover,
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bringing him to a horrific undead existence. The
Necromancer used to spend much of her studies trying
to find a way to cure him, but she then became too
absorbed and fascinated in scholarly pursuits and
began to try to help him less and less. Now she has all
but given up hope of restoring him, but also cannot
still bring herself to slay him.
Her warped lover is a ghast.
If the chains are broken (DC 20 Strength check, AC 19,
8 hit points, immune to psychic and poison damage
and piercing attacks), the ghast will emerge and attack.
The lock that holds the chains can be opened with a DC
18 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools) check.
F. Graves
In this cavern are eight closed sarcophagi. They are of
marble and decorated with complicated patterns and
heraldic crests.
To the east, earth has been brought in and piled into a
mound about 6 ft. high and about 10 ft. by 20ft. in area.
Atop the mound are three headstones.
Within the sarcophagi are the remains of the
Necromancer's parents and family members who have
passed on. Although wrapped in death shrouds and
wearing the tattered remains of clothing, there is
nothing of value within them.
The headstones mark the graves of the Necromancer's
siblings. The youngest was a baby.
There is a secret door along the eastern wall of this
chamber. It can be detected with a DC 15 Wisdom
(Perception) check If the door has been found and the
tombstones on the mound are closely examined, a DC
15 Intelligence (Investigation) check will determine
that if the tombstone of the youngest sibling is titled
backwards, the secret door leading to area I of the
Dungeon Level will open.
G. Zombie Cavern
Here is where the zombies dwell when not working.
There are 15 zombies here normally. However, one is
currently stuck in area C of Level One. The other 14
zombies are used by the Necromancer as servants.
Some cook, others emerge to tend the orchard, take
out the trash, gather water, or clean the tower. Roll a
1d12 to determine how many zombies are here at any
one time. Subtract from this any zombies met
wandering the tower or encountered outside.
A Tragedy Unfolds

