Nocturnal Sea Gazetteer.book - Vaults of Pandius

Chapter 1Survey on the Expedition to The Nocturnal Sea1

Chapter 2AuthorsThe Fraternity of ShadowsWhile we all heavily commented, edited, andmade suggestions on each other's parts, thelead writers for particular sections were:David: Liffe*, Easan's stats & new mapsJoël: Introduction, Vechor (the land), Île de laTempête*, both Interludes, Viktor's intro forthe Drowning Deep & Sea-claimedNathan: Vechor (the people), Isle of Ravens*& Dirac's text on the Drowning Deep*Sharon: Vechor (fauna & flora, sidebars) &Nebligtode* (Graben and Todstein)Chris NicholsOriginal concept of the Drowning Deep; plusthe Somnanbulism spells, numerous ideas andsuggestions throughout* and this domain's related material in theDM's appendixAnd no, nobody wanted to convert the giantstarfish from Ship of Horror to 3rd Edition!With the fine contributions of:D. "Band2" BanderaLeyshon "Deepshadow" CampbellXavier "TwiceBorn" CattarinichFrank "Giamarga" DyckRobert "Cure" ElliottEleanor "Isabella" FerronZak "Lord Cyclohexane" GillmanChris "Doctor Evil" ParsonAndrew "alhoon" Pavlides (Creature-Creation Feats)Jeremy RobyScott "nothritree" WoodwardCommissioned drawingsEleanor "Isabella" FerronOksana "lawerta" RomanovaDocument compilationThe Fraternity of ShadowsJoel: First document assembly & projectcoordinationStephen: The amazing PDF formatting youhave in your handsIn April 2007, we held a submissions conteston the FoS forums for "sayings, rumors,adventure hooks and Dread Possibilities" ofthe Nocturnal Sea. The contest entries werevery interesting and most were selected for thisbook. Bravo to the author of the winning entry,Robert "Cure" Elliott, who chose the WotCbook Heroes of Horror as his prize. Hiswinning entry can be found in the Deep's "AsHeard in a Port" sidebar.Shipwreck ideas on Île de la Tempête camefrom these ENWorlders: Agent Oracle;Ambros; Grymar; DJCupboard; Imagicka;ivocaliban; TheAuldGrump; Tonguez;Varianor Abroad; Whizbang Dustyboots.Updated and "Ravenloft-ized" Mystaranmonsters appear in the Appendix, courtesy of:Jamison Baty, Xavier Cattarinich, and Simone"Zendrolion" Neri. Additional sourcematerials for Nebligtode's Mystaranconnections were recommended by Geoff"Seer of Yhog" Gander and Andrew"Cthulhudrew" Thesien.Joël would like to thank Frank "Giamarga"Dyck for his collaboration with Monette'sgame-statistics, and Pam "Pamela" Quesnel forreviewing the first draft of his Tempête text.Kudos from Sharon / Rotipher to the onlineMystara community and Shawn Stanley'sVaults of Pandius site. It's been too long!3

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Table of ContentsSurvey on the Expedition to The Nocturnal Sea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Liffe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Vechor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Interlude I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80L’Île de la Tempête . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Isle of Ravens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Interlude II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Graben Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Todstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184The Drowning Deep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Dungeon Master’s Appendixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Appendix I New Magic and Feats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .242Appendix II New Monsters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262Appendix III Who’s Doomed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294Appendix IV Graben Legacy378Appendix V Nocturnal Sea Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .386Appendix VI Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3985

To the Revered Fathers of the Fraternity:PrologueI am writing this letter from the Darkonian coast, in Nevuchar Springs. Brother Viktor Hazanleft this morning for the rustic island of Liffe aboard the Black Pelican, in the care of CaptainHowe, and I'll be setting sail before dawn for the strange land of Vechor aboard CaptainArberlsson's Valiant Explorer. Hazan and I met yesterday to settle the details of our journeys.We've split the workload of this report into two equal shares, the better to finish in summer,before the southern Nocturnal Sea's colder climate can turn for the worse.Hazan will first visit Liffe, then the Île de la Tempête (infamous for its treacherouslighthouse), and lastly, isolated Graben Island. I'll begin with the strange land known as Vechor,after which I pay my second visit to the fascinating Isle of Ravens. My own survey willconclude with freezing Todstein, from whence I will meet Hazan in the port of Graben-town, ator near September's end. At that time we will compare notes, correlate their contents, andprepare our finished report. If the winds are favorable, our respective explorations should take alittle more than eight weeks.Our journeys will be coordinated by Sending spells' messages between myself, BrotherHazan, and Father Tarnos Shadowcloak. We expect for one message to be exchanged everythree days at the most. The Brother receiving a message from another will contact the third,passing on the first sender's news as well as his own. Encoding and privacy-wards will beenabled, as per usual. This method should keep us all up-to-date on each others' whereabouts,and allow for a quick response should one of us require help. Knowing that the Watchersenable some of the land-sovereigns to block access - or egress - to their territories, we want tomake sure we are fully prepared to assist one another if need be.Tonight, I take a last sip of wine from the terrace of the Riverview Rest Inn, and watch thesunset over the Mistlands' hills. Its magnificent colors will not be mirrored by the bleak easternwaves, come dawn. I've sailed on the Nocturnal Sea before, but never on a mission of suchexhaustive geographic research. I knew that this was the last time I'd see the sun for weeks:violent lightning storms and gloomy, clouded skies would overshadow my whole trip. Thisdepressing sea bears its name well. Hazan and I know that perilous shoals underlie its waters inmany places, but we trust our hired captains to keep us clear of such hazards.Professor Hazan has asked that I include a short historical recap of the Nocturnal Sea in thisintroduction. As most Brothers will know, this vast body of saltwater to the east of the continentdid not even exist until the closing hours of Barovian year 750, at which point both the sea andits islands were set into their present place. It will be interesting to investigate the history ofthese isles as their residents understand it, as Fraternity records identify several as havingalready been in existence - isolated in the Mists - for far longer. Now, the Watchers havecollected them into this single region … for what weird and hidden purpose, I can but speculate.Perhaps our travels will uncover some common thread that links these islands, beyond theirgeographic connection. And what of the sea, itself? Turning to gaze across the inky waves, nowthat the sun has bidden me adieu behind the inland horizon, I cannot help but wonder what darksecrets they may hide.7

Prologue9

Liffe

By Viktor Hazan, July 27th, 760It was early spring when I departed fromSouragne and the beginning of summerwhen I finally reached the Nocturnal Sea.Despite the later season the weather wasmuch cooler and the sea breezes seemedbrisk, even frigid. I had not thought my timein the swampland would acclimatize me towarmth so quickly and yet the sudden shiftsent my frame into mild shock. The vessel Iwas aboard did not help matters.The boat, even in the barely capable handsof her captain, easily sailed through theSound of Liffe -the waterway separatingLiffe from Darkon- and into Hordum Bay.Wrapped around a small inlet was Armeikos,my destination.I had prepared for my arrival and sent wordto the small University in the city. I knewseveral students in the facility and hadarranged for them to begin my research. ILiffe in ShortLocation: Nocturnal SeaEcology: Full EcologyEnvironment: TemperateDarklord: Baron Evensong (demilord)Year of formation: 736-738 BC (assmall domains), 741 BC (as singleisland), 750 revealed to the CoreCultural level: Medieval (7)Population: 11,000 (75% human, 8%Halflings, 5% half-elves, 4% elves, 3%dwarves, 3% gnomes, 2% other)Main settlements: Aferdale (pop. 850),Armeikos (3,000), Claveria (400),Moondale (1,600).Religion: The Thousand GodsLanguage: Sithican*, Darkonese, Elven,Grabenite.Government: Confederation of baroniesMoney: Typically Darkonian or NovaVassan currencyLiffereceived their preliminary findings withinhours, before I had even settled at the inn. Iwasted no time tasking the students withvaried assignments, all labouring under falsepretences of course. With their assistance Icompleted my survey much faster thanexpected; a welcome surprise given the sheernumber of lands I must investigate.While initially trepidatious, I am nowthankful for Brother Dirac's assistance onscouring these seas. Having to visit so manyforeign lands would be taxing to say theleast: just researching a single island,Souragne, proved to be almost maddening.Spending an entire year traversing the seasfor barren rock to ignorable port would pushthe most stable of men into insanity.Geographical SurveyLiffe is a land of windswept plains, hills andmoors surrounded by the cold Nocturnal Sea.Granite boulders and short, gnarly oaks dotthe countryside. The trees grow slanted dueto the pounding winds. The western andnorthern shores are rocky surrounded byshallows and hidden shoals, similar to muchof the Nocturnal islands' coastlines. Flotsamcollects along these shores (Liffe seems toattract the cast offs of other lands) and thereare frequently scavengers picking off theruins of shipwrecks. The eastern andsouthern shores are weatherworn from thestorms spawned from the sea's eastern edgeresulting in many sharp cliffs along thecoast.Strong sea currents from the southeastchurn much of the surrounding waters.Whirlpools form frequently around theisland and are violent enough to sink smaller11

Liffeboats. These turbulent currents, or races,make fishing a dangerous profession andshipping problematic, save through the fairlyplacid Sound of Liffe. Locals frequently usethe expression "sound sailing" to describe ahard task going smoothly.Liffe is hilly with large rocky outcroppingsof red sandstone interrupting the yellowgreengrass. The soil is a sandy loam whichis quite fertile and would easily lend itself tofarming if there were less cloud cover. Theexposed stone of the cliffs and hills is aneye-catching variety of shades and hues. It'stelling when the rocks are more vibrant thanthe landscape.The island is split almost in half by theHordum River which flows from the island'sstony hills; it has cut sharp embankmentsinto the hills making overland traveldifficult. Springs and continual rains feed theriver which quickly grows in size to theaggressive waterway that flows into the baysharing its name. River traffic is sparse giventhe speed of the river and number of rapids.There are few remaining forests on Liffe.The largest is in the north, sheltered from thewind by the central hills. The woods have noofficial name and are simply called theMoondale Wood or the Northern Wood.Despite the island's lack of timber fewlumberjacks cut into the forest. It has a darkreputation as the home of werewolves, feyand other creatures. The local children live indread of the wood and are told a number ofunsuitable stories that take place in theforest. Rare youths with an adventurousstreak often make it a point to venture intothe wood.There is only a single highway in Liffe. Itcurves along the eastern coast before arcingsouth connecting the two halves of theisland. After the road reaches Risibilos itbranches into a series of dirt trailsmeandering north through the hills. The roadis rocky and seldom maintained save for theheavily frequented section connectingArmeikos and Claveria. Many lessfrequentedstretches are filled with weedsand muddy holes that can wrench the wheelof a wagon.12The northerly latitude of Liffe varies thelength of the day: longer in the summer andas little as five hours in midwinter. However,the seasons have a much less radical effecton the climate. Continual sea breezes keepthe temperature constant.There's a saying on Liffe: "It doesn'talways rain: sometimes it snows!" Heaviestin spring and into early summer, there's abrief dry spell in late summer and early fall(which I ever-so-conveniently left prior to),although light showers are still common. Inthe winter this changes to freezing-rain,sleet, hail and snow.The sky is a perpetual slate-grey, evenwhen not raining. On the few nights it isclear -inland of course - sky-gazers canexperience a grand sight: Liffe hasspectacular aurora borealis, a phenomenonboth mundane and magical. Others may beable to describe it more scientifically but Ifeel this simply diminishes its beauty. Thesky alights with flowing ribbons of coloursbrighter than the moon. I have heard Darkonoffers similar displays, but Liffe's are trulyremarkable.SettlementsDespite its small size Liffe is bustling withsmall villages and hamlets tucked away indales and glens. Homes are typically builtout of peat and stone with some of the newerand richer buildings erected out of brick.Architecture varies dramatically betweenvillages, which are often designed indifferent or even contradictory styles.The necessity to visit each sizable villageforced me to circle the island, starting atArmeikos and then proceeding south andaround with much hiking overland. The mostnoteworthy settlements are included below,organized alphabetically for ease of reading.

AferdaleThis forlorn town was once much larger thanits current numbers would indicate. Once,fifteen or so years ago, the population wasalmost fifteen hundred souls, but the numberhas been steadily declining since then, andmuch of the village's homes and buildingshave been boarded up. The village iscurrently trying to attract new residents witha number of promises, freely offeringnewcomers abandoned homes. Aferdale isquickly developing a reputation as a place tomake a fresh start or escape from an old life.Aferdale is a curious town. It is set on thecrossroads of a half-dozen thoroughfares,with only one still in use. The other roadslead away from the town for a mile or twobefore becoming weed-infested paths thatthen vanish outright. The village shows signsof being a way-point between locations;however, there are no important townsnearby. For example, there were once no lessthan six inns and taverns in the village,although most are now closed.Aferdale (village): Conventional; ALN; CL 7; 200gp limit; Assets 8500gp;Population 850; Isolated (human 99%,other 1%)Authority Figures: Wellis Andreman,male human Rng10 (mayor andconstable), Baron Traill Erlendsson,male human Ari2.Important Characters: MarinettaAndreman, female human Exp5(innkeeper); Abane, human Clr11(Priest); Malisha, female "aberration"Ari4, Clr5 (Cult leader).LiffeSecret Society: The Beast CultThe Beast Cult is an offshoot of theThousand Gods whose worshipersrevere the various deities of savagery,cannibalism, brutality and beasts. Theysacrifice animals, preferably fierce ones,to gain their strength and power.Followers often eat the raw flesh ofanimals they have killed themselves andwear clothing made from their hides.A decade ago, the cult grew too largeand depopulated the region's wildlife.They resorted to killing villagers,attracting the attention of a group ofheroes. The foreign adventurers slew thecult's leader, Malisha, an aberration fromBluetspur.Scattered, the group quickly lostpower until a young priest reincarnatedtheir leader into the body of a young girl.The reborn Malisha now works torestore the cult. They have spread outacross Liffe to avoid attracting too muchattention and are careful not to repeattheir previous mistakes. They still huntlocal animals, but have branched out tolycanthropes and other monsters. Theyhave also started importing foreignbeasts and are always looking for bravesouls to capture exotic creatures.The town is run by Wellis Andreman, theappointed mayor who doubles as the town'sconstable. Despite his age he is a strikingfigure, especially with his multiple tattoosdepicting his military career. The villagersadore him for aiding a group of adventurersin freeing the town from the local Beast Cult.The cultists had over-hunted the region andbegun human sacrifice. When I spoke withAndreman he voiced concerns that the cultmay have returned, although I saw no signsof this.13

Dread Possibility: MalishaSince her resurrection Malisha has beenthe unquestioned leader of the BeastCult, especially as she retained herformidable mental powers (although herclerical power was lost). Recently herbody has begun to mutate, taking on herformer skin-tone and other inhumanfeatures. Malisha is torn between beingrestored and the desire to move unseenamongst humans. Currently she plans torecruit unsuspecting adventurers to "freeher from her curse" and restore herfaçade.Additionally, Malisha has neverrevealed her true origins for leavingBluetspur. She claims to have beenexiled for some incomprehensiblebreach of ethics but in reality she is stilla willing minion of the God-Brain. Shewas sent in infiltrate foreign lands tolearn of the world and its inhabitants.She allied herself with the Beast Cult inorder to study anatomy and conductunspeakable experiments on subjectsboth living and dead. Since her returnshe has resumed her experiments inmanipulating flesh and bone.LiffeAccommodations: Once there were four innsin Aferdale: Weppe's Inn, Adventurer's Rest,Middle Inn and Wagon's Rest. Currentlyonly the Wagon's Rest (poor quality rooms,common quality meals) is still open. A smallone-story building, the Wagon's Rest isadequately kept, although it has somethingof a roach infestation. When I examined theother inns I was surprised to find they wereof superior quality and yet went out ofbusiness. I puzzled at this until I discoveredthat Marinetta, the owner of the Wagon'sRest, was married to mayor Andreman andthat several of the former businesses had tiesto the Beast Cult. Both coincidences, I amsure.14The town also has two taverns. The ParsedLip (poor quality meals) is a rough alehouserun by a leg-breaking thug named Nansen. Itshould be avoided. The other, the YearningGoblet (good quality meals), is the tavern ofchoice for much of the village. The elderlycouple that runs the establishment seem to bea hub of local rumours and information,although most is mundane gossip.ArmeikosTucked around a cove on Hordum Bay,Armeikos is the principal port of theNocturnal Islands and a bustling citycontinually filled with merchants, touristsand sailors on leave. Although the localcensus places the population around threethousand souls the number of travelersinflates that figure by half.Armeikos is predominantly constructed outof wood, a curiosity given the barren andtreeless nature of much of the island. Whileimported lumber can account for much thecity the rest remains somewhat of a mystery.Homes of the wealthy elite and importantstructures, such as the constables' station andbaron's manor, are stone buildings quarriedfrom the local sandstone. The light-greycobblestone streets are not particularlysmooth so walking is more strenuous than itshould be. Even in the Wealthy Districtcarriages are unknown and horseback is thepreferred method of travel.Armeikos (Large town): Conventional;AL LN; CL 7; 3,000gp limit; Assets450,000gp; Population 3,000; Isolated(human 90%, elves 4%, halflings 3%,other 3%)Authority Figures: Baron Skott Troil,male human Ari5; Captain MagnusBaikie, male human Ftr6 (constable).Important Characters: JovisBlackwere, male human Ftr9(innkeeper); Sinara Doom, femalehuman Adp7 (Old wise woman), BlaineGraben, male human lebendtod rogue 5 /crypt raider 3 (body snatcher)

Ejrik SpellbenderFew people wish to die and most fight tostave off death, but rare are those who domore to defy natural law than wizards.Ejrik Spellbender, like many scholarlymagicians, realized his mortality anddevoted himself to fighting theinevitable. Despite his skill, Ejrik wasunable to become a lich, so he decided topreserve his mind if not his body. Hetransferred his soul to other bodies at theexpense of their rightful tenents, invitingthe attention of the Dark Powers whodrew him (and Armeikos) into the Mists.Ejrik found he lacked the power toeject his new body's rightful owner, andhad to settle for limited control while thehost's resident slept. During this time hecommitted a series of murders until hislast mortal remains were destroyed,seemingly vanquishing him. But Ejrikwas too stubborn to simply pass on.The former wizard now exists as abody-hopping odem (DoD), but retainshis curse of being unable to control hostswhile they are awake. He spends hislimited time moving between sleepinghosts, searching for a way topermanently control a body or recreatehis own. Recently he has heard tell of aMordentish expatriate known only as"the Alchemist", who is rumoured to beable to create life. Ejrik believes a bodywithout a soul of its own could bepossessed with ease. Ejrik is alsobeginning to wonder about automatonsand if a construct could be made tohouse him, but he is unwilling to traphimself in an unfeeling frame.LiffeNorth of the docks and along the easternedge of town is the expansive Poor District,also known as Stonefields. It spreadsnorthwest along the coast, pinched betweenthe outlying farms and the bay, occupyingland too rocky to be tilled (hence its name).There are a number of small gulleys hidden16throughout the Stonefields, and halflingshave carved hidden homes into their banks.North of the Harbour and west ofStonefields is the Merchant District, wherethe craftsmen and middle class make theirhome. This district has been growingexponentially in recent years and has begunspreading north into the surroundingfarmland, much to the chagrin of thefarmers. Many are threatening to withholdfood from the city unless the merchants'craving for land is restrained. The BoristiTrading Company has their local officeshere, and much of the wealth flowing acrossthe Sea passes through this district. They areperpetually hiring out ships, and mercenariesin need of employment need look no further.Where the Harbour's warehouses meet thestores is a large marketplace. Craftsmen andforeign traders sell their wares here and thecity's own storehouses lie nearby.Along the river and west of the merchantsis the Wealthy District, home to the spaciousestates of the well-to-do. Here the homes arespaced well apart, separated by low rockwalls and tall hedges. There are a number ofprivate parks and maintained orchards.Further south along the river are municipalbuildings, including the constabulary officesand the city council.Across the river is Armeikos College(described below), known coloquially as the"University of Liffe" due to the quality ofeducation. It is surrounded by parklands,small scattered homes and ranches. Half amile to the south is the stockades, a ruggedcattle yard managed by rotating groups ofshepherds and herdsmenAccommodations: There are only two inns inArmeikos, despite the city's size, so both arefrequently filled to capacity. A number ofboarding houses exist in the Poor Districtand several warehouses operate as commonrooms during the busiest trading seasons.Alas, people who make use of either oftenawaken bereft of valuables.Thea's Remorse (good quality rooms andmeals) is the first inn I stayed at. A largetwo-story building, it abuts the Marketplace.While noisy during the day, it is quitecomfortable at nights. Once a home, it was

turned into an inn after the owner, the Theaof the name, was murdered by her lover. Thestory is tragic and frequently told by theUniversity bards, but the details regularlychange. I am unsure if the "Ejrik" of the talewas a ghost or a madman.The Black Werewolf (common qualityrooms, good quality meals) is located in theHarbour District by the University. Its grimname is actually based on that of its owner,Jovis Blackwere. A former captain of theConstabulary, he retired ten years ago andbought the inn. He now runs theestablishment with his three adult children.ClaveriaDespite being smaller than Aferdale - barelyhalf the size, to be truthful - Claveria is oneof the most important villages on Liffe. Itsimportance is twofold: first, it is the seat ofthe island's Senate, where the barons or theirrepresentatives confer; and second, it is thesite of the church of the Thousands Gods.The Senate is housed in a large structurethat was once a music hall before the baronsdecided they should collectively discussmatters of state. They gather four times ayear to shout at each other about taxes, traderevenues and tariffs. The town becomespolitically charged during these quarterlymeetings, with people often dividingthemselves based on their opinions aboutcurrent issues. Fights are quite common,especially amongst tavern patrons. Thebarons themselves frequently attempt toembarrass their competitors by associatingthem with particularly hot-headed locals andvirulent disputes.In contrast, there is the religious side ofClaveria. Several generations ago, theAllgods Temple was built in the center oftown, to be the heart of the village. In theyears since, Claveria has spread outward soits "heart" is off to one side, in the older andmore rundown section of town. Despite this,the temple sees much traffic and all newpriests must complete their education here.Claveria itself was originally a trading postwhere farmers and shepherds brought theirgoods for sale. The streets were built wide toLiffe17accommodate flocks and wagons and thetown square is an empty space for stalls andcarts. Since Claveria has become thepolitical and religious centre of Liffe, thecommoners have been displaced to theoutskirts of town, and the town square hasbecome a large park that no one frequentsexcept during political rallies and religiousgatherings.While in Claveria, I encountered AntonioLofgren's Traveling Orchestra, well knownacross the island. Consisting of a core groupof thirteen members, this small chamberorchestra travels between the various townsand hamlets, hiring local musicians, singersand actors to round out their complement.Lofgren, the conductor, is most famouslyknown for his operetta The Sea's Bargain,recounting the beloved folktale of how heromerchantOrzech of Arme sold the corruptsister-city of Ikos to the Sea, thus creatingHordum Bay.ALTO is renowned for its distinctive style,mixing the traditional Liffen drum and flutemusic with the modern orchestra to skillfullyelicit an audience's emotions. The quickcrashes between emotional highs and lowsleaves most people in a state of satisfiedexhaustion, though occasionally some of theelderly or the infirm find the experience toopotent for fragile nerves. Apparently this is arisk worth taking, as ALTO's popularity hasnot suffered in the least for these mishaps.Accommodations: The only inn in Claveriais the Lord 'n' Master (good quality rooms,excellent quality meals), which is obscenelyoverpriced even for its comfortable environsand delicious food. The poor wishing tospend the night in Claveria camp in wagonsor tents by marketplace outside of town, andthere are always a number or merchantsselling portable shelter to travelers.Claveria (Small Town): Conventional;AL LE; CL 8; 1,000gp limit; Assets66,000gp; Population 1,100; Isolated(human 99%)Authority Figures: Baron LyronEvensong, male human Brd12; JamesAtkine, male human Clr10 (high priest).

LiffeDread Possibility: One Life's MeasureFrom an early age, Lofgren was fascinated with how fictional tales and nonverbal musiccan affect people's emotional and physical wellbeing. He has devoted himself to thestudy of what he calls "Life's Measure," the exact measure, beat and rhythm of a humanlife as notated in emotional sharps and flats. Finding others who shared his vision, ALTOcame into existence around that shared study and experimentation.Using this mix of necromancy and bardic music, ALTO rips at the life-force of theiraudience, stealing precious moments from the end of their lives to extend that of eachALTO member. The stolen time is slowly corrupting Lofgren, but only one audiencemember has ever noticed: Andres Duval, a bardic lich who fled Darkon during Death'sreign. He suspects Lofgren is transforming into a bardic lich like himself. Lofgren isunaware of the extent of his changes, being unchanged in appearance.Recently, Baron Evensong has taken notice of ALTO and has observed Lofgren'smagic, although he has not seen its effect. Evensong theorizes that such stolen time, ifchannelled into a physical receptacle, could be used to shorten his nightly torments.18

There are also a number of small drinkingestablishments in Claveria, often withwhimsical, folksy names, where people go toinflict damage unto their livers and theirneighbour's faces. I avoided these places.GoldendaleThis small village is little more than a reststopbetween Claveria and Moondale: afarming community close enough to the roadto earn extra coin offering refreshment at theGathering House. A smithy and general storesell to travellers looking for cheap suppliesand quick repairs. Goldendale receivesmention in this report for being but a shortride from Claveria. It is an excellent place toavoid the inflated costs of the capital.The thorp itself is a collection of homesand barns, along with the threeaforementioned businesses and a recentlyabandonedtemple. The temple is dedicatedto the Harvest Gods: the many deities ofplants, harvests and farmers. It is still inDread Possibility: God of the LandThere were once witches in Goldendalewho worshiped a powerful embodimentof nature, the Straw God. Fresh bloodwas sacrificed to bless the crops allowedthe fields to flourish. A few years ago, aband of adventurers stopped sacrifices tothe Straw God and destroyed its materialform.Recently, the Straw God has regainedsome of its power, whispering to thesleeping minds of Goldendale'stownsfolk. Most have ignored the voicebut a few have been seduced. They havebegun practicing blasphemous rituals inthe fields and once again turned tosacrifice. Typically they give ofthemselves but each spring they abduct atraveller who won't be missed. Theirbodies lie in shallow graves beneath thefields.The Straw God has yet to take aphysical form, preferring to speakthrough willing vessels. Its cult is smallbut, like everything in Goldendale, isgrowing steadily.Liffeserviceable condition, and could easily berestored if the townsfolk can find themselvesa new priest.The fields around the town struggle asmost of Liffe's farms do, but I saw signs thatthis year's harvest will be plentiful.Goldendale is situated far enough off thecoast to avoid much of the wind while stillbenefiting from the rain. However, the thorpis still suffers regular cloud cover, so Iwonder how the crops receive enough lightto grow.Accommodations: Goldendale is too small towarrant a real inn but the Gathering Houseoffers both food and drink. If a visitor needsa roof to sleep under, cots are brought out ofstorage for a reasonable fee.19Goldendale (Thorp): Monstrous; ALNE; CL 6; 40gp limit; Assets 140gp;Population 70; Isolated (human 99%)Important Characters: Tam Belden,human male War4 (farmer, retiredmilitia); Thordin Markel, human maleExp2 (blacksmith); Jereed Mel, humanfemale Com7 (general merchant/townmatriarch).MoondaleAt the north edge of Liffe is Moondale, anoft-beleaguered town ignored by travellersand traders. Located beside the ominousforest that shares its name, it is unsurprisingmuch of the town is constructed of wood,although newer buildings are built out ofstone. The town is mostly populated byfarmers. A few ranchers also supply the townwith meat and wool, while a small number offishermen risk the northern sea. Stern people,they often say that "a fool and his ship aresoon parted." Scattered craftsmen also plytheir trade, handing their skills down alongfamilial lines.With the bluffs and hills of Liffe to thesouth protecting it against the sharp windsand storms, Moondale was pleasant duringmy summer visit. The surrounding hills aregreen and fertile and the farmers produce an

Liffeadequate crop year after year. However, Iwas told the winters are particularly long andstormy, with heavy snowfalls that bar alltravel south.Being frequently isolated has madeMoondale largely self-sufficient: almost halfthe year, Moondale is its own little island.The isolation shows with a lack of stores andmarkets. Coins are rarely used and folkbarter for goods. The sole inn is a weatherbeatenhusk held together by layers ofwhitewash. There isn't even a local temple tothe Thousand Gods.Perhaps because of this isolation,Moondale has been plagued by troubles.Predators seem drawn to the town were aid isseldom available. A little over thirty yearsago -back in the 720s - the town wasbesieged by vampires who halved thepopulation before knowledgeable hunterstaught folk how to slay the fiends. Then, in736 BC, a werewolf ravaged its way throughthe population before a passing group ofadventurers finally dispatched it. Thingswere peaceful until 740 when a number ofdhampires, spawned from the vampiricinfestation a generation earlier, came of ageand reduced the town to chaos. Thepopulation is still unsure if they managed todispatch all of these half-bloods. Recentlythere have been increased reports of fey(called trow by the locals), and othercreatures in the forest.While my visit to Moondale was never soeventful, it proved essential to my theorieson Liffe. The idea of a town being its own"island within an island" stayed with me,especially after my short visit to theneighbouring wood. I was struck by how thevery atmosphere of the forest felt differentfrom that of the adjacent countryside. Asunremarkable as both regions were, therewas a subtle change, akin to stepping acrossthe border between Sithicus and Verbrek.Accommodations: The Moondale Inn(common quality rooms and meals) is anaged structure that manages to keep out thewind and weather despite its frail condition.Once a passable building, it has declinedsince its owner, Dante Lysin, became thetown's mayor ten years ago. Mayor Lysin is20Moondale (Small Town): Monstrous;AL NE; CL 7; 800gp limit; Assets64,000gp; Population 1,600; Isolated(human 99%)Authority Figures: Dante Lysin,human nosferatu Ftr6/Ari5 (mayor),Baron Rognavold Kolsson, malehuman Ari 3.in remarkable shape for a man of almostsixty and looks almost half his age, but findshe is seldom able to give the inn the time itrequires. He has been unable to find areliable innkeeper and maintanence has beenirregular at best.RisibilosAlmost entirely forgotten on the westernedge of the island is the hamlet of Risibilos.While little over a hundred souls, there aremore empty buildings than residents. It is aghost-town, moreso than any in Liffe. Manymaps used in this report omitted it entirely,and I include it only because of its curioushistory and the insistence of the local baron.I imagine in a generation, the town will beentirely vacant: even now it is a pale shadowof what it once was.Risibilos is almost primitive compared tothe rest of Liffe, with its stone buildingscapped by thatched roofs (often mosscovered)and its streets little more thanmuddy paths. The town circles around thebaron's "manor", an aged castle whose mossandvine-covered walls seem barely able towithstand the rain, let alone a siege. I gatherthe previous baron, Doerdon, styled himselfa king and acted the part, complete withcrown, jester and court. To this day, Doerdonhas a grim reputation for enacting whateverlaws struck his fancy. The most infamouswas his "laughing law", which decreed thatthe town's population must laugh at all times,and that every statement must be followedby "ha ha ha", with infractions punished bydeath. While I am sure the history has beenexaggerated, the people of Risibilos firmly

Risibilos (Hamlet): Conventional; ALCN; CL 6; 100gp limit; Assets 650gp;Population 130; Isolated (human 99%)Authority Figures: Baron JulyanLinklater, male human Ari6.Important Characters: Puncheron,unique male shadow (former jester).believe the tale and remain serious andunsmiling to this day.The town itself is otherwise unremarkable.The small, squalid merchant's quarter servesas a market town for the surrounding farmsand herdsmen. While most modernconveniences are unheard of, most simpleritems can be found at a reasonable price. Onedoes have to trudge through a sea of fadedtents and ancient stalls to find something ofvalue, but the merchants typically haveanything desired tucked away in a forgottenbox in the back of their store.Ironically, Risibilos is the capital of Liffe'slargest barony, with Baron Linklater havingnominal authority over all the lands betweenRisibilos and Moondale Wood. However,this is the most sparsely populated part ofLiffe, and even Baron Erlendsson ofAferdale lords over more people.Accommodations: The only inn Risibilos hasto offer is a small single-story buildingnamed The Last Laugh (poor quality roomsand meals). I would have preferred a stay inthe stable, but that was filled with quickertravelers than I.Locales of InterestThe various towns of Liffe are not the onlysights the island has to offer, and may be ofthe least interest to our Brotherhood. I alsoinclude here a few other sites for which wemay find greater use.Maiden PointAt the southern tip of the island lies aruggedly beautiful place called MaidenPoint. Natives of Armeikos had mentionedLiffe21that it was a place of sad legends and thatmost sane folk avoid it completely. Thatbeing said, it is easy to find with a goodhorse. I decided to ride the coastal path southalong the clifftops and plateaus to thenotorious landmark (yes, this did make forquite a detour), and then back via an inlandpath. While I dreaded the prospect of havingto sleep in uncomfortable stone huts, myjourney offered no finer shelter: coastalhamlets on Liffe are few and far between.Nevertheless, given the lengths to which vanRijn and his followers might go to escapefrom prying eyes, I thought it essential to getan appreciation for the island's wilderregions and those mystical sites that mightattract our Fraternity's betrayer.On my southbound journey,companionship by and large was limited to afew curious sheep and seagulls. During thosebrief but treasured moments when theweather was favourable, the landscape trulywas majestic. The sun would stream throughthe thinning wisps of fog that hugged thetenebrous sea, while the raindrops that clungto the grass on the undulating hills, whichrolled away from the cliff edges, refractedthe fragile light like liquid diamonds. Alas,those moments were few and far between,and I spent most of my journey drenched tothe bone. The muddy trail climbed and doveand twisted and turned, treacherously. Myhorse and I were nearly blown off theclifftop during some of those slippery andprecarious climbs due to unexpected windgusts.It took me the better part of two days toreach Maiden Point. Waves unlike any Ihave seen before, monstrous in proportion,battered the exposed rock from both east andwest, meeting in a furious thunderclap. Takenote: the winds were particularly fierce here,constantly pelting me with sea spray.To my surprise, I was joined by an oldshepherd in this most inhospitable of places.His torn clothes reeked of fish, and he had awild, unkempt look and shifty eyes that Iliked not one bit. My horse also becamenervous at his approach, and instinct led meto place my hand discretely on the hilt of thedagger that lay tucked within my damp

Liffecloak. I still know not where he came from;he just seemed to appear from behind a sheetof rain. Pointing through the drizzle, heindicated something that yet had escaped mynotice: a crude, life-sized rock sculpture thatvaguely resembled a woman, partiallyconcealed by a low knoll that obscured thePoint's rim. Given how exposed she was tothe wind and blasts from the colossal waves,I wondered aloud how long she had beenthere, and what she represented. Who madeher? Why? How much longer would shestand?The old shepherd's darting eyes fixed memomentarily and, in a fashion, he respondedto my questions. "That's the maiden," hemumbled gruffly, showing fast-failing teeth.Despite his frightful demeanour, there wassomething in his voice that compelled me tolisten to him attentively. "Have you lost aloved one?" he continued. "Though she cannever be reunited with her own sweetcaptain, the Maiden can reunite you withyour dearly departed." (Tales I'd heard inArmeikos had hinted that those who prayedto the Maiden invariably gave themselves tothe sea, their ultimate fate unguessed.)The man coughed violently and I nearlywretched as he spat a green wad of phlegm,presumably unintentionally, upon my chest.He continued, apparently oblivious orunconcerned about what he had just done."Kneel and touch her as you sing thenameless song, and your prayers'll beanswered. But mind what you wish for…"He then broke unexpectedly into a dreamy,whispered song, every word of which Inonetheless heard clearly over the din ofstorm and sea:I have seen the verdant leavesTake the hue of rusted goldA thousand times beheld the sceneWhere the sky grows oldAnd though I see all one dayWither and decay awayYour eyes and face remainUntouched by the mark of ageI break myself upon your shoreThe wave that shatters on the rocksThat's the way we've always beenAnd will be 'til the end of timeAnd though I see all one dayWither and decay awayYour eyes and face remainUntouched by the mark of ageYou are light and I am shadowAnd between us all is greyYou hold me close, but never kissForever do I waitAnd though I see all one dayWither and decay awayYour eyes and face remainUntouched by the mark of ageAs he sang, I could not help but think backon… things that I have no wish to disclosepublicly.I know not how long my mind wanderedso, but I emerged from this reverie to find thereeking man gone without a trace. But thebitter wind continued to carry his song, and Iwished only to kneel and touch theMaiden… for indeed, this sacred place hasspoken to me in a way I cannot express…and one day I shall return…I have seen the birth of mountainsThen watched them fall beneath the seaI've watched the desert claim the worldWith dust its only legacy22

LiffeDread Possibility: The Strange Powers of the PointA powerful, long-lived saltwater variety of kelpie (see the Fiend Folio) is using its detectthoughts, charm person, and other spell-like abilities to lure individuals who haveexperienced personal tragedy to their doom. Its victims typically sense the presence of theirdeceased loved ones, and grow so overwhelmed by a mixture of grief and longing that theycome to believe they will be reunited with them if they throw themselves from the cliffs.The kelpie sometimes approaches potential victims on land in the guise of a raggedshepherd, trying to entice them to approach the rocky outcrop whereon stands the Maiden. Itis possible that this creature has been cursed in such a way that it cannot physically attack itsvictims on land or even stray too far from its cave, so must entice them closer to its lair in thecliff-face below Maiden Point.The Maiden's sculpture itself is a possible Sinkhole of Evil that has been enhanced by thekelpie's cruel method of repeatedly preying on bereaved individuals, and might bemagnifying the creature's powers. If so, the kelpie might possess additional spell-like abilitiesor supernatural powers.23

Neverwere ManorLiffeLocated due west of Claveria atop a smallhill is the manor house of the local baron.Standing at the end of a winding cobblestoneroad kept in passable condition, it issurrounded by a black ironwork fenceadorned with small fey figurines in assortedgraceful poses. A wrought-iron gate opens tothe mansion itself, an imposing blue-greybuilding of stone and plaster.The manor is comprised of a large centralstructure with several smaller wingsbranching off. The two smallest wings arehidden behind the main body, while a thirdawkwardly curves out towards the fence likea flailing limb. This wing ends in a massivesecond-story balcony overlooking the street.The Baron is known to stand at the balconyand "perform" to passers-by. This publicdisplay varies from a heated oration to amournful serenade.Having forged a dinner invitation, I liedmy way past the staff into the home. Thefoyer was impressive with a large sculptedceiling and deep crimson carpeting openingonto an arching stairway. One of the servinggirls offered me a tour of the building and Iquickly accepted. She showed me themagnificent banquet hall and a number ofsitting rooms. Though nigh-identical and abit monotonous, each of the lesser chambershad its designated title and function: study,parlour, reading room, smoking room, den,etc. Each room was lavishly decorated withpaintings and sculptures, many of them witha musical motif. Several of the rooms heldsizeable musical instruments, including finestationary harps, strange foreign drums, andeven a harpsichord.Under the guise of curiosity, I interrogatedthe serving staff to find any hint of van Rijn.I believe I was making progress when themaster of the house returned, forcing me tomake mindlessly-polite conversation overdinner. At first, I feared my ruse would getme tossed out on my ear, but surprisingly, hetook it in stride that he had forgotten everinviting me. (It seems that Claveria's Baronhosts many callers upon first acquaintance.)Baron Lyron Evensong proved to be a manof varied interests, although he himself wasquite superficial and insipid. He was curiousabout a number of topics and questioned meas thoroughly as I had the staff, yet hequickly tired of each subject and moved onto another. The baron has a rudimentaryunderstanding of a plethora of topics andschools of thought, yet his focus was broadand sporadic. He would surprise me with asudden creative burst, discussing poetry andiambic pentameter, then abruptly began tolecture me on the finer points of biology. Ilearned to feign interest and politely declineto correct his many omissions and gaffes: healways grew quite upset whenever I pointedout mistakes.24

Thankfully, dinner was short, and the staffhurried me out the door. They themselvesdid not stay the night and roomed in separatebuildings on the grounds. They told me thatno one was allowed in the manor in theevening except personal guests of the baron.In exiting, I perceived someone enteringthrough the main doors: a cloaked figure,barely visible in the light of the dying sun.The hairs prickled on the back of my neck asI sensed a malign aura of necromancy in theair. Recalling my mission, I returned to thered-hued entryway, only to find the doorsfirmly sealed. I attempted to slip in via theservant's quarters, but found them equallyimpassable. A quick magical probe provedineffectual, and I was forced to let the matterremain a mystery.Now, thinking back on this near-encounter,I am still convinced the figure I saw was apossible envoy of van Rijn! We are on theright track, Brothers; I strongly recommendthat the Baron's house be watched.Standing MonolithsScattered across Liffe's hills and valleys areseveral aged standing stones. Some aresimply upright slabs of rock in otherwise flatsections of land while others are arranged incircles, sometimes twinned with a mate, andoccasionally capped by a third stone laidovertop. Most stand upwards of fifteen feettall and are at least eight feet across the base.Legends surround these ancient monolithsas none of the Liffen truly know theirorigins. Some claim they were built by thefey as homes centuries ago and still act as adoorway to Faerie. If this is true, the stonecircles might act as a Mistway, perhaps toSithicus or lost Arak, but I have no concreteproof of this. Other tales claim the stones arewitches and giants transformed by the sun orforgotten spells. These legends claim thatonce a year, typically on the eve of the NewYear, stone become flesh and they walk tothe nearest pool or stream for a drink.Regardless of their origins, the stonesattract those fascinated by the occult. I,myself, felt the magic clinging to the nearbyland, and my spells flowed with ease near theLiffe25Dread Possibility: Walking StonesTheir true origins may be shrouded inthe Mists, but there is one truth to themyths: once each year the stones move!The stones do not all spring to life in asingle night; rather, all the circlesfollows a different and complicatedastrological cycle, with only a handful"awaking" at a time. A few rare stonescan be partially roused even when it isnot their time. This involves thecompletion of rituals specific to thestone, often involving blood sacrifice.Some remain as solid rock, simplysliding across the earth towards nearbystreams and rivers or - if close enough -the sea. These elementals seldomtrouble passer-bys, but can be bound byspellcasters of sufficient skill (as per thesummon monster spell, but with aduration lasting until dawn).Other stones become gravel-skinnedogres, trolls, or other giant-typecreatures. They spend their one nightengaged in whatever impulsive (seldompleasant) activity they think of first.They try to compress a full year's worthof living into a single night. Ifapproached carefully, they may speakof being cursed and of things they haveseen. People often speak freely aroundthe stones, thinking themselves alone,and these giants know many secrets andforgotten events.Some giants seek to break their curse,by abducting spellcasters or people ofpower. Others promise hidden treasureand secrets in exchange for serviceduring the rest of the year, if somehowfreed from stone.stones. A number of fallen druids and blackwizards practice their craft among the mosscoatedmonoliths. There are persistentrumours of cults operated near the largercircles and few people venture near thestones at night.

The University of LiffeLiffeOn the banks of the peat-stained waters ofthe Hordum River, the College of Liffe is thepre-eminent center of learning on the island,if not the eastern Core. Often referred to as"the University of Liffe", originally it was amonastery, and it has long attracted seekersof knowledge. Realizing that their lives ofquiet could not be sustained, the brothersfounded the College in 697 BC. Centeredaround its chapel-cum-library, the Collegeoffers degrees in Sciences, History and theHumanities, especially in music.Second only to Harmonic Hall inKartakass, its music programs are sought outby bards and composers from throughout theCore. Particularly famous for trainingkeyboard or string musicians, along with anoccasional flautist, the College lacks theclose harmony choirs and other singingspecialties famous in Kartakass; rhetoric,oratory, and dramatic recitation of epicpoetry are more revered as vocal arts, here.Acting is not fostered, apart from techniquesto embellish a speech or poetics. Dancing,acrobatics or tumbling are considered topromote licentiousness and are frowned onby the college authorities, while comedicperformances are considered to be crass andvulgar.The College's history is surprisingly shortfor such a well-rounded facility. It was whenthe Mists rolled back, revealing fringes ofthe nascent Nocturnal Sea, that the Collegefirst broadened its courses, offering minorlessens in Sciences to meet the need fornavigational skills and for ship construction.Following a first tentative cross-Mist contactwith the Darkonian coast in 743, BusinessStudies began in anticipation of trade.When the Nocturnal Sea was revealed tothe Core, Borcan merchant Sulo Boritsi ofthe Boritsi Trading Company quicklyopened a local branch office in Armeikos.Needing educated workers to staff hisholdings, but unimpressed with the school'sofferings, he poured in financial resources,and in 752 the Klaus Boritsi School ofBusiness began to offer professional degrees.Sulo received its first honorary degree,before returning to Levkarest at the behest ofIvana Boritsi. It is a Liffen graduate of thebusiness school who runs the TradingCompany's Egertus offices for Sulo, while hedivides his time between there and Borca.Ironically, the rival Carlyle TradingCompany is now recruiting its own stafffrom a school which bears its primarycompetitor's name!The University's growth was aided by thearrival of Professors Eugenia Kael (Science)and Ewart Candida (Business), once of theUniversity of Il Aluk, fleeing its destructionand the then-crumbling Darkonian state. Thetwo took a hand in bringing the college up tomodern standards, heading up the School ofBusiness and School of Physical Sciences(est. 753). The pair also introduced a fairmeasure of controversy, fighting to allow theadmission of female students (as of 753) andnon-humans (from 756 on, though muchprejudice remains).Currently, the College of Liffe is a modernand flourishing institution, drawing studentsfrom Liffe, Graben Island, Nova Vaasa andDarkon. This hodgepodge of cultures createsa cosmopolitan atmosphere for the students,as fits the pro-trade stance of the college'sofficials. Instructors emphasize realism andstoicism as a way of life; most hold a verypessimistic, melancholy outlook on life thatis instilled into their students. As a result ofthis world-wise, yet bleak outlook, potentialdirgists are often drawn to the college, andmany graduates take up this musical style inlater life.26

Dread Possibility: Filthy LucreWhen they fled Il Aluk, ProfessorsKael and Candida and Dean Arroyochbrought with them a number ofhistorical artifacts from their formerUniversity. These include suchoddities as a crystalline skull, acracked glass rod, a strange daggerwith a large ruby in its hilt and, mostnotably, a set of five coins ofundetermined origin, all packedseparately. These coins areremarkable for being possessed by amonstrous power.During the break-in during the 756riots, one of the four studentsattempted to steal one of these coinsand, to his horror, watched his coinpurse explode in a cyclone of goldthat crushed him and his fellows.Campus security soon discovered thebodies, but was unable to identify anassailant and has since downplayedthe incident.As with any college, radical sentiments arecommon among educated young hot-heads,and politically-motivated clashes betweenstudents and officials are not unknown. Inone tragic incident, the College was the siteof four Vaasi students' deaths, after theybroke into the financial office to steal backtheir tuition in protest of non-humans' 756enrollments. The circumstances were hushedup to protect the school's reputation, but arestill being discreetly investigated.The library is found in the centralstructure, a former chapel with a great spiretower, and has seven floors of carefullycatalogued books available to the studentsand faculty. I spent several weeks poringover the collection myself. There are alsorumors of secret stacks in the basement thatcontain treatise on the arcane arts. Given theLiffen fondness for talespinning, there mightbe nothing to this, but what passes for"history" in these parts suggests the land wasonce a fantastic place: a hidden collection ofLiffe27arcane lore might prove or refute this. In anycase, the idea of surviving tomes of magicand lore from a forgotten age is tantalizing.My personal inquires led to nothing, but Iwas distracted by other concerns.There are a number of residences on theUniversity grounds and most students preferto live on the campus, as do most professorsand a few alumni. The buildings areuniversally drafty and cold, with dampness acommon problem. Mildew is a constantmenace to the library's resources. However,for most students, the convenience of livingon campus far outweighs the problems. Theinstitution is open to students for only eightmonths out of the year, from September toApril, but professors and alumni are free touse its facilities year-round. Thankfully, Iwas given full access to the facilities, owingto my status as a "visiting scholar", now onsabattical from my post at the University ofRichemulot.Potential applicants must submit a nonrefundable300 gp application fee, and awritten essay on a suitable academic topic. Ifthe quality of the applicant's writing attractsthe admissions board's interest, the applicantis then invited to an interview. Here, thewould-be student is tested for knowledge ofhistory and basic academic skills, potentialperformance talent, and character. Thosewho are admitted receive a certificate ofenrollment and a hooded silk academic gown(its 75 gp cost being included in theapplication fee). The gown must be wornduring meals, academic and administrativemeetings, lectures, and within the library.These gowns are of masterwork quality, andare often enchanted by their wearers. Seniorfaculty members often have gowns that giveprotection, ward off the elements or enhancetheir charismatic and leadership powers.Graduates are awarded a matching hoodsymbolic of their accomplishment, and linedwith colours denoting the graduates' degree:green for biology, gold for business, blue forliterature, etc. The trim of the hood is furthercoloured to reflect status: those with aBachelor's degree have a hood trimmed withscarlet; a Master's degree, with yellow; and aDoctorate, with white silk. Professors have ahood lined with white ermine, while the

LiffeCollege dean's hood is further adorned withgold highlights.Before students receive a degree, theymust pass a series of examinations that takeone week for a Bachelor's, two for aMaster's, or four for a Doctorate. Examsalways include oral questions on history, andeither artistic performance or the submissionof a musical or poetic composition, inaddition to direct questions about thestudent's field of study. The actualexamination procedure includes attempts todistract examinees with sudden strangecomments or noises or even minor spells.The non-refundable examination fees are75gp for Bachelor, 150gp for Master's and300gp for a Doctorate.AffiliationAffiliation Criterion*Score ModifierExpertise and general knowledge:+ ½ LevelCharacter has the bardic knowledge ability or equivalent: +2Ranks in Performance (keyboard, stringed, oratory or poetry)+1 per 4 ranksRanks in Performance (dancing, comedy or buffoonery)+1 per 8 ranksRanks in Knowledge+1 per 4 ranksRanks in Concentration+1 per 6 ranksDirgist PrC +2Scholar PrC +2Virtuoso PrC +2Jaded feat +1Attending classes+1/ monthFamously endured a great personal tragedy or defeat +2Bachlor’s Degree +1Master’s Degree +2Doctorate +4Composes a performance or writes a treatise critical of college -10Member of any other college or university-2/ affiliationObserved being un-stoic in the face of adversity -2*see the Player’s Handbook II for more information on affiliations28

LiffeUndergraduate: (affiliation score 5 or higher and successful application and interview)• Gain access to the main library and facilities of the college.• Rental accommodation available on campus with meals provided for 5sp/day.• Able to purchase masterwork musical instruments produced by college's artisans.• Presented with a masterwork scholar's gown upon being accepted.Bachelor: (affiliation score 10 or higher and passed the Bachelor's examination)• Masterwork instruments produced by the college can be purchased at a 10% discount.• +2 circumstance bonus to Charisma checks with the inhabitants of Liffe.• +1 competency bonus to bardic knowledge checks and the skills Concentration and Perform.• Awarded hood for their academic gown. Of masterwork quality, it occupies the head slotand can be enchanted separately from the gown.Master: (affiliation score 15 or higher and passed the Master's examination)• Use of college accommodations and meals free of charge and secure storage space in thecollege vaults.• Services of a scribe/assistant (Exp1) while on campus.• Masterwork instruments produced by the college can be purchased at a 20% discount.• Access to the reserved stacks for magical research (equivalent to sharing spellbooks).• Competency bonuses gained by the Bachelor increased to +2.Doctor: (affiliation score 20 or higher and passed the Doctoral examination)• Masterwork instruments produced by the college can be purchased at a 30% discount.• Attracts student to aid with research and even accompany them on travels (treat as Leadershipfeat, but only NPC classes are available).• Able to borrow a single reusable magic item (of a value of up to 20,000 gp) for a periodof not more than a month from the college's vault.Professor: (affiliation score 25 or higher and see below)• Use of faculty accommodations and meals free of charge.• Biannual stipend of 100 gp paid in April and December.• Charisma check bonus (see Bachelor) increased by +1.• Considered to have great renown and a base of operations for Leadership feat.• During the eight months the University is open, must spend 1day/ week teaching. Failureto do so reduces affiliation rating by 1/ month.• Must also spend one month each year engaged in administrative duties (including examinationboards). Failure to do so reduces affiliation rating by 2.• Must recruit at least one new student to the college per year or reduce affiliation ratingby 1.Dean: (affiliation score 30 or higher and see below)• Biannual stipend of 300 gold paid in April and December.• Charisma check bonus (see Bachelor) increased by +1.• During the eight months the University is open, must spend 1 week/month engaged inadministrative duties (including examination boards). Failure to do so reduces affiliationrating by 4.• Must recruit at least three new students to the college/ year or reduce affiliation rating by1.29

Flora and FaunaLiffeLiffe is a wind-swept rock where plants andcrops have to struggle to survive. What littlethat manages to endure the weather must yetwithstand grazing sheep that will consumeanything. Much of the vegetation is hardygrasses, tough shrubs, mosses and thevarious lichens that adorn the coast's rocks.Larger vegetation, such as trees, is sparse,occurring only in small copses.Typical plants are mostly yellow andbrown, straining to find sun in the overcastskies. The colours of the island occasionallyburst into golds and purples with theflowering of gorse and heather respectivelyand, between the hills, patches of otherwildflowers can be found. The strong seawinds are often blamed for the lack of plantlife larger than shrubs and thistles, but thepeat moss in the moors suggests there wereforests culled for lumber generations ago.Local fauna is mostly animals raised by theherdsman: mostly sheep and goats, withoccasional cattle or pigs. Trained sheepdogsare used for herding and guarding flocks andthere are few shepherds without a brace ofhearty canines. These are typically collies,shelties, or similar dutiful breeds. The LiffenSheepdog, an intelligent long-haired breedwith a pronounced snout, is a favourite and isgaining popularity across the Nocturnal Sea.Cats are far less popular companions, but notunknown; pet cats are typically kept inside,denied the free reign of dogs, lest the island'ssea-eagles carry them off. Barn cats are usedto control vermin, but are near-feral andnever allowed in homes, so must avoid thebirds by their own wits.Fairly recent arrivals on Liffe are horses(from Nova Vaasa) and ponies (from GrabenIsland). While horses are only affordable bythe richest barons, ponies have become quitepopular and a number of commoners havebecome breeders. Liffen ponies are sturdybeasts, and are often used as pack animals oreven for pulling plows.Wild animals are not as rare as trees, butstill seldom seen. Most predators have longsince been hunted to extinction, with but ahandful of wolves and black bears30remaining. Foxes are common in the hills, asare occasional feral dogs; the latter aresubject to bounty in most baronies, as knownsheep-killers. Feral cats are more widespreadthan their canine counterparts. A smallnumber of deer yet roam the hills, but are indecline. There are also the typical hedgerowanimals of the countryside including hares,badgers, weasels, moles and rodents.The dominant wildlife on Liffe is its birds.Seagulls are an everyday nuisance, as is theabundance of feral pigeons in the cities.Swallows, gannets, wrens, petrels, finches,sparrows and robins are also common, and afew ponds are frequented by swans. In thenortherly coves, there are colonies of stormpetrels and other species adapted to the cold.Predatory birds are also common, includingsea-eagles (some quite larg.e) and ospreys byday and barn-roosting owls by night.Encounters in Liffe: WildlifeCR 1/10: Bat MM1CR 1/8: Rat MM1CR 1/6: Raven MM1CR ¼: Albatross STO ; Cat MM1 ; Fox Fro ;Owl MM1CR 1/3: Dire rat MM1CR ½: Badger MM1 ; Eagle MM1 ; Silverfox (elven fox) Ga1CR 1: Dire raven Ga1 ; Elven hound(cooshee) RWi p189 ; Moose Dra#327 p 87 ;Razorback DoDCR 2: Boar MM1 ; Brown Bear MM1 ; DireMM2,hawkRWi ; Dire weaselMM1 ;Raven, giant FroCR 3: Dire eagle RSt ; Giant eagle MM1 ;Giant owl MM1CR 4: Dire boar MM1 ; Dire wolverineMM1CR 7: Dire bear MM1 ; Dire elk MM2

PeopleThe island's human natives are the Liffen, apeople as diverse as any I have seen. Thereseems to be no uniformity in shade of hair oreyes, and even skin ranges from a pale whiteto a dark tan colour. Communities' residentsare similar to each other, suggesting limitedintermarriage between settlements, such thatfolk of Moondale to the North frequentlyhaving red hair and pale freckled skin, whilefolk of Risibilos have darker skin and hair.One might almost think the island waspopulated by peoples from a number ofdifferent lands - much like the Core - and yetthere are no borders dividing the land, nodialects dividing people, and no divergenthistories suggesting multiple origins.LiffeEncounters in Liffe: MonstersCR ½: Bloodrose DoD ; Centipede, monstrous MM1CR1: Gnome, forest MM1, RSt ; Fearweed DoD ; Selkie, dread FiFCR 2: Arak, portune VRGSF ; Assassin bug, giant DoD ; Crawling ivy DoD ; Hag, Bog OrA ; RedCarp MM3 ; Spriggan FiFCR 3: Allip MM1 ; Arak, teg VRGSF ; Assassin Vine MM1 ; Baobhan sith (Black Sprite) DoD ;Bloodroot DoD ; Boowray DoD ; Cockatrice MM1 ; Doppelganger, dread DoD ; DrownlingDoD ; Dryad MM1 ; Ettercap MM1 , Dra#343 ; Unicorn, dappled MM1 ; Ghost brute LiM ;Lycanthrope, werewolf MM1CR 4: Arak, powrie VRGSF ; Bruja DoD ; Carrion crawler MM1 ; Lashweed DoD ; Spectral lyristLiM ; Troll, dread, forest MM3CR 5: Arak, brag (Whitfolk) VRGSF ; Arak, fir VRGSF ; Bone tree DragC ; Snowflake OozeMM3 ; Taunting Haunt MM5CR 6: Chelicera MM3 ; Chrall MM3 ; Dread Blossom Swarm MM3 ; Glaistig MM3 ; VehrteigDTDLCR 7: Crypt chanter LiM ; Haunt, Bridge MM5CR 8: Banshrae MM5 ; Burrow Root MM5 ; Stakewood tree JWM's ; Treant MM1 ; Treant,warpedMM1, DoDCR 10: Greenvise MM2, Dra#292 ; Haunt, Forest MM5CR 12: Night twist MM3CR 13: Charnel Hound MM3 ; Cinder Swarm MM3CR varies: Albesadow (see vampire, elven) DoD ; Bogeyman DTDL ; Geist DoD;Ghost MM1, DoD ; Half-fey FiF,VRGSF ; Feytouched FiF , VRGSF p 108 ; Living Spell MM3Daily Life31The Liffen are a simple folk, predominantlyrural with a few small towns. There is asmall aristocracy comprised of barons andtheir extended families, but the majority ofthe population is of humble birth. After theMists revealed the island, a number oftraders and craftsmen came into wealth and anew social class formed. The aristocracy hada fondness for goods from the Core and sopay merchants handsomely to bring them in.Liffe's artisans, seizing an opportunity, beganto imitate other lands' handiworks as cheap(and sometimes fraudulently-labeled)alternatives.The mercantile middle-class is growingfast, and may soon subsume the aristocracyor even depose the isle's barons outright. The

The Liffen HeroRaces: The clear majority of the Liffenare humans of any conceivable size,build and coloration. Hiddencommunities of all other PHB races canalso be found in the hills or woods. Thisis especially true in areas where magicruns strong and the fantastic still haspower. There are a small number ofcaliban and half-Vistani among thehumans, with fewer of the latter, as notmany Vistani yet see fit to Mist-travelto Liffe. Cosmopolitan Armeikos andthe College have the greatest visiblenumbers of non-humans.Classes: Those classes at home in thewilds are most common in Liffe.Rangers, druids, and even barbarianshave little trouble with the ranchers andrugged hills. Magic is tolerated onLiffe, so wizards and sorcerers areseldom persecuted. Bards can find aready home in Liffe, with its manystories and songs, and are welcomedwarmly in most inns and towns.Recommended Skills: Appraise, Bluff,Craft (blacksmith, carpentry,leatherwork), Gather Information,Handle Animal, Knowledge (any),Listen, Perform (any), Profession(herder, fisher, sailor, tanner, weaver),Survival, Swim, Use Rope.Recommended Feats: Animal Affinity,Deft Hands, Diligent, Endurance,Leadership, Negotiator, Persuasive,Self-Sufficient, Skill Focus (Perform,Survival), Weapon Focus (flail, scythe,short sword, sickle, spear).Liffe Male Names: Androw, Antoun,Burray, Graemsay, Harie, Lowrence,Patrik, Richert, Rondaldsay, Sandwick,Symond.Liffe Female Names: Breta, Bryd,Eday, Ellisetter, Elspet, Lillies,Mareoun, Merjorie, Ollaw, Sanday,Sinnie.Liffe32labourers seldom concern themselves withthe forthcoming power struggle and carry onwith their lives much as they have done forcenturies. Such rustics concern themselveswith their herds and flocks or their farms.Fashion in Liffe is simple and functional.Sturdy breaches and rugged boots are pairedwith thick woolen shirts and the occasionaldark outer coat. Even the aristocrats dressplainly, to keep out the damp and the cold.Traders from the Core often try to sell highfashions from Dementlieu or Borca here, butall have failed, as the local weather promptlyspoils the fabrics or proves unsuitable for thetemperature. At most, a wealthy Liffenmight add a bit of trim or feather to his basicutilitarian garb.Warm, thick wool, spun and woven into anigh-waterproof cloth, drives this country'sprimary industry: sheep. Their wool is oftenknitted into thick, cozy pullovers which are afashion staple of the Liffen. Such warmgarments are particularly sought after in thecolder, more mountainous parts of Darkon,where miners are often sighted wrapped inbulky Liffen sweaters to keep out the mine'ssubterranean chill.Wool is not the sole product of the hills.The shepherds' flocks also provide muttonand cheeses, and numerous small farms dotthe island. Crops revolve around rootvegetables grown in small plots fertilizedwith seaweed and ground fish meal, althoughbarley and oats are also grown. These cerealsare used to produce unappetizing gruels orconsumed by the isle's breweries. Liffen beeris dark and slightly bitter, with a distinctivetaste. Beer is also distilled to form strongamber-coloured liquor that locals refer to as"water of Liffe". (I surmise that after a fewglasses of it, one ceases to mind bad puns.)Being an island, resources gathered fromthe sea are also an important source of food.A variety of fish are harvested including cod,herring, mackerel, and shellfish such asclams, mussels, scallops, shrimp and lobster.Local delicacies produced from this catchinclude a variety of pickled fish dishes, andshrimp marinated in the "water of Liffe".Seaweeds are also gathered and used in avariety of dishes including salads.

Games and leisure activities are rare, butnot unknown in Liffe. There are a few rowdyactivities played with a leather ball, often bydrunken locals. Other activates remind me ofthe sports engaged in by the goblyns ofForlorn: log throwing, stone tossing and thelike. However, Liffe is principally a musicalisland and song is its predominant source ofentertainment. People sing drinking songsaccompanied by improvised instruments, orcelebrate with lively jigs and folk dances.While the people of Kartakass have superiorsinging voices, the Liffen are quick to pluckout a tune or whistle a catchy theme. A set ofspoons and a few pots and pans suffice as afull band.Stories are also a common entertainmentand a way of passing the long winters. As Ivisited the towns, I heard many fireside talesand was amazed by the imagination of thestorytellers. There were wild accounts of theunbelievable and fantastic, oft reminiscent ofthe tales of Mist-led outlanders … only thefolk of Liffe insist it was their ancestorsinvolved in the tales! One family in Aferdaletold of slaying giants and of dragons whosewings spanned the sky, while a storyteller inMoondale spoke of great kings with armiesnumbering in the millions (!), fending offendless hordes of mounted barbarians. Aswild as the stories were, the locals believedthem central to their heritage, so I tried not toscoff, despite the wildly-divergent detailsand contradictory elements."It's war, I tells ya'! The Darkonians areplanning to invade. Azalin Rex wants toexpand his empire and has set his sights onus. Ignore me if you want, but Darkon's armywill soon be on our shores, and then whatwill you do?"- An old man, with unkempt hair and amilk-white eye, sits in the Armeikan townsquare and repeats this to all who speak tohim."The Nova Vaasans are coming! They’recoming to conquer Liffe! Prince Othmar hasgathered a mercenary army of thousands. Hehas a demonical desire for wealth, and he iscoming here to plunder the wealth ofLiffe33Armeikos and all of Liffe. We are doomed!There is no way to stand before the massivehorde that is gathering on the Nova Vaasancoast. Ha, you don’t believe, eh? When yousee the black sails on the horizon, enoughsails to blot out the setting sun, then you’llknow. Ha!"- One week later, the same old man.LanguageThe language of Liffe is a curious dialectnearly identical to Sithican in structure, butits accent and vocabulary varies sharply, soeven those familiar with Sithicus's speechmay require some help translating. Though Iam no linguist, I had the assistance of one -our own Brother Lochspeare, who lent mehis notes - and I am assured that Liffen-Sithican has been influenced by the grammarand pronunciation of at least half a dozenother tongues.Declension in the Liffen dialect isirregular, and unlike elven texts that rely onrhythm and suffix to structure theirsentences, the Liffen use similar punctuationto Darkonese. The grammar shows hints ofFalkovnian at times, while some words andtenses mirror those of Vaasi.Such pidgin leanings might be expected ina trading hub, yet Liffe's language does notappear to have changed over the centuries,and is remarkably consistent, as if the islandhad been influenced by a myriad of different

Liffen-Sithican PhrasebookAinmAnghenfilBadCeathachCerddClegarConreeaghtCurlawDeamhanDiolch i tiEadhErsooyl lhiatFòirGenwairHoiMaenPrenSiabhrachSooder folleySlaneTablenNoMonsterBoatMistMusicRockWerewolfRainDemonThank youYesGo away!Help!FishHelloStanding stoneTreeSpirit/feyVampireGoodbyeBeerLiffelands centuries ago. While odd, this supportsa hypothesis I have about the land…Outlook and WorldviewLong, dark, miserable winters have markedthe inhabitants of Liffe: they are oftenmorose and depressive, but still determinedand stoic about adversity. During the winter,music and fireside tales help lift spirits, andan appreciation of these skills is whatultimately led to the foundation of the isle'sCollege. The odd dram of the "water ofLiffe", no doubt, also helps pass those glummonths of winter.Come the few bright days of summer, Liffesprings into merriment, with many partiesand festivities. Some of these are rumouredto be quite salacious, with tales of dancingnaked around the numerous standing stonesand strange orgiastic rituals, rumours whichare often dismissed laughingly. Who couldimagine the normally stoic, slightly dour,34religiously-conservative folk of Liffe beinginvolved in such hedonistic activities?The above is an excellent example of whatdefines the Liffen: they seem common andsimple, but are often anything but. Similar inappearance and temperament, it is a surpriseto find the shepherd who can play a fife likea maestro, or the humble farmer who quietlyDread Possibility: The Trow"Trow" is the universal Liffen term fordark or malicious fey. The term is usedbroadly, referring to creatures bothlarge and small, and it does notdistinguish between fey who dislikehumanity, play cruel jokes, or activelyharm people. All faerie folk that are nothelpful are labelled trow, a fact that canconfuse foreigners … especiallyGrabenites, in whose tongue "trow"refers to sentient sea monsters, such assahuagin, not fey!.The majority of Liffe's "trow" aresimply Arak: shadow fey who havejourneyed from the Rift or beenbrought by the Mists. The forbiddenforests and stone circles seem to drawthe Arak to Liffe, both willingly andnot. Some have even been called byhumans through rituals and magic, butthese are rare and seldom pleased. Anumber of Arak lurk in the MoondaleWoods for some unknown reason,either hiding or acting as guards oversomething inside.There are also a number of elvencalibans in the hills of Liffe, known bya related name: drow. Most hide awayin lonely glens, rock caves, or ruins.These dark-skinned outcasts arefiercely distrusted by their fairbrethren, and most are simply trying tosurvive. They are nocturnal in habit andmost avoid human settlements, but afew have blended in with Liffensociety, often masquerading as exoticforeigners from Sri Raji.

follows an old faith and spends the equinoxat a stone circle.Liffen beliefs, despite the localhomogeneity of culture, are quite varied,with a common tendency towards thefantastic. The reality of magic is neverquestioned here, despite how mundane theisland seems and how few people displayany form of arcane talent. There is also astrong belief in all manner of strangecreatures and monsters that haunt the wildsor forsaken places. Such beings are blamedfor all but the most common of misfortunes,and all bad luck, mysteries, and unlikelyevents are attributed to them.The most common of these evil beasts isthe trow. Their descriptions vary fromvillage to village, but "trow" are typicallydescribed as dark fey creatures that live inthe dark and shadows, and cannot stand thelight of the sun. Some tales describe them assimilar to elves, but with ebon skin, whileothers claim they are smaller and moresavage. While it is possible that "trow" is justanother name for creatures of Arak, it seemsunlikely, as they have other dissimilarities.ReligionsThere is no single faith on the island and yet,paradoxically, every Liffen is a member ofthe same church. The people of Liffe don'tbelieve in a single deity, or even a pantheon;instead, they worship all gods and believethat every aspect of existence is governed bymultiple divine powers. Individuals pick aparticular series of gods as patrons, ones thathold domain over a specific philosophy,activity or way of life. I have alreadymentioned the Beast Cult as a once-commongroup, but other common factions includeShepherds, Sun, Weather, Family or Health,while smaller cults worship dark sets such asDeath, Darkness, Sickness, War, etc.The Thousand Gods (the true number ofdeities is unknown, so "thousand" is used tomean many) have little personality, but eachis named, and these names are recorded inthe Manifold Record, a sacred book kept inAllgods Temple in Claveria.Liffe35The primary worship hall of AllgodsTemple is ringed with row upon row of foottallstatues, each representing (often rathervaguely) one of the Thousand Gods. Herethere are statues of Hala and Ezra, theLawgiver and the Overseer, Wotan andAthena, Belenus and Osiris, Gond andLendor, the Many-headed Serpent andAdamantine Wyrm, Pelor and Kelemvor,and many, many more.The church often sends its most devoutfollowers to "learn the names", shippingpriests across the sea so they can return withmore deities to add to the Manifold Record.Such quests were rare until the NocturnalSea revealed itself, but have now grown infrequency. Liffens have visited every majortemple in the eastern Core, and now plantheir expeditions to the West and distantrealms within the Mists. Unlike other faiths,adherents of the Thousand Gods who travelabroad are not missionaries: they need notconvert others, as they feel everyone alreadyfollows their own faith in some respect.There is little by way of history for thefaith. Followers claim that once there weremany separate faiths, until the clergywearied of arguing and became one. This"epiphany" is historically vague and no one -not even the high priest of the AllgodsTemple - could tell me when it happened,just that it did. An interesting situation,mirrored by the realm's political (lack of)history.There are few established holy days for theThousand Gods. The usual celestial and/orearthly events are revered by various divinesets' followers: solstices, equinoxes, full andnew moons, harvests, and so forth. Clergyhave no fixed time for prayer, with equalnumbers choosing dawn, noon, or sunset.There are equally few set taboos or religiouslaws. Disparaging faiths different from yourown is a cardinal sin. Others include taking alife or forcing your beliefs on others.

The Thousand GodsSymbol: A disc with severalinterlocking rings in a circle.Alignment: Any and all.Portfolio: Any and all.Domains: Any. Worshipers chose anaspect or ideology, then pick relateddomains. DMs must approve domainselections, and may veto contradictorypairs or other abuses.Favoured Weapons: Any one.The Thousand Gods has a limitedhierarchy, based on activities withinthe church proper and greatercommunity. Those clergy who provethemselves to be trusted members ofthe church as well as devout followersof the faith are chosen for advancementwithin the hierarchy. The church'sstructure is loose, with a single highpriest whose duty is to mediate subsets'disputes, spread the faith, andlearn of new names of the divine.Dogma: The faith of the ThousandGods is a one of balance and equalitywhere the many become one. However,do not seek to drown out other voicesso much as add them to the many;strive to be a chorus, all singing thesame song. All have a place within theThousand and all are equal andcontribute, even if it is not alwaysapparent. Favouring a single god aboveall others is a sin and shows bias andeven corruption.LiffeArt and TradeLiffen craftsmanship is a rapidly-growingindustry, fuelled by trade with the Core and ayen for foreign goods. Unable to sell theirworks for what they were, Liffen artisanshave become masters of mimicry, makingtheir goods appear to be of Darkonian orNova Vassan origin. Now, Liffen goods canbe found across the Core, albeit with falseorigins and of inferior quality. These arepurchased by those feigning wealth, and byfools unable to tell the difference betweenLiffen forgeries and genuine wares.When they were producing their owncrafts, these folk had precious little style,creating blocky, simple furnishings andfunctionally-bland tools. The Liffen, whileimaginative storytellers, never seemed ableto channel their creativity into handicrafts.Likewise, what little art they produced wasamateurish, seldom more than the idlings oflone, bored farmers.Occasionally, works of art surface in Liffe:pieces of beauty crafted by people unknown,and simply passed along familial lines ordiscovered in forgotten places. These areoften attributed to fantastic sources or givendramatic, but fictitious origins, such as longforgotteneras of greatness, or ingenious fey.Fanciful nonsense, but there is no denyingtheir quality. One such piece was a pendant Icame upon in a back-alley antique shop: amany-faceted opal set into a base of whitegold, with matching chain. The necklace onits own was passable, but the opal had beencut and carved by a master. It was clearly aninspired work, but hardly a lost relic from afallen age or the handiwork of a magicalpeople! I had not brought enough funds topurchase the item, so I returned later, only tolearn that it has been sold in my absence.36

Dread Possibility: Circle of BloodLiffeNightblood was a powerful lich, one with the potential to challenge even such potent wizardsas Azalin or Meredoth. Drawn into the Mists, his small lair was discovered by adventurersand, caught out in a moment of weakness, his body was slain. The victors revelled in theirtriumph and, ignorant of the ways of liches, claimed his phylactery as a trophy. BeforeNightblood could fully regain his power, they took it to a jeweller, who quartered the preciouscirclet.Once a silver headband with four equally-spaced opals, now it is four stones, each set into itsown piece. These include a pendant, a broach, a ring and a bracelet, each holding a fraction ofthe lich's power and essence.Originally a 20th level wizard, Nightblood has now been split into four 5th level beings. Onestone possesses his knowledge, and the wearer of its piece has access to his many Int-basedskills and is able to use them as their own. Another stone is able to generate a physical body,animating a nearby corpse. The third holds Nightblood's magical might, granting the bearer theability to cast spells or amplifying their existing power. The final contains the lich'spersonality and force of will, and can take possession of the unwary, imposing his traits onthem.Nightblood is desperately working to reunite his essence, thus restoring himself so he canseek revenge upon his assailants. He tries to push people who discover one of his stones toseek the others through haunting dreams or false emotions. When possible, he avoidsassociating himself with the item to avert its destruction, instead preferring to be thought of asa ghost or other phantom. For all his knowledge, Nightblood is unsure what will happen to afragment of his essence if its opal is broken. He might lose that part of his power forever, orthe power might be divided among the opal's surviving pieces. It is a theory he is unwilling totest.Trade is a growing business in Liffe, as its own merchants and foreign ships bring inincreasing quantities of exotic goods. With few natural resources to offer and precious littlegold to spend overseas, traders must be creative in bartering. Many Liffen offer their skills asnavigators and guides, while others sell fish and wool to the mainland. There is a growingworry that the barons are spending more wealth than they are making and the entire land issinking into poverty and debt. Young Liffen frequently venture overseas to make their fortune,or follow legends in search of forgotten treasure, their minds fill with thoughts of saving theirtown or family. Such are the victims of the wild imaginations of Liffen storytellers.Many Liffen have profited from theincrease in trade with the mainland; yet theinflux of migrants and their acquisition oflocal lands has stirred resentment among thenatives. In recent years, an undergroundnetwork of "freedom fighters" known as thePatriots of Liffe has emerged, to defend theisland's heritage from "external threats."Sympathy for the Patriots of Liffe has grownsteadily among certain segments of thepopulation, including the farmers who toilharder to feed the isle's rising population, theconstabulary who must deal with criminalelements in the bustling ports and theincreasing tensions overall, and xenophobesfrom all walks of life. This public sympathyis largely due to the Patriots' vigorousstigmatizing of settlers as a threat to Liffe's37culture, economic well-being, and politicalsovereignty.Attacks upon immigrants have increased inboth frequency and brutality over the pastfew months, suggesting that the Patriots mayfeel that their messages have not been takenseriously by either foreigners or sympatheticbarons. It also may be a sign that they arebecoming more desperate, feeling that theyare not sufficiently deterring the influx. ThePatriots of Liffe are renowned for inscribingtheir slogans and symbols upon walls andbuildings, and for leaving warning messagesat scenes of killings, beatings, vandalism,and sabotage. Their victims are arranged ina grisly fashion for dramatic effect… whenthey are found at all.

Secret Society: The Patriots of LiffeLiffeA significant proportion of Liffe's nobles fear that they will lose control if the middle classshould continue to profit from stronger ties with the mainland. Paradoxically, they also wishto claim the credit for enhancing the quality of life on the island. This state of affairs has led tothe birth of a society named the Patriots of Liffe, under the secret leadership of Baron StelvinHawke and an inner circle of like-minded (and often opportunistic) lesser nobles. The society,established in 757, currently has fewer than two dozen members, including a score of "agents"in the external circle who execute orders on behalf of their unknown masters.While Baron Hawke is pleased to see public sympathy for his movement increase, he wishesto limit membership, to keep a close watch on its current operatives and minimize infiltration.Noble members of the Patriots either publicly welcome newcomers or feign neutrality. In thisway, they can continue to benefit from dealings with mainlanders and gain their trust. Behindclosed doors, they order the strategic abduction or assassination of wealthy foreign merchantswho have been unwilling or unable to provide them with "favours."The Patriots of Liffe likewise expose native merchants who have engaged in "unpatrioticacts" or who "threaten" Liffe's heritage and security, usually through allegedly-corrupt orexploitative trading practices, such as granting "preferential treatment" to foreigners. In truth,local merchants become targets for the Patriots when their wealth and influence grow to theextent that they pose a potential threat to the nobility, or when they refuse to pay the vigilantes"protection" money. Bodies of victims are weighted with rocks and dumped into the sea, orarranged to be found in sensationalistic fashion.Beneath these true members of the Patriots, a widening circle of non-nobles who think ofthemselves as "Patriots of Liffe" are used as cheap muscle by the group's inner circle. Mostare simple brutes and racists, who use their "patriotic mission" as an excuse to lash out atforeigners and "culture traitors".Member alignments: LE, N, NETypical members: Rogues, warriors, bards, aristocrats, experts, commoners (many multiclassed)Symbol: Crossed swords superimposed over the flag of LiffeBaron Stelvin Hawke (NE male human Ari6 /Brd8), a 58-year-old widower with manychildren from former unions, legitimate and otherwise, is one of the most influential nobles onLiffe. He is a talented poet and charismatic orator, and owns a vast estate south of Moondalealong the road to Claveria. Although he is a selfish man and a demanding landlord, he iseager to maintain an upright image among the wider populace (if only for vanity's sake).Privately, the baron takes every opportunity to profit by trade with the mainland, and cursesfate for granting him lands on the island's north end, far from the deep harbours of Armeikos.38

Dread Possibility: The Land RemembersLiffeLiffe is built from a dozen different lands, each from a fantastic world. The commonfolk barely remember their former glory, recalling the past only through exaggerated anddistorted stories. However, the land itself remembers what it once was, and what it onceheld within its boundaries.The effects of this "land memory" are varied and almost random, with the mostcommon being increases in an area's Magic Rating. Spells suddenly come easier, andmight be spontaneously modified by metamagic feats, with no increase of level orcasting time.Monsters may spring from the soil to ravage an area, before they are slain or disappearinto the Mists. Strange artifacts of power or history are unearthed in a farmer's fields orin the back of a merchant's store. Forgotten tombs are unearthed and ancient ruins foundin overlooked places. Witnesses to these occurrences are often dismissed as mad ordrunkards, and few believe the wild tales.A recent example is the Lord's Barrow, the tomb of a long-forgotten king, which wasunearthed in the hills northeast of Aferdale. This extensive crypt contained the preservedremains of an ancient king so old, even his legends have been forgotten. Another is thelegendary Dragon of Risibilos: a notorious serpent that prowls the lands around a smalllake. Those who have survived its attacks have never been coherent enough to provide aclear description, but it is known to be a reptile of some kind.Things become more coherent after this event - whatever it was - as more villageswere discovered when the Mists slowly retreated. Not every village was revealed atonce; the island did not emerge as a single whole. It took some years before Liffe couldbe fully mapped. Local historians place this date as a full decade prior to the NocturnalSea's own emergence. While the exact date cannot be pinpointed with certainty, I wouldestimate it to be sometime in 740 or 741.Once the island was whole, it was not long before sailors took to the Mist-shroudedwaters and returned with tales of other lands. Explorers, through chance or skill,stumbled upon now-familiar places such as Graben Island and Vechor … or even landssuch as "Moridana", whose names were unfamiliar even to me. Through regular contact- or as regular as the Mists would allow - rough trade with such distant realms began,and the University of Liffe set out to attract students from foreign lands.Such tentative contact became a flood, when the Core itself was revealed and the Mistspartially lifted over the Nocturanl Sea. No longer did the vagaries of Mist-travel limitthe island's commerce. This has caused a slow-building upheaval, most evident in therising middle class and in tensions between them and the nobles. The united barons aresquabbling more than ever, and the common folk are being pulled in multiple directionsdividing whole families and towns.Liffe is on the verge of a dramatic change, and one I hope I am far away from. It is asif the entire island is bracing for an upheaval - an inevitable transformation and rebirth -but is unsure when it will occur or what the outcome might be.39

HistoryLiffeWhat little history Liffe has experienced hasbeen forgotten. Unlike other lands where thepast has been lost to time or magicallyobfuscated, the folk of Liffe simply chose toignore the truth in favour of fairy tales andfantasies. As mundane as the reality may be,it would be vastly superiors to the hogwashof giants, dragons, trolls and ogres that spillsfrom the mouths of Liffen. It was frustratingteased fragmentary remains of the past fromthe fog of legend, and my efforts did little tocreate a cohesive narrative. Accounts fromeach region or village contradict every otherfragment!From what I can gather, as recently asthirty years ago, the land was a far morefantastic place. It's commonly believed that"in my grandfather's day" monsters lurked inthe hills and stole babies, while bravewarriors in shining armor rode white steedson quests for valour and glory. There was nota single consistent time when the Mists werefirst mentioned, or even an agreeabledescription of their onset. Some speak of agreat gale that crashed across the sea,washing away whole villages, and leavingbehind an eerie, perpetual fog. Others claimthe Mists rose up silently in the night,stealing away the neighboring (andnameless) towns.GovernmentLiffe is ruled by a dozen local barons,whose lands vary in size from a single townto several small hamlets and the connectingcountryside. Fully half of these baronies areforgettable, populated entirely by farmersand ruled by a former herdsman or retiredfisherman. Six of the barons are moreinfluential, governing key towns and ports,or controlling larger stretches of arable landand thus, the food supply.Liffe's nobles used to be feuding families,forever quarrelling over land and resources,or forming alliances of convenience throughtrade and marriage. According to the local"histories", the baronies had been kingdomsthen: realms of significantly larger size, and40with massive armies. When Liffe was fullyrevealed, these several rulers stood poised toresume conflict with their half-rememberedneighbours, but instead chose to unite as asingle nation. I could not find records of thisunification movement's leader, or even itsrecorded impetus, beyond mutual isolation inthe Mists. Quite simply put, it appears as ifthe barons just woke up one day and chose torule one land instead of many.The barons rule from Claveria, where theyestablished the Senate. Like many decisions,it was a compromise; indeed, Claveria waschosen because it was the least-offensiveproposed location. Each baron usually sendsa representative to speak for his barony andrepresent its interests. A few barons chooseto go themselves, either being unable to finda suitable representative, or simply lookingfor an excuse to be away from home.Occasionally all the barons meet in person,but normally only those closest to Claveriawill attend. Baron Evensong makes regularvisits to speak with the Senate, and often hasprivate meetings with the representatives.I met a number of the more notable baronsduring my trip. Skott Troil of Armeikos wasthe first, a naïve youth who recently took theposition after his father's untimely death.(Baron Evensong has taken the liberty of'educating' Troil in the ways of politics, anact of patronage several other barons findsuspect.) I also met briefly with TraillErlendsson of Aferdale, an elderly man whonow spends ten months of the year inArmeikos, and Stelvin Hawke from the ruralbarony between Moondale and Claveria.Hawke struck me as an impassioned man,but I was never sure exactly what the objectof his passion was. Rognavold Kolsson ofMoondale stuck me as insufferably weary,despite being barely middle-aged, but hisyoung wife, Liae Kolsson, was a cheerfulbreath of fresh air. (Most likely, her being aDarkon expatriate instead of native Liffenhad much to do with this.) Julyan Linklaterof Risibilos seemed particularly dour andlifeless, even for his sleepy, forgotten town.And then there was Lyron Evensong ofClaveria, of whom I have already written.

ConclusionsI am not one to speculate without evidence ordraw a conclusion before careful study of thecase. As such, I have waited until now todiscuss my theory on Liffe, until after you hadperused my observations. Brethren, I believethis land is not just a single land, such asRichemulot or Mordent. But neither is it many,like Zherisia or the Shadowlands! It is a singleland composed of many. As Barovia hassubsumed fractured Gundarak, so did Liffeabsorb the dying scraps of other lands: manysuch insignificant, forgotten, or even unnoticedrealms, joined into a whole. The evidence isobvious in the religion, the ruling body, thelanguage and even the very appearance of theLiffen, to say nothing of the lack of a distinctseminal event or single appearance of theMists.I theorise that Liffe is a flotsam land, eitherwith a single dread lord or many lesser. It isdoubtful that a single powerful figure pulledtogether these lands: such a figure would haveset its mark upon them all, not left such an illmeshedcollage as this. More likely, severalweak or dying lords found their respectiveterritories suddenly enlarged and strengthenedby their mergence into one.I wonder how many of these former lords yetcontinue to exist, managing fragmentedexistences and trying to regain what they havelost; I wonder, too, about the strongest of theselords, who must hold the position of master ofthis land by default more than by strength.(Too, I marvel at how pathetic of a figuremight need the will of others to hold fast tosuch an insignificant land as Liffe.) It isevident that some of these… sub-lords arestationary, affecting only the portions of theisland nearest to them. Places such as theMoondale Wood, or plagued towns such asAferdale, are likely homes to such malignfigures, though I am unsure who or what theymight be.As I write these closing thoughts, I am backat the docks, preparing to board the BlackPelican. While I well enjoy the challenge ofcasting a line from a moving vessel, part of meis reluctant to resume my travels: no land I amscheduled to visit will have academic colleageswith whom to consult, nor even such modestcivilized trappings as Liffe has to offer.But there are isles still to see - and a formerfriend, turned traitor, yet to catch - so I mustcontinue…Liffe41Dread Possibility: RefugeeThe new wife of Rognavold Kolsson hasa fairly large secret. Her name is notLiae Tva Kolsson but Tavelia: a vampireand former member of the Kargat whofled to Liffe after Azalin's return. Shehas hidden herself in Liffe to remainclose enough to Darkon to employ hercontacts and maintain ties with thoseKargat still loyal to her. Her plan hadbeen to outlast Azalin's immediate furyuntil he distracted himself in his nextgrandiose plan and then considerreturning to Darkon. However, she hasencountered a problem.To better hide, she attached herself tothe first local baron whom she couldtolerate, Rognavold Kolsson. This gaveher a place of power and security fromwhich to direct her schemes andpossibly influence local affairs. Yetimmediately following the wedding, shefound herself acting the part of thedoting wife, whether she wished to ornot!Tavelia has become ensnared by theMists and has become a demilord ofLiffe. Cursed, she becomes thestereotypical obedient wife if in thepresence of her husband, or anyone whoknows she is the baron's spouse. Hermind fogs and the simpering words of aloving, dutiful trophy-bride spill fromher lips. Only if she is alone or withthose who do not know her coveridentitycan Tavelia conspire to usurpher unwanted husband's barony or freeherself from this trap. And she knowsthat somewhere, all too close, Azalin'sburning eye searches for his betrayer.Local barons have control over theirlands and are able to pass small decreesand levy taxes, but anything that affectsthe whole isle must be approved by theSenate. Local laws can be overturned bythe united barons if they are deemed tobe harmful to trade or the good of Liffe.This, however, is a rare occurrence andthe baronies typically mind their ownlands.

Demilords of LiffeLiffeLiffe is a composite domain: a piecemeal land made up of a half-dozen smaller domainsthat have merged together into a single island. Liffe has no one world of origin, beinginstead composed of elements from multiple worlds, nations and cultures, allretroactively mingled together. It is unknown exactly how many small islands andpockets were united as Liffe, or how many petty darklords lost their power in theprocess.Most of the domains that formed Liffe were dying lands whose darklords fell in battle:victims of pride or their own machinations. Some continue to survive as demilords,individuals blessed with power but equally cursed. Other present demilords found powerthough killing a demilord, or simply by being a strong force for darkness.Demilords have no direct influence over the land: they cannot open or close borders.However, all demilords are still bound to the domain and cannot leave it. The lairs orareas around demilords are often subject to their influence, more strongly reflecting theirpersonality or embodying their curse. These are often areas where normal natural lawsare bent or suspended, and frequently gain ill reputations. Demilords can come intocontact with each other and even slay one another, with the victor likely gaining theloser's strength and power, but also the defeated one's curse.If a single demilord were to gain enough power, that figure would become Liffe's soledarklord, and the land would subtly reshape itself around them. Whether achieving thiswould entail the deaths of all other demilords, a truly horrific evil act, or simply agradual accumulation of the majority of power is unknown. Some of the better-informeddemilords theorize that if a single darklord were to emerge, their own curses would belifted and they would be free to leave.DMs could also choose that not all demilords are sensing their links to the land, andhave some of them more or less ignorant of their status, like Drakov.Known demilords include:• Ejrik Spellbender• Baron Lyron Evensong• The Kelpie• Malisha• Nightblood• Puncheron• Tavelia42

Liffe43

Vechor

By Paul Dirac, July 29 th , 760As I write this, it’s been a few days alreadysince I have started my field investigations inVechor. But even after giving the matter longthoughts, I can’t think of a more fittingintroduction than state candidly that this landis truly the strangest place I’ve ever had thepleasure to visit. While nothing seemsthreatening at first, the first impression I hadof Vechor is of a creepy weirdness, wherethings never stay the same for long, but forno commonsensical reason. Really, there aresimply no logical reasons for these strangeand unpredictable changes. Rocks and treeschange shape or color when you are notlooking, birds appear in your room and singa military march, even my inn changed placeyesterday and I lost nearly an hour finding itlast night. Here, and as I write this I’m notsure my readers will believe me or think Ibecame drunken mad during this voyage, buteven the sky color do change frequently!While the Vechorites seem uncaring of allthis eeriness, and at first glance even joyfulpeople, which is rare in our bleak lands asyou surely agree, I know now that their calmand heedless shrugs is hiding a latent fear fortheir King’s insanity. So I was lookingforward to my meeting later this week withFather Shadowcloak of the Fraternity ofShadows, a long time resident of Vechor. Ireally wanted to ask him why he preferredthis strange land to other more sophisticatedplaces where the Fraternity is located.Know that I had taken both his traveladvices seriously. First, I said to my guidethat I was a sorcerer of minor powers, just incase I needed to cast spells in the outside. Ialso had my traveling spellbook wellconcealed in a locked trunk, and all the timeI was in Vechor, I got up very early to studyit quietly, alone. Second, I also heed hisadvice not to write in public. I’m passing assome kind of artist, and I often stop to drawpeople and things. I use this excuse tographically code my traveling notes, whichare completed when I’m back in my room. Inoticed the annoyed glances of Vechorites atthis stranger, some even angry by the way,when I draw my sketch pad from by backVechor45pack, until they notice I am in fact drawing,and not writing.As many people of my generation, when Iwas young I had read the fictious tale MyTravel in the Land of the Mad, a book thathad my imagination sparkled for Vechor.Later in life, I found out that many thingswritten about Vechor were false and wildlyexaggerated. It seems the inherentstrangeness of the land has been multipliedby a thousand fold in people’s imagination. Ihope this report will set things straight. It is astrange land, but thousands people live herewithout much problems with it.The travel from Nevuchar Spring was shortand quiet. When I debarked CaptainArberlsson’s Valiant Explorer ship inAbdok, my guide was already waiting forme. I hope my surprise glance wentunnoticed by my lovely guide, and sheignored the machistic whistles of the ship’screw that Aberlsson thankfully silencedquickly. As a gentleman, without givingaway too many details, let’s just say her longpastel blue tunic was opened in a way to letanyone have an ample view on her assets. Ilater learned with surprise all vechoritewomen dress that way (Father Shadowcloakdidn’t mention this subject in his letter).Her name is Drakaina, and she is going tohelp me as translator during my short stay.She was recommended to me by FatherShadowcloak, who often uses her service ashis agent in Abdok. And to add to her charm,she displayed sorcery powers of great skills.I haven’t asked her yet where she learned tospeak Mordentish this well.