These zombies will not attack unless they are attacked
or prevented from doing their tasks. In this case, all
zombies within sight will attack, pursuing anywhere in
the tower.
This cavern is quite large, about 20 feet high, and the
ground is covered with little gibbets of flesh that have
fallen off of the zombies.
An iron ladder in the west of the cavern leads up to a
trapdoor that emerges down slope and to the
northwest of the Dead Tower, as described in area A of
the Ground Level.
H. Tool Storage
This chamber holds many of the tools the zombies use
to maintain the tower. Included are bags of seeds,
pruning shears, hatchets, hammers, saws, clasps, and a
supply of weapons and armour, including 12
battleaxes, 10 shields, 3 warhammers, 10 maces, 4
scimitars, 5 longswords, 6 daggers, 2 heavy crossbows
and 40 crossbow bolts.
In case of trouble, the Necromancer can arm her
zombie servants with these weapons and shields and
order them to attack.
I. Secret Passageway
This passageway is accessed via a door carved to look
like the cave wall in area F of the Dungeon Level. The
door opens when the proper headstone is moved as
described in area F of the Dungeon Level.
From the other side, the door is obvious and merely
pulls open with a twist of a handle.
Within is a long passageway about 6 feet high that
winds a long ways to the north, descending all the
while down long stairs, until it arrives at an isolated
cove with a small sandy beach. Here is a twelve-man
row boat with a mast. Within the boat are provisions
for one person for twenty days, including fresh water,
and a map of the surrounding seas and islands in a
sealed tube. This is where the Necromancer can escape
in an emergency and also where supplies ordered from
afar are taken into the tower.
Just within the secret doorway, and again just within
the cave opening at the cove, is a hooded lantern filled
with oil and a small bit of tinder and flint.
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The Necromancer
The Necromancer who dwells here is named
Thaariyshya. She is from a far off kingdom and was the
daughter of a prosperous land owner who was slain by
bandits. She was the only one who escaped, and as a
result of this childhood trauma, she became fascinated
by death.
While an apprentice wizard, she took a lover who
eventually died a tragic death. Wanting to save him,
she stole an experimental spell from her master's
spellbook and attempted to twist it to resurrect her
lover. The spell backfired and warped her lover into an
undead monstrosity (the ghast that is still imprisoned
in area E of the Dungeon Level).
Her master kicked her out, and she subsequently
delved into self-study to find a cure for her lover.
Although this quest has thus far failed, her single-
mindedness gained her immense necromantic lore.
With this lore, she became very adept and grew
powerful in her wizardry. Over time, her desire to save
her lover became overwhelmed by her love of
scholarship, and she began to devote herself less to her
lover and more to her arts in and of themselves.
Eventually, her experiments drew the ire of her
neighbors, and so she mustered much of her lore and,
through arcane means, built the Dead Tower on
isolated Fermengarr Isle. It was her assumption that
she could study here in peace, importing supplies and
cadavers from well-paid smugglers who ply these
waters.
Except for an initial brush with the V'nartans, whom
she scared away, she has been in complete solitude,
having not left her tower for the entire time she has
been here.
Thaariyshya (see Appendix C) is a human female in
her early fifties. She has bright silver hair cut short and
wears a black robe embroidered with necromantic
runes. She is a very stoic individual, an introvert with
very little social grace and not prone to showing
emotions.
The Necromancer has little care of the outside world.
She is pure scholar, fascinated by death and all things
related to it, and she is content to spend the rest of her
existence delving into such lore. She has never taken
an apprentice, being relatively young and having no
desire yet to pass on her knowledge. She is not overly
aggressive or hostile, even to intruders, as she disdains
A Tragedy Unfolds
combat and the use of force unless necessary. Her
studies and obsession have left her very stoic and
emotionless, except in extremely meaningful (to her)
circumstances, such as those outlined later in this
scenario.
Although the trappings of her tower and the area of
her study might lead the PCs to think she is evil and
conducting vile experiments, Thaariyshya is actually
neutral in alignment. She seeks to cause no harm with
her studies, and the bodies she vivisects and the
corpses she turns into zombies are all purchased from
corpse dealers who ship their products to the secret
cove near her tower (refer to area I of the Dungeon
Level for details).
The fact that none of the bodies in the tower are
islanders should be a clue to the PCs that the
Necromancer is not the cause of the deaths plaguing
the V’nartans.
Thaariyshya wears a cloak of protection and a ring of
protection (the effects of which are reflected in her
statistics). She also carries four crushed black pearls
worth 500 gp each (material components for her circle
of death spell).
Thaariyshya has animated the undead in her tower
using rituals and magic that are beyond the
capabilities of the animate dead spell, As such, she
does not have to constantly recast the spell in order to
keep the skeletons and zombies of the tower in her
service. However, this also means the undead do not
benefit from her Undead Thralls trait.
Thaariyshya will not be pleased to find intruders in her
tower, but she will not overreact either. She will be
intensely curious as to why a group of people would
arrive at an isolated island and then make their way
into her tower. As long as she senses she is not in
danger, she will use her defensive spells in combat
instead of her more lethal, higher level spells, all the
while trying to convince the PCs to parley with her.
In her tower, the DM is going to have to place
Thaariyshya. It is suggested she be in her sanctum,
researching a spell. This will force the party to explore
most of the tower before confronting her.
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It is to be hoped that, given the lack of evidence of
slaughter of the V’nartans within the tower (the fact
that there are no islander bodies in the specimen room
[area F of Level One] should be a dead
giveaway...pardon the pun), the PCs can eventually
establish peaceful contact with the Necromancer.
She will be very curious as to why the party has
intruded into her demesne, and once that is
established (assuming the PCs have told the truth), she
will resign herself reluctantly to helping the PCs, for
she realizes that:
 the PCs are likely to fight her if she cannot prove
her innocence, and although she has confidence in
her high level spells such as circle of death,, she
does not know how powerful the PCs are and does
not want to risk a confrontation when one can be
avoided
 if there is some force on this island capable of
murdering over 500 villagers, then it is likely to be
a threat to her and her research, and it is probably
only a matter of time before it comes after her
Thus, healthy self-interest and her desire to eventually
be left alone necessitates her cooperation with the PCs.
First, Thaariyshya will ask the PCs to tell her
everything they know. Assuming they are forthright,
she will then tell them that the first step would be to
search the rest of the northern half of the Isle, in order
to try to locate the source of the evil.
She will suggest that the next day the party accompany
her in this search.
Discovery of the Site
Armed with her map of this Isle, the party and the
Necromancer can head out into the Cudinarn Jungle
and the northern slopes of the Leedinark.
Wandering encounters may be rolled for during this
journey (refer to the Fermengarr Isle wandering
encounter charts in Appendix A).
A Tragedy Unfolds
Eventually, after a search of close to 2 days, the group
will stumble across the clearing of the norebo.
They will likely first notice the lack of animal sounds in
the area. As they continue, they will then hear the
norebo, which sometimes howls with glee as it feeds.
They will also likely hear the moans of the current
feeding victim. The Necromancer will urge the PCs to
proceed stealthily. Following the sounds will lead
eventually to a horrific charnel stench, and finally to
within sight of the ghastly clearing.
The Hellish Clearing
Refer to the Norebo Clearing and Hadulo’s Lair Map
presented at the end of this adventure.
This clearing, some 400 ft-500 ft. in diameter, is a
ghastly spectacle of pain. In the center of the clearing
are 5 large wooden X's fashioned from two logs lashed
together. These are planted into the ground vertically,
and lashed to them are tribespeople, including women
and children. All are extremely mutilated, showing
signs of hideous torture of a kind unimaginable to the
party before now. A figure practicing a final bit of
excruciating torture using a bamboo shoot on an
almost dead tribesman who is moaning in utter pain.
As the figure moves around, you can see that it is a
once attractive V’nartan young adult female with long
straight black hair. She is nude, and significant is the
huge mass of scab and scar tissue between her legs.
Her eyes are wide and bloodshot, and her body is dirty
and unkempt and covered with blood and grime. Her
nails are long and look razor sharp and her teeth seem
to have been broken in places, making for a jagged,
wicked-looking mouth. Open sores on her body weep
from infection.
The rest of the clearing is just as bad. To the west is a
large log setup like a totem pole except that real bodies
and body parts have been nailed to it with wooden
spikes. The surrounding trees that make up the edge of
the clearing are literally draped in pieces of human
skin, looking kind of like a bunch of fleshy spider webs
draped gracefully amid the boughs of the trees.
Human bodies and body parts are everywhere strewn
about. Every face has a look of utter wide-eyed horror
upon it, and few of the bodies are intact. Many of them
have their skulls crushed open and the brains are gone,
long since devoured by the Norebo. Bodies have huge
slivers of wood stuck in them and many show signs of
partial devouring.
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Some heads are sticking up out of the ground,
suggesting that the rest of the body is buried into the
ground.
In one instance, a human tree has been created by
sticking wooden poles through bodies and then posing
them into a trunk and branches with scalps serving as
leaves.
The entire spectacle is completely nauseating, and
anyone viewing it for the first time must make a DC 12
Constitution saving throw or become frightened for 1
minute. During this time, the frightened creature must
leave sight of the clearing and, once out of sight, will
likely be doubled over, throwing up. The Necromancer
is immune to this effect. Once the first glance has been
made, even those affected can return to the clearing
without losing their self-control.
Thaariyshya will hold back the party, warning them
that they do not yet know what they face, and that they
must preserve the element of surprise in order to have
any chance of prevailing. She will remind them that
this thing took out over 500 beings.
If the PCs insist on attacking the norebo, the
Necromancer will call them fools and urge them to flee
back to her tower. She will immediately run for her
tower. If the PCs insist upon trying to fight the norebo,
then they will likely be killed and consumed. However,
if they immediately realize their mistake and flee, the
DM can have an exciting chase, and maybe even have
the norebo take a swipe or two at the PCs, but
eventually the PCs should be able to lose the creature
and make their way safely back to the Necromancer,
who will be none too pleased with the PCs and will
admonish them accordingly.
Refer to the statistics for Kelanni’s norebo in
Appendix B.
Research
Thaariyshya will request the party accompany her to
the V'narto village. She will need to ask why a V'nartan
woman would be committing such horrible atrocities
and, if not in control of herself, who she was.
The DM should roll for wandering encounters from
Cudinarn south through the Jam-Jum and to the village
(refer to the Fermengarr Isle wandering encounter
charts in Appendix A). This journey will take about a
day.
A Tragedy Unfolds

Back at the village, the captain of the Gallon’s Widow
can report that the crew has not been harmed, but also
that no villagers have been sighted either.
If the party questions the villagers in area 6 of the
village about the V'nartan woman (they will have to
describe her as best they can), the villagers will give a
look of despair and tell the PCs the story of Kelanni
and Hadulo (up until the point both fled into the
jungle). Thaariyshya will become very interested at
this and will at once want to head back to the Dead
Tower.
The DM should check for encounters on the journey
back to the Dead Tower.
Once back at the tower, Thaariyshya will cloister
herself in her library, seeking to research any
possibilities as to what has happened. She will ask any
PCs who are spellcasters or who have an appropriate
background (e.g. sage, cloistered scholar, et al) to
assist her research.
Eventually, after 1d6+1 days (less 1 day per PC
spellcaster assisting her, minimum of 2 days), she will
arrive at the conclusion that a norebo is involved. She
will be able to tell the party general information about
a norebo and will proclaim that a plan needs to be
developed to banish the norebo back to its home plane,
since she does not think she and the party can best it
physically after it has consumed so many souls.
She will state that she has the knowledge of a
protective circle that can hold the Norebo. She also has
a spell scroll with a banishment spell on it.
Unfortunately, she will explain, the spell will not work
on an embodied norebo, and as far as she knows, only
a wish spell (to which she does not have access) will
remove the spirit from the body.
However, she will offer to do more research, since she
now knows what it is she is looking for, and see if there
are any accounts of how to remove such a spirit from a
body without using a wish spell..
If one or more PCs are helping with research, allow
them to find this passage in an obscure scroll telling
the exploits of a paladin of yore:
...and the wretched peasants didst implore me to rid the
hag of the spirit that didst overtake her. And I, knowing
nothing of fear, could not refuse even such as these, for is
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it not certain that those lowest in the eyes of the gods
are the highest in the need of aid? And they led me to the
hag, who saw me and raved at me and came forth to
cause me bodily harm with her nails. And I noticed
something familiar about the hag...something from my
childhood…
But she struck out at me, and I underestimated the
strength and wiles of the creature within, for although I
saw an unarmed woman, her hands grasped my shield
and wrenched it apart, and she warded my sword with
her bare arm. Her claws ripped through my enchanted
mail, and such was the ferocity of her assault that before
I could react I was prone, and she atop me. Sorely
wounded was I, bleeding from many horrible wounds,
and ready to meet the gods and my death in combat
against evil, and the hag tore the helmet from my head,
so as to strike a mortal blow.
And the woman stopped in mid strike and howled at the
top of her lungs. Then she seemed wracked in an
internal struggle and dropped to her knees. The gods
took ahold of me, and gave me inspiration, for it was
recognition I saw in the eyes of the hag, and I held her
and looked into her bloodshot eyes and said "mother".
And she saw me then and screamed "my son! My
beautiful son!". And the conflict within her increased,
and her body wracked in agony, but it was then that I
saw the shape expelled from her body. Like shadow it
was, full of menacing evil but it fled like the wind.
And I looked into the renewed eyes of my mother, she
who had sold me into harsh servitude as a small child.
And when she saw naught but forgiveness in my eyes she
smiled and thanked me for expelling the evil spirit, for
she said it had entered her body through the tears in her
soul and in her conscience and it fed off of the guilt she
had harboured in giving me up as a child.
And we both thanked the gods that justice had been
served, for the guilt that had driven her insane was
assuaged by its very cause. Such is the justice of the
gods.
If no PCs are assisting her, allow the Necromancer to
locate the passage and read it to the PCs. The abilities
of the spirit in this passage are very similar to a
norebo, and it shouldn't be too hard for the PCs to
figure out that severe psychic shock or trauma can
expel the possession.
A Tragedy Unfolds
At some point during this time, the Necromancer will
steal away to her laboratory to concoct a virulent
poison for her dagger. If confronted, she will merely
state that she is brewing an alchemical liquid with
which to enhance her blade’s effectiveness against
spirits. If the PCs are skeptical, they can make a
Wisdom (Insight) check against her Charisma (Bluff)
check to determine that she is not telling the truth.
Alternatively, they could examine the laboratory after
she is finished and try to puzzle out what she has
concocted. A DC 20 Intelligence (Alchemist’s Supplies)
check will reveal that she brewed a powerful poison.
If confronted further, the Necromancer will tell the
truth, which is that she intends to kill Hadulo with it
after the norebo is taken care of.
The Last Investigation
The Necromancer will ask the PCs for ideas regarding
what would be sufficient shock to allow Kelanni a
chance to expel the Norebo. Allow the PCs to attempt
to come up with the idea of finding Hadulo and
presenting him to Kelanni as a means of inducing
trauma.
If the players get stuck, the Necromancer can finally
arrive at this conclusion on her own.
The next course of action is to find Hadulo.
The Necromancer now has a plan. If Hadulo can be
found, the plan would work as follows:
 prepare a protective circle near the Norebo's
clearing
 lure the norebo into the circle using a PC as a
decoy
 activate the protective circle, imprisoning the
norebo temporarily
 present Hadulo and promise Kelanni revenge
upon him if she will come and get him
 if Kelanni can break the hold, Thaariyshya will
intone her banishment spell and hope that it works
The Hunt for Hadulo
It is known that Hadulo was an adept hunter and
forester, and the most likely place for him to be is in
the Jam-Jum. The Necromancer can use scrying spell to
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locate Hadulo. With it, enough detail can be seen to get