Vechor in ShortLocation: North Eastern corner of theNocturnal SeaEcology: Full Ecology (swamp, and hillytropical forest)Environment: Very warmDarklord: King Easan the MadYear of formation: 600 BC (as an island inthe mist), disappeared and thought lost in740, but after a decade revealed in itscurrent place on the Nocturnal Sea in 750.Cultural level: Classical (4)Population: 15,900 (99% human, 1%other)Main settlements: Abdok (pop. 8,000),and the large farming area surroundingthis city (additional pop. 5,000)Religion: The Mad KingLanguage: Vechorite*Government: Ochlocratic despotism(mobocracy)Money: Wildcrown (gp), wildorb (sp),wildpenny (cp)VechorVechor’s Perpetual ChangeBefore covering the details about Vechor’stopology, I feel urged to describe the eerieland changes that happen in the land ofEasan. There have been so manyexaggerations on this topic, even in theintellectual circles of the core, so I feel it isimportant to put things straight.Yes, many things in this land changes,always unpredictably, but not everythingchanges. The general shape of the islanddoes not change, as never changes theexistence or location of the city of Abdok,and the general configuration of the land:marshes in the south, the three main rivers ofVechor, the cliffs of Vesanis in the northeast,and forest elsewhere. All the maps I’ve seen46have these landmarks unchanged, even veryold ones. Elder vechorites I spoke to (withthe help of Drakaina) have as well assuredme these geographical landmarks neverchanged place.Also, importantly, the changes mostlynever affect vechorites directly, physically ormentally. The only exception to this I couldfind was a few years ago, when all peopleaged 20 years or more couldn’t speakanymore – only nonsense gibberish exitedfrom their mouth for a day. But mostly,vechorites are not affected by the changesaffecting the land and that probably explainstheir nonchalance toward all these changes.Before I get into what does change, I feel itis interesting to point out that vechoritesclearly identify their mad King, Easan, as thegod-like agent causing these changes. Theybelieve every change is made by Easan’swill, and that it reflects his need to“improve” the life of his subjects. Shouldthese sayings be founded, I think I’m notmaking a wild guess, if you allow me thevechorite turn of phrase, when I think it isquick to identify who the land keep as aprisoner in here in Vechor, no?Drakaina also assured me that some ofthese land changes also occur near peoplestruck with insanity. But I haven’t been ableto confirm this bizarre piece of information.From my observations and discussionswith Drakaina and Father Shadowcloak, Iwas able to classify Vechor’s alterations intothree rough types of changes:Cosmetic changes: Those are very minorchanges, like sudden changes to the color ofleaves in one specific tree (or animal), or onetype of tree all over the place, hue of the sky,size of the celestial objects (sun, moon andthe stars), dust suddenly glitters, minorsudden weather change, color of buildings,bird songs, sudden sugary or spicy odors inthe wind, etc. These changes turn out quiteoften in a day.Minor changes: For example, those changesinclude the types and size of tree foliage (Ieven saw a maple tree with cactus spines onits branches!); the location of paths in theforest (moved a hundred feet from their

Vechorusual location); rock shapes; marsh waterthat suddenly becomes deeper or shallower;heat or cold wave; statues or rocks thatbleed; a rain that starts on the ground andelevate to the sky, leaving the ground dried;all sticks on the ground turn to be alignedtoward the location of Easan’s Manor; etc.These changes happen a few times per week,and are usually benign (unless you wereactually seating on the maple tree).Also, and I’m not sure if it is an effectwilled by Easan, or a reflection of theinconsistent feel of this strange place, but theisland is often experiencing minor tremors,like if it was built on jelly. These take placevery often during the day, sometimes onceevery two hours. I do not know for sure thesource of this, as nearby Liffe do notexperience this.Sudden and violent electric storms are alsocommon near the Vesanis Cliffs.Major shifts: About once or twice a month,the land is changed in a major way, and thesechanges often occur around sunset. Thesemajor changes usually affect one thing only,but multiple effects have been seen too.Drakaina and Father Shadowcloak haveseen these major alterations over the years:change in the number of suns or moons inthe sky, major architecture change in the cityof Abdok (all buildings turn to rock or wood,suddenly have a cave, very high spires, or asecond floor), location of buildings andlandmarks within the city (like my inn theother day), forest trails completely changedirection, apparition or disappearance offauna or flora, toys become animated andbegin moving away from people, a riverlooses its natural curves and become straightas a ruler, addition of new landmarks thatseems to have been there forever, trees alignthemselves into neat rows, size of insectsincrease, day becomes night, new hillssprout, large meteorites fall from the sky,radically changing weather (from sunny skyto hail in less than ten minutes, or a freakishrain of gold fish; plus any type of mists,smoke or fog suddenly appearing), or the47Mistways of VechorThe Road of the LostVechor's northernmost Misty Border ishome to a mistway called the Road of theLost. This rarely travelled route connectsVechor to a lesser known cluster ofdomains called Duskreach, includingDaglan, Estrangia, Kislova, andDonskyar. Travelers from Vechor arriveat the western border of Daglan. TheRoad of the Lost is a two-way Mistwayof Moderate reliability.The Somnambulist's PathThe southernmost Vechor's misty borderforms an unusual mistway, one rarelyused and highly obscure. ConnectingVechor to the Forest of Everchange in theNightmare Lands, this Mistway onlyworks for those who are asleep whilecrossing into the Mists. Thus, spells suchas Sleep, Deep Slumber, Somnambulismand Directed Somnambulism can be veryuseful in entering this Mistway. Groupsof mixed sleepers and waking creaturesare swiftly separated - sleepers hauled incarts vanish when not watched, andsleepers carried by waking companionsgrow increasingly insubstantial beforefading entirely into the Mists andreappearing somewhere in the Forest ofEverchange. For sleepers, themajor reshaping of fauna (like those parrotsthat became carrion eaters), etc.While the land is organized more or lessthe same way, I’ve been told the shore linehave often moved thousands of feet towardthe sea or toward the land. A lone hunterliving near the Fratellu river told me themarches often grow at the expanse of theforest, and then the forest “grow” back aftera month or two.One of the most dramatic effect of thisphenomenon occurred six years ago: thedead rose from the cemeteries, to get back totheir families and resume their “life” for aweek before they went back to their grave.That the dead came back to their loved onesled to many ghastly scenes, locals recall.

VechorVechorite often mention when the trails toa northern logging village vanished, forcingrangers to bring the workers back to Abdok.This event happened more than once.Other types of temporary changes affectspells, like doubling the area of effects of allspells, or just those fire-based, making allspells effects include bird or carnival noises,or include pink colored clouds, etc.As you can see, the range of possiblechanges seems to be endless, like thelegendary unbounded imagination ofEasan’s! I think there is probably a reasonfor each of these changes, but it is locateddeep in Easan’s barmy brain, so it probablydefies mortal attempts to understand any ofit…Some places have strange characteristics,where things never change or always occurthe same way. In an Abdok’s inn, nobodyplay dices there because rolled dices alwayscome up four! I’ve seen this phenomenon,rolling a bone dice on the table twenty times,and the number four always came up, whilethe patrons smirked at my astonishment.Patrons of this inn play cards instead.Drakaina showed me a place near Abdokwhere it is always rainy. This thirty yardcircle always has rain falling from the sky,even when there are no clouds in the sky.Another good example of this phenomenonis the location of Father Shadowcloak’smanor. Don’t worry, dear Father, I’m notgoing to reveal here the location of yourmanor. But its characteristics are veryinteresting and worth mentioning here: it isalways autumn in these acres of land aroundyour manor. Leaves always seem to fall onthe ground and remain there, permanently.Geographical SurveyClimateSimilar to the Fraternity home in Souragne,Vechor’s climate is always hot and veryhumid, especially in the marshes and theforest. Even at night it stays warm andhumid.Abdok is blessed by winds from the Cliffsof Vesanis that makes it more liveable.Elsewhere, simply walking will make yousweat and a good advice is to regularly drinkwater. When it is sunny, one should alsocover his head from the sunrays.The wet season (usually April to June, butthat period sometimes change as well withthe rest) is extremely rainy. During thisperiod, it is always raining, and often it ispouring. There isn’t even a short breakduring the day, and the rivers sometimesbecome dangerous torrents. Most road travelis slowed by the muddy terrain and commonlandslides.During the rest of the year, the winds oftenswiftly carry storm clouds in the area, andsometimes, even deadly cyclones appearwithin minutes. Those storms are oftenviolent and chaotic, changing from heavy48

WeatherFor Vechor’s erratic weather, checkevery 1d12 hours on the “temperateclimate” of table 3-23 (DMG p. 94),adding +10% to your % roll beforechecking the table (101 % or more aretreated as a “100 %” result). If the resultis “precipitation”, again add 10% to yourroll when checking the precipitationresult.A character in Vechor needs to drinktwo gallons of water (or other thirstquencher fluid) per day, or suffer fromthirst and become fatigued (see DMG p.304). Also, the heat can become a majorproblem for heroes (see DMG p. 303, for“very hot conditions”).rain to sunny periods, to rain again, or hailand even thick snow! This melts quicklyafter the storm, of course.A climatic exception is of course FatherShadowcloak’s Manor, where autumnalways reign!WildernessThe island of Vechor is roughly divided inthree main regions: very hot swamp lands inthe south west, then a large tropical forest inthe north, where the city of Abdok is located,and then the enigmatic cliffs of Vesanis andthe forbidden plateau beyond it in the northeast.When traveling by boat, the traveler willnotice a sharp raise of the temperature on thecold Nocturnal Sea when arriving in Vechor.The traveler will then see the lush marshesfrom the distance. It will not be very longbefore he notices coastal birds huntingcolorful fishes, and then the wind will bringexotic spices scent in the air, as well as theusual nasty swarms of hungry swampmosquitoes.The morass of Vechor and the rivers areoften covered with lazy fogs tendrils, driftingslowly among the short mangroves multipleVechor49roots and tall grasses. Away from the coast,the water is brackish. Although it lookssomewhat firm, the soil of this wetland isswampy at best, and usually cannot hold aman’s weight except in a few places.Vechorites travel this area with thinrowboats.Many nasty creatures are said to dwell inthis sunken part of land, as well as strangeand exotic ones. The mosquitoes areextremely large and agile, making themdifficult to swap. Thin herbivores with eeriecolours, large water rats with long ears, andtremendously large butterflies with slit eyeslike that of a snake came to look at our boatas we entered the Nostru river estuary.In the water, I’ve seen large colorful fishes,Viktor, that you would have seen as manychallenges. But I’ll get more on fauna later.The odor in this area isn’t exactly pleasant,as things in decomposition processesproduce stinking marsh gas, which can beseen at night as flickering lights (For themoment I do not have any proof that thereare actual unpleasantly deadly Will-o'-thewispsin this area).Few vechorites live in this inhospitablearea, but Drakaina told me of a few reclusevechorite that were banned from Abdok andnow live in this unpleasant marsh fromfishing and hunting. She said one of theserecluse can be hired as a guide through themarshes. His name is Stamatios.The Nostru river takes its source beyondthe Cliffs of Vesanis and drop the cliffs in amagnificent fall. It then drifts lazily towardthe Nocturnal Sea, except during the rainseason where it often becomes a torrent. Thismuddy river is very large, often nearly twohundred feet. In the swamp, its banks arecovered by mangroves.The buzzing noise of vampire insects isreally unpleasant and creepy. I’m glad Ibrought the nets we wear in Souragne. Buttwice one of these nasty mosquitoes was ableto pass its dart through my nets. The bruiseof these “bites” quickly got reddish and Ifeared for swamp disease before theyeventually disappeared. When I look at theother sailors, whose skin is filled with insectbruises, I recommend those nets.

VechorThe Nostru river is also the source of twosmaller rivers that also join the sea throughthe marshes: the Fratellu and the Grupulrivers. I haven’t visited these in person, butDrakaina tells me they are much narrowerthan the Nostru, and even more infested withthese blood sucking insects. Since sheassured me nothing important was to be seenthere, I refrained from exploring these insectplagued areas. All three form a kind of deltain the marshes that frequently overflow overthe swampy ground during the wet season.Since the usual landmarks (or the sun) canshift places or disappear altogether, I’d saywhen going in marsh, take all precautions incase you get lost. Bring a lot of water skins –there are very few trustable sources of freshwater in the marshes. When in doubt, make itboil like we do in Souragne.Also, don’t think you’ll get a sense ofdirection from lodestones! CaptainAberlsson showed me his boating lodestonewhen we arrived in Vechor: it turned onitself wildly, not pinpointing the north.Sometimes, it stopped and then startedturning in the other direction. Completelyuseless here!This Vechorite marsh is an extremelyinteresting place, from a flora and faunapoint of view. They pulse with the cycle oflife and death. But I fear it may hidecreatures not as nice and cute as thosebutterflies.The rest of Vechor Island is occupied bytropical forests. These verdant places arefilled with streams and water sources. A lotof fruits and easy game can be found inthem, so vechorites about never facestarvation or thirst. The forested area is hilly,50like if it was a large green curtain droppedunceremoniously on the floor.Like the marshes, the forest are home todangerous wild animals (tigers, anyone?) aswell as strange native species never seenelsewhere, even in the jungles of Sri Raji orthe Wildlands.In the forest, I’ve seen many pits or cracksin the ground with steam surging, deepinside the jungle, and even some pits hadtraces of lava overflowing. This could be theanswer to the shaky ground problem ofVechor. One night, we made our camp nearone of these pit, but other that the occasionalsteam whistle, I didn’t see anything out ofthe ordinary.Speaking of the camp, my guide surprisedme that night by setting only one tent for theboth of us. To clear any misconceptionrelated to my dandy reputation, this isn’tsomething I suggested. I’ll write more abouttheir attitude toward life and relationshipslater in this report. But the closeness weshared until the end of my stay in Abdok wassolely used to go further into their interestingcustoms, to make sure I didn’t forgetanything crucial for this report.The last day in the forest, we found a largestatue of a head covered with deep green ivy.Its size was huge, nearly thirty feet high! Wehacked the ivy to see better, and from what Icould guess, it’s a very ancient bust of ademonic ape-like creature. I asked Drakainawhat it was, or who in Vechor’s historycould have erected it, but she didn’t know ofany ancient monument building tribe orcivilisation. She told me the forest had manyof these strange ruins, and that some of themsimply vanishes after a time.Another well known land mark is theDreamstone crater, located a few miles southwest of Abdok. I understand a large meteorite

Vechorfell there long ago. This is a place of ill reputebecause locals believe anybody going therewill get deadly sickness and die horriblywithin hours. Drakaina didn’t want to lead methere so I can just report this few about theplace. But this place is quite intriguing.SettlementsThere are many small settlements deep in theforest. Most are workers extracting exoticwood that will fetch a high price in the coremarkets, or colorful pelt hunters. I’ve beentold these forest villages are often roughplaces, where the strong bullies the weak.51Drakaina also told me about a wholevillage of Abdok expatriates, that fled theurban life of Abdok for reasons they keep forthemselves. She said not all villagers thereare Vechor native. A quick investigationshown no sign of Van Rijn in this namelessforlorn village.Note that there are very few humansettlements near the Cliffs of Vesanis,especially near the Nostru River and Easan’sManor. But I’ll get to this area later in thereport.When I felt I had enough information onthe wilderness of Vechor, we came back tostudy the city of Abdok. After a few days in

Vechorthe wild, nothing important had changed inthis great city, now to my milddisappointment I should say.Abdok (city)The crumbling city of Abdok is surroundedby very ancient masonry walls, thick andhigh as about twice a man’s height. But theiroriginal purpose is mysterious, as noinvasion (or threat of) is remembered byanybody.For the record, twelve years ago, thesefortification walls around Abdok turned torosy flesh for a few days, transforming backto solid stone when they started to stink ofdecay!52Because of the perpetual changes affectingthe city as well, it is nearly impossible tomap the city. A few large streets, withstrange monuments in the middle of it, andthe rest is a maze of crumbling buildings ofall colors, one or two floors, narrow alleysfilled with people, and the odor of sweat,domestic animal urine, and refuse (no sewersystem here! It is generally believed bad luckto dig the ground in Vechor). The refuse areswept away in the Nostru once a week.In some places, the stone or bronzemonuments seem to have sprouted from theground and sometimes they are embeddedinto a house. They represent mostly trees,but also weird animal forms. There is oftensomething strange in their features, like a

tree with human features, cyclops, a fiendishmonkey head way too large, or a dog withsix legs.Given vechorites’ usual nonchalance, andadded to the fact you can come back one dayto see your house replaced by a park, ormoved to another place if you’re lucky, it iseasy to understand why the buildings are notwell maintained. Oddly, they never seem tocrumble completely. To recognize its house,and invite friends, Vechorite draw somethingon the stone front using coloured chalk.Sometimes, the chalk drawing is large andelaborate, especially if the building alsohouses a shop. Inside, the houses themselvesare kept clean.Easan’s palace is located on a hill and itsnumerous high spires overhang anything elsein the city. Surrounded by high brick walls,this massive single-building of grey marbleproperty look deserted. The palace and thegardens around it appear well maintained,even if nobody is ever seen inside the estatewalls. In fact, nobody is ever hired for anymaintenance task inside. The palace is theofficial seat of Easan’s power in Abdok, butthe mad King himself is never seen there. Nolight at night at its windows, or any sign ofpresence at all. Vechorites assume Easan isliving in his Manor on the cliffs of Vesanisinstead, and spends all of his regal timethere. However, vechorites often look at thepalace with question marks in their eyes, asif asking “what next?”Abdok (Small City): Nonstandard; ALCG; CL 4; 600 gp limit; Assets 3 600000 gp; Population 8,000 in the cityitself, plus 5,000 in the farming landsurrounding it; Humans 100%.Authority Figures: None.Important figures: Drakaina, femalehuman Sor6 CN(G); Leonidas, malehuman (tavernowner and informationtrader) Com4/Rog2 LN; RodrigoStoyista, male human (Borca, politicalactivist in exil) Cle5/Ari3 LE; Gavrild’Abdok male human Ran7 (CG),Zampano, male human Bard8 LN(G)Vechor53Drakaina once whispered that Vechoritesoften imagine Easan in his Manor on top ofthe cliffs, alone and cackling madly over agruesome experiment, or nurturing the samemad thoughts all over again. When I askedher to tell me more, she shrugged andchanged subject.There are many luxurious parks insideVechor, and vechorites seem to lovespending time there at all time of day –sleeping, bathing, playing with theirchildren, listen to bards or practicing theirbowmanship. Large fields of grass aresprinkled here and there with orchard treestrimmed often into the shape of animals, aswell as other strange bronze monuments.Also, military drills are usually occurringin these green fields, especially near the firstMonday of the month, the vechorite MilitiaDay. Their skill at the bow is trulyremarkable. I’ve seen a man of strawtransformed into a porcupine of arrows inseconds, while the persons holding the bowswere all adolescents!These parks often have smallamphitheatres made of bricks, wherevechorites meet to enjoy plays, or bardmusic; and also for public discussions. I cantestify these unconventional bards are verytalented. Their music is often sad, but it isalways inventive and different from

VechorKartakans’ – for example, they often usestaccato effects, or use their guitars normallywhile using it like percussions at the sametime for the beat or a punch. One of thesebards is very well known, Zampano. Hisexcellent viola was crafted by Turgorov.Some say he could even charm the water torise out of the sea.Abdok’s important port is located in awider portion of the Nostru river. When wearrived, I counted the flags of sixteen foreignmerchant boats plus at least double thisamount of local ships, a scene which wouldmake most ports on the core seem quiet.These were mostly cargo getting filled withVechor’s exotic goods – wood, spice, coffee,etc. From their flags, I could notice theycome from all the main trading ports of thecore and the islands of the Nocturnal Sea.Each dock belongs to a different company,and are often specialized in handling onetype of goods.Large warehouses can be seen along theport, busy the activity of filling these, ormoving goods to a ship. These buildings aregenerally well maintained and guarded.There are many eateries in Vechor, oftenbrewing their own ale or berry wine. Thefood is simple but fresh and healthy. Thebest known of these is a large tavern by thecity walls, named The Stuttering Flesh (itopened when the dead came back for aweek). Opened day and night, its “StuddedTranscolor” beer is a once in a lifetimeexperience. Other well known inns near theshop district include the Mushroom stuffedBalrogi (poor quality meals but well keptrooms), the Wise Spider Alehouse (located inan ancient large warehouse; poor qualitymeals, but entertainment is always good, noroom), the Funny Princess as well as theToothless Ape (good quality meal androoms), the Emperor and the Green Unicorn(excellent in all aspects, expansive). Giventhe large size of the town, these are just ahandful over a very large number of inns,alehouses and taverns.Many shops are located near the port, andtraders of all kind can be found in this busydistrict: antique, wood carvings, cosmetics,clothing, jewelers, illuminators, bow makers54Spellbook huntersAn order of Occult Slayers CWa watchesfor wizards and tries to destroy themwhen they can, or at least theirspellbooks. While many of them aresorcerers, they firmly believe that magiclearned from an arcane book is surelyevil and dangerous, thus their moralobligation to destroy those“irresponsible” arcane casters beforethey wreak havoc. They believethemselves the striking arm of Easan’sedict against spell casters.They keep an eye on foreignersdisembarking in Abdok, and oftenassassinate their victims with poisonedkukri. Sometimes, priests of foreign fatethat are too eager to convert vechoriteare also slain.This extremely secret society is led bythe charismatic Hypatia (CG femalehuman, Ftr5/Sor1/OccSla2).and toy makers are the most common, afterthe numerous food kiosks in the street. Thereare very few furniture makers.By the way, to contradict what foreignersthink of the loose vechorites morals, thereare absolutely no brothels in Abdok. Manyinns and taverns near the port, all livelyplaces, but no places where lust is somethingyou can get by paying for, no matter theamount of wildcrowns given. Those thingsare meant to be freely shared; Drakainasimply said when I asked her about it..Also, nowhere in the streets I’ve seentemple or any religious building whatsoever.This people seem to have a very discreetfaith, if any at all? I will ask Shadowcloak onthe matter later. There are no libraries aswell, but that was to be expectedVery large farmlands dot the countrysidearound Abdok, to feed the city and for exportas well. They are usually specialized into onetype of crop (coffee, exotic fruit, rice, etc.).To my surprise, I’ve found these largefarms are not owned by anybody, like we cansee in Souragne. Can you believe nobody is aland owner here! I was expecting successful

planters living in large mansions in thisfertile land, but no. The farms are organizedinto cooperative organizations, where profitsare shared with those who work at the farm. Ibelieve this business model is also used inmany places in the city too, at the port inparticular. Between themselves, they elect aleader for a period of three months, for dayto day administration, but importantdecisions are always made by vote.Interesting concept, I thought, that wouldspell revolution in Paridon!Places of interestCliffs of VesanisThe northwestern side of Vechor is limitedby the infamous cliffs of Vesanis. Thisstrange rock formation is nearly vertical, andrepresents an impassable wall. They areextremely high, more than three thousandfeet, making them a landmark seen evenfrom Abdok. I’ve been told they are nearlyimpossible to climb, even with properclimbing attire, as the surface is friable.Indeed, large chunks fallen from the cliffscan be seen at the bottom.Vechorite would not dare try climbing it,and one of the reasons is the near certainty ofdying while trying.Vechorite assume that a narrow plateau isfound on its top. Easan’s manor on thisplateau, near the edge, can be seen from theforest. Little else than the location of Easan’sManor is known about this forbidding place.Vechor55Vechorite say that those that somehowclimbed the cliffs, or flown to get there,never came back to tell what they saw. SinceFather Shadowcloak said he would assist mein this part of the report, I didn’t insist onrisking my life.The source of the Nostru river issomewhere on this plateau. It falls the clifffaçade gracefully, in a myriad of rainbowcolors when reflected by the sun.Few vechorites come near the cliffs, as thewhole area has a very bad reputation. First, itis located near Easan’s Manor and Easan’ssubjects seem to prefer staying away fromtheir King. Then it is also said mazes ofcaverns do reach the plateau, after days ofunderground travel, but one easily canbecome lost and starve, or worst becomeprey of unthinkable angry monsters: thebarmy results of King Easan’s experiments.Sometimes, these fiendish monsters exitthe cave and roam in the forest. Onepersistent rumor concerns a man of steelliving in a cave near the Nostru fall. A rangerin the closest logging camp to the fall said heonce saw this extremely dangerous killingmachine, which was destroying all thatcrossed its path… I guess it’s the first ofKing Easan’s dangerous guardians?The Plateau of VesanisThe following section was gratiously writtenby Father Shadowcloak:The climate of the plateau at the top of the Cliffsof Vesanis is quite different from that of lowerelevations and more nearly approximates thetemperate climate of the lands across the sea; thesummer is mild, the winter rainy and cool, and thetemperature change between summer and winter issufficient to cause deciduous trees to shed theirleaves in fall. The terrain is, even by the standards ofthe Changing Land, highly mutable, but also morerichly endowed with those static spots in which oneelement of the landscape is held constant. Thenorthernmost part of the plateau is dominated bythe Wandering Stones, stones varying in size fromrocks small enough to be held in the hand toboulders the size of ships, which move in ellipticalorbits, up to several miles along their majorelliptical axis, around a central spire of stone severalhundred feet in height. All of my attempts to scryon this spire have failed entirely, and I have not yethad time or inclination for further exploration ofthe territory. This terrain is almost devoid of plantlife, for the simple reason it would be mowed down

Vechorby the motion of the stones; however, some of thelarger rocks are sufficiently large to have acquired apatina of vegetation. Only the most desperate anddangerous of creatures enter here.The extreme southern end of the plateau isreferred to as the Vale of Stars by the Erl-King. Herefuses to go there, for reasons he would notexplain. Here the line between animal, vegetableand mineral appears to have been almost entirelyeffaced; « trees » of crystal, « birds » of water,stones which grow in a day and wilt away tonothing can all be found here. The place takes itsname from the unusual configuration andbrilliance of the night stars, unlike that seenanywhere else in the Core. These stars have beenknown to leave their spheres and travel through thevale in human form, or the form of great whitebeetles, or the form of soft green stones.The central plateau boasts of no such dramaticmanifestations of the overthrow of the naturalorder of things; the Erl-King’s home abuts theNostru Falls (sometimes being found at the base ofthe cliff, sometimes at the top), while my ownabode lies some miles to the north and east. Herethe plateau rises and falls gently; the vegetation is56limited to tall grasses and low shrubs, withoccasional trees rising near watering-holes,running some ten miles eastward until all is lost inthe Mists. The Nostru River itself flows directlyfrom the Mists, entering the Changing Land at apoint a few miles south of my abode and a fewmiles east of the Erl-King’s manor. The viciousbeasts so notable in the jungles at the cliff’s footare less in evidence here, although such as doappear are deadly. There are, for example, a varietyof serpents, green, black, brown and gold, all ofwhich are common and all of which are deadly inthe extreme, and burrowing creatures such as theaurumvorax, ankheg and bulette, which are highlyterritorial and quite capable of killing all but thebest-equipped and most experienced of travelers.Unless one comes invited by the Erl-King or bymyself virtually the only two inhabitants of thisterritory’one is likely to experience considerabledifficulty merely to stay alive.I am a fairly regular visitor to the Erl-King’shome, which lies at the foot of the Cliffs of Vesanisnear the river, and suppose myself more qualifiedthan any other to describe its situation andappointments; since I consider it inadvisable forBrother Dirac to visit the manor, I will write a fewlines on it myself. The central structure issurrounded by a rather ill-kept series of hedgemazes occupied by any number of perilous byproductsof the King’s experimentation, thegrounds covering something like half a squaremile. The manor itself sprawls over an acre or twoand is a curiously florid structure, made of shellpinkand bone-white stone; the stones show noevidence of having been touched by hammer andchisel, and I must suppose its master caused it togrow from the underlying stone (a feat which he iswell able to accomplish, as even a brief stay in hisdominion will reveal). True to its origins, it is acuriously organic structure, resembling a garden ofsea-shells and corals more than a building of theordinary kind. To my mind it is literally overwrought,with complication for the sake ofcomplication evident throughout theconstruction; but it cannot be denied that it holdsa great deal of geometric and topographic interest,and at certain times and places achievesarchitectural effects of delicate beauty ordegenerate madness which a more static buildingcould never produce. Its layout and even itscomposition are not constant; at times Easandesires that it be an edifice of living wood, bone,rotting flesh, wicker, or some other material, andso it becomes. The transformations, when theyoccur, take place over a time-span of dozens ofminutes or hours.I do not advise uninvited visits to the manor; thehouse is designed, in part, to draw unwantedvisitors into rooms or corridors where they can beincapacitated and incarcerated for later study. Eveninvited guests must be careful; in many places thehouse moves, transporting the visitor along ahallway even as he stands still or moving to replaceone room behind a given door with another.

It is not common for living, human orhumanoid servants to be at home, althoughservants of other kinds are very much in evidence.The Mad King has a mechanical bent of mind, andmany of his servitors are constructed of metal orother durable materials; others are biological orbiomechanical creations. Let it not be thought,however, that Easan works only in gross matter atthe expense of higher studies; his principleoccupation is in determining the nature ofintelligence and of the soul, and I have had anumber of interesting and instructiveconversations with him on this and other arcanetopics.These experiments and their results can be foundthroughout the manor, housed in individualapartments or wandering the halls, depending ontheir nature. They have relatively little to unifythem thematically, although in gross outline theyreflect their creator’s interest in the nature of themind and the soul. (He also evinces an unusual andThe House of Fallen LeavesVechormarked interest in demonic possession, and showssome interest in the creation and elaboration ofnon-arcane avenues toward analyzing hisinterests.) To mention only a few curiosities, I haveobserved the following on past visits:1. In one chamber sat a man whose brain has beenremoved and replaced with a complex calculatingengine that filled most of the room; his counterpartwas a brain housed in a boxy shell that rollsabout the manor on uneven wheels. Four thinmetal arms projected from the top of the box,allowing the subject to manipulate objects. Thiswas described to me as attempt to determinewhether the soul resides within the body or thebrain.2. The soul of a young girl had been placed in amechanical body built to resemble an angel witha porcelain face and wings made of blades. NoTarnos Shadowcloak’s manor is built on one of the largest static spots in Vechor, coveringabout three acres; its peculiarity is to be fixed in late autumn. The sky is always overcast,the trees always bare; occasionally the overcast intensifies slightly and there is rain, butapart from this there is never any change in the season or the weather.The House is surrounded by a stone wall some eight to ten feet in height and topped inbroken glass; there is no apparent gate. (One five-foot section of the wall is a permanentillusion.) The wall is merely symbolic of a desire not to receive visitors; it is not intendedas a serious deterrent to a determined trespasser.The grounds have a number of trees (all bare, of course) and their fallen leaves (whichnever grow any fewer, despite never being replenished by spring growth) congregate anddisperse at random across the grounds. There is no grass; the grounds are covered inthumb-sized gray-white stones to a depth of two or three inches. Between the overcast andthe gray stone of the grounds and house, the House and everything on the grounds seem tocast no shadow. The House has no windows; the Shadowcloak needs no light to see, anddoes not receive visitors who cannot provide their own illumination by magical means ifthey want it.The House itself is a sprawling single-story building of five wings radiating from acentral point, built to accommodate the contours of the hillside on which it is set. Most ofthe House is given over to laboratory space, although what experiment is being conductedis not always clear.There are two doors in the House of particular note; one leads into the Umbral Curtain(the space bordering Ravenloft proper and the Plane of Shadow). The Shadowcloak oftenleaves this door ajar, and creatures from the Plane of Shadow often enter the House andwander about for a time before leaving again.The other leads into the Nightmare Lands, opening into the basement of a tower in theCity of Nod. This Mistway, called the Sleep of Reason, is a two-way mistway of Excellentreliability. The Shadowcloak did not intend to have such a passageway in his home, and hegenerally keeps this door closed.57

Vechorexplanation was given for this bizarre conceit;due to some defect in lubrication tears of clearliquid ran continually from the construct’s eyes.3. A large glass tube full of vapor connected to anarray of wires and tubes. Within, an incorporealspirit was subjected to various stimuli such aselectricity, holy water, fire, acid, and other necromanticand arcane stimuli. (The Mad King hasoffered to convey his findings to me at a laterdate, which we may hope will be useful in ourpresent tactical situation.) A ring of metal columns,about four feet tall. On top of each columnsat a severed head, all of them identical. Aswe entered the room, the heads opened theireyes and began to pleading, begging, cajoling, orthreatening us; this was described to me as anattempt to split a single soul into multiple facets,each with one dominant emotional attitude.4. A huge organ-like growth filled much ofanother chamber, clinging at points to the wallsand ceiling. It was obviously alive, somewhatresembling the stomach of a mammal asobserved through a fistula. The Mad King toldme that he can introduce several living thingsinto this organ's orifices, after which they arebroken down and recombined into a singlecomposite creature, which is then extruded.5. The Mad King was particularly proud of thedevice situated in a central courtyard, to visualappearance a mere hollow toroid of metalroughly twenty feet in diameter and displayingconsiderable arcane and ethereal resonance. TheErl-King calls this device a soul splitter, and usesit to rupture captured souls into componentpieces or to meld two souls together. Interestingly,the device has become vaguely aware dueto the spiritual residue left from the intenseenergies created by this destruction or alterationof souls. We speculate that it may soon achievefull sentience. Souls for this endeavor areobtained by use of the soul-stripper, a magicaldevice capable of capturing one soul from a personsomewhere within the Land of Mists. (Verifyingthe provenance of any given soul isextremely difficult, of course; it is at least theoreticallypossible that they are drawn from otherplaces entirely.) What happens to the body insuch a case is not clear, but the most probableresult is coma and death.These devices are largely powered by lightning;lightning rods stand on all the manor’s varioustowers, and the inflow of electrical energy duringstorms is directed into arcane capacitors for storageand gradual release. (Given the Mad King’s controlof all meteorological phenomena in his land, hecan renew this resource at will.)This list, admittedly cursory, is intended to givethe reader some idea of the depth and scope of theMad King’s arcane pursuits. Of course, not all ofthese projects are useful or even interesting, but58

cultivation of our collaboration has certainlyproved fruitful heretofore, and I will certainlycontinue it.Flora and FaunaHow to describe the character of Vechor’sindigenous species? Perhaps an anecdotewill do.I am sure all our Brothers are familiar withvon Scheiller’s philosophic treatises on thevirtues of rational thought, and his soundcondemnations of base superstition. Whocan forget the egregious examples offallacious thinking he relates, thatunschooled minds’ fancies have dreamt up intheir ignorance: the vegetable lamb, theArden Bay serpent, the barnacle goose? Justthink of the last of these, Brothers: archaicbestiaries’ accounts of long-stemmedbarnacles, found on tide-swept rocks alongMordent’s coast, that allegedly sprout wingsand take flight in the form of geese eachseason! A laughable story concocted byuneducated yokels, based upon a superficialresemblance between waterfowls’ headmarkingsand these crustaceans’ shell-platedsurface.On Vechor’s shoreline, I have heard suchbarnacles honking, as they test their newformedlungs’ strength in preparation forflight.Such biological anomalies – bizarre twistson Nature’s plan, that seem more fable thanflesh – are scarce in Abdok itself, and in thefarmlands and forests immediatelysurrounding the city. Once I venturedbeyond that bastion of order (or what passesfor it among Vechorites), the native animaland plant life became ever-more-outlandish:distorted and disturbing, to a degree thatstretched not only the bounds of credibility,but those of the imagination, as well.Distinctions between predator and prey,flesh and foliage, organic and artificial soonbroke down, spawning fantastical andaberrant forms that made Markovia’sinfamous “broken ones” seem mundane asmilk cows!To the limited degree that Vechor has afixed natural history, its wildlife and floramost resemble those of the exotic kingdomVechor59of Sri Raji: lush tropical forests and marshes,teeming with skittering insects, venomousfrogs and snakes, shrieking monkeys andprowling felines. Inland, dipterocarp treesand durians tower over a dense carpet ofdecomposing leaves, feathery mosses, andsquat, stiff-fronded cycads. Lianas and vinesdrape the boughs of lofty figs and kapoks;strangler-figs wind parasitically round thetrunks of trees, and epiphytic orchids’ andferns’ tendrils hang down from on high. Inthe marshes, mangroves choke the waterline,overshadowed by the tremendous, gnarledbulks of tualangs up to ninety yards inheight.Silver-pelted gibbons and variegatedmonkeys feed in the canopy, as stocky tapirsand wild swine root for fungi and tubersbetween the buttresses and stilt-roots ofovershadowing forest giants. Brilliantplumedparrots and raucous hornbills carpetthe vine-draped boughs from dawn to dusk;after dark, great fruit bats with foxish facesthrong in still-greater numbers. Thoughseldom seen, stealthy tigers prowl the jungletrails by night, their dominion over the forestfloor disputed only by the rare, irritableVechorian rhino, as svelte clouded leopardsand crafty pythons stalk simians in thetreetops. Crocodiles, monitor lizards, andhuge, snaggle-toothed pike ambush muntjacand marsh deer that drink from foreststreams or wade into the bogs in search offoliage.Closer to settlements, savory tropical fruitand nut trees predominate – bananas,mangos, guava, coconuts, pineapples,avocados, papayas – sown by generations ofVechorites’ discarded pits and seeds. Thesheer variety of such edibles is so extensive,I suspect many to be rogue products of thisland’s ever-shifting nature, gleaned from thewild as they appear, and haphazardlycultivated by such idle castoffs. Valuablehardwoods such as mahogany, ebony, andteak also grow near the communities,providing profitable harvests of timber forexport and raw materials for carvings, or forfurnishings of a finer grade than the usualpalm-leaf wickerwork and bamboo.

VechorPlants with medicinal, culinary, and evenpsychoactive properties are also harvestedregularly by Vechorite foresters. In fact,Vechor is an herbalists’ paradise; so manybotanical species flourish here, I am told,that the locals don’t bother to name a shrubunless it is either useful or harmful, else60they’d fast run out of words! Alas, gleaningsuch vegetative bounty can be perilous, asmonkeys also covet the fruits that thrive nearthe villages, and those predators that followseldom distinguish one type of primate preyfrom another. Every rural Vechoritesettlement I visited had its homegrown taleof man-eating tigers, snakes, or even fish to

ecount to travelers. (I am unsure how manysuch accounts were true, but Drakainaclearly believes in such perils, for sherefused to venture into these untamedhinterlands without a trained woodsman tolead the way.)Moving deeper into the forest, the qualityof the wilderness changes, progressivelyshifting from the exotic-yet-familiar to theaberrant, and eventually to the preposterous.As my newly-hired escort, Gavril d’Abdok,a trusty ranger of Drakaina’s acquaintance(but lacking in her charms, more’s the pity),led us inland from his home village, theecological transition was shocking: eachhour’s sights were more bizarre than the last.Our guide refused to take us all the way tothe cliffs or to the Misty border – travel toofar, he warned, and the landscape mightgrow too warped to ever make our way backagain – but I gather that this strangenesscontinues to increase, the deeper oneventures into the hinterlands.Leaving the vicinity of the villages,organic life became queerly distorted, firstanatomically, then in behavior, and lastly inmore supernatural ways. On our first day’sforay into the wilds, I spied a grayish swinein the forest with tusks that sprouted upwardfrom the roof of its snout, and a crocodilelikebeast, basking on a wetland log, with along, toothy jaw no broader than my thumb.At dusk, big-eyed lemurs with skin-flapsbetween their limbs glided like living kitesover our camp. The first site we chose toVechorpitch tents had to be abandoned when thewinds shifted, and the rancid stench ofrotting flesh was carried towards us… a stinkwhich, on investigation, turned out to issuefrom a tremendous, ground-hugging flowermore than a yard across! Clearly, the usuallaws of Nature were no longer in operation,to have birthed such ungainly monstrosities.The second day out revealed still morephysical distortions, most of which smackedmore of the ridiculous than the grotesque.Earlier, the treetops’ screeching monkeysboasted pelts of brown, russet, silver-gray,yellow, and black; now, this spectrum ofhues expanded to include turquoise,lavender, tangerine and emerald. Lizardswith leaf-like protrusions along their spinesskittered up and down the trees’ trunks, thenfroze into camouflaged immobility at theapproach of a distorted feline, its furry legssprawling and suction-toed like a tree frog’s.A foraging squirrel, alarmed by ourapproach, curled its bushy tail up over itsback, the underside bristling with barbed,defensive spines. A wild ox plated with aturtle’s shell lumbered heedlessly throughthe forest, fearing no beast, only to meet itsend in the thorn-lined, camouflaged sinkholeat the base of a carnivorous tree. Even as itbreathed its last, swarms of animatedcreepers skittered to the trap’s edge, slenderleaves rippling across the ground like acentipede’s legs, to dangle thirsty vines in itsblood.61

VechorIn the marsh, mosquitoes as long as myhand dodged dragonflies larger still, withhooked hawks’ beaks. A long-necked,striped mammal waded, heron-like, in aquiet pool, snapping up perch in itselongated, toothy jaws. Keeping theirdistance, globular fishes crept from the poolon two spindly legs, to gulp down snailsalong the water’s edge. Hidden in thickrushes, a furry beast propped itself upsidedownon its snout as it trolled for minnowswith its thread-like tail, the tip of whichmimicked a fisherman’s lure in every detail.When I drew near, it “walked” away usingthe quartet of muscular trunks on its snout,its body and atrophied legs still inverted.Bizarre as these prodigies were, tracks inthe mud suggested still-greater anomaliesDungeon Master’s Tips: Snouters in WonderlandWhile not a standard part of the Gothic tradition, lands where Nature is distorted andnightmarish have been a staple of fiction since the days of Gulliver’s Travels. Rather thanrelying purely on a single DM’s imagination to concoct bizarre organisms for Vechor, non-Ravenloft references can provide plenty of ideas for use in-game, be it as components ofthe domain’s weird ecology, or as deliberate creations by Easan or other deranged lifemanipulators.Depending on how “odd” an oddity is desired, DMs can draw upon“alternate evolution” works such as Dougal Dixon’s After Man (not real, but biologicallyplausible); science fiction novels set on untamed alien planets, such as Alan Dean Foster’sMidworld (radically unlikely, yet not magical); or lighter fantasy fare, like Piers Anthony’sXanth series (both magical and bizarre).Of course, players may well identify the fictional species from such outside references:there’s simply no disguising Cheshire cats, thestrals, or jhereg from well-read gamers.While avoiding use of such recognizable beasts is certainly an option, a canny DM cancosmetically mask these creatures (e.g. a “Cheshire weasel”) … or even use theirundisguised presence to chastise players who have a bad habit of metagaming (“Oh, don’tworry about those things: everyone knows that tribbles only eat grai—aaugh!”).Statistically, most bizarre life forms of Vechor may be treated as cosmetically-alteredversions of existing D&D monsters: giant mosquitoes as stirges, slithering predatory fungias oozes, etc. For others, changes to natural armor and weapons, the addition of a minorspell-like ability or two, or application of a new template or subtype can generate uniquestatistics quickly. Adjustments to a creature’s speed or skill ranks can illustrate an alteredhabitat or way of living. Any such changes should be ones which PCs can readily notice(e.g. hurling Magic Missiles is visible, a save bonus is not), so players will realize they’refacing something bizarre and unpredictable.62

frequented the area. (Myself, I found thesight of elephants’ minute footprints, gailydisporting themselves in the ankle-deep,rainwater-filled tracks of a mouse, oddlyappealing.) By the end of that day, evendistinctions between animal and vegetablewere breaking down: I saw a stag withflowering cacti for antlers, and a herd ofoversized wild hogs, their flanks draped withwild vines that sprouted from their bristledshoulders. Once, when Drakaina paused toexamine a mass of oozing fungus drapedover a low branch, our forest-savvy escortpulled her back just in the nick of time: theloathsome growth was both animate andpredatory, dripping with toxins thatwould’ve paralyzed my lovely travelingcompanionfor slow dissolution andabsorption.The behaviors of organic life, too, begandeviating from the norm, on our second day.In a forest glen, our approach startled a flockof parrots into flight, interrupting theirnibbling … on the sundered carcass of anunsightly, crab-like behemoth. (I do notbelieve they’d actually killed it, but Iwouldn’t care to stake my fortunes on thatfact!) Later, our trail dipped down into aflooded valley, and the roaring of greatbeasts heralded a battle of titans: a squat,long-necked reptile like a wingless dragonout of legend, surrounded and harried by apride of leonine hunters, their hind feetwebbed for swimming, their sodden manesgreen with algae. Less spectacular, yet alsomore disturbing, were the altered activitiesof Vechor’s crawling denizens. By our thirdday, we beheld cockroaches living in vastmounds of rotting leaf-litter, communal asants, and brilliant vermilion slugs no longerthan an eyelash, that twittered and sang intiny, piping voices. Nor was aerial lifeexempt from rampant strangeness. In anancient fig tree, weaver-birds had woven astraw nest of prodigious size: a feat thatwould have impressed me, even without thetrain of smoke that ushered from itschimney. A pity the entrance was too smallfor me to inspect its hearth’s design.VechorFrom the third day to the fourth, thejungle’s oddities ceased to be constrainedeven by the laws of mundane nature, suchthat nearly every animal that we witnessedwas possessed of some magic power orotherworldly property. Monkeys withgrotesque, pendulous noses drew fruits totheir waiting grasp telekinetically, andbombarded us with filth in like manner whenwe came too near. Butterflies ofextraordinary size drifted on the breeze, theirwings patterned with moving colors in theform of faces, landscapes, or writtengibberish. I accidentally stumbled upon aslender-bodied civet, whilst answeringNature’s call, and it emitted a cloud of pinkvapor that left me bedazzled and euphoricfor the better part of an hour, to Drakaina’sconsiderable amusement. Our ranger laterpointed out the fringed and barbel-facedsilhouette of the most ugly fish I’d ever seen,that lurked beneath a murky pool’s surface: acreature he swore slew other fish with joltsof lightning. As the terrain grew rougher,protruding roots amidst the leaf-litter beganspeaking to us, parroting back our everyword or labored breath, in our own voices.When I marveled at this phenomenon, ourguide replied that the roots were less illmanneredthan the rocks, farther inland.On that fourth and final night, eerieshadows of beasts danced round ourcampfire: shadows that moved and prowledand hunted one another, though no fleshlyforms were present to cast them. Betweenthe trees, specks of haunting pastel lightdrifted like pollen-motes, bursting andspiraling round one another. The cracklingof our campfire took on distinct overtones ofspeech in some unknown – perhapsunearthly – language. Withdrawing to my63

Vechortent, I watched insects crawling on theoutside of its thin canvas, silhouetted by thefirelight … moving, then aligning andamassing together, their silhouettes merginginto that of a large lizard. It skittered off assleep claimed me.Initially, I’ll admit, I had planned to travelone day farther into the jungle: our escorthad spoken of how, still farther in, earth andwater grew as unpredictably-animate as theorganic life we’d so far encountered.However, come daybreak, our circumstancesargued against it. Drakaina roused me withfrantic cries of intense distress. Peering outfrom my tent, I found that the surroundingjungle had fallen silent, its colors, faded togray. Our wilderness-guide did not answerour calls. Investigating, I was shocked todiscover the nearby trees, the underbrush,and even the insects, birds and monkeys64which inhabited them, had been transformedinto cold, lifeless stone! This frighteningpetrifaction encircled our tiny camp at adistance of five paces, extending for nearly ahundred yards all around us. Our tents lay atthe eye of a storm, spared for reasons neitherof us could guess or fathom.Afraid our woodsman guide had fallenafoul of the dreadful transition, we checkedhis tent. The ranger lay curled up, mute withanguish, left hand clutched tight to his chest.The petrifying effect had overlapped thecorner of the unlucky man’s tent, and hadclaimed two of his fingers. The fleshy rootsof both digits were swollen with sepsis.Coaxed to speak, he stammered that hiswhole hand was sure to be lost, if we waitedfor the forest’s transformation to reverseitself. Regretfully, we complied with hispain-dulled wishes; Drakaina bound the

digits’ fleshy stubs tightly with cord, and Icleanly severed the useless stone with anember-heated knife. It was a grim and grislyexample of how Vechor’s weird plasticityshould never be taken lightly: a few feet toone side or another, and none of our partywould have awakened from stone-boundsleep, at all!A dose of curative potion eased ourescort’s pain and soothed his fever, but hewas clearly in no state to explore further.We decamped in haste from the area ofpetrifaction, abandoning much of ourequipment, then bivouacked another twodays just outside the eerily-silent stoneforest, until he was fit for the trek back to hisvillage. I do not know if the petrified jungleever did revert to its normal state, or if itremains frozen to this day: I broke free astone orchid from a low branch, before wereturned to the villages, and it yet feels hardand brittle in my pocket.Having witnessed such living oddities, Imust confess that I felt relieved by the sightof common farmyard animals, on reachingthe nearest settlement. Not that evendomestic livestock of Vechor were entirelyfamiliar, mind you – in this climate, waterbuffalo take the place of ordinary oxen,while showy-tailed peafowl are as abundantas hens in the local poultry-coops – but atleast these possessed the usual bodilyappendages, in their conventionalproportions and numbers! (A relief, indeed:after our narrow escape from petrifaction,I’ll admit that the notion of an involuntarytransformation from one’s proper state hasheld a measure of creeping horror for me.)Drakaina, too, was visibly relieved to beback to “civilization”; a city lass, the wildsof the back country had lain well outside hercomfort-zone as well as her experience.Even Vechorites, it seems, can find someenvironments too erratic for their tastes.Still, even on the well-tamed outskirts ofAbdok, the residents’ wariness of thejungle’s freakish wildlife wasn’t whollyabsent. When I asked him if the stoutpalisades of the city’s stockyards were abarricade against tigers, a Vechorite farmerhesitantly admitted that yes, the great cats’appetites could be a problem for livestockVechor65Encounters in Vechor: WildlifeGiven the ever changing nature of Vechoras per Easan’s whim, and the Mad King’screative mind, it should be noted that DMscan add nearly anything they want intoVechor. Here’s the 'default' selection oflife forms for Vechor.CR 1/10: Bat MM1 ; Frog/toad MM1CR 1/8: Rat MM1CR 1/6: Lizard MM1 ; Monkey MM1 ; Parrot(as raven MM1 )CR ¼: Albatross Sto ; Cat MM1 ; Mongoose(as weasel MM1 ); Otter Sto ; Owl MM1 ;Spiny gecko (as horned lizard San )CR 1/3: Dire rat MM1 ; Hawk MM1 ; Snake,Tiny viper MM1 ; Vulture SanCR ½: Baboon MM1 ; Eagle MM1 ; Pike (asbarracuda Sto ); Snake, Small viper MM1CR 1: Dire raven Ga1 ; Snake, Mediumviper MM1CR 2: Ape MM1 ; Bat swarm MM1 ; Bear,black MM1 ; Boar MM1 ; Crocodile MM1 ;Dire bat MM1 ; Dire hawk MM2 , RWi ; Diremongoose (as dire weasel MM1 ); LeopardMM1 ; Lizard, monitor MM1 ; Rat swarmMM1 ; Snake, constrictor MM1 ; Snake,Large viper MM1CR 3: Dire ape MM1 ; Dire eagle RSt ; Direfrog/toad MM2 ; Lion MM1 ; Snake, Hugeviper MM1CR 4: Crocodile, giant MM1 ; Dire boarMM1 ; Rhinoceros MM1 ; Tiger MM1CR 5: Dire snake MM2 ; Snake, giantconstrictor MM1CR 6: Needletooth swarm MM3CR 7: Elephant MM1CR 8: Dire tiger MM1CR 10: Dire elephant MM2“as well”. Pressed for details, he informedme that the barriers were most valued duringthe buffalo-cows’ breeding season … lessfor fear of newborn calves devoured, than toensure that unnatural things could nottrespass therein, in a state of rut, to sire theirunspeakable offspring among the shecattle…

VechorEncounters in Vechor: Monsters*CR ¼: Maddening flea RMCIII ; Moonrat MM2CR 1/3: Crawling claw FRMF ; Goblin MM1 ; Gremishka DoDCR ½: Goblin, forestkith MM3 ; Hobgoblin MM1CR 1: Carrionette DoD, Dra#339 ; Fungus, shrieker MM1 ; Ghoul MM1 ; Golem, lesser, paper Dra#341 ;Homunculus MM1 ; Puppeteer EPH ; Quevari DoD ; Tentacle rat DoDCR 2: Aquatic ooze, flotsam ooze FiF ; Assassin bug, giant DoD ; Bakhna rakhna DoD ; BugbearMM1 ; Carrion stalker DoD ; Choker MM1 ; Ghoul MM1 ; Goblyn DoD, Dra#339 ; Iron cobra FiF ;Puppeteer, flesh harrower EPHCR 3: Automaton MM2 , Assassin vine MM1 ; Bone rat swarm LiM ; Broken one DoD ; DeathlockLiM ; Fihyr MM2 ; Fungus, violet MM1 ; Ghast MM1 ; Golem, lesser, tin Dra#341 ; Golem, lesser,wood Dra#341 ; Head hunter DoD ; Murk LiM ; Scarecrow, dread DoD ; Swarm, cat JWM’s ; Swarm,viper FiFCR 4: Aranea MM1 ; Backward man DoD ; Carrion crawler MM1 ; Elementite swarm (any) PlH ;Gargoyle MM1 ; Golem, lesser, fungus Dra#341 ; Leucrotta FRMF ; Meazel FRMF ; Vine horror FiFCR 5: Cloaker MM1 ; Cloaker, dread, resplendent DoD ; Cloaker, dread, shadow DoD ; Gibberingmouther LoM ; Golem, chain MM2 p44 ; Golem, lesser, junk Dra#341 ; Golem, stained glass MM2 ;Paka DoD BoSouls/Keepers of the Coil; the Shadow SerpentCR 6: Alchemical undead Dra#350 ; Bastellus DoD ; Belker MM1 ; Bloodmote cloud LiM ;Bonedrinker MM3 ; Foresaken shell LiM ; Golem, wax DoD ; Grim DoD ; Will-o’-wisp MM1CR 7: Aboleth MM1 ; Giant, hill MM1CR 8: Golem, doll DoD ; Golem, glass DoD ; Gorgon MM1 ; Living wall DoDCR 9: Blood amniote LiM ; Caller in darkness EPH DoD, Dra#339; Death’s head treeCR 10: Bronze serpent MM2 ; Golem, bone DoD ; Golem, brass MM2 ; Golem, clay MM1 ; Golem,gargoyle DoD ;CR 11: Golem, alchemical MM3, Dra#302 ; Golem, mechanical DoD ; Golem, stone MM1CR 12: Casurua DragCCR 13: Golem, hangman (rope golem) MM3, Dra#302 ; Golem, iron MM1 ; Grisgol MM3CR varies: Alchemical child VRA ; Animator DoD ; Astral construct EPH ; Boneless DoD ; Cerebralsymbiont FiF ; Centipede, monstrous MM1 ; Created Beast FoSNS ; Corrupted creature BVD,Dra#350 ; Elemental, corrupted JWM’s ; Fiendish creature MM1 ; Fiendish symbiont (fiendishfamiliar, gutworm, soul tick) FiF ; Figurine (any) DoD ; Ghost MM1, DoD ; Goblin beast Ga5 ; HalffarspawnLoM ; Half-fiend MM1 ; Half-golem (brass, clay, iron, stained glass, stone) MM2 & WE ;Lycanthrope (wereboar) MM1 ; Lycanthrope (wereape, werehyena, werelion) JWM’s ; PsicrystalEPH ; Spellstitched CAr, MM2 ; Topiary guardian MM3 ; Virus, Phagian - combustion, petrifaction,phobia RMCII* Easan is fond of building golems and other animated mechanical objects to study the additionof souls and spirits to them. He usually prefers making these new “toys” out of inanimatematter, rather than once-living remains. Easan's constructions always look ramshackle andimprovised, with superfluous appendages or features and creative variations in design. Easan isprobably not the only mage to have ever built golems in Vechor, but others’ handiworks tend toshare a similar appearance to those created by the demented elf darklord.66

PeopleVechorites are a handsome people, generallyslender and athletic; their skin color rangesfrom deep bronze to a light olive, and theirhair from black to an unusual dark blonde.Men and women alike wear their hair inmany tight braids; men often wear small,neat mustaches, but usually have no otherfacial hair.Their truly identifying characteristic is, ofcourse, the tattoo of the “ε” - the mark thatidentifies them as servants of King Easan.This mark is apparently produced by theking’s arcane power; it appears (usually onthe forehead) soon after the birth of any childborn in Vechor. Occasional unfortunatesreceive multiple marks—generallyconsidered a sign that the child’s mother wasunhappy or in ill health during thepregnancy.Because of the climate Vechorites wearrelatively little clothing—usually only a longtunic secured over one shoulder (referred toas a chlamys) which leaves the other breastbare, and sandals. (The baring of one’sbreasts is not considered immodest amongVechorite women—doubtless a contributingfactor to their reputation for easy virtue.)Men prefer drab or white for their clothing,but women prefer pastels; both sexes wear agreat deal of jewelry of various kinds,favoring necklaces and bracelets of shell,bone, wood, or precious metals and stones.Vechor67The Vechorite HeroRaces: Nearly all Vechorites are humans(99+ %). All have the tattoo of the “ε”(usually on the forehead).Classes: Vechorites are people close tonature, even those living in Abdok(rangers, druids). Most men and womenare able to fight in a way or another(barbarians, fighters). Also, many of themshow sorcery skills (Sorcerers – see“Divine Sorcerers” sidebar below) aswell as fighting skills. Bards can find asafe haven in Vechor, as theirperformance is well hailed anywhere,anytime. Paladins do not acclimatize wellto the chaos of perpetual changes.Sorcery magic is well seen on Vechor,but not wizards using spellbooks – see“Attitude versus magic” section – whoare persecuted or shunned. Flamboyantand zealous priests are mistrusted andavoided. Rogues are not well acceptedeither in Vechor.Recommended Skills: Balance, Bluff,Climb, Craft (bowmaking, pottery,stonemasonry, weaving), Handle Animal,Intimidate, Knowledge (arcane, nature),Perform (any but Comedy or Keyboardsinstruments), Profession (farmer, herder,fisher, minor, tanner, weaver), Search,Survival, Swim, Use Rope.Recommended Feats: Agile, Athletic,Back to the Wall, Brawler, Courage,Diligent, Dodge (plus derivatives),Improved Initiative, Iron Will, OpenMind, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weaponfocus (bow, kukri).Vechor Male Names: Akakios,Alexandre, Angelos, Anikevos,Apostolos, Demetros, Demisroussos,Dimitri, Easanos, Elpidios, Emmanuel,Gavriil, Gregory, Iason, Iosif, Leonidas,Mathias, Nikolas, Nomiki, Pavlos,Spyros, Stamatios, Stelios, Theodoros,Tryphon, VasiliosVechor Female Names: Agape, Agatha,Aikaterine, Anastasia, Chara, Dareia,Drakaina, Efrosyni, Eleni, Evdokia,Ioanna, Mariamne, Marina, Nana, Natasa,Pantheras, Petra, Philippa, Sara, Selene,Sibylla, Theodora, Teophania, Xene,Xenia, Zinovia, Zoe.

Divine Sorcerers!Some sorcerers are truly blessed inVechor. Given the unique relationVechorites have with their God / KingEasan, a number of Vechor-bornsorcerers can add some cleric domainspells to their known spell list, inaddition to the arcane spells availableto a sorcerer of their level. There are nochanges on number of spell per daythey can cast, and the DC of thesedivine spell is the same as the arcaneones. This also only works while thesorcerer is in Vechor.Such an Easan blessed Sorcerer canchoose two clerical domains amongthe following list: air, animal, earth,fire, healing, luck, plant, strength, sun,water. He adds the domain spellsaccording to his available arcanelevels. Example: with the “air” domainchosen (PHB p 185), a Sorcerer fourthlevel could add Obscuring Mists andWind Wall to his known spell list (hecan have arcane spells level one andtwo).These sorcerers are so convinced ofEasan’s genuine “godness” that Easanrewards them by letting their sorcerymagic shift to conform to their divinespellcasting attempts. Easan can negateany or all such “divine” spellsinstantly, if he so wishes, and keepthem from being invoked by any“divine” sorcerer whom he feelsannoyed at.However, these faithful “divine”sorcerers always have a latent streak offaith illumination in them. Theirbehavior is sometimes erratic: DC 12Will when casting a divine spell. Ifmissed, they fail to cast the spell andinstead stop all activities for one roundfor crying over their “god’s” greatnessor similar faith worship-related ormanifestation act (in battle, treat as aDazed condition for one round).VechorLanguage68Vechorite is really more a dozen mutuallyintelligible dialects than it is a single tongue.Local variations in phrasing, tempo, andpronunciation are so wide as to makeVechorite sound entirely different whenspoken by a highlander from the MistyBorder that it does in the mouth of adockworker in Abdok. Interestingly,Vechorites themselves seem to have little orno difficulty in understanding one another,no matter what the disparity in their basicform of speech; Life fact, over the course ofa long conversation each speaker willgravitate toward the others’ mode of speech.In Abdok this produces a sort of artificialsynthesis which is as close as anything to the“true” Vechorite language.Outlook and worldviewWe who hail from the western Core areinclined to think of Vechor as a realm ofsmiling, idle half-dressed semi-savagesliving in communal marriage or worse,largely due to the influence of scandalmongeringnovels detailing the purportedlibertinage and the general weirdness ofVechorite life. Having now spent someweeks in Vechor, and having conversed atlength with Master Shadowcloak, who hasmade his home here for the last decade, Ilook back on my own ignorant opinions onthe Vechorite society with a mixture ofamusement and chagrin.Each of the supposed features ofVechorites mentioned above has some rootin sober fact, but the overall impressioncould hardly be more mistaken. Abdok is alarge city, home to some ten thousand souls,and carries on a volume of trade that putsany port of the Sea of Sorrows save MartiraBay and Port-a-Lucine to shame. In fact,more than half of the population of thecountry is located in Abdok, making itconsiderably more urban in character thanDementlieu. It is, of course, much moreinsular than cosmopolitan, and the famedDementlieuse high culture is almost entirelyabsent, but there are many excellentcraftsmen and builders, and the city itself is,

if anything, rather more handsome than Porta-Lucine,with buildings and towers ofcream-colored brick set around the NostruRiver. One of the main reasons Vechoriteshave commonly been taken for savages is thefact that literacy is not common here; I cancount on one hand those whom I have metwho could read. Vechorite hardly exists as awritten language; apart from inscriptions cutinto monuments in public places I foundnothing written in Vechorite at all, although Iam told that such manuscripts do exist.(Most are apparently in the possession ofEasan himself.) Vechorites are deeplysuspicious of the act of writing, which theyconsider an inherently unnatural activity,binding words and gestures, which areinherently powerful, into an artificial andcorrupted form. They are usually not so setin this belief as to prevent foreigners fromwriting, but for safety’s sake I have compiledmy notes only after the fact, when alone or inthe presence only of other foreigners, and Ihave not revealed my notebooks to anyone. Ibelieve it is this, more than anything else,which has produced their reputation forbarbarism, and I would say this is the closestto the truth of any of the aforementionedhalf-truths.The education of Vechorite men wasdescribed to me as follows: “A young man ofVechor is taught to follow his father’s trade,to shoot the bow, and to speak the truth.” Ifsuch is the measure of the man, theireducation succeeds admirably; everyVechorite man I met, and not a few of thewomen, seemed deadly with the bow and thehunting spear, and they are an uncommonlyhonest (if not terribly forthright) people. Thewomen’s upbringing has no such pithaphorism, but they are likewise employed ina traditional trade (often the making ofpottery or clothing) as well as performing allbut the heaviest agricultural labor and mostof the child-rearing.Their reputation for idleness, on the otherhand, is simply incorrect. The intense heatwhich is the most common feature of theweather there drives every rational soulindoors during the heat of the day, and theVechorite custom of sleeping for two orthree hours at midday is the probable causeVechor69of the idea that they are a lazy people.Having endured a summer in Abdok, I feel Ican say with confidence that this is merelyan intelligent concession to local conditions.Certainly, when they are engaged in laborthe Vechorites labor as diligently as anyDementlieuse peasant or tradesman (andconsiderably more diligently than theaverage house-servant!). The greatabundance of foodstuffs in Vechor alsomeans that even a very indifferenthusbandman can feed himself and his family,meaning that even in poverty there is at leastno danger of starvation.This last has sometimes been advanced asthe reason for the famously cheerful outlookascribed to natives of Vechor; some scholarshave held that knowing that putting food onthe table and a roof over one’s head ismerely a matter of shaking a tree or twoproduces so great a relief of the anxieties oflife that the natural result is a contented andindolent populace. This relief from some ofthe central anxieties of life probably playssome role in the perceived happiness of theVechorian society, but even after only a fewweeks I have begun to feel this contentmentis more feigned than actual. There issomething uncanny in the continual smiles,and something more than uncanny—eerie, oreven sinister—in the way that even when inpain or deep emotional distress theVechorites seem never to indulge in curses,lamentations, or complaints.On my second or third night in Abdok Isaw a young woman break down into tears inthe marketplace; to my astonishment themuch older woman immediately struck heron both cheeks and waved an admonitoryfinger, apparently chastising this display ofemotion. When I asked my escort what hadoccurred, she was unwilling to speak of it;later she confided that the young woman hadlost a child to fever earlier that week, andwas in “a dangerous state”. I asked him toexplain what was “dangerous” aboutbereavement; shaking his head, he replied,“Grief is very bad. Tears are bad. Life is hardenough without evil thoughts; thereforethink well. Life is hard enough to meet witha frown; meet it with a smile.” Theaphorism, “Think well”, or “Think good

Vechorthoughts”, is extremely common, and oftenseems to serve as a kind of warning tosomeone who the speaker thinks is in dangerof committing “evilthought”. The Vechoritesbelieve very strongly in a principle ofattraction: to think unhappy thoughts bringsmisfortune, while to be tranquil ensuresfurther tranquility. Although in some waysthis must be considered a very positivephilosophy of life, it produces a weirdflatness of emotion; both great grief andgreat joy seem to be largely absent from inthe Vechorite range of experience.When strong emotions do showthemselves, it is often in an exaggerated andeven pathological form. When pushedbeyond endurance, the Vechorite may enterthe state of amok—a frenzy in which theyattempt to destroy anything and everythingin their surroundings with whatever comes tohand. (They usually, but not always, refrainfrom attacking other people, althoughanimals and crops are often favored targetsfor destruction.) This was explained to me asthe result of resentment of or anger toward“the spirit of things”. Vechorians believe thatall things have spirit and will; when illfortune presents itself consistently, they feelthat it is because the mundane objects aroundthem have suddenly become inimical (anexaggeration, I suppose, of the ideaMonsieur Lacomte refers to as “theperversity of inanimate objects”). Whenpushed beyond the limits of endurance bythe vicissitudes of life they therefore reactwith a burst of destructive activity directed ateverything around them.This belief in the “spirit” of inanimateobject has another interesting cultural result,which is that theft is virtually unknown inVechor. If one takes a neighbor’s walkingstick, the neighbor may not know of it—butthe walking stick does, and will almostcertainly become restive and unreliable inthe hands of someone who is not its rightfulowner. Anything made by human hands isassumed to belong to the creator inperpetuity; he or she may make a present ofit to someone else, but the item knows itsmaker and prefers that person to all others.Boats, bows and other tools or weaponsconsidered to have particularly strong70personalities are often ceremoniallydestroyed at the death of their maker, as it isassumed that they will be intractable in thehands of a new owner from that timeforward.Vechorites take great pride in theircraftsmanship, and skilled craftsmen acquirewide reputations and great wealth. A mastercraftsman will always set a highly visibleand idiosyncratic mark on his creations toannounce their provenance to the world; ifthese marks are effaced or altered the madething is said to have lost its spirit and mustbe treated as a dead thing and burned.Touching on the final point of theVechorite stereotype, there is nothing soinfamous in the Core as Vechor maritalcustoms, which are generally described inpopular literature as polyamorous or evenlooser. I was surprised and greatly interestedto know that nothing could be further fromthe truth. Vechorites take the marital bondmore seriously than any other people I haveseen or heard of. Marriage is the one thingwhich has a truly sacred character amongVechorites; all other social institutions palein comparison. (Certainly there is no classstructure of comparable importance.)Marriages are generally love matches;although not conventionally “romantic”, inthe sense that word is used in novels, it isconsidered the fundamental relationship ofone’s life and a sacred commitment.Adultery is punished by stoning to death.(Imagine the effect on the population ofPort-a-Lucine if this custom were imported!The salons would stand vacant.) Even morestrikingly, widows and widowers neverremarry; the marital bond is presumed to lastbeyond the bonds of death. Socialrequirements of the unmarried, on the otherhand, are virtually non-existent; unmarriedyouths conduct themselves as they see fit,which, combined with the relaxed standardsof modesty which the climate demands, formthe probable cause of the Vechoritereputation for promiscuity.

Attitudes toward MagicVechorites are (unsurprisingly) blasé aboutdisplays of magical power; seeing someonebecome invisible or produce a ball of flameis not overly impressive when comparedwith seeing an entire forest uproot itself andgo on the march, or seeing the sun rise in thesouth. A person of sorcerous talents is rathermore encouraged than discouraged todevelop such abilities.Wizardry, on the other hand, is feared andabominated. This feeling is apparently sodeep-seated that it was difficult to get anyexplanation of it; to the Vechorite mind theevil of wizardly magic is so obvious thatmost have never examined the belief closely,and have no desire to do so. The mostobvious explanation for this feeling is thefact that King Easan has forbidden thepractice of wizardry within his dominion,and his subjects are, in this as in everything,quick to obey him; but a deeperphilosophical bias is probably also at work.In our discussion of this subject FatherShadowcloak pointed out that the vitalenergies—that mysterious élan vital or “lifeforce” which animates all living things—and“magic” in the broader sense are largelyindistinguishable in the Vechoriteexperience. To allow the flow of this lifeforce through oneself is natural and proper;to “trap” it in books is deeply unnatural andcauses it to stagnate and become corrupt, justas standing water breeds pestilence whileflowing water remains pure.Father Shadowcloak informed me that hereceived permission to practice wizardryafter a personal interview with King Easan,and said that anyone who wishes to dolikewise may try his luck. From his smile ashe said it, I would be inclined to interpret thisas more a warning than an invitation.ReligionThe people of Vechor are either entirely nonreligious,or their life is permeated, evendominated, by religion; either viewpointwould seem to be valid, depending on one’scriteria of judgment. They franklyVechor71Perilous use of a spellbookSorcerous talent is extremely commonin Vechor—so much so as to be acommon feature of life there. Easanfinds such talents too random to beexploited profitably. Wizards, on theother hand, generally have spellbooksand arcane educations, both of whichare highly useful sources ofinformation for the Wizard-King. Anywizard who enters Vechor and iswilling to brazen out a meeting withEasan may possibly leave withpermission to practice wizardry, if hecan convince Easan that he will bemore useful as a collaborator than as aspellbook and raw materials. If awizard visiting Vechor cansuccessfully pretend to be a sorcererhe or she will have no difficulty, but ifEasan or any of his subjects learns awizard has entered his domain thatperson will be immediatelysummoned to his manor for aninvoluntary interview. Suchunfortunates are almost never seenagain.acknowledge their king to be a god; they alsoacknowledge him to be mad, and the sourceof the weird mutability for which theirhomeland is so famous. However, they donot worship him in any way which would beintelligible to a foreigner more accustomedto the organized religions of the Core; thereis no scripture, no creed, no catechism, nocathedral, chapel or clergy.This is not to say, however, that some ofthe most important elements of religion areabsent from Vechorian society. A closeobserver will note that Vechorian daily life ispermeated with simple rituals—brief, nearreflexiveactions with a spiritual, or at least asuperstitious, import. These rituals vary fromplace to place and from family to family; asbest I could discover they are a randomaccretion of actions which were once foundto be “effective” in a particular moment and

Vechorwhich are now repeated in the hope that theymay actually have some power. I advancethis hypothesis after discussing these actionswith as many Vechorians as I could get totalk about the subject as possible; most wereeither unwilling to discuss the subject ordismissed the actions as habits (althoughthey were surprised, even shocked, when Iasked why they did not simply discontinuethem). Those who were willing to offer ajustification generally responded that it wasintended to ensure a favorable outcome fortheir actions; only rarely did they give anysymbolic meaning to their gestures. (Forexample, one man I became acquainted withroutinely raised both hands toward the sunwhenever leaving a building; he did notclaim that this was to greet or honor the sun,as I expected, but rather that it brought goodfortune.)It seems to me that these random andidiosyncratic rituals are a product of theinstability of their homeland; the Vechoriansendeavor to control their environment by aconstant stream of ritual and propitiation inthe hope of influencing the random flow ofevents around them in their favor. Despitethe fact that these rituals vary so widely, theyare recognized and respected by otherVechorians immediately; virtually anyeccentric act which does not impinge on thecomfort of others will go unremarked byother Vechorians.Another aspect of Vechorian “religious”belief which outlanders find bizarre in theextreme is their habit of ascribing volition toinanimate objects; Vechorians speak to trees,roads, buildings, the sun and moon, and toolsin much the same way they would to oneanother. They do not converse with suchthings, of course; they do not expect answersif they address something incapable ofspeech. They do, however, believe that suchthings have feelings and perceptions and canbe put into a helpful (or unhelpful) mood bythe way in which they are addressed andused. This animism has certain religiousfeatures, and is often important in the ritualsmentioned previously; such rituals can beseen as a way of remaining in tune with theworld around them, or asking that he worldbe in tune with them. It is not very much of72an exaggeration to say that Vechoriansperceive everything in their surroundings tobe evidences of, or emanations from, a deity.(It is natural to ask if this deity is their king;although the surmise is a natural one, andprobably contains an element of truth, it isdifficult to get any useful answer fromVechorians on this subject.)These things together produced anotherrather comical effect; when Vechorians firstmet missionary clerics from the Core andwere told of Ezra and the Lawgiver, theyasked when these gods would appear inperson to introduce themselves. On hearingthat no such thing was expected to occur anytime soon, they promptly lost all interest inthe Ezran religion and the Iron Faith, andhave never shown any inclination to changetheir minds on the subject. Any god which isunwilling or unable to make a personalappearance to canvass for support willprobably never make inroads into Vechoriansociety.Art and TradeMany of those who count themselvescitizens of Abdok live on and work smallfarms near the city, which supply most of thecountry’s food and much of its exports.(Only one of the many benefits of thisjourney of exploration has been the chanceto feast on pineapple, mango and banana atmy pleasure; this and other tropicaldelicacies are unbelievably cheap by thestandards of the western Core, and may beenjoyed by even the poorest Vechorites.)There is little or no industry in Vechorproducing finished goods for foreign sale,although the domestic pottery and textileindustries thrive, largely to the exclusion offoreign goods. The sheer number and varietyof raw trade goods—exotics foods, timberand spices, not to mention the gold and otherprecious metals and stones taken from minesin the interior—form the main impetus fortrade with the mainland, and the marketsquare of Abdok bustles five days of theweek with merchants from the Core andeven beyond trading for such mainstay cropsas coffee and sugar.

Even with the costs of overland transportto the western Core, the price of import fromVechor is reliably lower than from Sri Rajior still more exotic places, and the ports ofNova Vaasa are notably enriched by thetrade passing through them from Vechor topoints west. Business is generally conductedby barter and the tally stick, rather than bycoins and account books; Vechorites have anuncanny memory for any verbal agreement,and the first Nova Vaasan merchant whothought he could take advantage of hisverbal contract to alter the terms to hisbenefit several months after the fact was tornapart by an enraged mob of Vechorites—adeath which has inspired a truly remarkablediligence among foreign merchants inmeeting their business obligations to thenative population.HistoryThe Vechorites have almost no writtenhistory, making any detailed analysis of theirlocal history almost impossible. They do,however, have a strong oral tradition,centered largely on genealogy; virtually allVechorites can describe their family tree inmind-numbing detail, extending well backinto the domain’s false history. In speakingof past events they generally usegenerational references to indicate whensomething occurred—that is, “In the year myuncle was married” or “in my greatgrandfather’syouth”. Births, deaths andmarriages—the central and most stablepoints of their culture—are their historicaltouchstones, and other events are usuallyconsidered to be of secondary importance.Of course, when speaking with someonewho does not know when “grandgrandfather”might have lived, some otherframe of reference is necessary; theVechorites have a series of major eventswhich roughly delineate certain eras of theirpast, which I attached in the appendix. (Notethat, unless these dates can be correlated tosome event occurring outside the domain,they are necessarily inexact. I am verygrateful to Father Shadowcloak for sharingVechor73his ideas on the most likely time points forthese events.)GovernmentThe word of King Easan is the law ofVechor. He rarely makes pronouncements ofany kind, apart from a standing order todeliver any wizard or book of magic orarcane knowledge to him immediately, butany he does make is obeyed immediately andto the letter. Disobedience to their kingseems to be almost literally unthinkable tothe Vechorites. In other matters their “legalpractice” is literally anarchic. There are no“laws” in any ordinary sense, and no formalgovernment. The unusual (indeed, rathereerie) cohesion of Vechorite societyapparently make a formal legal structuresuperfluous. Every Vechorite knows what isacceptable and what is not, and as a peoplethey show a truly unusual disposition to keepwithin their self-imposed strictures. Thatmay be in part because the range of behaviortolerated is quite wide; given their attitudetoward personal possessions, crimes againstproperty are virtually impossible.If a Vechorite commits some unforgivablesocial solecism (rare, but possible), thepenalty is shunning; the guilty party is notspoken to or acknowledged by anyone, andusually wanders into the wilderness to live asa hermit or to die in solitude. In moreextreme circumstances (to deal withsomeone believed to be a murderer, a rapist,or a thief, for example) Vechorites willsimply gather together in a mob andslaughter the unfortunate, quite without thelegal preliminaries and concern for justice orfalse accusation which a foreign miscreantmight expect. If one discovers that he hasbeen accused by a Vechorite of anything, heshould make himself scarce immediately; ifthe Vechorite cares enough to denounce theperson to his neighbors, he cares enough tokill the object of his wrath.

ConclusionsVechorVechor strikes my imagination as a place ofever-change, with its dose of mysteries andpossibilities for the Fraternity. If we evercould understand the nature behind thechanges happening here, we would advanceour knowledge of the plane tremendously.Now, I think I understand a little bit betterwhy Father Shadowcloak is staying here.Other than that, Vechor is a strange,remote place, with insignificant politicalforces. While the island has a largeUnreality Wrinklespopulation of people able with a bow, thepopulation’s peaceful nature isn’tstrategically threatening to the NocturnalSea.Before I left, Drakaina said somethingabout a deep fear she felt that we’ll nevermeet again, and her sad eyes went watery,something very unusual for vechorites. Ireassured her as much as I could, andpromised that I would be back in Abdok assoon as I could. After I made my poignantadieux to Drakaina, I embarked on theValiant Explorer for the Isle of Ravens asmy next stop.Unique among the Core domains, Vechor is a realm in which madness permeates all,contorting and twisting the fabric of reality. Vechorites rightly blame their “divine”king’s insanity for these wild distortions of the natural order. Unknown to his subjects,however, the elf darklord’s lack of control over his flawed and fractured mind – a mindsubverted by a fiendish spirit – has left his domain equally open to the subversiveinfluence of other insane minds within its borders.When Easan’s attention is directed elsewhere, the insanities of Madness-sufferers in hisland seize control over their own immediate surroundings, affecting Vechor’s terrain, itsphysics, or even (in the worst of cases) its human residents. Such distortions of realityaren’t usually controlled or understood by the person whose Madness creates them, andmay even threaten their unwitting source. The magnitude and consequences of theseshifts are dictated not by the personal power of the afflicted, but by the severity andnature of their creators’ Madness effects.Unlike outsiders’ reality wrinkles, the “unreality wrinkles” generated by the insanedon’t function as pocket domains: they cannot penetrate Vechor’s borders, nor do theysuppress Easan’s control of his territory. Easan can snuff out others’ unreality wrinklesas an intentional free action, or by imposing changes of his own on the location where thewrinkle appears. Vechor’s darklord does not automatically sense an unreality wrinkle’spresence; indeed, it is his lack of notice that makes such localized distortions possible.Deciding when his attention lapses, thus letting an unreality wrinkle take temporary holdover the Land, is left to DMs’ discretion.Minor, Moderate, and Major Wrinkle-EffectsFor victims who suffer from Madness effects, yet are not Lost Ones, the effects of theirunreality wrinkles are relatively predictable. The sensory manifestations of suchwrinkles may vary widely – for example, Blackout might fill the room with animpenetrable fog rather than darkness – but their practical consequences should besimilar to what follows. In the cases below, the wrinkle’s source creates these effectssubconsciously, unaware that he or she is doing so, and the results are treated asextraordinary rather than magical for purposes of spell resistance, detection, etc.74

VechorBlackout: Rather than being shaken at first, the Madness-victim triggers a 30-foot radius DeeperDarkness effect lasting 5d6 rounds, centered on himself. Memory loss does not occur, and thevictim is considered fully recovered from Madness once the Deeper Darkness lifts.Denial: The Madness-victim gains the benefit of Sanctuary against the threat that prompted theMadness save, with a Will DC equal to the failed save. Only this particular threat is subject tothe Sanctuary effect, which lingers until the victim fully recovers from Denial.Horrified: The Madness-victim’s appalled state permeates her immediate surroundings,imbuing other horrific experiences with still-greater awfulness. All later Horror saves rolled bythe victim, or by others within 30’, suffer a –4 morale penalty until she recovers fully fromMadness.Unhinged: Normal laws of probability break down in the victim’s vicinity, making even routineactivities’ outcome less than certain. Until his destabilized mind has recovered from Madness,it becomes impossible to Take 10 or Take 20 within 30’ of the wrinkle-generating character.Delusions: The victim’s delusions begin coming true, with outcomes similar to a Polymorph orMajor Image spell. Which one depends on the nature of the delusion: a victim convinced shehas endless wealth might make pebbles resemble coins, while one who believes she changesinto a ravening werewolf would gain the movement and natural or extraordinary attacks (but notthe appearance or other powers) of a werewolf when her “transformation” strikes. If a sourcethinks she can hurl Fireballs, she can do so, but the resulting “fireballs” are illusions with adisbelief DC equal to her failed Madness save. Delusion-based wrinkle effects’ range is limitedto 60’.Depression: The Madness-victim’s lassitude, detachment and gloom spread outwards, draggingtime’s subjective passage to a crawl. Each time the victim fails a Will save to take an action, allother creatures within 60’ must pass a Fort (not Will) save at the same DC, or be affected as by aSlow spell. Creatures who succumb remain slowed until they leave the unreality wrinkle, or untilthe Madness-victim either takes an action successfully, or recovers from Depression.Hallucinations: Conjured into reality by the insane victim’s confused psyche, his hallucinationsbegin to manifest to others, not just himself. Those within 60’ of the wrinkle’s source experiencethe same Major Image-equivalent visions as him, including potential Fear and Horror saves (butnot the –2 penalty) and the threat of nonlethal damage. Witnesses other than the victim can try todisbelieve these visions, at the same DC as his failed Madness save; success protects the witnessfrom harm, but does nothing to end the hallucinatory episode.Paranoia: All Fear saves made within 60’ of the Madness-victim suffer a –5 morale penalty. Inaddition, the victim’s effective OR is increased by +5, for interactions with all Vechorite NPCs ornative monsters. Both these effects last until the victim recovers fully from Paranoia.Amnesia: As amnesiacs’ Madness affects only their memory, not their perception of reality, thisMadness-effect does not generate unreality wrinkles.Multiple Personalities: The victim’s various alter-egos and fragments cease sharing a body withthe core personality, functioning as separate presences. When the core personality gives way toanother, the Madness-victim’s body falls into a comatose state, and the now-dominant personaappears in the victim’s square. Fragments manifest in an intangible state, as if by Project Image,becoming tangible only if necessary to employ their sole ability or skill. Alter-egos manifest asphysical beings with the victim’s current statistics, save racial traits (which reflect the alter-ego’srace) and loss of abilities which are spurned by the alter-ego.Either type of personality stays manifested until another identity displaces it, or until it tires orotherwise voluntarily relinquishes control. If the core personality reasserts itself, it reclaims andwakes up in the Madness-victim’s true body. If another fragment or alter-ego displaces the first,the new persona’s projection appears in the catatonic body’s space, and the previous one vanishes(often with a parting remark or verbal protest). Alternate personalities cannot leave the victim’sunreality wrinkle, vanishing if they move more than 120’ from the real body; this gives the corepersonality an immediate Will save to regain dominance, as if the victim had woken from sleep.75

VechorSchizophrenia: One of the deadliest unreality wrinkles, a schizophrenic’s wrinkle imposes thesufferer’s internal chaos upon those around her, swamping them in confusion and driving them toderanged violence. Each time the schizophrenic fails a Will save, creatures within 120’ must passa Will save with the DC of her original Madness save, or suffer the effects of a Confusion spell.This effect has no set time limit; rather, all those who succumb are confused until they achieve an“act normally” result, or leave the wrinkle’s 120’ radius. Rendering the Madness-victim dead orunconscious also ends the Confusion effect for all targets.Suicidal Thoughts: The Madness-victim’s death wish turns the unreality wrinkle into a potentialdeathtrap, for him and all those around him. Attack rolls which strike targets within the wrinkle’s120’ radius always achieve a threat, and damaging spell-effects or special attacks are enhanced asby the Empower Spell feat. This effect lasts until the wrinkle’s source either recovers, is slain, orsucceeds in killing himself.Dread Possibility: Davion the Many-SouledNormally, a Madness-victim with Multiple Personalities manifests those personalities asseparate presences within an unreality wrinkle. Some years ago, however, a deranged outlanderwandered into Vechor: a human wizard named Davion, who physically transformed into hisalternates. His wrinkle was as powerful as any Lost One’s; on his arrival, it afflicted theVechorite village of Thornewood with a terrible earthquake, then transformed it in synch withDavion’s own changes.Investigating, Easan discovered that Davion was no normal madman, but the product of abotched Wish that had fused the unlucky wizard, body and soul, with his three human hirelings.Intrigued by how this man’s condition resembled his own, Vechor’s darklord deliberatelyforfeited control of Thornewood to the stranger, letting Davion (CE male Wiz15) and hismerged souls – Augustus (LN male Wiz10), Boromar (CN male Ftr10), and Narana (NE femaleClr16 [Loviatar]) – all take turns ruling over (respectively) Thornewood, Arcanon, Boromar’sKnoll, and Pallatia.Davion’s unreality wrinkle encompasses five square miles. Like him, it shifts betweenidentities many times a day. The local population remains unaware of these changes, as theylikewise shift from traumatized quake-survivors to sober scholars to hardy frontiersmen todevout worshippers along with their village. Davion’s fused hirelings are unaware that theyshare a body; if told the truth, they forget this information when they cede control to him or toone another. The hirelings each possess their own individual statistics, but slaying one of themor extracting them from the gestalt by magic only removes them from the identity-rotation for24 hours.As for Davion, he is well aware of his curious state, and savors it. So long as their soulsremain trapped within him, the evil wizard realizes that he can’t be slain unless all three of hisalter-egos are killed also. Capricious and power-mad, he can utilize the abilities of his hirelings– Narana’s rebuking, Boromar’s Base Attack Bonus and combat feats, Narana’s and Augustus’sspells, etc – as if they were acting in his place. If Davion is slain, his body shifts formsrandomly to one of the other three; if Augustus, Boromar, or Narana are slain, Davion’s identityimmediately takes over.Davion has but one nagging thorn in his side: that Easan (who has interviewed him severaltimes) possesses greater power than himself. Too disordered in his present muddled state todevise a plan to usurp rulership of Vechor, the many-souled mage can do little more than dreamof being the absolute and dreaded master of a realm – in a word, a darklord – when he forfeitstheir mutual body to his hirelings’ control and slips into latent slumber.Somewhere in the depths of the Mists, in a realm ruled by dreams as Vechor is ruled bymadness, Davion’s stymied longings might very well come true…76

VechorLost Ones and Unreality WrinklesWhile victims of less-desperate forms ofMadness retain enough logic, common sense,or strength of selfhood to limit their wrinkles toone or two effects, those whose minds havecaved in entirely – those whom Ravenloft’snatives call “Lost Ones” – lack theseconstraints. Unreality wrinkles generated byLost Ones are nearly as potent as Easan’s owncontrol over the landscape of Vechor, able toinduce tangible and drastic changes in thesufferer’s surroundings. These changes’ naturedepends on what psychoses, fantasies, or fearshaunt the individual Lost One; some wrinklesare barely perceptible, save one discrepancy(e.g. its source is escorted by a person orcreature that doesn’t actually exist), whileothers teem with as much oddity as a dream …or a nightmare.A Lost One’s wrinkle has a 240’ radius, takesimmediate hold whenever Easan’s attentionsare directed elsewhere, and ceases to activelydistort reality only when the Lost One is unconscious or dead. Even then, any physical (but notmental) changes imposed upon objects or creatures by the wrinkle will linger, unless and untilEasan’s power as darklord restores them to their previous state. (Many of the temporarydisturbances which Vechorites attribute to their king’s insanity are actually generated by LostOnes.) Even the domain’s native human population is susceptible to these changes, althoughVechorites do receive a saving throw (Will or Fortitude as applicable) at DC 15 to resist beingmentally or physically altered. Usually, Lost Ones undergo fits or seizures when their wrinklesinduce a change in their surroundings, preventing them from performing any actions during thesame round; this is not universal, however.In metagame terms, DMs may use Lost Ones’ unreality wrinkles to establish ambience, to addan additional element of challenge to scenarios, or to change the mood of Vechor’s inherentmadness from its usual chaos to something specific: fear, despair, frustration, etc. An adventuremight also center upon identifying the source of a harmful wrinkle, and confining, curing, oreliminating that source. Unlike Madness-victims who yet retain a vestige of normalcy, someLost Ones develop a voluntary control over their wrinkles’ effects – to them, it’s only naturalthat their anger or desire should trigger a response from the world – so a fugitive Lost Onemight develop unique powers that help the wrinkle-source hide from, or fight back against,pursuers.Like Vechor itself, Lost Ones’ unreality wrinkles constitute a license for the DM’simagination to run wild, limited only by the PCs’ need for challenges and players’ need for fun.Unreality Wrinkles and RecoveryBecause a Madness-victim who generates an unreality wrinkle is constantly exposed to proof herinsanities are “real”, all recovery checks made while inside a wrinkle suffer a –3 circumstancepenalty. Should multiple Madness-victims be confined in close quarters, such that their unrealitywrinkles overlap, these penalties stack. Not surprisingly, any attempt to establish a successfulsanitarium in Vechor is doomed to failure: overlapping wrinkles would render cures impossible.77

VechorDungeon Master’s Tips: Vechor and the Techniques of TerrorAt first glance, Vechor seems like a dubious place to send your players, because of the overallweirdness of this domain. Other than seeing Easan’s grotesque experiments, it can be tricky tomaintain a horrific or gothic atmosphere in such a bizarre, everchanging land. Here are a fewrecommendations to help DMs.Try to picture this place as Alice in Wonderland meets Stephen King on a bad acid trip: yes,the glowing yellow butterflies always flying above your head are weird, but it can quicklybecome frightening when you find out their touch is poisonous! DMs should describe Vechor'screepiness as potentially dangerous, not just odd, and so turn its bizarre nature into an asset forcreating suspense, rather than a liability. In a realm where the very ground beneath one's feetcan't always be trusted to stay put, even routine activities such as walking across town canbecome an exercise in tension and uncertainty.The way Vechorites react to their realm's strangeness with a nonchalant shrug can alsoenhance the atmosphere of isolation, making foreign PCs feel alienated and unsure. Realizingthat Vechorites actually force themselves to be happy and content, so their "benevolant god"won't appear and try to improve their lives, can be a disturbing realization for players. Norshould DMs forget that the natives' usual detachment can shift abruptly to insanity or ugly mobviolence, with little provocation. Stringing up the nearest convenient scapegoat can be verycathartic!Vechor is a place where you can portray the disturbing atmosphere with a paintbrush, not justa fine-tipped pen. Much like the RLDMG's ideas on how areas of ethereal resonance mightappear from the Ether, in Vechor, the landscape can be played for ambience in ways that wouldseem grossly heavy-handed, anywhere else. This can, potentially, be a lot of fun for DMs todescribe, and PCs might well see the effects of their accomplishments mirrored in the physicalenvironment: if they succeed on an adventure to appease Easan's bad temper, for instance, thelandscape might suddenly shift from barren wasteland to rainbows and fluffy bunnies. (Over thetop? Extremely ... except for Vechor.)On a more sophisticated note, Vechor is also a place in which to explore the ramifications ofinsanity, in ways that suspense films like The Cell and serious novels like The Eden Expresshave done. On a large scale, Easan's erratic and fractured mental state predominates within thedomain; using "unreality wrinkles", other forms of Madness may also be explored. In Vechor,insanity can't simply be locked away and forgotten: even when the land seems stable enough,it's always simmering beneath the surface. Stakes are high when dealing with such threats,because so many bystanders may be swept up in the storm of a madman's wild fantasies.One way to showcase Vechor's scariness is if the PCs are pursuing a mad serial killer (or anyderanged villain from your campaign), who recently escaped to Vechor. There, the killer will beat ease with all the madness, but the PCs are at a disadvantage, as the environment becomesstranger at every turn. This unearthly atmosphere can ratchet up the tension in the subsequantcat-and-mouse game, where the Land itself can turn the hunter into the hunted. The scares willincrease if Easan learns of the hunt and tries to 'spice it up' for his own entertainment -- all tracesof the prey are suddenly erased or change direction, walls appear in the PCs' path, etc -- or if thekiller's own Madness spawns an unreality wrinkle that aids the villain's escape.Lastly, Vechor can serve as a potential release-valve for those days when players just won'ttake the game seriously. For even the best DMs, there are always times when nobody can stay incharacter, and players just can't resist tossing around movie quotes or bad puns at the gamingtable. Sending their PCs on a quick foray into Vechor provides a handy avenue for them to getthe smart-aleck remarks and anachronisms out of their systems, without disrupting the wider(and serious) course of a campaign.78

Vechor79

Interlude I

“The fogs of the Nocturnal Sea are alwaysthere. Do you know why? It’s a sign that thegreat void is not far away. Sail too far fromthe coast, and you will fall off the end of theworld and into the great void of nothingnessbeyond.”-Common belief around ArboraBy Viktor Hazan, early August 760Leaving Liffe for Île de la Tempête, I didn’trealize it was going to turn so much colder asthe Black Pelican headed south. I shouldcertainly have brought a few more layers ofMordentish wool for this trip. From what Ihave read about Île de la Tempête, there willbe no tailors’ shops in that barren place.While important local weather concernswill be addressed in each section of thisreport, here’s a little guidance for climateconsciousBrethren. Depending on whereyou intend to sail, you could need clothes forhot, mild, or very cold weather. Bringprotection from the near-constant drizzle andwinds, and against flies and mosquitoes inwetter areas.It’s curious that despite the modestdistance and lack of intervening land massesbetween Vechor and Todstein, theirtemperatures are so different. Vechor and itsenvirons are hot to the point of beingtropical, while Todstein stays frozen almostyear-round. The weather becomes temperateas one moves away from these two extremes.Drawing on resources from the Universityof Liffe’s cartography department, Icompiled a map of average Nocturnal Seatemperatures, color-coded as follows:Table 1: Average Temperatures (ºF)Color zone Summer WinterRed 85º + 60-65ºOrange (dark) 75-80º 50-55ºOrange (light) 70-75º 40-45ºYellow 60-65º 30-35ºGreen 50-60º 25-30ºBlue