a general fix on where his cave is. The spell will show
the cave, the forest, and the mountain in the
background.
The Necromancer will leave capturing Hadulo to the
PCs. She will agree to meet them at the norebo’s
clearing when they have Hadulo.
The party can arrive at the cave site within 16 hours
(probably a full day and part of another). The exact site
has to be searched for, so this comprises a portion of
the 16 hours. Eventually, the party will site the cave.
Refer to the Norebo Clearing and Hadulo’s Lair Map
presented at the end of this adventure.
Hadulo's Lair is essentially a huge boulder, some 50
feet high and 180 feet in diameter, which has a split in
its front that goes deep into the heart of the rock and
has provided for some cave-like openings. The space
within is very cramped.
Note: The passageway from area E to F is hidden and
the DM should not inform the PCs of its presence until
they locate it.
Ceilings. The ceilings of the passages here narrow and
come to a point about 10 feet overhead. This means
that there is barely enough room to walk stooped over,
except in the "chambers" where the cracks are wide
enough to give a full 10 feet clearance overhead. Attack
rolls by Medium creatures in the passages are at
disadvantage.
Light. Although sometimes Hadulo will light a torch in
order to see and maneuver around his lair, when the
PCs arrive he is sleeping and there are no lights. If the
PCs wait until he awakens, Hadulo will carry a torch
with him wherever he is within his lair.
Sounds. If Hadulo is asleep, there will be sounds to be
heard within the lair. If the hunter is awake, the PCs
could hear the sounds of his normal activity.
A. Approach
If the path between two flanking trees is taken to enter
the cave, those who do so will encounter the pit. This is
dug in typical hunter's fashion and has sharpened
stakes at the bottom, although they are not poisoned.
The pit is camouflaged with twigs, leaves, grass, and
some mud, and Hadulo is very adept at doing so. A DC
20 Wisdom (Perception) check will spot the trap. If the
A Tragedy Unfolds
cover is stepped upon, it will give way, dropping the
victim into the pit. The victim may make a DC 14
Dexterity saving throw to leap aside and avoid the fall.
The pit is 10 feet deep and, combined with the spikes,
will cause 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage and 3 (1d6)
piercing damage to anyone who falls in. As the pit is 15
feet by 10 feet in area, it is possible for two persons
walking abreast to fall in at the same time.
If the area around the pit is investigated, a DC 13
Intelligence (Investigation) check will that footprints
actually enter the cave from the sides.
B. Entryway
This area is generally exposed to the air, although it is
covered somewhat overhead. Crude drawings on the
walls here show drawings of female figures, all with
long black hair (like Kelanni's), and some with blood
rushing from between their legs. Others show a dead
male figure lying in a pool of blood with a big knife
sticking out of its chest.
A coil of vine rope lies bundled against the cave wall. A
hollowed out tree trunk lined with bladder skin holds
fresh water. A fire ring on the floor shows signs of
recent use, as does a large fanlike leaf set nearby. The
fan leaf is covered with soot.
The vine rope is 50 feet in length.
To the rear of this place, at the entryway to the rest of
the caves, a thin line of cord (made from goat
ligament) has been strung out across the passageway.
This cord is attached to a pile of coconut shells. The
cord is very hard to see, even in torchlight, as it is low
to the ground and covered in mud. A DC 18 Wisdom
(Perception) check will notice it.
Anyone stepping on it will dislodge the coconut shells,
causing a noise. Hadulo uses this to guard him while he
sleeps.
C. Small Place
This small passageway opens slightly into a little
chamber. A crude wooden latticework has been placed
here to block off the chamber.
The latticework is weighted down with stones and
wedged tightly in place between the passageway walls.
The way to open the latticework is to either smash it
down (a long and noisy prospect) or to simply untie
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some lashings in the center which keep the two-part
latticework together as a single unit. The knot untied
and the lashings removed, the latticework splits in half
and pulls out.
Within are Hadulo's food stores. There is a goat
carcass hanging by its feet from a beam running across
the ceiling of this chamber. There are also berries,
nuts, roots, and fruit here.
D. Niche
This widening contains a pig's head sitting upon a
stone like a trophy on a pedestal. Crude runes and
pictures have been carved into the rotting head, and
fruits and shiny stones are laid at the base of the stone.
This is a small ritual area where Hadulo tries to ask
forgiveness from his ancestors. One of these shiny
pebbles is actually an amethyst worth about 35 gp.
E. Sleeping Place
Within this place is a fur pallet, a gourd, some arrows
and arrowheads, a bag of eagle feathers, three flint
spears, twelve torches, a set of flint and tinder, and a
wooden digging scoop.
This is where Hadulo sleeps.
The gourd is filled with water.
The passageway to area F is high up, about 6 feet
above the ground and is very small (about 2 feet in
diameter). Hadulo covers the way with a turtle shell
painted grey to look like a part of the rock walls. A DC
16 Wisdom (Perception) check will notice the covering
from a distance, and it will not fool close inspection.
F. Place of Refuge
The passageway leading to this chamber is very small
(about 2 feet in diameter). Medium and Small
creatures will have to crawl to get to the chamber,
which is about 6 feet tall.
If Hadulo hears the pit trap open or the coconuts
topple, he will listen for a quick second to see what is
coming. After that quick listen, he will grab up his knife
and quickly run into the passageway to area F, placing
the turtle shell behind him over the passageway.
The chamber at the end of the way has enough food
and water stored to keep Hadulo alive for a week.
A Tragedy Unfolds
If Hadulo is confronted, he will attack wildly, figuring
the PCs were sent by the villagers to get him. Hadulo
knows nothing of the norebo and has not been back to
the village since his terrible deed.
Hadulo will never surrender, but it should be easy to
subdue without killing him.
Should the PCs slay Hadulo, they could certainly
continue their plans by simply presenting Hadulo's
body to Kelanni and claiming that he is alive.
Hadulo
When the party first arrives at the cave, Hadulo will be
sleeping in area E, having just come back from a hunt
the previous night. Hadulo is paranoid about justice
from the village and so only emerges from the cave at
night.
Hadulo is a tribal warrior.
The Final Confrontation
The PCs, having captured Hadulo, should now make
their way to the norebo clearing. Once there, a suitable
decoy should be arranged. The most obvious would be
one or more PCs emerging into the clearing and
provoking the norebo. The plan is not to attack the
body, for fear of harming Kelanni once she is free of
the evil spirit, but simply waving and gesturing at it, or
shooting ranged weapons in its vicinity, should suffice.
The norebo, unused to being challenged and having
grown unwary after his easy successes against the
V'nartans, will certainly follow the decoy, right into the
circle.
As Thaariyshya’s protective circle holds the norebo
fast, Hadulo can be brought before Kelanni.
Kelanni will scream and writhe and eventually will
start to attempt to expel the norebo, so that she can
reach Hadulo and kill him. This internal conflict will
proceed much as described in the paladin's passage,
but after about 2 rounds of this, the norebo will
suddenly be expelled and appear as a disembodied
shadowy form.
With this, as Kelanni drops to her knees, too exhausted
to even reach Hadulo, Thaariyshya will pull out her
spell scroll and intone a banishment spell. Unless the
DM has something special in mind, after a round of
reading, the Necromancer and the norebo will engage
in a final contest of wills, the Necromancer trying to
direct the energies of the spell into the norebo, and the
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norebo trying to dissipate the spell energies.
Eventually, the spell will succeed, and the norebo will
be banished back to the Plane of Shadow.
For purposes of this adventure, it is recommended that
the spell automatically succeed against the norebo. If it
fails, then the PCs and the Necromancer could be in
trouble. But if the DM wants a chance at failure, then if
the spell does fail, the Necromancer will want to flee
the island with the PCs if they will allow her to do so.
The adventure could then involve the remaining
villagers, the ship’s crew, the PCs, and the
Necromancer and her servants attempting to keep the
norebo at bay while the ship is repaired.
Alternatively, the PC and Necromancer could team up
to try to destroy the creature.
The statistics for Kelanni’s norebo are presented in
Appendix B.
The norebo is canny and will retreat to utilize its fast
healing and then continually strike at the PCs and their
allies.
A Reckoning
Once the norebo has been banished, Thaariyshya will
then suddenly walk up to Hadulo and strike him across
the throat with her magic dagger. The move will be
sudden and likely unexpected, and Hadulo will be slain
instantly from the virulent poison the Necromancer
concocted in her laboratory during the time spent
researching the norebo and with which she coated
blade of her magic dagger.
If the PCs wonder why she did this, the Necromancer
will explain that Hadulo deserved nothing less for his
heinous crimes. It will be clear that the normally stoic
Thaariyshya has been affected by Kelanni's plight.
With Hadulo now lifeless, the party will witness
Kelanni starting to go completely insane as she realizes
what she and her body did to her tribespeople. She will
start to claw her face, pull her hair, and scream:
I did this! I did this! Oh help me please! I cannot stand what I
have done!
Thaariyshya will start to shed tears as she walks over
to Kelanni, seemingly to calm her. She will raise up
Kelanni and embrace her, cooing to her gently:
There, there…it's all better now.
A Tragedy Unfolds
The Necromancer will stroke her hair for a moment.
But then, Kelanni's body will go limp, and as
Thaariyshya pulls back from Kelanni's lifeless body, a
bloody dagger can be seen in Thaariyshya's hand.
Kelanni is dead from the knife and from the poison
thereupon.
Although the party is likely to be shocked, through her
tears, Thaariyshya will explain that there was no way
Kelanni could live with what she had done to her
people. Her life would be a torment worse than any
hell. The Necromancer will go on to explain:
While you may deem death as a painful ending, I who have
studied it, nay plumbed its very depths, I know that death is
merely a beginning. And that is what Kelanni needed, a new
beginning.
Aftermath
After killing Kelanni, Thaariyshya will depart, asking
the PCs to burn the norebo clearing until nothing of its
unholiness remains. She will warn the PCs that their
welcome in her tower is now at an end, and that they
should now respect her privacy, she having proved her
innocence.
The PCs can make their way back to the village. There,
they can bring the bodies of Kelanni and Hadulo. The
villagers, seeing these bodies, will believe the PCs
when they say that the evil has ended. They will be
grateful, but have nothing to offer the party. Instead,
they will try to help with the repairs to the ship.
Nevertheless, the going will be slow until four days
later when a troop of 24 zombies arrives, the lead one
with a scroll nailed to its forehead. The scroll reads:
How long it takes to repair the ship is up to the DM.
Per the Dungeon Master’s Guide, it takes 1 day to repair
1 hit point of ship damage. The ship need not be
repaired fully to be seaworthy, so the DM should feel
free to proclaim the ship is repaired whenever it best
suits the situation.
The tireless help of the zombies should save a lot of
time. They also assist in unbeaching the boat and then
shamble back into the forest, heading back to the
tower.
The captain will shove off and, as the remaining
villagers wave their thanks, Fermengarr Isle will fade
over the horizon.
Award standard XP for defeated foes.
Remember to divide XP amongst all of the PCs and any
NPCs who assisted them. Most likely this will be the
Necromancer, but it could also include some of the
ship’s crew if the PCs convinced them to accompany
the PCs.
If the PCs take part in successfully banishing the
norebo, they should receive 700 XP to divide amongst
them. They should not receive full XP for the norebo,
unless they ended up fighting it.