Navigating in the Nocturnal SeaInterlude IAdapted from StormwrackDue to the permanently cloud-cover and limited range of vision, setting sail on theNocturnal Sea is dangerous. It is very easy to go off course. The stars are never visible, soconventional methods of orientation such as sextants are useless. Indeed, errant vesselshave been found adrift, the crew dead of thirst or starvation: a terrifying prospect, giventhe modest size of the sea.Sailors in the Nocturnal Sea who venture out of sight of landmarks have to succeed aKnowledge (geography) DC 15 check each day, or go off course. A typical ship captainhas 6 or more ranks in Knowledge (geography).Going off course on this sea usually means taking longer to get to one’s destination.The travel time is increased by one day for each two-point difference between the checkresult and the DC. Thus, a check of 11 vs DC 15 means an extra two days’ sailing to reachone’s destination.If a Knowledge (geography) check is missed by 7 or more points, the vessel is totallylost, and has in fact wandered into the Mists. The ship’s eventual time and location of exit– which sea? which domain? an oubliette? – is DM’s choice.Even if a ship is already off-course, the DC 15 must be checked each day, potentiallyextending the delay even further before reaching the destination. During these nervewrackingperiods of wandering, the only things visible are the vast, dark sea and overcastsky.The following modifiers apply to the DC of the navigator’s skill check, on the first dayat sea:Starting point well-known: + 0 Arrival point very familiar: + 0Starting point uncertain: + 3 Arrival point seen a few times: + 3Starting point guessed at: + 5 Arrival point seen once: +5Starting point unknown: + 9 Arrival point never seen: + 9The following modifiers apply to the DC check each day at sea, including the first one:Access to a reliable map: - 5Effective use of a magnetic compass: - 5Storm or dense fog during more than half of the day: + 10For each previous day spent off course, cumulative: +1Storms: Strong storms (see Stormwrack p. 23) are extremely common in the NocturnalSea, and the “severe” and “gale” grades of storm are plentiful too. Under strong stormsand other severe conditions, all vessels’ speed is divided by half, and even more so duringsevere storms or gales.82

Awesome storms form swiftly andregularly over the sea; black clouds alightwith violent lightning-flashes, and greatclaps of thunder rumble overhead. Mostcaptains attempt to circumvent these squalls,but it’s not always possible. During the mostterrible of storms, buckets of rain hurtledown as if the roiling waves had turned onend.Even when it’s not raining, a light saltspray often fills the air. Near Vechor, thismakes a traveler both uncomfortable anditchy, while in the south it can chillunprotected flesh to the bone. During thewinter, this spray soon freezes andaccumulates on a ship’s exposed surfaces,rendering both the deck and mastsdangerously slippery, and coating its riggingwith heavy ice. This makes the vessel muchslower and awkward to maneuver. To cap offthis miserable weather-report, Howe tells methat sudden, cruel hailstorms also strike atsea, whatever the season.Of special importance to arcanepractitioners like ourselves are the oddintervals of “dead magic” that strike thisregion. On such days, no arcane spell oritem, however potent or weak, will function:the eldritch forces upon which secular magicdraws simply refuse to manifest. They areprimarily reported in the southern reachesbeyond Île de la Tempête, but travelingarcanists in the Sound of Liffe haveoccasionally met with such also.I didn’t directly experience thisphenomenon during my journeys – anexperience I cannot bring myself to regretmissing out on – but I learned of suchoccurrences from the arcane universitystudents in Armeikos. One of my mostpromising pupils (for whom I penned anInterlude IMistways of theNocturnal SeaThe Ravenloft Campaign Setting revealsthat two well-documented Mistways linkthe Nocturnal Sea to other corners of theLand of Mists:The Jackal’s Ruse: East-Central NocturnalSea (about 15 miles southwest of Île de laTempête, in an area where hot and coldwinds clash) – Western Har’Akir(moderate reliability, one way). Enteringthis Mistway is a bane to most vessels, as itleaves the ship stranded on a sand dune inthe Akiri desert. Strange, mummified,fishlike remains have been found juttingout of the sand at this Mistway’s terminus;such finds imply that it may also functionunderwater, although whether it depositsundersea travelers atop the sands orbeneath them is unknown.Wake of the Loa: Northwestern NocturnalSea (a short distance northeast of NevucharSprings) – Northern Souragne (moderatereliability, two way). This Mistwayconnects two bodies of salt water, so can betraversed by vessels and sea creatures alikein relative safety.Six other, little-known Mistways arediscussed in this report: The Road of theLost, The Sleep of Reason and TheSomnambulist's Path in Vechor; the Callof the Claw and Ship of Horrors,discussed in Nebligtode's section, and TheLighthouse's Beam of Île de la Tempête.introductory letter to our Brethren inDarkon) compiled his thesis on the recordedhistorical occurrences of those “dead magic”days over the last decade. His conclusion isthat they are either truly random, or adhere tosome millennial cycle too long to be deducedfrom the few years’ time this sea has existedfor study.83

Interlude IDue cause for wariness, on arcanists’ part!I shudder to imagine the fate of any conjurerwho might hold a powerful fiend captive in acircle of protection, on such a day…Sudden, huge waves can pose severedanger to sailors. Storms, tremors, or othernatural (or unnatural) causes can agitate aquiescent surface into a churning mess, withwaves up to sixty feet tall not unheard-of.Howe says that Grabenites once reported awave over a hundred feet high crashingagainst their sea-cliffs! Facing such liquidbehemoths, even trusty seamen like BlackPelican’s captain can do naught but prayEzra’s mercy.Days of Magic VoidOn the darklord Meredoth’s nativeworld, wizards fear the one day out of ayear when magic ceases to function.When his domain of Nebligtode wascreated, similar periods of “dead magic”were incorporated into it as well;however, such days are not fixed on thecalendar. As the magic-suppressing daysstrike without warning, Meredoth andother arcanists do not have a chance toprepare for the event. Many of thenecromancer’s own works-in-progresshave thus been ruined.It should be noted that Nebligtode’s“Magic Void” days only impede arcanespellcasters. Both divine magic andmonsters’ spell-like abilities worknormally. For arcane spells or itemswhich reproduce arcane effects, theireffects fizzle as if disrupted duringcasting.Sometimes years pass between magicdeaddays; other times, they strike threeor four times in a year. Beyond thedamage to his arcane projects, Meredothloathes these days because he isvulnerable without his spells. If scholarsever could calculate the next Day ofMagic Void, Nebligtode’s darklord couldbe in serious trouble.84The temperate arm lying southwest of Ilede la Tempête (in yellow on the map) is trulyinfamous. Pinioned between cold and hotclimes, the mixing of air here generates theworst of the storms that afflict the NocturnalSea with rain, wind and waves. This erraticweather, along with the Selbstmorde reefsnearby, rumors of aquatic monsters, and theodd iceberg drifting in from the south, causesailors to shun the area, keeping to a coursewell east of Île de la Tempête.The chief hazards in the south are the huge,floating chunks of ice which sometimes driftas far north as the Isle of Ravens. Icebergsare most abundant near Todstein, but spreadgenerally westward to within spyglass-rangeof Graben Island each spring. Howe remindsme that only about one-tenth of an icebergprotrudes from the water. Together with thisregion’s myriad other threats, icebergs makethe southern Nocturnal the most dangeroussea in the known world to navigate.To make it worse, these icy hull-splittersare all but invisible, when cloaked by a stormor sea fog. Dense vapor can cut visibilitydown to a mere 50 feet! Matthew, thePelican’s first mate, says that experiencedcaptains won’t halt their ships in the fog,despite the icebergs’ peril, becausesupernatural dangers lurk in its depths whichare even deadlier. Instead of droppinganchor, they will call for lanterns, imposesilence on the deck, and cut the ship’s speedby half, while two lookouts are posted at theprow to watch for hazards, lashed to the railfor safety. Icebergs, I am told, are the leastof threats they watch for.Sailors usually describe Nocturnal Seafogs in leery, awestruck terms, similar tohow landlubbers speak of the Mists. Strayingoff-course in fog-bound seas is a terrifying

prospect to such men: those who have beenlost, thus, and emerged intact, tell of hearingbells tolling in the distance, somber voices ofloved ones, or pained and fearful outcriesfrom within the haze, or of glimpsing lightsno other soul on board can see.There are (of course) many local legendsof gruesome sea monsters and diabolicalfish-men. Some of these stories might beinflated accounts of genuine marinecreatures, like that of a pack of ravenous,man-eating orcas; swarming tentacles;marauding, pitch-black undead whales; or ahuge demonic kraken, its clutching arms’girth equal to a galleon’s. Others seem likeallegories for these waters’ deadly naturalhazards, such as feral swarms of vaporouscreatures that drive crews mad beforeslaughtering them (a clear metaphor for thedreaded fogs); a feral wind-demon whosewailing cries likewise strip men of theirsanity (storms embodied, surely!); oralluring sirens with blood-freezing kisses (aromantic parable for the lethal, yet oftenbeautiful icebergs).Even stranger stories circulate, such astales of water-breathing elves (!) escortedthrough the depths by wraith-like octopi, ortrains of rope-linked rafts found adrift:vacant, blood-splattered and claw-raked.Reason dictates these can only be sheerfantasy, yet the tales are evocative, even so.Watching one of the icy monoliths slowlydrifting by the Pelican one morning, I couldnot help but shiver, as the crew’s tales leftme wondering just what sort of slimy horrormight cling to the berg’s belly, riding ittoward the coast.Lastly, burials at sea are not to beneglected as a source of potential legendry.Many tales speak of sailors coming backafter a botched or disregarded sea-burial.Indeed, one account I heard in Armeikosspoke of entire fleets of sodden ships withshambling corpse-crews – more dead thanhave ever sailed these new-made waters, letalone drowned in them! – rising from theseabed, to course back and forth in theNevuchar Channel. (That the old salt whorelated this tale described it as a “blockade”inclines me to take this particular story at itsInterlude I85face value, given how we Brethren know theGreat King’s terrestrial borders are warded.)Fantastical though they seem, I do notthink all the other stories should bediscounted as hearsay. This sea is immense,and its depths may be unfathomable, for allwe know. In the deeper abyss, blind andhungry monsters even greater than thesailors’ fancies may crawl upon the muddysea floor…Our nearly-hysterical biologist had notoverstated in the least the unnaturalnessof the sight. In the span of a handful ofhours, seals, dolphins, sharks, smallwhales and even a pair of immense ones,the like of which we had never seen, swamlistlessly into the shallow bay and threwthemselves upon the smear of undulatinggoo which blanketed the beach. Thebleached-pale stuff would seize theunfortunate creatures and set to rippingthe very bones from them, the searing painrousing the prey too late from the stuporthat was its undoing.Perhaps worse still, waist deep in thewater, witnessing the spectacle orpresiding over it, were nightmarish fishmen:some coming, some going, somestanding as if spellbound, others chanting(if you could call it that), as though itwere High Mass. At last, EnsignCampbell pondered aloud whether a rifleshot might be in order, but given the horridhybrids’ numbers, saving the bullet seemedthe wiser course.We sculled silently back into the shelterof the rock outcrop, then set to rowing forour lives, desperate for the imaginedsafety of our ship. Reaching it, weimplored Captain Gladstone to raiseanchor and return east into the eeriefogbank, putting with all haste the island– which I have since learned is called“Todstein” – well astern of us.- From Bristol To Mordentshire: AnOutlander's Tale, autobiography ofJames Duegon

Interlude IEncounters on the Sea Surface (any domain)CR 2: anguilian Sto ; elemental grue, water (vardigg) CAr ;Wildlife¸CR ¼: albatross Sto ;sahuagin MM1 ; sea zombie QTR9, DoD ; shipbane FoSNS ;CR 3: ixitxachitl, vampiric MM2 ; lycanthrope, wereray DoD ;seawolf Sto ; vampire spawn, sea QTR9 ;CR 1/3: sea snake Sto ; seal Sto, Fro ; stingray Sto ;CR 4: blackskate Sto ; elemental swarm, water PlH ;CR ½ : barracuda Sto, QTR9 ; eel Sto ; jellyfish, giant QTR9 ;porpoise MM1 ;CR 1: manta ray MM1 ; octopus MM1 ; sea lion Sto ; shark; squid MM1 ;lycanthrope, wereshark FRMF, QtR9 ; reaver DoD ; sea catMM1; selkie, dread VRFSMCR 5: sirine MM2CR 6: Aquatic ooze, reekmurk FiF ; icegaunt Fro ; jollyroger DoD ; sirine, dread QTR9CR 8: Drowned MM3 ; slaughter (mob of shipbanes) FoSNS ;will-o’-sea RLMCIIICR 9: Blood amniote LiM ; caller from the deeps Sto ; golem,ice Fro ; kelp angler FiF ; soulless QTR9CR 10: kelpie FiF ; langoir QTR9CR 12: kraken MM1 ; swarm, sea zombieQTR9, DoDCR 16: dream vestige LiMCR 17: elemental monolith, water CArCR ¼: fleas of madness RL MC III (some ports areperiodically infested)CR 1: aquatic ooze, bloodbloater FiF ; ixitxachitl MM2 ; seaCR 3: dire eel StoCR 4: dire barracuda Sto, QTR9 ; dolphins MM1 (porpoise stats) ;CR 5: swarm, jellyfish Sto ; whale, orca MM1CR 6: Whale, baleen MM1CR 7: Whale, cachalot MM1CR 8: Octopus, giant MM1CR 9: dire shark MM1 ; squid, giant MM1Monsters86CR 23: : Meredoth’s Horror QTR9CR varies: elemental, water MM1 ; elemental, corrupted(new monster proposed by JWM); elemental, storm MM3 ;fiendish creature MM1 p 107 ; ghost MM1 ; ice beast Fro ; seaspawn DoD ; sea vampire QTR9 ; sea zombie lord QTR9

Interlude I87

L’Île de laTempête

By Viktor Hazan, August 11 th , 760After a fairly quiet night of sailing, I wasfinishing breakfast when I was called to thebridge of the Black Pelican by Paulo, ayoung crew member. He was sent by CaptainHowe to inform me that our ship wasarriving soon at our next destination island. Itook up my traveling rucksack and went ondeck. The wind was strong and thesurprisingly-cold damp air struck me hard. Itightened my coat. August was much colderhere than in Souragne!The teenage lad was waving over the rail,as if directing me to look. But I already sawthe rocky island and its infamous lighthouse.It was early morning, so no light beamreached in the dark, but I espied somethingin the watch room of the small tower thatflickered, with clocklike regularity.So, this was the infamous Île de laTempête. At first glance, it seemed remoteL’Île de la Tempêteand barren, perhaps too drab and quiet toaccord with its notoriety.After the lighthouse, the next thing I notedas we drew near were the derelicts and otherwreckage that ringed the island. There weredozens of them in view, and that, just on thisside of the island. At some points, theinshore waters were reminiscent of a smallforest, of jutting masts and split hullfragments.A strange sight it is!I had little time to peruse this stunninglandscape of maritime destruction, as ourvessel suddenly rocked as if a huge seamonster was toying with it from beneath thehull. I knew our captain was one of the best –that was precisely why I’d hired Howe tobring me here – yet I still felt uneasy seeingour boat approach the island, faced with somuch proof of its unpredictable currents.One crewman was nearly sent overboardwhen the boat unexpectedly lurchedunderneath us.89

L’Île de la TempêteL’île de la Tempête in shortCurrent location: Island in theNocturnal Sea, located a suggested 50miles northeast of the city of Egertus.Before 750 BC, Île de la Tempête wasbehaving like a pocket domain,appearing periodically in the variousseas of the Land of Mists.Size and reach: The island itself iskidney-shaped, and is roughly 10miles long. The domain also extends asuggested two to three miles off theisle’s coast.Ecology: Full (temperate rocky island)Darklord: Capitaine Alain MonetteYear of formation: 677; joined theNocturnal Sea, 750Cultural level: Most of it is Savage (0),but the Lighthouse area is Chivalric (8)and the former CL of the variousshipwrecks ranges widely.Population: 1 (or perhaps a fewshipwrecked sailors at times)Main settlements: NoneA sudden fog began to rise from the water,hampering vision. Of course, I knew myspells could bear me out of trouble shouldneed be; still, I was deeply relieved when theboat made it safely to the southern rockbeaches, where the water seemed strangelycalmer than it was farther out.Debarking from the ship’s dinghy, Istepped with my hiker’s rucksack onto slick,half-submerged rocks at the edge of theshore. The stretch wasn’t too wide, but Inearly lost footing a few times on theslippery stones, narrowly avoiding a plungeinto the water. Had I fallen, the strength ofthe waves that relentlessly pounded theshoreline would’ve likely crushed the breathfrom my lungs. But by carefully picking mysteps, I safely made it onto the beach: anarrow, near-featureless expanse of pebbles,interrupted only by a few sodden planksfrom derelicts. I waved to Captain Howe tosignal my safe arrival, then watched theBlack Pelican reclaim its dingy andwithdraw to a safe distance.The isle is more or less kidney-shaped, andabout 10 miles in maximum length. Most ofit is girded by cliffs and rocky shoals, exceptfor the southern pebble beach where I cameashore. The gradient slopes gently up as youtravel from there toward the lighthouse. As arough estimate, elevation rises by just under10 feet per mile; the cliffs which frame thebeach at the southern end rise about ten feetabove the high tide line, while the lighthouseoverlooks a hundred-foot precipice.Howe has circled the isle at my request,and I didn’t see any sign of waterfalls orstream-cut gaps in the cliffs. Unless a hiddenspring lies inland, there can be no source ofpotable water on this island other than rain.Most of the surface is bare rock, with orangeor pink lichens giving large chunks of it amottled, sickly look. The stones must have ahigh iron content, being a rich red-orangecolour.90

L’Île de la TempêteSettlements on Île de la Tempête?As optional adventure hooks:The treacherous waters and isolation ofthe island isn’t seen as a repellent by all.Some may prefer it that way, such as themonastic Order of the Guardians, whowish to set up a hold there. They plan toanchor an armour-plated ship near theisle (or purposely beach it) to serve as astronghold. The Guardians plan to keepclear of the infamous lighthouse, but willneed fighting power to establish thisoutpost. Can such an enclave be built, oris their effort doomed from the start?As an option, Monette could hibernatein winter as many real bats do, hidden ina cave. During the darklord’s torpor, aship recently passed too near the island.Instead of hitting one of the many reefs,it ran aground on a sand bar. Landing onthe isle, the crew discovered somethingvaluable: perhaps coal, high-grade iron,or gold (either untapped ores or treasurefrom wrecks). The crew eventually freedtheir ship and departed, leaving Monettenone the wiser. Word has since spread ofthe sailors’ find, and an expedition ispreparing to return for more. Come thespring, Monette could well be surprisedto find that a nascent colony has sprungup on his isle! Whether it’s a mining orsalvage operation, or a whaling station,prison, or other outpost, such interloperswill all be potential prey….91If not for the wind and the lack of water,this isle might be a fitting site for isolatedstudy or quiet contemplation … if theinevitable boredom can be averted, ofcourse. I find myself wondering if a morelasting presence than one solitary lighthouseever existed, or might one day becomeestablished, on this Île de la Tempête?I had noticed many caves in these cliffs asthe dingy approached them, no doubt slowlydug out by the waves’ action on friable rock.I suspect there are dozens of these caves, allaround the island. Most entrances are at tidelevel and easy to locate; I also detected atleast two cave entrances hidden underwater.While all caves promise excitingdiscoveries to spelunkers, I only had time tovisit four of the caverns. Two proved to bequite shallow, but the others were each overa hundred feet deep. In one of them, Idiscovered many of the bats which are soabundant on this isle, hanging on the ceilingand the walls, their slippery guano thickupon the cave floor.In the second deep cave, I was surprised tofind dusty human remains. The unfortunateshad died there at least ten years ago, so onlybleak skeletons remained, clustered near anancient campfire. Two rusted short swordsand a knife lay between them. The four wereprobably sailors, from what little remainedof their clothing. What was most disturbingis that, while it was clear from the bones’arrangement that they had died fighting, I donot think they fought one another, as none ofthe bones and garments displayed sword ordagger cuts. In fact, some of the bones borethe marks of razor-pointed teeth on them!

L’Île de la TempêteThe incisions were too precise for sea lionsor similar maritime carnivores, yet too largefor any of the bats I saw on the isle. I foundno other clue as to the perpetrator of thesedeaths, so I departed this cave leaving themystery of the dead men unresolved.Offshore, a band of jagged rocks encirclethe isle, save for the aforementionedsouthern beach. For the most part, theserocks lie just below sea level, invisibleexcept at low tide. I fully endorse thewisdom of Captain Howe, who had insistedthis island be approached only when the tidewas low, so these hazards could be avoided.But not all seafarers had Howe’sexperience, or perhaps his luck. The Île de laTempête is surrounded by dozens ofshipwrecks. This field of marine ruins istruly an astonishing scene. Most are caughtprecariously on the sharp rocks, grounded onthe cause of their ruin; some still float, butare hemmed in by rocks on all sides, to rollwith the crashing waves. (How intact shipscould have gotten penned, thus, was a bit ofa poser; had they simply appeared there,Mist-led?) There are derelicts of all typesand sizes, in all stages of deterioration.While many are now little more than soddenpiles of rotting wood, rope and sail, othersseem ready to set forth again after only a fewdays’ repair.I used fly spells to hover above these ruinsand explore a few. My divinations showedno living presence on the wrecks. Strangely,I found no human remains on board any ofthem, even the newer ones. It seemed as ifthe crews simply vanished from the deck, oreven from their hammocks. At this point, Isuspected that intelligent marine creatureshad been preying on the ill-fated sailors, or92that a pack of those stinking, horrific aquaticghouls had made off with the corpses.Suspiciously, several of the vesselsshowed signs of repairs having beenattempted after their grounding by storms orunpredictable currents. I also noticed thatsome existing wrecks had been cannibalizedfor parts. The stranded ships’ surviving crewhad had time – perhaps days – before theirrepair-efforts had been interrupted.A number of ships were still identifiable. Ihad read about several of these vessels beinglost at sea: the Thunderball from Egertus, theBlue Starfish from Mordent. (The latter wastelling, as it had gone missing from the Seaof Sorrows, confirming old accounts of howÎle de la Tempête used to “wander” betweenthe world’s seas, before coming to rest in750.) Another derelict was plainly aDarkonian warship: one from which I kept asafe distance, knowing that people’s taste forbattle-magic and petty-minded revenge. ButI saw nothing moving there, either.One of the older wrecks had a strangename: the Dragon’s Gold. Another bore anintact flag I could not place – it was not fromany of the lands I’ve been or read about, nordid it resemble any trading-companyinsignia or noble house’s coat-of-arms Iknew – which I found quite troubling.

I located the officers’ quarters andsearched for a logbook, but didn’t find any.When the second boat was similarly devoidof such journals, I had an intuition whichfurther wreck-searches bore out: the shipshad been stripped of any and all writtenmaterial – no logs, letters, or books remainedon board. I found blank paper, ink and quills,but no writing. Someone, or something, washungry for literature?The cargo of many of the merchant ships,however, is still there. Most of it has nowbeen ruined by salt water, but a few cargoholds remained intact, so far as I could see.L’Île de la TempêteAlongside my investigation of the wrecks,I observed the remarkable scale of theturning tide. What surprised me is that thesea rose so very far around the island: bymore than twenty feet, between high and lowtides. The sea lingered at its high point forabout an hour; then the water quicklylowered, about one foot every thirty minutes!A puzzling phenomenon, considering thattidal levels of Liffe and the Darkonian coastare far less extreme. I cannot, to be honest,account for this discrepancy.93

L’Île de la TempêteOf Shipwrecks and their Drowned SecretsThe following is a partial list of shipwrecks (and some related adventures hooks) to be found inthe vicinity of Île de la Tempête. Keep in mind that many of these wrecks could be completelyunderwater and nearly invisible from the surface. Thick crusts of mussels and barnacles haveattached themselves to the hulls of the older wrecks.A DM might also choose to have Monette sink all these wrecks so newcomers to the island donot see them, making the island closer to the Darklords accessory description.Shipwrecks with supernatural or magical aspects are described at the end of the list. While mostof the island’s shipwrecks should be mundane, a few of them could hide dark secrets, and DMscan choose from this list of suggestions.• Merchant ships make up the majority of the wrecks. Most come from the main Eastern Coreports (Darkon – raw goods, ale, timber; Nova Vaasa – livestock, leather), but some Renaissanceareas engage heavily in shipping as well (Mordent – fishing; Dementlieu – tradingand culture; Lamordia – manufactured goods; Richemulot – craft goods or raw material[displaced riverboats]). Vessels from exotic realms beyond the Mists (Sri Raji, RokushimaTaiyoo, Souragne, Paridon) or from local Nocturnal Sea ports (Armeikos, Graben-town)may also appear, though in lesser numbers.• Thunderball (from Egertus), a small passenger ship on its way to Liffe. This ship neverarrived to destination and was thought lost at sea.• Blue Starfish (from Mordentshire), a scientific research vessel studying fisheries, whichvanished in the Sea of Sorrows. It floats, upside down, among the rocks. Nothing of valueremains on board. Nets from the vessel cling to the rocks around the wreck, making it dangerousto swim near: would-be explorers risk being caught in the nets and drowning.• Dragon’s Gold (see Darklords accessory). An outlander merchant ship of alien design,wrecked in 690.• A smuggling ship with alien flag; another outlander vessel, dragged into the Mists by thelighthouse’s beam.• The wreck of the Hellena (merchant carrack), known to have gone down containing 1600gallons of high-quality Darkonian whiskey in well-sealed barrels. The Carlyle TradingCompany has offered a standing reward for news of its fate, and will pay still more if thevessel (still largely intact) can be salvaged and delivered to Armeikos.• A ship containing something valuable to a certain party, who will seek heroes to retrieve it ifnews of the wreck’s presence on Île de la Tempête gets out. The valued item could be ofgreat monetary value; if so, PCs who retrieve it will find themselves tempted by greed, or(more philanthropically) by another’s desperate need for money (for a hospice, ransom, etc).The item could also be a magical item, important books or documents, etc.• A demolished Rajian vessel, fragments of which conceal a perplexing artifact recovered byexplorers from the swamps of the Wildlands. Found alongside many marble statues of greatbeauty, this hunk of corroded bronze comprises some kind of mechanism composed ofgears, tubes and wheels. The explorers first thought it an astronomer's tool, but a more thoroughinspection revealed it to be far more: a sophisticated system of differential gears andother clockwork, of a complexity never before seen, even in Lamordia or Paridon. Ifretrieved, many people – and perhaps even a fir or two – will wish to analyze this item.94

L’Île de la Tempête• The Belle Marée, a ship lost so recently that its owners are still searching for it. In Pont-a-Museau, the man responsible for insuring the vessel (and its costly cargo) seeks heroes toinvestigate its disappearance and retrieve a chest from the captain’s quarters.• The Olpaltiouss, a merchant ship Mist-led from the Sea of Sorrows. It lies under 25-30’ ofwater, and the hull is in two pieces, with barrels and crates littering the 120’ stretch of seabedbetween the halves. On her last stop, Olpaltiouss offloaded most of her cargo of hardwoodand picked up a load of wine, in barrels and bottles. The wreckage contains mostlybroken barrels, but some crates still hold cooking oil or wine in unbroken bottles. Investigatingthe wreckage, the party will find little else, aside from a few corroded bells and chippedchina. There could (DM’s discretion) be a sizeable cache of coin in a hidden safe in the captain'squarters.• The Iron Fist was a Darkonian merchant vessel, sailing home laden with gold and Vaasi currency,as well as the goods of archaeologists moving to Darkon. There are rumors that thecargo includes several small lockboxes of treasure and enchanted (or cursed?) items. IronFist has become a legend, attracting many treasure seekers who are also often lost at sea,adding to the bounty surrounding the treacherous rocks on which the ship is caught.• A shipwreck’s cargo hold bears the shackles and barred doors of a slave ship. It is a tragicplace, with lingering ethereal resonance of pain and death.• This sunken alien ship appears fairly intact, as it is made of stone. It is similar in shape to atypical long barque, though it does have a number of differences in design. Jet black in hue,it looks rather wicked, with jutting spikes and horns all across its bow and stern. The prowof the ship looks like the snout of some evil draconic beast. Whatever rigging and masts itonce had have long since broken off. However, the hull is still watertight.95

L’Île de la Tempête• The wreck of the Red Siren. This ship’s ornate decoration suggests that it was originallybuilt on an exotic tropical island. It now lies half on a reef, half out of the water, its mast at acrazy angle and its sails almost rotted away. Over the sound of the waves, observers realizethey can hear the sound of a woman screaming. (The figurehead of the ship – a delicatesiren – is enchanted so the ship can’t get lost in the fog, but with the wreck of the ship, thequasi-intelligence imbued in the wooden figure has gone mad, and sometimes uses hermagic mouth ability to scream in pain and fear.)• Washed high on a rock, a shipwreck shows signs of activity, possibly in the recent past.Someone has strung up a canopy over the gaping hole in the side, and an orderly pile ofdriftwood and shattered timber lies nearby. In the hold, it is evident someone was takingmeasures to ration their food. But nobody is found on board.• The White Lady. On the western side of the island, this wooden vessel is wedged betweentwo sharp outcroppings of rock. Made of blackish wood, it has elaborate carvings all over itssurface, depicting fantastic and unearthly scenes and peoples. The vessel is Darkonian inorigin, and any familiar with elven woodwork will recognize such craftsmanship. The vesselwas one of dozens commissioned by Azalin Rex after his sudden return to power. Thehastily-constructed shipyards of Nevuchar Springs attracted numerous craftsmen and engineers.The White Lady was designed by one Scotia Nautilux, who claimed to have beeninspired by a strange dream he had while wondering the badlands of the Mountains of Misery.White Lady bears many beautiful and elaborate statues and carvings, many by Scotia'sown hand. Work on the vessel was delayed several times due to Scotia's habit of vanishinginexplicably to "find inspiration". What none outside of a few trusted members of the dockworkersrealized was that Scotia had made contact with a fey in the lands formerly known asArak. In the last few months of construction, Scotia sealed himself away, poring over theship with single-minded obsession, his shadow nowhere to be seen. (That absence was coveredup by his friends.) Scotia vanished shortly after completing his masterwork, and thevessel was put to sea. When the ship was later lost, those who knew the truth behind its constructionwondered if it had been cursed all along.• This passenger ship comes from the Sea of Sorrows, and it is of a style that became obsoletealmost a century ago. All the canvas has rotted away, and the only ropes that remain areheavy with algae. The upper and lower decks have both rotted; walking along either is illadvised.If explored, there might be some objects forgotten for generations found in thehold, but their condition is extremely poor.• This isn’t a wreck, as the small ship is anchored in an area devoid of treacherous rocks. It’sfloating, yanking vainly at its anchor-chain, sails lowered and wheel tied hard a-starboard.This vessel is in fairly good condition and could be used by sailors.• A rich person’s private pleasure barge, stuck on a rock and battered by the waves.• Little more than the sun-bleached ribs of the hull remain of this once-mighty medieval battleship(an outlander vessel) remains. When intact, it would clearly have towered over theisle’s other ruined craft. What little of the upper deck survives displays evidence of a hardbattle, albeit a significant amount of time ago, perhaps as much as a century.And those with more sinister or supernatural secrets:• On any of the wrecks, the remains of a sailor who died on his last voyage before going hometo marry his childhood sweetheart linger as a bowlyn (Denizens of Dread).96

L’Île de la Tempête• Some of the wrecks may be haunted by one or more ghosts or other incorporeal undead, bethey long-dead crew or prisoners, slaves, passengers, or stowaways. They may have tales totell about the lighthouse and its keeper.• A prison ship crashed and all the prisoners drowned. For a number of them, their ghosts andshadows live on.• One of the larger ships had a cage capable of holding a creature of great size. The cage is brokenopen, and the few bones of the crew which are to be found appear to have been gnawedon by a beast of some sort. (Monette left these bones as they stood as a possible red herring).Might that beast still be alive on the island?• Darkonian warship. Why did it capsize here? Why wasn’t it retrieved by Darkon’s navy? Thewreck could contain many secrets and valuables, from powerful enchanted items to battleplans and other Darkonian state secrets. A new spell? A new weapon?• This low, dark ship sits precariously on the edge of a stony shoal. Its undamaged hull isupright and rocks gently back and forth on the waves. Strange lights are seen around thewreckage on nights of the full moon. The ship is devoid of life, except for a single gray catwhich stalks the deck. The cat will follow anyone boarding the ship, but maintains a leery distance.There are two openings into the hull, easily accessed by ladder. The hull contains cargoboxes laden with fine cloth, spices and ivory from Sri Raji. The cat grows very agitated as thehull is explored and seems to be trying to get everyone out. If anyone approaches the rear ofthe hull the cat will become violent and may even attack with surprising fury for a small animal.If the cat is overcome and a search is made, a secret opening offers access to a lowerhull: one which makes the ship bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside. What doesit hide? Where does it lead to?• This sunken ship seems to have sailed out of legend and nightmare: a living thing craftedfrom flesh, bone and necromancy. The intact sails of the ship’s twin masts are furled likebatwings. These monstrous wings are supported by long, twisted arms of two tall skeletalcreatures, growing up out of the deck of the ship like necromantic trees. The ship itself is offlesh reinforced with bony plates and ribs, its surface mottled by pulsating nodules and suppuratingwounds. Even its ropes and coils still run with the black ichor which flows up fromsome deep and hidden heart. This ship was built by Vecna’s necromancers and it is unknownwhy it sank here. The skeletal “masts” can't move except to furl and unfurl their wing-sails.The ship could defend itself using noxious gas clouds, tentacles, bone spikes, and man-traps(like mouths forming in the flesh of the ship). Underwater, it can still use most of these abilitiesif threatened, but not its gas-attacks.• The wreck of the Allae-En'arta, a pirate ship which once preyed on the Nocturnal Sea’s merchants.These pirates lost track of their position soon after seizing the contents of a small vesseloff of Knammen Isle. Unable to sight the coast for weeks, the crew began to despair ofever finding port, when the first mate spotted the lighthouse late into his watch. Disregardingthe captain’s warning that such beacons in these waters weren’t always to be trusted, the mateled a mutiny and overthrew the captain. Once in command of the ship, they quickly ran afoulof the deceptive lighthouse. The captain and those loyal to him have been trapped in thewreck, nursing a grudge against the mutinous first mate and his followers; the two groupshave been conducting skirmishes against one another ever since then. Worse, some terriblemagic – perhaps their own descent into corruption, perhaps some recent brush with a greaterevil than Monette – has begun to transform the feuding pirates into sahuagin: an outcome forwhich the factions blame each other.97

L’Île de la TempêteI was still inspecting wrecks, when I hearda far-off shout. I looked to the island, spottedmovement on the cliff-top. I thought at firstthat my eyes were playing tricks, but no:there really was a man waving at me from onshore, and shouting in some dialect I didn’tunderstand! I silently cursed my carelessnessin being seen flying by arcane means, as I amusually more circumspect about my magic.Using what remained of my spell’sduration, I flew back to the island; oddly,this didn’t seem to impress the stranger,though he did cease waving to observe myapproach. The man was tall and thin, dressedin a dark suit with gold buttons. A cutlasshung at his belt. His face bore an alarmingscar that stretched from the right temple tounder his left ear, giving him a fierceappearance. He looked like a captain or someother marine officer. I suspected he musthave arrived on one of the ships that lay inruins all around us.As he didn’t exhibit any aggressive signs, Itouched down and accepted the eager handhe offered in greeting. He shook it with wirystrength and smiled hopefully at me. Therewas a lonely need, perhaps even relief, in hiseyes. However, it quickly became apparentwe would have trouble understanding eachother. His speech was slow, not because hewas dimwitted, but because he didn’t seemto master any single language known to me,merrily mixing Low Mordentish, Darkonese98and Vaasi all in one sentence! (In hindsight,I suspect he’d added some Grabenite to thismongrel pidgin as well; at the time, I had yetto hear that insular tongue spoken aloud.) Ittook all my concentration to puzzle out whathe was saying, and I’m not sure I understoodeverything correctly.During this first uneasy conversation, Ispoke primarily Vaasi, which he seemed tounderstand most of the time. If not, I triedDarkonese or resorted to gestures if thatfailed. The more trouble the language-barrierposed, the more curious I grew as to theorigins of this person. He was well-dressed,and had the commanding presence of anexperienced sea wolf, yet he seemed equallyclumsy with all of the trade-tonguescommon to these waters! So where was thisman from?After welcoming me to his island – andeven through the odd entangling of tongues,the sense that he considered it his was clear –he gave me a name: Alain Monette. I repliedwith a pseudonym I often use at times whendiscretion is prudent: Peter Ash. He askedme my purpose in coming here. I said (quitetruthfully) I was looking for someone who’dbrought a great deal of trouble upon me, andwhom I suspected was somewhere in theseislands. He remarked that he was alone here.I enquired about his presence on an islandsupposedly deserted. After a bit of coaxing,he told me his story. If I understood himcorrectly, Monette claimed he was cursed toremain on the island alone, with no companybut the bats. He swung his arms in a grandgesture, as if to encompass the whole of theisland, which led me to understand I wouldfind no soul but him if I explored it. He toldme those who linger here simply vanish intothin air during the night, after a few days’time, unless they were staying with him atthe lighthouse. (I didn’t mention the bodies Ihad found in the cave to him. Was this islehaunted by something that hunted at night?)Monette explained that he had been cursedby his former crew. He was once the captainof the privateer Ouragan, a name meaning‘gale’ or ‘hurricane’ if I understood hispidgin correctly. According to him, his firstmate organized a mutiny because the crew

wished to keep the spoils of a state-charteredraid instead of deliver it to the nation underwhose colors they’d sailed. Monette refusedand fought his treacherous men, but lost andwas marooned on this island. He said that hehad been here for a few years.“Once a while, boats be wreck here,because of this bad-awful lighthouse,” hesaid. He couldn’t do anything to stop this,because he believed the lighthouse wassupernatural. Survivors stranded on the islewould disappear after a few days, and hewould be left alone again for months. Afterthis tale, I questioned him about leaving. Hereplied that he could not escape the isle, astrying to do so made him very ill. He fearedthis sickness was part of the curse and that itcould kill him. For a moment, his gazedrifted out to sea, and was filled with pain.When I asked him what he ate, he made afishing gesture. I rather regretted that I hadnot brought my rod and flies, as a day spentcalmly fishing in company is always goodfor winning confidences from the unwary. Ismiled and made him understand that I alsoloved fishing. I was trying to befriend him,in order to get more information from him.Monette asked me if I knew any otherspells besides fly, perhaps hoping my magicmight help him. I opted to respond simplywith a knowing smile, to let him believe thatI was a powerful wizard. If he wanted to testme somehow, there was his answer.He also asked if I had seen or heard aboutthe Ouragan, or of the “port of the prince” orsome other name along those lines. When Ireplied that I never heard of it, he seemedsaddened, but unsurprised, as if he was usedto receiving this negative answer.He then nodded toward the lighthouse andsaid he wanted to return to its shelter beforenightfall. He invited me to accompany him,pulling gently on my coat. With all of theexquisite courtesy which I had learned in theDementlieuse tea rooms, I made him tounderstand that I preferred to camp on thebeach. I even showed him a book from myrucksack with a turtle on the cover, implyingthat I wished to study the marine life here.But he was no fool and saw my quickglance toward the Black Pelican, its shapeL’Île de la Tempête99now just a tiny point on the horizon.However, being a gentleman, he didn’t pressthe matter. He said something that soundedlike good night, and invited me to visit thelighthouse in the morning, just after hightide. I assured him I was delighted by hisinvitation and would be there tomorrow. Heshook my hand and left me to walk towardthe island’s summit.I watched him head north until I lost sightof him. The paler patch of cloud which wasthe Nocturnal Sea “sun” was kissing thehorizon by then, so I pitched my tent on thefar side of the island instead of on the beachas I had said. I suspected one couldn’t be tooprudent in this context. If this Monette,whom I did not trust, were a menace, hewould not find me on the beach as expected.As the day ended, the low angle of the sunlet a few errant rays slip beneath the cloudcover,giving me a last, twilit glimpse of theisland’s stunning landscape. The sun’s dyingsketched long shadows on the ground, andthe rocks turned a golden orange colour. Thestartling contrast of these shadows and thegleaming rocks created a very beautiful, yetnearly alien landscape.Suddenly, like a flurry, the bats came outof the caves. From all the caverns thatrimmed the isle, bats streamed out bythousands, and flew over and around therocks. These were mundane, insectivorousbats, but there were masses of them! Theirflocks’ swirling aerial ballet was gracefuland nearly hypnotic.I recalled that Gerard’s letter on the batswas in my rucksack, and paused to re-read it:

L’Île de la TempêteWhile working for Dr. Milhavet (author of “Struggle and Victory in the AnimalKingdom”) in a previous job, I had the pleasure of dissecting and characterizing twodifferent species of Tempetian bats. Classified by the doctor as the Tempetian bulldog bat(Noctilio tempetus) and the Tempetian ghost bat (Macroderma tempetus), these two sharean interesting ecological relationship. Noctilio is the smaller of the two, with a bodylength of 3-5 inches. It feeds primarily on small insects and tiny fish, or scavengesopportunistically on tidal refuse and carcasses. Macroderma is the larger, with a bodylength of up to 12 inches, and preys upon smaller vertebrates, including Noctilio. Bothbats are thought to hibernate in the colder months of November to February.What Dr. Milhavet found was that, when it feeds upon carrion, Noctilio can capture adisease-vector in its salivary glands, render the pathogen dormant, and then infect otherorganisms with it. (He has yet to determine the mechanism behind this.) In addition, hefound that when Macroderma feeds upon Noctilio, these diseases activate, infectingMacroderma and potentially killing it. This provides a source of carrion for survivingNoctilio, as well as a form of viral weaponry that discourages all but the most desperateMacroderma from preying upon the smaller species.He hypothesized that, through further study of the salivary glands of Noctilio, othermammals might be made to carry dormant diseases; however, he would not tell me thepurpose behind such conjectures. Similarly, he would not reveal where he obtained theTempetian chiropteran specimens, and my constant prodding as to their source wouldeventually get me fired.Thankfully, foresight had already led me to surreptitiously peruse the doctor’s notes.The specimens were obtained from a group called the Ikosik, whom he’d met on theeastern shores of Nova Vaasa. I have tried to find these people, hoping to learn wherethey themselves had gained knowledge of forsaken L’ile de la Tempete, but to this datehave met only with failure. I shall keep you informed should I learn anything more.Yours in the search for knowledge,Gerard100

According to Gerard, I had best be sure notto get bitten by these bats, so I put on mythick gloves and the netted hat I wear whilefishing in the bayou. Still, I was never muchbothered by these fascinating animals.I walked to the western edge of the island,and saw the lights of the Black Pelican atsea. With a quick dancing lights cantrip, Isignaled all was well. After a moment, theyreplied with the agreed lantern-flash signal.I took a moment to observe the lighthouse.I noted with surprise that its beam was rathernarrower than is usual for a lighthouse, andthat its light seemed to sweep by at differentangles each time it rotated, thus obscuringthe distance to the treacherous rocks aroundthis island rather than revealing it.Restless, I took a long walk in the dark, allmy senses alert, but I discovered no furtherL’Île de la Tempêteinformation on the island, its fauna, or thehypothetical people-snatching monster. Ifany such creature was out there, its appetitefor philosophy professors on sabbatical mustnot have been very pressing. I returned tomy relocated camp around midnight, cast analarm spell just in case it changed its mind,and went to bed, sleeping lightly.I woke up early to pack my things. Therewere still a few bats about, but the majorityhad already returned to their sea caves.Also, someone (something?) had pilferedall the dried food I had left outside the camp,in order to keep any hungry animal away.With this rocky soil, I couldn’t find anytraces left by the thief. My breakfast thatmorning was a frugal one, consisting only ofwater from a wineskin I had kept with me.101

L’Île de la TempêteHungry or not, I resumed my explorations,this time going north toward the lighthouse.On the way, I mentally reviewed my noteson the fauna and flora of island.Wildlife on Île de la Tempête is limited tobats of all size, a few sea birds, and rodentsno bigger than mice. Numerous flies fill theair by day, joined by moths at night. None ofthem are dangerous, save a rare few bats thatmay carry disease, as Gerard warned.Vegetation is scarce, mainly lichens, bitterfruitedshrubs, and a few puny pines at thenorthern tip of the island. I suspect the saltwinds and rocky sparseness of soil makes itdifficult for most trees to grow here. Yet,Encounters on L’Île de la TempêteCR 1/10: Bat MM1this isle once had more trees: in the southernpart, I noticed pine stumps here and there,chopped down long ago with an axe. But thetrees, themselves, has been taken elsewhere,presumably for firewood or boat repairs.I arrived at the ill-famed lighthouse in theearly afternoon, after a long, but uneventfulwalk over the rocky ground. The lighthouseis a very old-looking building, made of stonetaken from the island. The walls of this uglyyet durable edifice do not stand very high,35’ at most: its location on the promontory iswhat makes it the highest point on the island.Each side of its square base is about 15’wide, tapering slightly toward the top.Nearing the lighthouse, I noticed theground was strangely but regularlyshivering. After a moment, I realized that itsvibration could be felt when the larger wavescrashed into the cliffs. I marveled a momentat the power of the sea, and the impressivehigh tide.I called for Monette through thelighthouse’s door but received no response.CR ¼: Albatross STO (and similar birds, on a quick stop while traveling)There are no monsters native to the island (other than Monette). But sometimes thewrecks do contain things …Of Afflicted BatsJust as Monette became a lycanthrope by feasting off bats, so were a handful of theisland’s bats altered. The animals gained the supernatural ability to assume the shapes ofhumanoid / bat hybrids. They are small and squat creatures, roughly the size of humanchildren; most of their forms are distorted and barely functional, far more grotesque than atrue werebat’s hybrid shape. They are easily dispatched in combat if cornered (1-2 HD),and are quick to flee in bat-form.The creatures have a dog-like intelligence, treating Monette as the alpha of their kind.They sense his loathing for the bats, and fear he will extend that same loathing to them aswell. They therefore keep to the dark places and avoid being seen by him or people fromthe wrecks if at all possible, reverting to bat form when anyone is near. They are right toavoid the darklord’s sight: if Monette ever notices the critters, the truth will disgust andinfuriate him.When Monette is caught up in the frenzy of his curse, the bat-creatures aid their alpha insmall ways: sabotaging shelters and boats of stranded survivors, spoiling food, or stealingobvious silver weapons.102

Knocking got no answer either. The doorwas locked, but I opened it quickly with aknock spell.The tower’s first floor was neat and clean,with nautical-flavored furniture, including afold-out bed and cast-iron galley stove. Ipresumed these had been salvaged from thewrecks by Monette. An old arquebus was seton a wooden rack, alongside several fishingrods, some well-crafted and some crude. Isearched quickly, finding nothing that eitherseemed suspicious or enlightening.I climbed a narrow stair to the secondfloor, where a sealed trapdoor awaited. Thestench when I opened it was shocking, andso awful I nearly lost the feeble excuse for abreakfast I’d had. The horrendous reekreminded me, somehow, of the bats’ guanofouledcavern, though the floor seemed dry.There was no window in this room, so Iretrieved an oil lamp from the first floor tolight my way.Bedraggled books and crumpled paper,piled haphazardly on a large wooden table,seized my attention. I realized that Monettewas the one who had collected these itemsfrom the wrecks. But why?Curiosity led me to select a battered ship’slog and read its last entry:Feb 16th, 752Bad luck.Our ship got stuck on a rock nearthis desolate island, and needs twoor three days’ repair. Ours isn’t thefirst to foul here; there are dozens ofwrecks, all over. Have to report thelighthouse here as dangerous andmisleading: we thought we’d judgedhow far ahead it lay, but the beam’sposition was all wrong to warn us ofthe shoals. Boudin and two othershave gone to salvage the neededplanks from the other ships.The logbook’s entries ended with that date.I then examined a letter, its vellum marredand ink partially blurred by seawater.L’Île de la TempêteMy darling,I now know I shall never see youagain, just as I am sure that youwill never read these words. Butif you ever do, know you are asalways my comfort in my darkestas well as my brightest hours.I know this tragedy is mine andmine alone to accept blame for. Ishould have listened to my menwhen they said that there wassomething eerie about the light,but I wanted to find a harbour,safe from the storm that wasbrewing. But as soon as weveered to follow the lighthouse,the storm hit us and threw usover. I fell hard against a railing,and when I revived I lay here,abandoned by hope and trappedunder my ship beneath thecallous waves of the sea.I will never regret naming theship after you, my sweet Hellena,even if she did get jealous andbecome my watery grave, for Ihave you in my heart. I regretonly that I’d spent so much of thetime we had away from you, andwith the cruel mistress we callthe sea...How well I remember the nightwe met, and how exquisite youlooked: moonlight shining uponyour hair; your dress of pale bluewith pearls sewn into theembroidered flowers. But neithermoon nor pearls could equalyour smile, that wonderful smile.That was when I first knew that Iloved you.I thank you for the wonderfulyears we've had, my darling, andfor the two wonderful childrenyou gave me. I know that you willraise Leland and Edward well,and make better gentlemen than Iout of them.Yours forever,Moriarty103

L’Île de la TempêteAfter this touching testament, I took anolder ship’s logbook. The last entry itcontained was perplexing:723, July 26We sah the creature that kilt mycrewmen. Wile the first attaks weresneakey, it came to us in brood day lighton high tide. It is a ugley half-manmonster thing. It grabt poor Shirley andtook fly with her before we could do athing. Dam the lighthouse that brot ushere! May it crumbel and fall in the sea!Ezra please help us!I shut the book, trembling with anxiety as Ibegan to grasp just what manner of creatureMonette might be. And the date of this lastjournal entry, many decades ago, was alsovery upsetting.I took the second flight of stairs going up.Again, I had to open a heavy trap door, butthe fresh, cold breeze was a delight after thedismal stench of the second floor.The beacon was slowly rotating, but Iheard no mechanism at work. Then I realizedthat the source of the light was no device atall, but a gleaming skull, floating andspinning in mid-air. After taking carefulprecautions against any potential harmful oreven deadly necromantic magic, I tried tocollect this morbid item so the Fraternitycould examine it, but my hand passeddirectly through it. My skin felt like it wason fire and I quickly withdrew my arm, butthere were no signs of burning or otherinjury. Further tests showed the skull wasinsubstantial, perhaps ethereal?104

Looking at the horizon, I saw the BlackPelican had now moved closer to the island,as it was planned. I took this opportunity tocast fly, and thirty minutes later, I was backon board Howe’s ship.It was then that I learned of the crewmanwho had gone missing during the night. Ishivered, realizing Monette had probablybeen devouring this unlucky sailor, all thewhile I was investigating his lighthouse.I asked Captain Howe to set sail and leaveas quickly as possible. Soon the Île de laTempête was just a tiny rock on the ocean.Yet still the light beam was blinking at us,like a watching, beckoning eye…L’Île de la Tempête105

L’Île de la Tempête106The Lighthouse’s BeamThe source of the lighthouse’s beam is theglowing skull of Monette’s first victim on theisland, his nephew. When Monette firstreconstructed the ruined lighthouse on Île dela Tempête, he had planned to use a firedriftwood to lure ships to his island.However, when he set the last rock in place,the eyes of his nephew’s skull suddenly beganto emit a strong light, focused as a narrowbeam. Confused, Monette set it atop thelighthouse and the device started turning,luring sailors to their doom. Monette nowcalls his lighthouse l’Oeil de Minuit (The Eyeof Midnight).The beam of light doesn’t normally extentoutside the domain’s limits (i.e. about 2 milesaround Monette’s isle). This light isenchanted to deceive sailors passing near: itinitially appears as the lighthouse of afriendly, well-known port, or similar location.Through the fog and darkness, it can alsoappear as a warning-light – one that suggeststhe isle’s shoals lie farther away than theyreally do – or the feeble light of a ship indistress, prompting other vessels toinvestigate. The beam is angled high over thewater, so it never reveals the rocks and shoalsas ships approach.Any captain seeing the beam must make aWill save (DC 20) or feel very tempted to gotoward it. If a vessel moves toward the sourceof light, the beam ceases to turn and becomesconstant, as it beams toward the lured ship,coaxing it onto the rocks. This change in thelight’s behavior alerts Monette that potentialvictims are coming.Once a year, on the night of the full moonclosest to the anniversary of Monette’s arrivalin the Land of Mists, the beam can reach intoplaces farther afield, such as the Clusters andIslands of Terror or the Sea of Sorrows, orpossibly even into other planes. Monette'slighthouse technically operates like aconditional, one-way Mistway. Sailors whodare follow or investigate the source of thisstrange light are doomed: the minute theydecide to travel toward the light, their ship istransported to the Nocturnal Sea. The vessel’scaptain then has to succeed a Will DC 20check to change the course of the ship and notcruise toward the island.

L’Île de la Tempête107

Isle of Ravens

By Brother Paul Dirac, August 14 th , 760This is, of course, my second visit to the Isleof Ravens. In keeping with therecommendation of Father Scott, I willendeavor to provide a more analytical viewof the island and introduce fewer subjectiveimpressions into this report that I allowedmyself previously.I will therefore note only that the Isle cameinto sight on August 12th, 760. CaptainArberlsson was naturally reluctant toapproach the island any more closely thanwas necessary, but he was willing on thisoccasion to provide me with two sailors torow me to the small white-sand beach at thesoutheast extreme of the island: the onlypoint which even so small a craft as ourlongboat can safely approach.Armed with the letters provided me by theFathers of the Fraternity, I made bold toapproach the home of that famous sorceress,the Lady of Ravens, for the second time.Geographical SurveyAs reported previously, the Isle of Ravens isa small island. I made no attempt to surveyit, but Captain Arberlsson and I agree that itcould not be much more than a mile square.Both visits confirmed that the Isle isheavily forested. The undergrowth is dense,and is broken only by a few tiny clearingsand numerous small streams. The only signof human habitation is the single tower thatdominates the island: a tower made entirelyof flint, which rises some four hundred feetinto the air, its roof hidden in the almostcontinual shroud of fog which blankets theisland.Captain Arberlsson reports that the climateof this part of the Nocturnal Sea is cool andextremely damp, with rain falling almostdaily in all seasons, or occasionally turningto snow in winter months.Isle of Ravens109The Isle of Ravens in shortCurrent location: The Nocturnal Sea,roughly 30 miles east-southeast ofEgertus.Size and reach: The Isle of Ravens is arough oval, about two miles northeast tosouthwest and one mile east to west atits widest. The domain’s bordersextend roughly one mile out to sea.Darklord: Lady of RavensEcology: FullClimate/Terrain: Temperate forestYear of Formation: UnknownPopulation: 1 human (the Lady); a fewmiscellaneous fey creaturesRaces: See Population.Languages: Unknown*, Sylvan.Religions: NoneGovernment: NoneRuler: Lady of RavensFlora and FaunaThe Isle of Ravens is covered by a densedeciduous forest, mostly oak and elm, thatgives way to pines and other conifers nearthe foot of the Tower. Undergrowth is thickthroughout the deciduous forest, clearing asone approach the Tower, and consists of lowshrubs, ivy and mossy ground-cover. Bothblackberries and currants are in evidence, butthere seem to be relatively few plants onwhich animal life can subsist.By far the most striking fauna of the Isle ofRavens are (unsurprisingly) its ravens. Thereare many thousands of these large blackbirds. They seem to congregate principallyaround the Tower, but they venture tovirtually every corner of the Isle – the onlyexception seems to be the near vicinity of theearth-fey Kalibos’s lair – and we caughtsight of a few several miles out to sea.

Encounters on the Isle of RavensCR 1/6: raven MM1There are no monsters native to thisisland, other then a handful of sylvianfeys and other summoned creatures.Isle of RavensCursory examination of the island provedit is also home to a number of rodents andrabbits, timid things which are occasionallykilled and eaten by the ravens. I surmise thatlarger animals simply cannot subsist on sosmall an island.I saw representatives of several species oflarge ground-nesting birds, including turkeyand pheasant. Smaller songbirds and larger,predatory birds are not to be found, probablybecause any which arrive on the island areimmediately mobbed and killed by ravens.The ravens also eat fish, scavenging thosewashed ashore and fishing in the tide-poolswhich line the shore. Seabirds, though theyrest here at times, do not nest on an isle withso many black-feathered egg-raiders.The ravens are not aggressive to humans,but given the opportunity they might makenuisances of themselves by stealing food andsmall items. Attacking the ravens for anyreason is to be avoided; aside from theirmistress’s protectiveness toward them, thereare so many of them that they could soonoverwhelm almost any defense.It is possible that one might encounter oneor another of the fey that inhabit the island,although I personally met none save Kaliboson either visit.HistoryThe Isle of Ravens has, as far as I coulddiscover, very little internal history. It has nohuman inhabitants other than its mistress, soits history since its emergence from the Mistslies entirely with its sole inhabitant, who hasseemingly never troubled herself to share it… that is, if she has bothered to take note ofit at all. It is tempting to assume that the Isle110arose in tandem with the Nocturnal Seaitself, but this is contradicted by much of themeager available evidence that exists:sailors' first-hand accounts of shipwreck onthe Isle of Ravens extend as far back in timeas the history of Darkon, and many of thosestories reference still earlier accounts of asimilar place.Notably, many early stories place the Isleof Ravens in the Sea of Sorrows. Alternately,it might have been hidden in the Mists beforeits relocation to the Nocturnal Sea. Theconfusion surrounding the domain’s age andposition greatly complicates any discussionof its possible time and place of origin, as itis unclear to me which of the stories reflectactual incidents, which are pure invention,and which are a conflation of the two.In all such stories, the Lady of Ravens is afigure of awe, and often of also horror; someportray her as a seductress, but most painther as merely callous, indifferent to humanlife and concerns. The Isle itself is not seenas an ill omen, if seen in good weather; it isactually proving to be a useful navigationallandmark in a sea notoriously bereft of such.Many sailors have taken to casting bread orother foodstuffs on the water when theravens are in sight, in hope of currying favorwith the Lady, and some take pains to speakwell of her, more out of superstitious fear shecan hear them than from any genuineaffection. However, no sailor I have met oreven heard of will willingly set foot on theLady’s isle.Shipwreck there is fairly common,although by no means as much so as at theinfamous Ile de la Tempete. The currentsvery near the Isle of Ravens are perilouslychangeable, and ships which fail to keeptheir distance may find themselves runningaground on the numerous shoals foundwithin a mile or so of its shores.Some insight on these points might well beobtained from the undead spirits populatingthe Tower of Flint, if one could somehowengage them in conversation. Their powersof observation may be limited, but theyprobably know more of the Lady’s history,weaknesses, and interests than anyone elsepossibly could.

PeopleThe only human inhabitant of the Isle is itsnameless ruler. Its eponymous ravens mightalso be counted inhabitants – certainly theLady regards them as such – but I believethese are truly no more than extensions oftheir dark mistress. Both the ravens and theLady’s summoned minions obey her everywhim. The island is also, apparently, hometo a bare handful of fey spirits, called by theLady from otherworldly realms, which haveescaped her service or outlived their terms ofindenture. These fey now roam the island asfree-willed beings, helpless to return fromwhence they were summoned.The most important of these fey entities isthe aforementioned earth-creature known asKalibos (also referred to in some stories as“Kalipos”, “Kalipan” or, as it had told mepreviously, “Kaliban”) who makes his homeIsle of Ravensin a burrow in the southeast corner of theisland.Both Kalibos and the Lady mentioned thepresence of other fey in conversation withme, but neither considered them to be ofmuch interest. Apparently they are so few,and so territorial, that their presence can belargely ignored, as they have no inclinationto band together for any common purpose.According to Kalibos, these creatures arefree-willed and do largely as they please, butall save himself live in abject terror of thewoman in black.111

Isle of Ravens112

Locales of InterestI have reproduced a few salient points frommy discourse with the Lady, upon deliveringthe Fathers’ letter to her at the end of thisreport.While in the Lady’s presence, I had therare opportunity to observe a few detailsabout her domicile, the so-called “Tower ofFlint”. It was apparently wrought by oldmagics: I detected neither individual stonesnor mortar anywhere in its construction, andit seems to have been formed from a singlepiece of its parent stone. As the nameimplies, it is constructed entirely of flint.My estimate would make it some sixty feetacross at its base, and its total height must bein the neighborhood of four hundred feet,making it vertiginously tall and thin. It isroughly cylindrical in configuration, butflutings and buttresses (many thronged withperching ravens) give it a fantastical, yetdelicate style that deviates from a simplecylinder.The entry chamber is impressivelyaustere, consisting only of a great stone diaswith a throne of stone situated opposite thegreat brass double doors which are the onlyentry to the tower. The room is lit by high,small windows near the ceiling, which mustbe some forty feet in height. A stairway risesIsle of Ravensbehind the dais to the castle’s upper levels,and I saw a trapdoor set in the dias before thethrone, which must lead to some deeper levelof the tower.With the Lady’s permission, I ascendedthis stairway and saw something of the nexttwo levels, where she houses those whomshe entertains for any length of time (andsuch visitors are very few, indeed). Theserooms are fairly clean and extremely bare.One or two held some discarded orabandoned article of clothing or bedding, butnone had furniture of any description.I was fortunate enough to get a very briefview of the library, which consists of all thethird-floor rooms above the entry chamber.A more haphazard concatenation of books,tomes, folios, grimoires, incabulae, scrolls,papers, pamphlets, and papyri can hardly beimagined, and the Lady appears to havemade little effort, if any, to maintain orderamong them. Apparently, this task devolvesupon a mysterious personage to whom shereferred only as “the librarian”: an undeadspirit who refused to speak to me, presumingshe was even capable of speech. (The Ladymentioned that there are several such in thetower, and that they are not over-fond ofintruders; this might have been a ruse, todiscourage me from exploring further, but Ithink it is probably the simple truth.)113

Isle of RavensThere might be any amount of gold (that is,valuable information) in so much dross, butthe Lady allowed no lengthy examination ofthe works present. I can only report that thesheer volume of paper I saw was extremelyimpressive.The Lady was not averse to the idea of avisiting Brother effecting some organizationof the materials, but said such a thing wouldhave to be done with the “librarian’s” input.She informed me flatly and in so manywords that going to any level of the towerabove that of the library would be punished,and that visiting the library withoutpermission would incur the same fate. Shedid not bother to describe the nature of thepunishment she had in mind, but I believe itall too easy to guess.She did, however, declare herselfamenable to the general outline ofinteraction proposed by the Fathers of theFraternity, and invites the Fraternity to sendany one scholar of their choice to review thecontents of her library, subject to herapproval following a personal interview withthe gentleman in question. Should therepresentative acquit himself well, shedeclares herself willing to entertain the ideaof a second visitor – also, of course, subjectto her approval – but on no account will sheaccept more than two visitors from theFraternity at any time.My attempt to seek out Kalibos for asecond interview was in vain: the earth-spiritdid not make himself known to me, perhapshaving concluded that, by my second visit tothe Tower, I had declared myself for theLady and against him. Any future visitor tothe Isle of Ravens should therefore be verycareful to avoid meeting with him if at allpossible.Further descriptions of the Lady and ofKalibos are appended for the convenience ofthe reader.114

Isle of Ravens115

Isle of RavensDread Possibility: False HopesThe Lady of Ravens has learned that she is not the only inhabitant of the Nocturnal Seawithout a past; news of the elf Jacinth Moontide and his search for his own lost memoryhas come to her attention. The similarity between their afflictions has convinced theLady that he must hold a clue to the discovery of her own past, and she has determined tofind him and assist him in his search. She might very well demand that adventurers whofind themselves in her service (by geas or by the need to recover a comrade transformedinto a raven) seek out Jacinth and bring him to her, or that they aid Jacinth in discoveringhis past—with the understanding he will then help her to do likewise.If Jacinth can be reunited with his own lost love, Cian Silverleaf, and his memoriesrestored, the PCs (and Jacinth and Cian) will be faced with a dilemma. As far as theyknow, their history has nothing to do with the Lady’s, but convincing the dread sorceressof that will not be easy! Indeed, the Lady of Ravens is likely to insist that their service toher continue until they find the truth of her own hidden past—if her rage and jealousy atseeing Jacinth and Cian reunited and happy do not inspire her to a more drasticvengeance.116

Isle of Ravens117

Interlude II

By Viktor Hazan, mid-August 760When Île de la Tempête was finally behindus, Captain Howe announced our currentroute: we were to sail to the Darkonese coastfor about a day. Noting my surprise (for it’shardly the quickest route between Île de laTempête and Graben-town), he explainedthat the sea between these two isles is verydangerous, “especially at night”. The BlackPelican would skirt along the Vaasi coast,then head out again once Graben Island laydue east of us.“This part of the sea is laced withdangerous reefs,” he said. “Strange, theseSelbstmorde reefs, Professor Hazan. See, wenever meet or sight them during the day: it’sas if they only come out at night, or so thesailors from Egertus insist. Those foolishenough to sail between Île de la Tempête andthe Isle of the Ravens see their hulls split intwo on those treacherous rocks. Manyvessels have been lost in this region, theircrews devoured by sharks and worse, evenwhen they thought themselves safe in theirlifeboats! I believe only Grabenites sailfreely in this area … to hunt whales, that is.”This delirious concept of rocks shiftingwith the time of day annoyed me, as it mightwell delay my meeting with Dirac, but Ishrugged and watched him shout orders tothe crew to turn his ship west. Withfavorable winds, it would take a day to reachRutledge, another to head south along theNova Vaasa shore. If all went well, I wouldbe in Graben-town on the evening of thethird day.I passed the day fishing at the stern,dressed protectively against the spray. Toadd to my contrary mood, no fish sampled atasty bite from my fishing hook. Rien.Interlude IILate that night, after midnight, we arrivedat Rutledge on the coast. I was in my room,re-reading “Scrying and the Nature ofVisions” by Professor Mirella Agrippa, as Ichuckled over and annotated her errors,emotionally-based comments and weakhypotheses. (No wonder that women arerarely accepted into our Fraternity. That’s justhow it is, I guess.) It reminded me of a sternscholar for whom I once sat as token out-ofbranchexaminer in Darkon. She tried toimpress the Brautslava cell’s admissionscommittee by her superior wit, yet failed thesecond figment quiz. Her own arcaneinterests, she’d sullenly retorted, layelsewhere. It’d been a while since I saw herwork in the occult journals; I wondered whathad happened to her and what kind of troubleshe was involved in now.Minutes after I heard the anchor strike thewater, young Paulo came knocking at mycabin door. Clearly agitated, he insisted thatCaptain Howe must speak with me now. Asthe hour was hardly a sociable one, I brieflyfeared Monette’s curse had played us a dirtytrick, wishing I’d a silver weapon in hand.Making ready, I heard Paulo waking up theother sailors. He told them of the “CrescentMoon”: words which, by the oaths and warymutterings they incited, must have sparkedfear in the hearts of the crewmen. Now that Ithought about it, Paulo himself had seemedrather jittery, his usual gap-toothed grin andhigh spirits replaced by wide-eyed wariness.When I arrived on the bridge, CaptainHowe was intently peering at somethingthrough his spyglass. “Take a look, Hazan”,he said, passing me the telescope. At first, Isaw only the few lights of the sleeping villageof Rutledge. At my puzzled remark that Isaw nothing, Howe grasped the scope andguided my gaze to the proper angle. Then Isaw it.119

Interlude II120

The mid-sized derelict was old, rotten. Itsdirty gray sails hung limp and tattered frombroken masts. Half expecting to espy ghostsor stinking zombies on board, I watched thedeck but saw nothing moving. There were nolights anywhere on the boat, just a faint,sickly glow without a source. Then I saw itsname: Crescent Moon. Strangely, the ship’sblue-painted title remained intact and clear,yet all other colors had eroded away.Howe explained that the Crescent Moon isa ruined cog that yet sails the Nocturnal Sea.It was lost about a decade ago and reappearsevery now and then at Nocturnal Sea ports todrop anchor. Nobody is ever seen aboard thevessel, and it does not seem to pose anydirect physical threat.“But,” the captain added, his seasonedgaze intense, “You should not try to sleeptonight. Nightmares will plague you or anysailor who sleeps at sea while the CresentMoon is near.” Seeing hints of anunconvinced smirk on my face, he went on.“I’m quite serious, Professor. Know thatsome of those sailors who suffer suchnightmares never wake up.”At this remark, I remembered how maps ofthe Nightmare Lands – an unsettling realm,if it truly exists – had placed it along thepresent coast of Nova Vaasa. Realizing thatthere might be more than folly to Howe’stale, after all, I decided to heed his warningand order coffee.After watching the dead ship for a time, Ispent the rest of the night playing cards anddrinking liquor and coffee with Howe andhis first mate, Matthew. While enjoying thecomplicated, yet tricky regional card game(even though I lost most of the time; the“starfish” card was ranked stronger than the“eel”, oddly enough), I took the opportunityto learn more of the Nocturnal Sea hazards,as well as asking more about geography. Thefollowing is what I learned from theseexperienced sailors. Most might simply berumors, but there could be a hint of veracitybehind some of these stories.Besides the Crescent Moon, another cursedship in these waters is the Chained Captain.It is a large battleship, hung with iron chainswhere normal rigging should be. It may beInterlude II121Dread possibility :The Merry RiotersA shipload of shadow fey, exiled fromthe Seelie Court, now wanders theeastern Core as well as the islands ofthe Nocturnal Sea. The fey continuallytravel from port to port, holding wildrevelries that draw in nearbydaydreamers, lost souls, and morepowerful figures. Their ship is huntedby mercenaries hired by the TepestaniInquisition, as well as by the Church ofthe Lawgiver. It is said that any mortalwho joins their band eventually eithergoes mad or turns feral. As a DMoption, the most dedicated of those“lost” could become changelings.an incorporeal “ghost ship”, as it is said thatonlookers often hear the unearthly sound ofclanking over the waves, as if it ushers frominside its hull. As in all good ghost stories,folk who encounter this vessel are but rarelyheard from again!A classic oversight when one acquires aship is failure to check if its name has everbeen changed, either because it was stolen orto hide past infamy. This can lead toundesired consequences in the legal orfinancial fields … and even in thesupernatural, if the boat has a tragic orgruesome history.There are numerous wrecks scatteredacross the Nocturnal Sea, either floatingderelicts or hulks beached on shorelines androcks. Howe mused, “I sometimes thinkthere are far more wrecks than sound vesselson this cursed sea”. His words made mewonder if the Nocturnal Sea somehowattracts wrecks from other places, perhapseven the “outland realms” of which thoseborne to these Lands by the Mists oftenspeak.Rutledge lies on the border betweenDarkon and Nova Vaasa. Its 250 hardy soulsrely on fishing for survival. It is shieldedfrom the sea’s worst storms by four offshoreislands, locally named the Dismal Four. The

Interlude IIsmallest is very near to the town itself, andbears the ruins of a light house. Locals saythis beacon wasn’t repaired after a stormfelled it in 753, as the inshore waters areunsafe.For the record, Howe told me he’d met anold hermit in Rutledge – Bill Copperplate, byname – who is obsessed with organizing anexpedition to explore the largest of theDismal Four. One man’s obsession was notenough to divert me from my present task,but once my Graben Island survey is done, itcould be interesting to discretely investigatewhether this hermit is still around.Beholden (as yet) to neither Darkon norNova Vaasa, Rutledge is often frequented bypirates. They mind their manners while here,in order to maintain this neutral ground as asafe haven for their ships. It is said that theinfamous pirate Captain Teach visits thisport on occasion.Howe spoke of the many corsairs whoprowl the Nocturnal Sea. Most pillage wildlyfor a year or two, then vanish and are neverheard from again. Most were likely hunteddown by Darkonian or Vaasi naval vessels;the sea itself may account for others’absence. Too many wrecks in this sea by far,and it plays no favorites in garnering more!Captain Teach is one of the most notoriousbuccaneers, and has been active longer thanmost (nearly a decade). According to sailorswho met him or saw him in battle, he’s morea smoking devil than a man. Captain Teachis very large and imposing, with a jet blackbeard. His crew raids both small villages andmerchant ships. He always leaves a witnessalive to spread his infamy, but seldom offersquarter for any other cause. I recall readingthat he once pillaged the docks of Egertus,his crew having set fire to the city’s churchof the Lawgiver as a diversion. There mustbe little love lost between him and the Vaasicrime-lord known as Malken.Another well-known rascal is “theMouse”. Acting alone or with a small team,this talented burglar is said to be able to enterany place on the east coast or isles. What’sunusual is that the Mouse is, rumor has it,both a halfling and a female, and said to bebeautiful. There are many rollicking tales of122her exploits, but most are bound to be wildexaggerations, like her supposed defeat ofMalken in combat while armed with only aspoon. (I must allow, this rogue has genuinetalent for publicity, if naught else!)Enough of scoundrels! Howe soon broughtour discourse back to geography. A ruinedcoastal city, not found on most maps exceptthe very recent, is said to lie somewhere onthe Darkonian coast. Howe told me that thiswould-be boomtown never really took off.Despite diligent efforts by its burgomasterWeick and his henchman, Hewbeard, it nowstands deserted, half-buried in the sand. Afew of its intended settlers migrated southafter the city’s abandonment, joining localVaasi pioneers in founding the tinycommunity of Mavalga, not far south ofRutledge; the rest have dispersed to partsunknown.North of the failed city, in the shadows ofthe Mountains of Misery, lies another smallfishing port, the remote village of Tidemore.Howe has stopped there once to do businesswith its burgomaster, Borganov, but didn’tenjoy his stay, finding several of itsinhabitants rather creepy. He passed onseveral rumors about strange rituals andfiendish sacrifices on Tidemore’s rockybeach, but that might have been anexaggeration, considering how much brandywe drank that sleepless night.A more outlandish place associated withthis untrustworthy body of water isNedragonne, a remote island said to lie a bitoff the coast of Vechor. This isle abuts theMisty Border and is usually hidden within it.But when the Mist recedes, it is said that onecan visit its port city of Tenebria. Matthewtold me the surrounding ocean is particularlydangerous, with many wild predators – orca,sea lions, sharks, sea snakes, and the like,plus sea-ghouls and freakish water-breathingogres or trolls. So voracious are these otherpredators that dolphins supposedly avoid inthis place. Bards of Tenebria are said to singgloomy tales of an outcast whose life wasmarred by taunts, treachery and desertion.(A possible inspiration for your next book,Ambrose?)

Come the morose half-light of a NocturnalSea dawn, we suddenly heard surprised criesfrom Paulo, our lookout, so we rushed to thedeck. The salt breeze felt like a cold caress,after the heavy tobacco-smoke of the cabinwhere we’d spent the night’s chat and cardplay.I saw the Crescent Moon sailing out ofRutledge’s harbor. Still with nary a soul inview, the dead ship passed in perfect silence,then veered off north. I lost sight of it on thedim horizon after about an hour.Interlude II123

Interlude IICaptain Teach"Captain Teach" was born in Souragne in 719, of an affair between a noble and amaidservant. Young Léon Mathurine FoSSou was raised by his mother, but often saw hisfather, who was amazed by the vigor and wit of his by-blow. Though unable toacknowledge his son publicly, the man financed Léon's first ship (called the Coeurd'Erlande after his mother); soon, Léon was sailing the seas, seeking a fortune of hisown.Soon enough, the Mathurine name became associated with efficient, profitable tradebetween the coastal Core and Souragne. Léon wasn't above shading the truth to close adeal, but most of his business dealings were honest. However, his fortune suddenlyevaporated when he was double-crossed by a smuggler from Egertus, Red Rolf Gaz5 . Helost everything to his former partner's treachery: wealth, ship and reputation. To pay offhis debts, Léon was forced to sign on as a simple sailor on a Nova Vaasan merchantvessel.The ship's captain was weak-willed and loathed. Léon soon threw him overboard afterleading a mutiny. The young Souragnien persuaded the sailors to become pirates. Thosewho refused were marooned on a rocky island on the Nocturnal Sea. Léon changed hisname to Captain Teach and set about attacking Red Rolf's operations in order to ruinhim. But Rolf changed his transport practices; leaving Teach was unable to damage hisbetrayer. Bitterly, Teach resorted to attacking any merchant ship his vessel could catch.Over the years, Léon has turned to theatrics to instill fear in sailors he attacks andquickly claim victory. His boat is painted a shade of silvery-gray that makes the(unnamed) pirate ship look ghostly. His men wear striking war-paints in black, white andred. Captain Teach himself is a large and imposing man, with a jet black beard. In battlehe often tucks slow-burning fuses underneath his hat, to wreath his head in demonicsmoke while he bellows his battle-cries. His attacks are always unexpected and swift.Though savage towards male opponents and those who insult him, Teach retains avestige of seigneur's honor; he ensures that ladies or noncombatant passengers capturedare well treated and left at the next port unharmed.Captain Teach: NE, Exp4/Ftr4/Rog4;Teach’s crew: 30 experienced pirates; NE, Exp2/Ftr2 or Exp2/Rog2.Dread PossibilityTeach is ill and knows he has a few years to live at the most. He is preparing to end hiscareer with a sinister bang. Unbeknownst to his crew, he plans to destroy the entire portdistrict of Egertus by loading his ship full of gunpowder, running it into the docks, andblowing it sky-high. He will wait to hear that Red Rolf has a large shipment ofcontraband there, and that Rolf himself is supervising the operations, before making thissuicidal attempt at revenge.124

Interlude IIThe MouseElizabeth Hilltop was born in Darkon to a family of carpenters. Skilled with a rapier andthrowing dagger, she chose the adventurous life instead of her parents’ quiet existence.She has long golden blond hairs and blue-gray eyes, unusual features for a halfling. Hergood looks have often helped her talk her way into restricted locations, and out of messysituations. She isn’t above using her angelic, delicate appearance to pass for a younghuman girl.How she came to be called “the Mouse”, or to relocate to Nova Vaasa, is unknown.She presently lives on a small rocky islet off the Vaasan coast, dubbed “MouseholeIsland” by its occupants. In Nova Vaasa, folk think this island is inhabited by a fewirritable hermits. In truth, a hidden bay provides shelter for Elizabeth’s small, yet agilepersonal ship. The Mouse keeps a crew of eight, all staunchly loyal to her. Most arehumans, but two of them are halflings. All have either been wronged by Prince Othmar’sunjust rule, or harmed by Malken’s criminal activities.The Mouse is not a pirate and prefers to operate as an elegant cat burglar. Over theyears, she has become a romantic figure, dear to the heart of the Vaasi underclass. Bardssing of her great skills. No door or strongbox in the Nocturnal Sea region is said to beinaccessible to her. Legend says she has dueled a dozen of Prince Othmar’s personalguards to a standstill, emerging unharmed and with the contents of the guard’s pockets,as well as besting Malken using only a spoon (or a handkerchief, a boot, the crime-lord’sown dagger she filched in mid-battle, etc).It is said that the Mouse likes to strike at wrongdoers who abuse working people,robbing them only so that she might give back to the poorest. Save for the “only” (shedoesn’t give it all away), this is basically true. The Mouse takes a particular pleasure inopposing Prince Othmar's forces. Never captured by the law, the whereabouts of herhideout are unknown, though theories abound. She disappears completely one month peryear, to secretly visit her old parents.The Mouse: NG, Rog5 / Duelist4 / Shadowdancer5;The Mouse’s crew: NG, Ftr1-4 or Rog1-4Dread possibilityFrom an indiscrete tavern owner, a Vaasi merchant traveling in Darkon has learned thenames and address of the notorious Mouse’s mother and father. How will he use thisinformation? Sell his secret to Malken and/or Othmar? Blackmail the Mouse? Or both?125

Interlude IIDread Possibility: The Drowned and the DamnedThe Ikosik are a small group of degenerate humans who roam across the Nocturnal Sea.Genetically afflicted by several generations of inbreeding, they are also cursed for theircannibal sacrifices to Hac’guin Sa, a god they believe to be “drowned under the sea” andwaiting for their aid in releasing it. This group of deluded aquatic ravagers seeks thisbeing – which probably does not exist – in its lost sea-city of Ikos.Their yearly migration brings them to the coast of Nova Vaasa to attack villages andlonely settlements, stealing tools to aid their watery quest, and humans to sacrifice andconsume. Once they have fed heartily, they leave Nova Vaasa for the Nocturnal Sea, andcome to the sea caves of Île de la Tempête for additional ceremonies. Monette is so farunaware of these visitors.Heroes can be hired to protect against the annual incursions of the Ikosik, and battle isonly one way to deal with them. Some, like Dr. Milhavet (see Île de la Tempête sidebaron bats), have learned the Ikosik are quite intelligent and happy to trade. In return fortools and supplies to assist their search, tales of their lost Ikos, or even human lives givenlike trinkets to Hac’guin Sa, the Ikosik can share information regarding most any matterrelated to the Nocturnal Sea.For some of the more forbidding realms, the Ikosik may well nearly be the only sourceof information, as Milhavet found when attempting to obtain Tempêtian bats for researchon the Becoming Plague.126

Interlude IIDread Possibility: Rookhausen, the Time-Sundered CityBefore the Scourge annihilated them to the last, human inhabitants of Arak populated thatstretch of land which now makes up Darkon’s southern Nocturnal coastline. Almostnothing remains of their culture – those few Arakans not slain by the sands emigratednorth, forfeiting all memory of their homeland – save fragmentary anecdotes and legends.Among these pitiful scraps are tales of a mysterious city-state: a thriving, cosmopolitanseaport, which Arakans insisted would appear on their realm’s eastern fringe every fifthgeneration, then vanish back into the Mists, a generation later. This (so Arak’s humanfolk claimed) was why some of their number understood the speech of the Barovians, inthat brief 6 th -century period when their cultures lived as neighbors: the city’s residentsallegedly spoke Balok, alongside other tongues.Naturally, no modern historian will believe a word of this … unless, that is, the citycomes back.In fact, the city of Rookhausen is a transient domain: a realm which, like the shadow feytunnels that once underlay the badlands it adjoins, is subject to its own unique timestream.It exists only for intervals of 25 years, with a century-long gap between itsappearances; in its absence, no time passes for its inhabitants, and only a few sandscouredstone ruins remain in the Core, to mark its site. Both Arakan “false history” andthe city’s records allege that it has manifested intermittently in this same location formillennia. In reality, it has appeared in the Core only once before, from 636-661 BC. Asthe surface of Arak was vacant and unpopulated at the time, Rookhausen’s last arrivalwent undetected by the Core’s other nations, save a few roving adventurers (who were notbelieved) from either side of the wastes.Now, the ruins lie at the rim of the Nocturnal Sea, and the region they occupy is nolonger empty wasteland, but a seacoast with a growing population of miners and settlers.Rookhausen’s return is nearly due, and the city will not pass unnoticed a second time.What political and economic disturbances will arise, when a vibrant city-state ofthousands emerges along the Nocturnal Sea’s coastline? How might its residents – ablending of Balok, Tergish and Mist-led foreign elements, ruled by feuding aristocraticfamilies and plagued by criminal and cult activity – react to finding their home no longerin quiet Arakan lands, but pinched between imperialistic Darkon and Nova Vaasa? Whatnew faces, faiths, practices, or technologies might swiftly rise to prominence there, oncethe city is no longer cut off by time or impassable terrain? How might neighboring realms– and their darklords – respond to the sudden appearance of an unknown rival’s wealthyand exotic domain, on their very doorstep? Who is the city’s darklord?The Nocturnal Sea is the newest and least-explored part of the Core, and the Time-Sundered City is but one of many, many potential mysteries its sunless reaches yet hold instore.Rookhausen (large city): Conventional; AL LE; CL 7; 40,000 gp limit; Assets 49,200,000gp; Population 24,600; Mixed (humans 75%, halflings 10%, half-elves 5%, elves 4%,dwarves 4%, other 2%)127

Nebligtode in shortLocation: Nocturnal Sea regionexcluding other domains, their inshorewaters, and the Nevuchar Channel.Nebligtode abuts Darkon and NovaVaasa roughly ten miles out from theeast coast. It encompasses GrabenIsland, Knammen Isle, Todstein, and ahandful of nameless, rocky islets andmudflats.Ecology: Full ecology.Climate/Terrain: Temperate to coldseas; cold forests, marshes, hills, andplains.Darklord: MeredothYear of Formation: 635 BC (as Islandof Terror); merged with the Core, 750BCPopulation: ~4000 (mostly Grabenites,plus isolated fishing outposts &transient sailors with no fixed address)Interlude IIBehind The Curtain: What’s In A Name?When it was introduced in the 2E module Ship ofHorror, the domain of which the necromancerMeredoth is darklord was referred to as“Nebligtode”. In Domains of Dread, the samedarklord’s territory is referred to as “Graben” inthe Ravenloft Timeline, yet is re-styled “theNocturnal Sea” in the geographic description ofthe Core. The Arthaus products are similarlyinexact, listing the whole of the Nocturnal Sea asif it were a singular domain by that name.As the Nocturnal Sea is, to natives ofRavenloft, a geographic region that incorporatesportions of at least half a dozen other domains,this Survey now restores the title of Meredoth’sdomain to its original usage. In this and futureFoS netbooks, “the Nocturnal Sea” will refer tothe actual body of water, independent of domainborders. “Nebligtode” specifically means thesizable fraction of that Sea which falls under thenecromancer’s purview as darklord. Likewise,this netbook makes a firm distinction between“Graben Island” (the nation and land mass),“Graben-town” (the port community), and theGraben merchant family.August 17th, 760Brothers,Just a quick note to report I have arrived safely in the port of Graben-town, despite anunsettling experience or two along the way. I’ll not regale you with details, but will havemore than a few amusing or hair-raising anecdotes to recount, upon my return to Portd’Elhour. (Suffice it to say I’ll not be putting in at Île de la Tempête a second time, on myreturn trip!)As yet, the notorious storms which plague this region have passed the Black Pelican by,and the winds have been favorable enough, for all that the dreary skies have lived up to theirreputation for unbroken darkness. I trust the Souragnien summer is as sweltering as wasexpected? Pity we cannot exchange places, if so…Barring delays in my voyage back to civilization, you may expect me in Souragne near theend of September. If my first glimpse of Graben Island is typical, I cannot imagine that myexploration of this hinterland will demand any more time than that. Indeed, I may yet beatyoung Dirac to the punch, in wrapping up my own research before his foray to Todstein iscomplete.Regards,ViktorP.S. I take it my spiders are faring well, Ambrose?128

Interlude II129

Graben Island

By Viktor Hazan, August 19 th , 760Our approach to Graben Island’s sole townworthy of the title was slow – cautious – andnot solely on account of the persistentovercast’s gloom. Erratic, chill winds pose achallenge for sailors near this odd-shapedisle (One of the Watchers’ idiosyncrasies? Aclawed hand, of all things? Really now!),and have a bad reputation for sudden shifts,that rend sails and dash careless vesselsagainst its shore. On the Island’s lowsouthern and eastern coasts, such mishapsleave ships mired in trackless bogs orbeached on slopes of brittle scree; to thewest, where jagged cliffs descend starklyfrom a high plateau, ill-timed gusts canshatter their hulls upon submerged ridges orthe granite bluff itself.As Black Pelican’s lookout, Paulo,strained to pick out the shallow dip in thecliff’s broken ridgeline in which Grabentownhides, I recalled the shipwrecks I sawaround Île de la Tempête and wished we’dput in at one of the hamlets on the lowlandside of the isle. I asked the captain why thetown’s residents hadn’t the good sense tomark the port’s position with a lighthouse – amundane one, that is – to pierce the dimnesscloaking their homeland.“Every sailor in these waters wishes thesefolk’d do just that, Professor Hazan,” Howereplied bitterly, “but the locals don’t care tomake life any easier for the likes of us. Notparticularly obliging to we outsiders, theseGrabenites, not even ones who’ve dealt fairwith ‘em for years.” He shook his head inresentful disgust.The unspoken message was clear: if I hadbeen counting on the Captain’s mercantileconnections to help “break the ice” with thenatives, I would be disappointed. This wasnot a friendly place.Graben IslandGraben Island in shortLocation: Southwestern Nocturnal Sea,NebligtodeCultural level: Early Medieval (6) toMedieval (7)Population: 3,200 (Humans 97%, Seaclaimed2%, other 1% [mainlycalibans])Main settlements: Graben-town (1900),Kirchenheim (400), Seeheim (250),Meerdorf (150)Religions: The Ascended*, Ezra, theGod Below, HalaLanguages: Grabenite*, Vaasi,Darkonese, Sithican, XaloteGovernment: Independent settlements;assemblies in Seeheim & Kirchenheim,assembly shifting to plutocracy inGraben-town, theocratic despotism inMeerdorfGeographical SurveyClimateEven after my sojourn on Île de la Tempête,the torrid climate of Souragne seems to havesunk into my bones. How deeply, GrabenIsland proved, as I spent my visit wrapped uplike an Akiri mummy against the chill,whereas Captain Howe’s crew needed onlycanvas jackets to dull the winds’ bite (Thenatives? Shirt-sleeves and talk of summer’s“heat wave”!). Deferring to the judgment ofGraben-town’s immigrants, I concluded thisisland’s summer weather was like earlyspring in Richemulot – cool, yet fairlycomfortable to mainlanders – despite howmy limbs shivered for much of my stay.131

Graben IslandIt could have been worse, if the eye-levelmarks on the buildings of Graben-town wereaccurate indicators of the depth of last year’ssnows. Winter snowfall on “the Island” (asits native Grabenites tersely call it) begins asearly as mid-September, and the rivers andsouthern marshes are fully ice-encrusted byNovember. Exposure poses a lethal hazardfor people and livestock in the depths ofwinter … though tales of men suffocated bytheir own ice-choked beards or struck blindwhen their ocular fluids froze are surelyoverstated: this isn’t Vorostokov, after all.Seldom do conditions rise above freezingfor more than five months a year,diminishing a growing season alreadyimpaired by gloomy skies. When the thawdoes arrive, in late April or May, excessiverunoff turns the isle’s few interior roads(trails, really) into a morass of knee-deepmud, even though the earth beneath the mireremains stiff with permafrost. Despite thethreat of freezing, Grabenites actually findcross-country travel easier in wintertime,when skis are usable. (Hence, my owndecision to skirt the island by boat, not slogthrough muck.) Warmth or cold strikeswiftly, with no clear spring or fall per se;residents claim they have but two seasons:“snow” and “mud”.Former Mistway: The Call of the Claw132WinterWinters on Graben Island vary fromCold (40º to 0º F) in September,October, March and April to SevereCold (0º to -20º F) from November toFebruary, with occasional dips intoExtreme Cold (-20º to -50º) in lateDecember or January. Even at theheight of summer, temperaturesvirtually never rise above Moderate(40º to 60º F) on the Island.Winds blow at 15-35 mph on mostdays.Precipitation is heavy year-round, comingas copious snowfall in winter and downpoursor squalls in the “mud” months. Rain of tenor more inches a week is scarcely remarkedupon; the heaviest of storms tend to close infrom the northeast, heralded by spectacularlightning and thunder. Many of the largertrees on Graben Island display the scars oflightning strike and all settlements have lostbuildings to such bolts. Unlike in Souragne,all this rainfall cannot saturate the rock-hardpermafrost beneath the surface, so thestorms’ run-off constantly erodes the meagretopsoil, carving deep furrows into thelandscape and undermining foundations ofBefore the Great Upheaval, intermittent sailors’ reports placed Graben Island (andTodstein) in the Sea of Sorrows, yet the Grabenites attest that the seas around their isleended at the Mists until 750. In fact, Nebligtode was once an Island of Terror, likeSouragne. Reports it could be found “northwest of Lamordia” came from travelers whohad unwittingly sailed into an undocumented Mistway, which once linked Nebligtode tothe Sea of Sorrows and could be traversed only during storms. As precise navigation has alower priority than merely keeping afloat in such gales, and the overcast skies ofNebligtode hid their view of the stars during their sojourns, these travelers never realizedthey had left the Core.The Call of the Claw seems to have been severed in the wake of the Upheaval, asMarkovia now sits where its original entrance once lay. Rumours have since circulated ofships that ride out a terrible storm in one Core sea, only to find themselves adrift in theother, but it is unclear if these are reports of real events, or mere wishful thinking bymerchant-seamen who would profit greatly by such a “short cut” across the continent.The Call of the Claw (defunct?): Northwest Sea of Sorrows – Southwest Nebligtode(moderate reliability, two-way, conditional [storms only])

carelessly-situated buildings. Winter snowsdescend less garishly, but with relentlessdetermination: Grabenite roofs often boastgarret hatchways rather than windows, topermit egress when ground-level doors areobstructed by snowdrifts.Few lands I have visited are so windy asGraben Island: I’ve lost four different hats towayward gusts. The sea breeze is sharpestalong the coastal bluffs, gentlest in themarshes and interior woods. Only in theevenings does the air become still, and fog ofvarying density blankets the Island at thesetimes, spreading inland from the shore andrising from the wetlands to the south.Fortunately, the erratic gusts that gird the isleand imperiled the Black Pelican’s approachare muted inshore, so smaller, shallowbottomedcraft – the natives’ trusty “dories”in particular – can hug the surf-line incomparative safety. This margin rangesfrom a quarter-mile in width off the easternpebble beaches, to perhaps fifty yards alongthe western cliffs. It narrows to a hazardous“pinch”, but a few paces’ deep, at the mouthof the Niesonnigbach (where Seeheim lies).TopographyThe harsh terrain of Graben Island slopesgently downward, from the jagged ridgelineof the western bluffs to the marshes androcky beaches in the south and east. Only afraction of its land is arable: its settlementshuddle in river-carven nooks along theshoreline, dependant on the sea’s bounty forwhatever this land’s poor soil is unwilling toyield. Small though it is, the isle’s interiorcan feel as remote as the Sebuan wastes, aslocal folk are disinclined to venture far fromthe Nocturnal Sea’s shore. Save a handful ofhunters and lumberjacks, most Grabeniteslinger within earshot of the crashing surf forthe majority of their lives.Rising some 300 feet above the breakers athigh tide, or from tumbled piles of boulderswhen the sea recedes, the Nordklippe runsfrom Graben-town to this land’s highestpoint at Spitzende: a sharp, 482’ promontoryat the island’s northern tip. The Südklippe, adozen yards lower and slightly less steep,girds the “thumb” on the west coast of theGraben Island133Island, facing tiny Knammen Isle. Both ofthese cliff-faces are of hard, unforgivinggranite, supporting only a few lichens anddwarfed trees in tiny niches along their saltsprayedsurface. As the Black Pelican easedinto its berth at the Graben-town docks, Inoticed the silhouette of Graben Manor –surprisingly grand for such an isolatedenclave, yet woefully drab and utilitarian toDementlieuse eyes – crowning the southernbluff. Only two windows were lit, despitethe gloom and lateness of the hour. Even as Iwatched, a third light, blue in color (a signal,or merely a tinted windowpane…?),flickered to life in a garret at the peak of themanor house.Ensconced between the cliffs, Grabentownoccupies the largest swatch ofcultivable land on the island. (Thetraditionalists still stubbornly refer to thiscommunity as “Graben”, but as contact withother realms spreads, even most Grabeniteshave chosen to admit the sense indistinguishing Graben-town from the isle,itself). Lesser croplands surround bothKirchenheim and Seeheim on the far ends ofthe Island; Meerdorf, a tiny fishing-hamleton Knammen Isle, sustains itself whollyfrom the sea. The majority of Graben Islandis relatively untouched by the hand of Man,albeit not nearly so primeval as the Core’svast wilderness-tracts.