It is in all of our interests to see you off of this island. I

have seen your type before, you are the kind that
attracts trouble, and I foresee much of that in your
future.

But I came here to escape the problems of the world, and

I intend to keep it that way, so I have sent these to help
see you off. Command them as aids to help you repair
your ship, and when you leave, please do not judge me
too harshly for what I did to Kelanni...for I once tried to
cheat death, and it turned out badly for me...this time I
embraced death, and found that it would accept my
judgment willingly.

Fare you well, Thaariyshya

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 Leedinark Mountain and Foothills

Roll Encounter
As this adventure involves a lot of travelling back and
forth across the island, wandering encounters should 1 2d8 giant fire beetles
be introduced so that these treks do not become 2 1d4 giant eagles
entirely uneventful. 3 1d2 lions
4 2d10 baboons
Allow a 1 in 12 chance of a significant encounter for 5 1 giant wasp
each fifth of a mile traversed. If the PCs encamp or
6 1d4 giant goats
remain stationary in the wilderness, then allow a 1 in
12 chance per hour of an encounter. 7 1d4 apes
8 1d6 jackals
If an encounter is indicated, roll a d12 on the 9 5d4 goats
appropriate chart. Statistics are not given for these 10 1d2 giant lizards
encounters. The DM will have to refer to the Monster 11 1 giant poisonous snake
Manual for statistics..
12 1d3 giant wolf spiders

Jam-Jum Forest

Roll Encounter
1 2d6 giant rats
2 1 giant poisonous snake
3 1 giant spider
4 1d12 stirges
5 1d6 giant bats
6 1d3 giant frogs
7 1 constrictor snake
8 1d3 boars
9 1d4 flying snakes
10 1d3 giant lizards
11 1d2 panthers
12 1 swarm of insects

Cudinarn Jungle

Roll Encounter
1 1 giant poisonous snake
2 1d4 giant wolf spiders
3 1d2 panthers
4 1 giant spider
5 1 constrictor snake
6 1d6 giant centipedes
7 1d6 giant fire beetles
8 2d6 giant rats
9 1 swarm of insects
10 1d6 boars
11 1 swarm of bats
12 1 swarm of poisonous snakes

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The norebo that has possessed Kelanni’s body has
gained 700 FP (see Appendix D for details). From
feeding off of the villagers, including 200 tribal
warriors, 200 commoners, and 100 children.
slain. It will then attempt to slay the remaining
villagers by stealth in order to regain its power.
Eventually, the norebo might seek to stow away on a
ship (including, potentially, a supply ship coming to
supply her tower) and seek more populated lands to
feed.

While the norebo is a voracious creature, it is also

quite intelligent, and it will use its Fast Healing trait to
retreat from combat if severely wounded in order to
regain its hit points and resume its attack.

If the PCs manage to slay its body, the norebo will

attempt to possess one of them (or the Necromancer if
she is present, since she is highly intelligent and her
past suggests she has some guilt issues of her own).
Should the Necromancer be possessed, the norebo will
flee with her body, as it knows it is weak and easily

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The necrophidius is a stealthy construct often
mistaken for an undead creature. The creature looks
like a skeletal snake with a fanged humanoid skull. It is
created to assassinate a target or guard an object or
location.

Silent Stalker. A necrophidius normally remains in

hiding and stays absolutely still unless its orders
require it to follow a creature or patrol an area. It
slithers silently and can climb walls.

Stealthy Attacker. A necrophidius’ normal method of

attack is to hide, and then stealthily approach and
sneak attack an unwary target. If confronted by
multiple foes or by a creature aware of its presence, it
uses its dance of death ability to allow it to approach
its enemies and bite.

Blind Obedience. When its creator or possessor is on

hand to command it, a necrophidius performs
flawlessly. If the necrophidius is left without
instructions or is incapacitated, it continues to follow
its last orders to the best of its ability.

A necrophidius cannot think or act for itself. Though it

understands its command perfectly, it has no grasp of
language beyond that understanding, and can’t be
reasoned with or tricked with words.

Constructed Nature. A necrophidius doesn’t require

air, food, drink, or sleep.

The necrophidius appeared in the Fiend Folio for the 3rd edition of
Dungeons & Dragons.

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A giant squid is a larger and more aggressive relative
of the giant octopus. They are known to attack whales
as well as ships.

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This section introduces variations of monsters that are
described in the Monster Manual.

The Monster Manual provides statistics for the typical

skeleton. However, PCs meet a couple of other kinds
of skeletons in the course of this adventure.

The skeleton of a tiny viper, animated by means of The skeleton of a wyvern, animated by means of
necromantic rituals. The main use of a skeleton of this necromantic rituals and imbued with the ability to fly
size is to hunt small vermin or to keep watch and alert using its skeletal wings.
its master to the presence of intruders.

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The Monster Manual provides statistics for the typical
zombie. However, PCs meet another kind of zombie in
the course of this adventure.

A normal zombie outfitted with armour and a heavy

crossbow. While zombies are particularly inept using
many ranged weapons, sometimes it is better to give
them the capability than to deny it to them altogether.

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This section presents statistics for NPCs encountered
in this adventure that are not presented in the Monster
Manual.