Graben IslandAt its north end, higher elevation into thewind keeps the landscape relatively dry, andthe ground is rocky enough that the isle’subiquitous flood-trenches do not shift asprecariously as elsewhere. Ill-suited tofarming, these northern ‘Steinfelder’ providepasturage for livestock that can endure thecold winds and find forage in scrub. Toughpatches of long grass, low-lying bushes, andwildflowers nourish the Grabenites’ heavycoatedgoats and sheep. Briars and nettlescarpet the northern ravines, entangling thecareless, but bringing forth berries in season.Hares, marmots, foxes, and other heathrovinggame abounds in the Steinfelder, andgyrfalcons, ravens and sea eagles circleoverhead, but predators large enough to posea threat to men seldom venture this far north.Trekking overland from Seeheim, to take inthe view from Spitzende, I found I neededsturdy boots far more than musket or spell.(Twisting one’s ankle on scrubland rubble isno experience to savor, even if you do carryhealing potions whilst hiking!) Verticalmine-shafts – a few seasonally-active, butmost long played out – dot the emptiness ofthe SteinfelderMoving down and inland from the scrub,the ‘Hohlhandländer’ (literally “palm lands”)consist mainly of open meadows, subdividedby dense bands of canyon and forest. Tallgrasses and weeds carpet the heath, pockedby hummocks of dirt and shrubs – thehandiwork of industrious burrowing rodents– and scattered stands of slender aspen orpoplar. While more fertile than theSteinfelder, these lands are cultivated onlyalong their fringes, as the densely-knotted134roots of prairie grasses are too tough forploughs to harrow. Only the occasionalshepherd’s hut or elevated watch-platformtestify to any human presence here, and theseare so rarely occupied as to exemplify, notalleviate, the prairie’s loneliness.The isle’s greatest sweep of opengrassland, the ‘Finsterheide’, extendsdiagonally from Kirchenheim to the base ofthe westernmost “finger” of the southernmarshes. Local breeds of cattle and ponies –stocky, shaggy-furred beasts almost doll-likein their diminutive proportions – range freeover the Finsterheide in summer, then aredriven into winter shelters by native farmfolk. More livestock are pastured on theheath to the west, the ‘Racheanger’, an areatraditionally reserved for the herds of GrabenIsland’s founding clan. The smallest of theprairies, the ‘Senkenwiese’, is hemmed in bydeep ravines and rivers on its inland sides,abutting the marshes to the south. Tales ofsinkholes and venomous snakes discourageeven the skeptics from pasturing chattels inthe Senkenwiese. Accounts of will-o’-wispsthat lure unwary into the marsh, maliciousfey (called huldu) that drive trespassers tomadness and a dreadful moor-haunting fiendknown as the Flayed Rider – judging by itsdescriptions, a rather grisly undead – furtherhelp keep this bit of grassland undisturbed.Grassy marshes and lakes dominate thelowlands, extending out into the “fingers” ofthe southern shoreline and onto the mudflat“claws” beyond. The most accessible, theWiesenmoor, runs west along the coast to theRacheanger, as well as south onto theMondzinke (the western “finger”) to the sea.On the eastern Krisezinke, the cypresscloakedKrisesumpf juts southward, and thefetid Aassumpf lies between the other twomarshes, on the central peninsula ofModersperren.Compared to the tangled and swelteringswamp I’ve lately grown accustomed to inSouragne, the Island’s salt marshes andsloughs seemed almost idyllic: no alligators,no vampire bats, and only a few retiringmassasaugas to avoid in the way of serpents.Alas, mosquitoes as fierce as the bayou’s doplague these wetlands in summer, oftenescorted in their harassments by biting flies!

The Flayed RiderGraben IslandGrabenite tales of the Flayed Rider depict it as one of the Restless Dead: an unnamed horseman, hideouslyskinned alive by his foes, returned from death maddened by agony and driven to slaughter all who crosshis path. Rare witnesses insist the rider’s torso has fused onto his steed’s neck (also flayed), melding thepair into an unnatural shape like the centaurs of myth.In truth, the “Rider” is no rider at all. When the Anatal sea-raiders seized Graben Island from its formerinhabitants, centuries ago, the sinister supplicants of the Black Chapel conjured up a vile menace toavenge their extirpation: a nuckalavee, a grotesque aberration with an affinity for the undead. Thisamphibious beast harried the Anatal relentlessly, on land and sea alike, before the raiders’ clericssuccessfully geased it to shun the waves.Anatal warriors then lured it into the Senkenwiese, and the clerics carved a potent binding-rune at thetwin rivers’ headwaters, trapping the nuckalavee in an isolated corner of the island and forcing it intosuspended animation. It remained there until Graben Island was claimed by the Mists, at which point darkforces of the Land weakened the binding-rune enough to awaken the monster from its slumber. Perhaps incaprice, these same eldritch forces also reinstated its prior geas as a permanent curse.The nuckalavee has been confined between rivers and shoreline for over a century, as the still-intactAnatal rune and its aversion to clean water bar it from entering the sea or migrating beyond theSchicksalflusse. It has subjugated several lesser Anatal mummies of the Aassumpf, which it torments forsport when its captivity grows maddening, but its greatest desire is to win free and wreak havoc on theGrabenites: living descendents of the Anatal sea-raiders who trapped it. An aquatic being averse to purewater, yet barred by geas from venturing into the surf, it slumbers in the murky depths of the Aassumpf’sstagnant lakes.Meredoth is well aware of the nuckalavee’s presence and nature, but has opted neither to release nordestroy it, figuring it (or its corpse) may come in handy one day.135

Graben IslandThe Kriesesumpf is primarily a cypressswamp, giving way to salt marsh along itscoastline. Thin, whitewater streams havecarved deep gullies into the crumbling clayof the interior Kriesezinke, leaving highridges covered in swamp oaks and willow.Spilling out toward the shore, the rills spreadinto quiet cypress sumps, then mingle withthe tides nearer the surf-line. The coastal“saltings” – rich meadows of cordgrass andsedge – are occasionally used by merchantsto pasture and fatten up imported livestock,but these grazing-lands are so prone tofloods that natives see no profit in exploitingthem. Shorebirds such as sandpipers andterns nest here in summer, and estuarinefishes (flounder, herring, smelt) spawn in thereeds. A few reclusive fishermen do live onthe marsh’s fringes, as I spotted a handful ofisolated, net-draped huts near the shoreline,mounted atop cypress-wood posts.Dread Possibility: The Bog-Pits of the Strangled136The Wiesenmoor is least like the bayou,treeless and open to the sky. Entwined matsof marsh-grass overlie mud and water,forming floating rafts for bushes, nestingwaterfowl, and beaver, muskrat or otter.These drifting platforms of vegetation mustbe traversed with care, as they easily giveway beneath the weight of a man. Slippingalong the channels between grass-rafts in my“canoo” was a far more relaxing experiencethan my forays into the Maison d’Sablet.Gliding over a still, nameless lake in theMondzinke, I witnessed a pike longer thanmy paddle lazing in the clear water. (Alas,my trusty rod-and-reel set was beingrepaired in Graben-town.) As the mists ofdusk eddied among the cattails and I rowedback toward the sea, I heard an unearthly,haunting outcry. I am told it was merely acommon marsh-bird called a “loon”, yet bythe sound I’d have sworn it to be a ghost,mournfully bidding me adieu.Long before Graben Manor existed, the fearsome Anatal sea-raiders seized Graben Islandfrom its monastic residents, and occupied the isle for four generations before being wipedout by plague. During their residency, the cruelest of the Anatal engaged in a morbid riteof human sacrifice, ritually strangling condemned criminals or thralls and then consigningthe remains to the rancid waters of the Aassumpf. Unknown to the Anatal, the peat liningthese bogs acted as a natural preservative, tanning and desiccating their sacrifices’ flesh,and gradually converting them into Ancient Dead: the Strangled.As each Anatal village carried out sacrifices annually, and their people occupied GrabenIsland for roughly a century, the Strangled may well constitute the largest population ofAncients outside of Har’Akir. Most are feeble creatures of Rank 1 or 2; more often thannot, these weaker specimens cannot dig their way out of the bogs without assistance, andremain buried in the mud that preserved them. A few dozen – infamous traitors andmurderers whose names were remembered with dread even after their demise – are ofRank 3. These also linger by the bog-pits where they were buried, standing guard overthem, as the peat-fouled waters serve as the ‘elixir’ that maintains their powers. TheStrangled of Rank 3 are mostly barbarians or fighters, while lesser specimens are warriors,rogues, or commoners.The strongest of the Strangled is Igil Wotanshand (NE male human Rank 4 Ancient Clr7/Bar5), an Anatal fanatic who hanged himself in a deluded attempt to re-enact his Ascendedpatron’s mythic self-strangulation. Unable to accept that he is now undead, Wotanshandstubbornly insists that he has passed into Valhalla, and that the other Strangled werebestowed upon him as his ‘warband’, to fight at his command. As his ‘vassals’unanimously loathe the Anatal priests who slew them, Wotanshand’s efforts to conscriptmore than a rebuked handful to his service have been an abject failure, yet he keeps ontrying.

My visit to the Aassumpf was cut short bya pressing message from Vechor. I can’t sayI was overly disappointed: my brief probeupstream from the Modersperren found thisarea to be a stench-ridden bog, its blackenedwaters stagnant and foul with decomposingvegetation. Moss and waxy-leaved shrubsgrow thickly in the Aassumpf, as do asmattering of great, twisted broadleaf trees.(Rather sinister, although they displayed nosigns of animation while I was present.)Carnivorous plants, including pitcher plantsand bloodrose, are abundant, and attain quiteimpressive sizes. Nor were they the onlyorganisms to grow large in the Aassumpf:the mosquitoes there were the biggest I’veever had to endure – this, after months inSouragne! – and I spied the muddy tracks ofsome tremendous web-footed creature (giantwaterfowl? or monstrous frog?) at the edgeof a putrid-smelling lake, not long beforeMaster Shadowcloak’s sending sent me backto Graben-town and the Black Pelican.In addition to the wetlands of GrabenIsland proper, several low, irregular mudflatslie at the tips of its three southern peninsulas,and a long sandbar southwest of KnammenIsle shields Meerdorf from tidal swells.These stretches of salt marsh are lightlyvegetated by cordgrass and other salttolerantspecies, but all are inundated byspring tides during the new and full moon, sodo not technically qualify as “islands”.These transient islets, or ‘Schlammholme’,provide a sedimentary home to variousinvertebrates, drawing both shorebirds andhuman clam-diggers to feast upon them.Farther offshore, numerous Kielbrecher –jagged ridges and spires of rock – arescattered unpredictably in the Island’sinshore waters, exposed during neap tides,yet a hidden trap for unwary sailors for therest of the month. Locals know thesehazards’ positions, but foreigners can easilyfounder upon them. They are most abundantin the Greifbai (the bay between Mondzinkeand Knammen) and on the tricky approach toSeeheim.The populated end of Graben Island is cutby three canyon-bound rivers around whichsettlements have grown. The north-flowingNiesonnigbach runs out of the scrubland intoGraben Island137a narrow inlet at Seeheim. (Nachtsee, thesmall lake for which the hamlet was named,was drained to create cropland some timeago.) The swift Knechtschaft, hemmed in bya narrow ravine it carved, meets the sea atKirchenheim. Named for the Graben clan’sfirst patriarch, the Efraimstrom skirts thebase of a short, landward spur of Südklippe,forming a natural boundary between Grabentownand the founding family’s estate. Eachof these watercourses is flanked by stands ofconifers and squat, hardy broadleaf trees,tamed by the natives for generations anddevoid of any predators more fearsome thana wildcat. Berries, nuts and fungi areharvested in the woodlands, by squirrels andsongbirds as well as villagers.Splitting the Island’s southern meadowsand marsh, five rivers cross theHohlhandländer to the wetlands beyond.The Todwasser and Wutwasser divide theRacheanger from the Finsterheide, feedinginto the Wiesenmoor northwest of thepeninsula. Tall pines and larches line theirinland banks, giving way to stunted willowsin the marsh. ‘Blutbadholz’ is the Grabenitename for this western forest, and traces ofancient settlements – fieldstone walls, oldburial mounds, and at least two (minor)battlefields – are said to be hidden in itsshadowed depths. Archaeology is not myforte, but the chance to investigate such cluesto the Grabenites’ predecessors – at least,those which constant erosion has yet todestroy – may interest Brothers in that field.Moving eastward, the twin Schicksalflusse– “Fateful Rivers”, in translation – split thethree great marshlands from one another; theVerdrehtschickal (“Twisted Fate”) lies westof the Aassumpf, and the Sicherschickal(“Inevitable Fate”) on its east. As fits theirnames, the Twisted Fate writhes across thelandscape, whereas the Inevitable Fate tracesa beeline south. The headwaters of the twolie within a quarter mile of one another, andthe forests festooning their banks – mostlypine again, interspersed with oak, hemlockand hickory – are united under one name, theReissendwald. Both this forest and theBlutbodholz are home to familiar animalssuch as deer, black bears, and owls, as wellas tan felines called ‘cat-a-mounts’ and a few

Graben Islandundersized wolves. More ominously,monstrous beings, trolls among them, aresaid to prowl these stretches of forest andcanyon. One huntsman, his native reticenceovercome via charm, showed me the stuffedforepaw of a “hel-beast” his grandsire hadreputedly slain in the Reissendwald. By hisdescription and by the appendage itself, thequarry had been a yeth hound.Still further eastward, the Untröstlich coilsits way south, from the eastern end of theFinsterheide to the Kriesesumpf’s margins,before veering out to sea. Slow and lazy, it isthe inland border of the Zaubereiwald, theIsland’s largest forest. Its plant and animallife is akin to that of the Reissendwald, butlocal folklore attests a more exotic presence:dwarves (“zwerge”) are reputed to residebeneath the forest floor, crafting enchanteditems of great power and beauty. Accordingto legend, the reclusive near-men hoard vastriches underground. Famously unfriendly,occasionally one will approach a true manand offer some extraordinary item (often aweapon) in return for a distasteful service(e.g. abducting a human bride for the zwerg).Myself, I saw no signs of mining or otherindustries typical of dwarf-kind during myforay – indeed, Zaubereiwald seemed to bequite an ordinary wood – but I have sentBrother Lochspeare transcripts of Grabenitetales of zwerg (sometimes “moderigzwerg”)activity, so he might assess their credibility.Encounters: WildlifeMost of Graben Island is a fairly peaceful place, and horrific creatures encountered theretend to crawl out of the sea (see Interlude 1 sidebar) or slither forth from the mires of theAassumpf. Fey (huldu) and dire animals pose an occasional threat to foresters andtrappers.CR 1/10: bat, toad MM1 ;CR 1/8: rat MM1CR 1/6: raven MM1CR 1/4: albatross Sto , cat MM1 , otter Sto , owl MM1 , weasel MM1CR 1/3: dog MM1 , hawk MM1 , seal Sto , tiny viper MM1CR 1/2: badger MM1 , eagle MM1 , pony MM1CR 1: heavy horse MM1 (on Graben estate only), sea lion Sto , sheepdog (use riding dogstats MM1 ), snapping turtle Sto , wolf MM1CR 2: bat swarm MM1 , black bear MM1 , boar MM1 , cat-a-mount (use leopard stats MM1 ),dire bat MM1 , dire hawk MM2 , dire weasel MM1 , rat swarm MM1CR 3: dire toad MM2 , dire wolf MM1138The DoomwrightUntil recently, the “zwerge” werecolorful regional folklore of theGrabenites, not fact. After Nebligtodejoined the Core, however, these talescaught the attention of a fir – an evilgremlin exiled from the Shadow Rift formaiming a rival – who capriciouslychose to make these stories come true.Calling itself the “Doomwright”, thegremlin takes gleeful delight in posingas one of these infamous “rottendwarves”, and luring the gullible andpower-hungry into bargains thatinevitably bring about their undoing anddisgrace.The Doomwright is served by firkinexperts, and is itself a master smith. Itapplies minor enchantments to itsfirkins’ work, to pass off as “items ofpower” to the magic-naïve Grabenites.The NE fir is either a 9 th level artificer(if the Eberron Campaign Setting isavailable), or a Wiz8/Exp2, in additionto its inborn powers as a shadow fey. Itsfavoured rodent-form is a beaver, not arat.

Encounters: MonstersCR 1/4: witchbane leech DoDCR 1/3: giant leech Sto , twig blight MM2CR 1/2: bloodrose DoDGraben IslandCR 1: bakhna rakhna DoD , domovoi Fro , fearweed DoD , krenshar MM1 , leech swarm Sto , nixie MM1 ,rusalka Fro , sea spawn minion DoD ;CR 2: crawling ivy DoD , giant raven Fro , phantom hound DoD , skin thief DoDCR 3: air mephit MM1 , aquatic remnant DoD , boowray DoD , bowlyn DoD , dread scarecrow DoD ,drownling DoD , dryad MM1 , ghast MM1 , giant owl MM1 , jack frost DoD , locust swarm MM1 , midnightcat DoD , seawolf Sto , shadow MM1 , vodyanoi Fro , yeth hound MM1CR 4: bruja DoD , dread wight DoD , fenhound DoD , mimic MM1 , sea hag MM1 , wood woad MM3 , yuki-onnaFroCR 5: arayashka DoD , green hag MM1 , odem DoD , sea spawn master DoD ; selkie, dread greater VRFSMCR 6: annis MM1 , corpse candle DoD , dread troll DoD , grim DoD , icegaunt Fro , jolly roger DoD ,marzanna Fro , sea zombie DoD , shambling mound MM1 , will-o’-wisp MM1 ;CR 7: breathdrinker MM2 , darktentacles MM2 , grim reaper DoD , nymph MM1 , spectre MM1 ;CR 8: blackwing MM5 , deadborn vultures MM5 , drowned MM3CR 9: galeb duhr MM2 , valpurleiche DoDCR 10: leechwalker MM2CR 11: crimson death MM2CR 12: air weird MM2 , snow weird FroVariable CR: Ancient Dead DoD , Frostfell ghost Fro , geist DoD , ghost MM1 , lebendtod * , lycanthrope(werebear MM1 , werewolf MM1 , wereraven DoD ) [ * – See revised template in DM Appendix.]Few of Graben Island’s indigenous monsters are under the darklord’s control, as Meredoth has noparticular interest in policing the isle or intervening in what happens there. Note that ghasts on theIsland always arise as a result of a lebendtod’s failed attempts to create spawn, and that those whicharise in such a misbegotten state are expressly forbidden to spread ghoul fever.A grim reaper that manifests on Graben Island (and elsewhere in Nebligtode as well) appears as aboiling cloud of black smoke rimmed by a nimbus of sickly green light. Invisible claws lash outfrom its core, to rake (as scythe blade) or clutch (as scythe handle) at victims, and the churning,roiling darkness at the creature’s core serves as a conventional grim reaper’s gaze of fear attack.139

Alongside the forest, the Island’s shorelineleads up to Kirchenheim as a pebble beach:home to scavenging gulls and crows, and acomical variety of seabird called “puffins”.Seals crowd the Kielbrecher on this coastalstretch, eagerly intercepting and preying onthese plump, waddling little fish-eaters, andGrabenite furriers harvest both predator andprey in season. Heavy as the drizzle of thisweather-beaten island grows at times, I’llallow that my new sealskin coat does shedthe raindrops most effectively: a pity that itspuffin-down lining would soon broil me likea spiced crawdad in Souragne!SettlementsFollowing the Pelican’s successful (albeitnerve-wracking) docking at Graben-town, Iexplored the port itself, then hired a doughtyseaman of the aptly-named Fischer clan tocircumnavigate the Island, so that I mightvisit its lesser communities and countryside.Bram Fischer’s dory slid easily through theshallows where Black Pelican would havefoundered, and his garrulous tales proved notevery Grabenite is as taciturn as rumorportrays them… though I doubt if one “fishstory” in ten he related held a grain of truth.A tiresome boor, but informative.Graben-town (small town):nonstandard democracy/ plutocracy);AL N; CL 7; 800 gp limit; Assets78,000 gp; Population 1900; Humans99% (inc. lebendtod), others 1%.Authority figures: Sgt. GiermundLeifsen, male human War10(Yeomanry officer); Pieter Fischer,male human Exp8 (wealthyassemblyman); Aesep Brand, malehuman War2/Exp3 (harbormaster).Important characters: GunnarValsic, male human Ftr5/Rog2 (foreigncrime lord); Toret Myrlos Kendren,male human Clr7 [Ezra] (Darkonianmissionary); Aesa Rolfsdottir, femalehuman Com3 (town busybody)Graben IslandGraben-town140Largest community and unofficial capital ofGraben Island, Graben-town occupies a widebasin of fertile cropland to the north of theEfraimstrom, extending gently downhill to asheltered beach between Nordklippe andSüdklippe. Not unlike Nevuchar Springs, itis a once-sleepy community “awakened” bythe emergence of the Nocturnal Sea, havingnearly doubled its population since the Mistswithdrew. Formerly a quiet backwater, it isnow the hub of a thriving fishing industry,housing nearly as many immigrants asGrabenites, to the acute dismay of the latter.To accommodate this influx ofnewcomers, and the rich catches of cod andherring they haul from the tempestuous seasbeyond the Kielbrecher, Graben-town’sharbor facilities have grown from a modesttwo docks to four, with a fifth underconstruction. The once-pristine beacheswest of the piers have been dredged andenclosed to create a crude, but serviceabledry-dock slip, suitable for hull-repairs andstripping of barnacles from smaller vessels.Perched at the mouth of the Efraimstrom,atop a rocky prominence from which basketsdescend to ships’ decks via block-and-tackle,the architectural eyesore of the FischerPackhouse takes in tons of seafood eachweek, to be cleaned, salted and packaged forshipment. There are times, I gather, whenthe docks are largely deserted – only thefoolish or desperate risk the deepwaterfishing-banks while Todstein’s icebergs areadrift – but this was hard to credence duringmy visit, when husky stevedores teemed onthe wharf and Packhouse workers trudgedlistlessly to their labors, stinking of fish guts.None of this “progress” would be possible,if the conservative bulk of native-bornGrabenites had a say in the matter. Indeed, ifthe mutterings and irate glares I observedfrom native villagers were any example,many would be glad to see the new docksand Packhouse go up in flames! (Were I abetting man, now...) Many locals view thethrongs of new arrivals as no less than aninvasion of criminals (“outcast dregs ofdistant, unsavoury realms”), whose foreignspeech and habits they find baffling or

offensive. Still, a dynamic minority withinthe native populace – led by the extendedFischer clan to which my hired pilotbelonged – values commercial gain aboverespectability. It is the Fischers (with theallied families of Cooper and Stromm), whohave elevated Graben-town from a remoteway-stop into the southerly focal point forthe Nocturnal Sea.As with boomtowns everywhere, this rapidgrowth shows in the layout and architectureof Graben-town proper. TraditionalGrabenite homes still predominate, but onlybecause each new building houses multiplefamilies or (more often) hordes of unmarriedseamen packed-in like the fish they hope toGraben Islandmake their fortune by. Such hastily-erectedwooden structures – little more than boxespartitioned into cubbies, and drafty to boot –have an unnerving habit of shuddering in theceaseless Island wind; some have collapsedentirely, with considerable loss of life. Alas,peculiarities of Island property-rights makeit difficult to remove land from the custodyof its owners, no matter how criminallymisused:sites of such accidents remain inthe landlord’s keeping, and fallen tenementsare soon replaced by equally-shoddy ones.Dread Possibility: Cat’s in the CradleWhile the majority of the native Grabenites’ suspicions about Graben-town’s immigrantsare based on no more than small-town isolationism and bigotry, the rising fortunes andpopulation of this enclave – a settlement with no greater indigenous crime than theoccasional stolen goat – have not escaped the attentions of Nova Vaasa’s avariciousdarklord, Malken. Regarding the unworldly Grabenites as ‘easy pickings’, the crime lordsent one of his own lieutenants to the Island a year ago, to establish a new branch of hisempire. As yet, Malken’s agent – Gunnar Valsic, a former enforcer for the Rivtoffs a bitpast his physical prime – has only partly succeeded in fulfilling his charge, as theGrabenites are a more sober-minded and unsporting people than anticipated. Most ofValsic’s profits are from prostitution and bets on wrestling matches.The natives’ fondness for gambling on fights between stallions – a proud tradition atlocal wedding-feasts – shows every indication of being far more lucrative. However,Valsic’s Vaasi sensibilities are balking at the notion of using horses in blood-sports: anaversion the hard-bitten lieutenant hadn’t known was in him, and is now strugglingfiercely to overcome. To buy more time to work up the nerve and deflect Malken’sheated demands for profit, Valsic is investigating reports that the source of a rare andcostly narcotic – the intensely-addictive tsongha juice – is known to certain Grabenites;although the natives’ disdain for self-indulgence makes these rumors seem incredible.Given the secret of that exotic drug’s provenance, Valsic believes he could buy off hisboss’s anger and inquiries indefinitely.In truth, Valsic’s hesitancy about taking over the horse-fight betting is already known toMalken, who is livid over his proxy’s lack of backbone. Malken has always personallydisposed of his failed underlings, as a lesson to the rest; however, the crime lord’s firstinstinct to strangle his skittish lieutenant is infeasible, as he cannot leave his domain toenact such a punishment.This has placed Malken in the awkward position of having to recruit someone else toassassinate Valsic, and to arrange for this in such a way that no one – not even his ownhenchmen – suspects his inability to cross the Nocturnal Sea. Else, this lapse may be seenas a sign of weakness (seasickness, perhaps?) by the treacherous and ambitious cutthroatswith whom Nova Vaasa’s darklord surrounds himself.141

Graben IslandImmigrant housing is concentrated in thenorthwestern corner of the township, whilecraftsmen’s workshops and businesses linethe main stretch of Shore Way, along theEfraimstrom. The inland side of town isstaunchly native Grabenite, with wealthierhomes and civic facilities – a meeting hall, aYeomanry arms-house, and a newly-builtchapel of Ezra – clustered around ShorewayCircle at the road’s east end. Shore Way andFounder’s Road – longest street on theisland, winding east from the Graben familyestate to the outlying farms – are stonepavedwith granite from the bluffs. (Otherroads on the Island consist simply of halvedlogs laid over the muddy ground, split sideup, and anchored by pegs.) Two fieldstonebridges cross the Efraimstrom, at Founder’sRoad and a side-spur of Shore Way. Each isilluminated by oil lantern, to prevent thecareless from slipping into the creek’s fortyfootcrevasse.Native residences are built largely orwholly of stone, stoutly-walled againstwinter’s chill and angled to cut theprevailing winds. Larger families add asecond story of sturdy bog-oak to theirhome, and perhaps a half-story above that.142Roofs are of double-layered timber, cantedsharply to shed snow; thatching bound in feltis stuffed between planks as insulation.Basements are absent, being hard to heat, butcold cellars – stone-lined pits dug out behindthe houses – act as handy receptacles forperishables, kept frigid year-round bypermafrost. Kitchen gardens and milk-goatpens are common, even in the heart of town,but chicken coops are not, as such poultryfares miserably in this climate.Windows are few and narrow, actingmostly as vents or peepholes in this sunlessrealm, not light sources. Most have pineslats fixed permanently in their frames todeflect drafts, and shutters without andwithin. Doorways are also taller andslimmer than I am used to, with stout oakendoors that might be better-suited to aFalkovnian fortress than a private home!Pressed for an explanation as to why theirhouses require such stalwart entryways, mostGrabenites merely attest this is “how it’salways been done” – a phrase I’d growheartily sick of hearing, from these prosaicfolk – but my suspicion remains that darkercauses are to blame.

RunestonesGraben IslandThe Anatal ancestors of the Grabenites employed their own mystical writing system – runes – to recordhistory and to invoke magical protection and effects. Similar to the arcane script used in wizards’ spellbooks,but resistant to read magic or other translation-spells, Anatal runes cannot be read today without a DC 35Spellcraft check. If the runes’ would-be reader knows the Grabenite tongue, a +4 competence bonus isapplied to this check. The Grabenites have forgotten their ancestors’ runic writing system, though theyrecognize runes as such when they see them.Runestones such as the Shoreway Pillar were used by the Anatal to mark sites of ritual or socialimportance, and engraved stones of this sort are scattered throughout those parts of the isle which the searaidershad occupied, in Nebligtode’s false history.Most stones commemorate past events or signify the importance of the site they mark. A few – engravedby clerics or skalds and then enchanted – act as symbols or other writing-based traps, or generate long-lastingmagic effects, much like an area-affecting permanency does. A very few stones endow those who can readthem with a temporary magical benefit, such as protection from evil. Only reading directly off a runestoneinvokes its magic; a copy or rubbing is quite mundane, albeit still resistant to translation-spells. Runestonesonly radiate magic if and when their powers (if any) are actively triggered by being read.As sacred ritual markers of the Anatal folk, tampering with runestones may constitute an act of defilement.Though Grabenites don’t recall how to read them, they understand these carved stones held spiritual meaningto their forbearers, and discourage foreigners’ attempts to disturb them. Many stones carry their ownwarnings also, their inscriptions proclaiming their sanctity to Wotan, Donar, or other Ascended revered bythe Anatal. A runestone may be Good, Neutral, or Evil for purposes of desecration-related Powers checks,depending on the one who carved it.143

Graben IslandOn two of the older houses’ doors Idiscerned deep-gouged claw marks,weathered and repeatedly varnished. Norwere these gashes testament to simplelycanthropic activity, unless werebeasts inthis region are aberrant in the extreme: onemarred door bore seven parallel scratches, asif delivered by the same betaloned pawswipe;the other, no less than nine.Other businesses in Graben-town include ageneral store, a grain-and-grist mill, dealersin meat and in bread, several textile-makersand the aforementioned Fischer Packhouse.The latter is the brainchild of the sevenFischer brothers, who learned their advancedtechniques of salt-and-tin-packaging steamcookedfish from a Lamordian they rescuedfrom a foundering caravel. Granted, theirmethods do require regular imports of costlyRichemulouise tin, but the Packhouse’sproducts – tinned caviar, bottled oils, andground-fishbone fertilizer, as well as filletedor whole fishes by the barrel – are much indemand and can be shipped long distanceswithout spoilage: an invaluable asset, for anout-of-the-way enterprise.Aside from the chapel of Ezra – a modest,undecorated mission where Darkonian ToretMyrlos Kendren regales a congregation ofseveral dozen glum Grabenites – the notablelandmarks I beheld in Graben-town were thetown cemetery (a walled affair abutting theNordklippe) and a singular pillar of carvenstone at the center of Shoreway Circle.The Shoreway Pillar, a vertical cylinder ofgranite roughly my own height (no chortlingat my stature’s expense now, Gabrek!), isengraved with angular markings reminiscentof Vistani tralaks. My initial efforts to clearmoss from this monolith for a better viewmet with dark – even threatening – looksfrom passers-by; I desisted at once, to returnafter nightfall (and invisibly) to expose thesymbols. Close inspection proved they werenot of Vistani origin: on the contrary, thecharacters’ arrangement and variety impliedthey constituted a formal language, perhapseven the ritual or arcane script of a vanishedculture. Alas, no translation-spell that I’veapplied has decrypted any meaning from therubbings I collected, and deciphering theirmessage – if any – by mundane means lay144more in the Traitor’s bailiwick than my own.Any Brother who cares to tackle this taskmay request a copy of the symbols’transcription. (Due credit as their discovererwould, of course, accrue to me, on anypublished paper which their interpretationmight give rise to.)The graveyard is small and neatly-tended;it offers a useful historical record of birthsand deaths in the community. EvenGrabenites who die in other realms arebrought here for burial, if their families canarrange it, as natives imagine it conducive totheir peace in the afterlife if their bones restin their isle’s home soil. Grabenites lost atsea are memorialized here also, their namescarved into the flagstones of a pavedfootpath that rings the cemetery’s heart, to“lead the lost to familiar shores”. At sunseteach night, a brass harbour-bell mounted bythe cemetery gate is rung, to guide suchstraying spirits’ journeys through theevening fog.Governance of Graben-town is nominallyconducted by an assembly of family heads,who meet biannually to select deacons anddiscuss issues of concern to the community.Ostensibly, every head of household gets anequal say in decision-making, but in practicethe town’s most prestigious or wealthy clansusually prevail. Until just a few years ago,conservative decrees could be counted on assurely as the tides. Now that his fortuneshave risen, Pieter Fischer’s efforts topromote a more-progressive agenda havefaced little resistance, as elder statesmen ofthe other households expire from old age (orperhaps less natural causes?) and oppositionto his sons’ expansionism loses its reveredadvocates. Unless the Grabens, themselves,see fit to intervene – an unlikely prospect, asaged patriarch Colin Graben seldom leaveshis estate – I suspect that Captain Howe willbe getting his lighthouse, soon enough.AccommodationsThe Black Sheep Inn (just recently expandedfrom six private rooms to fourteen) offersdecent accommodation and hearty, albeitrustic meals of mutton, codfish soup, potatoand-leekstew and barley bread. A formership’s cook from Mordent who wedded a

Grabenite lass, retired proprietor BarnabasVincent makes sure his children are equallypolite to foreign travelers and the locals whosavour his brew-house’s dark, potent ales.Less-peaceful housing might be sought bythe frugal at the Weighed Anchor – a sailors’bunkhouse and proud of it – but only if onecan sleep through the roistering of harddrinkingfishermen at the Capstan tavern,abutting Graben-town’s second inn. TheCapstan serves no food – barkeep NilsHansen boasts of being the worst chef on theisle – but patrons are welcome to warm theircarried-in shepherd’s pies or spitted meatsover the tavern hearth.For long-term stays, rooms may be rentedin half-a-dozen tenements in the immigrants’end of town, but security and draftiness are abother at all six. They mainly house foreignfishermen, who come ashore between stintsat sea and depart as soon as their vessels arefit to sail again. Tenants come and go withwearisome haste, leaving scant evidence oftheir brief passage save carven graffiti in thebedposts, and coins in the pockets of doxieswho haunt the premises. Discreet inquiries –facilitated by a charm or two – revealed allsix rooming-houses to be the property of theGraben family: Graben-town’s eponymousgentlefolk and founders.Graben IslandMeerdorf (hamlet): Monstrous; AL NE;100gp limit; Assets 750gp; Population150; Isolated (Sea-claimed 60%,humans 40%).Authority figures: Pater Oddvar, malehuman Sea-claimed Clr7 (pastor)Important characters: Voice-Of-The-Deep, female human Sea-claimed Dru4/Sor4 (cult seer); Ivar Thorinsen, malehuman Sea-claimed Brd5 (fish-caller)MeerdorfI was fortunate to find myself with a spareday on my hands, while my hired dory wasreadied to leave Graben-town, and I lookedforward to a spot of deep-sea fishing. Withsome effort, I persuaded a solitary fishermanby the name of Osvald to take me on a briefouting in his boat. He was on his way out tosea when I approached him, so my requestshould not have posed any inconvenience.Still, it took a handful of silver and a bottleof Vaasan spirits to persuade him to take mealong, grudgingly.Dread Possibility: Lost at PortIn decades past, camouflaged undead known as “lebendtod” kidnapped many visitors toGraben Island for the darklord Meredoth’s necromantic experiments. Due to increasedtraffic drawn by the fishing industry, and their own wariness after disaster struck them in737, the necromancer’s minions now find it prudent to conceal such abductions by twolayers of “cover story”, and to target foreign fishermen unlikely to be missed.When Meredoth demands live experimental subjects, Colin Graben checks which lodgersin his family’s tenements are next to set sail. Lebendtod sneak aboard the selected fishingvessel and quietly capture its crew; they then pilot the ship out of sight of the Island, so itappears their prisoners left port as planned. At dusk, under cover of fog, the stolen ship isanchored off the Südklippe’s base, below Graben Manor, and other supplies brought aboardfor Todstein. When the vessel fails to return on schedule, its loss is attributed to storms orother maritime hazards; in truth, it is repainted by the lebendtod and sold under a new namein Liffe or Egertus.All six tenements are rife with spyholes and secret passages, so Meredoth’s minions cansneak in and abduct additional test subjects from their beds. Rumors of vanishings haverisen since the undead adopted this tactic, but gossip (and local xenophobia) attributes themto the work of seedy Armeikan press-gangs, not undead. The Grabens foster such rumors,as another layer of disinformation behind which to conceal the disappearances’ real cause.145

Graben IslandWe sailed out to a spot southwest ofGraben-town. Upon casting my line, alas, Ifound that the Nocturnal Sea’s billfish weregiving me as cold a shoulder as the Island’snatives. I did take some consolation in thefact that Osvald’s cod-seine caught littlemore than I. I’ll admit to feeling a bit sorryfor the man, as his family most likelydepended on a bountiful catch for theirlivelihood.Not far away, we spied another boat thathad met with marvelous fortune. Its crewhad hoisted up great netfulls of fish in thespace of a few hours, working in time to aneerie tune played on some manner of pipe.Even from a distance, the strange melodycarried plainly upon the breeze, and itsqueer, off-kilter notes raised the hairs on theback of my neck. It was unlike anything Ihad heard on Graben Island … or anywhereelse, for that matter. Osvald glumly turnedhis back to the other fishermen and mutteredan oath under his breath, disdain evident inhis downcast eyes. To my surprise, ourrivals (for lack of a better term) then headedsouth at impressive speed, toward littleKnammen Isle, after lowering their nets backinto the frigid, ink-black waters.Whenever I had inquired about the lesserislet or its residents, natives of the principalIsland shrugged and said little. (It is worthnoting that some foreign-made maps identifyKnammen Isle as “Meerdorf”, but residentsof Graben-town repeatedly assured me that“Knammen” is rightly the name of theisland, and Meerdorf, that of the hamlet onits southern edge.) Knammen’s interior wasas barren and rugged as the Steinfelder, andMeerdorf, merely an undistinguished fishingvillage, whose inhabitants came onlyoccasionally to Graben-town for purposes oftrade.146It took a few hours of canny navigation toreach Knammen’s south shore, for the windshifted constantly. A sheer, ominous granitewall jutted straight out of the sea andthreatened to smash us upon its flanks, as itdid the fugitive waves, should we dare tocome any closer. (I could almost swear that Ispied gigantic and bizarre, bulbous visagescarved out of the otherwise-impassive rockface, but knew this to be beyond the realm ofpossibility, for what giants that are not mythcould have done such a thing?)Flocks of gulls, fulmars, kittiwakes, andgannets squawked noisily from their cliff-topnests, hovering like wisps of cloud. Thebirds seemed particularly agitated, circlingand diving aggressively. To my amazement,I spotted a man scrambling precariouslyalong the cliff, without the aid of ropes. Asmall basket hung from his waist, no doubtfor collecting the eggs of his avianadversaries, and a net on a forked rod wasstrapped to his back, so he might add agrown bird or two to his gleanings. Thenest-thief moved with astonishing speed andagility, particularly-so as he was of a sizewith other Grabenites.The cliffs tapered off gradually as we leftthe narrow strait and sailed west towardKnammen’s south shore. Osvald refusedoutright to round the point to Meerdorf andinstead we alit on a narrow, white pebblebeach in the lee of the point. Osvald warnedme he would depart – with or without me –at the tide’s turning. An obvious trail raneast, which brought me to the outskirts ofMeerdorf.The village was but a fraction of the size ofGraben-town: I counted perhaps three dozenhomes. The Meerdorfers’ dwellings werebuilt in a manner consistent with traditionalhabitations on the larger island, albeit muchsmaller, shabbier and roofed with sod. Eachhome had at least one rain barrel at its side.The dearth of gardens, like those foundaround Graben-town, did little to brightenthe image of Meerdorf. And there were nostreets per se but only crushed-seashell pathswinding idly between the residences. Thescent of fish and brine pervaded the air. Nosmoke wafted from the hearths, which left

me wondering how the villagers kept warmin this chilly, wind-blasted place.While I encountered a few stray sheep andtethered goats as I roamed about the village,the utter absence of people in the streets castMeerdorf in an especially eerie and dismallight. I had the impression that I was beingconstantly watched, through cracks in closedshutters or peepholes in narrow doors, butmet no opportunity to verify my suspicions.I tapped on a few doors, but wentunanswered. Meerdorf seemed completelydeserted.More puzzled than alarmed, I kept on. Ireached the docks and a pebble beach, wheredozens of small craft were moored orbeached upon the shore. Row upon row ofenormous mackerel and marlin had beenhung to dry on sod-roofed and netted racks.My gaze fell upon what appeared to be amodest stone church atop a low knoll beyondthe eastern outskirts of Meerdorf. Curious, Ibegan to stroll in the direction of the town’sspiritual center when I heard for the briefestinstant what sounded like a muffled humanGraben Islandvoice coming from the half-opened entranceof a nearer, weatherworn building. I changedcourse, knocked, and then cautiously enteredwhat I presumed was Meerdorf’s tavern,although no sign hung outside.The common room was dimly illuminatedby a single oil lamp set on the bar, and by thelittle bit of wan Nocturnal Sea light thatfiltered in through the half-open door. Therewere but a half-dozen patrons, plus thebarman. Oddly, all six men sat in solitude attheir respective tables. All eyes turned to mein absolute silence, evidently shocked. Thetaproom reeked of burning whale-oil, fish,and liquor. Antiquated fishing implementsadorned the walls and, despite the chill, noflame danced in the fireplace. After whatseemed an eternity, the barman spoke up,haltingly asking why I had come toMeerdorf. His guttural, thick-tonguedaccent was even more difficult to penetratethan that of most Grabenites. He squinted atme intently, apparently expecting a promptand definite answer.147

The Shadow Over MeerdorfFounded by outcasts from Grabenitesociety, Meerdorf harbors a ghastlysecret: over half its population are nolonger quite human, but physical andspiritual converts to a terrible underseapresence known as the God Below.Long before the Nocturnal Seacoalesced in 750, its inhabitants fellunder the sway of a strange statuettedredged up by a resident’s seine-net: agrotesque idol that psychicallywormed its way into the Meerdorfers’minds until they came to worship it.This unholy figurine, the Sea-Strange,still sits in honor in Meerdorf’schurch.Hours after Nebligtode joined theCore, the local converts’ prayers wereanswered: fish-like beings in theimage of the Sea-Strange emergedfrom the waves, and welcomed the“drylanders” into the fold. Since then,each month one Meerdorfer is takenbelow by the fish-men under a waterbreathing spell, then returned nextmonth as a Sea-claimed (newtemplate), having received the darkblessing of the God Below. Many so-‘blessed’ soon go back to the depths,while others linger as spies of theirunholy god-master, monitoring eventsin the airbreathers’ realm.Graben IslandReturning those stolid, unwavering stares,it struck me that there was somethingpeculiar, yet vaguely familiar about theMeerdorfers’ faces. Their eyes wereexceptionally round and glassy, their faceswan, their hair stringy and matted; theirfeatures, one and all, were quite distinctive,broader of jaw and lower of brow than thoseof the main island’s inhabitants. Given thehamlet’s isolation, I construed the villagersmight all be related, through some less thanwholesome unions. Superficially, theylooked and dressed like the folk on GrabenIsland, yet the prospect of these people148consorting or courting with theircounterparts on the greater isle struck me asimplausible, even weirdly repellent.Though the tavern’s patrons did notthreaten me in any way, I felt an intensediscomfort in their presence, and aninstinctive urge to depart immediately. Anabrupt panic set in at the sudden thought thatOsvald might leave me stranded here! Ibolted from the premises and commenced toquit the village with an unseemly haste. As Idid, the deep, atonal sounds of a bell beganto toll. Still sore discomfited by the taverngoers’demeanor, I feared this might be analarm-signal of sorts, calling for my capture.Peering over my shoulder, I at last glimpsedMeerdorf’s inhabitants, streaming from theirgloomy homes, to file in an orderly fashionthrough the village’s twisted lanes, towardsthe church … and away from me.It is with a mixture of relief and regret thatI report I could not conduct a more thoroughsurvey of Meerdorf or Knammen Isle. Inretrospect, I cannot fully account for my ownreaction to the tavern’s patrons, norarticulate why their demeanor left me souncomfortable. Yet if I took one thing awayfrom Meerdorf, it is the certitude that evenvan Rijn – despite his recklessness and guile– would not have sought refuge in such abackward and sinister place.SeeheimTiny Seeheim preserves a Grabenite way oflife nearly untouched by the Nocturnal Sea’smergence with other realms. It lacks theimmigrants and other influences lured toGraben-town and is physically inaccessibleto the larger merchant vessels of Liffe or themainland. Natives’ glares of distaste andsullen resentment pursued me all around theIsland, yet only in Seeheim were myoutlandish appearance, dress, and accentgreeted by slack-jawed astonishment. Onebrazen scamp even wriggled free of hermother’s hand to tug at my sleeves, as if toascertain that I was real; when I bent down tochide the child, she boldly snatched at myspectacles. Presumptuous little brat.

Seeheim (hamlet): conventional(assembly); AL LN; CL 6; 100 gplimit; Assets 1250 gp; Population 250;Humans 99%, others 1%.Authority figures: Sgt. Sven Igelsen,male human Ftr4 (Yeomanry head);Old Johann, male human Exp6 (“elderstatesman” of shipwrights)Important characters: ‘Dead-Eye’Olaf, male human Rgr8 (aceharpoonist); Ragna Stingtongue,marzanna Fro nearing the Change (hottemperedcook)Such ignorance of foreigners was perhapsto be expected, as Seeheim’s ‘harbor’ doesnot lie on the Island’s shoreline, but on theNiesonnigbach: a river too slender for allsave the narrowest of vessels, and penned offfrom the sea by hull-ripping shoals. Evenmy hired navigator refused to risk hispersonal watercraft in the “pinch”; aSeeheimer whaleboat (fancifully adorned bya serpent-headed prow, a custom whosesignificance is long forgotten) came out togreet Bram Fischer’s dory and bear meonward into the river’s canyon.Graben IslandSeeheim is a two-tiered hamlet, with thehomesteads and farms set well above theflood-prone river and wave-lashed beaches.From the riverside docks, one ascends stairsout of the deep Niesonnigbach ravine. Onceatop the plateau of the Steinfelder, split-logroads weave a not-so-muddy course betweenthe low-lying sod and fieldstone dwellings.Primitive by even the dubious standards ofGraben-town, traditional homes ofSeeheimers are designed to maximizewarmth and shelter from wind, not satisfyaesthetics or comfort. Floors are recessedinto the soil and covered with rush mats;most homes have but one or two rooms,privacy being afforded only by curtains. Inwealthier residences, like that in which I wasput up for the night (Seeheim has no inns),beds are tucked away in cupboards built intoniches in the walls, and heated by warmingpansof coals. Ventilation in these archaicdwellings is poor, and massive hearths andovercrowding leave them permeated bysweat and smoke. Thank Ezra I’d not comein winter, when ailing livestock are broughtindoors to share their keepers’ warmth!While I “roughed it” amongst gawkingbumpkins, my pilot – mayhap chortling overmy imagined discomfort – saw to his ownbusiness in the hamlet’s lower tier. Seeheimis home to Graben Island’s most capableshipwrights, and Bram’s ambitious clanrequired another knarr, the largest watercraftthat Grabenite artisans seem up to the task ofconstructing.Just in case I’d not had my fill of noxiousodours, come morning, it happened that theresidents had just corralled a group of pilotwhales against the shoreline and hauled thecreatures onto the beach with gaff-hooks.Thus, my leave-taking from this backwateramongst-backwaterswas heralded by thestench of these bulky animals’ gruesomeevisceration and flensing in progress.Granted, the humble folk of Seeheim wererather more tolerant of my foreign ways thanother Grabenites, if only for my noveltyvalue.But, by the Watchers, may I never goback there again!149

Kirchenheim (hamlet): conventional(assembly); AL CN; CL 7; 100 gplimit; Assets 2000 gp; Population 400;Humans 99% (inc. lebendtod), others1%.Authority figures: Sgt. Erik Alriksen,male human War4 (Yeomanry chief);Toret Sarah Verber, female humanClr6 [Ezra] (Mordentish missionary)Important characters: Cpt. AndarSnorrisen, male human Exp7 (knarrcaptain for hire); Ingrid Bjornsdottir,female human Brd2 (skaldic trainee)KirchenheimGraben IslandA farming settlement, Kirchenheimhuddles at the mouth of the Knechtschaft,looking out over leagues of empty seatoward forlorn Todstein. Exposed to thefiercest of Island weather, nearest to itsuntamed forests and swamps, and adjacent tothe Finsterheide’s pastures, Kirchenheim ishome to cattlemen and furriers, lumberjacksand huntsmen. Its residents are hardworking,hard-drinking, and independent,though habitual Grabenite stoicism andconformity keeps brawling and other vulgar“frontier” pursuits in check.Perhaps because the sea’s peril is fixed intheir minds, Kirchenheimers look to the landfor a livelihood. It is here that most ofGraben Island’s stunted cattle are milked,slaughtered and sheared. The local breedsresemble nothing less than small yaks.Kirchenheim’s cheeses and cured beef areregularly traded with other villages, andreplenish the stores of foreign vesselspreparing for their home voyage. Livestockfrom Liffe or Darkon are also shipped to thesettlement, as Grabenites strive to increasethe strength and bulk of their stock. Sheep’swool is processed in Kirchenheim, as aretimber, other forest products, and resourcesgleaned from the shores (eiderdown,mussels, salt). Rangers, wise women andothers who favor life outside of the villages150visit Kirchenheim periodically, barteringfurs, game and simple handicrafts, such aswoven-reed baskets. If anything on or neartheir Island is remotely useful or salvable,Kirchenheimers seem determined to wrestsome advantage from it.This opportunism is also applied tovisitors. Kirchenheimers don’t want to be“invaded”, like Graben-town, but theystoically put up with foreign callers so longas they benefit more than they lose byaccommodating such visits. For silver coinand a few mainland-crafted trinkets, I readilyacquired lodgings and food.Fees for information ran a bit higher, in theform of charm-spells: opportunistic or not,Kirchenheimers are still Grabenites, henceclose-mouthed with strangers. The principleexception, in my case, was a raggedy cronewho accosted me near the edge of town, topronounce some nonsensical rhyme or fauxprophecyto me, her cataract-clouded eyesrolling like a lost one’s. Decrepit or not, sheslipped away before I could question her.Kirchenheim itself is hemmed in by treesas a windbreak, and its docks are shieldedfrom storm surges by a seawall ofSteinfelder rubble. There is no proper inn,but enough visitors stop here that a numberof residents keep an extra bed-cubby for lonetravelers, and a cattleman by the name ofGundarsen (no relation) has converted hiswintering-barn into a seasonal flophouse forseamen. A single tavern and eating-house,the Horn and Hoof, serves huge portions ofmediocre foodstuffs : roast goat orKnechtschaft trout, plus barley bread withbeans. The lager, at least, was passable; alas,by then I had realized wine was nowhere tobe had in this hinterland. I did taste a sampleof the local honey-mead, but found itssweetness a bit too insipid for my palate.Businesses are scattered erratically intown; one can find a smith, a baker, and thevillage well-and-gravedigger situated sideby-side,along split-log roads that rambledrunkenly between buildings. Architectureis equally mingled, with half-timberresidences like those of Graben-town next tosod hovels even more archaic than theSeeheimers’. To add to the confusion, the

Secret Society: The Wise WomenGraben IslandIn the past a few Grabenite women were given powers of prophecy by the Ascended.These “wise women” (adepts) acted as soothsayers for their villages, healed the sickand served as midwives, and advised heroes and jarls in troubled times. Nevernumerous, their loose sisterhood cooperated to safeguard the welfare and heritage of theGrabenite people.Sadly, prophetic ability does not come cheaply. While the wise women retained theirabilities as adepts, the capacity to divine men’s fates was skewered when Graben Islandentered the Mists. While some glimpses of the future could be gleaned, these were oftenmisleading or stripped of context. The familiars that served the adepts were alsocorrupted, becoming creatures’ of the women’s own darker, repressed desires. The wisewomen never realized that this had happened. Their traditions taught that a familiar’sadvice was above reproach; few suspected their familiars would act differently thanthose historically.The dread companions slowly lured their mistresses from compassion and duty toegotism and spite. Those who succumbed were aided in wicked scheme-mongering bythe familiars; those who resisted their helpers’ guileful lies were killed by former“sisters”, at their familiars’ own behest. Today, virtually every wise woman on GrabenIsland is Evil before her initiation, and rare exceptions recruited in error are eithercorrupted or destroyed.Wise women still exert a great deal of clout in traditional Grabenite society, though theGrabens and foreign influences have eliminated their political pull in Graben-town.Ordinary Grabenites still believe wise women can foretell the future, and the adeptsexploit this ignorance, couching “prophecies” to be self-fulfilling. As wise women stillturn to their familiars as advisors, their wickedness usually serves the same base desireswhich dread companions might otherwise be forced to act on in secret. Petty vendettas,jealousy, or sheer cussedness are typical motives for a wise woman’s evil. When theyaren’t too busy quarrelling, Graben Island’s adepts cooperate just enough to maintaintheir reputation as all-knowing soothsayers.Meredoth knows of the wise women and their small-town maliciousness. He considersthem a bit of a ‘case study’ in how the ignorant squander and trivialize the boundlesspotential of magic.ground is far from level in this part of theIsland, meaning the front doors of hillsidebuildings might well lie on their second oreven third interior floors, rather than atfoundation-level.Religion is limited to a Mordentishpriestess of Ezra, who adapts her sermons toappeal to native sensibilities. She hasmustered a congregation to equal that ofEzra’s church in Graben-town, despiteKirchenheim’s lesser population. To keepher message accessible to these folk, ToretSarah Verber preaches outdoors wheneverweather allows, like the godi of times past,and draws many analogies between Ezra’stranscendence and the Ascended pagandivinities of Grabenite myth. (A wise151approach, as the Lawgiver’s last missionarymade no such accomodation, so was soundlysnubbed by the locals, who have left hisvacated iron altar to rust.)A last Kirchenheim landmark of note isthat for which the hamlet is named: theBlack Chapel, a long-vacant edifice lookingdown on it from the far side of theKnechtschaft. Constructed of black shalenot indigenous to Graben Island, in anarchitectural style alien to natives and not yetclassified by scholars, the Black Chapel wasalready empty – either never occupied, orstripped to bare walls and abandoned – whenGrabenite colonists first ventured into thispart of the island.

Graben Island152

Bare of furnishings or decorative carvings,its status as a place of worship has beeninferred from its interior layout, but clues arelacking as to what faith its builders intendedit to succor. The proportions of itsdoorways, ceilings, stairs and otheraccoutrements seem suited to human folk,but windows or sconces for interior lightsourcesare curiously absent.By happy coincidence, a countryman ofmine was on hand to show me the Chapel’shighlights: Jean-Marcel l’Voy, the anchoritehistorian from Port-a-Lucine. Native tales oftheir “Ascended” had drawn him to theIsland, curious as to their beliefs vis-à-vis thedistinctions between mortal and divine. Theenigma of the Black Chapel, however, fastcaptured his attention until his prior aim wasforgotten.Given the diversity of resources and waysof life in Kirchenheim, its village assemblyis far more active – though no lesshidebound or insular – than those ofpoliticized Graben-town or sleepy Seeheim.Civic disputes over boundary-lines,unsatisfactory services or shoddy goods, andother peasant quarrels dominate all of thesesettlements’ assembly-meetings, butWolves In The FoldGraben Island153judgments which are rendered inKirchenheim can vary drastically from onesession to the next, depending on whatfaction amongst its members – cattlemen,foresters, etc – is too busy with work its anddeclines to attend.The Graben EstateFor all practical purposes, the demesnes ofthe extended Graben household is acommunity in microcosm, as isolated fromneighbouring Graben-town as if they layleagues apart.On my initial arrival in port, Iwas warned by Captain Howe that theGrabens – not much renowned for theiraccommodating natures – had suffered acalamitous home invasion within livingmemory and have maintained the strictest ofsecurity-measures ever since. Were I toapproach without an invitation, I might wellbe shot on sight! Fortunately, Captain Howehad business to attend to with Josiah Graben,eldest grandson of patriarch Colin Graben,and the good Captain managed to request anaudience on my behalf.For a century, the necromancer-lord of Nebligtode ignored events on Graben Island, savewhen his experimental supply-routes were threatened. Events of 737 belatedly alertedMeredoth to the dangers of such complacency, and he took precautions to ensure that hewouldn’t be caught off-guard again. He converted a select few residents of each Grabenitevillage into his lebendtod slaves, who assess newcomers’ potential as a threat to, orresource for, the darklord.Spellcasters such as Jean-Marcel l’Voy (NE male human lebendtod Clr5 [Ezra, N sect])are prized as Meredoth’s agents, though he refrains from converting fellow-wizards unlessthey directly interfere with him. More importantly, the lord prefers to “recruit” agents wholive alone, are unlikely to face magical dangers (which can disrupt the veil of life power),and are already in a position to monitor events. Most “recruits” are abducted in secret andtransformed by other lebendtod spies. For more formidable targets, the necromancerdispatches a squad of Todstein’s Niflhounds to subdue them.As not all agents share the ability to contact him magically, Meredoth gives each spy acrate full of Diminutive skeletons (mice, sparrows, frogs, etc) as “pets”. Nebligtode’sdarklord senses the demise of all undead he creates, so these provide a reliable means ofsignaling him in secret: if the agent has a message for the necromancer, the lebendtoddestroys a “pet”, alerting the darklord that a sending is required. Naturally, if any of thespies themselves are slain, Meredoth will instantly sense this as well.

Graben IslandThe road to Graben Manor is bordered by aseries of smaller, half-timber dwellings, theresidences of the Graben clan’s youngerscions. The road is continually patrolled bygrim and well-armed guards, two of whomsearched my person thoroughly, confiscatingmy stilleto – though not my pocket grimoire,the contents of which they glanced at but (ofcourse) could not read – on arrival.The Manor itself is a sombre, slate-roofededifice nearly 70 paces in length, runningfrom east to west along the Südklippe,commanding a spectacular view of the opensea. Its original structure is a three-storyrectangle capped by a high-peaked roof andattic. Prior to construction of the half-timberresidences, extensions had been added toexpand its occupancy, including cylindricaltowers at its seaward corners – the wider(west) tower rising four stories, and thenarrower (east) six – and a two-story eastwing that cants to follow the circular drive’scurvature.The building sports numerous defensiveadditions: barred windows, lopped limbs onornamental trees close to the house, andreinforcement of a secondary door in theeastern wing. Smoky discoloration of thestonework above the windows gave proof ofpast fire – an unpleasant reminder of our lostManoir – though its masonry constructionensured its framework survived.When I was ushered in by the patriarch’samiable grandson, Josiah, the interior of theManor showed no sign of ill-use. Its motifexhibited a curious, yet harmonious blend ofLamordian and Vaasi influences. Nauticaland native elements added local flavoring,including paintings of ships in full sail,intricate scrimshaw-carved walrus tusks, anda plaque-mounted horn some five feet inlength, spiral-twisted like a unicorn’s, whichJosiah said had come from an exotic speciesof whale.154

The (Post-Upheaval) Graben FamilyGraben IslandThe wealthy and reclusive Grabens harbour a ghastly secret: for almost a century, all but atiny fraction of their number have been the lebendtod pawns of Meredoth, darklord ofNebligtode. Tasked to procure cadavers, gemstones and other necromantic supplies, theyexploited their reputation as the founding family to quell or divert suspicion, whilesystematically plundering the Island’s graveyards, waylaying foreigners, or engineeringdeaths.In 737 BC, after six decades of hiding their nature, the Grabens crossed paths withadventurers too wary and inquisitive to deceive. Discovering the clan’s secret, the heroesattacked the estate, destroying more than half of the lebendtod family members andservants, ransacking Colin Graben’s personal papers, and setting the Manor on fire. EzekielGraben’s side of the family was nearly wiped out and Colin, grievously wounded. However,the tenacious lebendtod chieftain pulled himself together (literally) and guided the survivorsto safety.Having escaped the carnage, Colin and his relations spread word that the “adventurers”were mad brigands and arsonists, thus ensuring any wild reports of “Graben undead” theirattackers might spread would be discounted as the ranting of homicidal maniacs. Thefamily weathered the crisis of their master Meredoth’s brush with death, then rebuilt GrabenManor with an eye to defence.Along with these visible repairs, Colin Graben also ordered the delving of secret tunnelsbeneath the Manor. Most of the passages lead either to adjacent houses and outbuildings ofthe estate or to submerged exits in the rock-face of Südklippe. Weighted nets and air-tightbarrels are used to transfer bound, living prisoners between these tunnels and vesselsanchored off the Südklippe, along with food or other perishable supplies required by thedarklord.Called in to dinner, Josiah escorted me to abanqueting hall that could well have seatedsixty, the founding clan being a prolific one.The senior Grabens’ partiality to black garblent a bit of a funereal atmosphere; still, thefood was excellent, the dinner-conversationengaging. Josiah’s widowed mother Hilda, aGrabenite risen above her roots, proved bothcourteous and enchanting. Her son was alsoan agile conversationalist, eager to hear tellof “Peter Ash’s” travels. My impromptudepictions of Mordentish daily life seemedto captivate him: testament to the Island’sdrabness, that even Mordentshire could bereckoned exciting by comparison! It amusedme to relate that old regional chestnut, “theAlchemist and the Apparatus”: a tale towhich the young gentleman attended with aconcentration I wish half my students hadthe discipline to achieve.As for the patriarch himself, MasterColin’s own long years clearly weighedheavily. His deep-lined features were weary,his attention divided, and twice he erred inreferring to his grandson by his own name. Inprivate after-dinner confidence, the youngerGraben quietly informed me that hisgrandsire – once hailed as the shrewdest ofbusinessmen – was now sadly declining,often mistaking Josiah for his uncle, ColinJr., who perished in the tragic robbery andarson of 737. (By his pained and angeredexpression, speaking of this, I surmisedJosiah’s father must’ve likewise been lost tothat brutal assault.)My visit having drawn to a close, I headedback to town. Glancing out to sea, I caughtsight of another colored light – red, this time– shining toward the estate from somedistant vessel cloaked by the evening’s fog.It blinked thrice, then went dark. Curious.155

PeopleGraben IslandPreviously, I wrote of Liffe’s staggeringspectrum of ethnic types. Ironically, I nowfind myself discoursing on the oppositescenario! Arriving at Graben-town’s docks,I did not fully appreciate this: at quayside, inthe throngs of foreign-born seamen drawn inlike flies to fish-guts, the monotypic makeupof the native populace was obscured. As Ileft the docks and undertook my foraysbeyond Graben-town, I realized just howhomogenous this isolated isle’s inhabitantstruly are … so much so, that I stood out likean ogre at the opera house.As Gabrek is childishly inclined to pointout, I am a man of modest height. AmongstGrabenites, I felt a certain sympathy withAmbrose, for not one over ten years of agewas shorter than myself! A Grabenite’sframe is tall, long-boned and rangy, fairlymuscular yet too elongated to qualify as“stocky”. Hands and feet are large, hipsrather narrow, jaws squared-off and rugged.Many stand and walk with a habitual stoop,shoulders hunched against the perpetualwinds. Men – thin men in particular – oftenappear as if their heads are slightly too largefor their bodies. Grabenite women are morefittingly (and quite amply) proportioned, andmost ladies whom I encountered struck meas unfailingly beautiful: an observation that,when I confided it to Bram Fischer, spurredhim to quip of how his lusty sea-raiderancestors had abducted “only the best”. Afew Grabenites’ limbs display the twistingeffects of childhood rickets: a condition ourEsteemed Brother Larner attributes to poornutrition and lack of sunlight. This mightalso explain the early age (30s) at whichmany Islanders begin losing their teeth.I am unsure just how fair a Grabenite childmight remain, were it reared in lands gracedregularly by sunshine, but in the gloom ofthis isle they grow up pale as vellum. If notfor a faint pinkish cast of blood beneath theirskin, these folk might fade into invisibilityagainst a snowscape. Incongruously, facesweathered by salt spray and hands callusedby heavy labor remain as light as a Borcannoblewoman’s, even as the texture coarsens.156SunlightDue to Nebligtode’s dense, unbrokencloud cover and their natural pallor,Grabenites who leave their homeland forbrightly-lit realms are especiallysusceptible to sunburn. Whereas otherfair-skinned folk risk taking nonlethaldamage from prolonged, intense sunafter 3 hours’ exposure (Sandstorm), aGrabenite may succumb after only 2hours.Unacclimated Grabenites also suffer a-2 penalty to Spot checks in intensesunlight, for the first 30 minutes theyspend in such dazzling brightnesswithout any protection. Broad-brimmedhats or tinted spectacles suffice to negatethis Spot penalty.Both these penalties cease to applyafter one month of living in a sunnierclimate, as their sallow skin tans (albeitslightly), and vision acclimates to unmuteddaylight. Lebendtod are notsubject to either penalty.Grabenites’ hair is slightly wavy and of awhite-blond hue, varying in shade only as itgrows dirty, typically paired with eyes of auniform faded blue.Though their snowy complexions may failto show it, most Grabenites work hard. Iwitnessed many examples of work-relatedinjuries, both superficial and crippling,during my sojourn. Nor does emigration to amore forgiving climate necessarily spare theIsland folk from pain. Having now seentheir sort in their “natural habitat”, I realizethat a humbly-clad dock worker I’d strolledpast in Armeikos had been a Grabenite, farfrom home … and still acclimating to Liffe’sclement conditions, as attested by hisdreadful sunburn and the pained squintthrough which he surveyed the daylit world.Females on Graben Island wear their hairvery long, and in braids: two for young girlsor one for women of marriageable age.Grabenite wives pin their lone plaits up intidy loops, as will an unmarried woman whodoes not wish to be courted at present (for

example, while awaiting a paramour’s returnfrom the sea). Tips of girls’ and women’sbraids are often bound up with colored yarn,or adorned with ivory or silver bangles orimported ribbons. Cosmetics are only rarelyavailable on the Island, but husband-huntinglasses fragrance their tresses with refreshingherb-scented oils.Young Grabenite men wear their hair longenough to tie back in a tail. Those who wishto appear “dashing” occasionally plait slimbraids at one or both temples and tuck thesebehind their ears, emulating the sagas’ searaidingheroes of old. As modesty andmaturity settle upon them, they trim theirhair shorter, dispensing with tails or braids,and let their truncated locks hang loose aninch short of their shoulders. Middle-aged orolder Grabenite men grow neat beards ofmodest length, trimming them to a roundedor gently-pointed edge. Moustaches of thetraditional style are trimmed rather close, butthe Fischers and other entrepreneurs ofGraben-town have adopted the grand, waxedNova Vaasan mustachio as a mark of theiropenness to novelty and foreign trade.In a populace so uniform, truly exoticoffshoots of Man ought to stand out luridly,yet I caught but a brief glimpse of a singleexample – a half-grown caliban, muckingGraben Islandout cattle-barns in Kirchenheim – during mystay. Either such births are an extreme rarityhere, or the conformity-minded residents, asin so many other cultures, fastidiously keepthe results from public view. Amusingly,natives attribute caliban births to a strain oflatent troll’s blood coming to the fore in theafflicted, rather than the influence of hags.For reasons I shall refrain from lengthyspeculation on, the Vistani seldom venture toGraben Island. I am unsure if the bleakterrain and Grabenites’ aversion to strangersmake it unprofitable territory for thewanderers, or if there is some darker causefor the gypsies’ seeming avoidance. Mightthey know something of its environs orinhabitants – or, perhaps, its true lord – thatthe Fraternity might find advantageous toinvestigate? Such in-depth inquiry, for now,lies outside the purview of this generalsurvey of the region. Should any Brother beinclined to pursue the matter, I advise him toseek the family of the raunie Vincenzia: hercaravan of Kamii tinkers and smiths do visitthe Island from time to time, as the natives’demand for metal goods usually overcomesleeriness of Vistani magic and mannerisms.The Grabenite HeroRaces: The Island’s native population is almost entirely human, plus a very few calibans(called “trollborn” locally) who are treated as second-class citizens. Immigrants to Grabentownshould be designed using the guidelines for their homelands, not those for Grabenites.Classes: Heroic classes are rare among the Grabenites, as adventurers are regarded asshiftless troublemakers and misfits. Most Grabenites are commoners, warriors (Yeomanry)or experts; aristocrats have no place in the Island’s democratic social order, save theGrabens themselves, and adepts (wise women) have been discussed previously.Of Grabenites who do adopt a PC class, rangers are most common, using their skills tomeet the challenges of a harsh, uncompromising environment. Some Grabenite rangers livein the villages year-round; more often, they maintain a homestead or camp in untamedcorners of the Island, returning to “civilization” only to trade or take shelter with others inthe lonesome depths of winter. Scouts (from Complete Adventurer) lead similar lives on theIsland, if used.Though Graben Island is fairly peaceful, fighters still fill a respected role in this society,leading the Yeomanry and standing firm against the threats of sea monsters and piracy.Some of the Island’s most renowned mariners of modern times have likewise been fighters.157

Graben IslandA strong bardic tradition has existed among the Grabenites since the days of the Anatal “skalds”, andbards are found in each of the Island communities. Music takes a back seat to epic poetry and historicalrecitation, for Grabenite bards, and members of the class function more as teachers and historians thanentertainers. Still, bardic storytelling helps while away interminable winter nights, and a bard’s workchantsmake backbreaking labor easier.Despite their respect for their Anatal forbearers, contemporary Grabenites are too settled and conservative(i.e. Lawful) to revert to a genuine “barbaric” lifestyle. A Grabenite barbarian would be seen as ananachronism by his fellows: an eccentric “Don Quixote” figure, playacting in the role of a warrior-traditionthat became obsolete centuries ago.Grabenite rogues of the stereotypical (thieving) sort are more common in ports of Liffe or Nova Vaasathan at home, thanks to the local practice of exiling offenders. A rogue foregoing the cruder forms of crime,or who applies her abilities to non-criminal purposes, is readily accepted on the Island, as Grabenitesappreciate cunning so long as they aren’t personally victimized by it.No clerics of the Ascended remain among the Grabenites, but missionaries of Ezra, the Lawgiver, andHala have sought converts on Graben Island since 750 BC. A Grabenite cleric of these or other faiths mightbe the first of his kind, tasked to spread the wisdom of his deity to his spiritually-bereft countrymen.Sorcerers are rare on the Island, and most are uneasy, retiring souls ashamed of their “abnormality”.Grabenites consider folk who develop such powers cursed, avoiding them as if leery of contagion, but theydo not actively persecute sorcerers: they are figures to be pitied rather than feared. If used, warlocks (fromComplete Arcane) are treated likewise, although perhaps feared more and pitied less.If wizards ever existed on the Island, both they and their knowledge vanished when it fell into the Mists.Years of searches by Meredoth’s agents failed to turn up a single page of cantrips here, leaving no way forGrabenites to learn the secrets of wizardry in their native land.Druids, monks, and paladins are unknown in Grabenite society, though their respect for the land andcultural bent toward orthodoxy suggest they could be good at these classes.Recommended Skills: Balance, Concentration, Craft (boatbuilding, scrimshaw, stonemasonry, weaving),Handle Animal, Heal, Jump, Knowledge (geography, local, nature), Listen, Perform (oratory, sing, wind),Profession (brewer, farmer, fisher, guide, herbalist, herd-keeper, hunter, lumberjack, miller, sailor*), Spot,Survival, Swim, Use Rope.[* – Profession (sailor) may be used untrained by Grabenites, who sail as readily as they walk.]Recommended Feats: Alertness, Ancestral Legacy R , Athletic, Blind-Fight, Cold One R , Combat Expertise(& derivatives), Deft Hands, Dirge of Woe C , Endurance, Eschew Materials, Great Fortitude, Hexbreaker H ,Improved Shield Bash, Improved Unarmed Strike (& derivatives), Iron Will, Portents H , Power Attack (&derivatives), Self-Sufficient, Silent Spell, Skill Focus (balance, survival), Skywise C , Still Spell, Track,Voice of Wrath R , Warding Gesture H , Weapon Focus (axe [any], harpoon, shortbow, sling, spear)Grabenite Freeman Names: Arlen, Bjorn, Canute, Einar, Harold, Ingmar, Johann, Jorn, Lars, Norville,Olaf, Soren, Sven, Torvald, Viggo, YngveiGrabenite Freewoman Names: Anika, Astrid, Brenda, Dagny, Freja, Gerda, Helga, Hilda, Ingrid, Karin,Lynnea, Mia, Ronia, Sigourney, Ursula, YrsaGraben Family Male Names*: Abijah, Asaph, Bartholomew, Caleb, Ebenezer, Enoch, Hiram, Jebediah,Mordechai, Nahum, Samuel, Tobias, Yaphet, Zecharias, Zebulon, ZenasGraben Family Female Names*: Abigail, Asenath, Delilah, Elisha, Hannah, Hepzibah, Judith, Keziah,Lavinia, Mehitabel, Miriam, Nabila, Rebekah, Ruth, Sephina, Tabitha[* – A Graben’s name will follow either the archaic family tradition above, or that of a foreign-born parent(e.g. Colin Graben was named by his Mordentish mother). Grabens never select free Grabenite names,though the opposite – freefolk with “Graben” names – does happen at times.]158

Outcast Ratings on Graben IslandThanks to their isolation andconservatism, most Grabenites feeluncomfortable and awkward onmeeting strangers, and foreign strangersespecially. If a Grabenite has neithervisited other lands nor lived for at leastone year in (relatively) diverse Grabentown,non-Grabenite strangers suffer a+1 OR increase in the isolatedGrabenite’s perspective. This ceases toapply once the Grabenite gets used tothe person in question, whether or notthey actually like that person.While their leeriness of strangersapplies to nonhumans, Grabenite talesof the huldu tend to breed awe of suchbeings rather than hostility. Dwarves,elves or gnomes (which Grabenites areprone to confuse with one another)suffer half their usual base OR, in theeyes of Grabenites.Whatever the reason, the scarcity ofVistani on Graben Island, and the markeddistaste both traditionalist Grabenites andKaldresh display for fraternization withother ethnic stock, would appear to makehalf-Vistani of Grabenite ancestry a practicalimpossibility. I am likewise discounting thepresence of dwarves on this isle, unless anduntil Brother Lochspeare says otherwise:residents’ tales of the zwerge are too vagueand inconsistent to credence, lacking eitherphysical evidence or observations tosubstantiate the tales.ClothingBefitting their climate, most Grabenite garbis woven or knitted from native wool: not therough-spun, itchy wadmul which is fastbecoming commonplace among the lowerclasses of Arbora, but durable, insulatingtwills that resist dampness nearly as well asoiled linen. Imported cotton has greatlycome into demand for lighter wear. Despiteits warmth, Grabenites wear fur sparingly, asGraben Island159pelts are more valuable as trade-goods andfur garb is regarded as antiquated. Flax andhemp are both grown on the Island, but withcotton’s growing affordability, these are usedmainly for bedding and rope.Grabenites deal with the cold by dressingin layers, and wrapping themselves againstthe wind. For women, the distinctive Island“apron-dress” meets both needs: a sleevelessshift of quilted or pleated cotton underlies anankle-length pinafore of wool, followed byan outer tabard woven in horizontal stripes.A snug-fitting long-sleeved jacket, tied shutwith crisscross lacings at the bodice, and aquilted shawl – cut in an unusual “butterfly”configuration, to hug the shoulders ratherthan flap in the wind – top off the feminineensemble. Long wool stockings, slippers ofcanvas or supple fish-skin, and a lightweightkerchief are worn indoors or on mild days.In winter, kerchiefs are replaced by snug,laced-tied wool hoods and slippers slid intosheepskin-lined boots; knit mittens protectladies’ hands from frostbite, and full-lengthwool cloaks, with double or triple shouldermantles,keep the winds and chill at bay.Traditional Island male costume consistsof padded shin-length breeches, two or morelayers of knitted cardigans, heavy stockings,and sturdy, toggle-fastened leather boots.Conservative men’s garb may also include asleeved over-tunic with wide cuffs, starchedup-turned collar, broad waist-sash and large,ornamental (but plain) buttons. Truncated,conical felt hats with down-turned brims areworn whilst outdoors; etiquette dictates thatsuch hats be rolled up and tucked in one’sbelt-sash upon entering a house or shop.This archaic style of dress is not universal,primarily seen amongst the Seeheimers,Meerdorfers, and reactionaries against theFischers’ policies. For Kirchenheimers andless hidebound Graben-towners, twill jacketsin the Mordentish style have been favoredfor years, introduced by Mist-led sailorsdecades ago. Wide leather belts with largesquare buckles are sometimes worn outsidethe jacket, adding a “native” touch.Nautical-style sealskin overcoats are donnedin inclement weather, and sheepskin gloves,eiderdown-stuffed woolen greatcoats, cross-

Graben Islandlaced leggings that keep snow out of one’sfootwear, and knit mufflers are all bundledon top of their other garb in winter.In terms of color, Grabenites’ choices havehistorically been limited to the natural whiteor black of un-dyed wool, and such humbletints as indigenous herbs and minerals madeavailable to them. Yellows, oranges, andpastel shades of blue and green are typical ofyoung women’s garb, while strong blues andreds are considered “matronly” hues. Suchhues add flavorful highlights to alternatinglayers of black and white. Stripes or zigzagpatterns at the lower edge of the “apron” of aGrabenite woman’s costume provide clues toher family background, being passed frommother to daughter.Grabenite men’s wear is seldom dyed, savefor belt-sashes and the outer rims of theirgray felt hats. By tradition, a man’s belt andhat-rim identifies his natal village (white forGraben-town, black for Kirchenheim, seagreenfor Meerdorf, and buff for Seeheim).Aside from these, masculine clothing is forthe most part drab, being predominantly tan,gray, black or brown. In recent years, localwomen have taken to sprucing up theirwardrobes with imported kerchiefs, ribbons,and dyes, but such trappings are consideredsilly-looking on men.For the entrepreneurial residents ofGraben-town, clothes constitute politicalstatements: the more elements of “foreign”garb worn, the greater the wearer’s supportof the Fischers’ campaign. Conversely,stevedores or Packhouse-lasses tend to dressin simple, homespun garments for the day’swork, in imitation of their immigrant coworkers,not wishing to ruin their betterclothing.As for the Graben clan itself, these noblesin-all-but-namedress in staunchly traditional160fashions, save that they share a markedpreference for all-black garments, with verydark blues or deepest (imported) purples forGraben ladies’ tabards.The signature ornament of Grabenites isthe brooch, used to pin cloaks, sashes orshawls in place and to hang small items suchas keys or sewing needles from ladies’tabards, as well as for decorative purposes.Silver is the favored material from whichbrooches are made, but pewter or etchedseashells are more affordable to the averageGrabenite. Abstract patterns of curling,coiled lines or stylized bears, ponies andmarine animals – seals, whales, fishes or (inMeerdorf) octopi – are the usual broochmotifs. Other forms of jewelry, such asgem-inset rings or thin necklaces withpendants of scrimshawed ivory, are alsoworn by both sexes, albeit in moderation.Daily LifeMost Grabenites’ lives are onerous, tested bythe harsh weather, bleak landscape, andtreacherous waves. Though spared theoppressive hands of feudal taskmasters ortyrants, Graben Island itself conspires tomake subsistence as precarious and arduousas many a land-bound continental serf’s. Forfarmers and hunters, back-breaking laborand miles of trekking over trackless snowsare, respectively, the prices they pay. Forfishermen, the chance of turning asubstantial profit exists, and has lured manyfarmers’ sons to “try their luck” upon thesea, but hazards of such work are constant.Seeheim in particular is a village of seawidowsand every Graben-town householdhas names of numerous kin inscribed on thecemetery mourning-path. Even the Grabens’own privileged hands are rarely idle: in thewake of their Manor’s immolation, thefounding family has been too cautious oftreachery to replace those servants lost in thetragedy, so minor cousins of that abundantclan now work the estate’s cropland and tendits livestock.Despite the challenges of life – or, perhaps,because of them – Grabenites seldom fallinto abject poverty. Tight-knit communitiesare solicitous of those whom fortune turns

against, giving such charity as canreasonably be spared to neighbors in need.Hospitality and mutual assistance aretraditions adhered to by any Grabenite: to leta neighbor go hungry when one has sparefood, or to deny a weary traveler shelter, isregarded as disgraceful.This is not to say that the Grabenites are“pushovers”, as my students would put it;rather, such charity is part of a reciprocalsupport-structure that ensures survival forall. To refuse to aid one’s neighbor is toagree to be spurned in turn when one’s ownfortunes might lag. As every householdexperiences inevitable “bad years”, all butthe most disreputable of Grabenites takepains to meet such social obligations,knowing their generosity will be repaid inturn. Rare exceptions – shiftless freeloaderswho grow lax in their efforts to be selfsufficient,expecting others to “carry” them –are harassed into either reforming or leavingthe Island.With utter destitution thus held at bay, andidleness a luxury beyond natives’ means,there are no true “social classes” on GrabenIsland. Much like in Kartakass or Verbrek,conditions are simply too rustic to sustain an“upper crust”: merely feeding the villages’few artisans and merchants is a challenge.Historically, Grabenites’ ancestors did havea noble class of sorts, but the Island’s earlysettlers – free yeomen and proud of it – leftsuch jarls behind when they migrated to thisbackwater refuge, and their determinationnot to fall beneath the heels of new mastersleads them to shout down any of their ownnumber who grow too ambitious.Graben Island161While the Graben clan is respected andoften envied, the Grabens are technically“landed gentry” rather than of noble blood.By law, their seniority upon the Island grantsthem a powerful authority over land-usage,but their reclusiveness and deliberate selfdistancingfrom Grabenite culture leaves thevillagers free to run their own affairs. If theGrabens had not been ensconced on theIsland before them, I suspect that theGrabenites’ clannish tendencies might haveprecipitated power struggles, perhaps evenblood-feuds. As it stands, no lesser family’saspirations of a hypothetical Island“jarldom” can legally be advanced, in lightof the Grabens’ vintage residency. Thus, thefounding house’s very existence does have apacifying effect, even if they never invokesuch privileges as true nobility might affordthem.Life for Grabenites is centered upon theextended family, with several generations ofthe same clan sharing the same residence,and working the same farm, fishing-boat orworkshop. All mature, able-bodied familymembers are duty-bound to ensure the wellbeingof elderly forbearers, ill or impairedsiblings, and orphaned nieces or nephews, assurely as that of their own children. Elderscontribute guidance and expertise, representtheir household’s interests in assembly, andcarry out the lion’s share of Graben Island’shome handicrafts.Nominally, a Grabenite family ispatriarchal, handing leadership down fromfather to eldest son. Still, as in any socialgrouping, persuasive relatives often sway theleader’s judgment, and a clan heir whoantagonizes too many of his kin can bepassed over in favor of some other, moreaccommodating scion. Clan-heads have soleauthority to approve the adoption of new kin,and may disown family members who bringshame or trouble to their clan’s doorstep.Surprisingly, despite their elders’pervasive influence over other aspects oftheir lives, youths are left to their owndevices in courtship. Parents can (andcertainly do) express their opinions aboutbesotted young Grabenites’ choices ofsweetheart, but can neither compel nor denya marriage once the pair have attained the

Graben Islandage of fifteen. This laxity is explained by theease with which Island custom permitscouples to divorce: either spouse need onlyproclaim a marriage over in front ofwitnesses to suspend it, without stigma orcensure accruing to either partner. Hence,only the Grabens – and, of late, a fewentrepreneurial families in Graben-town –dare arrange weddings for heirs who couldannul any such pact (and thus, any economicor political alliance which was sealed by it)at will. Letting young lovers’ attraction runits course, while it can hardly guarantee asuccessful life together, at least ensures thecouples will make a sincere effort to buildone. It also serves to limit the recriminationsand ill feelings from failed marriages to thespouses themselves, reducing the chance ofdragging their respective clans into conflict.Between the simplicity of divorces andhigh mortality suffered in sea-faringfamilies, it is not uncommon for a wife toreturn to her natal clan, bringing her childrenwith her (sons under the age of six, plusdaughters of any age, in the case of adivorce). Women retain their patronymicsafter marriage, facilitating such a return ifnecessary. Foreign suitors, or Grabenitesdisowned by or bereft of a clan, are oftenadopted into their fiancée’s family before thewedding … assuming, of course, said familyapproves of such a disreputable betrothed!(While they cannot prevent a marriage,nothing obliges a Grabenite’s kin to endorseit.) According to the Black Sheep’s retiredinnkeeper, a male suitor without local familyties may be able to lessen his in-laws’reluctance by offering a “bride-price” – abribe by any other name – to prove himselfcapable of supporting his intended.Newlyweds typically live with thegroom’s parents, seldom moving into a homeof their own unless a chance windfall orshortage of space makes that moreappropriate. The later motive is more usual,as large broods are the norm, even allowingfor the high rate of infant mortality. When ahouse becomes available, adult brothers andtheir wives will typically share the newdwelling, as most natives find close-quartersliving reassuring and the household dutiescan be divvied up. Unmarried siblings maybe asked to join, should more hands beneeded, and children pitch in as soon as theyare capable.Most household handicrafts are strictlysegregated by gender, and more finely thanone might expect: rather than excludingeither gender from tasks, specific facets of amulti-person job are traditionally assigned to162

one sex or the other. For example, men arecustomarily the ones to spin wool into yarn,while women knit or weave it into fabric.Thus, no one’s hands are left idle.Graben Island lacks any formaleducational system, so children depend ontheir families to teach them to read, work,and behave like proper little Grabenites.With so many kin living in close company,there is frequently a grandparent or aunt onhand who can spare the time to offer lessons.Informal as such sessions are, they’re at leasta step above the garbled, half-hearted effortsseen in many mainland backwaters. As ateacher myself, I made a point to listen in onsuch a lesson during my sojourn in Seeheim,and noted that cultural stories – mythicparables of the “Ascended” especially – areused to engage young minds, much asKartakan education is conveyed through themora.Most Grabenites are at least semi-literatein their own language, and a new generationof Graben-town youths are now being taughtenough of Vaasi script and arithmetic to easefuture business transactions. Of highereducation, the Island boasts not even a tokentrace; a few Graben-town merchants havebegun sending their heirs to Liffe forschooling, but most natives see no need forsuch. The Grabens, as best I could discern,tutor their own children as they see fit.Terrain and climate limit most Grabenites’opportunities to venture beyond their homevillages. Summer’s mud mires wheels andfounders horses, and the sea winds’ capriceextends all the way to the shoreline in badGraben Islandweather. Overland travel by sleigh was oncepracticed, in Kirchenheim especially, but thechosen draft-animals (domestic reindeer firstbrought back from Todstein in 641) havedeclined in number and vigor (inbreeding, Iexpect).Travel by water is vastly preferred tocross-country treks, and Grabenites speakproudly of having the sea “in their blood”,even claiming that their blood is saltier thanforeigners’. A Grabenite’s vessel is as muchan object of pride and doting affection as aRichemulouise’s carriage or an Akiri’sfuture tomb. By far the most abundantwatercraft on Graben Island is the dory: ashallow-drafted boat with a collapsible mast,low-angled sides and a stern which tapersalmost to a point. At first glance, such craftseem mere sail-equipped skiffs, yet my ownjourney with Bram Fischer demonstrated thedory’s nimbleness and ability to withstandchoppy waves.163

The Graben Island DoryGraben IslandBundin er bátleysur maður. (A boatless man is tied up.) – Faroese proverbFor campaigns using the Stormwrack rules, typical Grabenite dories’ statistics are asfollows:Light Dory: Large vehicle; Seaworthiness -1, Shiphandling +3; Speed wind x 10 ft oroars 10 ft (good); Overall AC * 4; Hull * 30 hp (hardness 5); Rigging * 20 hp (hardness 0);Ram 1d6; Mounts –; Space 10 ft by 5 ft; Height 1½ ft (draft 1½ ft); Complement 4; Watch1; Cargo 1000 lbs (speed wind x 5 ft or oars 5 ft if 500 lbs or more); Cost 100 gp.Working Dory: Huge vehicle; Seaworthiness +1; Shiphandling +2; Speed wind x 15 ftor oars 15 ft (good); Overall AC * 3; Hull* 40 hp (hardness 5); Rigging * 30 hp (hardness2); Ram 2d6; Mounts –; Space 15 ft by 5 ft; Height 2½ ft (draft 2½ ft); Complement 8;Watch 2 plus 2 rowers; Cargo 1 ton (speed wind 10 ft or oars 10 ft if 1000 lbs or more);Cost 800 gp.*– A dory is too small to have distinct hull sections, so has only an Overall AC. It does have separate hpfor its hull and its lone mast, so attackers may specifically choose to target one or the other.Owning a dory is a mark of manhoodamong Grabenites, such that many nativemen who work entirely on land – indeed,many who can scarcely tell a flounder from asardine! – commence to strut and preen,jabbering sea-jargon like “old salts”, on firstacquiring one of their own. Personalpleasure-dories are distinguished from theIsland’s omnipresent working-craft by theirnames (either sentimental or sardonic), theirfine paint-jobs, and their excellent state ofrepair. The sturdier working-craft arepartially decked at fore and aft and canhandle short forays onto the open seas.Larger craft typical of Graben Islandwaters include stout, inshore fishing smackscalled “six-rings”, swift two-man riverboats(“four-rings”), and oar-equipped, sharpsterned“knarrs”, close cousins to thefamiliar merchant’s cog. These ships aremore often owned by an entire clan, so thesegrander vessels are paradoxically regardedwith less affection than one-man dories. Abrace of swift pinnaces, berthed atKirchenheim and Graben-town, arecollectively owned by the Island’s governingassemblies; most often dispatched to aidvessels hung up on the Kielbrecher, they arealso suited to goading hostile ships into afatal chase amidst those hull-rending rocks.164FoodGrabenite cuisine is uncommonly rich indairy products and makes scant use of breador vegetables. Wheat cannot thrive in thebrief Graben Island growing season, sobarley, oats, and rye are natives’ staplecereals. Beans, carrots, peas, leeks, andcabbage are grown in kitchen-gardens; driedand-splitpeas are ground into a crude floursubstitutewhen grain harvests run low.Apples, plums, pears and cherries are grownin orchards, and may be dried as shipboardfare or treats. Mushrooms, nuts and berries,gathered from the forests, round outGrabenites’ supply of vegetables and fruits.Honey, from hives both wild-found anddomestic, is prized as a sweetener or foralcoholic mead. Pine-sap is likewise usedfor flavoring or chewed as taffy.Herds of sheep and goats, horses and cattle(mostly in Kirchenheim), and near-feral pigsprovide meats, supplemented by wildvenison, hares, and plump marmots. Geeseor ducks are the only poultry hardy enoughto thrive in this climate, and are valued morefor their eggs and feathers than for meat;wild waterfowl, grouse, pigeon or ptarmiganare consumed more often than domesticatedbirds. Cod, haddock, herring and plaice areseine-netted from the waves, and bream,

pike and perch are line-fished on frigidrivers. (Mad as I’d be to visit this isle inwinter, I’ll admit descriptions of locals’ icefishingsparked my interest!) Lobster-potbuoys bob offshore, clams are dug fromSchlammholme mudflats, and oysters andmussels pried from tide-lapped rocks. Asfood often runs scarce in this land, every lasttrace of edible material is gleaned from ananimal, and meat not consumed immediatelyis smoked, salt-cured, rendered into sausage,pickled or dried for later.Day-to-day meals on Graben Island areinformal affairs. Reheated stews, oatcakes,or flatbread with fish or wild-berry jam areeaten at breakfast, and vegetable, mutton, orfish soups at midday. Spit-roasted game,soft cheese, roast nuts, skyr (a thick nativeyogurt), and stew or porridge are typicalevening fare. Be warned, Brothers: manyGrabenite dishes center on the preserved fishand mutton they depend upon during theprolonged winters. Thankfully, it was notthe proper season to be serving these“delicacies” : smoke-cured rams’ testicles,seared sheep’s heads, blood-and-fat puddingor (egad!) raw shark’s flesh “seasoned” bymonths spent buried in peat. As for the one“local delicacy” I was invited to sample –lutefiskur, a loathsome jellied-whitefishbread spread pickled in lye – I held down mygorge and passed it over, as politely as Icould. (Sacre bleu, what savages!)Whey, buttermilk, or ice-cold spring wateraccompany each meal, with beer set aside forminor celebrations and mead for major.Neither proper tea nor wine are available,Graben Island165save at the Black Sheep Inn (at exorbitantprices). Modest amounts of liquor aredistilled from local cider, but quality isdecidedly inferior; the native lager is farbetter. The exigencies of climate make hotdrinks indispensable to Grabenites, whosteep herbs or diced fruit in water or lambbonebroths. In recent years, tiny samples ofVechorian coffee have found their way toGraben Island, and residents hail it asnothing less than a magical elixir for itsinvigorating and blood-thawing effects.LanguageThe Grabenite tongue bears a superficialsemblance to Vaasi, using many of the samephonemes and diphthongs (a linguistic reliefto the merchants of Arbora). This similarityneed not imply common origin, however;Grabenite utilizes curious grammaticaldevices not found in any other Core dialect.(Those Brothers who have scrutinized thetraitor’s writings for clues to his presentwhereabouts may recall his commentary onGrabenite’s use of a, i, and u for inflectionalendings, in contrast to mainland languages’e.) If any tongue but Grabenite has a verbtenseused solely to express what one wisheswere true, I have certainly never heard of it!There is a written form of Grabenite, ascript vaguely reminiscent of the runes I’dnoted on the Shoreway Pillar, but hardlyidentical. However, few natives appear tohave made much use of it, even when theirrealm was yet isolated. Some skaldic poemshave been recorded in this obscure alphabet,and older grave-markers in Graben-town’scemetery are marked thusly, but writing ingeneral was a rarity until recent times.Grabenites of today use a combination ofLamordian and Vaasi characters in their

Graben Islandmissives, but fall back on the native script’scurious habit of “circle writing” – laying outtext in a spiral rather than linearly – oncertain formal documents, or in sentimentallove-letters.Loan-words of Lamordian, Darkonese, andLow Mordentish have been incorporated intothe Grabenite tongue – or, at least, thatdialect spoken in Graben-town – but nativestend to elide pieces of these words, droppingthe middle consonants from strings of threeor more. Together with a habit of omittingthe first sound of words in their own or otherlanguages (“skerping”), Grabenites’ speechsounds rather clipped or abrupt. I was toldby an immigrant in Graben-town – a NovaVaasan by birth – that Grabenites sound tohim as if they are “in a great rush to finishtalking to you”.Grabenite PrimerSocial pleasantries:Good morning gόðan morgun good night gόða náttpleaseger so vælDaily life:alive liva assembly tingballad kvæði boat báturbury jarða fantastic tale aevintyrfish fiskur harpoon skutilhistorical sagas sagnir knife knívurmessage or order boð porridge greyturstorm ódn whale-hunt grindadrápGeographic terms:bird cliffs fuglaberg coast strondharbor havn hill or burial mound heyggjurriver or stream á island oy or oyggjtide sjóvarfall sea sjógvurtomb grøv village bygdFolklore and threats:corpse ræ or lík die doyggjaenemy or fear óvinur fey huldufólkghost dreygur kill drepamonster or giant skrímsl revenant gjengangertroll trøll wight draug166

Graben IslandCuriously, the majority of place-names onGraben Island maps do not actually translateinto contemporary Grabenite. Just as oddly,numerous surnames in Graben-town (even“Graben” itself) have no precise rendering inGrabenite either. My inquiries about thisdiscrepancy incited vague references to “OldEfraim’s Speech”: a supposed archaic strainof Grabenite in which the town founder hadallegedly titled the local landmarks.Most Graben-towners and a few natives ofin Kirchenheim understand a smattering ofVaasi, though traditionalists usually refrainfrom admitting it. Darkonese is spoken onlyrarely by ethnic Grabenites, as they find itspronunciation much more difficult than thefamiliar phonemes used in Vaasi. Sithican, arelative newcomer to the Island, is provingeven more challenging for natives, but thoseimmigrants hailing from the port-towns ofLiffe all share this tongue.Attitudes and BeliefsGrabenites, even the well-off, have fewchances for recreation or ease. Summers arespent in harried labor, striving to stockpile167food; then winter’s snow forces them intoshelter, there to perform handicrafts, teachtheir children ancestral sagas, and cope withconfinement, uncomfortable and crampedquarters, petty animosities, and boredom.Stoicism and a grim-jawed determination tosilently endure nature's hardships and ‘cabinfever’ is as inherent to Grabenite character,as is pride in their sea-raider forbearers. AGrabenite never complains about difficultiesthat confront him, although he may wellspeak of previous adversities faced (andsurvived) with a wry, contrary pride.Slothfulness and fragility are not tolerated bythese driven workhorses: lazy or overlydelicateindividuals are either taunted intocomplying with expectations or depart theirhomeland for balmier climes.After stoicism, strict insular conservatismis a hallmark of Grabenite culture. Mostfamilies on Graben Island have pursued thesame professions, lived in the same houses,and handed down the same possessions,recipes, anecdotes and prejudices for six ormore generations. What laws or liability failto enforce, social pressure imposesrelentlessly. A youth who balks at following

Graben Islandin his sire’s footsteps, or a daughter whodresses too ostentatiously for her neighbors’tastes, is met with ostracism and crushingdisdain.Brothers, I cannot overstate the degree towhich conformity is enforced in this culture,as even positive deviations are belittled as“showing off”, or dismissed as displays ofhubris. In every other land I’ve known, suchterms as ‘adequate’ or ‘sufficient’ bear animplication of borderline failure: I daresay,not one of my students whose academicperformance I judged “mediocre” were everpleased by that designation! Here, í so(“enough”) is generally considered a highercompliment than “superior”. (A vindicatingexample for we Brethren, is it not, of whyaffairs of the world must not be entrusted tothe ignorant masses, if resentment of theirintellectual betters runs so deep?)Yet, despite their lack of due reverence forexcellence and intolerance of troublemakers,Grabenites’ pride as a people is rooted in acycle of epic myth-poems – the Eddas, orsagas – of ancestral heroes who demonstrateboth these now-unacceptable traits: mightywarriors, temperamental chieftains (jarls), orfreebooting explorers and pirates. Passeddown by generations of storytelling skalds,in a folk tradition that passes for education,the Eddas relate events that – were they notcolored by locals’ ethnic pride – might bebest described as “pillaging”, “slave-taking”,“assassination” and the like. As such lowmayhem is the handiwork of their ancestors,Grabenites conveniently overlook the tales’barbarity, viewing their forbearers’ savagedeeds through the rose-tinted spectacles of“honor”, “courage”, and similar selfexoneratingconceits.168Interestingly, although the Grabenites’own mariners have focused almostexclusively upon fishing and whaling in thelast century, natives of the Island have aromantic fondness for the less-rapaciousvariety of pirate. Like the popular mainlandimage of the “dashing highwayman”,Grabenites look upon pirates as modern reenactorsof their ancestors’ raiding exploits.More than one such buccaneering vessel hasstopped off in Graben-town, Kirchenheim orMeerdorf and been met with a cordial (forGrabenites) welcome, so long as thefreebooters have coin to spend and strictlyrefrain from taking liberties with locals’property or women.It is from their sagas that most Grabenites’opinion of magic is derived; save for a fewbardic illusions to engage young audiences,most never witness actual spellcasting. Thewizards in such tales, alas, are invariablytreacherous, cowardly caricatures: physicalweaklings, who turn to arcane power so theymight lash out at the strapping, manlywarriors they envy, only to be sullied anddisfigured by the energies they foolishlystrive to command. A parochial and baselessattitude, indeed! Bards and divine casters areshielded from corruption by the respect theyhold for the forces they coax intocooperation; for a wizard, who dares todemand Nature heed a mortal’s will, shameand suffering are the inevitable price. (Notethat this only applies to magic one employsoneself. “Found” magic, such as enchantedgifts of the zwerge or spells a “hero of old”coerces a mage into invoking, need notbackfire.) For whom arcane power is thrustupon, there is (perhaps) still hope: a sorcererwho restrains his magic is no more fearedthan any other victim of fate.Intriguingly, in addition to the sagas, theGrabenites also relate tales pertaining to thedeity-figures of their ancestors, an ensembleof anthropomorphic divinities. Much likethe historic tales, accounts of these gods arerather bloodthirsty and coarse, althoughtrickery – typically non-magical – is laudedin many and wisdom in even more.

Tales of their ancestral divinities aremainly recounted at children’s bedsides, andactual worship of these deities is utterlyextinct; nevertheless, one facet of theirmyths stands out as worthy of ourconsideration. With the possible exceptionof the chief “All-Father” figure, Grabenitetales attest that their deities neither rise fromthe Mists, nor breed among their own kind,but “Ascend” to divinity from the ranks ofmortals, via spectacular deeds that provetheir worthiness.Though plainly over-romanticized andwish-fulfilling (for what beings oftranscendent wisdom would admit hammerhurling,ale-swilling oafs into the fold?), theGrabenites’ past belief in divine Ascensioncould bear a distant connection to somegenuine arcane process or procedure …conceivably an intended function of thatmechanism the traitor seeks to reconstruct!Graben IslandDid some foul lich of old try to achievesuch a transition (successfully or not), andword of its attempts leak out to theGrabenites’ ancestors? Might their puerilemythology of cultural heroes’ ascent togodhood be based on some meager,misinterpreted particle of fact? If so, thelikelihood of locating our betrayer in thisregion is surely improved, and young Dirac’sinvestigation of Todstein – the most likelysite where such a long-ago attempt at“Ascension” could have taken place, giventhe great trepidation with which the Island’snatives regard that lesser isle – becomes allthe more imperative.To inhabitants of Graben Island, of course,such implications of their old myths passunnoticed. To Grabenites, the Ascended areentertaining hearth-tales, not true objects ofworship. Their ancestral deity-tales areperpetuated and cherished as a thing dear totheir forbearers, but are seldom taken forThe Ascended: An Unaccepted Pact?In many cases, religious practices of a new domain’s inhabitants continue after theiremergence in Ravenloft, perhaps adopting new doctrine to account for the Mists’ ominouspresence or that of previously-unknown nearby lands. Nearly as often, social trauma fromtheir transition causes a loss of faith, leaving them godless, or making way for the creedsof Ezra or Hala. For reasons unknown, the Grabenite faith instead died a sudden death:from the day the Mists engulfed their land, the indigenous clerics found their prayersunanswered, be it with spells, granted powers, or the ability to turn undead. Whereasoutlander clerics in the Land of Mists feel oddly “distanced” from their patrons, Grabeniteclerics (godi) sensed they’d been cut off completely. Baffled, afraid they were beingjudged, some Island clergy attempted dangerous rites to regain contact, only to perish inthe attempt. Others surrendered to despair and anger, renouncing their faith andencouraging laymen to do likewise. Within a single generation, native Grabenite religionwas functionally extinct, although stories of the Ascended are still told out of fondnessand ethnic pride. A handful of traditionalists go through the motions to venerate thehearth-deities, Fredar and Fredara, but as a formality rather than true belief.It is unknown why the Ascended deserted their clerics. It may be that these oncemortals’link to their clergy was inherently different from those of other deities, and wassevered by the Mists’ barrier rather than muted. Perhaps stripping Grabenites of divinemagic was a deliberate ploy by the Dark Powers, to better-suit Nebligtode to Meredoth’srequirements or as a social experiment. Or perhaps the Ascended patron deities chose notto accept the terms of the Unspoken Pact, whatever these may be. But whatever theirmotives, the Ascended either could not, or would not, maintain spiritual ties toRavenloft’s godi. Lone outlander clergy from Meredoth’s homeworld do retain theirclerical powers, albeit under the usual limitations, but whether such an outlander couldtrain a native Grabenite to become a cleric of the Ascended remains a mystery.169

Graben IslandHistoryThe Age of the Sea-Raiderseither literal or allegorical truth. Of thesupernatural, Grabenites desire only to avoidits pitfalls; of the afterlife, they speak little,save to hope the souls of lost loved onesmight yet find their way to familiar andcomforting environs.Despite the struggles of their day-to-dayexistence, the crushing conformity imposedby their society, and even their apparentdesertion by the gods, few Grabenites areembittered. Most seem to take a deep,understated pride in their endurance of suchadversity, and in the freedom from the“tyranny of kings” which their ancestors’decision to colonize the Island bequeathed tothem. Ironically, the very ones whom theirrealm challenges most harshly – the farmerswho scrabble meager livelihoods from cold,stony earth, and the fishermen who staketheir lives on the sea’s uncertain favor – feelthe strongest bonds of affection for the soiland waters that test their perseverance.At heart, Grabenites who neither succumbto hardship nor flee to gentler realms are,ultimately, fatalists. If the sea or the stormssee fit to take a man’s life, then that man’stime has surely come, whether death shouldclaim him on shipboard or safe in his bed.The calm, stoic acceptance of Nature’sharshness which resignation fosters makesGrabenites appear grim and unimaginative,even devoid of feeling, to outsiders. Yet italso lets their people view the wind-scouredbleakness of their Island as an austere, chill,yet breathtaking form of beauty.170Discounting those tales of obviously mythiccharacter (decrypting the Grabenites’ beliefthe world was molded from the flesh, blood,and Mist-breath of a slain giant is best left tomore-fanciful scholars), my account of thehistory of Graben Island’s natives mustbegin with the Eddas: oral accounts of theGrabenite culture’s vibrant and aggressiveforbearers. Inhabitants of a realm variouslynamed “the north wild”, “northlands”, or“northern woods”, these coastal barbarianswere called by a diversity of names, mostcommonly Anatal (meaning “borne [orpossibly “born”] upon wave”). The Anatalsubsisted day-to-day by fishing and farming,much as Grabenites do, but also engagedavidly in piracy, raiding nearby cultures fortreasure, slaves, or to seize new land. Theirusual prey were other barbarian tribes: theEddas speak of a bewildering host of foes,including the Dunn, Hel-Dunn, Nölle, Sodjurand Eisalfar. The chronology of theseancient squabbles is painfully unclear, and itis possible some of these adversaries are, infact, the same tribes under different names.Some of the raiders’ raiding-targets seem tohave been other than human, yetdistinguishing which is difficult, as manyreferred to as “human” are depicted as everybit as bestial and voracious as hob-goblins.Such jarring inconsistencies are rife in theEddas, particularly the most ancient. This

phenomenon is hardly unprecedented: manyrealms’ historical accounts collapse undertheir own contradictions, as our own augustfounder, Father Ikonnas, documented at thedawn of our Fraternity. But the degree towhich it afflicts Graben Island’s history isunusually pervasive, as even the physicallaws can be inconsistent from one Edda tothe next! (That of Frota Frost-heart speaksof a terrible winter when “the stars on theevening horizons froze”; yet the saga ofAlfrum’s Journey ludicrously insists that itshero’s homeland “knew not the dark ofnight, its solar eye unwinking”.) Only ontwo points do the tales conclusively agree:the Anatal homeland was rugged and cold –even harsher than Graben Island, itself – andwas dominated by numerous jarls, pettytribal warlords for whose snubbed pride orambitions the Grabenites’ ancestors wereobligated to fight.Whatever the true character of their ancientlands, the Grabenites’ immediate forbearerswere not mighty war-chieftains, but freebornfarmers and fishermen weary of bickeringjarls’ strife. Close examination of the laterEddas display a less-effusive tone towardthose tribal battles which the older talesunconditionally exalt. The sagas’ shift fromreverence for their old chieftains to guardedcontempt is coy, but telling. The ancestorsof the Islanders had grown disillusioned byhereditary rulers’ self-serving aggression,and how the spoils of battle (wealth, land,thralls) were apportioned to serve the jarls’political agenda, not their vassals’ needs.By the time sagas give way to documentedhistory, the Grabenites’ ancestors had largelyabandoned sea-raiding, though jarls’commands still obliged them to send theirsons off to war. As their foes’ navies andbattle-strategies had evolved over time,Anatal chiefs often found themselvesovermatched by foreign adversaries, andincreasingly focused their assaults upon oneanother. The waning Anatal culture was thenconfronted by a menace against which nojarl’s warband (hird) could hope to stand.Details of these opposing forces’ makeupand origins are inconsistent: some describethe invaders as subhuman goblin creatures,whereas others speak of malign wizards ofGraben Island171unprecedented might. The most fantastic ofjumbled stories even tell of gigantic eaglesbearing hordes of rapacious knights, or ofsorceresses turning warriors into statues ofblue ice from astride frost-spitting wyrms!The armies drove the jarls into retreat andthe Grabenites’ forbearers to take refuge onthe waves.Exodus to Graben IslandThe Anatal refugees were no match for thegreat Óvinur Ódn (literally “enemy-storm”)which harried them from the North Wild.Their retreat was not a random rout: theyfollowed a course laid down in one of theirsagas: that of Svidi Full-Sails, a renownedsea-raider who, three centuries earlier, haddiscovered an island “shaped as unto a troll’sbetaloned hand” and founded a colony there.Svidi’s colony did not survive long, but itsruined farms, burial mounds, and symbolcarvedrocks are still found on GrabenIsland. (A complete account of Svidi’s Eddais no longer in existence – a curious absence,given that many older tales have survived –so the route to the North Wild is lost tohistory.) The precise date of the refugees’Arrival is variously cited as March 17, 630BC, or March 19 of the same year,depending on the bard asked.To me, debates regarding the exact date ofArrival seem something of a moot point, forthe refugees soon discovered that the Islandwas not so vacant as their tales portrayed it.Several years prior, a rich merchant from thesouth had independently discovered theIsland and settled his family and retainers

Graben Islandthereon. This aging gentleman, communitypatriarch and clan-founder Efraim Graben,graciously offered food, fresh water, and thehospitality of “his” Island to these weary,bedraggled refugees: a display of kindnesswhich – conveniently – led the Grabenites togratefully acknowledge his clan’s seniorityas the Island’s “first family”, rather thandisplacing or enslaving his household astheir piratical ancestors would have.The grateful newcomers’ presencepromised to quickly tame the rugged isle’sdesolation; moreover, the refugees’ storiesof chaos and invasion convinced EfraimGraben that his isolated estate wasvulnerable to outside threats. By grantingthe refugees sanctuary, he secured theGrabens’ security by enlisting them to theIsland’s defense. Jarls’ abuses of authoritystill fresh in their minds, the new settlersbalked at naming him aðalsmaður(nobleman), but they readily agreed to honorhis family’s property-rights, on the samebasis as their own rights to wild-claimedland were honored under Anatal law. Whileearly negotiations suffered a few setbacksdue to mistranslation – a fact that supportsmy belief that the Grabens and retainerswere of some other nationality – therelationship between Graben clan andGrabenite colonist quickly becameestablished Island custom.EmergenceHaving secured the right to claim and farmproperty on Graben Island – now known bythat name, rather than “Svidi’s Isle” – thenewcomers soon established their own hardycommunities. Graben (now Graben-town)was founded that same year, at a site wherethe Grabens’ own watercraft had originally172berthed. Kirchenheim was founded in 632,abandoned for years after the storms of 635,then re-populated after the construction of itsseawall (651). Seeheim was created in 659as a bolt-hole, should the other villages everfall to sea-borne enemies. Meerdorf’s exactdate of founding is uncertain, as KnammenIsle was first “settled” by hermits andmisanthropes unwelcome in the othervillages, but references to “Meerdorf” inships’ logs date back to 657 BC.Of course, it is not the dry histories of menthat captivate our Fraternity’s interest.Alongside the founding of villages, onepivotal event transpired during the earlyyears: Graben Island’s passage into – orcreation from – the Mists. Frustratingly, thedate of Graben Island’s emergence is almostimpossible to pinpoint directly: thanks to itsperpetually-overcast skies, no discernablechange in its constellations or other celestialphenomena was noted, and early Grabenitesso seldom sailed beyond sight of the Islandthat their realm could have drifted in theMists for decades. No account of the MistyBorder occurs in local records until 648 BC.Regular merchant trade to the Island did notbegin until much later (658 BC), although a651 Darkonian naval scout's sketchy reportof a possible Todstein sighting predates thefirst mercantile contact.Lacking a tangible testament, Iextrapolated an estimate from indirectsources. Firstly, in 636 BC, the oldGrabenite calendar – which, curiously,depicted years of 336 days: a sign the “NorthWild” year was shorter than our own – wasfound to have fallen out-of-step with theseasons, anticipating the seasons’ turning byan increasing margin. This would place theirarrival in the Land of Mists in 635 BC, most

likely in mid-winter, to judge by when theircalendar lost step with Nature. This lines upwith another notable event that befell theGrabenites that winter: the so-called “All-Father’s Muting”, in which their priests lostall of their former divine power. Given itsimmense social impact, this event (one dayafter the Winter Solstice) is very welldocumented.Graben Island: Recent EventsMost years that followed the Muting werecomparatively peaceful for the Island’sinhabitants. Todstein (so-named by EfraimGraben, in one of his last acts before hisdeath in 644) was discovered in 640 and itsfinder, Lars Viggsen, re-visited it twice in asmany years, bringing back a dozen reindeeron his second voyage. Viggsen’s ship failedto return from its fourth foray, and hisDread Possibility: The Ship of HorrorsGraben Island173discovery that the snow never melts scuttledany plan to establish settlements on the otherisle. Viggsen and his doomed crew arethought to have frozen to death when theirknarr, Óndskapur, was dashed to piecesagainst an iceberg; many believe Todstein’swaters are haunted by their spirits.643 BC was also the first year with verifiedsightings of an unusual visitant : a darkcloakedand wraith-like entity, variouslyknown as “Aegir’s Jackdaw” or “Skadi’sArrow” ( respectively, the Ascended deitiesof storm and snow). An infrequent caller,this creature flies at a great altitude withoutwings, black cloak flapping in the winds.Debate as to its nature and intentions wildlyvary, and tales grow in the telling. Someclaim Aegir’s Jackdaw is a witch, others amonster, and still others insist it to be aghost. Many of its appearances seem tocorrelate with terrible storms, landslides,Conventional Mistways take the form of paths through the Mists, but occasional variantshave been documented. One such example is named the Ship of Horrors. Rather than afixed location, it operates through an existing sailing ship. By means unknown, this vesselbecomes subject to the Mistway’s control, gaining the ability to Mist-travel between seas.As it navigates the Mists, the affected ship takes on the kelp-draped and rotting veneer of awreck dredged from the deep, and the name on the bow is supplanted by “Ship of Horrors”in letters of dripping blood. It can still be piloted normally between Mist-journeys, but thevessel’s course through the Mists is at the Mistway’s sole behest, not that of its captain orcrew.It is uncertain how a ship is singled out for this dubious fate. The one constant is that theafflicted vessel must be traversing the same body of water where the previous Ship brokeits link to the Mistway, and that its captain must have made at least three Powers checkswhile in command of the vessel. The Ship of Horrors has “recruited” many vessels to itsservice over the years, their captains ranging from penitent merchant-seamen to murderouspirates driven by bloodlust. So long as the vessel remains bound to the Mistway its captainis physically unable to leave the ship, and its crew (including new recruits) are incapableof moving more than 500 yards from it. The ship appears and functions normally when itis not Mist-traveling and may sail freely between ports-of-call, or even traverse otherMistways.How a vessel or its crew can be freed from the Mistway’s grip is unknown. If destroyed,through battle, accidentally, or deliberately, the ship re-assembles itself at dawn. Crewfrom the Ship of Horrors remain dead if killed, but if the captain dies, the corpse dispersesinto mist and re-forms (alive) at the ship’s wheel. Possible means of breaking the linkinclude running aground on the sands of Har’Akir via the Jackal’s Ruse, snaring thevessel in the weeds of Saragoss, or making amends for whatever offenses left both shipand captain susceptible in the first place.

Graben Islandwithout at some degree of damage was theBlack Chapel, the slate-hewn walls and roofof which escaped entirely untouched.shipwrecks, and other disasters, but whetherthe Jackdaw is a prophetic harbinger of suchevents, seeks them out to observe them, oractively causes them to occur is unknown.The most terrible storm on record struckthe Island in the autumn of 737 BC, arisingout of nowhere to sink more than a dozenmajor vessels. The Big Storm of ’37 – theonly name the bucolic Grabenites areinclined to give it – raged like a Rokushimantyphoon for a full week, only to end assuddenly as it began. Vessels hauled ashorewere flipped and smashed, severalresidences collapsed, and a great waterspoutoff Knammen’s south shore delugedMeerdorf with rancid mud. Even shelteredSeeheim was not unaffected, losing twonearly-complete hulls from its shipyards.The only building to weather the galeThe death toll in the Big Storm’s wake waswell over a hundred, not counting foreignvessels or the brutal massacre at GrabenManor: a tragedy that preceded the greatercatastrophe by less than 48 hours. Popularsuperstition holds that the outlanders whotreacherously assaulted the founding familyhad violated Graben Island’s very spirit,such that the great storm arose in outragedretaliation.Grabenites now find their refuge pushedinto world events, with the appearance ofnearby islands and the coastline at the closeof 750. In the past decade, more change hascome to Graben Island than in the previouscentury, leading to a classic case of “cultureshock”: the foundations of their society nowtremble at the impact of new trade, newfaces, new ideas. The next few years willdetermine if the Grabenites maintain theconformity of their native customs, or arefated to become a mere cultural andeconomic appendage of Nova Vaasa or someother rising power on the Nocturnal Sea .174

Trade and CraftsmanshipThe principle commodities exported fromGraben Island are wool and saltwater fish,together making up the lion’s share of thisnation’s contribution to Core economics.Graben Island wool is sold in three grades(wadmul, twill and shoddy) as well as in feltand yarn. Wadmul is a coarse, durable, butuncomfortable fabric, once used by the searaidersas garb for captured slaves. On anisland of free men, the itchy fabric’s use hasdwindled, but its rock-bottom affordabilityhas made wadmul a major seller in the poormarkets of Nova Vaasa. The more tightlywovenand insulating twills are worn inabundance by natives, as well as manyexpatriates who know its advantages wellfrom Mordentish woolens. Shoddy is a mixof recycled sheep’s wool and fiber from thecoats of Island cattle; although hardy aswadmul and nearly as wearable as twill, thisodd composition makes it a poor seller inforeign markets. Dyes are cheaper in otherrealms than on Graben Island, so most woolis exported in its natural hues.Fishing the Nocturnal Sea is the singlemost dangerous profession on the Island, yetone Grabenites embrace with fearlessdedication. Inshore waters provide modestamounts of plaice, herring and smelt,harvested with many-hooked lines or netsfrom large dories or “six-rings”. For theopen seas, the native fishermen typically setforth in a knarr laden with seines and lightdories, then sail to the coldwater fishingbanksbetween the Island and Todstein.Deepwater fishes including cod, flounder,and the prized sturgeon: a source of preciouscaviar, and a sinfully-ugly fish I suspect isreally a dire animal. Occasionally, curiousitems from the seabed turn up in the seinenets,when fishing crews haul their labor’sbounty into the light.Though a relatively minor source of food,whaling is held in great esteem here, and aGraben Island175harpoonist of proven skill is highly lauded.Whales of greater size are pursued fromknarrs built for speed, while smaller species(such as the pilot whales I’d seen butcheredin Seeheim) are herded inshore and trappedagainst the beaches. Prior to their realm’semergence in the Core, Grabenite whalershad been experts on cetacean migration andfeeding habits. Since the geography shifted,the whales’ behavior has been unpredictable,and dedicated whalers are among the fewGrabenites who regularly venture to the farcorners of the Sea. While whales’ flesh andblubber have an honored place in Grabenitecuisine, inedible products of the whale-huntsare often more valuable, such as baleen, oil,ivory and ambergris.While Grabenite farmers are reluctant topart with their crop, growing foreign demandfor the Island’s distinctive herb-spiced goatcheeses is leading more to reconsider theirfrugality about food-stocks. Salt, of course,is free for the taking, so a few industriousnatives now “farm” salt along the southernmud-flats, letting leather-lined trenches fillat flood-tide and then dry up into salableencrustations of sea salt. A small but usefulrange of furs and decorative feathers are alsogleaned from wildlife in the marshes andforests: items which the gentry of Liffe havetaken a fancy to, to brighten up their garb.Few local handicrafts are of foreigninterest, but one byproduct of the sea-harvesthas won wider appreciation: scrimshaw, thecarving and etching of whale- and walrus-

Graben Islandivory. Knickknacks once considered pettydecoration by locals have come into vogue atmainland galleries and shops. Even clansstaunchly opposed to foreign influences mayyet barter away an occasional scrimshawedcomb or saltcellar.In exchange for these products of sheepand sea, Graben Island (grudgingly)welcomes cargo of iron tools and a few steelweapons from the mainland, cotton cloth andthread from Vechor or Souragne, and flour,dried fruits, and vegetables from any realmmore conducive to farming than their own.Most profits of the fishing-boom have notcirculated among those who shoulder thebulk of its labor, but accrues to the Coopers,Stromms and Fischers who package andtransport the product. Much of theseentrepreneurs’ newfound wealth is spent theway the bourgeois always squander suchwindfalls: fine houses and garb, expensivetrinkets, and elite educations for their heirs.That this flies in the face of natives’ usualsensibilities only proves that the Grabentownprofiteers have adopted more of thehabits of their Nova Vaasan neighbors thanjust their taste in moustaches.Until recently, few Grabenites made use ofcurrency in their daily lives: barter, alongwith an unwritten system of traded debts andfavors, sufficed to track exchanges of goodsor services. Since the fishing boom, demandfor hard coinage has skyrocketed. Vaasi,Darkonian, and the occasional Vechorite orSouragnien coin are equally accepted inGraben-town. Foreign coinage also seessome use in Kirchenheim, though barter isstill dominant there. Given a choice, mostGrabenites prefer silver currency to an equalvalue in gold. This is partly a cultural bias –their sea-raider ancestors employed “hacksilver” jewelry as a crude form of money –and partially a question of utility: manynatives like to have their accumulated coinsmelted and re-cast into brooches, and gold isa bit heavy for such trinkets.176GovernmentLacking hereditary chiefs, leadership of theNorth Wild refugees initially passed into thehands of godi, but the loss of these reveredpriests’ power left them deposed in turn. Assuch, village assemblies – advisory bodies tothe godi, and civic forums where grievancescould be aired – inherited their authority, astatus they retain to this day.As with most aspects of Grabenite society,these assemblies (tings) are conducted inaccordance with strict traditions, practices,and unwritten laws. Each clan casts a singlevote in one village assembly. Families withbranches in multiple settlements mustchoose which to attend; typically, this will bethe village where the head-of-householdlives. Proxies are not allowed: if a family’sleader fails to appear, that clan’s votes countas abstentions. Formal assembly-meetingsmust be announced weeks in advance, toensure as many clan-heads as possible canarrange to attend. Rare emergency sessions,called in times of crisis, may be held with 24hours’ notice, but all decisions reached mustbe reexamined at the next formal session.Routine matters addressed at assembliesinclude criminal trials, lawsuits, municipalupkeep (roads, wells, and harbors), andmaintenance of the Yeomanry. The powerof an assembly is limited; it can impose nogreater penalty for non-violent crimes thanexile: a sentence that lost much of its sting in750, before which it had entailed castingoffenders into the Mists. Nor do assemblieshave the authority to curb behavior (such asdrinking to excess or welcoming foreigntraders) that falls short of harming people orproperty. For bloodier offenses, a system ofweregild is invoked, whereby those who doharm must pay a fine to the injured party orsurvivors of same; this resembles the Borcansystem, though fines are based upon severityof injury or the familial ties between parties,not income. Clan-heads also usually disownserious offenders, both to save face and toexempt their family from paying heavy finesshould a culprit flee.Foreigners occupy a “gray area” in Islandlaw, as the local policies accord outsiders no

official legal standing. I’ll admit, I neverlooked at Bram Fischer’s impertinent smirkquite the same way, after he remarked that,technically, he was quite legally entitled toseize me as a slave after our contract for hispiloting services expired! A jest, of course –the Grabenites haven’t kept slaves since thedays of the sea-raiders – but unnerving evenso, to realize my only recourse under the lawwould be to appeal to a clan-head to speakfor me, if charged with some offense.To administrate day-to-day life, assembliesappoint civic officials known as “deacons”: aLow Mordentish loan-word with liturgicalovertones, emulating the old divine mandateof the godi. Deacons of various titles workto coordinate and levy tariffs on port traffic,maintain community property like wells anddocks, advance civic projects, or lead andtrain members of the Yeomanry. A deaconis never a clan-head in his own right, asGrabenites prefer to keep authority asdispersed as possible; most are younger andmore energetic than the assemblymen theyanswer to. Deacons in Graben-town like topresent themselves as having a great deal ofclout – Grabenites know of the imperiousbehavior of officials in other ports, and findit convenient to emulate this – but in reality,a deacon’s authority is only as secure as theassembly’s faith in his competence. Somedeacons are content to serve their villages,while others view their work as a means toan end (such as to prove their worthiness toinherit their clan-head’s position). Deaconsreceive a stipend for their service, paid fromusage fees at docks and rivers, tariffs onforeign goods, and assets confiscated fromconvicts. Formal taxation is absent here, butassemblies may take up a collection amongtheir members’ families to fund more costlyprojects, such as harbor improvements.Civil order and defense are the work of theYeomanry, a freemen’s militia to which allable-bodied males are obligated to devote atleast one season of service every four years.“Service” does not entail full-time militaryenlistment, but rather a set number of hoursof training, organized and led by a deaconcum-officerwith battle experience. ActiveYeomanry members may be called to findand apprehend fugitives, man the pinnacesGraben Island177that patrol the seas, rescue survivors ofshipwrecks, or dispatch aquatic menaces thatcrawl ashore. Until the present generation,the Yeomanry’s battles were limited to smallskirmishes with pirates or sea beasts. Now,being more accessible to the outside world,veteran officers argue that the Island needsmore than just amateur soldiers to maintainits autonomy.A special mention must be made of theGraben clan’s political status. Officially, thefounding family holds no more authoritythan any other household; indeed, their loneseat in the Graben-town assembly has notbeen filled in years, owing to centenarianColin Graben’s ill health. Unofficially, theGrabens' influence is felt far more broadly:many Graben-town businesses owe sizeabledebts to the clan, and far more occupy landor buildings owned by the Grabens. Whilethe prolific family grew still more reclusiveafter the attack of 737, Josiah Graben’s workas acting manager of his grandsire’s affairsrestored their public prominence: even theFischers’ vaunted Packhouse was fundedwith Graben money, making even the newtycoons dependent upon the founding clan’sgood graces.Under terms of Efraim’s originalagreement with the refugees, all theunclaimed land on Graben Island (but notKnammen Isle or the Schlammholme)legally defaults to the Graben family. Onlywith the permission of Colin Graben (or hisproxy, Josiah) may a Grabenite clear land fora new farm or lay claim to its naturalresources. Luckily for Grabenites, the termsof Efraim’s agreement also bar the Grabensfrom charging for land, or from turningdown natives’ petitions for new acreagewithout good reason. After a familyoccupies a tract for five generations, itbecomes legally theirs, but until then, theGrabens hold proprietary claim to it. Whilethe Grabens cannot evict its occupants, theyhave the right of refusal if residents seek tosell such land or bequeath it to their heirs.As Gabenites feel close attachments to theirfamily homesteads, the possibility that suchan inheritance might be denied is a terriblethreat.

Graben IslandWhile most families truly do own the smallhomesteads their forbearers held in the early7th century, these same clans have typicallygrown since then, so have also acquired newproperty: a fact that keeps them subject tothe Grabens’ good graces. Curiously, theseadditional land-grants are most often issuedat the Grabens’ instigation, and up to fifty oryears in advance of a clan’s fifth generation:an unusual bit of forward planning on thefounding clan’s part, more typical of elvesthan mortal men, even in so static a culture.Law EnforcementAs a part-time defense force, Yeomanry militia squads consist of experts coached by asmaller number of warriors. Statistics for both classes are provided below, allowing DMsto select either seasoned trusties, or green recruits as desired. Grabenites at sea are verymuch in their element, so the Yeomanry’s capable sailors are also described below.Yeomanry recruit: Human Exp1; CR 1/3; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d6, hp 4; Init+0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 12, touch 10, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Atk +0 melee (1d8/x3, spear) or +0 ranged (1d4, sling); Full Atk +0 melee (1d8/x3, spear) or +0 ranged (1d4,sling); AL LN; Sv Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +2; Str 11, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha10.Skills and Feats: Climb +2, Craft or Profession (any one) +7, Craft or Profession (anyrelated one) +4, Knowledge (local) +4, Knowledge (any one work-related) +2, Listen +2,Sense Motive +4, Spot +2, Swim +2, Use Rope +2; Athletic, Skill Focus (Craft orProfession).Possessions: Spear, sling w/ 10 bullets, leather armor, spare ammo (stones, 1d3 damage)Yeomanry trusty: Human War1; CR 1/2; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d8, hp 6; Init+0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +1; Grp +1; Atk +2 melee (1d8/x3, battleaxe) or +1 ranged (1d6/x3, shortbow); Full Atk +2 melee (1d8/x3, battleaxe) or+1 ranged (1d6/x3, shortbow); AL LN; Sv Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 11, Dex 10, Con12, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 9.Skills and Feats: Climb +2, Intimidate +1, Jump +2, Swim +2; Endurance, WeaponFocus (battleaxe).Possessions: Battleaxe, shortbow w/ 20 arrows, chain shirt, signal horn.Yeomanry sailor: Human Exp1/War1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (human); HD 1d6 + 1d8,hp 10; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +1; Atk +2melee (1d6+1/19-20, cutlass) or +2 melee/ranged (1d4+1, dagger) or +2 ranged (1d6/x3,shortbow); Full Atk +2 melee (1d6+1/19-20, cutlass) or +2 melee/ranged (1d4+1, dagger)or +2 ranged (1d6/x3, shortbow); AL LN; Sv Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +1; Str 12, Dex 13,Con 11, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.Skills and Feats: Balance +4, Climb +4, Jump +3, Knowledge (geography or nature) +4,Profession (sailor) +4, Spot +3, Swim +5, Tumble +3, Use Rope +4; Acrobatic, Dodge.Possessions: Cutlass, shortbow w/ 20 arrows, dagger.Note that Grabenites can use Profession (sailor) untrained. Statistics for the cutlass maybe found in Stormwrack; if that product is not available, replace with scimitars.178

Graben IslandDread Possibility: Plans of a PrinceHowever secure Grabenites may feel in their isolation, they are vastly overmatched by thenations of Darkon and Nova Vaasa, either of which could effortlessly crush the Yeomanry.The former is unlikely to invade – Azalin has no wish to claim a land he can never visit inperson, nor does he care to pointlessly antagonize Meredoth – but Nova Vaasa is anotherstory. Unbound to the land and driven on by his own ruthless ambitions, Prince OthmarBolshnik aspires to found an empire of the sort that Vaasans haven’t known since theRanging Epoch: one forged on the Nocturnal Sea’s waves, even as their forbearersconquered the plains of Tygaam. As the fishing-boom is already turning Graben-town intoan economic satellite of Nova Vaasa, Othmar has set his sights on Graben Island as hisnavy’s first target.Although not much of a prize, annexation of the Island would be a shrewd opening move.Ever since their isle emerged from the Mists, native Grabenites’ heretical democraticpolitics and their refusal to be converted have been a nagging thorn in the side of theHimmelsk Naeve and the Iron Faith. Additionally, suspicious events in both Arbora andEgertus have roused the ire of the Kunduktørs, who suspect a profane trade in humancorpses is operating out of Graben-town. By subjugating the Grabenites and letting theChurch impose its doctrines over them, Othmar can guarantee the Lawgiver’s endorsementof future naval expansionism.Adding further incentive, Ingemar, Othmar’s son and heir, is now old enough that thePrince wishes to groom his successor: a dangerous task in Nova Vaasa, where other noblefamilies will rebel against his plans to maintain the Bolshnik monopoly. Rather than rousethe other houses’ wrath prematurely, Othmar plans to appoint Ingemar as governor ofGraben Island so his heir can practice rulership out of immediate view. Should Grabenitesprove to be truculent subjects, so much the better. To date, Ingemar has been a greatdisappointment: as spoiled as Othmar was at his age, yet lacking his sire’s ambitions oraggression. The Prince hopes crushing an uprising will teach his lazy heir discipline.Meredoth couldn’t care less who governs Graben Island, so Prince Othmar’s scheme toseize the island is entirely feasible, so long as the Grabens retain their prestige and abilityto function as the darklord’s supply-agents. Prince Othmar’s plans to claim Todstein as asource of vital timber for naval vessels, on the other hand, will likely prove disastrous if thecantankerous sea-mage’s fury against “spell-less barbarian churls” trespassing on his homeis roused.179

Graben Island180

Domain Boundaries in the Nocturnal SeaGraben IslandEven to the few inhabitants of Ravenloft who know about “domains”, the borders between suchrealms in the Nocturnal Sea are very unclear. The overcast conditions which inhibit navigationmake it all but impossible to map out a border’s geographic position, and open-water boundariesbetween these domains tend to fluctuate, either randomly or with various darklords’ tempers andpreeminence. The border of Île de la Tempête, for example, has been known to expand outwardsby up to a mile, when shifting tides bring about Monette’s transformations to werebat form, thenshrink again as he reverts.Nebligtode’s border is particularly ill-documented, among NPCs in-the-know. Most assume thatTodstein and Graben Island are actually different domains, given their geographic separation (intruth, a reflection of Meredoth’s misanthropy). Individuals falsely suspected of being the Island’s“dread lord” include the Flayed Rider, one or more native “wise women”, the (nonexistent) ghost ofEfraim Graben, a Zaubereiwald fey, or some malign force entombed beneath the Black Chapel.181

August 24 th , 760Graben IslandBrothers,Regretfully, I must report a delay in my return to Souragne. Not my doing, by any means –my investigations of Graben Island have gone swimmingly, permitting me to examine itsculture and geographic features somewhat more thoroughly than those of Liffe – but rather, thefault of that impulsive layabout, Brother Dirac! Whether by ill luck or simple carelessness, thecheeky young whip has fallen entirely out of touch with both myself, and our veneratedcolleague on Vechor. Neither Master S. nor I have heard a word of his progress or status, sincehis departure from the Isle of Ravens. Divinations indicate that Dirac is still among the living,yet all of our efforts to communicate with the lad or scry upon his location have been in vain.Whether our young Brother has imprudently stumbled into some danger, or has merelyallowed his meeting with the Isle’s proprietress to distract him (again) from his scholarlyresponsibilities, this has stuck me with the chore of carrying out the duty that Dirac has shirked.Yes, my friends, I’ve another island to investigate, like it or not! A visit to the uninhabitedrock called “Todstein” is hardly the way I’d hoped to end this venture – Graben Island is morethan chilly enough for my Dementlieuse blood, thank you! – yet certain clues I’ve come across,during my sojourn amongst the Grabenites, mark that desolate isle as a prospective bolt-hole forthe one we seek.As much as I long to return to less-backward surroundings – or even Souragne, for that matter– I fear that Master S. is correct: one of us must examine the last of the Nocturnal Sea’s islands,and if we should delay in hopes that Dirac will resume contact, the few remaining weeks ofwhat passes for fair weather in these parts will be lost to us. Owing to Nature’s tight timetable,I had no choice but to cut short my tour of Graben Island’s southern marshes, and returnposthaste to Graben-town, to tell Captain Howe of our revised itinerary. (Believe me, BlackPelican’s master is no more delighted by the prospect than I!) Regrettably, Dirac’s preparatorynotes on Todstein are unavailable to me, although I remedied this dearth of background researchas best I could, consulting a few Graben-town talespinners and my gracious hosts at GrabenManor.Owing to the vagaries of travel in this, the most dangerous corner of an already-hostile sea, Inow have not the slightest idea how soon I shall be able to rejoin you in Souragne. Rest assuredthat I shall contact you with that information at the first opportunity, once this concluding forayis over and done with, one way or the other.Till then,Viktor182

Graben Island183

Todstein

By Viktor Hazan, August 27th, 760Did I say this wasn't Vorostokov?As I write these words, I can hear thestrained creaking of the Black Pelican'sshrouds, stiff with ice, and the fatiguedshouts of the remaining crew as five menstrive to do the work of eight. The extralabor is keeping them warm, at least.Myself, I must pause to stamp my feet andrub my hands every twenty minutes to keepblood flowing. Cold and frustration aretaking their toll on my nerves. Last night,when I first set to documenting the setbackthat befell us on Todstein, I grew sodistracted by anger that I forgot to lay thepen beside my cabin's tiny camp-stove whenI retired. I could keep this damnable, inkfreezingchill at bay with ease, if the wretchhadn't taken my potions as well as-but no, I'llget to that.Captain Howe - stiff-featured and bitter:he's lost men before, yet never like this, andhe'd had high hopes for that lad - tells me thewind is with us this morning, and we shouldmake good time back to Graben-town.Coincidence? Or are we simply of no furtherof interest?TodsteinTodstein in ShortLocation: Southeast Nocturnal Sea,NebligtodeCultural level: Renaissance-equivalent 1(9) in Meredoth's lairs, Savage (0)elsewherePopulation: 1 human, ~400 ObedientDead (mostly lebendtod & skeletons),~80 constructsMain settlements: NoneReligions: NoneLanguages: Draconic, Grabenite, Aquan,TodsteinerGovernment: Sham "magocracy"(virtually all residents are underMeredoth's control)1. Meredoth's homeland is highlydeveloped, but uses advancedmagic in lieu of technology.185

Geographical SurveyClimateTodsteinThere must be places on the mainland withconditions as bone-chilling as these: the highBalinoks or the Sleeping Beast, perhaps. Butat sea level? In August? Plainly,, there canbe nothing is natural about this climate. TheWatchers in Shadow have crafted yetanother of their anomalous mysteries here,atop this forsaken outcrop which the theNocturnal Sea's curt sailors simply refer tosimply as "the Rock".The waves that gird the stark cliff-faces ofTodstein hover in that slim margin betweenthe freezing points of fresh and salt water,making even the briefest immersion a deadlyevent. Kirchenheim's stoic fishing veteranslaugh at the thought of wearing life-jackets,knowing they'd freeze too quickly to drown.The same sea-wise shipmasters also speak ofsudden "flash freezes" that cause the Rock'soffshore waters to solidify into impassablebuttresses of towering ice. I must confessthe physics of such an occurrence strike meas implausible, yet who is to say?The same storms which regularly plaguethe region's other isles likewise batterTodstein, lashing its cliffs and churning itsinshore waters into frigid froth. Snowfall isheavy, with flurries blanketing the islandevery few days, and blizzards blowing in asoften as once a fortnight in winter. Freakhammering hailstorms occasionally strike"the Rock" as well, by way of variety, andthe comparative warmth of late summerushers in freezing rains, which coat bothships' rigging and the lonely pine forests incrystalline sheaths of ice: beautiful, butfantastically destructive of trees andsailcloth.Winds are - thankfully - less constant thanblustery Graben Island, and natural fog isblessedly uncommon in air too chilly toretain much water-vapor. In the icebergclottedsurrounding waters, eddies of mist dorise from the waves, making the alreadydifficulttask of navigating safely betweenthe treacherous ice floes even trickier.TemperatureTemperatures on Todstein are harrowingly frigid, ranging from 40° F during the height ofsummer to a bone-cracking -60° in the winter. Most years, conditions vary from Cold(40° to 0° F) in late July or August; to Severe Cold (0° to -20° F) in March to mid-July, orfrom September to mid-November. Temperatures dip into Extreme Cold (-20° to -50° F)from late November to February, when even the Rock's hardy wildlife shelter in snowdensand burrows. Winter's cold snaps can push conditions into Unearthly Cold (-50° For less), as per Frostburn.Average winds on Todstein range from 0 to 30 mph, fluctuating widely over the course ofa day. Flurries fall about one day in four, year-round, and blizzards lasting two to fivedays strike Todstein every couple of weeks in wintertime.Wind chill moves the effective temperature one step lower, for purposes of cold damageand needed protection. This applies to any living creature exposed to wind speeds rated"strong" or greater. Undead and constructs are unhindered by wind-chill, even if they areotherwise subject to cold damage.Thanks to Nebligtode's perpetual gloom, Todstein's temperatures don't significantly fall atnight, as there is too little sunlight in the daytime to make a difference.186

Todstein187

Icewalls of TodsteinTodsteinA misanthrope obsessed with his own privacy, the darklord of Nebligtode has beengranted the ability to seal Todstein off from the rest of his domain, encircling his homeisland with ice, much as Strahd von Zarovich uses his choking fog to isolate CastleRavenloft. When engaged in secret research or fed up with the distractions posed by hiswider realm, the sea-mage causes huge walls of jagged ice to ascend from the waves,blocking off all passage in or out.When raised, the Icewalls are over 200' thick, rise some 80' above the high tide line,and extend downward to the seabed. Attempts to climb or fly over these obstacles are nottotally impeded, but freezing rain and driving winds make traversing these slick, razoredgedbarricades extremely challenging. When the necromancer lowers the barrier, theIcewalls break apart into icebergs that drift off in all directions: a silent, unpredictablemenace to shipping.Brought up in a culture saturated with magic, Meredoth's concept of security alsoencompasses protection against arcane intrusion. Scrying directed at his isle discernsonly dense, silent fog, similar to the spell Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum.Teleportation in or out automatically fails, and Meredoth intuitively senses when anattempt is made to bypass this effect. The defenses drop when the Icewalls are open, anddo not foil scrying or teleportation by persons already inside the barrier. They cannotprevent intruders from being dropped off on the Rock by the caprice of the Mists, soMeredoth's research is often interrupted by outlanders or Mist-led adventurers.FrostburnFor DMs with access to the Frostburngame supplement, Todstein should beregarded as highly susceptible to direweather. Acid sleet, blood snow, deathhail, razor sleet, and rust flurries all takeplace several times each winter.Negation flurries - a frequent bane ofMeredoth's early years of darklordship -also strike erratically, dispelling spellsand ongoing magical effects. Suchflurries have an uncanny habit of strikingTodstein just as the necromancer ispreparing to test a newly-modified spelleffect or item on the surface.The Howl of the North effect (a.k.a.the dráp dreygur) also occurs on andnear Todstein. Hearing the dráp dreygurincurs a DC 12 Fear save (DC 15 toGrabenites), in addition to the usualconsequences of the Howl of the North.As with their tall tales of "flash freezes",the more garrulous of Graben-town's seamenspoke of other curious weather phenomenaoccurring in Todstein's vicinity: snowflakessharp as blades, that cut sails and skin, pitchblackhailstones that wither flesh on contact;or howling winds that rupture eardrums andshatter teeth with their eerie wailing. TheGrabenites refer to the latter phenomenon asthe dráp dreygur ("ghost that hunts"), andbelieve it to be the spirit of Lars Viggsen,calling out to the wandering spirits of hisfailed crew. Were it not for my almanac'sdates, mutely mocking my preconceptions,I'd dismiss such accounts as sailors' takingcustomary liberties with fact … but, gazingup to the snowdrifts that line the cliff-tops inAugust, I wonder.188

TopographyThe waters around Todstein are filled withdrifting chunks of ice, some man-sized,others as huge as the ships they imperil.Such floes make approaching the isle riskyin all but the mildest weather. Nature, alas,was not so accommodating to the passage ofthe Black Pelican, for the skittish windsfluctuated wildly until we drew quite near tothe Rock, making it hard for Captain Howeto steer a steady course. Even with Paulo'skeen eyes at the prow, we had numerousclose calls as we sailed into the questionableshelter of Sorrow's Bay.This shallow cove on the west side of theisle, and its counterpart on the opposite side(Fogview Bay, so-called because the MistyBorder lies within eyeshot of its beach)divide Todstein into an unequal, bi-lobedshape, like the body of a violin. Save for thetwin beaches abutting the paired bays, sheer,unbroken precipices of dark-colored stoneascend out of the surf. Rising some 50 yardsabove the high-water mark, encrusted in ice,and treacherously steep, the cliffs present anominously bleak face to all comers; seabirdsand seals shy away from resting along theirfringes or on the beaches, leaving Todstein'swildlife confined to the escarpment above.CliffsAttempts to scale the cliffs of Todsteinpose a base DC 25 Climb check, +5where the ice covers their surface. Theigneous stone of the escarpment isexceptionally hard: setting a single pitonin the cliff-side takes three minutesinstead of one, with a 20% chance apiton breaks before the rock does.Although the cliffs, themselves, are nothreat to seabirds, Meredoth has snaredso many of their kind to use as zombie'carrier pigeons' for his lebendtod spiesthat these birds now instinctively avoidthem.TodsteinThe wide beach at Sorrow's Bay is a ratherpeculiar sight. Its slopes are comprised ofcoarse sand: white sand, unlike the darkerstone and gravel of which both Todstein andthe adjacent seabed are composed. Lighterand more adhesive when damp than normalsand, its odd texture sparked my curiosity. Apocket hand-lens revealed its particles to bemore splinter-like than granular, and a fewlarger fragments - their past configurationstill evident, despite the surf's grinding force- confirmed an eerie suspicion. Unnerved, Irealized I stood upon a shore comprised ofuntold billions of wave-pulverized boneshards.(Needless to say, I did not mention thiseerie observation to Captain Howe or hiscrew.)Espying no sign of animate life on thesands - not even seashells - I resolved to darethe escarpment's heights first thing in themorning. I decided to bring a few crewmenas escort, the disturbing nature of the beachsandhaving reinforced my reluctance toprobe this Rock's mysteries unaccompanied.Wishing to ascertain the isle's layout formyself, I slipped away from Howe's landingparty and took to the air, beneath an illusoryoverlay of a ravenkin that observers belowwould mistake for a common bird. Makinghaste before my absence could be noticed, Iascended to a height well above the treetops,and set to work memorizing all conspicuousclearings or odd landforms for the morrow'sinvestigation.189

TodsteinTodstein's interior is fairly flat, with aslight rise at the heart of its small northernlobe, and a sunken, sparsely-vegetated area -a frozen lake or marsh - lying perhaps half amile due south of Sorrow's Bay beach. TheFogview Bay beach is of the same off-white,dull hue as our landing site, and marginallymore sheltered from the waves. The isle'sinterior blanket of dark conifers is virtuallyunbroken; several tremendous boulders werevisible as iced-over gray masses within theforest, as were a few gaps I deduced must betiny clearings, sumps or springs. A crookedtrail between the two beaches links the shoreto a large, circular clearing in the north lobeof the isle. Another slender gap between thetrees runs northeast from the clearing, and ontoward a deep cleft in the northern cliff-face,that opens onto the sea.I was sorely tempted to investigate thelatter gap - another, undocumented path,perhaps? - but the winds were rising fast.Leaving off before the weather couldbecome any worse, I sped back to the beach.As I descended, gray aerial shapes near ajutting spit of land to the north wheeledearthward and settled, as well: the first birdsI observed anywhere on Todstein.The twin paths connecting the isle'sbeaches to its interior plateau ascend thecliff-sides at uncomfortably-steep angles. Inreturning to the beach via the western path, Imade note of Todstein's geological makeup:basalt and other igneous stone, laced with afew veins of obsidian, much like that of thevolcanoes Brother Dossevsky described inhis lecture on the Burning Peaks. Roughstairs had been hewn into the naked rock ateach of the path's half-dozen switchbacks;each such turnaround lay some twenty feetbelow the previous one. The ledges Itraversed were rather narrow: three feet widefor most of the way, but reduced to a foot'sbreadth in numerous places, by crumbledrims or thick, accumulated ice on therockface.I discerned no specific style orarchitectural affinity in the hewn stairs; theircrafting was too crude for that. I did observean unusual distribution of tidewaterbarnacles girding the stone, when I reachedthe bottom: the crumbling, spent husks ofinshore varieties encrusted low-lyingsurfaces now populated by deeper-waterspecies, the dead creatures' shallow-waterdescendants having migrated several feethigher up the rock-face. I am uncertain ifthis phenomenon had an organicexplanation, or if Todstein's relocation to theCore has caused tidal forces to increase,driving the local tide-line higher.Gargoyle PointIntolerant as he is of living beings' organic weaknesses, Meredoth considers gargoyles'ability to exist without food, water or air intriguing. Deeming them a 'missing link'between biological life forms and constructs, he has collected several "wings" of thesecreatures on Todstein, occasionally testing their physical endurance or experimentingwith undead or enhanced variants.The gargoyles are not permitted inside the darklord's various lairs, but have their ownrefuge in a cave buried in the cliff-face on Todstein's northeast edge. Once the hidingplace of one of Meredoth's cloned bodies, this squalid outpost's furnishings and othercontents has been ruined by the gargoyles' vandalism, but most of its security-spells andlocks still function.Todstein's gargoyles are permitted to prey on intruders on or within flying distance ofthe Rock, so long as they leave the bodies in the Boneyard afterwards. The necromancerhas scrying-links to dominant members of each "wing", allowing him to monitor theirbattles and assess their opponents' abilities and possible value to his research.190

TodsteinFloraSave a few clearings, the entire escarpmentof Todstein is heavily forested with conifers,in contrast to its barren cliffs and beaches.Towering varieties of pine (red, white, andjack) are by far the dominant species. Treesgrowing on the rim of the isle or the edges of191clearings are generally the tallest, able todrink up the dim light on their exposed sidesand thus ascend for seventy or eighty feet;their shade-stunted neighbors in the denseinterior seldom attain fifty. Seedlings havelittle chance to thrive, shaded and starved bytheir elders if not crushed by snowdrifts ordevoured by famished wildlife.

TodsteinDread Possibility: Dead Stone's DemiseAfter Nebligtode joined the Core, Meredoth discovered that his isolated island's sea levellay somewhat higher than it had in the past, such that both beaches are now completelyinundated at flood tide. The impact of waves against the cliffs has grown somewhat moreviolent, and most of the surrounding shoals of rock now lie more deeply submerged, nolonger posing a threat to intruding ships' hulls. The necromancer found this last alterationirritating, and one of his more recent undead creations, the Horror (Quoth the Raven #9),was designed to shore up this gap in Todstein's anti-ship defenses. Still, true to form, hewasted no further thought on the matter.As ever, the darklord's disinterest is premature. Todstein is sinking into the sea.In every year since 750, Meredoth's home has subsided another two feet into the waves.So far, this process has escaped the darklord's notice, yet it is inexorable: bit by bit, thenecromancer's vaunted "impregnable sanctum" is dissolving away beneath him. It will bewell into the next century before it wholly sinks beneath the icy waters; however,Meredoth fully intends to be alive for centuries to come and, when he realizes his refugeis doomed, will be livid at this latest encroachment on his privacy … by the forces ofnature he despises, no less!Precisely why the Rock is submerging is unknown. Has Meredoth's disdain for theworld around him led Nebligtode to begin collapsing in upon itself, much as Sithicus had,when the Black Rose lost interest in his domain? Is the misanthropic necromancer'suncaring evil too dispassionate to hold sway over such an immense Core domain, much asDaclaud Heinfroth proved unworthy of Gundarak? Is its subsidence the deliberatehandiwork of some dark force dwelling undersea, one that Meredoth has disdainfullydismissed as unworthy of his notice? Or might Todstein's slow collapse be an omen ofsome fell disaster yet to come … or one already come to pass, in realms beyond the Mists'boundaries?Broadleaf trees, including oaks and a fewelms, survive only at the very edge of theescarpment and within the frozen marsh tothe south. The dull, black soil is frozen solida mere eight to twelve inches beneath thesurface, and this permafrost inhibits growthof such deep-rooted trees. Small vegetationis likewise scarce: in sheltered places bare ofsnow, patches of needle-carpeted earth wereexposed, but very few shrubs or wildflowersever dapple these temporary voids. Save foroccasional tufts of spindly grass, Todstein'sunderbrush is dominated by drab gray, greenor orange lichen, and toadstools, puffballs orsimilar fungi. I had my escorts - three ofHowe's men, our avid young lookout amongthem - collect specimens of the latter for me.If they harbor any exotic mycotoxins,documenting the sailors' ailments followingexposure will be a welcome diversion fromboredom on our return trip. Paulo's keen192eyes were of particular help in spotting suchfinds… that is, when he wasn't being teasedby the others. (Something about a Grabenitelass, head and shoulders taller than himself,in whose company he'd pleasantly spent hisGraben-town furlough.)Save fungi, botanic discoveries onTodstein were few. The one shrub that seemsto thrive here is a dark green rhododendronlikebush, which sprouts in the lee ofboulders or large trees and bears clusters ofglobular lavender fruits an inch in diameter.I went to harvest a sample, but one of thesailors - a doughty, Grabenite-bloodeddeckhand named Oleg - pulled me back witha vehement curse. The juices of the plant, hewarned, were toxic to the mind, destroyingthe imbiber's spirit by inches. Intrigued, butunwilling to alienate the men, I resolved tocollect some later.

Crimson Mold and Tsongha BushesTodsteinMeredoth considers himself to be "at war" with the natural order, beating the laws of reality intosubmission by brute arcane force. As if it returns his hostility in kind, the wilderness of Todsteincontinuously sprouts a few kinds of vegetation seemingly designed to antagonize him.In the frigid temperatures of Todstein, creatures of the plant type tend to become torpid, passinginto a state of suspended animation. Night twists and other vegetative hazards remain inactive andsnow-covered for much of the year, but grow dangerously alert - and hungry - during the briefsummer thaws … or when campfires, spells with the fire descriptor, or the close approach of warmbloodedcreatures heat the surrounding air and rouse them from this stupor.Crimson MoldThis blood-colored lichen germinates beneath the outer layer of a tree's bark. If an infected tree iscut, carved, bumped, or falls down naturally, a cloud of bright red spores is released in a 10' radiusaround its trunk, remaining dispersed for up to ten minutes in still air. It is extremely difficult to tellwhich trees are infested, making the collection of either timber or firewood a risky proposition allover Todstein.Crimson mold spores, if inhaled or touched by exposed skin, immediately begin eroding thecreature's skeleton. In the first round of infection, the spores inflict 1d4 points of Dex damage,followed by 2d4 points of Str damage next round. A DC 15 Fort saves is required to resist eachround's effects. Corporeal undead and flesh-based constructs suffer a -4 penalty to this save. This isincreased to -8 for creatures whose bones are directly exposed to air, such as skeletons or bonegolems. A Remove Disease spell halts the spores' damage. Creatures without bones are immune.Crimson Mold Patch: CR 4; hazard, touch trigger; automatic reset; cloud; never miss; onset delay(1 round); spores (DC 15 Fortitude save resists, 1d4 Dex/2d4 Str); Search DC 22*; Disable DeviceDC 20. [* - Rangers or druids can detect crimson mold, despite its high Search DC.]Tsongha BushesThese shrubs bear a lavender fruit known as "tsongha", a potent and highly-addictive narcotic. InMeredoth's homeland, tsongha bushes were cultivated for their juice, to which thousands ofaristocratic spellcasters were addicted. Those grown on his native world required constant,meticulous tending, but Todstein's variety sprouts like a weed, despite the icy climate andMeredoth's best efforts to eradicate it. The necromancer's pathological aversion to life's organicweaknesses arose, in part, from witnessing this drug's scourge first-hand, and he hates the plantswith uncharacteristic passion. He routinely sends his Obedient Dead to uproot all the tsonghabushes they can find, to sate their need to destroy life and thin the plants' spread.To finance some of the darklord's costlier projects, the Grabens occasionally sell tsongha-juice tojaded Vaasi aristocrats through a chain of lebendtod intermediaries. Meanwhile, Meredoth has notlet his own revulsion for the drug stop him from distilling tsongha-juice into a mind-cripplingpoison. Tsongha bushes bear fruit year-round on Todstein, but this vegetative drug can grow or becultivated nowhere else in the Land of Mists.Tsongha, raw (drug): Ingested DC 17, 300 gp/fruit or dram of juice, Addiction rating: High (seeBook of Vile Darkness)Fresh-picked tsongha may be consumed as uncooked fruit or juice, making alchemy unnecessaryto prepare it. A DC 10 Craft (alchemy) check is necessary to preserve the juice for long-distancetransport. Preserved tsongha fruit is non-narcotic and harmless.Initial effect: 1d2 points of Wisdom damage and a +2 enhancement bonus to Charisma.Secondary effect: 1d4 points of Intelligence damage.193

TodsteinSide effect: Consumers of tsongha in its raw state experience a state of relaxed, anxiety-freebliss and contentment, leaving them unable to worry about anything. Effects are functionallyidentical to the Madness effect "Depression" (RLPHB p. 84-85), although the experience ispleasurable.Overdose: A second dose in 8 hours results in triple the initial ability damage and a second Fortsave against addiction at a -10 penalty.Tsongha distillate (poison): Ingestion DC 20, Initial damage 2d4 Wis + 1 Wis*, Secondarydamage 2d6 Int + 1d2 Int*, Price 1200 gp194

FaunaTodsteinWaters off Todstein are remarkably prolific,teeming with fishes and other marine life.While the beaches themselves are shunned ,icebergs and scattered rock outcroppings arehome to temperamental seals, flightless (andraucous) great auks, or formidable walruses.Curious, whistling cries among the ice floessounded like warbling birds, but were in factthe voices of a sociable breed of portly whitewhale. I had hoped to spy one of the bizarre'horned' whales of which Josiah Graben hadspoken, but these fanciful creatures provedfar more elusive than the vocal belugas. Idid glimpse the black-and-white forms of anorca pack, coursing just beneath the surfacewith nigh-military orderliness and menace.Nearer the isle, these cries and sightings ofsea predators petered out, and the captainadvised me to reel in my fishing-line. Heavowed I'd not catch anything desirable, ascreatures he referred to as "ice serpents" willhave devoured any catch worth having …and the seals, too. Realizing the belugas hadlikewise fallen mute as Black Pelican closedin on the bay, and imagining the likely girthof a snake that could swallow such corpulentprey, I heeded Howe's advice.Animal life is eerily absent from the cliffsor beaches, but the pine forests' driftedsnows bore tracks from a variety of wildgame. Small mammals such as lemmings,ermine, porcupine, tundra foxes, andsnowshoe hares predominated. The snaresset by crewman Miklos bagged several suchhares for the pot; the comically big-footedcreatures were still shedding tufts from theirdense winter pelts. (No doubt, they'd belosing their thin brown summer pelts for afresh covering of white, almost as soon asthe former grew in.) To large animals,unable to burrow deeply, Todstein is far lessforgiving. Small herds of spindly reindeer -cousins to the thin-blooded stock on GrabenIsland - forage on the lichens and meagershrubs, and I saw a solitary moose browsingupon the tips of conifer branches. Thesegiants made use of the same paths as us,lumbering down to the beaches to lickprecious salt from the tide-washed rocks.Mundane predators of a size to threatenmen are a rarity. Twice, our party caughtsight of snowy-furred wolves, theirdemeanor more one of diffident curiositythan of menace. Tracks of some felineSea FaunaInside Todstein's Icewalls, the frigid marine habitat is filled with arctic-sea fauna.Game statistics for several arctic animals can be found in the Frostburn game accessory.Use penguin statistics for great auks. For beluga whales, advance Monster Manualstatistics for porpoises to 6 HD, and raise their natural armor bonus to +5 due tothickened hide and blubber.For narwhals, use belugas advanced to 8 HD. Male narwhals sport tusks that increasetheir melee reach by 5 feet and inflict 2d6 piercing damage; they do double damage on acharge. Among Nocturnal Sea sailors and whalers, narwhals have a morbid reputationfor eldritch powers and calculated malice, like shadow unicorns' ill repute on land.195

Todsteincreature marked the recent traverse of astealthy lynx. Coming upon the carcass of ahalf-grown moose calf, we spotted the squat,muscular form of a wolverine, alternatelygnawing its find and warning off a thievingtundra fox. At the conclusion of our secondday's explorations, we discovered a set oftremendous paw-prints leading inland fromthe surf-line, to circle our vacant dinghybefore returning to the waves. They markedthe paces of a sea-going frost bear, perhapscome ashore after mistaking our boat for awhale carcass.Birds (at last) made an appearance:crooked-beaked crossbills, levering seedsout of pine cones; ravens, stealing tidbitsbehind the wolverine's back as it postured forthe fox; ptarmigan, as round and white assnowballs, exploding from a sheltered nookin the lee of a boulder. A snowy owl, evengrander than Father de Casteelle'smagnificent specimen, snatched a vole fromthe broad clearing at the path's end, as wearrived there. Inland, avian life wasflourishing, in frozen isolation from thedesolate basalt cliffs.As for Howe's fabled "ice serpents", we areprofoundly fortunate to have avoided directencounters with those frightening beasts. Iam convinced that they exist, nevertheless:on several occasions, we came upon curvingscale-marks where their furless bellies hasslithered over the snows, or signs that onehad burst from beneath the drifts to seize anunsuspecting reindeer calf or snow grouse. Icollected a few scraps of molted belly-scalefrom the low branches of a pine - completewith cloud-like tufts of fur at their edges -and was duly impressed by the width (nearlytwelve inches) of each band. When CaptainHowe informed me that the serpent's totalgirth was likely five times that of its bellyscales,I was even more grateful we'd neverconfronted such a monster firsthand!Aside from the infamous ice serpents -also known as "hoary death", "white-fangs",or "winter's bite"; everyone I asked seems tohave a different name for them - reptiles arewholly absent from this frigid environment.Nor are other cold-blooded organisms muchin evidence, above the surf-line: for once, Iwas spared the attentions of mosquitoes.196

EncountersTodsteinTodstein's native wildlife is sparse, and only a few species of living monsters (mostly plants ormagical beasts) maintain breeding populations on the Rock. On the other hand, exotic undead orconstructs are surprisingly commonplace, Meredoth being something of a 'collector' of oddities.Singular monsters he has brought to his home - imported, created, raised in captivity or gated inwith no way to return - can potentially crop up there, contrary to ecological expectation.These entries include marine species, as several oceanic creatures are found solely in the ring offrigid water surrounding Todstein, the rest of the Nocturnal Sea being too warm for them.Encounters: WildlifeCR 1/10: Bat MM1CR 1/6: Great Auk (use PenguinFro stats) , Raven MM1CR 1/4: Albatross Sto , Arctic fox Fro , Owl MM1 , Weasel MM1CR 1/3: Hawk MM1 , Reindeer (use caribou Fro) , Seal Fro/StoCR 1/2: Eagle MM1 , Porpoise MM1CR 1: Lynx (use leopard MM1 stats) , Wolf MM1CR 2: Bat swarm MM1 , Beluga Whale (advanced porpoise MM1 stats) , Dire Hawk MM2 , Dire Weasel MM1 ,Moose (use bisonMM1 stats) , Walrus Fro , Wolverine MM1CR 3: Dire Wolf MM1CR 4: Dire Wolverine MM1 , Megaloceros Fro , Polar Bear MM1CR 5: Orca MM1CR 6: Baleen Whale MM1CR 7: Cachalot Whale MM1 , Dire Elk MM2CR 11: Dire Polar Bear FroEncounters: MonstersCR 1/3: Skeletal Bat DoD , Crypt cat DoDCR 1/2: Snow Spider, small FroCR 1: Carcass Hound DoD , Fearweed DoDCR 2: Crimson Bones DoD , Dread Guard MM2 , Vargouille MM1CR 3: Aquatic Remnant DoD , Automaton MM2 , Bloodroot DoD , Branta Fro , Cryoskeleton,Ghast MM1 , Giant Owl MM1 , Ice Toad Fro , Ice Mephit MM1 , Jack Frost DoD ,Sahuagin Lebendtod MM1/FoSNS , Wight MM1CR 4: Athach Zombie†, Choker Boneless DoD , Dread Wight DoD , Gargoyle MM1 ,Graveyard Sludge MM5 , Mist Ferryman DoD , Serpentir MM5 , Stitched VRGWDCR 5: Arayashka DoD , Boneclaw MM3 , Mud Zombie DoD , Reaver Lebendtod DoD/FoSNS , SnowflakeOoze MM3CR 6: Athach skeleton†, Chraal MM3 , Grave Ooze DoD , Greater Dread Wight DoD , Icegaunt Fro , SeaZombie DoD , Wax Golem DoD , White Pudding Fro , White-fang FoSNS197

TodsteinCR 7: Flesh Golem MM1 , Frost Salamander MM2 , Grim Reaper DoD , Invisible Stalker MM1 ,Nimblewright MM2 , Remorhaz MM1 , Skeletal Golem FoSNSCR 8: Blackwing MM5 , Deadborn Vultures MM5 , Drowned MM3 , Living wall DoD , Mohrg MM1 ,Nethersight mastiff Mm2 , Shield Guardian MM1 , Shredstorm MM3CR 9: Ice Golem Fro , Winterspawn FroCR 10: Bone Golem DoD , Bronze Serpent MM2 , Entombed Fro , Gargoyle Golem DoD , QuickwoodDoD , Snow Golem DoD (see sidebar), Runic Guardian MM2CR 11: Alchemical Golem MM3 , Devourer MM1 , Grimweird MM3 , Juggernaut MM2 , Stone GolemMM1CR 12: Cadaver Collector MM3 , Frost Worm MM1 , Mud Golem MM3 , Night Twist MM3 , ZombieGolem DoDCR 13: Charnel Hound MM3 , Dragonflesh Golem MM2 , Iron Golem MM1 , Hangman Golem MM3 ;CR 14: Mist Golem DoD ;CR 15: Grisgol MM3 , Ice Weird Fro , Snow Weird FroCR 16: Greater Stone Golem MM1 , Tempest MM2CR 18: Chilblain FroCR 20: Ancient Night Twist MM3 ;CR 23: The Horror QtR9Variable CR: Boneless DoD , Composite Walking Dead VRGWD , Dread Elemental DoD , ElementalMM1 , Elemental Lich DoD , Frostfell Ghost Fro , Geist DoD , Ghost MM1 , Ice Beast Fro , LebendtodFoSNS , Lich MM1 , Skeleton MM1 , Storm Elemental MM3 , Spellstitched MM2 , Zombie MM1Nearly all corporeal undead on Todstein are under Meredoth's control, either as his owncreations or (in the case of liches) because he holds their phylacteries hostage. Free-willedicegaunts have been known to roam the escarpment, having risen into undeath after perishingfrom the elements, particularly the draining effects of death hail.Virtually any construct on the Rock will likewise be the necromancer's handiwork: clean-linedand efficient, with organic or statue-like affinities of design, never mechanical. Mist golems areexceptions, as such creatures sometimes arise as accidental byproducts of Meredoth's constructcraftingprojects; such enigmatic entities have been sighted haunting the beach that overlooksFogview Bay, sometimes in the company of Mist ferrymen or other breeds of Mistborn.Cryoskeletons - an idea the necromancer plagiarized from Radaga's work - are identical to thepyroskeletons of DoD, save that they retain their immunity to cold and hurl Otiluke's freezingsphere effects instead of fireball. Note that athachs (MM) are not known to be native to the Landof Mists; however, Meredoth had several such creatures' carcasses stockpiled as raw materialswhen he and his isle entered Ravenloft, and animates them as needed.Other creatures appropriate to Todstein may be found in sources such as Libris Mortis.Corporeal undead, arcane constructs, and animals or feral monsters native to arctic wilderness aresuitable for this isle. Meredoth has been experimenting with weird designs for well over acentury and he has a fondness for low-level magics, so a complete range of bizarre, unlivingcreations could hypothetically be found here, of any Challenge Rating up to the low twenties.198

Snow GolemsTodsteinAs their original inventor, Meredoth creates his snow golems through conventional arcanemeans rather than 'dark desire'. The snow golems of Todstein lack the "dread golem"template, so the effects of that template should be removed from their statistics inDenizens of Dread/Darkness.Despite the impairment to his creativity imposed by his darklordship, Meredoth recentlyrealized that the unnatural "dire weather" of Todstein provides potential raw materials forunusual variants on his golem creations. This makes the following salient abilitiesavailable to his snow golems:Acid grasp (Ex): This golem's slam attacks are delivered with fists of frozen acid. Anytarget struck by one of the snow golem's blows takes an additional 1d6 hp of acid damage.Blood touch (Ex): The golem's slam attacks are delivered with fists sculpted of poisonousblood snow. A target struck by one of the golem's attacks must pass a DC 16 Fortitudesave or suffer 1d2 points of Con damage and become nauseated for 1 round.Death-hail grip (Su): Life-draining death hailstones are embedded in this golem's hands.If a golem with this power grapples a victim, it inflicts 1d2 points of Str and Con damageevery round the grapple is maintained. A DC 16 Fortitude save averts this ability damagefor one round.Razor fists (Ex): With fists molded from razor sleet, this snow golem inflicts an extra 1d8hp slashing damage with each blow, in addition to normal bludgeoning damage. Thethreat range of its attacks also increases, as if it had the Improved Critical feat.Rusting hands (Ex): This golem's hands were sculpted out of exotic rustsnow. Its attacksaffect metal items like a rust monster's antennae; magical metal items are permitted a DC12 Reflex save to avoid destruction. Striking the snow golem does not cause metalweapons to rust.Meredoth would like to construct golems sculpted entirely of these exotic forms ofprecipitation, but his minions are still in the process of collecting the requisite rawmaterials. He hopes using supernatural snow exclusively in their creation will creategolems with even more unique powers, such as a razor-sleet golem that breathes bladebarriers instead of cones of cold.Locales of InterestThe morning after we dropped anchor inSorrow's Bay, our party set out to explore theisland, seeking out those sites marked on anold map I'd bought in Graben-town. Ourexploration party numbered five: myself,Howe, and three of his crewmen (Miklos,Oleg and Paulo), chosen for their skills andregional knowledge. Snowshoes would aidour progress, but the thick forests stillimpeded travel, so I kept our forays off theisle's trails as short and direct as possible.Graben Family TombsSituated in the largest clearing on the Rock,perhaps forty paces across, this matched pairof austere buildings was discovered in 641BC, on Lars Viggsen's second voyage here.Like those rough-chiseled steps which linkthe escarpment to the beaches below, thesestructures' origins are still undocumented.Historically-minded skalds have surmisedthey were erected by the equally-mysteriousbuilders of Kirchenheim's Black Chapel,based upon their unadorned, monochromaticdesign and lack of windows.199

TodsteinIn 675, the Graben family's then-patriarch,Ezekiel, laid claim to the empty buildings inthe name of himself and his sister, Marietta.That year, the mortal remains of MariettaGraben's son Stymar (twelve years dead, byappendicitis) were re-interred in the easterntomb. Ezekiel's second son Danar perishedwith his wife in a riding accident in 672, sothe patriarch soon had the couple's remainsmoved to the west tomb, adjacent to hisnephew's. For some six decades, deceasedGrabens from both branches of the Island'sfounding clan were laid to rest within theirrespective crypts on Todstein. This traditionended abruptly with the 737 massacre, sincewhich the founding house has buried its ownin strictest privacy on the family estate.Initial inspection revealed each tomb to bea boxlike, rectangular structure some 15'high and twenty yards long, with a set ofdouble doors that faced the center of theclearing. Both roofs were laden with driftsof snow as tall as a man. Alas, Knock failedto open the sealed doors; I'd need to returnthe next day, with spells more suited tobreaking in, to learn what secrets lay within.Paired solemn statues, their toweringforms sculpted into a rough reproduction ofheavy medieval armor, flanked the tombs'doors as 'guardians'. Like the edifices theyadorned, their material appeared to be thefinest white marble, save their carvengauntlets, which showed hints of othershades: pink for one pair of molded hands,ashy gray in another, greenish in a third, andebon flecks on white in the final effigy.Symbolic, no doubt, but of what, I hesitate toguess.The MausoleumsConstructed using transmute snow to stone and guarded by golems and complex magicallocks, Todstein's twin tombs were drawn into the Mists with their creator. Their morbidarchitecture was originally the necromancer's heavy-handed attempt at a cruel taunt to thesuperstitious, but with the Grabens' aid, he later found a way to exploit their funerealdesign.Until the debacle of 737, the lebendtod Grabens hired unsuspecting mariners to delivercorpses to their "family vaults" when Meredoth required them, claiming the stolencadavers were deceased relatives. When this strategy disastrously backfired, the darklordordered that this practice be abandoned: now, bodies for experimentation are deliveredcovertly by the Grabens themselves, and Meredoth has re-set the locking mechanisms topoison anyone who tries to manually unlock the tombs. His unliving minions areimmune to the white-fang venom of the mausoleums' needle traps, and the sea-mage hashis guardian snow golems open the doors for him.Todstein's mausoleums also serve as camouflaged entrances to two of Meredoth'spurpose-built lairs. The western structure, called Danar's Tomb after its first Graben-clanresident, provides physical access to the House of Bones under the northern end of theisland. The eastern structure, Stymar's Tomb, contains a command-triggeredteleportation circle to the Hall of Flesh, carved into the bedrock of Todstein's easternflank. Each access-route is sealed inside one of the vaults at the rear of its mausoleum,and is inaccessible without either bypassing or suffering the lock-mechanisms' venom.Corpses delivered by the Grabens are left in these niches, where the snow-crafted crypts'refrigerator-like temperatures preserve them for Meredoth's use.Further information on the mausoleums and the House of Bones appears in Ship ofHorror.200

Serpent's StaircaseNortheast of the main clearing, I'd hoped adisturbed area of forest I'd seen from aloftwould be another trail. Instead, we came ona shallow, rocky crevice in the escarpment,which deepened as we followed it towardsthe coastal cliffs. Exposed to the elements,the canyon's walls were weather-worn andcrumbling, eroded by fierce annual assaultsof thaw and ice. I could see the igneousstone pocked by ancient magma-bubbles andchannels of streaming lava. (Hadn't BrotherDossevsky mentioned "lava tubes" in suchregions, some of them large enough for asure-footed man to navigate? A future lineof investigation for young Dirac, assumingthe daft lad hasn't gotten himself killed.)At its end, a thin trickle of meltwaterflowed from the gulch into a pinched fjordon the northeast edge of the isle. We lookeddown on what the seeping water, combinedwith regular freezes, had achieved: abreathtaking "waterfall" of crystalline ice,pouring down the cliff like flowstone in acavern. Its icicle 'stalactites' and curtainsdescended a good hundred feet down, fromthe gulley's lowest point to the fjord'schurning waves. Had the skies not been asovercast as ever, I'm sure it would haveglistened like diamond.I was ruing the fact Kristoff wasn't there -if any sight would've eased his bitter distastefor wintertime scenery, this was it - whenMiklos shattered the mood, tugging my coaturgently and pointing at the ground. Therewere numerous belly-scale tracks in theexposed mud near the ice-falls' crest: proofthe fearsome "ice serpents" have been usingits spires as a ladder to and from the sea.Clambering back up the west side of thegulch to safety, I spied the largest iceberg I'dyet seen drifting past the fjord's mouth. Bigas the Maison, its interior was darklyshadowed in a shape that, from a distance,resembled a ship. I shuddered, wondering ifsome vast whale-swallowing snake might beswimming from berg to ice-falls, even now.Todstein201

TodsteinDread Possibility: Doom of the ÓndskapurHistory tells that Lars Viggsen, renowned discoverer of Todstein, and his crew perished in 644BC, when their knarr, the Óndskapur, collided with an iceberg. This is only half right. Viggsen'screw actually survived the impact, but their vessel was inextricably lodged in the gigantic floe'sflank. Unwilling to desert his beloved ship, Viggsen drove his men to try to free the Óndskapureven after their efforts had plainly proven futile.Food supplies dwindled and their limited stockpile of firewood ran out, yet Viggsen kept themchipping away at the entrapping ice with tools, daggers, or bare, frostbitten hands. Realizing thatthe captain's fanaticism was consigning them to a frozen death, the desperate crew mutinied andhurled Viggsen overboard. Only then did they discover he had chopped holes in the lifeboats, andcast all the carpentry tools into the sea, making repairs impossible. As their captain's body driftedaway, already frozen solid, the crew could have sworn his stiff features were smirking.Today the Óndskapur is still lodged within its iceberg, which has grown to encase the entireknarr in a perfect, crystalline state of preservation. Most of the vessel is ice-locked, but interiorspaces like the cabins and holds remain as open pockets within the berg. It is haunted by LarsViggsen and his crew of eighteen. The crewmen have become wraiths, hungry for the warmthand vitality of life, while the captain himself is a powerful spectre. The incorporeal sailors act outtheir old shipboard duties in perpetuity, unhindered by the ice and seemingly oblivious to whatthey have become; they will "defend their ship" with relentless determination. Viggsen is theonly man not to have died on board, and hence is the only spirit free to leave the iceberg. He isfully aware of the truth, but will stop at nothing to keep knowledge of his misdeeds from his crew… or from the living Grabenites, who still laud him as a hero.The Óndskapur's iceberg drifts in circles around Todstein, and never seems to melt. Havinglittle interest in incorporeal types of undead, Meredoth simply lets it float free as a trap fortrespassers.202

WatchpostsHeading westward along the cliff's brink, wediscovered the first of several disturbedpatches, all positioned at the escarpment'sfringes. The snow-covered glade had beencleared by human hands, and contained aramshackle sentinel's station: a one-manwatchpost perched some fifteen feet in theair, atop a stout pole. Pieces of plank werecrookedly peg-affixed to the pole, forming acrude ladder; the watch-station at the top waslittle more than a hunter's blind of bark andthatch, with a canted roof to shed snow, andcanvas flaps to cut the wind's bite. Indeed,I'd've thought it was a hunting blind - somesolitary ranger's work, perhaps - had it notfaced out to sea rather than inland.Judging by its shoddy state of repair andthe snow blanketing the sentinel's seat, it hadTodsteinnot seen use for many seasons, save perhapsby perching wildlife. It could not have stoodintact for more than a dozen-odd years - nothere, in the teeth of this sea's storms - so itmust have been constructed well after thetombs had been built, most likely after theirusage by the Grabens had ceased. As best Icould determine, every bit had been built ofcommon sailcloth or local forest materials,offering no clue as to its crafter's origins.A perplexing puzzle indeed … more so, inthat we came across a similar watchpostfarther along the cliff's rim, and Howe'sspyglass later caught sight of a third atop thepoint north of Sorrow's Bay. Whoever hadbuilt them had been busy, and determined tokeep an eye upon the waves. (A castawaywatching for rescuers, mayhap?)Secret Society: The NiflhoundsMeredoth's temporary demise and cloned resuscitation were humiliating to the darklord,who has no wish to repeat the experience. Furious at the adventurers who'd been hisundoing, yet unable to pursue them, he has spitefully taken a deferred revenge on othersof their sort, by making such "vagabond interlopers" the solution to his perennial problemof intruders. The necromancer dug into the Hall of Flesh's stockpile of fallen trespassers'corpses and rebuilt the spell-mangled cadavers, replacing body parts beyond hope ofrepair. He then converted these erstwhile "pests" into protectors, so the next adventurersto threaten his privacy will have to fight their own kind.The darklord currently maintains half-a-dozen "active duty" lebendtod adventuringparties on or around Todstein. Called "Niflhounds" in a snide reference to Grabenitetales of a frozen afterlife (Niflheim) and to their dog-like obedience, they patrol theescarpment when their master wishes not to be disturbed, and keep watch for incomingships. Tireless and immune to damage from exposure, these undead adventurers retreatinto hidden bolt-holes under the snowdrifts during the fiercest of storms, or whenMeredoth bids them let intruders pass undisturbed. Most Niflhounds are stealthyambushers, endowed with the Trackless Step salient ability; their designated leadersemploy the Mind of Many salient ability to coordinate their bands' maneuvers(VRGttWD).Currently animated Niflhound "adventuring parties" include:Aelfhounds: This all-elven band of rangers and multiclassed NPCs guards the isle's northend. A mix of Darkonians, Sithicans and outlanders, they yet work together like a welloiledmachine, methodically stalking interlopers like wild game. The seven Aelfhounds'leader is a beautiful druid who dresses in white; the wings of her albino dire batcompanion are sewn onto her back (Ghastly Wings salient ability, VRGttWD), but sheremoves them if she needs to appear 'normal'.203

TodsteinGlasishounds: These fifteen Grabenites and foreign sailors crew the pinnace Ice Biter, a magicalfolding boat. Operating from a concealed sea cave south of Fogview Bay, they maintain a façadeof gung-ho whalers. If their tales of desolation, natural hazards, and man-eating ice serpents failto discourage trespassers, the Glasishounds - experts, warriors and rogues, led by their bardic"navigator" rather than their nominal captain - send men underwater to sabotage intruders' craftfrom beneath. In a pinch, the "navigator" issues a magical summons to the Horror (QtR9).Hamhleypar: An experiment on Meredoth's part, this six-member band of barbarians, fighters andscouts (Complete Adventurer) consists entirely of undead lycanthropes. They retain theirshapechanging powers, but their ability to transmit lycanthropy has yet to be tested on the living.Most Hamhleypar are werewolves from the southern Core, but their designated leader - to thewolves' perennial disgust - is a Rokuma sorcerer and snow-tiger from the slopes of Mount Frost.The isle's southern forests are their patrol zone and hunting territory.Muspelhounds: Mid-level wizards, sorcerers and clerics comprise this team of eight, who act aslaboratory assistants and troubleshooters more than guards. They reside in Wright's Hollow andcast spells outside Meredoth's repertoire to aid his projects, while providing backup for the otherNiflhound bands. The necromancer lets this group choose its own leader, and allows its memberscertain privileges (such as the right to address him without being bidden) in recognition of theirspellcasting talents. When other Niflhounds encounter a problem they can't resolve, most contactthe Muspelhounds first, before disturbing their ill-tempered Master. This team's name refers to arealm of fire from Grabenite myth, as most are highly skilled in fire-magics.Nidhoggar: Meredoth's only guard-force of living beings, this band arose after he activated thegenie-summoning ring of another slain adventurer. The qorrashi (Frostburn 1 ) that appeared wasunable to return to its plane, and Meredoth has browbeated it into indefinite servitude. The icegeniepatrols Todstein in the deepest winter, when the weather becomes too hostile for lebendtod,escorted by a pack of trained frost salamanders (MMII 1 ) the sea-mage acquired as hatchlings.Trowhounds: A stealthy force of rangers, rogues and monks, this team of sahuagin lebendtod predateMeredoth's temporary demise, having been created nearly 80 years ago to monitor the watersaround the Rock. The ten members and their zombie shark companions usually split up to patrol,but are occasionally sent to investigate undersea activities in the guise of living sahuagin. TheTrowhounds are led by a spellcaster, but their leader, a young cleric lacking confidence in herself,usually leaves command decisions to their barnacle-encrusted chief ranger.Additional bands of dead adventurers are stored in the Hall of Flesh. Already subjected togentle repose, minor salience, and Rary's telepathic bond, they need only animate dead to rousethem 2 . Note that Meredoth automatically senses when any of his undead Niflhounds aredestroyed.1. DMs without access to these creatures' game-stats should use statistics for efreet andbehirs, converting all fire- or electricity-based powers or immunities to cold-based onesand reducing the behir's size to Large. As a Lawful Neutral outsider, the qorrashi has nophylactery or reality wrinkle.2. VRGttWD states that veil is the spell required to give lebendtod the ability to hide theirundead nature. However, illusion is one of Meredoth's prohibited schools, making veil'seffects unavailable to him by any means short of a wish. As the master of Todstein is theoriginal inventor of the lebendtod-creation process, minor salience (also from VRGttWD)is a more fitting spell to serve this purpose.204

Geographic OdditiesWhile our explorations were limited by therough terrain and perpetual dim light, wevisited several other clearings I had noticedfrom above. Most were innocuous glades orhollows, but a few proved interesting.The low-lying area south of Sorrow's Bayis an ice-locked marsh, open in patches, anddotted by squat, leafless trees with eerilytwistedlimbs. Their warped configurationreminded me of Souragne's bayou, but theirbark was a sickly indigo in hue, quite alien tothose green, healthy wetlands, and garishagainst the whites and grays of Todstein'ssnows and stone.Given the brittle ice's thinness, wehazarded only a single, brief foray into theswamp's fringes, on which I noted thatseveral of the weird trees' trunks were badlyfire-scarred. Even that short venture wasadmittedly a bit unnerving, as the sound ofthe wind amidst the twisted, bare brancheswas ghostly in the extreme. We left in somehaste, as the men were growing quite uneasy.A more appalling sight awaited us just eastof the icefall gorge, where our emergenceinto yet another clearing was heralded by thecroaks of bickering ravens. One of the greattaiga moose lay dead in the snow, forelegsand mighty chest sliced to ribbons by sharpedgedice. The "clearing" was, in truth, asmall lake, coated in thin ice and thick snow,which the animal had unwisely tried to crossin summer's thaw. Its error, and struggles toescape the frigid water, had spelt its doom.Nor was it the only creature to have fallenprey to this peril. Circumnavigation of thetreeless patch revealed numerous other pairsof antlers (moose and reindeer) jutting upfrom the snow, and the ice-encrusted bonesof a wolf that must've dragged itself ashore,only to die of exposure. The sheer numberof bones accumulated at this natural deathtrapwas disheartening: a dismal waste.One final topographical anomaly I wouldlike to report is a curious phenomenon Inoted after we returned to the Black Pelican.Captain Howe proposed we sail around theisle, to try to spot any additional watchpostsalong the cliff's edge. A veteran seaman, ITodstein205Wardens of Wright’s HollowMeredoth's largest lair, Wright's Hollow,lies beneath the frozen marsh of the nighttwists (MM III): evil sentient plantswhose morose, hypnotic songs canencompass the entire island, once rousedfrom their torpor. Kept sluggish byTodstein's chill, the range of these eviltrees' song is limited to the wetland itself,and creatures which hear their song gaina +4 circumstance bonus to Will saves toresist its effects.The necromancer maintains a grudgingtruce with these malignant plants: theyguard the entrance to Wright's Hollowand stay mute in his presence, and herefrains from having his unliving minionsburn them down to the roots. However,they are treacherous allies at best: ifintruders manage to destroy one of theirnumber, the other night twists will letthem pass unmolested into the darklord's"secure" stronghold, in hopes that they'llbe powerful enough to rid "their" islandof the cantankerous and volatile wizard.suspect he was concerned some unfortunatesoul might yet be stranded, and felt dutyboundto assist a fellow sailor in trouble. (Idid not begrudge him this sentimentality, as Ineeded to inspect Todstein's fringe myself,and his altruism afforded an excuse.)As we rounded the point to the south endof the Rock - a sheer basalt slab, quite dulland featureless - I spied something glitteringon the rock-face's surface. At first, I thoughtit was a vein of obsidian running through thedrab bedrock, but a flash of lightning fromthe south revealed the truth. There were slimlines of liquid - I cannot say "water" withcertainty, for some appeared brownish, rustcolored,even green or black - trickling downthe escarpment's side. A second flashrevealed that the rivulets did not usher fromthe cliff's rim, but seeped from crevices atvarious heights. There were at least a dozen,some little more than drips, others slow butsteady trickles, and a few gushing like fullfledgedstreams.