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Norebos are evil spirits from the Plane of Shadow that
sometimes make their way to the Material Plane via
the spells of wizards and priests or through weak
points in the barriers between the planes.
They are hungry spirits that thrive off of pain, strong
emotion, and even souls. Because their home plane is
devoid of such "food", Norebo are perpetually weak
and in agony in the Shadow Realms and constantly
strive to make their way to the Material Plane. By
feeding, not only do they sate their hunger, but they
grow more powerful, eventually returning to lord over
their weaker, unsuccessful brethren.
In many ways, a norebo does not function as a typical
creature, but is more of a sentient template that
applies itself to another creature. Furthermore, a
norebo in possession of a body advances in power
almost as if it had its own special norebo class.
Despite its appearance, a norebo is not undead. It is a
fiend.
Norebo have two states: embodied and disembodied.
Disembodied Norebo
A disembodied norebo is almost helpless. It appears as
a shadowy column, semi-amorphous, but generally
man-sized, with two tiny sparks of red, like embers, for
eyes. Norebos are hard to spot when disembodied.
They have a Stealth skill +6. In daylight or bright light,
they have disadvantage on this check. In shadowy
conditions or twilight they are extremely difficult to
spot; they have advantage on Stealth checks.
Disembodied norebos are unable to affect the physical
world and are, conversely, immune to almost every
attack, spell, or condition. They are purely shadow and
cannot touch or lift things. They may pass through
physical objects if these are not magically warded, and
if they pass through a living being, only a momentary
chill is felt.
Disembodied norebos are subject to dispel evil and
good, forbiddance, magic circle, and protection from evil
and good spells, as well as spells that transfer a
creature to another plane (such as banishment, divine
word, or plane shift). For purposes of the divine word
spell, assume a disembodied norebo has more than 50
hit points.
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Disembodied norebos dislike full daylight, and any
target of their powers and abilities have advantage
against them in full daylight.
A disembodied norebo has a Strength of 1, Dexterity of
18, a Constitution of 10, an Intelligence of 14, a
Wisdom of 17, and a Charisma of 18. Disembodied
norebos have proficiency in all saving throws and a
proficiency bonus of +2. Their AC is 14.
Norebos have a Deception, Intimidation, and
Persuasion skill of +6 and an Insight skill of +5.
Disembodied norebos communicate by telepathy (120
ft. range) to mentally communicate, seduce, and wear
down the potential host. They may cast detect thoughts
at will.
A disembodied norebo can return to the Shadowfell as
an action. However, given that it cannot return to the
Material Plane as easily, it is likely to do so only if it is
somehow threatened or if it has accumulated enough
status or power to desire to return home.
Disembodied Norebo seek to possess the body of a
humanoid. Humanoids with an Intelligence score of 4
or less cannot be possessed, since a norebo's
possession is spiritual and mental, not physical. In fact,
norebos are more readily able to possess more
intelligent creatures, since such minds and souls are
more prone to self-doubt.
Norebos possess a body by being invited in by the host.
Such invitation can be conscious or sub-conscious.
Norebos cannot possess a dead body.
A Norebo engages in sub-conscious possession by
enveloping the potential host and scanning its brain
for sub-conscious yearnings or guilt or despair, and
twisting these thoughts into acceptance of the Norebo.
To do so, the norebo must enter the space of a creature
and spend an action attempting to possess it. The
victim must succeed on an inverted DC 10 Intelligence
saving throw (see below) or be possessed. However, a
sleeping person is particularly vulnerable to this action
and is at disadvantage on the saving throw. If this
saving throw is successful, that person may never be
subconsciously possessed by that norebo ever again.
A Norebo can also be consciously invited into a host.
The host must mentally invite the norebo to possess it,
and in this case, chance of successful possession is
A Tragedy Unfolds
automatic. Norebos gain conscious invitation through
bargaining, harassment, wiles, seduction, and deceit. A
norebo may promise anything to a potential host, but
almost never keeps its word, except when sufficiently
threatened. Norebos are adept liars and often select
mentally stressed hosts, since their powers allow them
to work on insecurities and self-doubts.
Each doubling of accumulated FP allows the norebo to
advance in level. In many ways, this is just like
advancing a class level for a player character. Norebos
advance solely by accumulating FP. They do not gain
XP.
Refer to the chart below.

Any Intelligence saving throw made to resist a

possession attempt by a norebo is inverted. This Proficiency
means a positive Intelligence modifier turns into a FP Bonus Features
negative and a negative modifier turns into a positive. 0 +2 Base features, fast healing,
This includes any proficiency in Intelligence saving return to shadow
throws. 2 +2 Physical increase, rage
4 +2 Physical increase
For example, a 5th level wizard with n Intelligence of
8 +2 Physical increase, claws
18 has an Intelligence saving throw modifier of +7 (+3
16 +3 Physical increase
for proficiency and +4 for Intelligence score). This
means the wizard would have to make a DC 10 saving 32 +3 Physical increase, reckless
throw with a -7 modifier to the roll. attack
64 +3 Physical increase
Embodied Norebo 125 +3 Physical increase, bite
An embodied norebo dwells within the soul and mind 250 +4 Physical increase
of its victim. Once possessed, a victim is under the 500 +4 Physical increase, magic
complete control of the norebo and has no self-interest resistance
or volition. The victim is aware of its body and its 1000 +4 Physical increase
surroundings, as well as its sensations and activities, 1500 +4 Physical increase, charm
and often, even if the norebo is expelled, the norebo's 2000 +5 Physical increase
activities will have left the victim insane.
2500 +5 Physical increase, evasion
A newly embodied norebo has the base features set 3000 +5 Physical increase
forth below. It has the Strength, Constitution, 3500 +5 Physical increase, phantasmal
Dexterity, and speed of its host. It retains its own killer
Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma score. It retains 4000 +6 Physical increase
none of the class features, feats, or racial abilities of its 4500 +6 Physical increase, eyebite
host body. Its type changes to fiend. The norebo has 5000 +6 Physical increase
access to the memories of the host, and can utilize its 6000 +6 Physical increase, apotheosis
knowledge (including its skills and proficiencies).