TodsteinThe BoneyardBefore Meredoth claimed the isle, this shallow pond posed only an intermittent hazardto wildlife, but the necromancer has put it to use as an impromptu feeding and bonecleaningstation for his Hungry Dead minions. Ghouls and their ilk are of scantinterest to the darklord - they are too unruly, too destructive of his necromantic "rawmaterials", and too prone to the biological needs he seeks to eliminate - but theirability to paralyze living experimental subjects comes in handy too often for Meredothto entirely dispense with their services.All of Todstein's Hungry Dead are lebendtod-spawned ghasts, subject to Meredoth'swill. Their claws are clipped, their jaws muzzled, to prevent "accidents" if particularlydelicate specimens must be taken alive. This bars them from using bite attacks orspreading ghoul fever, and limits their claw attacks to nonlethal damage, plusparalysis. A few of their kind have been modified to carry out specialized duties. Thecurrent leader of the pack, Ichabod Graben (CE male ghast Rog4/Ftr2), has theMemory Drain salient ability (VRGttWD), and Meredoth has used his power to extractinformation from so many devoured corpses that this debased, half-mad creature is aswell-informed about current events around the Nocturnal Sea as his despised UncleColin.As the ghasts' Cravings cannot be trusted near his research supplies, Meredoth cagesthem in a secure, isolated annex of the Hall of Flesh until needed, then turns themloose in the "Boneyard" to gorge on animal carcasses and any cadavers he needsstripped down to skeletons. This lets him sate their grisly appetites before he deploysthem against experimental subjects, and averts their inconvenient habit of eating oneanother if not fed.My experiences on Île de la Tempête hadnot curbed my interest in spelunking, and theoutflow I beheld offered proof that lavatubes do, indeed, lie below Todstein's frozensurface. However, I could discern no sign ofan opening large enough to enter: the liquidbubbled forth through tiny cracks, and theirconstant outflow would hamper exploration,even if a wider passage was found. Anyfurther study of these springs - most likelymelt-water from the escarpment high above,interestingly discolored by minerals in therock - would have to await a colder season,when their channels lay dry and empty.Once Black Pelican swung around to thefar side of the island - the shadowed face ofthe escarpment, so late in the day - evenHowe had to concede that his search wasfutile. Rather than risk dropping anchor inFogview Bay, in uneasy proximity to the206Mists, the captain ordered a return to thefamiliar anchorage of Sorrow's Bay for thenight.The crew seemed grateful, for all that ourday's foray ashore hadn't been a particularlydangerous one. Indeed, the beaming Paulochattered enthusiastically of how confidenthe was I'd find a way into the strange tombstomorrow. Not wishing to disappoint such anavid pupil, I bookmarked the page of mytraveling grimoire which bore the passwallspell. Come the morning, I'll ready it twiceover. Hopefully, I'll soon discover for whatpurpose the tombs' mysterious builders haderected the twin crypts, before the Grabenstook possession. For now, my evening hasprovided time to document my discoveries,my cabin's reading-lamp dutifully refreshedby our eager young lookout.

TodsteinArcane PollutantsThough infamous for his necromantic work, Meredoth is also a devoted crafter ofmagic items and constructs. Wright's Hollow, the sea-mage's largest and mostheavily-secured lair, houses his forge and his alchemical and mechanicalworkshops, as well as dozens of works-in-progress he has yet to imbue with power.Its facilities generate a considerable amount of waste, which he allows to draindown disused lava-tubes and into the sea.While most realms within Ravenloft are too magic-poor to generate arcanepollutants, like alchemical fogs and necrotic miasmas from Cityscape, Meredoth'svile researches could well produce such effects, potentially contaminating shipssailing past below. A cesspit ooze could congeal from such arcane residues andTodstein's ambient evil. Sea creatures that swim in or breathe the eldritch sludgemight spontaneously (de-)evolve into broken ones, become homicidally violent, oracquire the pseudonatural template. Ships passing through a slick of this residuemight suddenly become animated objects with a malign intelligence, or fade to anethereal state with no way to return.Sacre bleu, what a fool I was.Right under my nose, by the Watchers!Now, looking back, I could swear that the monster-hunting text which BrotherBuchvold salvaged last October even mentions the possibility…Stop it, Viktor. What's done is done, and regret solves nothing.Tell it now - every last outrage - and get the fury out of your system. Hasty retaliationmakes for a poor revenge: you'll have your chancse.(Brothers, at this point I must break from the formal summary of discoveries and roughrelation of events. I feel the following events are best described in greater detail, and prayyou excuse the shift in style.)207

TodsteinIt was snowing heavily the next morning,scuttling Howe's plans to continue searchingfor the possible castaway. He might haverisked it anyway, but Paulo pointed out thathe could not reliably spot the ice floes undersuch conditions. Regretfully, Howe offeredto accompany my party back to the tombs,hoping that the watchpost-builder might yetrendezvous with us on shore. I admired hisdetermination to rescue a fellow-seaman -one who might not even exist - and wasdoubly glad I'd never mentioned Monette tothe captain.The clamber up the path's switchbackswas difficult in snow, even with spider climband my escorts' experience in ships' rigging.Under cover of snow, one of the notorious"white-fangs" might easily have drawn near,to ambush our little band; still, the easyouting of yesterday had left us complacent,and both Paulo and Miklos were particularlyanimated: the former, eager to explore thetombs; the latter, to discover what his snareshad trapped overnight. Careless or not, wereached the Graben tombs unmolested.Miklos gathered three hares from trapsalong the way; at the clearing, he brushedsnow from an old tree stump as a seat andbegan skinning them for our lunch. Howeturned up his collar to ward off the fallingflakes, rubbing his hands and glowering atthe inhospitable skies; he, too, had no tastefor historical research. Oleg was showing208signs of anxiety - by his build andcomplexion, some of his ancestors owedtheir lands to the Grabens' hospitality - butglumly kept any reservations about ouractivities to himself. Paulo had no suchconcerns, but set gamely to work, shovingthe loose snow away from the nearer of thetwin mausoleums, Danar's Tomb, to give usclear access. He chattered non-stop about"hidden treasure" the tomb's buildersmight've left there, unlikely though it seemedthat the Grabens could have failed to unearthany such find.I advised Oleg to keep an eye on the fourstatues and waved young Paulo aside, shedmy gloves for spellcasting, then examinedthe edifice's walls in greater detail than onour first visit. Once surface flecks of snowand frost were brushed away, I saw that itwas not marble at all, but something lighterand more porous: colder than the air, roughto the touch, too shimmering and granular tobe stone. An explanation lay all around us,confirmed by a hasty divination: the vaultwas imbued with transmuting energies, akinto that of spell-petrified mud. Some arcanehand had formed the tombs from fused andhardened snow, not rock … and a powerfulhand it must have been, as well, to squanderso much precious magic on architecture!As intrigued as Paulo now, I cast my spellto open a passage through the artificial stone.My fingers tingled - perhaps because thewall was magical stone, or perhaps becauseits creator was plainly formidable - but not toan uncomfortable degree. The un-stone feltas cold as the flakes it was made from, andmy palms' warmth melted its thick coat offrost, before it drew aside.Rousing Paulo from his daydreams, I bidthe lad precede me into the narrow interior.Our whale-oil lamp revealed a row of sealedvaults, bearing symbols encrusted by similarrimes of frost. These symbols were neitherGrabenite script, nor runes such as I saw inGraben-town, but pictograms of stylized andunfamiliar design: a sunburst, a snowflake, apine tree, others. Brushing or scraping frostfrom the symbols proved futile, but the heatof my bared palm slowly melted away theobscuring crust. Paulo drew closer to peer

over my shoulder, and reached out, as if toadd his hand's warmth to that of my own.It took only seconds for me to realize thatthe young lookout's touch was not meltingthe frost at all, but by then, the lad's otherarm had snaked round me from behind, palmclamped over my mouth.Panicked instinct took over. Tooblindsided even to boggle at treachery fromsuch an improbable quarter, I smacked theoil lamp against my attacker's brow. Paulo'shold did not break, but his grip upon mymouth loosened. Pushing off the wall, Istaggered backward and let the lamp drop,frantically incanting one of my mostpracticed spells. Unable to aim, I squeezedshut my eyes and unleashed the spray ofrainbow light straight into both our faces. Isaw a flash of brilliant red through myeyelids. My assailant's grip - strong, toostrong for a growing youth's frame - still didnot yield, but the hand that strove to seal mymouth anew began groping clumsily, as theother snatched ineffectually at air. Notstunned, then, but blinded.The fallen lamp extinguished and spotsstill dancing before my eyes, I could barelymake out the entrance myself. Paulo stillclinging to my back, I staggered toward it;stumbling, I jolted my shoulder against thetemporary portal's edge. Taking advantage, Iadjusted my angle and did it again, lurchingto ram the lookout's skull into the wall.Blinded to the threat, he did not know toduck, and he yelped aloud at the impact. Ifelt his weight slide off of me, his clutchinghand tugging at my collar, then feltsomething give as his body slumped heavilyto the crypt floor. My moment's elation atfreeing myself from his grip, alas, was shortlived.When I burst out of the tomb, I discoveredthe clearing was surrounded … by the dead.Skeletons - dozens, scores of them! - nowencircled the paired mausoleums, eitherTodsteinemerged silently from the wood or arisenfrom beneath concealing shrouds of snow.Some were armored, or bore ill-tended, yetdeadly weapons; most were naked, the ivoryof their bones hard to distinguish from thewhiteness of the snowdrifts. A few glitteredbeneath form-fitting sheaths of ice, crackedand splintering around the joints. Humanremains predominated, but here and there Ispotted the sturdier frames of dwarves, thebird-frail armatures of elves, the asymmetricskulls and limbs of calibans.At first glance, the morbid tableau seemedquiescent - the only motion, that of fallingsnowflakes - as if their skeletal frames werenot animate at all, but props in a grotesquediorama. Then I heard a sailor's shout, andturned to see Captain Howe, hemmed in onall sides by their undead ranks. Miklos,skinning-blade brandished like an Invidianknife-fighter's, was rushing to his superior'sside. I've no idea what use he'd thought acommon knife could ever be against suchabominations, but the sailor never even hadthe chance to try.The voice, now that I think back upon it,was not very imposing at all: an old man'swhining wheeze. But something dark in thespeaker's words seared my ears with bile. Isaw Miklos' steps falter, his legs and armscontorted and straining against stiffness, as ifrigor had claimed them in an instant. Hishead was thrown back, to shoot a nightmarelook at the sky, as a mirthless, rictus grimacespread across suntanned features suddenlyblanched pale as paper. The seaman's formjerked once, twice, then collapsed full lengthinto the snow. His neck was wrenched toturn toward me by the fall, features affixed indeath before he'd landed. One open eye layhalf-buried in snow, the other - widened inpain and incomprehension - showed tinytrickles of blood at the corners, vessels burstby an unspeakable utterance that had snuffedout his life like a candle.209

TodsteinNecromancy! By themselves, theskeletons could have been some age-oldprotection for the tombs, but Miklos' demisehad been no mindless bones' handiwork. AsCaptain Howe bellowed in outrage, I whirledto look behind me, whence the killing wordshad sounded. For a fleeting, wrenchingmoment, I feared I would behold the Traitorstanding there; but no. A figure cloaked inthe colors of midnight - stooped, yet still fartoo tall for Van Rijn - stood above us on theroof of Danar's Tomb, one hand extendedtoward Miklos' fallen corpse in a clenchinggesture. The murderer's frost-pale beard andbent posture bespoke great age, yet heperched with an airy ease upon snow too softto bear a man's weight. His face washooded, his features obscured from sight.Another, moaning voice drew my attentionto where I'd left Oleg, to keep watch over thestatues. Watchful or not, the stalwartdeckhand had been seized from behind byone of those statues - correction, golems -and now dangled in the air, wrists grasped in210the construct's ash-gray hands. Oleg's pale,wide eyes were fixed on the cloaked figureatop the mausoleum's roof. Not until hourslater would I recognize the gasped Grabeniteword he'd spoken: "Jackdaw…"Whether legendary ill-omen or degeneratecarcass-caller, he was plainly more than Icould handle. I'd selected my day's magicsfor archaeology, not battle! I began softlyuttering an invisibility spell, sorry I'd neverlearned the Traitor's trick of invoking spellsin silence.As I began incanting, a clinging presence -dimly felt since I had slipped the lookout'sclutches - sprang into unnatural movement.The crawling thing clambered up my coatcollar,thrusting hook-curled digits into mymouth. Sputtering and spitting, my half-castspell disrupted, I reeled away from Danar'sTomb, seized the scrabbling monstrosity andhurled it into a snowdrift. It was Paulo'shand: torn loose when I broke free, yet stillreplete with unnatural vigor and malice!

Even as I cast the vile appendage aside, itsowner emerged from the mausoleum: Paulo,yet no longer Paulo. Whatever illusion hadveiled his state must have shattered, when Idashed his brains against the crypt's wall.Now, the junior seaman's flesh showed themottled marks of three days' decay; it hadn'tbeen the arms of some Grabenite beauty hehad lain in, on furlough, but a shallow grave.His hand was gone, of course, and his vacanteyes showed flash-burns from my spell. Yetneither death nor blindness slowed the lad'sapproach. Hideously, he still walked withthe same carefree gait, and his withered lipsparted in a familiar, gap-toothed grin.It was unbearable. I'm a philosophyprofessor, not some damn-fool adventurer! Ahalf-recalled fact penetrated my swellingfear, and I recalled one of the few defensivespells in my repertoire. I cast it in haste as Ibacked away from Paulo, then turned andfled. Sure enough, my dim memory of theconstructs' traits was true: as I dashed pastthe golem, a wave of killing frost gushed outfrom its sculpted helm. My protective spellflared to life, and a shielding screen of violetflame sprang into being around me, catchingenough of the frigid blast that I emerged,chilled but alive.Alas, its protection would not be enoughfor the other three statues. I skidded to ahalt, boxed in by the first golem'scounterparts. Nor was flying an option; evenif I could elude the constructs' breath, theirmaster's killing spells could smite me fromthe sky.Seeing but one avenue of escape, I readieda desperate spell to incapacitate the hostilemage. It was a gamble, but if I succeeded,his servants might fall inert, letting us slipaway to the Black Pelican. The dark-robeddeath-dealer had descended from the roof tostand at lifeless Miklos' side, gazing mutelydown at the body as if expecting it to move(ghastly thought!). With the tip of a long,spiral-carven staff, he poked at our trapper'sremains, with the precise, clinical manner offorensic inquiry.Paulo's corpse was nearly upon me now,but I finished the spell in time. Yet even as Ihurled it, its seemingly-preoccupied targetTodstein211paused, spun round … and caught my spell,even as a child might catch a toy ball! Hiscrabbed hand snatched the arcane energiesfrom the air, claw-like fingers curled intoconfigurations of arcane significance. Itwasn't any spell I'd seen or even heard of,though his gesture was vaguely reminiscentof dispelling. For an instant, I could almostsee my enchantment writhing in his grasp, ashe held its energies captive for inspection.Then, the wretch snorted contemptuously,and threw it back at me.Were I not versed in the Fraternity's mentaldefenses, I have no doubt that Brother Dirac(wherever that laggard ran off to) would bewriting this report, as I drooled witlessly insome abominable sanitarium! As it was, Ifelt a haze of vacuous fuzziness wash acrossme, smothering my intellect, but only for afew seconds. Drawing upon all my trainingas an Esteemed Brother, I fought my waythrough the dull clouds and successfully reassertedthe primacy of the mind over all.Cogito ergo creo, Brothers… or, in this case,cogito ergo cogito.Reviving, I realized that I lay supine uponthe snow, and that the dark form of Miklos'killer now stood over me. Having reclaimedmy wits, I heeded their advice and did notreact to his proximity, but let my eyes driftaimlessly, feigning lax idiocy. The strangewizard poked me with his staff, prodding mewith the same inquisitive coldness as he had,Miklos' corpse. I dared not let my gaze riseto his face, but I did glimpse the edge of theman's robe: the finest night-black silk, hemsembroidered in a pattern of crashing wavesand storm clouds - their motif, similar to thesymbols from the mausoleum's vaults - aswell as exotic, flowing script in some whollyunfamiliar language, and ominous mysticalsigils of great potency. Not Hazlani or Akiriin style, by any means, yet something in theembroidered markings seemed evocative of asimilar antique sophistication and arcaneascendancy … to say nothing of pride, orperhaps hubris.Despite its grandeur, the old man's silkenrobe was stained and rumpled, in dire needof a wash.

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The murderer snorted disdainfully again,and straightened, shifting the staff to his lefthand. Sneaking a direct glance, I saw thatthe latter was crowned by a serpentine headthat seemed to fix its carven ivory gaze uponme. Startled, I forced my eyes to go blearyand unfocused, even as the clatter of boneapproached. Skeletal hands unfastened mycoat and patted down my body from collar toboots. They lengthily probed at the largewaistcoat-pocket where I normally carriedmy traveling grimoire (currently aboard theBlack Pelican); implications of this pointedsearch were starting to dawn, when the agednecromancer sharply snapped his fingers.The golem holding Oleg lumberedforward, and I was hauled to my feet. Otherwalking bones dragged Howe to join us; thecaptain offered no resistance, still gazing innumbed disbelief at Paulo. The lad hadregained his sight and dug his hand out of thesnowdrift. Whistling through bloodless lips,he strove clumsily to fit the appendage backin place. The dark mage's wave beckonedone of the skeletons forward, sheddingfragments of ice from its encrusted limbs. Itstopped beside Howe, lifted up its foot as theother undead bent the captain's leg into thesame position. Their master peered fromfleshed limb to skeletal, shook his headdismissively, then snapped his fingers again.I could view the long, ragged nails of hisfrost-pale hand more clearly this time,stained by alchemical residue and tinted asickly lavender hue.The skeleton - a rather tall human one -clattered to the golem's side, and Oleg wentTodsteinwild in the construct's grasp, kicking andcursing a sailor's polyglot buffet of oaths.The death-mage snorted again, and hooked afinger at another of the golems; it lurchedforward and laid its sculpted hand on Oleg'sarm. The sailor howled in horror, then wentlimp in the golem's grasp. The tall skeletonstepped near, holding its leg beside Oleg'sfor the murderous wizard's inspection.Brothers, I must confess that my dawningrealization that the corpse-herd was testingour body proportions against the skeleton's -verifying which of our physiques was theright size for some ghastly necromanticpurpose! - proved too much for my harriednerves. I abandoned my pretense of idiocy,twisted from the skeletons' grasp, and racedfor the tree line, heedless of what foul spellsmight yet be flung in pursuit. I am not Erik: Iwould not forfeit life for any such vile"resurrection", without struggle.A hideous stench - worse even than Paulo'sunveiled rot - stole the breath from me as Iran, and I stumbled before ever reaching theclearing's edge. Another figure, rag-clad andrusty-stained, pounced on me from the roofof Danar's Tomb. The last things I saw werePaulo's body, his lost hand reattached,retrieving Miklos' hares from behind the oldstump with a boyish grin - a last, ludicrousgift of flesh, for the lookout's new master -and the gray-skinned, muzzled features ofmy final attacker, whose feral touch stolemotion from my muscles even as its fist'simpact struck consciousness from my being.Graben features…213

TodsteinIf Oleg's Ascended gods ever did exist,they had deserted him. It was he who wasmissing, when Howe and I regainedconsciousness on board the Black Pelican.It could have been worse. The poisonPaulo had slipped into the galley stewpot,before we five set off, could have beenlethal. The necromancer's minions couldhave left the crew to freeze where they fell,rather than confining them within the shelterof the ship's hold. But, recalling poor Oleg'sdesperate struggles, I cannot believe thatmercy had been the slightest factor in why"Aegir's Jackdaw" had spared their lives.Todstein's master (for who could dispute thatnow?) had a purpose for them, as well.He must have known I could not fly all theway to Graben Island on my own.When I awoke - still clad in my hikingclothes, but lying on my own cot - mycarefully hidden papers had been scatteredabout the compartment, with no sign thattheir security-wards had ever activated.Slim, curved fragments of ice, like those thenecromancer's skeletal minions had shed,bespoke of why my poisons had failed toprotect the documents: bony hands had rifledmy things at the murderer's bidding. Mynotes on Liffe, Île de la Tempête, andGraben Island had been thoroughlyexamined, as had my personalcorrespondence with Anthony and theothers.Worse yet, my copy of the Oathes andCompacts - the very copy entrusted to me atmy initiation, by Father von Lovenhorst'sown hands! - lay opened upon the floor.Granted, it offered only the merest tyro'sperspective on our philosophy, beingcouched for Initiates' eyes; even so, Idreaded to think what disciplinary actionwould await me, for such an egregiousbreach of secrecy. At least my Fraternityring was still in place. My travelinggrimoire, alas, was not so fortunate: when Idug it out of the scattered papers, nearly halfthe contents were missing.Flipping through the ragged pages, I feltmy teeth grinding in outrage. Butchery!That wretched corpse-caller'd not evenbothered to clip the spells from their214bindings, he'd just torn them loose by thehandful! Mockingly, he'd left the illusionspellsin place: a brazen insult to my favoredschool, if not the Fraternity itself, that he'ddeem them not worth stealing. And the facthe'd left me any magic at all made it plain hethought me powerless to retaliate for thisviolation.Fuming, I drew my spectacles from mywaistcoat to peruse the damage and see whatmight yet be salvaged from this calamity. Idonned the tinted lenses....Soaring on air, miles high, amidsttremendous drifting masses of levitatingrock, each great floating monolith crownedwith ornate mansions, towers, gardens...Rugged snowscapes glittering undersapphire skies, across which a liquid ribbonof fire arched impossibly from peak to peak,between smoldering twin volcanoes…Banner-draped vessels, bows engravedwith the proud crests of noble houses andcarven into the likeness of fantastic beasts,gliding like swallows in an aerial regatta…The brightly-shimmering curve, glimpsedgreenly through seawater, of a crystallinedome enclosing a city of men, built farbeneath the waves…An open-air arena overlooking a vastsphere of scintillating force, within whichtwo figures in flowing robes hurled fire andthunder at one another in lethal contention…Another city, vast enough to swallow Ponta-Museauin but a single neighborhood,streets arrayed like the facet-lines of a jewel,its grand vistas a-swirl with flying carpets,chained elementals, architecturalimpossibilities and works of arcaneartifice…A tiered assembly-hall, its very airsaturated with concentrated power, in whichdozens of stately, self-important men andwomen sat in sober council, each clad in theornate robes of an arcane master, ashundreds of additional seats stood vacant,awaiting further arrivals…An orb of blues and greens and wispywhites - could it be a world, as they existbeyond the Mists? - shattering like blown

glass, coruscating magma glowing redlyalong gaping fracture-lines, till its fragmentssplit asunder to drift outward in silencethrough the star-flecked depths of anunfathomable black void…And all along, as visions of unboundmagic's wonders and terrors unfolded, thegrating voice of Miklos' killer jeered in mymind:Call yourselves "wizards", do you?'Esteemed Brother', yet? HAH!Cringing cowards, the lot of you, hidingyour power from ignorant drudges whorightly should BEG to lick your boots!Aping science in your practices, of allfool things: are you ASHAMED of yourmagic?Look upon MY world, dabbler, andbehold how arcane might TRULY rules!Not craven conspiracies lurking inshadow, but POWER! Not wheedlingschemers' paltry dreams of usurpation,but CONQUEST! A real wizard doesn'tlet reality frighten him away from truepower, he frightens REALITY intoheeding his bidding! The power tobend worlds, to own them, to destroythem, is his to TAKE, not covet inimpotent envy.So timid a will does not deservemagic's full bounty. I have relieved youof what you never earned, pretender;flimsy spells of falsehood are all youdeserve to keep.Tell your spineless masters yourturncoat "friend" is not here. If he were,rest assured that I would have leashedhim by now: he, at least, had the courageto seek power worthy of a mage's effort,and might have made a useful tool.The dead of Nebligtode do as they'retold. The living emulate or join them.Todstein215Learn from their wisdom, mageling …andLEAVEMEALONE!!!And with that final, shrieking insult, andthat cataclysmic image of a world fracturinglike crystal, my mind and senses became myown again … and the paired, tinted lenses ofmy spectacles and the signet-etched silverbuttons of my waistcoat burst, as one, intodust.Such is the message of Nebligtode'smaster. (Nebligtode? An old word, by whichthe Grabenites called their Mist-boundstretch of land and sea before it joined theCore.) It is not for me to judge the wisdomof our Fraternity's leaving that loathsomewretch to his solitude, but I for one believehis claim that Van Rijn is not to be found inthese waters. Not because I dispute hiscapacity for treachery or deceit - Pauloproved that, all too well - but because heplainly thinks far too little of myself or ourbrotherhood to be bothered with any suchpretense.To that one, we were either messengers, ormeat. Better, I think, to bear the message.If there is any mercy to be had, in a worldbeneath the Watchers' scrutiny, Oleg is deadnow. And frustrating though it may be, Irealize now that there is nothing I can do toavenge him. Not even armed with mystrongest spells could I challenge such aformidable foe, and returning to his islewould spell my end at best, if not somehideous new existence. Even revealing hispresence to the inhabitants of Graben Islandwould accomplish little more than to spreaduseless panic: if our assailant was indeed"Aegir's Jackdaw", he has seen fit neither tofacilitate relations with the living Grabenites,nor to quash rumors of his visitations.Hence, he cannot fear their hostility, anymore than mine.Nothing to be done to even the score, be itfor Howe's men or myself.Save, perhaps, one small thing….

TodsteinNote to self:Place an order for twelve (12) bottles ofChateaufaux '11 - the red, not the white - to bedelivered to La Maison Soulombre, thenshipped out again to Mr. Josiah Graben atGraben Manor, care of "Peter Ash". Also,write to Ambrose and tell him to leave off feedingthose black widow spiders in my terrarium, while heawaits the wine's delivery: the more irritable theyare when he encloses them in the wine-crate'spacking straw, the better.And also, come to think of it, ask Anthony ifhe might spare a dozen vials of that holy water healways keeps stashed about the place. Fool meonce…216

Todstein217

The Drowning Deep

By Viktor Hazan, Early October 760I am writing these lines from the Sailor’sHearth Inn in Egertus. I have been in NovaVaasa for the last six weeks now. Myemotions during those weeks have variedfrom awe to horror. First, I am filled withsadness to announce that I fear Brother PaulDirac is now lost forever at sea. Second, Idiscovered with excitement and renewedhorror that a new and unexpected chaptermust be added to this report. There is more tothe Nocturnal Sea than is usuallybelieved—much more, in fact, if this newevidence is eventually found to be correct.I now regret the harsh words I wrote aboutDirac in an earlier section of this report. Howcould I know then where Dirac was, and withwhom? What Paul went through is simplynightmarish.But without getting too lengthy oremotional, I will try to recap for the readersthe past month’s surprising events. As Iwrote earlier, at the end of August, I receiveda sending message from MasterShadowcloak. He informed me that he toohad lost all contact with Dirac. So, as youknow, I took the decision to embark totreacherous Todstein after covering GrabenIsland. Now again, if the ice wizard ofTodstein could slowly rot in loneliness andoblivion…but that chapter of my life is now– thankfully – behind me.Leaving Todstein, the mood on board wasgrim, and I killed time by helping the sailor’swork, as their burden of more work becauseof their missing comrades was made evenheavier by their grief.Captain Howe had to make one final stopat Graben-town, for a sail that was left therefor repair. It wasn’t ready when we had toleave for Todstein, and Howe needed toreturn to Graben-town for an hour or two toget it. I didn’t mind this last stop there as Ithought it would give me the chance to drinka last native lager at the Black Sheep Inn – Ineeded it – and see the people of Grabentownone quick last time for this survey. Iwas also curious to see if I would be spiedupon while in Graben-Town, as I suspected.The Drowning Deep219But as we approached Graben-town, wefound Dirac clinging to a rock near theharbor! Howe noticed a movement on therocks and saw an unfortunate man on one ofthem, and brought the Black Pelican about torescue him. I’ve told him more than oncethat being courageous and chivalrous willsomeday lead him to disaster. But I’m gladhe did this time, having found out thestranded man was Dirac. Howe swore healso saw black, glossy shapes in the wateraround Dirac’s rock, which he said wasprobably seals. (I’m now inclined to believethese shapes were something else.) And, forthe record, I think I also have an idea as towhy the sail was to be ready only after ourreturn from Todstein.Brother Dirac was near unconsciousness,his cold fingers gripping feebly to the rock.He would not have waited for us muchlonger there. When the crew retrieved himfrom his rocky shelter, I didn’t recognize ourBrother at first: his face and limbs werebloated as if his body spent a very long timein the water. His eyes were opened but hedidn’t show any other facial expression. Infact, he seemed close to being catatonic.But when his eyes fell on me, I identifiedhim at once. For the first time since he cameon board, his expression changed as his eyesnarrowed on me, in recognition. I shivered asthen he let out a horrible madman’s laughter.I noticed the crew was afraid of him. It’snever a good omen to have a fool on board.But before they made any gruesome decisionabout the rescued man, I asked Howe to seethat Dirac be carried below and cloaked inwarm blankets. He immediately felt asleep,sleeping very profoundly. He was totallyoblivious to the room’s activity and ourconversation didn’t prevent him fromresting. While I was checking his clothes andpockets for clues to this new mystery, Inoticed he was breathing very strangely,filling his lungs to the maximum and holdinghis breath as long as he could, then exhalingand filling his lungs again.His pockets were empty, except a fewpersonal items and a notebook in a waterresistant pouch. All but the first pages wereripped off the book by clawed hands whichhad made deep marks on the book cover. I

The Drowning Deepcould identify Dirac’s writing at a glance.The pages contained preliminary notes onTodstein, gathered from his stay in Grabentownand from other literary sources (thepreliminary notes were quite accurate, by theway), and normal traveling notes – his lastentry was when he left Graben Town forTodstein on the Valiant Explorer boat onAugust the 25 th .In his preliminary notes, I found somethingDirac heard in the Graben Island streets.That threatening tale is probably one of thecharming ploys from that old carcass of awizard skulking in Todstein to make sure heis left alone.Howe and his crew came back with therepaired sail, and the Black Pelican left foran unplanned mainland destination: Egertus.The trip was uneventful, but Dirac had a fewhysterical crises and had to be tied up for hisown safety. During the entire trip, he didn’tsay a word. When not in a crisis of fear, hisface and gaze showed impressive calm (orresignation).220

We treated Dirac as we best as we couldduring the trip to Egertus. His body wasweak, and he ate little; he was often shakingfrom cold, and his left shoulder showednasty claw marks, like those made by a largeand angry sea cat. That wound quicklybecamed infected and took on an uglypurplish color, and I didn’t like the way itlooked.In Egertus, I left Howe and sincerelythanked him for his excellent services. Ourparting was full of grief, as we looked ateach other’s eyes in silence, and then wishedeach other the best of fortune. I wanted to tellhim about young Paulo, how terribly sorry Iwas, but I wasn’t sure how the old Captainwould react. He then told me he would try tolocate Captain Arberlsson of the ValiantExplorer and talk with him, to learn moreabout Dirac’s fate. I thanked him for hisefforts. After shaking hands, we agreed to alater rendez-vous later this year to carry meback to Souragne, or elsewhere.I needed at least a month to have Dirac putin a clinic for mentally ill people and tofollow his treatment, so I admitted BrotherDirac to the clinic of Dr. Gunnar Illhousen(nephew to the famed Dr. GregorianIllhousen). The young Dr. Illhousen built hisown establishment in the shadows of hisuncle’s former clinic, now abandoned sincethe strange disappearance of staff andpatients.Dr. Illhousen treated Dirac with the besttechniques, some new, as well as the triedand tested ones. By that, I mean that hewasn’t “treating” his patients withtrepanning or other ice-pick butchery, butused observations of the patients, as well ascalming drugs and hypnosis. I also testedDirac with a variety of detection spells: hedidn’t appear charmed or controlled at thetime. But, oddly, Detect Thoughts nevergave any result: it seems his mind wasblocked by something. I hoped Dr. Illhousenwould be able to unlock and access his mind.While Dirac was treated, I renewedfriendship with Mayor Kaia Bolshnik, agraceful woman I haven’t seen for a while. Itwas a pleasure to frequent her home againfor this period of time. Among other things, IThe Drowning Deep221have to thank her as she completed theinformation on piracy I used in the secondInterlude of this report.Also, during this wait, I received all thenotes on Vechor and Isle of Ravens thatDirac sent to Master Shadowcloak before hisvanishing. I’m very grateful MasterShadowcloak also added a copy of a fewspells that were borrowed from my travelingspellbook, as you know. Still, I feel nakedwithout all my spells, and I’m looking to getback to Souragne to recover my completespellbook.Meanwhile, I also completed my notes forthis report and checked on Dirac’sconditions every day, and met him a fewtimes per week in his cell. Nothing couldinduce him to talk about what happened tohim before we found him, or simply to makehim his old self. He spent his days mute,calmly waiting in his cell, looking outthrough the barred window, or seatedappearing to think sternly about something.But he never opened up to any of the stimulior suggestions we tried with him. Nothing ofhis past life seemed to make him talk or openhis mind to us. He had a few anxiety crises atnight when he first arrived at the clinic, butthis phenomenon stopped after a few days.He ate and drank normally, except fish,which he didn’t touch.Dr. Illhousen worked hard on Dirac’s caseand hired a very competent nurse whileDirac was treated. Her first name is Lucretia(alas, now I realize I forgot to ask for her lastname!). She was a foreign beauty whoseemed somehow familiar to me, but whoseorigins I found very difficult to pinpoint. Shesaid she was from Liffe and worked in themain hospital of Armeikos. Dr. Illhousensaid her knowledge of healing wounds andnormal illness was stunning, and her firstdiagnosis of some of the patients wasaccurate. Her patients’ physical recoverywas swift, so she and the doctor made a greatteam. When I met Nurse Lucretia, sheseemed to me a little aloof, but indeed verybrilliant. I have to say I found reassuring thatshe became interested of Dirac’s case assoon as she heard of it by Dr. Illhousen. Shespent a lot of time tirelessly trying to helpDirac recover from his feebleness, and to

The Drowning Deeptreat the deep claw marks on his shoulder,which healed slowly.I wasn’t there the night when the finalcrisis occurred. Dr. Illhousen told me hesuddenly demanded a pen and paper. It waslate at night. He quickly supplied Dirac witha small pen, safe for himself should hebecome self-destructive, and an amplesupply of paper. The good doctor thoughtDirac was going to draw things, as many ofhis patients do, but to the clinician’s surprise,he started writing feverishly. From thatmoment he got what he requested, he didn’tanswer to any of the Doctor’s questions,except a quick nod when Illhousen askedhim not to destroy what he wrote. Thisreassured the clinician Dirac was at lastemerging from his aphasic state.It was late at night, so Illhousen went tobed, expecting results with Dirac for the nextday. The night warden was to frequently passin front of his cell to watch him. This mansaid Dirac wrote energetically for aboutthree hours, never stopping for anything.Then, when he passed the last time, about 2A.M., he found Dirac’s barred windowbroken, and our friend gone. I’d like to note Ido not believe that the physical feat ofbreaking the bars was something Dirac couldhave done alone; I suggest the possibility hemay have gotten outside help. (I won’t guessfrom whom he might have gotten it for themoment.) A pile of paper was neatly placedon his bed, with the pen on it. The wardenlooked outside, but no trace of Dirac wasfound.Dr. Illhousen was awakened, and he askedthe warden to fetch me at the Sailor’s HearthInn. We searched for Dirac through thesleeping town, accompanied by town guards;we didn’t see the escapee, but eventuallyfound someone who saw him. A sailor whohad awakened early to mend his nets at theport told us that he saw someone hedescribed as a “young foreign gentlemandressed in good dark clothes” appear on thequay, walking quickly and steadily towardthe sea. Before the sailor could speak or act,the young man walked into the sea, neitherslowing nor staying as the waters closed overhis head. On our showing him a sketch ofDirac, he was certain that he was the young222man he had seen. We searched the harbor insmall boats, but found nothing.That sailor is in fact the last person to haveseen Dirac. I stayed in Egertus for anothertwo weeks while there was a search, but fornothing. Dirac wasn’t seen again, and hisbody never found. If he is dead, I fancy hissoul to be resting in peace, but now I fear theworst for him.I spent these days in wait by reading whatDirac had written during the last night in hiscell. I had to use many ComprehendLanguage spells, as what he wrote was in alanguage alien to me, or to anybody Ishowed it too, and at first seemed completelywithout sense. Even the alphabet is likenothing I have seen in any other place.Also, when she had the time, NurseLucretia often helped me in deciphering thewriting, and reviewing what I hadinterpreted, as she hoped too that it mightexplain the disappearance of one of her moreinteresting patient. Her devotion isunexpectedly charming.Having completed my translation, I amshaken by what it reveals. What I firstconceived as thoughts from Dirac’s madmind—it seems like a story written bysomeone else—now have a dark, frighteningimport, and I will never look at the sea in thesame way. Even more disturbing than theimplications of the discovery of this new textwere the occasional interjections, written inDementlieuse, from Brother Dirac. Whateverfate he has suffered, I count all of my trialsbut lightly when I consider what is revealedby what he wrote here.Following this brief report on whathappened leading up to the revelation of thismanuscript is a word-for-word translation ofDirac’s last writings. I will keep myhypothesis and conjectures for myself for themoment, but what I read in Dirac’s text isfascinating and worrisome too. Until wedecide what to do with these revelations, Isuggest we keep this chapter for the highestFraternity eyes only, and that we discuss thisand its implications on our next FraternityMeeting.I have endeavored to reproduce the textwritten by Dirac as accurately as possible,

including such stylistic oddities as theauthor’s capitalizing all personal pronounsreferring to himself, while taking intoaccount the difficulties of translation and thefact that both authors—for I feel sure therewere two—tended to repeat themselves andto digress from their themes with somefrequency. The author “Virundus” seems tohave learned of the standard format used inpreviously published surveys, possibly fromconversation with Dirac, and to havefollowed it fairly closely in large portions ofhis description of that strange country hecalls Hadalpelagos. Where remarks ofBrother Dirac’s seemed pertinent I haveplaced them at the beginning of theappropriate section in script.I have, of course, preserved the originalsand will include them in the materials I bringin person for the perusal of the assembledUmbra. Where I have deemed it necessary(usually where Virundus has little or nothingto say on a subject of interest to ourFraternity) I have interjected my ownopinions on what is written; all suchpassages are marked in the Borcantypography.Finally, as I was deciphering the text, Ifound a piece of paper well hidden in Dirac’stobacco lighting kit. It was unusable from alengthy stay in water, and I was going tothrow it in the garbage when I noticed thewooden cover had a slightly loose piece.Under it was a piece of paper tightly foldedso ink would not get blurred. On this paper, Iwas very shocked to read a few tiny codedwords written by Dirac for me!So when he was abducted and heldprisoner, Dirac knew it was highly probablewe would meet again…Esteemed readers, I present Dirac’s lastwritings:The Drowning Deep223Even magically enhanced visionrevealed but little at that depth, but itseemed to me that I had been broughtnear to the edge of a pit. My captors haddeparted, and I found myself alone inthe watery abyss, surrounded by theruins of that fabled city--now nolonger fabulous, but a reality cold andhard in the most literal sense.Suddenly a cloaked figure arose fromwithin the pit, standing to the heightof a man or more, apparently as steadyin mid-water as was I on the pavement.KNEEL.It was not a voice; I cannot even saythat I heard it, in any ordinary sense,but I understood it. I knelt, and wasglad to do so; I was so afraid I feared Imight otherwise have fallen.ABASE YOURSELF.I did so, lying at full length upon thestone.WHY HAVE YOU COME, WIZARDLING?WHAT ERRAND BRINGS YOU TOLOST SHAY-LOT?"I have come...to discover...the natureand character...of the lands above yourown."YOU THINK TO MAKE YOURSELFRULERS?"Not of any territory of yours, YourMajesty."THAT IS WELL, FOR TO SUCH AS YOU,I AM A GOD.SEE NOW HOW THE GODS REWARDHUBRIS SUCH AS YOURS.Raising my eyes, almost against mywill, I saw that the chamber had beenilluminated by the glow of a millionworms, and worse things, and the hoodedfigure moved, lifting its head andopening its cloak to reveal … a maze ofhooks and suckers and puckered flesh.It was not a human form at all, butthe tip of a tentacle…

The Drowning DeepHear now the Word of He whospeaks from beneath the wave,Ruler of the Deep, Master ofXalot, Tyrant of all whereOcean rolls, Emperor who was and is, Godwho is and will be. That My Name beknown, and my works done, I reveal to youwho read great treasures of knowledge, evenMy history, the work of My hand, and thesource and aim of My powers.I am last and greatest of the Emperors ofParathalassa, paramount among nations,jewel of the Great Sea, descended in bodyand in spirit from the first gods who placedthe solid earth in the firmament of Heavenand who poured out Ocean without measurearound it. On the night of My birth the starsflung themselves into the sea, in token of theDivinity now entering the world; and a greatwave washed the shore like a cleansing hand,that My kingdom should be prepared for Mycoming. Therefore I am named VIRUNDUS,the Man of the Wave; and at My Naming,there came many of the noble and wise topay obeisance to the Emperor now come.Among those who came was a great seawitchof the tritons, a female much respectedamong all her people (who were and will bemy slaves, as they were of the Emperorsbefore me), who rejoiced greatly when shesaw me, and declared the following doom:Now see the destroyer of many,The liberator of many;All Earth shall be spread below him,All Sea above him.His is the sea, he is the seas .The scepter of might shall not be takenfrom his grasp,And he shall rule in his father’s house forever.All these things have come to pass, or willcome to pass; ye who see, bear witness!I grew to manhood knowing this my fate tobe forewritten, and I was strengthened bythat knowledge in all I did; I warred on Myforefathers’ enemies and brought thembeneath My sway, rewarding My friendsgenerously and wreaking destruction amongany who opposed Me. I set My foot on theheads of many kings and lords, powerfulmen brought to bow before Me and do Me224honor in My own place, the hall built by theold gods themselves in past days, that Myforefathers might have a fit place to receivethem.In all these conquests I forgot not the oldgods; I poured out most bountifully to themof the wealth gained in My conquests, goldand silver, orichalcum, bdellium andadmantium, jasper, jade and other preciousstones, cunningly wrought and desirable tothe eye of man; all these things I offered tothe bosom of the deep, and I was prosperedtherein.But all these things I reckoned cheap; andresolving to give a better gift, I poured outthe very sea-water of the veins, the red tidewithin man that gives life, returning it to itsfather and mother, that great World-Ocean;yea, from thousands and tens of thousands Iordered it spilled out, until the salt springs ofthe great temple ran red with the abundanceof My offering. And seeing that I did somuch in the pursuit of sanctity, andremembering the signs which had been givenat My birth, and recalling the prophecies(only the smallest part of which signs andprophecies have here been transcribed), Icame to understand that I was to standamong the gods, take My place at their head,and become ruler of Sea-Ocean, Sky-Ocean,and Star-Ocean, as I had already been rulerof the dry land, from rising to setting sun.But even the gods may know jealousy ofOne so munificent, so blessed, and sopowerful; and fearing at last the power theythemselves had wrought, the old god (whosename will not be written here, nor spoken byany tongue within all My demesne, thatname which has been chiseled from all stoneand corroded from all metal, wheresoever ithas been or will be found) and his brothersand sisters took council together against Me,resolving thereby to betray Me even as Isought to do them the greatest honor ever yetoffered by Man to his forebears and makers,thereby taking among them My rightfulplace.The blood of slaves and captives wasspilled like water, and all those who hadserved Me well gathered together before thepalace of My forefathers and sang My praise,

garlanded in holy flowers, richly caparisonedin jewels and fine raiment, and all otherthings which My generosity had seen fit tobestow upon them; they sang and preparedthe magics which would render me Master ofLand and of All Oceans.But the hand of envy forestalled them;even as I stood in my forefathers’ hall andprepared to take My place on high, the oldgod, exerting himself to the utmost againstMe, gathered the last of his power and struckat My high place. Taken unaware by so greata treachery from one whom I had alwaysbefriended by the offering of many gifts andsacrifices, and whom I expected to receiveme with gladness, I could do nothing.All that great country of Parathalassa, itsthousand isles and hundred cities, even thegreat city Xalot, in which thousands ofthousands paid obeisance to Me, all itsbuildings finely built, its streets paved inmarble, its temples crowned withorichalcum, its pleasant places and itsstrength of arms were destroyed by the gods’malice in the space of an hour, earth-shaken,collapsed and drowned! I, and I alone, wasstrong against their rage and cursed them,and called the Power within Me, yea, and onother Powers, to withstand them; and Iwithstood, and lived. But as I did so all thosewho had bent the knee to Me, friend, servantand slave alike, turned to Me and begged Myaid; and unwilling to see those who hadserved so faithfully destroyed, I stretchedforth my hand to deliver them, and beneathMy hand they were changed, that they toomight withstand this great end of all things,and serve Me still. So when Xalot, withParathalassa and all its thousand isles, weredrowned at last by the evil of the gods, I yetremained, and My faithful servants with Me.But the gods had not ended their evil work,binding My land in a cord of Mist, that Imight not come face to face with them therein Ocean and repay them in blood for theirevildoing. By this, and by all My otherworks, I give them despite, and declareMyself King, Emperor, and Master, whoshall be God hereafter.The Drowning Deep225The Drowning Deep in shortLocation: Nocturnal SeaEcology: Deep-ocean and ocean floorEnvironment: Cold oceanDarklord: Virundus, the God BelowYear of Formation: 600 BC (?), 750incorporated into Nocturnal SeaCultural Level: Classical (3)Population: 14,000 (100% other, seebelow)Main Settlements: Shay-Lot (Xalot)10,000Religion: The God BelowLanguage: Xalote, AquanGovernment: Despotic theocracyMoney: NoneGeographical SurveyThe city Xalot 1 is the center place, seat ofMy power and dominion over all the Deep;from this place the waters prevail upwardtwo thousand five hundred fathoms [ViktorHazan: 15,000 feet, or roughly 4500 meters].From the center place extend the Four GreatRifts, which together compriseHadalpelagos, the Deep Below the Deep;from the floor of all these great valleys thewaters prevail upward not less than twothousand fathoms. The rifts are known by thefollowing names:Achlos, the Mistdeep, extends to the northand east some seven leagues. All of thisterritory I have given into the hand ofXenodeimos, polemarch of all the East.1. “Xalot” is apparently best pronounced“SHAY-lot”—a fact which cannot failto strike the informed reader as significantin the last degree.

The Drowning DeepGnophos, the Stormdeep, extends to thenorth and west some ten leagues. All of thisterritory I have given into the hand ofArcaetethys, polemarch of the NorthernReach.Zophos, the Gloomdeep, extends to thesouth and west some seven leagues. Herethose who love me come to make sacrifice tothe waves and the storm, as was done in daysof old when that great city Xalot stoodbeneath the sun. All of this territory I havegiven into the hand of Andricthys,seventeenth of his line, He Who Watches theWaves, polemarch of the West.Skotos, the Helldeep, extend to the southsome two leagues. Here are found theThermopylae, the Hot Gates, where theliving earth spills forth her molten blood intothe Deep; all this territory I have given intothe hand of my servant Xanicthys,polemarch of the Southern Reach.Rising from Hadalpelagos and the chiefseat of my power one then comes into theGreat Abyssal Plain, running from Mist inthe south to Mist in the north, Mist in the eastto the Western Wall and the true uplands, thedry-lands and sun-lands 1 . Of this little needbe said; here there is none to oppose Me, andbut few who serve; over all this territory thewaters prevail upward some five hundredfathoms. South of the center place may befound Mons Necros and Mons Phobos 2 , withtheir foothills and lesser peaks; lying to thenorth and west are Mons Korone 3 and MonsThyella 4 , and beyond these Mons Xamenos 5 ,1. By this the author apparently refers tothe coast of Darkon and Nova Vaasa.2. “Mountain of Death” and “Mountainof Fear”, respectively; probably Todsteinand Graben Island.3. “Mountain of Crows”, presumably theIsle of Ravens4. “Mountain of Storms”, presumablyIle d’la Tempete5. “Mountain of the Lost”, presumablyLiffe226all of these being dry-lands and sun-lands,though surrounded by My dominion; to thenorth is Mons Xenos 6 , like the Western Walla dry-land and sun-land in its own right, itsback to the Mists rather than to Myterritories. The saddle between MonsXamenos and Mons Xenos, like the saddlebetween Mons Xamenos and the WesternWall, rise to so great a height that the watersprevail upward only some fifty fathoms, andas few as ten in some places; all these aresun-lands, though they are not dry-lands.The Kaindelphi Waste, likewise a sun-landbut not a dry-land, lies at the far end ofGnophos, which rises into broken landriddled by caves and fissures of lesser depththan the four great rifts; here whale anddolphin sing their strange songs, and die bydozens in certain seasons of the year,beaching themselves in strange transports ofpain or ecstasy, or pierced by the harpoonsand lances of the ice-warlock’s slaves 7 .Here my servants hunt, as well, among thecorals and the broken stones.SettlementsIt was a nightmarish place, Viktor! Isaw only a little of it, but enough toknow it was surely a great city once.How small my spell-light gleamed inthose empty streets, so vast andruinous! We plunged downward, everdownward, past toppled towers and widepromenades broken up and scarred bytheir descent into the abyss. It seemed tocover leagues of ground—more spaciousand more opulent than any city I hadever seen or even heard of—yes, morethan Il Aluk itself!—and yet it wasalmost as thoroughly claimed by thehand of death as that metropolis hasbeen.6. “Mountain of the Strangers”, presumablyVechor7. This seems to refer to the SelbstmordeReefs, where whales are known tobeach themselves. The literal meaningof “Kaindelphi” is “Dolphin-Killer”.

The Drowning Deep227

Shay-lot (city): Monstrous; AL NE; CL3; 20000 gp limit; Assets 850000 gp;Population 10000; Monstrous (Other100%)Authority Figures: Virundus, the GodBelow; Basilikos Hierarch (LE maleanguillian Clr11), Pausanius Strategos(LE male reaver Rgr8)Important Characters: Stavros Isballos(NE male sahuagin Div9)Shay-lot(Xalot, the Drowned City)The Drowning DeepThe center place, that great city Xalot, seatof my power! How low her thousand isleshave been laid by the hand of malice! Howlittle remains of all its grandeur, and yet howgreat the grandeur that remains! Here Imake my seat, in the palace in which Myforefathers ruled over the empire theybequeathed Me; here too is the temple inwhich My faithful servants make obeisance,and the fountain which flows with heart’sbloodcontinually, sign of My power! Herethere are still thousands who heed My wordand hasten to obey My command, who housethemselves in the great buildings whosefoundations were set when Xalot wasblessed by the sight of sun and moon, andwho traverse the avenues paved in dressedstones brought from far islands andornamented in precious stones and shiningmetal.Of all these places let he who visits notethe House of Sand, where those who beararms in My service house themselves; indays of yore it was the abode of gladiatorswho slew one another for the amusement andedification of the populace, and lies but ascore of furlongs from My own abode. Lethim also observe the House of Glass, wherethe magi who counsel Me house themselves,half a league from My abode. The temple ofwhich I have spoken houses the priests andpriestesses, not a furlong from where I abide;while those who carry out My work in farplaces make their homes where it seemsgood to them to do so.228PeopleSome are piscine perversions of thehuman form; obviously my originalcaptor was human enough to deceiveme. Some are brutal, heavy, razorscaled;some more slender; one of thesehas interviewed me several times, and isa wizard of some ability. Some are nothuman at all, but blasphemies againstNature—or perhaps Nature herself is,and has always been, corrupted, andonly here in her dark heart does shereveal herself. Merciful Ezra, save me.There is a thing here like a leech grownto the size of a man’s arm; I woke tofind it on me. All living things seem tobe but eyes and mouth and teeth.Those who serve Me are of five castes,each with its peculiar physiognomy, itsblazons and marks of merit, its sociality,customs and mode of life. Most numerousare those known merely as ichthymorphoi,least of My servants, who pasture and tendthe flocks and herds on which My peoplesubsist, and who perform such menial laborand artisan’s tasks as chance may supply.Less numerous but far more doughty arethose of the thorakoi, the soldiery of thepeople, strong arms, fierce in combat, butlimited in understanding and in prudence.These qualities are supplied in full measureby the counselors and advisors known asmagi, those whose visions andcommunications with familiar spirits informthe management of My affairs; these arefurther divided into two groups, theperipateioi and the hydromagi, the former ofwhom direct those of My affairs which takeplace in the dry-lands, the latter of whomreside with Me in Hadalpelagos.Last and nearest to Me are those of thehieroi, who stand in My presence and do Meworship in the manner in which their fathershave done before them. I have otherservants, mighty in valor and in cunning,who serve me in other places; but timewould fail to list each and all, their severalvirtues and the power each lends to theworks to which I direct them.

Encounters in the Drowning DeepThe Drowning DeepThose suitable for terror tracks marked (T); those always aligned with Shay-Lot marked (SL); andthose sometimes working with Shay-Lot thralls marked (SSL).WildlifeCR 1/3: Stingray StoCR ½: Barracuda Sto, QtR9 ; Eel StoCR 1: Shark MM1 (SSL); Manta Ray MM1 , Octopus MM1 ; Squid MM1 (SSL)CR 3: Barracuda, Dire QTR9, Sto ; Dire eel Sto ; CR 5: Swarm, Jellyfish Sto ; Whale, Orca MM1CR 7: Whale, Cachalot MM1CR 8: Octopus, Giant MM1CR 9: Dire Animal, Zeuglodon Fro ; Dire Shark MM1 (SSL); Squid, Giant MM1MonstersCR 1/2: Merfolk MM1 ; Elf, Aquatic MM1CR 1: Ghoul, Lacedon MM1 (T) (SL); Ixitxachitl MM2 (SSL); Sea spawn, master DoDCR 2: Anguilian Sto (SSL) (T), Elemental Grue, Water (Vardigg) CAr ; Sahuagin MM1 (SL) (T);Skum MM1 (T) (SL); Sea Zombie QTR9 ; Triton MM1CR 3: Vampiric Ixitxachitl MM2 (SL); Lycanthrope, Wereray DoD (SL) (T)CR 4: Blackskate Sto (SSL), Elemental Swarm, Water PlH ; Lycanthrope, Wereshark FRMoF (SSL) (T);Nereid Sto ; Reaver DoD (SSL) (T)CR 5: Morkoth MM2 (SSL) (T); Sea spawn, master DoD (T)CR 6: Aquatic Ooze, Reekmurk FiF ; Kopru MM2 (SL); Pudding, White FroCR 7: Aboleth MM1 (SL); Chuul MM1 (SL); Malasynep Fro ; Seryulin MM3 (SL); Spectre MM1CR 8: Beholderkin, Eye of the Deep LoM ; Drowned MM3CR 9: Caller From The Deeps Sto , Golem, Coral Sto (SL); Kelp Angler FiF ; Soulless QTR9CR 10: Kelpie FiF (SSL); Langoir QTR9CR 11: Dragon Eel MM3 (SL); Megalodon MM2 ; Octopus Tree FiFCR 12: Kraken MM1 (SSL)CR 13: Scyllan Sto (SL)CR 17: Elemental Monolith, Water CarCR 23: Meredoth’s Horror QTR9CR varies: Elemental, Water MM1 , Elemental, Corrupted (new monster proposed by JWM) (SSL),Fiendish Creature MM1 p 107 (SL), Ghosts; Ice Beast MM2 ; Lycanthrope, wereoctopus (new monsterproposed by JWM) (SSL); Spectral creature – templateSaS p12229

The Abyssal HeroUnless they are Sea-claimed (see DM’sappendix), the inhabitants of theDrowning Deep are not well-adapted toany ordinary Ravenloft campaign. If theDungeon Master desires to includenatives of the Drowning Deep in aprimarily sub-aquatic campaign, theother races available include aquaticelves and tritons (both hostile toVirundus and his minions), as well aswererays, wereoctopuses, reavers,sahuagin, anguillian, and locathah (all ofwhom are usually Virundus’ willingservants or slaves).The Drowning DeepOthers there are who serve me not, in theborders of the sun-lands abutting the drylands,but these are of but little consequence;they too will worship, or be thrust to thewall. Among these are those who callthemselves “elfs of the sea” and the tritonswho were my slaves in Parathalassa and whowill serve me again. Any who works againstsuch, rebels and heretics, shall earn in fullmeasure My reward for their service.Daily LifeYou cannot imagine it. The dark, thecold—it is another world. They are nothuman, though some claim they oncewere. The guardsman told me. Nothingfrom our world can remain sane here forlong. I am hungry for light. I findmyself pressing against my eyes to thepoint of pain to see the rainbows itproduces. It is better when the magecomes; he brings a light, and weconverse, as if he, the fish-thing, and Iwere two Brothers together.There are monsters in the deep, worseeven than my captors; they hunt andare hunted. The mage says thatinferiors—servants or slaves—farm thefishes on whom all subsist and do allheavy labor.The soldiers—the “armoredones”—range near and far, hunting230all who do not acknowledge the GodBelow (thus I learned there are peoplesin the deep who do not worship Him).They kill many whales, and subsist ontheir flesh; all these creatures hate andfear the whales and the dolphins.The holy ones do not ascend; they servethe God Below and perform the rites ofHis worship, and rule over the people,communicating to them the word of theGod. The holy ones are highest, save forthose who have been touched by the GodBelow and changed.The magi wander far, some in thecompany of the soldiers, others alone;they rule the soldiers and are ruled bythe priests. So much I have learned oftheir mode of life; but the mage whovisits me is canny, and answers myquestions with questions. They have nomoney, no commerce among themselves;all are, in the end, slaves to the GodBelow.[None of “Virundus’” remarks areparticularly related to the mode of life of hissubjects; other than this brief descriptionfrom Dirac and the hints supplied elsewherein the text I have been unable to glean anydetail from the manuscript. Indeed, it ishard for one to imagine what kind of life theymight live, two miles or more below theocean’s surface.]Language[Unfortunately I can say but little of thelanguage of Xalot, referred to as “Xalote” inthe text, since I have, as yet, only been ableto read it by means of magical interpretation.The script is rather elegant, the capitalletters angular and the lower-case letterscurvilinear; the proper names are oftenrather literal-minded. I do not know if thislanguage is spoken beneath the waves, or ifit is written only; what evidence there is inthe text hints that it is the language used inXalot before its inundation, and some othermeans of communication (the language ofcreatures of elemental water, perhaps?) maynow be current in that sub-aqueous land.]

The Drowning DeepXalote PhrasebookAigailon Beach, shore Katapolis Sunken (Fallen, Drowned) CityBythizo To make sink, to drown Katatheos God BelowEnavagesan Shipwreck Pelagos OceanHadalos, Hadalpelagos The Deep, the Deep Sea Skotos DarknessGaen Dry land Emporia TradeHydros Water Prospheros OfferingIcthys Fish Proskeneo To worship231

The God BelowSymbol: A black disc with twelvespiraling arms.Alignment: Any evilPortfolio: The deep ocean, darknessDomains: Water, Evil, AbyssalFavoured Weapons: Net and tridentDogma: The God Below lives and rulesamong us; do his will and he will blessyou, oppose him and he will destroy you.Obey his least command with perfectfidelity. The time comes soon when hewill rise and claim the rule of all theworld; those who stand with him at thattime will be exalted, those who opposehim will die.Abyssal DomainGranted power: The cleric is immune topressure damage from deep water, and isalso immune to the bends (if theDungeon Master is using this optionalrule, described below.)1 st : speak with animals (aquatic creaturesonly)2 nd : water breathing3 rd : deeper darkness4 th : fear5 th : control water (double normal area ofeffect)6 th : insanity7 th : control weather8 th : summon monster VIII (aquaticcreatures only)9 th : crushing tentacles (as crushinghand)The Drowning DeepOutlook and Worldview232[The mindset of his subjects is another themewhich “Virundus” does not address atlength; the overall impression created by hisnarration is of a personality pathologicallydisinterested in the psychology of others. Ifthe other elements of his description of hisdomain are accurate, it seems to me thattheir society — caste-bound, highlymilitarized, and, above all, ruled by agodlike figure actually present in their verymidst — must be socially stagnant andextremely authoritarian, perhaps resemblingthat of Falkovnia in the degree of dominationthe “state” — here probably represented bya combination of religious and militaryauthority — has over the daily life of thedomain’s inhabitants.Unusually for such a state, the secretpolice seem to be almost entirely external inits orientation; “Virundus” claims tomaintain a wide-ranging and well-informednetwork of spies, but the internal disciplineof the realm seems to rely more on the sheerterror of displeasing or going against“Virundus’” wishes.The main “positive” or hopeful messagepresent in Xalote society would seem to be“Virundus’” declared intention of bringingall the surface world beneath his sway, andrichly rewarding those who serve him well inthis exploit. With the information at hand Iposit a people dominated by fear andreligious fervor, convinced of the immanenceof their divinity and certain that the day willsoon come when they will follow their god tovictory.]ReligionsAll who live beneath the wave know andacknowledge Me as their sovereign,Emperor and God, and they do obeisance tome according to the old laws. No other godholds sway here, as all my servants know.The worship of all others, past or present, isforbidden those who live within the Deep; hewho denies it will die.

Art and TradeAlas for the cunning artisans, the workers ingold and silver, the layers of mosaics andpainters of murals! All they have wrought ishere still, but the skill of their hands is lost.Some there are who labor in stone or coral,fewer still who brave the fire of Skotos andthere work metal in the molten deep; butthere are treasures to be found here still,stores of knowledge from old times, theplunder of a thousand kingdoms and thetribute of ten thousand satraps. Over andabove all these things there may be found allthe wealth of the great deep; whether it bepearls and other gemstones, the sea-wrack ofships broken in the storm, the plunder of thedry-lands and sun-lands, all these thingsserving to enrich My kingdom. Those whoserve Me in the lands above, the peripateioiwho traverse the dry-lands and sun-lands inMy service, exchange this wealth for thosethings found needful, wrought metal andother goods for which the fire is needful; Myservants shall hasten to supply My friendswith all they may desire from the wealth ofMy hand.HistoryTime would fail to speak of all I have causedto be done by My servants in the time sincethe wrath of the old god brought my empireThe Drowning Deepbelow the wave. These scores of years Ihave sought the surface world, to makeMyself and My Will known to all; those whowent carried the word of My coming and theknowledge of My great city Xalot, and themessage that all must bow the knee or becast down. For many scores of years allthese exertions bore but little fruit, for butfew of My servants sent beyond the boundsof the Deep, into the sun-lands and drylands,returned to Me to tell me of theirdoings; while others remained in the sunlandsand dry-lands, and forgot Me,changing their obedience for the memory ofobedience and, at last, for ignorance andweakness. But few (and they shall be wellrewarded)heard My servants and obeyed thecall of the Deep, leaving the thralldom of theWinter-Warlock for a better master.In the ten years past all has changed; byMy exertions and those of the magi andhieroi who serve Me I have caused Mydominion to be joined with the dry-lands andsun-lands more closely, the better to workMy will upon them. My eyes now seebeyond the waves, My hands reachedbeyond the tides; My faithful servants travelthe mountains of the dry-lands. All thesethings shall be mine at last.233

GovernmentThe Drowning DeepAll beneath the wave must serve Me or bedestroyed; beyond this there is no law. Mychief servitors, who carry out My works, Ihave named as Polemarchs, rulers of the riftsand satraps over all Hadalpelagos. The chiefof all the priests is Archon; the commanderof my soldiers in the City itself is Strategos;the highest of the magi is Magistrate. Eachgives My word to those of his own kind, theArchon ruling all lesser peoples, who are notpermitted to approach My presence. Anywho oppose My will are devoured by Mywrath, and there are but few who are sofoolhardy; I am the strong friend of all whobefriend Me, the terrible foe of all whooppose.ConclusionsSo concludes the double narrative compiledby Brother Dirac on that dire night! Thosewho read this will understand the import ofall compiled here; it seems that Shay-lot, thatfabled city of the lost, is real—and that itsinfluence reaches from that sub-aqueousrealm into our own. It seems to me, inreading over all that has been written, that“Virundus” is almost petitioning (perhaps Ishould say, demanding) our assistance in hisschemes of dominion; he is at some pains tonote the high regard he holds for mages, andthe many rewards that he gives hisfriends—and the destruction he intends towreak on his enemies.In a way, this new knowledge is a sourceof difficulties; having received hisembassage, in the unwilling person ofBrother Dirac, we may now find ourselvesobliged to respond to these overtures or riskthe wrath of their author. For my part Ibelieve he greatly exaggerates his ability toinfluence events on terra firma; but it mightprove more fruitful to open negotiations withthis power from below, at least as a means ofgaining more information about his truestrengths, weakness, and agenda. (I feel itpossible that Brother Dirac may have beenreserved for just such a purpose—to serve asa future liaison between our Fraternity andthis “Virundus”. Almost I hope, for his sake,that his walking into the Nocturnal Sea wasfor him only the end of his former life—andnot the beginning of a new one.)234

The Drowning DeepTeleportation in the DeepUnder normal circumstances teleportation in the Drowning Deep follows the normal rulesfor underwater adventuring in D&D described in Stormwrack. The Dungeon Master mayalso wish to apply rules for dramatic pressure changes—such as attempting to teleport tothe surface from the ocean floor. Teleportation succeeds under these circumstances, butimmediately induces the bends. Everyone teleported to the surface must make a Fortitudesave at DC (10 + 1 per 20 feet of depth risen) each round for the next ten rounds. Eachfailure causes 1d4 points of Dex and Str damage; a character with a Dex or Str of 0 doesnot die immediately, but does begin to drown. Remove disease, heal, or other similar spellsend this effect, but casting spells through the intense pain induced by the bends requires aDC 30 Concentration check. Attempting to teleport to a lower depth in the domain mayalso deal damage, according to the pressure rules laid out in Stormwrack.As heard in a port…"Isn't it precious? The pearls, the ivory, the strangely long, fluid design? Have you everseen anything comparable? No doubt one such as you will have heard whispers of Shaylot,of the city lost beneath the sea. This is its key. Take it into your hands. Do you not hearthe waves, taste the salt, feel the tug of the current in your hair? I assure you that its ownerdreams much, much more. But what is one such as I to do with the sea? What is gold,indeed forgotten treasures untold, to the Vistani? But a chain that is not to be borne. Thething offends me. It is a curse, filling my thoughts with concerns that would turn me fromthe open road. Veritably I have spoken of it, have told you its truth. It is mine now to dowith as I wish and I would sell it to you. Let us come to a mutually agreeable price for akey that is a treasure."-Dr. Vinchenzio, travelling showman and Vistani outcastDread Possibility: The Groom of the SeaSeafarers are a suspicious lot and those of Arbora are no exception. They know well thatthe Nocturnal Sea is a fickle mistress, caressing one day, killing the next. To divert her fellattentions, every year they kidnap a youth possessed of great beauty, array him in finegarments, put a coral ring upon his finger, and wed him to the sea on the night of summer'sfirst new moon. Much stock is put in this rite for the groom is always seen to go willinglyand the sea is invariably calm, as though the bride were awaiting her lover's coming. Therite is performed by an ancient ship's chaplain.The few sailors who have accompanied him, rowing him out of sight of land, whispervariously of the sea reaching up with taloned hands, webbed-fingers, tentacles, or evenblack mists to take possession of her prize.Of course these men usually imbibe in not a little rum before setting off, so it is difficultto know what truly is to be seen.235

ConclusionsMinutes of the Umbra

ConclusionsFellow Umbra; we meet in shadow. Who hears?I hear.I hear.I hear.I hear.(UNISON:) THE EYES OF THE WATCHERS ARE ON US.First, Brother Hazan's compiled report.Yes...quite interesting.No trace of Brother Dirac has been found, I gather?Not yet. Probing too vigorously now may be premature, all things considered.A matter for another day, I concur.And I.Not too late, of course. We are not the only ones interested inthat matter.Caught that, did you? The woman-thing's appearance was a fortuitousone, I presume: the sea-hermit's conduct is hardly subtle.True. But his tactics were intriguing. Counter-reflective defense, against a spelloutside his documented repertoire?237

ConclusionsIndeed. Further tests of his abilities are in order. It's a pity he's so intransigent; evenignorant of Shadow, he plainly holds knowledge worth having.Oh, it's not entirely a pity.True. Hardly a likely ally for the renegade. If van Rijn had soughtsanctuary with Todstein's master, his spirit would no doubt be boundto some ramshackle grisgol monstrosity by now.Unpleasant thought.Unpleasant for him, perhaps.So the traitor is not to be found in the Nocturnal Sea.Yes. And this possible arcane sighting near Neverwere Manor?I strongly suspect this cloaked figure’s identity is just one part of that split lich.Not of any interest to us for the moment.This new matter? The manifesto from below?Not a contributor at present, obviously; but it seems eager tobecome so.A prospect which demands attention; but, I think, no immediate action. Unlike theLady.Yes. I intend to take up her invitation myself.You? Yourself? (laughter) Oh, how very droll.238

Your japes are tedious.ConclusionsSurely the task, as Brother Dirac described it, demands anexperienced eye; I can think of no-one better suited for an initialvisit. What of the Lighthouse, and Baron Evensong's request?I think neither demands personal attention from any of us at present.The other sea next, then?Of course. The appearance of progress is as essential as actualprogress, at present. It is always wise to make some gesture suitablefor observation, if only to conceal our investigation of our morepromising leads.Especially when the gesture draws others to reveal themselves.And importantly, it gives the brethren the opportunity to work together, and to feelthey contribute to the common cause.Indeed. Nothing is so important, at present, as maintaining ourcohesion and esprit de corps in the face of so damaging adefection. I trust that all of us keep this in mind as we goforward.As you say....Indeed.Very well. Fellow-Umbra, I give you the Fraternity of Shadows!(UNISON:) SCIENTIAE ET REGNUM SUM NOSTRA INTROUMBRA!239

Conclusions240

ConclusionsDungeon Master’sAppendixes241

Appendix INew Magic and Feats

Creature Creation FeatsThe reclusive wizard spawns new creaturesin a dark cellar, trying to outperform nature:in his mind, he seeks to prove that gods arenot the only ones responsible for new life.The evil cleric uses dark divine magics tocraft a new horror to do his bidding andguard the temple from unbelievers, obedientas a skeleton, yet not limited to the lowintelligence and non-existent creativity ofthe Obedient Dead: in his mind, he uses hispatron’s gifts to create a slave worthy of thatdark master.The obsessed druid labors to make new,prettier beasts, better equipped to survivethis harsh world than those that MotherNature, alone, has made: in her mind, sheassists life’s ascent up the ladder ofevolution.All these spellcasters, for reasons of theirown, seek to transform life and change itaccording to their wishes. The featsdescribed here are the means by which theyendeavor to see these hubristic dreamsliterally made flesh.Create Magical Beast(Item Creation feat)Prerequisits: Caster level 5th, 1 itemcreation feat, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks,Heal 3 ranks.Benefit: This feat enables a spellcaster tocreate a magical beast, by merging two ormore creatures of the animal, magical beast,or vermin type. The process is both costlyand time-consuming, and requirespreparatory research for each newcombination a given spellcaster attempts.There is a chance that the completedcreature will turn upon its creator. Use of thisfeat in Ravenloft warrants a Powers check(3%), as an act of sheer hubris or perversion.Appendix I New Magic and FeatsCreate Aberration (Item Creation feat)Prerequisits: Caster level 10th, CreateMagical Beast, Knowledge (arcana) 10ranks, Heal 5 ranks.Benefit: With this feat, any two or moreliving corporeal creatures can be combinedto create a living aberration. The process isboth costly and time-consuming, andrequires preparatory research for each newcombination which a given spellcasterattempts. Only the greatest of spellcasterscan tamper with life to such a degree.There is a chance that the completedcreature will turn upon its creator. Also, useof this feat in Ravenloft warrants a Powerscheck (4%), as an act of seer hubris orperversion.Druids are incapable of learning this feat,as creating such bizarre life forms isanathema to their divine magic.Creating a Magical BeastThe process of creating magical beasts ispresented here, along with an example ofthese rules in action. In the text to follow,the creature upon which modifications are tobe made is called the “base creature”. Othercreatures being used to enhance such amelded life form are called “secondarycreatures”. The magical beast to be created iscalled the “target creature”.A. Advance PreparationIn order to create a magical beast, the creatorneeds a lab costing at least 500 gp/HD of thetarget creature. This lab must be equippedspecifically for the creation of magicalbeasts and/or aberrations; an alchemicallaboratory, for example, will not suffice forthis task.Regardless of the laboratory’s size andquality, the target creature’s HD can be nohigher than the feat-user’s caster level –1.243

B. Creature DesignAppendix I New Magic and FeatsDesigning a new magical beast is a two-stepprocess. First, the creator must come upwith a plan for creating the target creature,and select the base and secondary creaturesnecessary for its creation. Second, suitablebase and secondary creatures must beprocured and examined, to work out thedetails.Note that the first step may be omitted if acreator copies a creature read about orencountered in the past (e.g. reverseengineeringan owlbear), but the secondstage must be done in person. Creatorscannot, for instance, copy a creation-ritualfrom another spellcaster’s research notes,although consulting another caster’ssuccessful design provides a circumstancebonus to the would-be creator’s skill check(see below).A creature produced by means of theCreate Magical Beast feat may itself be usedas the base creature for a new ritual in turn.Such a “stacking” of beasts requires that aseparate ritual be devised, each time anadditional set of secondary creatures isadded to the mix.Step 1The player tells the DM how he or sheenvisions the target creature, or the DMthinks of an idea for such a monster. The DMdecides if the creation is even possible, andwhat base and secondary creatures will berequired to produce it. Secondary creaturesmay be no more than one size categorybigger or smaller than the base creature.If the creature is to demonstrate unique oratypical behaviors, these must also beselected at this time; if not, the targetcreature will act like the base creature bydefault.Creature Creation Example: The ScorpiwolfA 7th level wizard named Fragdan decides to make a scorpion-tailed wolf as a guardianfor his secluded home. The wizard’s residence contains a 2500 gp laboratory, which heequipped specifically for this purpose.Fragdan’s finished creature may have up to 5 HD. If he wants a stronger monster, he willhave to add more equipment to his lab before he begins his work. In no case can Fragdancreate a magical beast of more than 6 HD, unless he gains more levels as a wizard.After some initial research, Fragdan decides that Medium scorpions should be combinedwith a wolf from Verbek to create what he needs. As he wants a moderately-powerfulguardian, he decides to use three scorpions rather than one, to give his creation increasedresilience, more abilities, and deadlier venom.When contemplating the creature and its function as a guardian, Fragdan decides toremove the wolf’s pack instincts, to make the “scorpiwolf” a solitary creature. This willlet it stand guard in solitude for long periods, and ensures he need not create a whole packof them.Here, the target creature is the scorpion-tailed wolf. The base creature is a normal wolf,and the secondary creatures are the three scorpions; using three secondary creatures,rather than one, will increase the finished target creature’s HD. The DM decides that thescorpions must be monstrous Medium scorpions and the base creature, a wolf fromVerbek. The wizard’s choice to change the behavior of the scorpion-tailed wolf is alsonoted, as this decision will factor into the procedure later.If Fragdan later decides that a winged scorpiwolf would be better than a land-bound one,he will need to start again at this stage, and devise a separate ritual to incorporate ascorpiwolf and some winged creature into a single magical beast.244

Step 2The spellcaster must acquire and study a setof living specimens of the base creature andall secondary creature(s). Such studyincludes vivisection, and always results inthe deaths of these initial specimens. In thecase of sentient magical beasts, or ofvivisections performed without anesthesia(see Van Richten’s Arsenal) on specimenswith an Int of 1 or 2, this may incur anadditional Powers check.This stage of the process takes 3 days, plusone day for each secondary creature. Theresearch costs 50 gp/day, not counting thepurchase price of the specimens (DM’sAppendix I New Magic and Featsdiscretion), plus one vial of anesthetic orether per non-mindless specimen per day (ifdesired). At the end of the procedure, thecreator must pass a Knowledge (arcana)check, with a DC of 15 + HD of the targetcreature. This DC is increased by 1 for eachsecondary creature of the base creature’stype, or 2 for each secondary creature ofanother type. For each facet of the basecreature’s natural behavior that is to bechanged (social vs. solitary, predator vs.scavenger, diurnal vs. nocturnal, etc), the DCalso increases by 1.A +5 circumstance bonus applies to theKnowledge (arcana) check if the creator canconsult design notes from another,After some traveling and bargaining, Fragdan acquires a healthy wolf from Verbek andthree Medium monstrous scorpions. He sets to work, vivisecting and examining thecreatures to determine how their bodies (alive or dead) react to various magics andtreatments. After six laborious days and the expenditure of 300 gp, plus six doses of etherfor the wolf, he has yet to come up with a workable design, and all his specimens are deadand need to be replaced.His research so far wasn’t a total failure, however, as his experiments have shown thatthe scorpions must’ve been untouched by magic throughout their lives in order to besuccessfully incorporated into his scorpiwolf. Fragdan acquires several more creatures,and sets to work again. After two more retries (12 days and 600 gp), he finishes designingthe arcane ritual that will merge these creatures into a tough, scorpion-tailed wolf, whilestripping away the pack instincts of normal wolves. In the event he decides to createadditional scorpiwolves, Fragdan won’t have to do the research for the ritual again: hejust has to perform it.The base DC for Fragdan’s Knowledge (arcana) check was 15, +5 for the targetcreature’s HD. This was further modified by +6, for three secondary creatures of adifferent creature-type (vermin) than the base creature (animal), and +1 for changing thewolf’s pack instinct to solitary, for a final DC of 27. As Fragdan is inventing this creaturefrom scratch, he cannot gain a +5 circumstance bonus for consulting the notes of a previouscreator; he does receive a +2 bonus for his ranks in Knowledge (nature), as his specimensare animals and vermin.It takes Fragdan three tries to succeed on this check. The DM rules that the first failurewas because the wild scorpions he’d purchased had been captured with a Hold Monsterspell;. alternately, they might have needed to be from Har’Akir, hatched in darkness, of adifferent species, etc. His second failure occurred because integrating the circulatorysystems of a mammal and an arachnid (different creature types) isn’t an easy task Each ofhis failures teaches Fragdan more about how not to build a scorpiwolf, so he receives a +2circumstance bonus on his second attempt to design one properly, and a +4 bonus on thethird.To prevent them from struggling under the knife, Fragdan had used ether to anaesthetizethe wolves used in his research. This spares him from any need for a Powers check (yet).245

Appendix I New Magic and Featssuccessful creator of a similar targetcreature, or is advised directly by such aperson. If the base and/or secondarycreatures are either animals or vermin, andthe creator has 5 or more ranks inKnowledge (nature), a +2 bonus fromsynergy also applies to the Knowledge(arcana) check. Each previous failed attemptto design the ritual also grants a cumulative+2 circumstance bonus, as the creator learnsfrom past failures.If the base and the secondary creatures areof the same species (i.e. the creator simplywants to make a higher-HD or multi-headedversion of the base creature), another +3circumstance bonus applies to theKnowledge (arcana) check, and nosecondary specimens are needed forvivisection. The cost of research is alsohalved if the target creature’s HD, alone, arebeing augmented, although the minimum of3 days’ work is still required.If the Knowledge check succeeds, thecaster has managed to devise the arcane ordivine ritual needed to create the targetcreature and can proceed. This particularritual may be attempted as many times as thecaster wishes, without need for furtherresearch. If it fails, the DM may decide thatthe caster had misjudged what sort ofcreatures are needed (e.g. wrong subspecies,wrong place of origin, wrong history), or thatthe character simply needs more study.C. Creature AssemblyHaving developed a workable design, thecaster must use a fresh set of creatures, thistime to merge them. The process ofassembling the target creature takes one day,plus an additional day for each secondarycreature. It costs 200gp/day +200 gp per HDof the target creature, and drains 50 XP pertarget creature HD from the spellcaster. Theritual must be performed under similarconditions to the construction of a magicitem, save that the process cannot be setaside in mid-ritual: if the creator’s work isinterrupted, the base and secondary creaturesbecome unsuitable and the assembly must bestarted again, with new specimens.246Success is determined by a Heal checkwith a base DC of 10, +1 per HD of thetarget creature and +1 per secondary creatureused. A creator with 5 or more ranks inKnowledge (nature) receives a +2 bonusfrom synergy on this Heal check, providedthe base and/or secondary creatures areeither animals or vermin. Success on theHeal check to create a specific sort of targetcreature also gives the creator a +5competence bonus on subsequent Healchecks to create similar target creatures. Ifthe base creature and secondary creatures areof the same species, an additional +4circumstance bonus applies to the Healcheck, as merging similar creatures is easierthan merging dissimilar ones.At the DM’s discretion, sentient magicalbeasts may be allowed a saving throw toresist being incorporated into the targetcreature, as per the Create Aberration feat(see below). Magical beasts which werethemselves a product of this feat neverreceive a saving throw.If the creator’s Heal check fails, the targetcreature is still created, but it is hideouslydistorted and in agony. It must pass animmediate Fortitude save as the same DC asits maker’s Heal check, or else it writhes inhelpless anguish and dies within minutes ofits creation. Even if it survives, it exists in astate of constant pain, is permanently andirrevocably afflicted with the sickenedcondition, and is likely to rebel against itsmaker if not euthanized. Witnessing such adeformed “mistake” is grounds for a Horrorsave, at a DC of 10 + ½ creature’s HD.Upon the creation of a creature, thespellcaster must make a Powers check,whether or not it is malformed or survivesthe procedure.

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsFragdan is ready to make his creation. He prepares a fresh set of creatures and sets towork. The ritual is lengthy and costly, taking four days and 1800 gp in components, anddraining 250 XP from the wizard.The creatures remain caged for the whole ritual and in close proximity. Connected byarcane symbols, lines, and even copper wires, the creatures merge with a flash of light atthe end of the ritual. The resulting creature appears in the specially-prepared stonecircle in the middle; the procedure has worked properly, so it survives thetransformation.Fragdan has good cause to be happy; depending on his knowledge of medicine,biology, and healing, there was a risk that the creature would be created, but it would liehelpless as its merged body failed to support it and would swiftly die. Likewise, it mighthave been twisted and deformed – more so than intended, that is – yet still dangerous andmad with pain. It seems that this time, Fragdan has managed to integrate the internalorgans and biological functions of his creation properly.Suddenly, Fragdan’s elation is disturbed by an eerie sensation of being watched. Justfor a moment, he is wary … but no, his creation is healthy, and his efforts havesucceeded!Fragdan’s creation-ritual takes one day, plus three days for three secondary creatures. Itcosts 200gp/day +1000 gp, and 50 XP for each of the scorpiwolf’s 5 HD. His Heal checkDC is 10 + 5 (for the scorpiwolf’s HD) +3 (for the three scorpions), for a total DC of 18.He receives a +2 bonus from synergy on his check, due to his ranks in Knowledge(nature).Fragdan’s first Heal check succeeds, so the scorpiwolf is neither deformed nor dying.In the future, he will have a +5 competence bonus on Heal checks to create morescorpiwolves. He also passes his 3% Powers check, so the Dark Powers leave the wizardunmarked for his temerity … at least, for now.D. Creature LoyaltyMerely having created a creature does notguarantee its loyalty. Wise beast-makers willhave a few friends around when assemblingnew monsters, in case the molded fleshshould choose to pounce once it stopswrithing.Immediately after its assembly, the castermust test the target creature’s Loyalty. Thistest is treated like a specialized Diplomacy(or Wild Empathy) check. The targetcreature’s initial attitude is indifferent. If thecreature was created in a malformed state,the DC for this and all other Charisma-basedskill checks made toward it is increased by+12, as its terrible agony sours its reactionsto everything around it.The Loyalty check is: 1d20 + caster level+ caster’s Charisma bonus – target creature’sHD.Whatever the creature’s attitude becomes,in the wake of this Loyalty check, is thecompleted beast’s default reaction to itsmaker from then on. Barring extreme abuseor betrayal, such a creature’s “friendly”reaction will not become less amicable, andan intensely loyal (“helpful” attitude)magical beast is quite willing to die in itsmaker’s defense or service: a major reasonwhy many spellcasters choose to trust theirown creations over mere hirelings.Note that on a failed check, a new-madecreature could easily become unfriendly toits maker, perhaps even attacking outright ifsuch behavior is consistent with its natureand attitude.247

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsJust in case his creation isn’t friendly, the wizard has a couple of mercenaries ready tostop it if necessary. After some initial disorientation, the scorpiwolf looked to its creatorwith mild curiosity. It steps out of the arcane circle, sniffs its maker’s hand, thensubmissively rolls on its back at his feet. Relieved, Fragdan breathes easily again.As the base creature is a wolf and it retains canine body language, the scorpiwolf nowreacts to Fragdan much as a trained dog would react to his owner. Even if the ritualsucceeds every time, there is no guarantee that future scorpiwolves will be as tractable asthis first one.Now that the scorpiwolf has been created, Fragdan rolls a Loyalty check to determine itsreaction to him. He rolls 1d20, +7 (his caster level), +1 (his Charisma bonus), -5 (for thefinished scorpiwolf’s HD. Fragdan’s total check result is 17, which moves thescorpiwolf’s reaction from indifferent to friendly, as per PHB p. 72.Had the wizard rolled badly on this Loyalty check, the scorpiwolf would have growledand snapped if approached, like any wild wolf that feels cornered (unfriendly). It mighteven have attacked immediately and viciously (hostile): it’s a monster, after all, and wasbuilt to be an aggressive loner.E. Training and BreedingOnce created, a magical beast may be trainedas per other monsters of similar intelligence.Its creator receives a +5 circumstance bonusto all Charisma-based skill or ability checkstoward the newly-made creature. This isparticularly useful in handling the creature(if its Intelligence is 2 or less), or persuadingit to cooperate (if it is sentient, withIntelligence 3 or higher).Base or secondary creatures’ personalitiesand memories are always extinguished in theritual. The target creature possesses fullmotor skills, practical knowledge (e.g. whatkinds of food it eats), language skills (ifany), and skill ranks, but it lacks anymemories of past experiences and may (ifsmart enough) even realize that it is amagical creation. Its personality and habitsare broadly like those of the base creature,barring deliberate alterations to its behavior.To train a non-sentient magical beast, thecreator rolls a special Handle Animal check,with the following modifiers:When instructing such a creation, thecreator (and only its creator) can use theHandle Animal skill as if trained, even if thecreator has no ranks in that skill.The creator’s +5 Charisma bonus appliesto the Handle Animal check, offsetting the+5 that is applied to the DC because thetarget creature is a magical beast.248A “friendly” or “helpful” target creature istreated as domesticated for purposes ofHandle Animal checks, despite being amagical beast. This comes in handy if thecreator’s minions need to handle or ‘push’the beast in the creator’s absence.For sentient magical beasts, the Diplomacyskill and direct instruction are required toteach it instead. A sentient magical beastwhich does not share any language with itscreator may be taught to understand a singlehumanoid tongue in (24 months / beast’sInt); it will not be able to speak this languagealoud unless the base creature could talk, orunless vocal cords from a secondary creaturewith speech were incorporated into itsanatomy.The target creature may be sterile, or maybe capable of reproduction, at the DM’sdiscretion. Malformed magical beasts arealways sterile. Created beasts that can breeddo so in the same manner as the basecreature (live birth, laying eggs, etc), and at asimilar rate. To produce young, breedingpairs of created beasts must be created by thesame spellcaster, using the same ritual andthe same kinds of base and secondarycreatures. The offspring of magicallycreatedbeasts are not subject to the same +5bonus to the maker’s Charisma-based checksas their parents.

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsHaving won over the scorpiwolf’s loyalty, Fragdan may now train it as a guardian. Itproves easy to train as a guard-beast, and it is content to remain alone … a fortunatepreference, as a quick inspection reveals that his new creation lacks a gender, so cannever breed. That’s okay with Fragdan: he only needs one guard-beast.Although he lacks ranks in Handle Animal, Fragdan won’t need them to train hisscorpiwolf, and he gains a +5 competence bonus on his check. It is friendly to him bydefault, so he automatically treats his creation as domesticated: he need not “rear” it tomake it trainable.As Fragdan just barely passed his Knowledge (arcana) check on his third try, the DMrules that his scorpiwolf is sterile. If the wizard later decides he wants morescorpiwolves, he must either create each and every one with his ritual, or else go back tothe drawing board and research a new ritual that will produce fertile specimens, thencreate at least one male and one female capable of breeding. If he chooses the lattercourse, he must start again at Step 2 of “Creature Design”, above.Created Beast TemplateThis template is a guideline for determiningthe statistics of target creatures produced bythe Create Magical Beat feat. Aspects of thistemplate may be overridden or altered at theDM’s discretion, as creating life is a chancyprocess: the results are often unpredictable!“Created beast” is an inherited templatethat may be added to any corporeal animal,magical beast, or vermin (referred tohereafter as the base creature). This basecreature then takes on certain features ofanother corporeal animal, magical beast, orvermin (referred to hereafter as a secondarycreature). The effects of this template stack,so a magical beast with the “created beast”template may be used as the base creature foranother, more complex magical beast.The finished creature (also called “targetcreature”) gains a single physical feature orpaired set of features (head, tail, legs, wings,stinger, etc) of its creator’s choice from thesecondary creature, along with all attacks,movement type(s), normal senses and/orpenalties that come with that feature. Suchfeatures replace the corresponding parts ofthe base creature, if any.An additional head may be added to acreated beast, but only if three secondarycreatures of the base creature’s own speciesare incorporated for that purpose. Thesesecondary creatures confer no other benefit249(see below). The extra head may then beswitched out for the head of some othercreature, if another secondary creature with adifferent head is also incorporated.The creator may then choose one benefitpossessed by the secondary creature toconfer upon the base creature, provided ithas a better value than the base creature’sown. At least one secondary creature mustbe included in any created beast; if multiplesecondary creatures are utilized, each extraspecimen confers an additional benefit ofits creator’s choice. Only innate traits,features or capabilities of a secondarycreature may be conferred as benefits, notones acquired through character classadvancement (e.g. a gargoyle rogue couldconfer DR as a benefit, but not the ability tosneak attack). Spell-like abilities may not beconferred through the Create Magical Beastfeat, and secondary creatures used to addheads to the base creature do not contributeany such benefit.Unless otherwise stated, all abilitiesremain as per base creature.Size and Type: The creature’s typechanges to magical beast. Recalculate baseattack bonus and saves accordingly. Size isunchanged.HD: Increase hit dice to d10s, and add oned10 HD per secondary creature incorporatedinto it during the creation ritual.