As it feeds, the norebo grows more powerful. While Refer to the chart below.
norebos feed off of pain, despair, and other strong,
hurtful emotions (by being within 5 feet of such
emotions), they actually grow by consuming souls.
Consuming a soul is a lengthy and gruesome process, Hit Points
taking 1 hour per Hit Dice of the victim and involving Hit Dice: 1d8 per level
such grisly rites as horrendous physical torture and Hit Points at 1st level: 8 + its Constitution modifier
the devouring of a live brain. Feeding generally Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + its
requires a physically helpless victim. Constitution modifier per level after 1st.

Each Hit Die consumed gives 1 Feeding Point (FP) to Proficiencies

the norebo. Armour: the proficiencies of the host
Weapons: the proficiencies of the host
Tools: the proficiencies of the host

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Saving Throws: All
Skills: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion,
Stealth, and any of the host creature.
Other Features
Condition Immunities: charmed, frightened
Senses: darkvision 60 ft.
Languages: whichever languages the host speaks, plus
telepathy 120 ft.
Attacks: The norebo gains a slam attack that relies on
Strength and does 1d6 + Str modifier bludgeoning
damage. If the host has any other natural weapon
attacks, the norebo retains those as well.
Natural Antipathy: Beasts and things of nature
become uneasy in a norebo's presence. Dogs may bark,
horses shy, and crickets will become still when a
norebo passes by. An area inhabited by a norebo will
eventually become vacant of wildlife.
Home Plane: The home plane of an embodied norebo
is the Material Plane (or whatever plane to which its
host is native).
At the start of its turn, a norebo regains a number of
hit points equal to its level. If the norebo has 0 hit
points, it does not regain hit points and the host body
is killed.
A norebo may return to the Shadowfell at any time
from wherever it may be as a bonus action. However, a
norebo that does this is expelled from its host body
just before it returns to the Shadowfell.
At each level, the norebo gains +1 to Str, Dex, and Con.
At 2nd level, a norebo can enter a rage as a bonus
action. While raging, it gains the following benefits:
 It has advantage on Strength checks and Strength
saving throws.
 When it makes a melee weapon attack using
Strength, it gains a bonus to the damage roll that
increases as it gains levels. This bonus starts at +2
and increases to +3 at 9th level and +4 at 16th
level.
 It has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing damage.
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The norebo can rage as often as it likes, and the rage
lasts until it falls unconscious or until it ends it as a
bonus action.
At 4th level, the norebo’s nails have become hardened
and razor sharp. It may now make two claw attacks as
an action. The claw attack uses Strength and does 1d6
+ Str modifier slashing damage. These replace its slam
attack.
At 6th level, a norebo can throw aside all concerns for
defense to attack with fierce desperation, When it
makes its first attack on its turn, the norebo can decide
to attack recklessly. Doing so gives it advantage on
melee weapon attack rolls using Strength during this
turn, but attacks rolls against the norebo have
advantage until its next turn.
At 8th level, the norebo’s teeth have become jagged. It
may now make a bite attack in addition to its two claw
attacks as action, The bite attack uses Strength and
does 1d4 + Str modifier piercing damage.
At 10th level, the norebo has advantage on saving
throws from spells and magical effects.
At 12th level, the norebo can innately cast charm
person 3/day. It uses its Charisma as its spellcasting
ability and requires only verbal components.
Beginning at 14th level, when the norebo is subjected
to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving
throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no
damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only
half damage if it fails.
At 16th level, the norebo can innately cast phantasmal
killer 3/day. It uses its Charisma as its spellcasting
ability and requires only verbal components.
A Tragedy Unfolds
At 18th level, the norebo can innately cast eyebite If the shock is severe enough and is related to the
3/day. It uses its Charisma as its spellcasting ability initial feelings of guilt, self-doubt, or despair that
and requires only verbal components. invited the Norebo into the body in the first place, then
the victim has advantage on the saving throw.

An expelled norebo loses all of its levels. What status

At 20th level, the norebo has attained the maximum
power it can from feeding, having, by now, consumed
the population of an entire large village or small town.
The power within its body is no longer easily
contained, and the creature has a limited time left on
the Material Plane. At dawn of each day, the norebo
must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a
success, the norebo may remain embodied. On a failed
saving throw, the norebo immediately returns to the
Shadowfell as if it had used its Return to Shadow trait.
The host body is dead.
For each full week of apotheosis, the saving throw DC
to remain embodied increases by 1.
Expelling a Norebo
If the host body is killed, the norebo is expelled. A
norebo can also leave a body as a bonus action. A
norebo that voluntarily leaves a body is treated exactly
as if it has been expelled.
and powers it gains when it returns to the Shadowfell
is unknown.
Challenge Rating
The challenge rating of a norebo must be recalculated
as it advances in level. Since a norebo uses its own
special proficiency rating based on its level, for the
most part challenge rating is only needed to calculate
XP value for defeating the norebo.
Note: This creature happens to share the name of the
God of Luck from the Greyhawk setting. If a DM is
using that setting or that deity, then the norebo is
known as a Spirit of Despair.

Once a norebo leaves a body, it may never possess that

body again.

An expelled norebo becomes disembodied, free to

wander the Material Plane in search of another
vulnerable victim. To be fully defeated, its
disembodied form must be banished back to the
Shadowfell via spells that force creatures from the
Material Plane (like banishment, dispel evil and good,
divine word, or plane shift).

In some rare cases, a victim can expel a norebo

without being killed. This is difficult and requires some
sort of severe psychic or mental shock or revelation
(for example, if a norebo kills its host's offspring).

In such a case, allow the possessed victim a DC 16

Charisma saving throw (using its normal Charisma
score) to expel the norebo after 1d4 rounds of
extensive inner turmoil. During this time, the norebo
will be restrained and may not take actions or
reactions.

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Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . A Tragedy Unfolds