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsSpeed: If limbs from the secondarycreature confer a new movement type uponthe created beast, or if they replace thecorresponding limbs of the base creature, itgains the same speed as the secondarycreature. If flight is acquired in this way, itsaerial maneuverability is one step worse thanthat of the secondary creature, to a minimumof clumsy. Otherwise, as base creature.AC: Replace base creature’s natural armorbonus with secondary creature’s, if casterchooses this as a benefit. Otherwise, as perbase creature.Attack/Full Attack: As per natural weaponsof base and/or secondary creatures. If asecondary creature’s natural weaponreplaces one of the base creature’s, thesecondary creature’s attack type and basedamage apply (e.g. a rhino’s head on a lion’sbody will gore rather than bite).If a secondary creature’s natural weapon isin addition to the base creature’s own, it istreated as a secondary natural weapon by thetarget creature. If an extra head was added tothe base creature, the target creature gainsnatural attacks appropriate to that head; thesefunction just like attacks made by the basecreature’s original head (e.g. a tiger’s bite isa secondary attack, so both of a two-headedtiger’s bite attacks are secondary attacks).If the base creature lacks natural weaponsentirely, any natural weapon which itacquires from the secondary creaturebecomes its primary attack.Special Attacks: Special attacks of the basecreature are retained, provided thecorresponding body parts remain.Extraordinary or supernatural attacks of thesecondary creature may be gained, but onlyif the creator selects this as a benefit (e.g. aviper’s jaws would not deliver poison unlessthat benefit is chosen).Special Qualities: As per special attacks.If any sense organs of the base creature havebeen replaced by the secondary creature’s,then all corresponding enhanced or impairedsensory qualities of the secondary creature(low-light vision, scent, light blindness, etc)also replace those of the base creature, evenif not selected as a benefit.250Abilities: Increase base creature’s Strengthby +2. It can also receive a +2 to anyphysical ability, if the caster chooses thisbenefit and the secondary creature’s score inthat ability is 2 or more higher than the basecreature’s.Skills: As per base creature. Skills of thesecondary creature may be selected as abenefit, either as new skills or asreplacements for the base creature’s. If theresulting bonus exceeds the created beast’sHD + 3, the difference between them isconsidered a racial skill bonus. All of thebase creature’s skills may be treated as classskills, when allotting skill points fromincreased hit dice.Feats: As per base creature. If new featsbecome available due to increased HD, thecaster may freely choose feats from thesecondary creature’s feat list, even if thecreated beast lacks those feats’ usual abilityprerequisites. Racial bonus feats of thesecondary creature may be selected asbenefits by the creator, likewise regardless ofability prerequisites.Sample Created BeastScorpiwolfScorpiwolf CR 3Always N Medium magical beastInit +2; Senses darkvision 60’, low-lightvision, scent; Listen +6, Spot +6AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +4natural)hp 37 (5 HD)Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2vSpeed 50’Melee bite +8 (1d6+2) and sting +2 (1d4+1+ poison)Base Atk +5; Grp +7Atk Options trip, poison (injury, Fort DC14, 1d3 Con/1d3 Con)Abilities Str 15 Dex 15 Con 15 Int 2 Wis 12Cha 6

Feats Alertness, Track B , Weapon Focus(bite)Skills Hide +2, Listen +6, Move Silently +3,Spot +6, Survival +2 (+6 when scenttracking)This growling, wolfish creature’s body isplated with chitin, interspersed with patchytufts of fur, and a barbed scorpion’s stingercurls up and over its back, dripping venom.The scorpiwolf is a monster crafted fromwild beasts and a wizard’s hubris. Fourwolves and twelve monstrous scorpionswere destroyed to that end, most of thempainfully. It is wolf-like in its habits andmannerisms, but it lacks the wolf’s packAppendix I New Magic and Featsinstincts and is quite content to hunt alone orguard its master’s hideout.The scorpiwolf receives a wolf’s +4 racialbonus when tracking by scent, and its biteand trip attacks, skills, and feats. From thescorpions, it receives a stinger (physicalfeature), and three benefits: poison, a thickcarapace covered with tufts of wolf fur, andthe ability to see in pitch darkness. The useof three scorpions in its creation also grantedit more HD than a wolf, thus increasing itsvenom’s potency and combat prowess, andgiving it another feat (Alertness).251

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsCreating AberrationsIn most mechanical respects, using theCreate Aberration feat is similar to using theCreate Magical Beast feat, with thefollowing exceptions:• The base and secondary creatures maybe of any living, corporeal creaturetype, so long as they are no more thanone category apart in size. The targetcreature’s HD may not exceed the creator’sHD +1.• The target creature will be an aberrationinstead of a magical beast, with d8HD and a good Will save. The castercan choose to raise one of the aberration’sother saves as a selected benefit,either by +4, or to any one secondarycreature’s save, whichever is less. Acreated aberration does not gain theaugmented humanoid subtype, even ifthe base or secondary creatures arehumanoids.• The DCs for the Knowledge (arcana)and Heal checks are increased by +2for each creature type utilized, includingthe base creature’s own type. Forexample, merging a giant with a magicalbeast increases the DCs by +4.• The monetary costs of research andassembly are at least twice as high asfor creating magical beasts. At theDM’s discretion, it could cost up to 5times more. XP costs are the same asfor making magical beasts.• Spell-like abilities of secondary creaturesmay be selected as benefits by thecaster, provided the level of spell is nogreater than ½ the target creature’s HD.Caster level for such spell-like abilitiesis that of the target creature, or of thesecondary creature, whichever is less.(Second-generation offspring of createdaberrations use their own casterlevels for spell-like abilities, not thesecondary creatures’.)• If sentient beings other than magicalbeasts are used as base or secondarycreatures, they receive a Fortitude saveto resist being incorporated into the targetcreature. The DC of this savingthrow is 10 + ½ creator’s level + creator’sspell-DC ability modifier +1 persecondary creature used. Spell resistanceapplies, when resisting thiseffect.Example: Howling HorrorA 12th level wizard wants to meld a dread troll (base creature) with a werewolf, in orderto create a regenerating aberration with damage reduction. Each of the two creatures mustmake a Fortitude save at the ritual’s end, with a DC of 10 +6 (half of 12), +5 (the wizard’sInt bonus), +1 (one werewolf), for a total of 22. If the troll’s Fort save succeeds, the ritualwill fail automatically, so the DM rolls its save first.To improve her chance of success, the wizard keeps an extra werewolf caged nearbyduring the ritual, just in case the one bound in the ritual circle makes its saving throw. Ifthat happens, the caged lycanthrope must immediately make a saving throw of its own, asthe dark magics of the ritual will target it next. If its save fails, the back-up specimenvanishes from the cage as its flesh merges with that of the troll.If the first werewolf fails to save, the caged specimen need not roll a saving throw at all,as the wizard’s ritual requires only one secondary creature. The caged werewolf is spared,to watch in horror as its pack-mate is hideously fused with the troll ... and to wonder whothe real monster in the ritual chamber is.252

If a creature successfully makes itssave, it is not incorporated. This mayresult in a weaker finished product thanintended, if fewer secondary creaturesthan desired are successfully incorporatedinto the aberration. If all of thesecondary creatures present saveagainst the ritual, or the base creaturedoes so, the ritual fails. Wise spellcasterskeep extra creatures on hand in casesome of the secondary ones make theirsaves, or impair their specimens’ Fortitudesaves with spells or Con-damagingpoisons.• Using humanoids or equivalent sentientraces (DM’s discretion) as base orsecondary creatures in the final creation-ritualconstitutes premeditatedmurder, warranting an additional Powerscheck. Vivisecting such beingsduring creature-creation research constitutesboth premeditated murder and(if not anesthetized) routine torture,also incurring a check.• If a person is incorporated into a createdaberration, Wish or Miracle canextract that person alive from the targetcreature, destroying the aberration inthe process. Limited Wish or BreakEnchantment cast on the slain carcassof the aberration can reverse the mergingritual, retrieving incorporated creatures’dead remains. An extractedcorpse can then be raised from thedead, albeit with the Ravenloft setting’susual risks.• As with created magical beasts, a createdaberration retains no memoriesfrom the incorporated base or secondarycreatures. Because they are oftensentient, created aberrations are morelikely to deduce how they came to be.At the DM’s discretion, this realizationcould impact the creature’s immediatereaction to its creator, which maychange the DC of the Loyalty check.• Last but not least, an aberration-creatormay designate himself as the base creature.To retain his personality andAppendix I New Magic and Feats253memories once merged, he must succeedon a Will save, with the same DCas an unwilling creature’s Fortitudesave. If he fails this Will save, he hastransformed himself into a monsterwith no memory; if he succeeds, heretains his former identity and memories.All of the usual risks of the creation-ritualapply, includingmalformation or death.Even if all necessary saves and theHeal check succeed, the transformedcreator must immediately make a DC22 Madness save, due to the painfuland violent nature of the transformation.Of course, given the risks, mostspellcasters who dare to attempt such aprocedure are already unstable in theextreme.Note that any PC who survives such agrotesque merging (even a voluntary one)becomes an NPC. If extracted from thefusion via powerful magic, that charactermay be played as a PC again, with his or herprevious statistics.Sample Created AberrationThe God of Many FacesThis evil man turned himself to a monster inan attempt to gain the power to freely blendin wherever he wished, be it the bed of amarried woman or the courts of royalty. Helost his own identity in the bargain, however,and now thinks of himself as a god amongstmortals.The base creature for this villain is a halfelfSor 11/Rog 1. Secondary creatures are ahuman werewolf and three dreaddoppelgangers, from which he acquired aslam attack, DR, natural armor, and thepower to change shape and read thoughts.The God of Many FacesCR14NE Medium aberrationInit +3; Senses Listen +10, Spot +9; detectthoughts (DC 22), low-light vision

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsLanguages Elvish (Sithican dialect)*,Balok, Mordentish, Vaasi; empathic linkOR 4 if powers revealed, 1 as half-elfAC 21, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +6natural, +2 deflection [ring])hp 104 (16 HD); DR 10/silverFort +9, Ref +10, Will +14 [+2 from belt]Speed 30 ft.Melee slam +13/+8 (1d6+1) or +1 humanbane dagger +13/+8 (1d4+2 + poison)Base Atk +12; Grp +13Atk Options sneak attack +1d6, poison(injury, Fort DC 15, 1d6 Str /-)Special Actions detect thoughts (DC 22) atwillCombat Gear silver +1 human banedagger; potion of cure serious wounds(3d8+5); potion of lesser restoration; 4doses of poison.Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 11 th ; DC 14 +spell level):5 th (4/day) – baleful polymorph, dominateperson4 th (7/day) – anesthesia VRA , confusion,lesser geas3 rd (7/day) – explosive runes, nondetection,rage, suggestion2 nd (7/day) – invisibility, scorching ray, sirensong VRA , Tasha’s hideous laughter, touchof idiocy1 st (7/day) – charm person, color spray,expeditious retreat, true strike,ventriloquism0 (6/day) – acid splash, daze, detect magic,detect poison, flare, mage hand,prestidigitation, silent portal SpC , touch offatigueAbilities Str 13, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 14, Wis14, Cha 19254SQ change shape, dread familiar (lizard),scalpel’s kiss, share spells, trapfindingFeats Alertness F , Craft Wondrous Item,Create Aberration, Create Magical Beast,Eschew Materials, Silent SpellSkills Bluff +13, Climb +4, Concentration+7, Diplomacy +6, Disguise +4*, GatherInformation +6, Heal +11 (+13 for magicalbeasts or aberrations), Hide +9,Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge(local) +8, Knowledge (religion) +4, Listen+10, Move Silently +9, Open Lock +7,Search +9, Sleight of Hand +9, Spellcraft+11, Spot +9Possessions Combat gear; belt of resistance+2 (as cloak); vivisectionist’s scalpel(grants +6 competence bonus to surgical orcreature-creation Heal checks for 24 hoursif blade is used to inflict pain on a helplesscreature); +2 ring of protection.Change Shape (Su): As dreaddoppelganger; see VRF: Doppelgangersfor details.Detect Thoughts (Su): As dreaddoppelganger; see VRF: Doppelgangersfor details.Scalpel’s Kiss Before becoming anaberration, the half-elf sorcerer whobecame the God of Many Faces failed aPowers check, acquiring a +2 bonus to allHeal checks involving either magicalbeasts or aberrations, himself included. Asa penalty, the palms of his hands bleedslowly for one hour – harmless, butgruesome and potentially betraying – anytime he uses a slashing weapon, scalpel, orother edged implement to cut anotherliving creature.Skills As a (former) half-elf, the God ofMany Faces gains a +2 racial bonus onDiplomacy and Gather Information checksand a +1 bonus to Search, Spot and Listenchecks. His dread familiar, a chameleon[Speed 10 ft., +16 Hide; otherwise asstandard lizard], grants him a +3 bonus toClimb checks and (if in range) theAlertness feat.

* The God of Many Faces gains a +10 bonuson Disguise checks when using ChangeShape. He is too inexperienced with hisDetect Thoughts ability to receive bonusesto social skill checks when he uses it, as atrue dread doppelganger would.The half-elf’s amiable smile widens into amalicious grin, and his fist lashes out in asucker-punch, his knuckles suddenly grownas knotted and hard as rocks.The self-styled “God of Many Faces” wasborn little more than a year ago, when a halfelfsorcerer (whose name the “God” neitherknows, nor cares enough to find out) wentmuch too far in his effort to enhance his ownabilities.The sorcerer in question was born intodisgrace, never meeting his father orknowing anything about him. In fact, theman was a powerful sorcerer who’denchanted his Sithican mother for a singlenight. Treated badly by her people forsuccumbing to “inferior” human magic, andfar worse after giving birth to a half-elf, sheand her child became outcasts from elvensociety. In desperation to feed herself andher young son, his mother was forced toprostitute herself as an exotic pleasure forthe human men of neighboring domains.Years of exploitation and shame grounddown the elf-woman’s spirit, until it broke atlast; she committed suicide when her sonwas still a boy, never suspecting he hadinherited his sire’s arcane gifts.Left on his own, the next few years of thehalf-elf’s life weren’t easy; he resorted totheft and con-artistry to survive, until hisown nascent talent for sorcery emerged.Accustomed to men treating his mother assomething to be used and discarded, hetreated others in the same way: as patsies tobe bilked or tools to exploit for his ownpleasure. Turning his magic (primarilyEnchantments) to that opportunistic end, hegrew up to be a powerful sorcerer,supporting a hedonistic lifestyle throughadventuring and deceit. Forever nagged bythe fact that he was neither human nor elf,one thing or the other, he became fascinatedby shapechanging magics and creatures ofAppendix I New Magic and Feats255all kinds, as well as by arcane means ofcombining two life forms into one.Following a chance encounter with adoppelganger Exile, the discontentedsorcerer hit upon a plan to ritually mergehimself with several of its kind, thusclaiming their imitative powers for himself.In his mind, he believed that this wouldallow him to walk as either elf or human ashe chose, a “half” no more. Being alecherous sort, he also thought this would bean easy way to sate his own lusts, byimpersonating the spouse or lover of anywoman who caught his eye. Reading others’minds was bound to come in handy too, aswould increasing his own ability towithstand attacks.His first series of rituals worked,incorporating powers from three captivedoppelgangers into himself, but the half-elf’smind didn’t cope perfectly with thistransition to his new body. He becamedelusional, believing he had achieved ameasure of divinity, if not true immortality.Obsessed with acquiring more, he hastilyprepared a second ritual, this time to renderhimself nigh-invulnerable to attack.Unfortunately, his hurried attempt to meldwith a werewolf went awry: when theprocess was complete, the fused being thatstepped from the ritual circle was no longerthe sorcerer, but a newborn entity thatrecalled nothing but its own “godhood”.The God of Many Faces is aware that hewas once a different creature, but he believesthat he was destined to become a kind ofmasked god, ascending to divinity andshedding his fallible mortal body. A selfservingegomaniac, he believes he hastranscended the limitations of both humansand elves, people and monsters, and istherefore superior to them all. He savors hisabilities to the fullest, freely robbing,exploiting, or murdering victims of all racesfor his own profit or entertainment. Hesometimes takes jobs as an assassin or spy,for the right price or the visceral stimulationof a challenge; he spends his ill-gotten gainson self-gratification and comfort, revertingto outright robbery if in need of quick funds.

Appendix I New Magic and FeatsBetween his shapechanging powers, hismany spells of enchantment, and his sheercharisma, the God of Many Faces seldomsleeps alone … whether his chosen bedmatesactually agree or not. He doesn’t realize it,but he has become far worse than his father:only the fact that his second ritual also lefthim sterile has stopped him from leaving hisown misbegotten offspring scattered acrossthe Core, to live out his previous life’s earlymisfortunes.Though bereft of memory, the God resentsboth humans and elves by force of habit, andfinds it amusing to trick these races intofacilitating their own downfall, such asplanting Explosive Runes in a “spellbook”and selling it to a power-hungry wizard. Heoften engineers events so that folk who judgeothers by appearance or race will,themselves, be condemned – and slain – fortheir own looks or species (e.g. luring abigoted Sithican elf to Tepest and thentipping off the Inquisition). Unfortunately,such exercises in “poetic justice” often resultin innocent casualties (e.g. the elf bigot’straveling companions could wind up on theInquisitors’ pyre as well). The God of ManyFaces resents the idea of anyone else havinga “happy childhood”, and has been known todeliberately use his magic on pregnantwomen, in hopes his tampering will causethem to give birth to calibans, not normalbabies.Working by trial and error, the God hasrediscovered the procedure for incorporatingmultiple life forms into one, and he isconsidering adding still more monstrouspowers to his own. He is also consideringusing this knowledge to create others of hiskind (or rather, some lesser creatures of hiskind), but he knows that this goal is at oddswith increasing his own powers: the morerituals he benefits from himself, the moredifficult it will be to create underlings withsimilar abilities. Which option he pursuesmay depend on which he meets, first: a newmonster with powers he covets, or a half-elfhe finds interesting enough to “recruit”.New SpellsFrostshroudTransmutationLevel: Drd 0, sor / wiz 0Components: V, S, MCasting Time: 1 standard actionRange: TouchArea: One 10’ square of surface / level (S)Duration: SpecialThis spell causes an inanimate surface tobecome covered by a thick white coating offrost. The frost does no harm to the affectedsurface, but it allows coated surfaces oritems to blend into the background in asnowy or icy environment. The Search DCto locate a structure or object that matches itswintery surroundings in this way is increasedby +5, as are checks to find or interpretfeatures of a frost-shrouded surface, such asengravings or hidden panels on a coatedwall. If this spell is applied to an ice-slicksurface, the frost adds texture to the ice sheetand changes the usual +5 increase forslippery surfaces’ Balance and Climb DCs to+2.Frost shroud is limited in that the affectedsurface must be at or below freezingtemperature, else the layer of frost meltsaway as rapidly as it forms, terminating thespell’s effect in one round. If cast undersuitably-frigid conditions, the spell’s effectwill last until the ambient temperature risessufficiently to melt its entire area of effect.If a small part of the affected surface iswarmed to the melting point, but not thewhole surface, the frost shroud’s thawedportion will temporarily lose its coating, thenregain it in one round as soon as the coldconditions return. Magical fire damage of 3hp or more will negate the frost shroudpermanently in the fire-affected area.Material component: A pinch of powderedglass mixed with several drops of water.256

Shrink ConstructTransmutationLevel: Sor / wiz 5Components: V, SCasting Time: 1 standard actionRange: TouchTarget: One compliant constructDuration: One day / level; see textWhen applied to a construct which isobedient to the caster, this spell shrinks theconstruct to 1/16 its normal size in eachdimension (to about 1/4000 its originalvolume and mass). This change effectivelyreduces the construct’s size by fourcategories (for instance, from Huge to Tiny).The construct becomes inert and immobilefor as long as the spell remains in effect.Optionally, the affected construct’scomposition may also be altered to a clothlikeone; shifting to or from such a state is astandard action.This spell affects constructs of up to Largesize for casters of up to 12 th level. Casters of13 th to 16 th level may shrink constructs of upto Huge size, and casters of 17 th level ormore can shrink a construct of up toGargantuan size. Shrink construct bypassesthe immunity to magic exhibited by manygolems and other powerful constructs.Constructs must be under the absolutecontrol of this spell’s caster to be affected;hence, berserk or dread golems are immuneto its effects. Even constructs formed ofinsubstantial materials, such as prismaticgolems (MMIII), may be affected, providedthey are under the caster's sole control.A construct affected by this spell may berestored to animation and its normal state bya word of command from the original shrinkconstruct caster, or merely by tossing itagainst a solid surface. Its former state isalso restored if the magic is dispelled or theconstruct enters an antimagic field. Once theconstruct regains its original compositionand activity, the spell is ended.Appendix I New Magic and Feats257Shrink construct may be made permanentwith a permanency spell. In such a case, theconstruct may be shrunk and expanded anindefinite number of times, but only by theoriginal caster.Meredoth developed this spell to ensure hecould never again be caught defenseless in amagic-suppressed environment. He usuallykeeps up to half-a-dozen assorted constructspinned inside the hem of his outer robe, intheir shrunken, cloth-like form; anyantimagical effect strong enough to stifle hispowers also negates the spell, so he needonly invert his robe’s hems and spin around,and these minions drop to the floor aroundhim and spring to his defense.Shrink Item, GreaterTransmutationLevel: Sor / wiz 4This spell functions like shrink item, savethat it also affects magical items orstructures.The effects of greater shrink item andshrink item do not stack.SomnambulismEnchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]Level: Asn1, Brd1, Sor/Wiz1Components: V, SCasting Time: 1 roundRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./level)Target: One sleeping creatureDuration: 10 minutes/levelSaving Throw: Will negatesSpell Resistance: YesThis spell causes a sleeping creature to beginsleepwalking. The movements of asleepwalking creatures are random; she maywalk in circles within their sleeping area,retrace the paths of her daily routine, walk ina straight line as far as she is able, or evenperform small tasks in her sleep such as

Appendix I New Magic and Featschanging clothes, moving small items, orpreparing drinks. The somnambulism spellprovides no control over the sleepwalker'sactions. At the end of the spell's duration, thesomnambulist will sit or lie down in hercurrent position, returning to normal sleepuntil she would normally wake.Sleepwalking creatures are helpless. Theyare not aware of their surroundings, though ifthey are in a familiar area they do not runinto walls and other obstructions. Striking orwounding awakens a somnambulist, butnormal noise or running into walls and otherobjects does not. Awakening a sleepwalkeris a standard action (an application of the aidanother action), and depending on thecircumstances may prompt a Fear checkfrom the awakening sleepwalker (due toawakening suddenly in an unfamiliar andpossibly hostile location).Somnambulism does not affect creaturesthat do not sleep (such as elves), constructs,or undead creatures.Somnambulism, DirectedEnchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]Level: Asn4, Brd4, Sor/Wiz4Components: V, SCasting Time: 1 roundRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./level)Target: One sleeping creatureDuration: 10 minutes/levelSaving Throw: Will negatesSpell Resistance: YesThis spell causes a sleeping creature to beginsleepwalking, as with the Somnambulismspell, but under the control of the spellcaster.So long as the caster and the target remainwithin range of each other (25 ft. + 5ft./level), the caster may direct the sleepwalker'smovements; exceeding this radius causes thespell to end prematurely. The targetedcreature need not actually see or hear thespellcaster's command, as these areconveyed directly to the target's mind via258arcane means. The somambulist's actions arelimited to walking as the caster directs; noteven the simple random tasks somesleepwalkers manage are possible underdirected Somnambulism. At the end of thespell's duration, the somambulist will sit orlie down in her current position, returning tonormal sleep until she would normally wake.Sleepwalking creatures are helpless. Theyare not aware of their surroundings, though ifthey are in a familiar area they do not runinto walls and other obstructions unlessdirected to by the spellcaster. Striking orwounding awakens a somambulist, butnormal noise or running into walls and otherobjects does not. Awakening a sleepwalkeris a standard action (an application of the aidanother action), and depending on thecircumstances may prompt a Fear checkfrom the awakening sleepwalker (due toawakening suddenly in an unfamiliar andpossibly hostile location).Directed Somnambulism does not affectcreatures that do not sleep (such as elves),constructs, or undead creatures.Assassins use this spell to arrangesupposedly accidental deaths.Transmute Snow to StoneTransmutation [Cold]Level: Sor / wiz 5Components: V, S, MCasting Time: 1 standard actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. / level)Area: One 10’ cube / level (S)Duration: PermanentSaving Throw: See textSpell Resistance: NoThis spell turns naturally-occurring snow orslush of any depth into a soft stone-likematerial that resembles porous white marble.The resulting “stone” can be cut and quarriedlike normal rock for purposes ofconstruction, and resists melting in the samemanner as real marble. Chips of less than 1

pound in weight revert to snow if brokenaway from the bulk of the stone.Structures built out of snow (e.g. igloos)may be transmuted by this spell, althoughthose larger than one 10’ cube per casterlevel will require multiple castings. Abuilding constructed of the “stone” createdby this spell is quite difficult to heat. Inbelow-freezing ambient temperatures, itfeels just as cold inside as outside; in warmersettings, it feels 10° colder inside thebuilding than outdoor conditions andmundane and/or magical effects wouldotherwise make it.Creatures standing in slush or snow whenit is transmuted to stone are allowed a Reflexsave to avoid being trapped. Creatures ofTiny size or smaller, wearing snowshoes, ormagically able to walk on the surface ofsnow are exempt from this threat in snow(but not in slush).If transmute snow to stone is cast on theceiling of a snow tunnel to cause a cave-in,characters immediately beneath the affectedarea take 8d6 points of bludgeoning damage,or half that with a DC 15 Reflex save. Theyare subsequently buried. Creatures no morethan two squares outside this ‘bury zone’take 3d6 points of bludgeoning damage fromsliding debris, or no damage with a DC 15Reflex save. Those in the ‘slide zone’ whofail to save are also buried. Effects of beingburied by a cave-in are described in theDMG (p. 66).Transmute snow to stone counters anddispels transmute stone to snow.Material component: A chip of whitemarble, a pinch of salt, and a teardrop.Transmute Stone to SnowTransmutation [Cold]Level: Sor / wiz 5Components: V, S, MCasting Time: 1 standard actionRange: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. / level)Area: One 10’ cube / level (S)Duration: PermanentAppendix I New Magic and FeatsSaving Throw: See textSpell Resistance: NoThis spell turns natural, uncut or unworkedrock of any sort into an equal volume ofloose snow. If the spell is cast upon aboulder, for example, the boulder collapsesinto a hill of snow. Magical stone isunaffected, unless it is a product oftransmute stone to snow. The depth of snowcreated from normal stone cannot exceed 10feet; however, the depth which can becreated from already-transmuted snow hasno limit. The affected area is treated asheavy snow (DMG p. 94) for the purpose ofmovement.A creature standing on level stone when itis transmuted sinks in 2 +1d4 feet, haltingmovement and incurring a –2 penalty toattack rolls and AC. Such a creature mayextricate itself from snow in two rounds, oras a full-round action with another creature’said. Creatures of Tiny size or less, orcreatures able to walk atop snow (e.g. due tomagic or snowshoes) are exempt fromsinking.If transmute stone to snow is cast on theceiling of a cavern or tunnel, the snow fallsto the floor and spreads out in a mound to adepth of 5 feet. For example, a 12 th -levelcaster could convert twelve 10-foot cubesinto snow. Drifted on the floor, this wouldcover an area of twenty-four 10-foot squareswith snow to a depth of 5 feet. The fallingsnow and the ensuing cave-in deal 8d6points of bludgeoning damage to anyonecaught directly beneath the area, or halfdamage to those who succeed on their Reflexsaves.If stone on a steep slope is transmuted intosnow, the resulting collapse is treated as aminiature avalanche (DMG p. 90). The totalarea of the ‘bury zone’ is equal to that of thespell effect, while the ‘slide zone’ extends anadditional 10’ around the bury zone’s edges.Castles and large stone buildings aregenerally immune to the effect of this spell,since transmute stone to snow can’t affectworked or cut stone and doesn’t reach deepenough to undermine such buildings’foundations. However, small buildings or259

Appendix I New Magic and Featsstructures often rest on foundations shallowenough to be damaged or even partiallytoppled by this spell.Dispel magic or transmute snow to stonereturns the snow to its original state, but notnecessarily its original form. Snow createdfrom stone melts normally at temperaturesabove freezing; exact melting time varieswith how warm it is and how loosely thesnow is spread out.Transmute stone to snow counters anddispels transmute snow to stone.Material component: A small lump of saltcrystal and a teardrop.Vision StoneDivinationLevel: Sor / wiz 4Components: V, S, MCasting Time: 1 standard actionRange: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft. / 2 levels)Target: One gem or item / levelDuration: Permanent until dischargedSaving Throw: SpecialThis spell enables the caster to enclose atelepathic message in a gem or other object.The caster is able to set the conditions underwhich the message will be revealed, underthe same criteria and limitations as a magicmouth spell. When a creature meeting thespecified conditions holds the object, itglows and pulses, and the message isdelivered mentally to the creature. Themessage remains in the object until its magicis dispelled or the conditions for its deliveryare met. Each casting of this spell can imbueup to one object per caster level; all affectedobjects must carry the same message andrespond to the same triggering condition.Vision stone enables the caster to place a50-word mental message or a one-minutevision into the designated object. Thedelivery is inaudible, ‘heard’ only in themind of the recipient. The vision stonecannot trigger magical effects, but posthypnoticsuggestions (implanted via the260Hypnosis skill) may be activated in this way.A sufficiently distressing vision or messagemay suffice to trigger a Fear or Horror save.Recipients of a vision stone’s signal can stillperceive and react to their surroundings.The content of a vision stone is entirely upto the caster, who may incorporate real,hypothetical, or wholly fantastic experiencesinto a vision. Visions may be experiencedfrom the point of view of the recipient, fromsome other creature’s perspective (e.g. avision of being a dragon or ghost), or as anomniscient, intangible observer. Likewise,messages may be ‘heard’ in the voice of thecaster, that of some other creature (includingthe recipient), or an anonymous, genderlessdrone.Items worth 100 gp or more (either gemsor fabricated items) may be imbued withvision stone at up to caster level 14. Atcaster levels of 15 or higher, gems or crafteditems of any value may be imbued with suchan effect. Only non-magical items may beendowed with messages in this way, and theaffected object disintegrates immediatelyafter the message is delivered.Material component: An eyelash and atooth from any creature.

Appendix I New Magic and Feats261

Appendix IINew Monsters

Undead Salient AbilitiesThe following salient abilities are suitablefor undead encountered in the Nocturnal Searegion, as most were reverse-engineered bythe necromancer Meredoth, based on exoticWalking Dead native to his world of origin.Note that, while each is recommended foreither Obedient Dead (skeletons, zombiesand lebendtod) or Hungry Dead (ghouls,ghasts, and their ilk), it is not unusual forWalking Dead of one sort to possess salientabilities typical of another category (as perVRGttWD).DC values for saving throws against all thesalient abilities listed here are 10 + ½ HD +Charisma modifier.Aura of Chilling Weakness (Su):CR adjustment: +1/3As a free action, the undead creature cansurround itself with a slowly-spreading auraof eerie greenish light which weakens itsopponents. This emanation radiates from thecreature’s head, and expands in radius by 5’increments each round, from an initial 5’ to a25’ radius on its 5 th round of operation. Innatural darkness, the aura creates shadowyillumination within its area of effect. Effectsthat extinguish light, such as darkness, hidethe glow but do not negate the aura’s effects.Any living creature touching or enteringthe creature’s aura must make a Will save orsuffer a –2 penalty to attack and damagerolls, skill and ability checks, and saves(identical to the shaken condition, but not afear effect) for 1d4+1 rounds. A savingthrow must be made for each round a livingbeing remains in contact with the undead’saura, but the effects of multiple failed savesare not cumulative.Aura of Chilling Weakness resembles theFear Aura VRGttWD that is found in some ofRavenloft’s Restless Dead, but this variant ismore commonly seen in the Hungry Dead.Bane-Orbs (Su):CR adjustment: +1/2Appendix II New Monsters263In lieu of its usual claw or slam attack(s), thisundead creature wields a pair of glowingballs of red light, one in each hand. These“bane-orbs” may be used to make touchattacks, either at melee weapons when heldor as ranged weapons if thrown (30’increments). If a bane-orb is thrown as anattack, it immediately vanishes after it hasstruck or missed its target, and a new oneappears in the creature’s vacant hand. Theundead may extinguish the bane-orbs as afree action if it needs to use its hands forsome other purpose (e.g. to climb a ladder);recalling them to its hands again is likewise afree action.Bane-orbs inflict a base 1d6 hp of damageagainst their targets. In addition, if a baneorbhits a creature of the same humanoidsubtype as the undead had been in life,damage is multiplied as if it had scored acritical hit (e.g. an elf skeleton with thissalient ability does 2d6 hp of damage toelves with its bane-orbs). An actual criticalhit scored with a bane-orb will also multiplythe damage inflicted. Damage caused by abane-orb attack is untyped.This ability may be assigned to an undeadcreature twice. If so, the bane-orbs’ colorchanges from red to green; base damageincreases to 1d10; and the orbs acquire theBane special weapon property against thecreature’s former humanoid subtype. Inaddition, any special attack effect which theundead would normally inflict via its slam orclaw attack(s) is transmitted by the bane-orb(e.g. an elf ghoul with the enhanced Bane-Orbs power would inflict 2d10 hp of damageto an elf target [+2d6 on a critical hit], or1d10 hp + paralysis to a non-elf).Bane-Orbs are usually seen in the ObedientDead, particularly those in which more thanthe minimum number of HD have beenconcentrated via the animate dead spell.Undead of less than 2 HD are not strongenough to channel the energies of this salientability. If a lebendtod possesses the Bane-Orbs power, its separated hands each wieldone orb as a melee attack; a hand must beattached to an arm to hurl its bane-orb.

Manifest Spite (Su):Appendix II New MonstersCR adjustment: +1Once per round, the undead creature cangenerate an aggressive, free-roaming entityknown as a “spite”, which then attacks asingle designated target. Congealed from theundead’s own hostility to life, these Tinymanifestations will chase and assault theirassigned foe until the enemy is dead, fleesmore than 100’ from the generating undead,or until the spites are successfully Turned ordestroyed. An undead creature can manifesta maximum of one spite at a time, per HD itpossesses.In most respects, a spite functions like aspiritual weapon spell effect, save that itcannot be negated by spell resistance, andthe damage it inflicts depends upon itstarget’s alignment: 1d6 for Evil targets, 1d8for Neutral ones, and 1d10 for Good-alignedones. They also receive a +4 bonus on theirattack rolls, relative to the undead whichgenerated them. The ‘caster level’ of a spiteis equal to its undead creator’s Hit Dice, forpurposes of dispelling effects.For Turning attempts, a spite has half theHD of the undead creature which created it.As spites’ existence is extremely fragile andtemporary, these manifestations can bedestroyed normally by a Turning attempt(i.e. Ravenloft-specific rules that limit TurnUndead do not apply). A spite cannot berebuked or commanded.In appearance, a spite resembles a ghostlystreak of white with a snarling face at oneend, that tears through the air at fantasticspeeds (100 ft). Its gnashing maw gapeswide, its eyes are beady and hateful, and apair of miniscule, useless arms hang off itssides, often pointing threateningly at theirdesignated target an instant before they diveto the attack. If an undead that creates thesevicious little pests is destroyed, all its spitesemit high-pitched wails of foiled hatred, anddisperse into nothingness.To date, Manifest Spite is an ability that isfound only in some of the niche-ensconceddoorkeepers of Todstein’s Hall of Flesh.Only sentient undead with a Charisma of 15or more may possess this power, which264Meredoth based (not very accurately) ontales he’d heard second-hand.Mind-Hazing Touch (Su):CR adjustment: +1/2Any victim hit by the undead creature’smelee attack suffers 1 point of Intelligencedamage, and must make a Will save or enterinto a Mind Haze. This replaces the normaldamage or other effects of melee attacks byan undead of its type. If the undead creaturehas more than one type of attack (such asclaws and a bite), this salient ability appliesto one of its natural attack types.Creatures under the effects of a Mind Hazewill continue to repeat the same action orsequence of actions – moving, attacking, etc– until the Haze wears off in 2d4 rounds. Ifrepeating such an action would be activelysuicidal (e.g. continuing to walk off a cliff), anew saving throw is allowed; if repetition isphysically impossible (e.g. retrieving anddrinking a potion already used), the victimpantomimes the action. Victims under theeffect of a Mind Haze are considered to beflat-footed.Mind-Hazing Touch is a rare power, andone not introduced by Meredoth. Itoccasionally is seen in fog cadaversanimated by zombie fogs that blow inlandoff the Nocturnal Sea, or in mist horrorscreated by the mist golems of Fogview Baybeach.Retributive Death-Cry (Ex):CR adjustment: +3/4When the undead creature is destroyed, itunleashes a piercing death-cry. All sentientliving beings who hear this shriek (a soniceffect) must make a Will save or becomeshaken and suffer a –4 morale penalty toDexterity. These penalties persist until thevictim receives the benefits of a remove fearor remove curse spell.Retributive Death-Cry is a power virtuallyunique to zombies, and particularly to thosedesignated as suicide troops. They are oftendeployed in combination with undead whichhave the Self-Destruct (VRGttWD) salient

ability, so their shrieks can impair the Reflexsaves of the latter power’s targets.Scream of the Graveborn (Su):CR adjustment: +1/2As a full-round action, the undead creaturemay scream (a sonic effect) once every 3rounds. Living beings within 20’ must makea Will save or temporarily gain one negativelevel. Multiple screams’ effects stack, andany creature temporarily reduced to 0 levelsor Hit Dice falls unconscious and cannot beroused for 3d4 x 10 minutes. The negativelevels persist only 1d4 minutes, so can neverresult in permanent level loss.Scream of the Graveborn is most commonamong the Hungry Dead.Shrunken (Ex):CR adjustment: +1By magical and/or mundane preservationtechniques, the bodies of undead with thissalient ability were shrunken before beinganimated. A Shrunken undead’s size isreduced by two steps (Medium to Tiny, etc),with all attendant modifiers to attack rolls,armor class, space/reach, abilities and skillchecks. Base damage per attack remainsunchanged, although Strength modifiers todamage will likely be reduced. The undeadalso acquires the benefits of the “withered”state of preservation (VRGttWD), if it did notalready possess them (i.e. natural armorbonus of ½ HD + Charisma modifier).Shrunken undead also receive a +6 racialbonus to Jump checks. A zombie which istreated in this way before animation is morecoordinated than usual for its type, losing theSingle Actions Only special quality.Only bodies with flesh and skin can beShrunken, and such postmortem shrinking ofremains is incompatible with the process ofcreating a lebendtod. Thus, this salientability is mainly seen in zombies, though italso crops up in a few Ancient Dead craftedby primitive jungle tribes.Spirit-Rending Touch (Su):CR adjustment: +3/4Appendix II New Monsters265Any target touched by the undead creaturemust make a Fortitude save or be panickedfor 1d4+1 rounds, while suffering 1d3 pointsof Constitution damage. In each subsequentround of panic, the victim must save again ortake another 1d3 Con damage. Creaturesreduced to 3 Con or less fall unconscious for10 minutes, which halts the ability damage.Spirit-Rending Touch is common amongObedient Dead created from those slain byenergy-draining magics. It has also beenseen in free-willed ghosts arisen after such adeath, sometimes in the form of a gaze attackrather than a touch attack.Flayed Rider(Nuckalavee)Legend claims the Flayed Rider was once aman, yet the shape that rears up from thefouled pond’s stagnant water is less humanthan any goblyn. Its squat, malformed man’storso is wedded at the waist to a quadrupedbody only superficially equine, furless andslime-slickened, with dripping frills of finand a long tail like an eel’s, now lashing thebrackish water’s surface to froth. Its wristsjoin to webbed, taloned things more pawthan hand; ungainly frog-feet, also clawed,sprout from its fetlocks in place of hooves.Worse even than its grossly-bloated,ogrish face or the hate-filled, spit-sprayingbellow of rage it unleashes, is its skin:transparent as a tadpole’s belly, such thatthe taut cords of blanched muscles, the ivoryof bone and sickly yellow of gristle, the ropycoils of gut in its paired bellies and thepulsing streams of black blood within itsveins, are hideously cast into view.Ezra’s mercy, let it not have been a man…The Flayed Rider CR 14Male nuckalavee ranger 6CE Large aberration (aquatic)Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft; Listen +6,Spot +6Aura death 120’, fear 60’, stench 30’Languages Nuckalavee*, Grabenite

Appendix II New MonstersOutcast Rating 9Combat Gear Large composite longboweffect); Able Sniper RWi , Manyshot, Rapid weaker varieties of natural life. Tiny orShot; favored enemy (humans) +4, favored smaller animals and vermin within 120’ ofenemy (fey) +2this creature incur one negative level perminute until slain. The Flayed RiderSpecial Actions breath weapon (6d6 cold cannot choose to suppress this aura’sdamage 60’ cone, Ref save DC 21), rebuke effects.While familiars suffer no negativeundead (5/day, 1d20+2 turning check, levels from this Death Aura, those that had2d6+13 HD affected), Centaur Trample RWi been Tiny or smaller animals before(+8 Str bonus), 2 quivers of 30 LargeAC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 13(-1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural)hp 132 (17 HD); fast healing 3Immune poisonResist fire resistance 30; SR 21arrowsRanger Spells Prepared (CL 3 rd ):1 st – entangle, resist energyAbilities Str 27, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 8, Wis13, Cha 14Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +12SQ amphibious, ghastly appearance,magical beast empathy +4, speak withWeakness freshwater aversion, geas, turningundead, undead affinityvulnerabilityFeats Able Sniper RWi , Alertness, CentaurSpeed 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 90 ft; Trample RWi , Cleave, Endurance B ,unhindered by boggy or muddy terrainManyshot B , Power Attack, Rapid Shot B ,Melee 2 claws +21 (2d8+8 plus killingtouch); orMelee unarmed touch +21 (killing touch); orMelee rake +21 (2d6+4) [Centaur TrampleTrack B[ RWi – Races of the Wild. Centaur Tramplepermits the Rider to overrun as per theTrample feat, and to make a rake attack onRWI ]a knocked-down target with its clawedfront flipper. Agile Sniper grants it a +2Ranged Large composite longbow (+8 Str bonus for ranged attacks on flat-footedbonus) +18/+13 (2d6+8/x3); ortargets within 30’, and a +4 bonus on itsRanged Large composite longbow (+8 Strbonus) +18/+16/+11 (2d6+8/x3) [RapidShot]; orRanged Large composite longbow (+8 Strbonus) +14/+14 (2d6+8/x3) [Manyshot, 2Hide checks to conceal itself again after itfires from hiding.]Skills Craft (fletcher) +5, Hide +10, Listen+6, Move Silently +12, Spot +6, Survival+10, Swim +16*arrows]; orRanged Large composite longbow (+8 StrBreath Weapon (Su): Once every 1d4bonus) +12/+12/+12 (2d6+8/x3)rounds, the Flayed Rider can breathe a 60’[Manyshot, 3 arrows]cone of frost (if on land) or icy, brackishwater (underwater), either of which inflictsSpace 10 ft; Reach 5 ftBase Atk +14/+9; Grp +26Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack, killingtouch (Fort save DC 21 finger of death6d6 hp of cold damage. The Reflex saveDC is Constitution-based, and successreduces cold damage by half.Death Aura (Su): The nuckalavee is alwayssurrounded by an aura which is deadly tobecoming familiars feel extremely illinside its area of effect. Such a familiarmust pass a Fort save (DC 21;266

Constitution-based) or it acquires thenauseated condition until it leaves theaura’s radius. Upon exiting the aura, itfeels better immediately. The Rider’s deathaura is a death effect.Fear Aura (Su): The nuckalavee radiates asecondary aura of fear in a 60’ radius. Thiseffect is identical to the fear spell; its Willsave (DC 21) is Constitution-based. Thecreature is able to suppress or re-activateits Fear Aura as a swift action.Freshwater Aversion Like all its kind, thenuckalavee is repelled by fresh water, eventhough it causes it no actual harm. Itretreats beneath the stagnant mires of theAassumpf when it rains, and will not crossfreshwater rivers, lakes, or streams. Ifsplashed with at least a gallon of freshwater, it must make a Fear save (DC 20); ifthis results in panic, it remains panickeduntil it can immerse its body in brackish orstagnant water, and for 1 minute thereafter.If struck by a water-producing spell, theDC for its Fear save is equal to the spell’sDC -2.Geas Graben Island’s nuckalavee is cursedby a permanent geas effect which forbids itfrom entering the sea. If somehow forcedor tricked into doing so, it suffers the usualconsequences of defying a geas/questspell.Ghastly Appearance (Ex): The physicalappearance of the Rider is so menacing asto impose a +2 to the DC of any Fear savesit provokes, and so grotesque as to add +4to the DC of any Horror saves its actionsincur. Merely seeing its hideousness forthe first time is grounds for a DC 15 Horrorsave, or DC 18 for those who believe the(false) tales that it was once a humanbeing.Killing Touch (Sp) Three times daily, theFlayed Rider may employ an effect similarto finger of death in combination witheither its claw attacks or an unarmed touchattack. Its effective caster level is 11, sothose who pass their Fort saves (DC 21;Constitution-based) suffer 3d6+11 hp ofdamage. It may hold the charge of thisAppendix II New Monsters267attack under the same terms as other touchattackspells.Those slain by the nuckalavee’s KillingTouch die in terrible agony, their skinfading to a grisly transparency like its own.Horror saves incurred by witnessing deathor dead bodies have their DCs increased by+3, if they involve victims of the FlayedRider’s lethal touch.Magical Beast Empathy (Ex): Due to itsaura, the nuckalavee is unable to use WildEmpathy on normal animals, which senseits inherent malignance and never respondfavorably to its presence. It may use WildEmpathy on magical beasts at the usual –4penalty (included above).Rebuke Undead (Su): Following its arrivalin Ravenloft, the Rider’s racial affinity forthe undead has been enhanced by the darkforces that roused it from its slumber. Itcan rebuke, command, and bolster theundead 5 times per day as an 11 th level evilcleric.Speak With Undead (Sp) As speak withanimals, save that all undead (intelligent ornot) are able to understand thenuckalavee’s speech, and sentient undeadcan speak to it even if they wouldotherwise be incapable of doing so (e.g. itcould discern a mute Slain skeleton‘speaking’ as if the skeleton had the DustTongue feat). The Flayed Rider need makeno effort to use this ability, though it mustbe within range to overhear the undeadcreature or vice versa.Stench (Ex): The nuckalavee emits a horridaroma of decay that can be detected fromup to 100 feet away. All living creatureswithin 30 ft. of this monster must make aFort save (DC 21; Constitution-based) orbe sickened as long as they remain inrange, and for one round thereafter. Asuccessful save grants immunity to thestench for 24 hours. If a creature that failedits save escapes from the stench’s area ofeffect, then enters it again, it must make anew save. The Rider’s stench is not apoison, so resistances and spells that affectpoison have no impact on its effects.

Appendix II New MonstersCreatures without a sense of smell areimmune.Turning Vulnerability Due to its malignantnature and devout allegiance to undeath,the Dark Powers have rendered thenuckalavee of Graben Island susceptible toTurn Undead effects. Turning attemptsthat use positive energy suffer a –2 penaltyto turning checks against it; those usingnegative energy do not. This creature cannever be destroyed by Turn/RebukeUndead, but only commanded or drivenaway. The Flayed Rider may not use itsown Rebuke Undead ability to bolsteritself against others’ Turning powers.Undead Affinity (Ex): The nuckalavee’sutter loathing for living things and its lifequenchingaura lead most undead to regardit as one of their own. It receives all theeffects of the Deathly Pallor CoD feat, inthat unintelligent undead will not attack itunless specifically commanded to do so. Itmust pass a Will save to see creaturesunder the effects of a hide from undeadspell, and is itself vulnerable to TurnUndead (as above). Intelligent undeadreact to it as if it had a +4 circumstancebonus to Charisma.Skills * The Rider receives a +8 racial bonuson any Swim check to perform somespecial action or to avoid a hazard. It canalways choose to Take 10 on a Swimcheck, even if distracted or endangered. Itcan use the run action while swimming,provided it moves in a straight line. Onopposed Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spotor Survival checks made against humans, itreceives a +4 bonus to its skill check, or a+2 bonus against fey.A freakish, aggressive aberration draggedagainst its will first to Graben Island, then toRavenloft, the Flayed Rider is a kill-crazypsychopath trapped by its own folly. Barredfrom either rampaging freely across theIsland or returning to its home in the sea, bya geas laid on it by men now centuries dead,it chafes and rages against its captivity, yet itlacks the wit or patience to concoct a way268out of the foul marshes which have becomeboth its territory and its prison.Were it confined on Liffe rather thanGraben Island, the nuckalavee’s malice issuch that it would most likely become ademilord in its own right. As it is,Meredoth’s grip upon Nebligtode is toosecure for it to attain such a status … not thatits predicament would change much, if it did.Strategy and TacticsThe nuckalavee is a born predator, and usespredatory tactics. Trusting its size, strength,and fear aura to overwhelm and scatter itsprey, it enjoys lurking in ambush below thesilt-choked, putrid waters of the Aassumpf,hidden by the murk and algal scum. At thesound of squelching footsteps in the mud, itrears up to grapple a victim and haul theminto the water to drown. Until it bursts upfrom the mire, its stench is masked by thereek of foul swamp-water, and it suppressesits fear aura until it strikes, then activates itto scare off anyone who may try to rescue itsprize. It cannot suppress its death aura in thesame manner, so the distress of familiars orthe presence of dead animal carcasses andinsects may yet warn the discerning.Having tasted blood, the aberration gallopsashore to trample and rend more victims, orretreats underwater if heavily outnumbered,with a parting shot from its breath weapon.Even if it falls back after its initial strike, itsappetite for death is only whetted, not sated;driven off once, it stalks its quarry throughthe Senkenwiese and Aassumpf, alternatelypicking off its targets with breath weaponblasts, hit-and-run charges, and trampling, orsniping at them with its massive bone-andsinewlongbow. Panicked foes scattered byits fear aura or sheer hideousness are trackeddown and slain one by one, their corpses –frost-rimed, clear-skinned, or eviscerated byits claws – left in their companions’ paths tohorrify and demoralize its prey.If seriously endangered, or if a quarryseems likely to escape from its territoryaltogether, the Rider hauls a few Strangledfrom their bog-pits, compelling them toassist it via its Rebuke Undead power. Thevile aberration hesitates to do this early on,

Appendix II New Monstersas its homicidal lust for blood drives it toslaughter intruders personally wheneverpossible.EcologyThe Graben Island nuckalavee – the only oneof its breed in all Nebligtode, though thepossibility that others like it might plague thefar-off corners of the Land of Mists is afrightening one – has prowled the Aassumpfand Senkenwiese ever since that domain’sbirth, and only its reluctance to wander farfrom the rancid pools in which it slumbershas barred it from annihilating every otherbreathing creature within its territory. Anyliving thing its lethal aura fails to extinguish,the Flayed Rider eagerly stalks and slays viabow or breath weapon, for it finds life everybit as viscerally-repugnant – of value onlyfor the feral joy which its brutal destructioncan deliver – as normal sentient beings deemthe undead or aberrant to be. Birds or otherflying prey are singled out for a particularlycruel death, by means of its Killing Touch,for the aberration envies them their freedomto soar as they see fit, taking out its owncaptive frustrations on innocent wildlife.The Flayed Rider is technicallyomnivorous, but it far prefers to eat thecreatures it hunts down, as feeding on bothplants and things slain by its aura is ‘tooeasy’ … for itself, and for the food. Itsnatural habitat is the sea, but the Anatal geasstill prevents it from venturing into the surf,just as its inborn aversion to clean, runningwater confines it between theSchicksalflüsse. This leaves it no choice butto lair in stagnant, fetid pools of themarshland, relocating to another area everyfew months as its aura slays or drives awaythe available prey. It constructs cage-likestructures from the bones of its kills in thesefoul lakes; it mounts the skulls of three orfour of its victims atop these structures, to jutabove the tainted surface and draw anyavailable sentient prey into grabbing range,by force of morbid curiosity.Though not truly undead, the nuckalavee’sappearance makes the Grabenite reports of a“flayed rider” less far-fetched than skepticsassume. Its centaur-like, muscular frame iscoated in a thick, yet completely transparenthide, providing an unobstructed and ghastlyview of its muscles, skeleton, and innards.Fearsome, hooked talons and webbing adornits bestial hands and wide, flipper-like feet;its legs, scalp and eel-like tail are fringed byspine-edged fins. Its face resembles a blendof sahuagin and ogre, and three paired sets ofgills – flared wide in the water, tightly sealedabove the surface – gape at its neck, cheeks,and the junction between its equine andhumanoid torsos. The aberration’s eyes arebig and globular, pitch black all the waythrough; they bulge out from its face like afrog’s. Its throat is dewlapped, and wobbleswhen it speaks: either a guttural, garglingapproximation of Grabenite, or the slurps,clicks, gags and gurgles of its ugly, tonguetanglingracial language by which it speaksto undead.Despite having resided in Ravenloft forover a century, the Rider does not appear tobe aging in the slightest. Whether this is thework of its curse, the Dark Powers, or just anaturally-prolonged lifespan is unsure, givenhow very little is known of its kind. Morecuriously, it does not seem to realize howvery long it has been in the Land of Mists,harboring resentment for trespassers whoescaped it generations ago, and expecting tofind and take vengeance upon these sameindividuals when it escapes the marsh.Society269Even on its native world, the Flayed Rider’shabits were quite solitary, as its race’s fierceterritoriality and temperament makes themintolerant of each other’s company, save forbreeding purposes. It does, however, acceptthe presence of undead, and the Aassumpf’smany Strangled – the Ancient Dead, rituallysacrificed by the Anatal and cast into thebogs – provide it with company of a sort, inthe event it feels the need to torment or tauntsomething for longer than it takes a livingthing to die. It uses the Strangled to performtasks it is too big or ungainly to accomplishitself (e.g. retrieving an arrow-shot victim’sbody from the top of a tree), or those forwhich it simply has no skill … most notably,to repair the massive composite bow which aStrangled servant crafted out of the bones ofmen and fey creatures.

Appendix II New MonstersThe exception to the nuckalavee’s ironhold upon the Strangled is Igil Wotanshand,the delusional undead cleric, who believesthe other bog-pit mummies are rightfully histo command. Wotanshand’s power is toogreat for the aberration to compel him toservice, although it has rebuked him dozensof times and forced the deranged Anatal torejuvenate twice. Wotanshand believes thatthe Rider is a “spawn of Hel” and a fiendishblight on Valhalla’s glory, but theaberration’s natural adaptation to taintedwater makes it immune to the blindingsickness which the Ancient Dead godiconfers with his touch. Thus, a stalemate haspersisted between the two for over a hundredyears, tested occasionally by Wotanshand’sattempts to conscript living trespassers toaid “the All-Father’s righteous cause”.For its part, the Rider seems too filled withhatred for living things to ever contemplatetheir use as allies against Wotanshand, or asa means to escape its imprisonment. Whilethe thought that humans might, perhaps, beable to dismiss the geas that bars it from thesea has crossed its mind in rare moments ofcalm, this notion swiftly evaporates at thefirst hint of a human presence in its territory,to be recollected only after it has slain thetrespassers or been driven off with suchoverwhelming force, it dares not approachthem again.Due to a grudge pre-dating itsimprisonment by the Anatal, Graben Island’snuckalavee has a particular resentment forfey creatures of all sorts, and it hasexterminated most indigenous fey from itscorner of the Island. Though it despiseshumans more, it may actually turn asidefrom its pursuit of human prey for the chanceto hunt one of the fey, figuring that anyhuman in its territory will be easy to trackdown later, once its more-elusive quarry hasbeen dealt with.Alignment: The Flayed Rider is a creatureof hate and bloodlust, killing with relish andstalking its prey with gleeful maliciousness.Not very bright, it recognizes only its ownwants or needs as real or relevant, and satesthem by the quickest and handiest availablemeans, neither respecting nor consideringothers’ welfare.270TreasureThe nuckalavee has no use for wealth, and itfinds the sheen of precious metals and lusterof gemstones objectionable, so it casts anyriches its victims might carry into the depthsof the swamp. Its only possessions of anyvalue are its composite longbow – a morbidand immensely powerful weapon no archerwith less muscle-power than itself can wield– and the arrows it crafts from long stalks ofAassumpf reed and the fins and razor-teethof predatory fishes slain by its aura. Neitherbow nor ammunition are magical, althoughbog-grown resins rubbed into the sinew of itsbowstring ensure that the weapon neverloses accuracy from being immersed. Thequivers it carries, strapped securely on eitherside of its equine body, are likewise airtight,to keep their contents from being drenchedwhen it swims.Golem, SkeletalThis ungainly-looking, morbid automatonresembles an oversized human skeleton,hastily assembled from mismatched bones,and bound together with string and splintersof wood. Its torso is encased by a metalbreastplate. Although roughly humanoid, thecreature has four arms: two at its shoulders,the other two attached asymmetrically to itslower ribs. Each of its fleshless handscarries a sword, which it swings with asurprising grace.Golem, SkeletalCR7N Large constructInit +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft, low-lightvision, Listen +0, Spot +0Languages cannot speak; understands itscreator’s commandsAC 24, touch 9, flat-footed 24(-1 size, +10 natural, +5 armor)hp 63 (6 HD); DR 10/adamantite andbludgeoningImmune cold, electricity, fire, magicFort +2, Ref +2, Will +2

Appendix II New MonstersWeakness shatter vulnerabilitySpeed 30 ft. with breastplate (6 squares);base speed 40 ft.Atk 4 masterwork Large longswords +8(2d6+4/19-20) orAtk 4 slams +7 (1d6+4)Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.Base Atk +4, Grp +12Special Actions berserkAbilities Str 19, Dex 11, Con -, Int -, Wis 11,Cha 1SQ construct traits; immunity to cold, fire,electricity & magic; one with weapons;shatter vulnerabilityFeats –Skills –Possessions 4 masterwork large swords,Large breastplate271Berserk (Ex): When a skeletal golem enterscombat, there is a cumulative 1% chanceper round that its bound elemental spiritbreaks free and the golem goes berserk.The uncontrolled golem then goes on arampage, attacking the nearest livingcreature or smashing an object smaller thanitself if no creature is within reach, thenmoving on to wreak more havoc. Thegolem’s creator, if within 60 feet, can try toregain control by speaking firmly andpersuasively to the golem, a task whichrequires a DC 19 Charisma check. It takes1 minute of inactivity by the golem to resetthe golem’s berserk chance to 0%.Immunities (Ex): The skeletal golem isimmune to any effect causing cold, fire, orelectricity damage.Immunity to magic (Ex): A skeletal golemis immune to any spell or spell-like abilitythat allows spell resistance, with theexception of the shatter spell (see below).

Appendix II New MonstersOne With Weapons (Ex): A skeletal golemis designed to wield up to four specificone-handed melee weapons (usuallymasterwork longswords), or two specifictwo-handed melee weapons, at once. Solong as it is armed with the specific Largesizedweapons with which it was equippedby its creator, it suffers none of the usualpenalties for wielding multiple weapons.Each of its weapons is treated as a primaryweapon for the calculation of its attackbonus.If the skeletal golem was not equippedwith weapons by its maker, it treats all ofits slam attacks as primary weapons. If itwields any melee weapon other than thosegiven to it at its creation, it suffers thenormal penalties for multiweapon fightingand for nonproficiency.Shatter Vulnerability (Ex): A shatter spellweakens a skeletal golem’s structure for 1round per caster level. During this periodit loses its DR and suffers double damagefrom bludgeoning attacks.Skeletal golems are man-like assemblages ofbones, animated by an imbued elementalspirit and equipped to serve as guardians orwarriors. Unlike the bone golems 1#invented by Azalin Rex, skeletal golemsneed not be crafted from the remains of slainundead skeletons: ordinary bones ofhumanoids or animals will do.Skeletal golems were introduced to theLand of Mists by the necromancer Meredoth,on whose homeworld these constructs arequite common. Despite the sea-mage’sjealous refusal to share his magical secretswith Ravenloft’s “barbarian” arcanists, themeans of creating them has gotten outanyway: perhaps spread by the adventurerswho’d bested him in 737, or perhapsdisseminated by the will of the Dark Powers1. Historical FYI: The skeletal golem presentedhere was originally known as a “bone golem”, under theExpert D&D rules and in the Mystara MonstrousCompendium. Its name was altered to avoid confusionwith the dread bone golem from Denizens of Dread/Darkness.272to infuriate and frustrate Nebligtode’sdarklord.Strategies and tacticsThanks to its four arms, the skeletal golem isa dangerous foe in melee, as it can attack upto four different targets with equal lethality.Most skeletal golems are equipped with fourlong swords, but any Large simple or martialmelee weapon is possible. A skeletal golemis automatically proficient with the specificweapons it was created to wield, but isn’tproficient with any other weapon, even if ofidentical type and size.Like other magically-animated golems thatlack the “dread golem” template, skeletalgolems are mindless creatures, obeying theircreators’ orders in the most straightforwardway possible. They lack the independence totake special actions such as tripping ordisarming their opponents in melee, but willdo so if directed by a creator who is on thescene to give orders.EcologySkeletal golems have no biological needs.Meredoth finds skeletal golems usefulbecause they are immune to Todstein’s coldweather, can be constructed cheaply from theleftover bits of botched or abandonedexperiments, are unhindered by the Day ofMagic Void, and can be reinforced withbones of deceased Graben family membersto boost their durability (see “The GrabenLegacy”).Most of Meredoth’s skeletal golems arestationed at the House of Bones, with a fewmore set to guard his next ice-locked clonebody. A handful of other necromancers inthe Core have hit upon the secret of creatingskeletal golems as well, in the years since theNocturnal Sea joined the continent. Thisdissemination has provoked the disgusted ireof the belligerent sea-mage, who views suchmainlanders’ handiwork as a shameless theftof his homeland’s arcane know-how.A skeletal golem resembles a humanoidskeleton of Large size, but is actually madeof numerous Medium or Large creatures’bones, bound together to assemble a largerframe. All known skeletal golems have four

arms, and nearly all are equipped withweapons by their creators. Typically, suchweapons are forged specifically to arm thegolem, so are often etched or embossed withimages of bones, death, and destruction inaccordance with the creature’s intendedpurpose. If the skeletal golem is armored, asis true in the case of the statistics above, itsLarge armor is modified to accommodate itsextra limbs, and may be decorated to matchits weapons.Though unable to utter any deliberatesound, a skeletal golem’s joints are ratherrickety and awkward, so it makes clatteringnoises whenever it bends them to walk or tofight. Nevertheless, the golem wields itsweapons with uncanny swiftness andprecision.A skeletal golem and its weapons weigh inat 650 pounds, or more with armor. They areoften created in pairs.Advanced Skeleton GolemsGiven enough time and materials, a skeletalgolem can be constructed to be heftier andlarger than the typical version. Skeletalgolems with up to 9 HD remain Large, whileone with 10 to 18 HD is Huge. A Hugeskeletal golem wields Huge weapons or does1d8 hp base damage with its slam attacks.ConstructionPieces for a skeletal golem’s creation mustcome from four or more Large or Mediumskeletons; in the Land of Mists, at least fourdifferent sentient creatures’ bones must beincorporated into it (one for each arm). Theprocess of preparing the bones foranimation and lashing them togetherdemands special bindings and substances,costing a total of 200 gp. Assembling thebody requires a DC 15 Use Rope check.If a skeletal golem is to wield weapons, thecaster must also provide it with masterworkweapons scaled to the construct’s size. Anysimple or martial masterwork melee weaponmay be used, and the weapons need not allbe of the same type. Skeletal golems mayalso be outfitted with armor, such as a Largebreastplate (+5) or Large half-plate (+7); agolem is proficient only with the specificAppendix II New Monstersarmor and weapons it is equipped with at itscreation.Building and animating a skeletal golem isgrounds for a Powers check, as per craftingan Evil magic item. If bones to be used in itsassembly are procured via grave-robbing,additional Powers checks may be called for,even before its construction is finished.CL 8th; Craft Construct, animate dead,geas/quest, limited wish, stoneskin, castermust be at least 8th level; Price 18,000 gp;Cost 9,200 gp + 2,920 gp (2,520 gp for 4Large masterwork swords and 400 gp for theLarge breastplate) + 712 XP.Dread Skeletal Golems273If the bones for a skeletal golem should beassembled by a creator who has the rightmindset of obsession, it may animate as adread golem before it has been enchanted.Many of the skeletal golems now croppingup outside Todstein could be dread golems,rather than magically-enchanted ones.Cheaply and crudely assembled frombones stolen from sanctified graves, dreadskeletal golems are only rarely armored, andtheir weapons are seldom any more thanrough-hewn wooden clubs.A dread skeletal golem’s statistics differfrom those listed above as follows:GOLEM, DREAD SKELETAL CR 8CE Large constructAC 25, touch 11, flat-footed 23(-1 size, +14 natural, +2 Dex)Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2Speed 30 ft. with breastplate (6 squares);base speed 40 ft.Atk 4 slams +7 (1d6+4), orAtk 4 Large clubs +6 (1d8+4)Weakness shatter vulnerability, zeitgeberSQ construct traits; immunity to cold, fire,electricity, & magic; one with weapons;shatter vulnerability; telepathic bondAbilities Str 19, Dex 15, Con -, Int 9, Wis11, Cha 5

Lebendtod, templateAppendix II New MonstersThe following template updates and expandsupon the lebendtod template from Denizensof Dread/Darkness. DMs may still use theolder (and simpler) version for routinelebendtod encounters; this expandedtemplate is designed for major lebendtodNPCs, or for encounters involving only theirdisembodied parts.Creating a LebendtodA lebendtod is a humanoid or monstroushumanoid who was rendered undead at thehands or behest of an evil arcane caster. Thefirst lebendtod were created by the darklordMeredoth, using malignant magics upon hispoisoned victims, and it is possible othernecromancers have duplicated his technique.More often, lebendtod are created by othersof their own kind, as they are one of the fewObedient Dead with the capacity to createspawn, recruiting new minions for their darkmasters.Unlike most Obedient Dead, the lebendtodretain their own memories and most of theirformer intellect from life, although they lackfree will and are wholly subservient to thespellcasters they look to for orders. Able topass for the living, most lebendtod act outsimulated “lives” alongside ordinary folk,their nature unsuspected and their behaviorquite routine, until such time as their mastersgive them tasks to perform: tasks which theyunhesitatingly execute, with neither questionnor conscience. Thus, they can be excellentassassins, saboteurs, and spies, blending inuntil the right moment to strike.Lebendtod whose masters die do notbecome free-willed, but are compelled toseek out another arcane caster to serve. TheCraving that binds them to obedience is toostrong for a lebendtod to exist for long,without an absolute and unquestionedsuperior.“Lebendtod” is an acquired template thatcan be added to any humanoid or monstroushumanoid creature from Small to Huge(referred to hereafter as the base creature). Alebendtod uses all of the base creature’sstatistics and abilities except as noted here.274Size & Type: The creature’s type changesto undead (augmented humanoid oraugmented monstrous humanoid). Do notrecalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skillpoints.Size of base creature is unchanged if intact,and for partial lebendtod that include a torso.Detached body parts’ size, and thecorresponding adjustments to base creature’sAC and attack rolls for disembodied parts,are as follows:BasecreaturesizeLeg* Arm* or head Hand or footSmall Tiny +1 Diminutive +3 Fine +7Medium Small +1 Tiny +2 Diminutive +4Large Medium +1 Small +2 Tiny +3Huge Large +2 Medium +3 Small +4[* – Includes legs with or without feet, andarms with or without hands.]Hit Dice: Increase all current and futurehit dice to d12s.Speed: An intact lebendtod’s base speedis the same as the base creature’s. Alebendtod which is basically humanoid inshape but is missing parts, or its detachedparts, move as follows:ShapeSpeedTwo-legged torso As base creatureHead, hand, one-legged ½ base creature’s speedtorso, or muscular longtailArm & hand, leg & foot,or slim long tailArm, leg, foot, or leglesstorso & arm(s)Wing, short tail, or limblesstorso10 ft or ½ base creature’sspeed, whichever is lower5 ft0 ft.Armor Class: The base creature’s naturalarmor bonus improves by +2. Disembodiedparts’ AC is modified according to their newsize. All parts retain their full natural armorbonus while detached.Attack: A lebendtod retains the attacks ofthe base creature, and also gains two clawsand a bite attack if it didn’t already havethem. If the base creature can use weapons,

the lebendtod retains that ability. A creaturewith natural weapons retains those naturalweapons. An unarmed lebendtod fightinguses either its claw attack or its primarynatural weapon (if any). A lebendtod armedwith a weapon uses its claw or its weapon, asit desires.Full Attack: A lebendtod fighting withoutweapons uses its claws or its primary naturalweapon (if it has one) as its primary attacks,and its bite or its secondary natural weapon(if it has one) as secondary attacks. If armedwith a weapon, it typically uses the weaponas its primary attack and its claw or othernatural weapon as a secondary attack.Damage: A lebendtod has claw and biteattacks. If the base creature does not havethese attack forms, use the damage values inthe table below. Creatures with natural clawand/or bite attacks retain their old damagerating, or replace it with what is listed on thetable below, whichever is better.Base CreatureSizeClaw Damage Bite DamageSmall 1d3 1d2Medium 1d4 1d3Large 1d6 1d4Huge 2d4 1d6Special Attacks: The lebendtod retains allspecial attacks of the base creature, and alsogains that listed below:Create Spawn (Su): Lebendtod createothers of their kind by breathing in the lastbreath from the mouth or gills of a dyinghumanoid or monstrous humanoid. This is afull-round action which provokes attacks ofopportunity. The theft of the dying breathmust be carried out by the lebendtod’s head(attached or not); a headless neck or otherdetached body part is unable to perform thebreath-stealing procedure. A lebendtodwhose victim is helpless may combine thetheft of breath with a coup de grace as a fullroundaction. The stealing of breath confersno benefits to the spawn-creating lebendtod,though most find the warmth of such stolenbreath within their lungs to be pleasantlynostalgic.Appendix II New Monsters275After its final breath has been stolen, thebody must be left isolated and untouched for72 hours. If the body remains undisturbed, itrises at the end of this time as a lebendtodunder the control of the same master as thelebendtod who created it. It is immediatelyaware of its new master’s identity, and ofany standing orders its master may haveissued to the lebendtod which spawned it. Aspawn which rises as a lebendtod retains allof the memories, knowledge, and characterlevels it possessed in life.If a nascent spawn’s body is disturbed inany way before 72 hours have passed, but isleft largely intact, it arises 1d4 rounds after itwas disturbed as a 4 HD ghast. Such aspawn retains none of its abilities in life, andonly fragmentary memories of its past. It issubject to the same master as the lebendtodwhich created it, but is initially unaware oforders issued by that master. The new ghastis considered to be in a state of food debt(see VRGttWD), immediately attacking anyapparent prey it confronts, with a +2 moralebonus to its attack rolls and–2 dodge penaltyto its AC. “Apparent prey” includes anylebendtod using their veil of life power.Special Qualities: A lebendtod retains allthe special qualities of the base creature, andgains those described below:Aging (Ex): Lebendtod are not actuallyimmortal, like vampires or liches, but theirexistence can span centuries. A lebendtod’slifespan is equal to the number of years thatremained of its life before it became undead(PHB Table 6-4), multiplied by 10. Agingeffects on abilities do not affect lebendtod.Detachable Parts (Ex): As a standardaction, a lebendtod can detach or reattach itsextremities at their normal locations withoutharm. Body parts that can be removed andrejoined to a lebendtod’s body in this wayinclude: head, hands, feet, arms (at shoulder),legs (at hip), tail (if any), and wings (if any).Lebendtod with the Quick Draw feat mayremove one hand as a free action, or bothhands at once, each grasping the other one’swrist and pulling, as a move action.Because its parts may separate to negate ahold, a lebendtod cannot be held or pinnedby a grapple unless it chooses to conceal this

Appendix II New Monstersability. A lebendtod which is disarmed incombat may opt to release its hand, or handand arm together, along with the weapon soas to retain its possession of that weapon.Releasing a body part to break a hold or pin,or to retain its grip upon a disarmed weapon,is an immediate action.Detached parts of a lebendtod remainanimated and under its conscious control, solong as these extremities remain within 100feet of the creature’s torso and in the samedomain as it. Pieces that move out of rangebecome inanimate, remaining inert until thedistance from them to the torso diminishes to100 feet or less. One necromancer is said tohave shipped his lebendtod minions to arival’s home, piece by piece; as soon as boththe extremities and torsos were inside andunobserved, their detached limbs unpackedthemselves, reassembled their bodies, andattacked as per his instructions.So long as a lebendtod’s parts remainwithin 100 feet of its torso, it maintains asensory link with its disembodied pieces. Itcan see, hear, taste and smell using the senseorgans of its head, as well as feel with anydetached part. A lebendtod which removesits head also retains sight and hearing at itstorso’s location, just as a skeleton’s eyelessskull can still see. For disembodied partsother than its head, the lebendtod can sensethese linked pieces’ immediate surroundings(10 ft. radius; visual only), as if scrying onits own parts.Should one of a lebendtod’s parts travelmore than 100 feet from its torso, but is stillin the same domain, the creature can attemptsensory contact with that part for 1 minutewith a successful Concentration check (DC20). This doesn’t restore motor-control overthe absent part, but it reveals the directionand approximate distance to the extremity, aswell as any visual clues about the part’senvirons. While sensing far-off body parts’surroundings, the lebendtod is unaware ofwhat is happening to its torso or to any otherdetached portion of itself. The maximumrange at which a lebendtod may scry on itsbody parts in this manner is one mile.Lebendtod parts that remain within the100-ft radius of its control remain connected276for the purpose of beneficial magical effects,including spells or magic items, but lose thatconnection if they move too far away orbecome separated by a domain border. Forexample, if a lebendtod is wearing a ring ofprotection on its right hand, the rest of itsbody shares the benefit of that ring so longas its right hand and torso (plus any otherseparated parts that need this benefit) are nomore than 100 feet apart. If its torso is therecipient of a cat’s grace spell, other piecesof the lebendtod within the 100-ft range willalso receive the spell’s benefits.Exception: Inflict wounds spells or similareffects heal only the pieces of a lebendtod onwhich they are actually cast.A lebendtod’s animating force resides inits torso, so attacks upon the torso (with orwithout appendages) are counted toward thedestruction of the entire creature and all itsparts. Damage inflicted upon disembodiedparts does not deplete the lebendtod’s hitpoints, but any part which suffers enoughdamage to destroy it cannot be reattached,reducing the lebendtod’s ability to function.A lebendtod whose head is destroyed is leftmute and unable to bite; one whose handsare destroyed cannot handle objects or makeclaw attacks. Re-attaching a damaged part tothe torso causes the torso to suffer one-thirdof the damage the part had suffered; ifaccruing such damage to the torso woulddestroy the creature (i.e. its torso is also lowon hit points), the part cannot be reattacheduntil it and/or the torso is repaired.Physical attacks made by a lebendtod’sdetached parts do not count against the totalnumber of actions or attacks of opportunitywhich are available to its torso or to otherdisembodied pieces. A detached body partcan’t make more than one attack during itsaction, regardless of how many attacks thelebendtod’s BAB might entitle the creatureto make when intact. Lebendtod spellcasterscannot cast more than one spell at a time,regardless of how many pieces they spreadthemselves out as. Spells cast by a detachedbody part count as spells expended from itsdaily allotment.If a lebendtod detaches both its hands, itmay still make unarmed strikes with its

wrists or kick with its legs (with or withoutfeet). If it is reduced to only one limb (armor leg) it may only make unarmed strikes if itforegoes moving for that round. A torsowithout any extremities has no attacks andcannot cast spells with components, but canstill perform purely mental tasks, such asconcentrating to maintain a previously-castspell effect while its extremities fight.Turn or Rebuke Undead attempts need notbe directed at a lebendtod’s torso to beeffective, but a detached body part cannot bedestroyed or commanded in this way unlessthe corresponding torso is also destroyed orcommanded. Isolated body parts’ Hit Diceare considered the same as the lebendtod’s,for purposes of Turning/Rebuking, exceptthat if multiple pieces of the same lebendtodare encompassed by a single Turn/Rebukeattempt, the creature’s HD are only countedonce toward Turning Damage. Thus, if acleric Turns both arms and the head of a 3 rdlevel lebendtod, only 3 HD of that cleric’sTurning Damage are expended on its parts,not 9 HD. Each of the body parts would stillneed to be in range of the Turning attempt,within line of sight, and not behind full coverto be affected. If each part is Turned by aseparate attempt, the three parts would eachuse up 3 HD of Turning Damage, eventhough they come from a single creature. Acrafty lebendtod could use its noncombatantparts (feet, tail) as decoys to exhaust clerics’Turning per day, before its more formidableappendages launch their attacks.Statistics and available attack-options,skills, feats and class abilities for the moreuseful detached parts are provided below.Appropriate size modifiers to AC and attackrolls should also be applied, as given above.Charisma-based skills utilized by detachedbody parts are bound to suffer OR modifiers,unless the audience is kept unaware that theextremities in question are not attached to abody (e.g. hearing a head speak from behinda closed door).HandHp: 1/8 of totalAppendix II New Monsters277Abilities: As intact lebendtod +6 Dex; Strpenalty as per base creature’s size (–6 ifSmall, –10 if Medium, -16 if Large, -24 ifHuge), minimum Str 1Attack: 1 claw or 1 Light weapon up to 1 lb.Spells: Personal or Touch-range spells withonly somatic componentsSkills: All Dexterity-based skills but Ride;also Climb, Disable Device, Forgery,Perform (instrumental), and Search. Adetached hand receives a +10 racial bonusto Climb checks and a +4 racial bonus toBalance checks.Feats: All feats enhancing the skills listedabove; all weapon proficiency feats andfighter bonus feats not requiring twohands; all spellcasting feats usable withsomatic components only; and all SneakAttack-based feats, plus Silent SpellClass Abilities: Provided the base creaturehas these abilities, a disembodied handbenefits from Rage or Favored Enemybonuses and Evasion or Uncanny Dodgeabilities; can cast spontaneous inflictspells; can direct an animal companion ordread familiar via gestures; can use amonk’s Unarmed Strike and QuiveringPalm attacks; can employ Trapfinding andTrap Sense; and can make Sneak Attacks.Comparable abilities derived from prestigeor variant classes also apply (DMdiscretion).Arm With HandHp: ¼ of totalAbilities: As intact lebendtod +4 Dex; Strpenalty as per base creature’s size (–6 ifSmall, –8 if Medium, -12 if Large, -16 ifHuge), minimum Str 1Attack: 1 claw or 1 Light weapon up to 5 lb.Spells: Personal, Touch, or Close-rangedspells with only somatic componentsSkills: All Dexterity-based skills; Climb,Disable Device, Forgery, Perform(instrumental) and Search. An arm with ahand receives a +5 racial bonus to Climb

Appendix II New Monsterschecks and a +2 racial bonus to Balancechecks.Feats: All feats enhancing the skills listedabove; all weapon proficiency feats andfighter bonus feats not requiring twohands; all spellcasting feats usable withsomatic components only; and all SneakAttack-based feats, plus Silent SpellClass Abilities: If the base creature hasthem, a detached arm with a hand canbenefit from Rage or Favored Enemybonuses and Evasion or Uncanny Dodgeabilities; can cast spontaneous inflictspells; can direct an animal companion ordread familiar via gestures; can use amonk’s Unarmed Strike and QuiveringPalm attacks; can employ Trapfinding andTrap Sense; and can make Sneak Attacks.Comparable abilities derived from prestigeor variant classes may also apply (DMdiscretion).HeadHp: ¼ of totalAbilities: As intact lebendtod -4 Dex; Strpenalty as per base creature’s size (–6 ifSmall, –8 if Medium, -12 if Large, -16 ifHuge), minimum Str 1Attack: 1 bite or 1 slam (non-lethal damageequal to its bite); cannot grappleSpells: Spells using only verbal componentsSkills: Appraise, Bluff, Concentration,Decipher Script, Diplomacy, GatherInformation, Hide, Hypnosis RLPHB ,Intimidate, Knowledge (all), Listen, MoveSilently, Perform (oral), ReignUndead VRGWD , Sense Motive, SpeakLanguage, Spellcraft, Spot, Use MagicalDevice.Special: A disembodied head’s inability tomanipulate objects bars it from using manyof its skills in many contexts (e.g. it coulddecipher the hieroglyphs on a visible wall,but could not open a coded book withoutassistance or magic). A head has an ORmodifier of +4.278Feats: All feats enhancing the skills listedabove; all divine feats; all spellcastingfeats usable with verbal components only;plus Extra Turning, Eschew Materials andStill Spell.Class Abilities: Provided the base creaturehas these abilities, a detached head canemploy bardic knowledge and music (oralonly) abilities; can cast inflict spellsspontaneous; can Rebuke Undead if anappropriate unholy symbol is in the samesquare as it; can direct an animalcompanion or dread familiar via verbalcommands; can use a monk’s Tongue ofSun and Moon ability; and can activatecommand-word-triggered magical items.Comparable abilities derived from prestigeor variant classes may also apply (DMdiscretion).Leg With FootHp: ¼ of totalAbilities: As intact lebendtod +2 Dex; Strpenalty as per base creature’s size (–4 ifSmall or Medium, -8 if Large or Huge),minimum Str 1Attack: 1 trip attack; cannot grappleSkills: Balance, Hide, JumpFeats: All feats enhancing the skills listedabove, plus RunAll other extremities (feet, legs or armswithout feet/hands, or monstrous limbs suchas tails or wings) have no effective attacks ifdetached from their torsos, and no skills,feats, or abilities except Hide – which, inbody parts’ case, includes “playing dead” ifin plain view – and any feats or abilities thatenhance Hide. Hit points are ¼ of total fordetached arms, legs, wings or long tails, 1/8of total for feet or short tails.In addition to fighting autonomously, alebendtod’s detached parts may be wieldedas weapons by the creature itself, provided ithas at least a single arm and hand attached.Arms or legs count as clubs in melee; a headis equivalent to a hurled club when thrown.Lebendtod are considered to be proficient atwielding their own parts in this manner, butnot those of others. Impacting the body of an

opponent does not damage the part inquestion, unless the opponent has qualitieswhich make it dangerous to grapple (armorspikes, flaming body, etc), in which case thebody part takes damage upon impact, as if ithad grappled with the target for one round.As body parts are usually too small to haveReach, lebendtod often throw one of theirparts into an opponent’s space, sparing it theneed to enter a threatened square and sufferan attack of opportunity. A lebendtod mayhurl its parts up to 30’ in this manner, todeliver a ranged touch attack or position itfor a Sneak Attack. The range increment fora hurled hand or head is 10’, or 5’ for limbs.A successful attack roll with a thrown bodypart places the extremity in the opponent’ssquare and able to attack in the same round,whereas a failed one hurls it into an adjacentsquare. Hands that hit when thrown in thismanner are assumed to cling to the body ofthe target, if the opponent is Small or larger.Being thrown does no damage to the bodypart in question.A lebendtod and its part may cooperate toflank opponents, provided the extremity inquestion is large enough to do so.Needless to say, living witnesses to theremoval of a body part may need to makeHorror saves. The DC of such saves varieswith the situation, but it usually ranges from10 (simple removal or reattachment) to 20 (adisembodied head sucking the dying breathfrom a potential spawn). Any witnesses whoknow the lebendtod socially will incurpenalties to these saves.Damage Reduction (Su): A lebendtod hasDR 10/magic. Its claw and bite attacks countas magic for purposes of overcomingdamage reduction.Severence (Ex): While critical hits do notnormally affect undead and don’t inflict anyextra damage upon them, a lebendtod whichsuffers a critical hit from a slashing weaponmust make a Reflex save, at a DC of 10 + thenumber of hp damage it takes (after its DRapplies). If it should fail this save, one of itsdetachable extremities (DM’s choice) islopped off against its will, falling into anadjacent square. A lebendtod may reattachthe severed part normally, but this requires aAppendix II New Monsters279move action to retrieve the extremity, and astandard action to put it back in place.A vorpal weapon automatically severs alebendtod’s head on any critical hit, not justthose scored with a natural roll of 20.Veil of Life (Su): Twice each day, as astandard action, a lebendtod may transformits own appearance to that of a living being.Its veil of life can only reproduce its ownappearance from life, not that of any otherindividual. This effect lasts until it is eitherdismissed (a free action) or disrupted.A lebendtod’s veil of life functions muchlike the alter self spell, except as describedhere. The lebendtod retains the racial skillbonuses and natural armor bonus of thelebendtod template while veiled, but it losesclaw and bite attacks unless the base creaturealready had them. Unlike the alter self spell,the veil of life continues to operate for bodyparts which are detached or severed from thelebendtod, so long as they remain within onemile’s distance and in the same domain. Alebendtod’s veiled guise seems to grow olderwith time, but at 1/10 the rate it would haveaged, had it remained living (see Aging).If a lebendtod suffers physical damagefrom a magical spell or effect, its veil of lifeends immediately. Its guise cannot be reestablisheduntil the creature has ceased tosuffer damage, in the case of continuousmagical effects. A detached body part’s veilmay be disrupted separately from that of itstorso or its other parts, and its veil also failsif the part moves more than one mile fromthe torso or is separated from it by a domainborder. If the torso’s veil fails, other parts’true forms are instantly revealed as well, nomatter where they are.So long as its veil of life is active, alebendtod displays all the signs of life (e.g.sweating from the heat) a live person wouldnormally exhibit in public. It may eat anddrink (but cannot get drunk), so may benefitfrom potions or other ingested substances,provided it is not immune to the effect inquestion. A lebendtod which is struck by anattack while its veil of life is functioningappears to be wounded like a living creature,even if its DR actually prevented injury.

Appendix II New MonstersUtter Servitude (Ex): While ObedientDead do not normally have turn resistance,the shackles of enslavement which bind alebendtod to its master are unusually potent,the better to keep sentient reanimated dead inline. Lebendtod gain +4 turn resistanceagainst attempts to Command Undead (andonly to command them) by divine casterswho are not their masters, and a +4 bonus totheir Will saves against control undead orsimilar effects from any other source. If thelebendtod currently lacks a master to serve,these bonuses convert to penalties, allowinganother villain to more easily step into therole of its new master.Darklords with the ability to control theWalking Dead in their domains can overridea lebendtod’s bond to its master… unless itsprior master is also a darklord, in which casethe lebendtod’s loyalty remains unchanged.The sole known exception is Death, whoonce had the power to override even anotherdarklord’s mastery over lebendtod; however,that power may have been lost to it with theHorsemen’s defeat.Abilities: As base creature, modified asfollows: +2 Str, -2 Dex, -2 Int. As undeadcreatures, the lebendtod lack a Constitutionscore.Skills: Lebendtod have a +5 racial bonus ontheir Bluff and Disguise checks, and a +12circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checksif they use their detachable limbs ability tofree themselves from restraints.As Heard in a Port...280If their veil of life ability is not active,lebendtod receive those competence bonusesto Hide (+6 if stationary, +2 if moving) andMove Silently (+4) checks shared by otherintact Walking Dead (see VRGttWD).All of these bonuses except the EscapeArtist bonus apply to those detached partsable to use the skills in question. Otherwise,same as the base creature.Feats: As base creature.Environment: Any land and on shipboard(Nocturnal Sea and neighboring domains).Organization: Solitary, pair, squad (3-5),family (5-8), or community (40-60).Challenge Rating: As base creature +1.Outcast Rating: As base creature +6.Treasure: Standard.Alignment: Always neutral evil.Advancement: By character class.Level Adjustment: –Lebendtod CharactersLebendtod are always evil, which causescharacters of certain classes to lose the use oftheir class abilities. In addition, certainclasses suffer additional penalties:Clerics: Clerics lose the ability to TurnUndead, but they gain the ability to RebukeUndead. This ability can never affect thelebendtod’s master, nor any of its master’sother lebendtod, although it works on ghastsarising from botched create spawn attempts.“I tell you, those men from Graben Island are the toughest I’ve ever seen! No pansy-arsescholars, they. It’s true! Last month, me and Sanday were workin’ at the docks, and we sawsome of them – Grabenites, big as oxen and blanched as snow, like all their lot – unloadingthese huge crates.“Well, a rope broke as they was lifting up a heavy crate, and one of them was unluckyenough to have it fall on him. He tried to get outta the way, mind, but the damn thing stillcaught one of his arms. Crushed it flat. And there we was, watching. Nothin’ more we coulddo than feel sorry for the poor bastard, as they carried him below.“But before the day was over, damned if he wasn’t back up on deck! He’d had his armamputated, but he still helped out where he could. No whinin’ or complainin’, nothing. Lostan arm. So what? There he was back to work, until the job was done."– Overheard in the Black Werewolf Inn, Armeikos

Sea-claimed, template(or Shay-marked)Artha Landree CR 2Female Sea-claimed (Reaver subtype),commoner 1NE Medium monstrous humanoidInit +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft, Spot +2,Listen +2Languages VaasanAC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 12;(+2 natural)hp 12 (2 HD)Fort +3, Ref +2, Will + 2Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)Melee weapon +4Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ftBase Atk +4; Grp + 4Abilities Str 18, Dex 9, Con 15, Int 10, Wis10, Cha 6SQ Amphibious, Virundus thrall, Dryingbody (see below)Feats Alertness, Great FortitudeSkills Climb +2, Hide +2, Listen +2, MoveSilently +2, Spot +2, Survival +2When underwater and fully transformed:Senses Spot +4, Listen +4Speed swim 40 ft. (8 squares)Attack: Claw +4 (1d4+2), or with weapon+4Full Attack: 2 claws +4 (1d4+2), bite +4(1d4)Skills: Hide +4, Listen +4, Move Silently+4, Spot +4The Sea-claimed sample presented uses a1 st level human commoner as the basecreature. It has the following ability scoresAppendix II New Monsters281before the transformation: Str 12, Dex 11,Con 11, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10.Sea-claimed (or Shay-marked as they aresometimes called) are humanoids that gavethemselves to the service of Virundus, orwhere chosen by him to be transformed intohis agents servitors. The transformation istriggered by Virundus when he painfullyreshapes the flesh of the subject for tenminutes by merging the subject in his everchanging chaotic body. The oftenunconscious person is then moved elsewherein the palace, awoken, and circled by aquaticpriest constantly singing praises to Virundus,while the subject suffers maddening pain.After twelve hours, the transformation isfinished.There are many variations among Seaclaimed,as Virundus create thralls accordingto the castes of his aquatic realm. There aresix basic castes, but Virundus could alsocreate other monstrous humanoids fromother marine creatures.The Locathah subtype is the lowest of thecast, and often bullied around. The Locathahsubtype is often used with unimportant orexpandable spies. This caste is also used as apunishment when his servants displease him.The Reaver subtype is for fighters andguards, the Sahuagin subtype are arcanespell casters, the Anguilian subtype for thedivine spell casters, Wereray subtype oftenhave roguish skills, and the rare but powerfulWereoctopus subtype is for special guards orpowerful spies.Most of the Sea-claimed are surfacedwellers that periodically returns back asVirundus’s agents and spies, or stay below toguard his sunken palace.Many Sea-claimed holds enviablepositions in human society, acting as spiesand coordinator for other Sea-claimed in thearea.Virundus also delights in transforming therarer marine humanoids that oppose him,like the Selkies and Nereids.There are no open conflicts between Seaclaimedand genuine aquatic humanoidsunder Virundus’s service, as their monstrousgod would not tolerate it. However, the two

Appendix II New Monstersclans generally keep to themselves when notordered to work together.Creating a Sea-Claimed“Sea-claimed” is an acquired template thatcan be added to any humanoid creaturecaptured and brought to Virundus for thetransformation (referred to hereafter as the“base creature”).Challenge Rating: Same as the basecreature +1 (except for the weaker locathahsubtype: CR +0)Type: The base creature type changes tomonstrous humanoid. It does gain theaugmented and the aquatic subtypes.Alignment: changes to evilAC: Sea-claimed transformed bodies aremore supple and scaly: they increase theirnatural armor bonus by 2.Speed: Sea-claimed get a swimming speedof 40 feet (if it doesn’t already have better).Weakness: as base creature.Abilities: The base creature’s abilityscores are modified as follows: Str +6, Dex -2, Con +4, Int +0, Wis -2, Cha -4; plus othermodification (see subtype)Senses: Sea-claimed gains darkvision outto 60 feet (if it doesn’t already have better).Languages: as base creature.HD: Add one monstrous d8 hit dice. Thisimprovement grants a base attack modifierof +1, a +2 bonus on Reflex and Will saves,1d8 hit points, 1 x (2 + Int modifier) skillpoints, and possibly feats (usual rate).Special Qualities: Sea-claimed retains allthe special qualities of the base creature andgains the following special quality,depending on the subtype Virundus chose tocreate:All Sea-claimed:Amphibious (Ex): Sea-claimed canbreathe both air and water.Virundus thrall (Su): All Sea-claimedusually obey Virundus’s commands withouthesitation. When doing something contraryto their instructions or Virundus’s interest,they are affected like when trying to resist alesser geas spell.282

Drying body (Su): If an earth born Seaclaimedhumanoid getting out of the watersee his physical aquatic characteristics beresorbed after seven days out of the water.The base creature is essentially back to itsinitial appearance, except small details thatmight identify its sea connection (slightlyfishy odor in hot weather or when workinghard physically, gills scar, slight palm hand,scaly or black leathery body part, slightbulgy eyes, etc. DC 20 Spot to see it, unlessthe detail can be fully concealed byclothing).However, after a week out of the water, aSea-claimed that has been transformed formore than 20 years will look somewhatrepulsive to most surface dwellers – theaquatic features are very apparent anddisgusting (see the tavern in Meerdorf).After 20 more years, the humanity iscompletely gone of the face, making thesecreatures look like ugly fishmen.On the reverse, within ten minutes of beingcompletely back in water (immersed), allphysical aquatic characteristics painfullygrow back (DC 15 Horror check forwitnesses to this transformation).For marine native transformed to seaclaimed,this ability doesn’t apply.Symbiotic senses (Ex): When they staysubmerged for longer than three months, seaclaimedattract small symbiotic marine lifeforms that grow on their bodies orcongregate around them: barnacles,anemones, corals, mussels, shrimp, crabs,seahorses, algae, jellies, and tiny fishes.The collective reaction of these smallaquatic creatures alert the sea-claimed of thepresence of creatures, giving it a limitedform of blind sense: it can feel the presenceof hidden or invisible creatures within a 20foot radius.Staying out of the water for more then aday typically kills these tiny animals andvegetals.Sea-claimed proudly bear these marks offidelity to the deep. For most surfacedwellers, seeing a sea-claimed afflicted bythese symbiotic life forms is cause for horrorcheck DC 12.Appendix II New Monsters283Voice from the Deep (Su): By drowningan intelligent victim, a recipient of AbyssalTaint may communicate telepathically withVirundus for the next hour.Skills: While underwater, sea-claimedreceive a +2 racial bonus on Hide, Listen,Move Silently and Spot.CastesOther changes according to the sea-claimedsubtype (or caste):Locathah MM1The creature’s body is yellowish, with tinyscales covering it. Its human face show sad,protruding eyes. Its mouth never ceases toopen and close like a fish’s.Attack: with weapon, as base creatureFull Attack: with weapon, as base creatureReaver DoDThe creature’s face shows bulging ferociouseyes and grinding sharp teeth. Its body ispartly covered with brown scales, and haswebbed hand and feet.Attack: Claw (1d4+2), or with weapon orspell as base creatureFull Attack: 2 claws (1d4+2), bite (1d4)Sahuagin MM1The creature’s green body is partly coveredwith scales and spiny fins. Its humanoid faceshow stern protruding eyes that seem toassess your value. It has webbed hand andfeet.Attack: Claw (1d4), or with weapon or spellas base creatureFull Attack: 2 claws (1d4)Intelligence ability score: +2. They oftentrain to be arcane caster, or to improve thecasting skills of the base creature.Blindsense (Ex): Underwater, a Sahuaginsubtype can locate creature underwaterwithin a 30 foot radius.

Anguilian StoAppendix II New MonstersThis creature has retracted humanoidmembers, the hands as bony pincers. Itshuman face is nearly filled with a repulsivecircular mouth showing rings of teeth.Attack: BiteFull Attack: Bite (1d4)Wisdom ability score: +2. They often trainto be divine caster, or to improve thecasting skills of the base creature.Attach (Ex): If an anguilian subtype hitswith its bite attack, it uses its mouth tolatch onto its opponent’s body andautomatically deal damage each round itremains attached. In this case, theanguilian subtype looses all dexteritybonus to AC.Blood Drain (Ex): An attached anguiliansubtype drains body fluids, dealing 1-2points of Constitution damage each roundit remains attached.Wereray DoDThe grey humanoid creature swims withlarge “wings” linking arms and legs on eachside of its body, with a long tail behind it. Itsflattened and repulsive head is showing largemilk white eyes.Attack: Tail slam (1d2) +poisonFull Attack: Tail slam (1d2) + poisonDexterity ability score: +2. They often trainto be rogues, or to improve roguish skillsof the base creature.Poison (Ex): upon tail slam, needles on thetail inflict poison: Fortitude DC 13, initialand secondary damage 1d3 Strength.WereoctopusThe jet black humanoid creature has eighttentacles around it, and a large beaked face.Six of its tentacles are only 2 feet long, buttwo are nearly 5 feet long and whipsmenacingly.Attack: Tentacle (1d4+2), or with weapon orspell as base creature284Full Attack: 2 tentacles (1d4+2), bite(1d6+2)Strength ability score: +2.Improved Grab (Ex): same ability asOctopus, Giant MM1 .Constrict (Ex): An octopus subtype deals2d6 points of damage with a successfulgrapple check.Ink Cloud (Ex): same ability as Octopus,Giant MM1 , but the cloud is 10’ x 10’ x 10’.ShipbaneThe vaporous cloud appears no differentfrom the other fogs that hamper sailors inthese waters, but then you realize that itapproaches your vessel against theprevailing wind. It builds as high as therailing as it wafts closer, and ominous, halfglimpsedforms seem to dart about in thefogbank’s depths. Have the Mists come, toclaim your vessel?Then the fog is upon you, pouring over theship’s rail, and the fleeting shapes fromwithin resolve themselves into distorted,swooping predators out of nightmare. Asyou brace for the onslaught, vapor gustsacross the deck, breeding chaos andconfusion in its wake.Not the Mists. Something hungrier….ShipbaneCR2CE Medium elemental (Air, Mists)Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-lightvision, Mist Peering; Listen +1, Spot +2Languages AuranAC 18, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+5 Dex,+3 natural)Miss Chance 20% at 5’ (concealment), 50%at >5’ (total concealment) in foghp 13 (2 HD); DR 10 / silver or magicImmune poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning,polymorph, agingResistance cold 10, electricity 10

Fort +2, Ref +8, Will +1Weaknesses sunlight, cannot approach landor penetrate waterSpeed fly 40 ft. perfect (8 squares).Melee 2 claws +2 (1d4+1) and bite -3 (1d6);or 2 claws +2 (1d4+1); or bite +2 (1d6+1)Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ftBase Atk +1; Grp +2Atk Options Fearsome shapes, confusionfogAppendix II New MonstersSpecial Actions Dive, Flyby AttackAbilities Str 13, Dex 21, Con 14, Int 7, Wis12, Cha 13SQ elemental traits, Mists traits, vaporous,flightFeat Flyby AttackSkills Bluff +1, Hide +5*, Intimidate +5,Listen +1, Move Silently +5*, SenseMotive +2, Spot +2285

Appendix II New MonstersConfusion Fog (Su): Any group of ten ormore shipbanes is constantly shrouded by adense, magical cloud of vapor, in whichvisibility is reduced to 5 feet. Thisprovides concealment equivalent to a fogcloud spellSuch a Confusion Fog is cylindrical and20’ tall. Its radius is 5’ per shipbane in it.Shipbanes can move about freely withinthe area of a Confusion Fog, or can will theFog to travel with them at their full flyingspeed. A Confusion Fog cannot bedispersed or kept at bay by natural winds,although magical winds, solid walls, forceeffects, or barriers that exclude magic canblock these vapors’ spread. If one of thegroup of shipbanes exits a Confusion Fogor is killed, the fog’s radius is reduced by5’. Should the total number of shipbaneswithin the Confusion Fog fall below ten,its vapors disperse harmlessly on the nextround, exposing any remaining shipbanes.Any creature caught in the area of aConfusion Fog is subject to a confusioneffect (as the spell) each time it enters thecloud of vapor. The base Will DC to resistconfusion is 10, +2 for every ten shipbanespresent within. For example, a ConfusionFog that is created by fifty shipbaneswould have a DC of 20; if one is killed, thefog’s DC drops to 18.Fearsome Shapes (Su): A shipbane canchange its appearance (but not its size orattacks) as a swift action, to disorient andterrorize its victims. By making hit-andrunstrikes out of the fog, then changingtheir features each time they retreat out ofview, shipbanes give the impression ofoverwhelming numbers, potentiallytriggering Fear saves even if their foes aremore than a match for them. The DC ofthe Fear save is based, not on theshipbanes’ true EL, but on how many ofthem the victims believe they are facing.Flight (Ex): Shipbanes can fly with perfectmaneuverability, allowing them to hover,turn or reverse direction as a free action,fly straight up at full speed, or flybackwards.286Mist Peering (Ex): Shipbanes (like otherbeings with the Mists subtype) are lesssubject to the obscuring effects of fog ormist than usual. Shipbanes’ range ofvision in a Confusion Fog or other vapor isfifteen feet, not five. Victims within 5’ aretreated as having no concealment by theshipbanes; those within 15’ are treated ashaving concealment; those at a distancegreater than 15’ have total concealment.When attacking those with concealmentdue to fog or mist, a shipbane suffers onlyhalf the usual miss chance (10% for regularconcealment, 25% for total).Vaporous (Su): Although tangible enoughto attack physically, shipbanes’ bodieshave a semi-gaseous composition. Ashipbane can compress its body to squeezethrough any crack that water can penetrate,as a full-round action.Weaknesses Shipbanes exposed to directsunlight are impaired on the first round anddestroyed on the second, exactly as if theywere vampires. Their Confusion Fog canact as a barrier against sunlight, but eachround of contact between sun and Fogburns off five feet of vapor from its topsurface, thus dispersing an entire cloud infour rounds. If its sun exposure isinterrupted, a Confusion Fog rebuilds itselfat the same rate.Dry land repels shipbanes. They neverapproach within 100’ of an island or 300’of a continental coastline, and will crossover mudflats, shoals, or other landformsthat jut above the waves only when theyare submerged by the tides.As beings of air and vapor, shipbanes aretoo buoyant to penetrate the surface ofwater, so victims who flee beneath thewaves pass out of reach. Even if ashipbane is dragged underwater by force, itwill shoot to the surface like a bubble attriple speed, as soon as it is released.Merely splashing shipbanes with waterdoes them no harm.Skills A shipbane in fog or mist, includingConfusion Fog, gets a +4 racial bonus toHide and Move Silently checks.

Appendix II New MonstersFirst recorded in old Grabenite sagas of thesea-raiders (occasionally under the foreignsoundingname of “kahl-murur”), shipbanesare a menace that was long thought onlylegend, until the Nocturnal Sea’s emergence.Now, the feral elementals have reappeared,to pursue and prey on hapless sea-travelers,where once the Nightmare Lands held sway.Whether plucked from a distant world orwholly born of the Mists, at least one pack(“slaughter”) of shipbanes is known to roamthe sunless expanse of the frigid southernwaves. Scattered reports from as far north asthe Strait of Liffe suggest that other packsprowl the Nocturnal Sea’s far rim, lurking onthe foggy fringe of the Misty Border.Strategies and tacticsShipbanes wander the Nocturnal Sea ingroups of up to sixty individuals; seldom areless than ten of them encountered at a time.Slaughters which have insufficient membersto raise up a confusion fog are reluctant toattack, unless natural fogbanks already grantthem a clear advantage. When their own orNature’s vapors do shield them and hampertheir opponents, shipbanes stage their strikesupon vulnerable vessels in order to createmaximum panic, disorientation and chaos,for these gaseous entities are quite literallyaddicted to the subtle aromas of terror andconfusion on a dying victim’s last breath.Apparently aware that sea-goers in theLand of Mists are fearful of fogbanks, aslaughter of shipbanes rarely attempts toconceal its approach under cover of darknessor storm, but lets the sight of its oncomingconfusion fog demoralize intended victims.(Being far too fast for any conventionalsailing ship to outrun, they need not worrythat such a forewarning will permit anintended quarry to escape.) Upon closingwith the vessel, shipbanes will use their firstround of flyby attacks to rend sails, breaklanterns, entangle ropes, and otherwisedisable the ship, while their fog’s confusiontakes effect. Only after all those on boardhave had their chance to succumb – andhence, to panic and disrupt any organizedresistance – do these elusive elementals turntheir attentions to their humanoid prey, nowwell-seasoned by fear and pandemonium.Between their many immunities and theadvantages provided by their superioreyesight in opaque fog, shipbanes can beextremely difficult to finish off, even forthose with silver or magical weapons. Theynever stay still, but duck erratically in andout of the fog’s concealment, darting fromone opponent to the next, and changing theirappearance as soon as they slip out of view.Foes who save against the fog’s confusioneffect may still succumb to ordinary Fearsaves, believing the elementals’ numbers toogreat to defeat. By disabling the ship, theslaughter makes it clear there is no escape,potentially invoking Horror saves as well.Foes who flee (whether out of Fear,Horror, confusion or choice) arepreferentially targeted by as many shipbanesas can cluster around them, all eager to catcha whiff of the frightened victim’s demise.Conversely, any combatant on board whofirmly stands his or her ground against theelementals is deemed unappetizing andignored until all other prey have been usedup … unless the brave one should attempt torescue a mobbed victim, in which case theinterrupted “diners” will tear the interloperapart. After all aboard have been massacred,leapt overboard, or sealed themselves behindimpenetrable barriers, the slaughter gleefullydestroys any propulsion or steeringmechanisms that remain intact, then leavesthe corpse-strewn vessel to drift onward,vacant and silent.Ecology287Biologically, shipbanes have no needs.Psychologically, these beings – or at least,those found in Ravenloft – seem to crave thefinal exhalations of the dying, particularly ofthose who die in a state of confusion andterror. The Grabenite sagas allege that if aship’s crew is unflaggingly courageous to aman, shipbanes will leave the vessel strictlyalone or even flee its approach, though thismay be more boastful than factual. Moreeducated theorists have looked for a patternin known shipbane attacks; some speculatethat the creatures may be drawn to vesselswhose captains, crews, and/or passengershave committed grave sins or incurred darkforces’ wrath, but this theory is untested.

Appendix II New MonstersShipbane attacks are most common in thesouthern Nocturnal Sea, but such creaturescan potentially be encountered anywhere onthe eastern sea, save close to land or in areaswhere sun breaks through the omnipresentcloud cover. Given their fatal susceptibilityto the sun, it seems unlikely that they couldsurvive in the Sea of Sorrows or seas outsidethe Core, save at the edge of a Misty Borderwhich could offer them shelter.The true appearance of a shipbane (i.e. onenot using its Fearsome Shapes ability) is notknown, assuming it has one at all. Spellsthat penetrate supernatural disguises revealonly hazy, semi-humanoid silhouettes. Mostshipbanes will shift between several hideousguises, during the course of an attack – skin,scales or fur; horns, tusks or warts; feet,paws or hooves; etc – though they alwaysretain talons and fangs with which to attack.Their adopted shapes’ colors likewise rangeacross the spectrum, but are always washedout,pastel, or drab in hue: neither bright nordark, like the fogs that they inhabit. Formsadopted by shipbanes tend to be outlandish,with rare, shockingly-humanlike exceptions.Whatever their shapes, shipbanes unleash atorrent of shrieking, deranged cackles duringtheir flyby attacks, and their snide chortlingand mocking, childish giggles usher from theobscured depths of the confusion fog, allaround their prey.When slain, a shipbane’s body disperses atonce into thin wisps of vapor. Unnervingly,other shipbanes nearby will eagerly clusteraround these dissipating vapors to bask intheir aroma, just as they would savor a dyinghumanoid’s fear-scented breath.How (or even if) shipbanes reproduce isunknown.SocietyShipbanes do not appear to have any leaders,elders, or other authority-figures, gatheringin “slaughters” that are little more thanmobs. Indeed, they scarcely interact at all,forming groups solely in order to generatethe confusion fogs that provide concealment,foment panic, and offer them shelter fromstray beams of sunlight: a danger they fear288greatly, however rare a thing it might be onthe Nocturnal Sea.When it isn’t attacking vessels, a slaughtereither drifts aimlessly with the prevailingwinds or moves about at random. Shouldone shipbane feels an urge to travel in oneparticular direction, the rest may come alongfor the ride (dragging the confusion fog withthem), or they may capriciously overrule itand pull the fog in another direction entirely.Such “tugs-of-war” over the confusion fog’sdirection of travel are the closest thing to a‘discussion’ which shipbanes are inclined toengage in: they spend most days in a lazy,dreamlike daze, carried by the wind or theirslaughter-mates’ whims.Alignment: Shipbanes seem oblivious tothe horror of their attacks, caring only thattheir victims should die in a sufficient stateof panic and disorientation to sate their vile,hedonistic cravings. Together with theirunsociable nature, the fact that they kill forpleasure rather than need, and their habit ofgleefully vandalizing ships they assault forthe sheer joy of destructiveness, shipbanes’behavior is highly Chaotic as well as Evil.Advanced ShipbanesShipbanes that are significantly tougher thanmost (up to 6 HD) have been reported, mostoften by terrified sailors who fortuitouslythrew themselves overboard and so escapedtheir shipmates’ vile fate. The scariest thingabout advanced shipbanes is that just one isnever encountered: if a single member of aslaughter has extra HD, so do all the others.Shipbane MobsDMs wishing to simplify a battle between alarge pack of shipbanes and its foes can treatthe shipbanes as a single entity, as per the“Mob” combat rules introduced in DungeonMaster’s Guide II. Statistics for a slaughterof 48 shipbanes are presented here:Slaughter (Mob of Shipbanes)CR8CE Gargantuan elemental (mob of Mediumelementals) (Air, Mists)Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-lightvision, Mist Peering; Listen +1, Spot +2

Languages AuranAC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 9(-4 size, +5 Dex, +3 natural)Miss Chance 20% at 5 ft (concealment),50% at >5 ft (total concealment) in foghp 165 (30 HD); DR 10 / silver or magicImmune poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning,polymorph, agingResistance cold 10, electricity 10Fort +11, Ref +23, Will +9Weaknesses sunlight, cannot approach landor penetrate water, +50% damage fromarea attacks, suffers 2 negative levels pershipbane killed, breaks up at 0 HD or 0 hp.Speed fly 30 ft. perfect (6 squares)Melee mob 5d6 (hits automatically; ignoresconcealment)Space 20 ft; Reach 0 ft (can share spaceswith opponents)Base Atk +22; Grp +35Atk Options fearsome shapes, confusionfog (240’ radius, Will DC 18), expertgrappler (can maintain grapples without–20 penalty; not flat-footed if grappling)Special Actions dive, Flyby AttackAbilities Str 13, Dex 21, Con 14, Int 7, Wis10, Cha 10SQ elemental traits, Mists traits, mobanatomy (can’t be tripped, grappled or bullrushed), flight, vaporousFeat Flyby Attack, Improved Bull Rush,Improved OverrunSkills Bluff +1, Hide +5*, Intimidate +5,Listen +1, Move Silently +5*, SenseMotive +2, Spot +2White-FangThe hiss of scales over snow is nearly silent,but it draws your attention in time to catch aglimpse: a serpentine form, tracing curves inAppendix II New Monsters289the snowdrift as it glides forward, its frostypelt as white as the snow itself. Brilliantblue eyes with slit pupils glitter brightlyagainst the whiteness, above a pale, gapingthroat and fangs translucent as icicles. Thecreature is as hypnotically beautiful as it isdeadly, and swifter than thought as it strikes.White-fangCR6NE Huge magical beast (Cold)Init +6; Senses tremorsense 120 ft,darkvision 60 ft, low-light vision, scent;Listen +8, Spot +8Languages None spoken; understandssimple Draconic commandsAC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 13; Dodge (-2size, +2 Dex, +5 natural)hp 63 (6 HD)Immune coldFort +10, Ref +7, Will + 6Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 30 ft., burrow(snow or ice) 20 ft.Melee bite +12 (2d4+8 plus freezing venom)and tail lash +7 (2d6+4); orbite +12 (2d4+8 plus freezing venom); ortail lash + 12 (2d6+8)Space 15 ft; Reach 10 ftBase Atk +4; Grp + 20Atk Options constrict (1d8+10), improvedgrabAbilities Str 26, Dex 15, Con 20, Int 4, Wis14, Cha 10SQ icy camouflage, freezing venomFeats Alertness, Dodge, Improved Initiative,Tracking BSkills Balance +2, Climb +8, Hide +2 (+14in snow*), Listen +8*, Move Silently+14*, Sense Motive +2, Spot +8*, Survival+7*, Swim +16*Freezing bite (Ex): A character bitten by awhite-fang must succeed on a DC 18 Fort

Appendix II New Monsterssave or be paralyzed by its venom, whichliterally freezes the blood. Those who failtheir saves become paralyzed in 1d4rounds, their skin gradually turning blue asthey lose 1d8 hp per round until the poisonis neutralized or they perish. A neutralizepoison spell lifts the paralysis, halts theongoing damage, and restores the victim’scolor, but does not restore hit pointsalready lost. Remove paralysis ends theparalysis effect only.On a successful save, characters suffer a -2penalty to Strength and Dexterity for 2d6rounds. Additional bites against which thevictim saves successfully will extend theduration of this loss, but do not inflictfurther penalties to abilities.Creatures that are immune to poison areunaffected by white-fangs’ venom, andcreatures immune to cold automaticallysucceed on their saves against it. A whitefangunder the control of a master (such asMeredoth) may be ordered not to inject itsvenom, but to inflict only the base damagewith its bite attack.Constrict (Ex): A white-fang may deal1d8+10 hp of damage per round to anopponent it has successfully grappled. Ifordered to do so (e.g. by Meredoth or someother being that controls it) it can make itsconstriction damage non-lethal.Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, awhite-fang must hit with a bite attack. Itcan then try to start a grapple as a freeaction without provoking an attack ofopportunity. If it wins its grapple check, itachieves a hold and can constrict.Skills White-fangs get a +4 racial bonus totheir Listen, Move Silently, Spot andSurvival checks, as well as a +8 racial290

onus to Swim checks. They can alwaysTake 10 on a Swim check, even ifdistracted or otherwise endangered, andmay use the Run action while swimmingprovided they move in a straight line. Awhite-fang cannot breathe water, but it canhold its breath underwater for 30 minutesbefore having to make Con checks to avoiddrowning.* A white-fang in snow or slush, on open ice,or drifting amongst ice floes at the surfacegains a +12 circumstance bonus on Hidechecks.The white-fang is a silent menace ofTodstein’s frigid forests and ice-girdled surf,and is known by many ominous names in theskaldic tales of the Grabenites: HoarySerpent of the Icy Deeps. Haunter of theFrozen Wilds. Winter’s Chilling Teeth.Slithering Drake. White Death. All of theseepithets are well-deserved, for all that thesepale-furred, serpentine predators are seldomseen by any who live to tell of them.White-fangs are indigenous to Todstein,but they venture well out to sea to hunt seals,fish, and the occasional hapless fishermanwhen their home isle’s pickings grow slim.The white-fangs’ usual hunting territory thusextends from Todstein to the fishing banksdue east of Graben Island, where the recentincreased traffic by both native and foreignfishing fleets has begun to give these lurkingkillers a dangerous taste for newly-plentifulhuman prey.Strategies and tacticsWhite-fangs are solitary hunters that preferto lurk unseen and strike from concealment.They swim well, move swiftly across openground, and can burrow through snow or ice.White-fangs’ sensitivity to vibrations allowsthem to lurk just beneath a blanket of snowor the sea’s surface, awaiting a passingfootstep or the dipping of a paddle into thewater. On land, they locate prey using keeneyesight, hearing, and sense of smell.Slow-witted if confronted by theunfamiliar, yet well practiced as predators,white-fangs rely on stealth and surprise toinject a lethal, blood-curdling poison intoAppendix II New Monsterstheir victims with their needle-sharp fangs.Like a viper, a hungry white-fang willusually strike once, then retreat to wait for itsprey to succumb to paralysis, at which time itreturns to swallow its victim whole. (Theywill not risk consuming prey that is neitherdead nor paralyzed, so do not employSwallow Whole attacks in melee.)Confronted by foes that their venom fails toincapacitate, they resort to constriction andto lashing their viciously-barbed tails,fleeing if seriously injured.Alchemical antitoxin is not as effectiveagainst white-fang venom as other toxins,giving only a +2 bonus to Fort saves againstits effects. Blending antitoxin with an equalamount of melt powder (see Frostburn) willmake the antitoxin as effective as usual (+5save bonus) against white-fang venom.Ecology291White-fangs appear prominently in severalGrabenite eddas that pre-date Nebligtode’sarrival in Ravenloft, suggesting that the icyserpents existed in some abundance on theworld from whence its darklord originated.Whether they had been present on Todsteinbefore Meredoth established his home there,were summoned or imported to the Rock bythe necromancer himself, or were seeded bythe Dark Powers upon his arrival in the Landof Mists is unknown. Whichever the case,he deems them of little threat to his unlivingservitors or himself, so lets them remain asfree-ranging ‘watchdogs’ over his isle.Adaptable and very mobile, white-fangscan be encountered virtually anywhere outof-doorson Todstein, or within several days’swim out to sea from it. The serpents haveeven snuck on board passing vessels andhidden themselves below decks, ambushingunwary sailors one by one. They avoid thewarm waters to the north, finding such torridconditions very uncomfortable; to date, nonehave crossed the open sea to Graben Island,but it may only be a matter of time beforethey make it there.An adult white-fang resembles atremendous python 25’ to 30’ long, weighingin at over 400 pounds, and covered with athick pelt of soft, insulating white fur. Its

Appendix II New Monstersbelly sports broad bands of scale, like anormal snake’s, and its head is armored insnow-white plates of finest ivory. Its slimviper’s fangs are as transparent as glass,injecting sky-blue fluid to envenom prey. Itseyes are likewise blue, while the slim, forkedtongue with which it tastes the air for odorsis bright red: the only points of color on itsentire body. In motion, a white-fang issinuous, almost hypnotically-graceful, andvery, very fast.Young white-fangs hatch from grapefruitsizedeggs in clutches of 2-5, and tend toremain together for safety in numbers for upto three years before setting off on their own.A white-fang hatchling is a mere 5’ long, butit grows rapidly if given sufficient food.Straight out of the egg, its freezing venom isevery bit as potent as an adult’s: a necessaryadvantage, as it must fend for itself to findprey and avoid larger predators, includingadult white-fangs. A white-fang whichreaches maturity (around age six) canpotentially survive as long as two centuries,though it is rare for them to live longer thanforty years in the wild.SocietyBarely intelligent enough to comprehend afew words of Draconic, and unable speak itthemselves, white-fangs do not have thecommunication skills or wit to create theirown society. That they understand Draconicat all is something of a mystery: they do notteach their young this language (or anythingelse for that matter), so their comprehensionof its basic vocabulary seems to be inherited.For most of the year, white-fangs treattheir fellows as competitors, largerspecimens occupying and defending huntingterritories and small ones keeping out of thebig ones’ way. Once a year, in late autumn,a female white-fang releases pheromonesthat attract nearby males to form a “matingball” around her. Such clusters usuallycontain dozens of consorts, and are the only‘socializing’ adult white-fangs will take partin. Occasionally, a recently-bred female isfollowed around for a few days afterward bya hopeful male, in case the mating wasunsuccessful and she comes into seasonagain.292Since 737, Meredoth has acquired alimited ability to communicate with andcommand Todstein’s white-fangs, albeitmore through intimidation than supernaturalinfluence. None of the furred serpents willhunt him or his unliving servants, and mostwill track down and attack intruders on hisisle if he personally commands them to doso. A few of the smartest will even huntdown specific trespassers on his orders, andrefrain from eating whoever they mightcatch, provided the necromancer doesn’tleave them alone with their prisoners longenough for the dim-witted serpents to growhungry.Alignment: White-fangs are onlyminimally sentient, living more like wildanimals than intelligent creatures; theybarely understand the notion of “good”versus “bad”, let alone “Good” versus“Evil”. Nonetheless, many seem to take aperverse, bullying pleasure in paralyzedvictims’ helplessness, slithering all over thebodies of their prey, licking fear-sweat fromtheir skins and tasting their bite-wounds,before devouring them. Curiously, tales ofwhite-fangs encountered by ancient Anatalheroes fail to mention this behavior.Typical treasureWhite-fangs do not collect treasure, but theirpelts and the ivory plates on their heads areof value. A typical specimen’s furred hidecan potentially fetch as much as 500 gp froma furrier, while its ivory scales’ value rangeswidely (1d6 x 100 gp total) depending onhow long ago the creature has molted andreplaced old, cracked ones. Naturally, if it iskilled in a way that destroys its remains, awhite-fang’s valuable parts are also ruined.Advanced White-FangsLike the snakes they resemble, white-fangsnever stop growing, and specimens of greatsize are not unprecedented. A white-fang ofup to 10 HD remains Huge, while those thatlive to attain up to 16 HD are Gargantuan.Such long-lived, well-fed examples usuallyspend the majority of their time at sea,feeding on beluga whales, walrus, and otheroversized prey.

HoarfrostAn unusually sly young female white-fang,Hoarfrost was caught by Meredoth andincorporated into his rod of the white-fang,in imitation of a python rod which the agednecromancer had acquired but (not beingGood-aligned) could not activate. Hoarfrostnow serves the darklord of Nebligtode as afamiliar, bodyguard, bloodhound, and aconfidante of sorts, to the limited extent thatMeredoth is capable of relating civilly toanother living being.Appendix II New Monsters293

Appendix IIIWho’s Doomed

Baron Lyron Evensong(Demilord of Liffe)Male human Bard 12Appendix III Who’s DoomedCR14NE Medium humanoid (incorporeal)Init +4; Senses Listen +6, Spot +1Languages Sithican*, Darkonese, Draconic,Elven, VaasiAC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 17; Dodge (+4Dex, +5 armour, +2 deflection)hp 79 (12 HD); fast healing 4Saves: Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +11Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)Melee weapon +15/+10 (1d6+5 damage/18-20)Base Atk +9; Grp +12Atk Options Combat ExpertiseSpecial Actions immaterial, bardic music12/day (countersong, fascinate [4 targets],Inspire Courage +2, Inspire Competence,suggestion [DC 20], Inspire Greatness,Song of Freedom)Combat Gear: +2 rapierBard Spells Known (CL 12th):4th (3/day)-Dominate Person (DC 19),Hallucinatory Terrain (DC 18), ModifyMemory (DC 19)3rd (4/day)-Crushing Despair (DC 18),Glibness, Haste, Slow (DC 17)2nd (4/day)- Eagle's Splendor, HypnoticPattern (DC 16), Suggestion (DC 17),Tongues1st (4/day)-Charm Person (DC 16), DisguiseSelf, Expeditious Retreat, Obscure Object(DC 15)0 (3/day)- Detect Magic, Ghost Sound (DC14), Know Direction, Mending, Message,PrestidigitationAbilities: Str 16, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 14,Wis 12, Cha 19295SQ: Phylactery, bardic knowledge +14Feats: Combat Expertise, Deceitful, Dodge,Iron Will, Spell Focus (enchantment),Weapon FinesseSkills: Appraise +16, Bluff +21, Craft(Instrument) +7, Diplomacy +21, Disguise+23, Forgery +4, Gather Information +16,Hide +9, Listen +6, Move Silently +9,Perform (keyboards) +21, Sense Motive+6, Sleight of Hand +9, Spellcraft +16,Use Magic Device +11Possessions combat gear plus +1 chain shirt,circlet of persuasion, gloves of dexterity+4, ring of protection +2Phylactery (Ex): Baron Evensong's soul isbound to his harpsichord: for as long as itexists, he will continue to return if slain. IfEvensong is killed but his phylactery is notdestroyed, he reforms in 1d10 days.Smashing the instrument is not enough toslay him permanently, but it does weakenEvensong, ending all of his current spelleffectsand forcing him to manifest.However, Evensong still returns in 3d10days and is able to repair his phylactery. Topermanently finish off Evensong, hisharpsichord must be burned or otherwise

Appendix III Who’s Doomeddestroyed in a way that it is irreparable(such as disintegration). The harpsichord isMedium with 50 hit points, hardness 15and a break DC of 40.Fast Healing (Ex): Baron Evensong heals atan exceptional rate whenever he is in hismanor or outdoors on its grounds.Immaterial (Su): Baron Evensong canbecome incorporeal at will, much like amanifested ghost. In this form he is totallyimmune to nonmagical attacks. Evensongcan turn incorporeal or revert to his solidstate as an immediate action.The Baron is graceful, with a light charmingsmile and long delicate fingers that speak ofa soft touch necessary for skilful use ofinstruments. His clothing is the fine silk andbright colours or the nobility, and hediscusses their local construction butmentions the imported nature of the fabric inan off-hand manner. His hair is neatlytrimmed but seems thick and bushy for hislong, angular face. While human, he moveswith a deliberate grace and his eyes seem oldand wistful; his words come quick andeasily, almost in a rehearsed manner, freelyflowing over his thin lips as his hands movein an excited manner. At first he seemsalmost simple, like a minor nobleman with amodest education and few wits, but, for justa moment, behind the vapid smile and easilyspoken pleasantries, there was an ageddarkness, a veiled depth from years ofintrospection and contemplation.BackgroundBorn in another land, Lyron Evensong wasraised in a cosmopolitan city of scholars,artists and merchants. Lyron was a musicalprodigy, a genius of composition andstructure. Seeing his brilliance for what itwas, Lyron's father locked him away withonly an endless stream of teachers andcomposers for company. Isolated fromhuman contact, Lyron became detached anduncaring. Emotionally stunted, Lyron foundit difficult to empathize with others and wasunable to write music that stirred any feelingin his listeners.296His many attempts to produce amasterpiece having failed, Lyron blamed hisaudience and believed that they were limitedby the emotions of their individual pasts. Hebegan channeling his energies intoinfluencing the feelings of others, producingsimplistic, yet emotionally-manipulativepieces. Lyron's new works, though criticallyderided, proved popular with the commonfolk. Disgusted by how easily people wereswayed, he came to see his audience as littlemore than objects.Lyron eventually decided that peopleneeded his help if they were to freethemselves from their feelings. It was notenough to influence them through theirweaknesses: to be truly seen as a genius, hemust break the chains of their sentimentalties and spread his unique morality. Lyronfranticly wrote a number of philosophicalworks denouncing emotions. He tried to helpfree people by burning their homes to releasethem from old memories and possessions, orkilling families to free someone from love.His experiments all failed. Still, Lyron wasconvinced he only needed to find the rightargument to explain his philosophy, the rightaction to convince people of the truth. Heonly needed the time to write the paper or todiscuss matter with a subject directly.All mundane methods having failed, Lyronturned to magic, directly controlling others'minds. His enchantments could temporarilysuppress subjects' usual affections, givingLyron a brief sense of accomplishment thatspurred him on. Unsatisfied by his magic'slimited duration, Lyron then commissioned amagnificent harpsichord to be crafted andenchanted by a local wizard. It was to sharehis soul with the listeners and allow anyonewho heard it to see the world as Lyron did.But the spell went awry as the Mists rose uparound Lyron; the magic trapped his spirit inthe wood and wires of the instrument.Lyron found himself in a new land, Baronof a large manor home he was unable toleave, and terribly cursed. Each night, timeslowed in his manor, such that a full centurypassed between sunset and dawn. Lyroncontinued to grow old at the same rate as theoutside world, each century-long night aging

him by but twelve hours. Initially terrified bythe prospect of centuries alone in his manor,he turned to guests as temporaryentertainment. Unfortunately, these guestsaged a century in a single night, making anovernight visit as Evensong's estate a deathsentence to any human. Nor were long-livedraces much use as company, for even theybecame enraged to be trapped with him forthe "night", and had to be killed to ensuretheir silence.Despite the growing death-toll among his"overnight" guests, Evensong kept drawingvisitors to his manor of Neverwere, usinginvitations imbued with magic to ensure asteady supply of sacrifices to his ownboredom. One of these invitations found itsway into the hands of a party of adventurers,who succeeded in shattering his harpsichordand escaping the manor.Slain, both the Baron and his domainalmost dissolved into the Mists but, throughluck or design, became bound to anotherfragment of land. Over the course of months,several such small, fading domainscoalesced into a single island, whichemerged into the Core as part of theNocturnal Sea. Lyron quickly seized asecond chance at life, rebuilding hisinstrument and repairing his damaged home.Current SketchDespite past mishaps, Evensong still invitespeople to dine at his manor, although now heis far more selective in his choices. Heenjoys spending a hundred years trying toconvince his captives to embrace his callousworldview. After many subjective centuries'practice, his brainwashing techniques havegrown extremely refined and complicated.Liffe was initially a composite domainwith multiple demilords, much as Darkonbecame during Azalin's absence. BaronEvensong has managed to establish hisauthority the fastest, and is the effective rulerof the land, but the others yet retain ameasure of power. While not the only lord ofLiffe, Evensong has more power than do theother demilords. He does not know who orwhat they are, but he senses that rivals areAppendix III Who’s Doomed297out there and fears they will try to supplanthim. Currently, Evensong seeks tomanipulate adventurers into disposing ofthese other fallen lords.Baron Evensong is also attempting toisolate Liffe, and is doing all he can to hindertrade and immigration. He knows thatconverting the entire island to his philosophywill be a difficult task, and the influx of newideas, trends and goods will only make itharder. Lyron has secretly funded groupspromoting isolationism, and even sabotagedtrade pacts he has pretended to approve ofduring senate meetings.However ambitious, Lyron's plans forLiffe are continually sabotaged by hisimpatience and erratic-seeming moods andideas. Each night, Lyron has decades tospend preparing for the next day andreviewing recent events. Every morning, heinevitably emerges from his manor with arevised plan years in the making and only asingle day to set it into motion. As a result,his reputation among the other senatemembers is that of a flighty dilettante with abrief attention-span … this, even though his"loss of interest" in an idea is usually theresult of decades, not hours.CombatBaron Evensong avoids combat wheneverpossible, especially near his harpsichord. Heprefers to lead people safely away from hisphylactery at the first hint of disagreement,let alone combat. Confident in his ownimmortality, Evensong is nonchalant aboutsacrificing himself as a distraction to drawthe curious away.If given time to prepare, Evensong favorsusing enchantment-spells, enthralled slaves,and thugs hired to do his fighting for him,only resorting to direct violence if given noother choice. Even when forced into combat,Evensong relies on spells before turning toweaponry.

Appendix III Who’s DoomedLair: Neverwere ManorNeverwere Manor is a large building outsideClaviera. It is spacious and opulent, thoughunremarkable as such manor houses go. Thegrounds are reasonably well-maintained, butnot obsessively-so, and the house proper iskept in adequate condition. The interiors aretidy and in good repair, though few servantsare ever seen engaged in cleaning or upkeep.Neverwere Manor is the true center ofBaron Evensong's domain and curse. Everynight, the interior of the house is pulled outof the normal world, although it remainsconnected by the Mists. It becomesimpossible to enter the building by mundaneor magical means during the night. Windowsand doors, while still subject to cosmeticdamage, cannot be penetrated or shattered.The house's interior becomes anotherworld into itself. Once encompassing but asingle room (the parlor), this curious pocketplanehas grown with Evensong's power, andnow comprises an infinite series of linkedrooms and corridors, branching off of oneanother and weaving amongst themselves.To casual explorers, the manor does notappear to have changed its layout, but newdoors are soon discovered where once therewere none, as corridors that were not therebefore and even whole wings awaitdiscovery.While close to the parlor, the pocketplane'sheart, the manor appears to be anormal house, but the farther explorers movefrom it, the more their environment growstwisted and bizarre. There are rooms filledwith centuries of dust and cobwebs, ancienthalls stuffed with relics, burnt husks ofrooms scarred by age-old fires, and evenrooms reflecting how things have been orwill be.If damaged by its overnight occupants, theManor repairs itself, slowly returning thingsto their original state. Furniture rights itself,books replace themselves on their shelves,and broken plates return whole to theircupboards. Any structural damage mendsitself instantly when witnesses' backs areturned or even during the blink of an eye.298Unlike the daylight Manor, by the night thewindows and doors lead out into an empty,black space, devoid even of stars. Escapingfrom the Manor does not lead back to Liffe.Once inside the Manor there is no provenway to exit before dawn, when the interiorreturns to Liffe. Unwilling "guests" havespeculated that a single door hidden deep inthe manor may lead out, but that the lockedportal must be opened by the willing Baron.Powerful planar magics might also force anexit, if Evensong were to invite a spellcasterof such power to stay overnight (unlikely).Baron Evensong has some control over hishome and decides some of the planar traitsthe manor, such as the flow of time and pullof gravity. Evensong has learned to spare hisguests the ravages of age and hungerallowing time to pass for them as it passes inthe real world. Days and years still seem topass but the guests do not grow tired orhungry. However, this is also true for spellsand abilities useable once per day, while themanor is timeless they cannot heal, rest orrecover spells until a full day has passed inthe real world (or eight hours for wizards,which would be roughly 67 years inside themanor). However, the Baron can also maketime pass normally in the manor so theguests emerge one hundred years older buthave the opportunity to rest, heal and regainspells during their stay. The Baron himselfcan regain his spells and bardic musicabilities in this manner. However, as timepasses normally trapped guests run the riskof ageing, growing old and dying whiletrapped in the manor.Neverwere Manor has the following planartraits:• Normal or subjective directional gravity• Normal time or timeless• Infinite• Alterable morphic

Puncheron(Demilord of Liffe)Male Unique Shadow CR 10CE Medium undead (incorporeal)Init +2; Senses Listen +16, Spot +16Languages Darkonese, Elven, Grabenite,Sithican, VaasiAC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 14(+2 Dex, +4 deflection)hp 76 (11 HD); DR 10/goldImmune undead immunitiesResist turn resistance +4Fort +5 Ref +5, Will +8Speed 40 ft. fly (good) (8 squares)Melee incorporeal touch +6 (1d8 str + 1d4cha)Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.Base Atk +4; Grp -Atk Options bad jokes, dodge, shadowcraftSpecial Actions strength damage, charismadrain, manifestAbilities Str -, Dex 15, Con -, Int 18, Wis 14,Cha 15SQ darkvision 60ft., incorporeal traits,undead traitsFeats blind-fight, dodge, great fortitude,stealthySkills disguise +14, gather information +14,hide +16*, listen +16, perform (comedy)+16, search +18, sense motive +14, spot+16Strength Damage (Su): Puncheron's touchdoes 1d8 Strength damage to living foes. Acreature reduced to 0 Strength falls to theground helpless. This is a negative energyeffect.Charisma Drain (Su): Puncheron's touchdoes 1d4 Charisma drain to living foes. Acreature reduced to 0 Charisma dies. ThisAppendix III Who’s Doomed299is a negative energy effect. This ability ishow Puncheron survives and sustains hisexistence.Bad Jokes (Sp): The jester can induceforced laugher on listeners. At will -hideous laughter (DC 13). Caster level11th. The save DC is Charisma-based.Shadowcraft (Sp): Puncheron used to beable to create powerful illusions that couldkill groups of people. Now he can onlymake crude puppets from shadow. 2/day -shadow conjuration (DC 16). 1/day -shadow evocation (DC 17). Caster level11th. All save DCs is Charisma-based.Manifest (Su): By draining CharismaPuncheron heals himself of damage (oneHit Dice for each attribute point) and cantake physical form. If he is uninjured anddrains a victim of Charisma he can applythe points to his own physical statssplitting them equally between Strengthand Constitution. When assuming physicalform he assumes the rough features of theindividual but lacks all of their knowledgeand abilities.Puncheron is notably weaker in this form(typically suffering from low hit points dueto his low Constitution) and lacks hissupernatural abilities (but still possesseshis spell-like abilities. If slain dissolvesinto his shadow form retaining all damageinflicted (but regaining any hit points lostdue to low Constitution). Stolen attributepoints, whether used or not, are lost at arate of one per day and Puncherondissolves when one of his stats reaches 0.Skills: Puncheron has a +2 racial bonus onListen and Spot checks and a +4 racialbonus on Search checks. *He also gains a+4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas ofshadowy illumination. In brightly lit areas,it takes a -4 penalty on Hide checks.BackgroundPuncheron was the once incarnate shadow ofa King Doerdon, a regal darklord. The shade

Appendix III Who’s Doomedtook the form of a jester, the king's poorsense of humour made flesh. The sharedexistence was instantly adversarial with theking even trying to have his own shadowexecuted. Puncheron quickly began todespise the king, blaming his nether-self forhis lack of a true existence. The jesterdespised being bound to the king, musingthat the only thing worse than being areflection was being one that was self-aware.Through magic and intimidationPuncheron enforced his will over the castleand king. Doerdon became shattered andwithdrawn from the constant mental assaultfrom his shadow. Puncheron gainedincreasing independence from his shade andassumed de facto rule of the kingdom, if notthe domain of Risibilos. The jester took pridein reversing all of the king's old laws anddecrees.This lordship ended when a small group oftravelers entered the small kingdom and slewDoerdon seemingly ending Puncheron'sreign and the jester faded away without hismaster. However, this was not the end forshortly after a similar fate befell BaronLyron Evensong of Claviera. Somehow themad bard survived and his dying realmmerged with Risibilos and others, eachpropping up the other fading land.Puncheron found himself alive but now littlemore than a shadow on the wall.Being the solid reflection of someone wastorture to Puncheron, but now he was animage without substance, a reflection ofhimself. He gained the independence he longsought and laments it endlessly.Current SketchAn intelligent shadow Puncheron haslearned to steal more than physical strengthfrom his victims, sapping their force ofpersonality and sense of identity. By doingso Puncheron sustains himself and can takephysical form for short periods. When hedoes so he assumes the form of someone hehas recently drained, becoming theirreflection.Puncheron strives to free himself of hispartial existence becoming his own being.He will do anything, say anything, and300

promise anything to become a real being. Hecurrently believe that he has a soul, or atleast a reflection of one, and might be able tobe reincarnated and is seeking someone hecan manipulate to this end. He has also heardof a device known as the Apparatus thatmight serve his purpose, but is still unsure ofexactly what its construction entails.CombatPuncheron fights through quick strikes.Unlike regular shadows that prefer to strikewhile moving Puncheron likes to hide andlay in wait then strike when he isunexpected. He seldom engages in longEasan the MadAppendix III Who’s Doomeddrawn-out fights preferring to simply strikeand gain enough life to sustain himself thenfleeing. If possible Puncheron strikes inplaces of absolute dark trusting hisdarkvision, but he also enjoys attacking inareas of fog, mist or magical darkness.If cornered and forced into combat,Puncheron focuses on single opponents,preferably wizards, sorcerers and bardstrying to strip them of their spellcasting orhope to drain them of enough Strength totake them out of the fight.(Darklord of Vechor)Male Fiendish Wood Elf Wiz13Cr 16CE Medium humanoid (elf)Init +4; Senses darkvision 60, Listen +2,Spot +2; Outcast Rating 2Languages Vechorite*, Abyssal, Darkonese,Elven, Draconic, Sithican, VaasiAC 21, touch 17, flat-footed 17(+4 Dex, amulet of natural armor +1,bracers of armor +3, ring of protection +3)hp 36 (13 HD); regeneration 5Resist cold 20, fire 20, DR 10/magic, SR 18Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +11Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)Melee +1 dagger +7/+2 (1d4+1)Ranged masterwork dart +11/+6 (1d4+1)Base Atk +7/+2; Grp +7Attack Options Reality dominion, smitegoodSpecial Actions superior detect thoughts,reality dominionCombat Gear +1 dagger, masterwork darts,wand of summon monster IV.Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 13th)7th (1) -- insanity (DC 22), reverse gravity(DC 22), summon monster VII6th (2) - acid fog, control weather, masssuggestion (DC 21), permanent image (DC21), summon monster VI5th (4) - baleful polymorph (DC 20), dream,feeblemind (DC 20), mirage arcana (DC301

Appendix III Who’s Doomed20), nightmare (DC 20), summon monsterV, teleport4th (5) - black tentacles, confusion (DC 19),crushing despair (DC 19), hallucinatoryterrain (DC 19), shadow conjuration,summon monster IV3rd (5) - blink, fly, major image (DC 18),sleet storm, slow (DC 18), stinking cloud(DC 19), suggestion(DC 18), summonmonster III2nd (5) - darkness, fog cloud, gust of wind,glitterdust(DC 19), hypnotic pattern(DC18), minor image(DC 18), shatter, summonmonster II1st (5) - change self, color spray (DC 17),enlarge, grease (DC 18), obscuring mist,silent image (DC 17), sleep (Dc 17),summon monster I, unseen servant0th (4) - dancing lights, daze (DC 16), detectmagic, flare (DC 16), ghost sound (DC16), mage hand, prestidigitation, readmagicAbilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con 9, Int 20, Wis10, Cha 7SQ: arcane mastery, familiar (raven)Feats: Augment Summoning, Craft Wand,Craft Wondrous Item, Create Abberation,Create Magical Beast, Forge Ring, ScribeScroll, Spell Focus (Conjuration)Skills: Concentrate +15, Craft (alchemy)+16, Craft (clockwork) +11, Craft(metalwork) +11, Decipher Script + 15,Knowledge (arcana) +21, Knowledge(local) +16, Knowledge (the planes) +16,Knowledge (Religion) + 8, Listen +2,Search +7, Spellcraft +21, Spot +2Possessions: Combat gear plus , amulet ofnatural armor +1, bracers of armor +3,cloak of resistance +3, headband ofintellect +2, ring of protection +3Wild Sorcery (Ex): Easan's magic is wildand unpredictable, even for him. This has anumber of effects:When casting any spell that permits asaving throw or has a variable effect based302on caster level, roll 1d10 and consult thechart below:1 Spell save DC and caster level reduced by 12-3 Spell save DC reduced by 14-5 Caster level reduced by 16-7 Caster level increased by 18-9 Spell save DC increased by 110 Spell save DC and caster level increased by 1Secondly, any spell that deals energydamage has a 10% chance of dealing arandom type of energy damage, the spell isotherwise unchanged. For example, afireball spell might deal electricity damagefor purposes of energy resistance. If thiseffect occurs, roll 1d6 and consult the chartbelow.1 Acid2 Cold3 Fire4 Electricity5 Sonic6 Two types. The damage is half one-type, andhalf another. Roll twice above and ignore rollsof 6.Thirdly, Easan can spontaneously addmetamagic feats to spells he casts. To doso, he spends a memorized spell of theappropriate level. Like all spontaneousmetamagic this requires a full-roundaction. The spell being cast must be onecurrently memorized.Reality Dominion (Su): Easan can reshapeobjects in domain at will. Unattendedobjects receive no saving throw, whileattended objects allow the wielder to makea Will Save DC 21 to resist this effect.Changes to items are slow, occurring overminutes or even hours, making this abilityless useful in combat. However, Easan canuse it to replicate the spells animate objectand liveoak. These effects work as if castby a 13th level caster.Regeneration (Ex): Easan quickly healsfrom even the most grievous of wounds.Nothing-not even thirst, starvation orsuffocation-deals lethal damage to Easan.He can be rendered unconscious by

subdual damage, but he is immune to acoup de grace. If he loses a limb it willregrow within 1d4 hours; evendisintegration only discorporates him forone week. All permanent ability damagedone to Easan is considered temporaryability damage.Superior Detect Thoughts (Su): Easan candetect the surface thoughts of any creaturein his domain. This works as the spelldetect thoughts. This ability works at willand there is no saving throw against thisability. This ability is also continuallyactive, so Easan is always considered tocontinually aware of the presence orabsence of thoughts and requires only tworounds of concentration to read surfacethoughts.Easan is a wood elf with coppery red hair,rich olive skin, and dark eyes that gleam withwild visions no one else sees. His body isslight - barely four feet tall - yet betrays nooutward sign of fiendishness. His voice ismelodic and can be quite soothing, providedone listens to its soft tones rather than hisfrequent lapses into gibberish.Appendix III Who’s DoomedDread PossibilityThe Demon Within?Easan did not go mad immediately afterthe demon was placed within his mind. Hedesperately sought out clerics to try andremove the taint from within him. Nonesucceeded; few could even detect thedemonic presence. This string of failureslead Easan to begin his own fiendishexperiments.The truth is that there is no demon toremove.The imp was nothing more than avicious lie told to torment the wood elf,and Easan believed it completely. Helatched onto every evil thought andimpulse he had, believing it to be a sign ofdemonic corruption. His desperation toprevent his damnation led him to moreand more depraved acts.Easan is fully aware of how far he hasfallen. The more evil he commits, themore convinced he is that he is losing hisinternal battle. His experiments have beenincredibly successful, but with all hisknowledge he will never cure himself.There is nothing to cure. The only demonswithin are his own.303

Appendix III Who’s DoomedIn public, Easen wears a black toga andgoes crowned by a dead laurel wreath; whenhe loses touch with his surroundings, heusually reverts to the mottled green-andbrownleathers of a forest scout. Engaged inexperiments, Vechor's darklord dons a basiclaboratory smock, often stained by his grislyresearch.BackgroundOnce an inoffensive wizard in an elvennation beyond the Mists, Easan discoveredthat a neighboring land had fallen under thesway of a terrible half-fiend dictator. Fearingfor his homeland, he roused his fellow elvesagainst this imminent threat. Before thewood elves could launch their preemptiveassault, however, the half-fiend had Easankidnapped in revenge for his meddling.Dragged in chains before the tyrant'sthrone and accused of "warmongering",Easan protested that he had acted uponlegitimate moral imperatives … things nofiend, or part-fiend, could ever comprehend.With malicious irony, the dictator assuredthe elf he would have the chance to prove hisargument: that Easan's soul, henceforth,would be bound to that of a minor fiend, towhich he might struggle to teach "morality".If the elf succeeded in taming the fiendishspirit's malign nature, his argument would beproven valid; if he succumbed to its wickedblandishments, possession would be his duepunishment.Released to pursue this inner conflict,Easan soon found that the dark impulses andtemptations which now flooded his mindwere too strong to suppress, too persistent toquell. Fearing what evil he might do, hefrantically sought the means - arcaneknowledge, divine prayer, psychic surgery -to expel or silence the fiendish spirit within.Sought, in vain; no one to whom he turnedfor help could isolate the evil entity, soinextricably had its essence been woven intohis own. Only once did he attain a state ofgrudging truce with its evil presence, withthe aid of mystics, and the half-fiend tyrantsoon learned of their intervention in Easan'spunishment, wreaking a terrible vengeanceupon their realm.304His sanity already frayed by years of innerstrife, the wood elf could not bear the loss ofhis solace and his benefactors. Losing sightof the moral imperatives he'd once cited inhis own defense, Easan began to carry outabhorrent experiments upon other sentientbeings, in a desperate attempt to quantify thenature and properties of souls. His elven sidefrantically told itself that he would makeamends for these actions, once his worksbore fruit and the fiend was banished; thefiendish presence within Easan, pleased byhis callous experiments and sure he wouldnever succeed, gleefully egged him on.Withdrawn, by then, to an isolatedmansion of his own construction, and to thecomforting depths of his own imaginings,Easan never really noticed that he had beencarried away by the Mists. By the time helooked up from his researches long enoughto find himself in Vechor, his mind hadtwisted upon itself so completely that havingthe Land obey his whims seemed, to him,only natural.Current SketchEasan's internal feud between elven andfiendish spirits, and his own uncertainty as towhich spirit's thoughts are which, have lefthim hopelessly out of touch with reality.While he remains aware, on some level, thathis experiments serve a purpose, he is nolonger certain why that purpose is worthpursuing, or whether his desire to banish thefiend is a good thing or an evil one. Seldomdoes he finish a project with the same intentas when he started it; he re-invents his ownmotives constantly, always telling himselfthat his prior objectives were those of thefiend. Likewise, Easan might reverse hisown opinions a dozen times in a singleconversation, lambasting his previousposition as "evil" each time he does so.As darklord, Easan possesses such totalcontrol over his surroundings that he nolonger considers them real, but a product ofhis own imagination. Reality, his last threadsof sanity argue, doesn't change on a whim,ergo he must be living entirely in his ownhead. Therefore his "research" must be nomore than a series of thought-experiments,

and his Vechorite subjects, merely constructsof his own imagining. As the people ofVechor aren't real to him, they - like thevictims of his ill-conceived, futileexperiments - are utterly expendable, thoughit pleases Easan to see them happy: apleasant daydream rather than a glum one.Unfortunately for the Vechorites, his usualmethods of "making someone happy" tend toinvolve making them someone, orsomething, other than they had been; theyhide their sorrows from their God-King'scharity for good reason.Easily bored, Easan sometimes changes hisrealm for sheer amusement, or to see whatwill happen, or just to be contrary. Most suchchanges are simply bizarre, but they mayalso reflect his state of mind. If he is trulycalm and at ease, the elven darklord's whimscan birth scenes of startling, evenbreathtaking beauty; if enraged, frightenedor depressed, the landscape near him maywell reflect these moods, with terribleconsequences.In rare and fleeting moments of lucidity,Easan suspects that his body must really belying, catatonic, in an insane asylum on hisworld of origin. If anything remains of hisformer, benign persona, after so manydecades of madness, it most likely takescomfort in this belief.CombatEasan's erratic nature persists even in battle,as he shifts tactics unpredictably and mayeven change sides in mid-combat, forreasons that no doubt make perfect sense tohim. Virtually indestructible, he need notfear the consequences of such madcaptactics.The elf darklord's minions have no suchguarantees, and he seldom if ever fightsalongside non-construct allies … not least,because nothing but constructs wouldwillingly risk being caught up in his "wildmagic", or destroyed by Easan himself,should he lose track of whose side they areon.Appendix III Who’s DoomedLairEasan's mansion of pink and white marble isusually to be found at the foot of the Cliffs ofVesanis, but it occasionally movesinstantaneously to the heart of Abdok, orrises to the top of the Cliffs so the Erl-Kingcan admire the view. Curiously, none of themansion's few human servants seem tonotice any change when such relocationsoccur: to them, Easan's house has alwaysbeen where it is at the moment.The manor of Vechor's darklord is usuallya rank 2 sinkhole of evil, but this can rise to 3or even 4 at times, depending on what sortsof experiments are in progress within.Closing the BordersCreatures that attempt to leave Vechor whenits border is closed are assailed by acacophony of wild, insane laughter. Neitherdeafness nor magical silence will dampenthis effect. The din is so unbearable that suchcreatures are considered deafened until theymove back across the border to Vechor, atwhich point the laughter dies away.Every round that they hear the border'shorrible laughter, creatures automaticallysuffer 1d2 points of Wisdom damage. Thiscontinual damage ceases immediately upontheir return to Vechor, after which theyregain ability points normally. Creaturesreduced to 0 Wisdom in this way do not fallunconscious, but slip in a state of mindlesstrance; they wander, oblivious as Lost Ones,until their random, shuffling steps carry themback into Easan's realm.305

Capitaine Alain Monette(Darklord of L’Île de la Tempête)Male Human Afflicted WerebatExp4/ftr4 CR 13LE Medium humanoid (human,shapechanger)Init +2 (+2 Dex); Senses blindsense 120 ft;Listen +14 (+18*), Spot +12 (+16*)Languages: Tempetaine*; unique pidgin ofLow Mordentish, Darkonese, Vaasi andGrabenite (see "Understanding Monette")OR: 2 initially, 8 if lycanthropy is knownAC: 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12(+2 Dex, +2 natural)Resist: DR 5/silverhp 90 (12 HD), DiehardFort +12, Ref +8, Will +13 (+17 vs. fear)Weaknesses: chemical bane (skullcap),LandlockedSpeed: 30 ft (6 squares), EnduranceAppendix III Who’s Doomed306Melee: mwk cutlass +13/+8 (1d6+2/19-20)Ranged: mwk arquebus† +14/+9 (1d12/x3)Base Atk: +10; Grp +12Special Actions: hybrid form, CurrentManipulation, Closing the BorderCombat Gear: mwk cutlass, mwk arquebus,powder horn & ammunition[† - An arquebus takes two rounds toreload, so Monette can only makeconsecutive attacks if he had twoarquebuses at hand.]Abilities: Str 15, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 15,Wis 14, Cha 12SQ: Alternate form, Bat Empathy, ModifiedCurse of Lycanthropy, shapechanger traits,Tide-Influenced Lycanthrope, UndyingSoulFeats: Alertness, Courage, Diehard,Endurance, Exotic Weapon Proficiency(firearms), Flyby Attack, Iron Will B , SkillFocus (Profession [sailor]), Stealthy,Weapon Focus (arquebus).Skills: Balance +8, Climb +8 (+10 w/rope),Control Shape +6, Craft (boatbuilding) +7,Diplomacy +3, Escape Artist +2 (+4 versusropes), Hide +6, Intimidate +12,Knowledge (architecture/engineering) +6,Knowledge (geography) +11, Knowledge(nature) +9, Move Silently +6, Profession(sailor) +14, Sense Motive +8, Survival +9(+11 versus getting lost, +11 aboveground), Swim +10, Use Rope +7Possessions: combat gear plus immaculateblue-black naval uniform with goldbuttons, spyglass.Bat Empathy (Ex): Though he detests them,Monette can communicate with normal ordire bats. This gives him a +4 racial bonuson checks made to influence these animals'attitudes. It also lets him convey simpleconcepts and (if the bat is friendly) givethem commands, such as "friend," "foe,""flee," and "attack."

Blindsense (Ex): In any form, Monette canuse echolocation to pinpoint solid objectsand creatures within 120', even if they areinvisible or while in the dark. Echolocationis as precise as sight, but it doesn't revealcolors. It is effective in darkness, fog, orsimilar conditions of low visibility. It alsoreveals invisible creatures. A silence spellnegates his echolocation, forcing Monetteto rely on normal senses. This abilitymakes most forms of invisibility andconcealment irrelevant to Monette,although it can't sense ethereal orincorporeal creatures.Landlocked (Su): Monette's curse forbidshim to go back onto the sea. He canexplore the wrecks, but going any farthermakes him ill. He suffers a growingweakness whenever he moves too far fromthe Île de la Tempête, suffering acumulative -1 penalty to Con and -1 to Strper 300' from shore, after the first 500 feet.Monette once tried to commit suicide byflying as far as he could, but the wavesbore him back to the island after hisstrength gave out. Should Monette ever beforcibly taken from his island, he willwither and die when his Constitutionreaches 0. However, his Undying Soultrait soon returns him to his prison.Modified Curse of Lycanthropy (Su):Monette is an afflicted werebat, able totake hybrid form only; he has no dire batform. He cannot transmit the curse oflycanthropy with his bite. While his hungerfor raw meat is as fierce as anylycanthrope's, Monette is not weakened bystarvation. His chemical bane is skullcap, aplant which is sometimes to be found alongthe western coast of Île de la Tempête.Current Manipulation (Su): Simply byconcentrating for ten minutes, Monette isable to manipulate the sea's currents in hisdomain, transforming them into vigorousor dangerous undertows. He is able toaffect all of the open sea within hisdomain, except for a 500-foot wide patchof water along the southern pebble beach,where the current is always calmer. WhenMonette uses this power, a thick fog alsoAppendix III Who’s Doomed307rises over the water, reducing visibility to ahundred feet only. The beckoning beam ofhis lighthouse remains visible over thewater even under such conditions.The following maritime rules are adaptedfrom WotC's Stormwrack:Current Strength Current Speed Swimming DCNormal (light) 5-10' / round 12Vigorous 10-30' / round 17Dangerous 40-60' / round 20Monette usually starts by creatingvigorous currents which fluctuatefrequently in their direction, then buildsthem up to dangerous intensity when a shipis less than 100' from the rocks. Thisensures it will crash in about two roundsunless the vessel's pilot is able to steerthrough the currents.Tide-influenced lycanthrope (Su):Monette is an afflicted werebat who doesnot control his transformation into hybridform. Twice each day, at high tide,Monette assumes his hybrid form for onehour. The hunger for blood and raw meatis strong during this period, and if Monetteknows of a source of meat currently on theisland, he will most probably attack inorder to sate his appetite, in whatever waybest ensures his own safety. Monette cantry to suppress his shifts to hybrid formusing the Control Shape skill, but he is notalways successful.Undying Soul (Su): If Monette is killed - athing which has already happened at leastonce in the past - his essence is transferredto one of Île de la Tempête's thousands ofbats, which undergoes a lengthy andpainful transformation. After a month'stime, the darklord's body will have grownback from that bat, with all his originalabilities. The only way to slay Monettepermanently is to remove all bats from theisland as well.Skills: * Monette receives a +4 circumstancebonus to his Listen and Spot skills if hisblindsense is in use.

Sailing the StormAppendix III Who’s DoomedPiloting a ship safely through such currents requires a Profession (sailor) check at DC 15 invigorous currents, or DC 23 in dangerous current. If the check fails, the ship's speed falls to zero,meaning the vessel is swept along with the current. A typical captain has 8 or more ranks inProfession (sailor). Poor visibility (darkness or fog) imposes a +2 penalty to the DC. The pilotingcheck is also modified by the shiphandling rating of the vessel in question.These are a few sample vessels. A complete list of watercraft and their characteristics can befound in Stormwrack.Type Speed Shiphandling Modifier Nb of hulls hull HPBarge 5 feet -6 80 50Caravel* 30 feet +2 24 80Cog ** 20 feet -2 16 80Galley*** 15 feet -2 78 80Raft 5 feet +0 1 30Rowboat 10 feet +2 1 30* sailing ship ** most medieval ships *** most war ships. Most merchant ships are eithercaravels (fast) or cogs (slower).To sink a vessel, at least one of its hull sections must be destroyed. A destroyed hull sectionweakens the ones adjacent to it by removing 50% of their base hp: a process which can cascadeand cause a ship to sink.If at least one hull section is destroyed, in these turbulent conditions, the captain must make aDC 18 Profession (sailor) check, modified by +4 for every destroyed hull section. This sinkingcheck is made every 10 minutes. A failed sinking check means the ship will go down soon (in2d20 minutes). However, keep in mind that most ships (75%) won't sink completely in theisland's vicinity, but get grounded on rocks instead.Also, a ship with one hull section damaged by 50% or more loses 5' from its base speed, while aship with two hull sections damaged in this way loses 10'.A ship that is hurled against the rocks by the current or waves takes 1d4-1 slam attacks perround, each of which inflicts 1d20+3 hp of structural damage (reduced by wood's hardness of 5).To keep things simple, assume all these attacks strike the same hull section. On next round, if thecaptain can't regain control of the ship, the damage strikes the same section. A ship whichis sweptupon rocks by the current and heavy surf suffers a shiphandling modifier of -5.A sinking ship in such turbulent conditions is a dangerous place to be: every round, a PC has20% chance of being hit by a heavy object (mast, decking, crate, being slammed against therailing by a wave, etc.). This is a slam attack (melee +6, 1-10 damage). Also, each round there isa 20% chance of being washed overboard by a wave.Dangerous currents create heavy surf on the rocks and wrecks. When in the water, a PC whogets swept among such obstacles takes 1d4-1 slam attacks each round (+2 melee, 1-4 hpbludgeoning damage).A PC in the water who makes a successful Swim check can add his swimming speed to thedirection of his choice. In dangerous currents, however (40' to 60' per round), the character willprobably still be pushed with the current, but more slowly than someone unable to swim. TheSwim check must be made every round.The water around the Île de la Tempête is cold (~50°F) all year round. PCs immersed in it take1d6 hp of nonlethal damage every 10 minutes; a successful Constitution check negates this effect(DC 9 +1 per previous Con check).Drowning rules are available in the DMG.308

Appendix III Who’s DoomedThe Tides of TempêteThe tides on Île de la Tempête rise every 13 hours. When the heroes arrive on theisland, roll a d20 until a number between 1 and 13 comes up. If the result is 13, it is hightide when they arrive and Monette is in hybrid form. If not, the number rolled (1-12) isthe number of hours before the next high tide. Additional high tides then take placeevery 13 hours thereafter.Monette's hybrid formWhen in his hybrid form, Monette has thefollowing altered statistics:Large humanoid (human, shapechanger)Init +8OR: 10AC: 24, touch 17, flat-footed 16(+8 Dex, +7 natural, -1 size)hp 126 (12 HD)Fort +15, Ref +14Speed: 30 ft (6 squares), fly 40 ft (average)Melee: 2 claws +14 (1d6+5) and bite +9(1d8+2)Base Atk: +9; Grp +18Atk Options: Flyby AttackAbilities: Str 21, Dex 26, Con 22, Int 15,Wis 14, Cha 12Skills: Balance +14, Climb +11 (+13 w/rope), Escape Artist +8 (+10 vs. ropes),Hide +12 , Intimidate +16, Move Silently+12, Swim +13, Use Rope +13Capitaine Alain Monette is tall and thin tothe point of gauntness, and appears to be inhis late forties. His preferred clothes are anavy blue uniform, with golden buttons. Atfirst glance, he is easily identified with navalofficers.A large, diagonal scar mars his gaunt face,a souvenir from his years as a captain whenhis ship was boarded by pirates. The legendof his fury is still a well-known tale amongthe buccaneers of his native world today.309His eyes are gray, reminding onlookers ofthe sea when a storm is brewing. He has thestern bearing of an experienced mariner, andno patience with jokers and 'useless' people.As an outlander living in solitude, Monettefinds conversation here in the Land of Miststo be difficult, as he never had the chance tomaster any native language. His natal tongue(called "Tempetaine" by default) has yet tobe recognized by anyone he has met sincethe Mists claimed him. He therefore resortsto an improvised pidgin of Low Mordentish,Darkonese, Vaasi, and a bit of Grabenitewhen speaking to outsiders, often blendingthese languages in the same sentence.There are subtle signs of his werebat curse.When listening, Monette often tilts his headso his ears are on different levels, a commonhabit of keen-eared wild animals. He alsohas a "nervous habit" of clicking his tongueagainst his teeth, much as bats make soundsto generate echoes their sonar depends on.In his hybrid form, Monette's dark-wingedbody is covered in thick brown fur, and hishideous face is a jumble of human and bat.His diagonal scar is still discernible in hiswerebat form. Outspread, his leathery wingsspan a full ten feet; aloft, the noise of theirpowerful flapping can be audible to victimson the ground, so he times his wingbeats insynch with the crash of the surf.Monette is an afflicted lycanthrope whoseother aspect is a hybrid; thus, he cannot takeon a true animal form (dire bat).

Appendix III Who’s DoomedDungeon Master’s Tips: Understanding MonetteOver the decades, Monette learned this odd mixture of tongues by speaking with peoplebrought to his isle on the wrecks. His polyglot sentences are very difficult to decrypt, butcommunication is possible.First, a listener must understand either Low Mordentish, Darkonese, or Vaasi. If none ofthese languages is known, it is impossible to communicate with Monette through normalconversation. If a character posses any of the required languages, he or she must pass anIntelligence check against a DC of 18 in order to understand anything Monette tries to say.The listener's roll receives a +2 bonus for each of the necessary language known (LowMordentish, Darkonese, and/or Vaasi), and by +1 if Grabenite is also known.Most of Monette's discourses with Ravenloft natives have been about nautical topics orhis island; if a topic is wholly unrelated to these, the DC of the listener's check increases by2.An Intelligence check is rolled for each specific concept to be conveyed. If missed,Monette can't express this concept to the listener. If the check misses by 5 or more, thelistener misinterprets what Monette was trying to say (DM discretion).Monette must likewise make his own checks to understand others' Low Mordentish,Darkonese, Vaasi (DCs of 18), or Grabenite (DC 25) speech.BackgroundAlain Monette is an outlander, born in a citycalled Port-of-the-Prince. Seventh son of ashipwright, he developed an early love of thesea, signing on as a sailor as soon as he couldpass himself off as fifteen. When he was anadult, and had proven himself an able pilotand ship's officer, his father built a vessel forhim. The Ouragan was one the fastest sailingships of its time, and brought fortune toMonette.No nautical peril, whether of storm orshoal or piracy, could keep Monette from thesea, and he was much renowned in themariners' world. Monette was hailed as amaster of all seas. The facial scar he hadincurred from ferocious pirates wasconsidered a badge of his courage.But his fame came at a price. His crewknew him to be a harsh - even brutal -taskmaster. Monette expected his orders tobe executed just as he wanted, the verysecond he uttered them. Failure to meet theCaptain's exacting demands were often metwith whippings or deprivation of food.Monette was feared by his crew. Hisstandards of tidiness and order on the shipwere high.310His crew did their best not to irk thevolatile captain, yet on each voyage,Monette liked to single out one of theirnumber as a scapegoat. Throughout the trip,the unlucky seaman would be abused andbeaten for the most frivolous of reasons, toset an example for the rest. Fearingpunishment if they gave protest, andcravenly relieved that someone else shouldbe targeted this time, the other crewmembers didn't say a word. But this nastybehavior increased with time. Even hisnephew François, recently signed onto theOuragan, received an equal share of theseunearned blows.Once, Monette whipped one of his owncrew nearly to death, even though he knewthe youth was innocent of any wrongdoing.The night before, Monette had beennegotiating a shady shipping deal with asinister baron, when he noticed the sailor inquestion might have overheard their illicitbargain. The next day, fearing the possiblewitness might talk or contemplate blackmail,Monette accused the sailor of repairing a sailbadly and beat him, then dumped him off,half dead, at the next port.Monette's final voyage on his native worldwas a mission to deliver his king's gold to awarlord, who needed the money to continue

Appendix III Who’s Doomedfunding the war against the pirates. But luckwasn't with him this time, and Ouragan ranaground in a shallow strait it had crossedsuccessfully many times in the past. Monettewas furious. The shallows were infested byvenomous stonefish and rays, yet he led hismen into the water to loosen the sand bank'sgrip upon the hull. Two of the crew died, butOuragan eventually floated free once more.They had lost three days while the ship wasstuck, and Monette raged at the thought heshould be late to deliver the gold. He drovehis men cruelly to keep the ship at maximumspeed, day and night, to make up lost time.Back at open sea, four days out from at itsdestination and still far from any friendlyport, it was discovered that all of the food inthe ship's stores had gone moldy, inedibleeven by sailors' hardened standard. Monetteflew into a rage, and his men fled before himas he beat all who stood in his path.The next morning, Monette grimlydeclared, his crew would be punished for itsslackness by decimation. One man would beselected, using a deck of playing cards: thesailor who drew the Ace of Hearts would behanged as a collective punishment. Thecondemned man would hang from the mastuntil his dry bones fell of their own accord,as a reminder for the others to do their jobwell.His crew had reached its limit, at last. Thatnight they mutinied, and seized and boundMonette as he slept. The crew drank up theirex-captain's liquor in celebration and sharedthe royal gold-shipment among themselves.All sails were raised, and as the Ouraganran at full speed, they tied Monette to a longrope and dragged him behind the ship. Aftersome time, thinking he must be drowned orshark-torn, they reeled in the rope, only tofind their tormentor was still alive. Theyrepeated his keel-hauling three times, but thecaptain's will to survive would not break; intruth, it only seemed to make him angrier.Drunken and vengeful, the crew thenlashed Monette to the mast and whippedhim: the same punishment they each hadsuffered at his hands. All save for Françoistook part in this vicious, eye-for-an-eyeretribution. They jeered at Monette to beg for311mercy, but he denied them that pleasure,never uttering a sound. In time, he fellunconscious, but not before cursing his crewand vowing revenge. The sailors detachedhis body from the mast and dragged it behindthe ship, yet again.The seawater's bite roused Monette, but hisstrength was all but spent, and he could notkeep his head above water. Soon the wateroverwhelmed him, and he disappeared undera huge, dark wave. The sailors shouted criesof joy, spat into the sea with a curse on hisname, and celebrated late into the night.However, come the morning, the mutineersdiscovered that Monette's nephew had cutthe line to free the captain's body, ensuringhis crewmates could not mutilate his uncle'sremains. Irate that this turncoat had cheatedthem of a last chance to humiliate Monette,the other mutineers threw François into thesea as well, after the obligatory whipping.Unknown to the crew, François hadcheated them of nothing. In truth, thathungry wave hadn't swept Monette to hisdeath, but to a misty cave on Île de laTempête.After hours of stupor, Monette awoke in asea cave to see many bats covering his body,lapping at the blood that oozed from hiswhip-torn wounds. His shout drove the batsaway, but as soon as weariness claimed himagain, the bats resumed slaking their thirst.When next Monette awoke, he caught oneof the feeding bats and crushed it. Repulsed,he tried to stand up to escape the horriblecave, but he was too weak to rise. Peeringthrough the dimness, he realized he waslikely to die here, for the only entrance was acrack in the ceiling. It let in some light, butit - like food or water - lay far out of reach.Monette cursed his crew again, shakingwith a delirious rage. He vowed he wouldsurvive to wreak revenge, no matter the cost.Then he recalled the crushed bat in his fist,and he reluctantly bit into it. The taste of itsblood was surprisingly good, and it took theedge off his thirst before weakness overcamehim. When he woke again, covered anew inbats, Monette seized and drank two more,feeding on them as they had fed from hiswounds.

Appendix III Who’s DoomedAfter three days of this macabre blood diet,Monette awoke, not in the cave, but up onthe lip of its entrance, his clothing in shreds.Only then did he realize he was on an island,surrounded by mist-cloaked seas. Thoughlarge, it was little more than a desolate rock;its only potable water was a rain-puddle nearthe ruins of an old lighthouse. Monette wasperplexed, as unsure how he had left the cave- he was still too weak to have climbed - asof where he was now. He knew he had neverseen such a lighthouse before.Searching the ruin, Monette soondiscovered a huddled, sleeping form: hisnephew! Rage rushed through him, for thecaptain assumed the worst of the mutineershad fallen into his hands. Not stopping tothink, Monette began to strangle the youngsailor. François awoke with Monette's gripupon his throat, stifling any possible plea orprotest.Once François had stopped moving,Monette cast his nephew's dead body aside,only to notice to his horror that the youth'sback was covered with the same bloodiedwhip-marks his crew had inflicted upon him.Worse, the youth's wrists were still tightlybound, using the cut end of the same ropethey'd used to keel-haul their commander.Belatedly, Monette realized that he had justmurdered the only crewman who had trulyremained faithful to him.But swiftly his dread turned to pain, as thecastaway captain felt his flesh writhe and hisblood boil in his veins. Thick, brown fur wassprouting out of his skin, and great sheets ofwebbing from his lengthening fingers. He312

staggered in a panic from the lighthouse, butthe unholy transformation continued. After atime, the terrible pain stopped, but Monettefound himself in a monstrous half-bat body.And he wasn't alone, there: a terrible hungerfor blood and raw flesh was in it, and him.An hour later, Monette resumed his humanshape, in a second bout of terrible pain. Hefound himself back in the lighthouse, nearhis nephew's mutilated, half-eaten body. Heknew, now, how he had escaped the cave …and why, for the moment, he no longer felthungry or weak. The year was 677 on theBarovian calendar.In the weeks to follow, starving for thelack of raw meat, and unsatisfied by musselsand fish, Monette hit upon the idea of usingthe lighthouse to lure boats to the reefs. (Hishuman side still hoped for rescue; his new,bestial aspect had its own motives.) The topfloor of the lighthouse needed to be repairedin order to shield any beckoning signal-firefrom the winds.Mending the roof took him weeks,working with a few tools he found in thelighthouse's intact ground floor. Out ofbitterness and a wicked sense of humor, thewerebat used his nephew's skull as a candleholder, creating a grotesque sort of jack-olanternto illuminate his work. "You can stillbe of some use," he jeered, tauntingFrançois's memory.Once, he spotted dim lights from a shipthat passed him by in the night, and cursedthat the lighthouse hadn't been ready. Heworked harder, foregoing sleep: his handsbloodied, feverishly hungry for red meat,and talking to his nephew's skull about thetorments he would inflict upon theOuragan's crew.As he finished setting the last stone on thetower platform late at night, he saw a greatlight coming out of the lighthouse. The skullwas giving light, a strong light, focused intoa beam! Confused, Monette set it on top ofthe lighthouse and eerily, the skull started toturn as a lighthouse's lamp would.Monette screamed in ecstasy when, hourslater, he saw a small merchant ship comingtoward the island. All pretense of seekingescape had been silenced by desperate need:Appendix III Who’s Doomed313he rejoiced that his hunger for blood andmeat would be fulfilled! But the ship turnedback when it drew the island, as if its captainhad realized this wasn't the port he sought.Crying in despair, Monette wished a stormwould dash the uncooperative vessel againstthe cliffs. To his amazement, the ship veeredoff course at once, as in a strong current, andhurtled into the rocks, where its hull split intwo. At the next high tide, Monette feastedupon the wreck's castaways, and his hungerwas assuaged.In the days to come, Monetteexperimented, and found that he was able tomanipulate the currents around the island,much as he had seen sea-wizards do. Smilingwith glee, he realized he now had all thetools he needed to take his revenge. He needonly wait for the Ouragan to heed thebeacon…Current SketchMonette is a lonely man, who doesn't havemuch to do between shipwrecks but broodabout his unability to sail the seas again. Hewanders over his island, yet keeps thelighthouse's beam ever in sight, so as not tomiss the sign that it has hooked a ship.After all of a shipwreck's victims havebeen eaten, Monette collects any remainingbones and other evidence, including thosefloating on the water when possible, anddumps them over the cliff at the lighthouse'sbase. He also collects any gunpowder he canfind for his arquebus, though this substanceis often spoiled by seawater during thewrecks. Last, he collects papers, ship logs, orother books for his own perusal back at thelighthouse - he loves to read logbooks, as itreminds him of his former life - as well as toremove any incriminating documents.Monette still believes he is on an out-ofthe-wayisland in his native world, unawarethat his home is much farther away than hecould imagine. He watches for stars at night,that might offer a clue to his position, but thesky above Île de la Tempête was cloudlockedeven before his domain joined theNocturnal Sea, and he has never managed tofly high enough to break through.

Dread Possibility: The OuraganThe true status of Monette's former shipis left for the DM to decide. Possibleadventure hooks include having it andits sadistic crew appear as a ghost shipor other manner of cursed vessel.The Ouragan could also leave its ownMaterial Plane world for the misty seasof Ravenloft periodically. Such a shiftmight bring it out of the past, completewith its original mutineers - Monette'schance for vengeance, at last! - or itmight appear with a complement ofinnocent passengers and crewmen: folkquite unaware of their ship's sordidhistory, yet targeted by Monette evenso, as stand-ins for his old betrayers.Appendix III Who’s DoomedCombatWhen the Nocturnal Sea formed in the year750, Île de la Tempête's location becamefixed in space, but Monette didn't realize it.He merely found that ships passed near theisland more frequently, and added a few newlanguages' vocabulary to his pidgin speech.The darklord blames the bats in the cavefor inflicting his terrible werebat curse uponhim. Although capable of communicatingwith the island's bat population, and perhapseven controlling them, Monette despises theanimals and is more likely to feed on them,in the absence of better prey, than conversewith them.Monette also blames his former crew forhis predicament, and suspects that theOuragan mutineers can somehow free himfrom this terrible curse. Whenever he has thechance to meet someone, Monette asks ifthey have seen this ship or its crew. Thelikelihood that his former shipmates are longdead, and his vessel, most likely retired fromservice, is a prospect the werebat has neverso much as considered. (Monette lost countof how long he has been imprisoned decadesago, and honestly doesn't realize that he hasbeen trapped on Île de la Tempête for thebetter part of a century.)Monette's preferred weapon in human formis his arquebus. As gunpowder is not yetvery common on the Nocturnal Sea, at anygiven time his gunpowder supply will allowhim a maximum of 1d4+3 shots, which hewill conserve by using his cutlass.As reloading an arquebus requires tworounds, Monette prepares several weaponswhen he is expecting an assault. He keeps asmall collection of firearms pilfered fromshipwrecks at his tower, although his limitedsupply of powder permits him few chancesto use (or even test) them all.In hybrid form, Monette tends to stalk hisvictims, preferably hiding on high groundwhere his fly speed and climb and balanceskills help him greatly. He then ambushes hisprey by flying down and engaging a lonevictim in a grapple using his great size andtooth and claw attacks to his advantage.If his victims remain in a larger group orare otherwise too powerful for him, heshadows his prey, picking off stragglers orstriking when they sleep. If he can controlhis animal urges enough, he might evensnipe at them in the dark with his arquebuswhile in his hybrid form, taking advantage ofhis heightened senses and abilities.At night or underground, Monette cangoad a swarm of bats to attack his victims,then use the ensuing confusion as cover tolaunch his own ambush. As many bats alsoinhabit his tower, Monette might also usethis tactic there, even during the daytime.Lair: The LighthouseMonette spend his nights in the lighthouse(see Viktor's description). He has pillagedquite a lot of goods from shipwrecks, and hestores these in chests in the tower or in a drysea cave (kegs of rum, dried food, bullets,tools, axes, daggers).During the day, he roams the isle, watchingthe lighthouse beam, fishing, or scroungingitems from fresh wrecks.314

Closing the BordersWhen Monette closes his domain border - anuncommon event, as it blocks the arrival ofnew ships - travelers face a seeminglyendless misty sea when they try to headaway from the island, yet find themselvesback within minutes the moment they decideto come back toward it.Appendix III Who’s DoomedOnce, Monette left his borders closed for along period, and a ship trying to escape wastransformed into a ghost ship when all crewdied from starvation, rising as lacedons, seazombies QtR9 , and other water-relatedundead.Dread Possibility: Message in a BottleOnce he has dealt with their passengers, Monette scavenges the ships wrecked on his island,searching especially for vellum and bottles. He has taken to creating maps, with theassistance of salvaged charts, and setting these adrift on the waves to lure in his prey. Thesemaps promise the locations of sunken ships, buried treasure, or ancient ruins, all supposedlylying near or on his island.Insidiously, the Dark Powers have taken notice of the captain's ingenuity, and lend hisploy some supernatural enhancements. Anyone possessing such a map who quits dry landand can no longer see the shore has a 5% chance per night of sighting, whether on thedistant horizon or nearby in the fog, Monette's damning light.Optionally, instead of maps, Monette might enclose pleas for rescue in some of thesebottles, or pages torn from salvaged books, with enigmatic doodles to invite curiosity. Insuch bottles, he might enclose a distinctive orange-red stone from Île de la Tempête: anapparent clue as to where the "castaway" or "explanation" must lie.Dungeon Master’s Tips: Running MonetteWhat does Monette do when the light beam is attracting someone to the island?When Monette first notices that the beam has attracted another ship, or when he sees a shipcoming near, he waits until the vessel is less than half a mile away to activate his CurrentManipulation power and raise fog to hopefully crash it on the rocks. He will then spy on anysurvivors until the next high tide, or salvage the bodies to eat later if none are left alive.How does Monette hunt?When a new ship comes around, Monette usually tries to take one isolated victim at a time,mostly at night, and fly off with his prey to devour elsewhere. He keeps hidden fromcastaways' sight while in hybrid form for as long as possible.What if Monette meets someone who can communicate with him?Monette is alone most of the time and takes any opportunity to talk to a person stranded onthe island. He will invite this person to the lighthouse. It can take days before his hungerforces him to devour such a visitor.What if Monette is confronted by an able party?Monette fears wizards. He was slain once by a necromancer who had wanted to test hisbody's abilities. If confronted, Monette will flee to a cave and await the departure ofdangerous heroes. At night, given the opportunity, he may still attack a lone adventurer bysurprise. He will not close the border or manipulate currents, allowing such unwanted,dangerous visitors to leave.315

Appendix III Who’s DoomedDungeon Master’s Tips: Questioning MonetteOn first meeting Monette:How long have you been here?It seems like forever. I have started to lose track of time. A year, at least.How did you get here?I was captain of the Blue Sky. We were fog- bound, three days out of Egertus. When we saw thelight suddenly break through the fog one night, I ordered a change of course. We thought we hadreached Graben-town, but a cursed shoal ripped the guts out of Blue Sky close to this island. In thefoggy night there was much confusion and the ship went down fast. I was the only one to make itashore.[The above account is taken from a captain's log, which Monette recovered and read. This logcan be found in his tower]Is there anyone else on the island?No. I'm alone.How do you survive?I fish and hunt for crabs.Have you tried to escape?No, not any more. The sea, she be a-watchin' me. Like she does all sailors, one day she decidedto take the crew of the Blue Sky. But she did not get me.I can feel her. Watchin' That day when my ship sank, I could feel her callin' me to her depths,pullin' me down, but I fought out of it and escaped her. So she is still watchin'. Waitin' for me toreturn to the waves. Then she'll take me.So, no, I won't try to sail away. It don't matter none to her if I leave on a crude raft or the finestsailin' ship afloat. She'll have me. I knows and she knows it. So I am stuck here on this thricecursedrock. I don't want to leave.(He stops speaking and spits into the sea for emphasis.)[Alternately, if faced by a party that he feels could read through his lies, he could instead tell the"cursed" tale he told Viktor (See page 99).]Later, after an attack:Have you seen the beast that attacks at night?No. Never seen no creature around here. You must have brought him with ya.Or : Yes, there is a blood sucking monster on this island. Never saw him. It is part of my curse,I guess. It doesn't attack me, just the people coming to this island, to chase them off and leave mealone again. Can you help me?316

The Lady of Ravens(Darklord of the Isle of Ravens)Female human sorcerer 18 CR 20NE medium humanoid (human)Init +5 (+1 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative);Senses Mistress of Ravens (see below);Listen +2, Spot +2Languages Polyglot (see below)AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15(+5 armor [robe], +1 Dex)hp 81 (18 HD)SR 18 [robe]Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +17 [+4 robe]Speed 30 ft.Melee touch +10 (0 + Circe's touch)Base Atk +9/+4; Grp +7Atk Options Circe's Eye, Circe's TouchSpecial Actions Closing the Borders,Mistress of RavensSorcerer Spells Known (CL 18; +1 DC forEnchantments [Spell Focus]; +4 for casterlevel checks [Spell Penetration, robe]):9th (3/day) - power word kill8th (5/day) - maze, power word stun7th (6/day) - ethereal jaunt, summon monsterVII, teleport object (DC 23)6th (7/day) - disintegrate (DC 22), geas,summon monster VI5th (7/day) - baleful polymorph (DC 21),dominate person (DC 22), summonmonster V, telekinesis (DC 21)4th (7/day) - charm monster (DC 21),dimension door (DC 20), greaterinvisibility, summon monster IV3rd (7/day) - fly, hold person (DC 20),suggestion (DC 20), summon monster III2nd (8/day) - detect thoughts (DC 18),invisibility, rope trick, summon monster II,summon swarmAppendix III Who’s Doomed3171st (8/day) - charm person (DC 18), shield,sleep (DC 19), summon monster I, unseenservant0 (6/day) - dancing lights, detect magic, flare(DC 16), ghost sound (DC 16), light, magehand, prestidigitation, read magic,resistanceAbilities: Str 7, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 13, Wis14, Cha 22SQ: mental prowess, polyglot, undying soulFeats: Extend Spell, Heighten Spell,Improved Initiative, Still Spell, SilentSpell, Spell Focus (Enchantment), SpellPenetration, Weapon Finesse.Skills: Bluff +11, Concentration +23,Diplomacy +10, Intimidate +11,Knowledge (arcana) +7, Knowledge(nature) +5, Knowledge (local) +9,Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +9,Knowledge (Ravenloft) +5, Spellcraft +16Possessions: robe of the archmagi (black),crystal ballCirce's Eye (Su): Once per day as a standardaction, the Lady of Ravens may cause anyhumanoid she can see to make a DC 25Will save or be transformed into ravens, asif the target has failed both saves against

Appendix III Who’s Doomedbaleful polymorph. There is no maximumnumber of targets that can be affected atone time, and she may elect to have thisability affect some people but not others. Ifshe cannot sense a person (e.g. due toinvisibility), this power will not affect thatperson. Subjects transformed into ravens inthis way instantly fall under the Lady'scontrol.Circe's Touch (Su): With a successful touchattack against an opponent (with thebenefits of Weapon Finesse), the Lady ofRavens can transform any living creatureinto a raven under her sole control. A DC25 Will save prevents the transformation,which is similar in effect to balefulpolymorph. This ability can be used at will,and reversed by the Lady of Ravens.Closing the Border: When the Lady closesher domain border, untold millions ofravens flock to its boundary, about onemile out to sea, and mercilessly attack anycreature that attempts to cross. There are somany of the birds that no effective defensecan be made; creatures caught in thefrenzied attack of the birds take 5-20 hp ofdamage per round until they turn back.Mental Prowess (Ex): The Lady of Ravensmay cast any of her spells which normallyrequire material components or arcane fociwithout such accoutrements. Her sheerforce of personality overrides the need forany such materials to channel arcaneenergies.Mistress of Ravens (Su): All ravens withinher domain are constantly under thecontrol of the Lady of Ravens. She can seethrough their eyes, speak through theirmouths, and control their bodies as if theywere a part of herself. The Lady seldomasserts her control, preferring to see theravens "free", but if angered she can causethe ravens to attack anyone she wishes.Ravens that are familiars or dread familiarsget a Will save at DC (15 + number of daysspent in the domain) to resist thecompulsion to obey. If successful, theyremain subject to their masters' control.This save must be repeated daily atdawn; if failed, the raven abandons its318former master, and the master suffers thexp penalty for having dismissed a familiar.A raven animal companion gets no save,deserting its former master instantly assoon as the Lady calls it to her service.Polyglot (Ex): The Lady can understand anylanguage spoken in her presence, and canread any writing she sees. When shespeaks to others, she always seems to bespeaking in the hearer's natal dialect andaccent. This ability is probably a part ofher curse, as it denies those who speakwith her any hint as to her place of origin.Undying Soul (Su): If slain, the body of theLady of Ravens will disappear. One weeklater, at dawn, one of the ravens circlingthe Tower of Flint will swoop to the floorof the highest room in the tower andtransform into her shape, which her spiritre-enters. During that week, the border willremain open and the Lady's summonedminions will be under no authority: theymay attack, flee, or ignore intruders ascircumstances warrant.BackgroundThe Lady of Ravens was born into a noblefamily on an unknown Material Plane world,the only child of a degenerate line whichinbreeding and isolation had brought to thepoint of madness. She grew up alone andmostly in silence: her mother died when shewas still too young to speak, and her fatherrarely talked to her or anyone else, mutelywandering the halls of their castle like hisghostly ancestors or dreaming the days awayin narcotic-induced visions. The servantswho fed and clothed her spoke but little also,as the young girl was aloof and disdainful bynature. Her experience and personality bothtold her that those around her were not herequals, so she largely ignored her caregiversexcept when giving orders, and snubbed thechildren of the castle staff without pity.So-isolated, her only real companions werethe ravens that nested in the Tower of Flint, alofty structure dominating the center of thecastle. She, like all of her house, was giftedwith the ability to speak with the birds of thetower, and these became her confidantes and

friends. As a child, she would steal away tothe Tower and spend hours telling the birdstales out of her storybooks, and listening totheir stories in turn.Under such circumstances it is, perhaps,not surprising that she came to believe theworld was literally constructed to please herevery whim. She was hardly surprised at allwhen she discovered she could summonplaymates from nothing and dismiss themwhen she tired of their company, or bend theservants' wills to her own: she thought itnatural that all things should conform to herwishes, and this self-centered perspectiveonly made her power over her surroundingsall the greater.It is also not very surprising that she cameto feel she must have anything she desired tohave, and be best at anything she desired todo. It soon became understood in the castlethat even the slightest criticism of its futuremistress would be punished in strange andunforeseen ways, and the castle's servantsgrew eager to avoid contact with the strangeand vengeful child.After her father's death in her late teenageyears, the Lady became even more reclusive,retiring to the Tower of Flint to live in thecompany of the ravens. Her visits to thecastle outside were only sporadic, but on oneof these rare excursions through the castle,the Lady saw one of the servant's childrenshe had despised for years, now grown into ayoung man. He was of her own age and ofan extraordinary grace and bearing, cheerfuland well-spoken, much admired by everyonein the castle.The Lady of Ravens, who had deliberatelyisolated herself from real human contact forher whole life, promptly fell desperately inlove with him. More and more often she lefther sanctuary in the tower, hoping to catch aglimpse of the young man, and followinghim covertly whenever the Lady found him.Narcissistic as she was, she simply assumedthat he loved her as well, putting down hisapparent indifference to shyness or reserve.Not long after, the young man was calledaway to war, and for two years the Lady ofRavens suffered, imagining her belovedwould not return, or engrossed in bittersweetAppendix III Who’s Doomed319daydreams of him dying on some foreignbattlefield with her name on his lips. Whennews of the war's end reached the castle, herexcitement was so intense she could neithereat nor sleep for days before his arrival. Onthe day he returned, gazing down the roadfrom her tower window, she picked him outimmediately. Her excitement was chilled,however, when she saw him leap from hishorse and take a serving girl into his arms.Suspicions roused, she followed the happycouple as they sought a secluded spot, whereshe spied on them trading vows of undyinglove and planning their wedding.Upon hearing this, the Lady of Ravensknew her feelings were unrequited.Consumed by envy and hatred, she returnedto the tower, whipped the ravens into amurderous frenzy, and sent them forth to killthe young man and his lover. She watchedfrom the tower as the deed was done, thenhid herself in the depths of the tower,weeping and raging at the betrayal of herlove.When she emerged days later, she foundthe Tower of Flint was isolated on an islandin the midst of the sea. The surroundingcastle and its servants had vanished, leavingher absolutely alone. She saw the ravens ofthe Tower all around her; she called to them,but they voiced no reply. Soon she learnedthat she could control the birds by an act ofwill, yet they no longer spoke to her nor toldher stories. Stranger still, she could nolonger recall her name or the name of thecastle of which she had been mistress.The Mists of Ravenloft had claimedanother for their own.Current SketchThe Lady of Ravens is a petite woman aboutfive feet in height; her hair and eyes are inkyblack, her skin as pale as milk. She alwaysdresses in graceful, sleeveless black gownspinned at both shoulders; she usually wearsher long hair caught up high in combs. Herfeatures are regular and even beautiful, herexpression and demeanor regal and aloof.She almost never displays emotion in thepresence of other human beings, showing a

Appendix III Who’s DoomedDread Possibility: The Sleep of ReasonIn her desperation to recover her past identity, the Lady of Ravens has turned to anunlikely source of information: the alienist Dr. Harold Tasker. Learning of her goal, hepresented himself at the Tower of Flint and told her of his past success in using hypnoticregression to recover lost memories. After lengthy consideration of his offer, the Ladyaccepted, and Dr. Tasker has spent the last several months probing her early memories forclues to her origin.Tasker's hidden goal is to use psychological manipulation and post-hypnotic suggestionto make the Lady of Ravens dependent upon his presence and advice, but it is possible hemay succeed all too well in connecting the Lady with her subconscious mind. Her graspon objective reality is already fragile, and the Nightmare Court has long kept an eye onDr. Tasker. It is possible that his hypnotic "therapy" might inadvertently trap the Lady ina twilight state between dreams and waking, forging a tangible link between theNightmare Lands and the Isle of Ravens, with the foot of her tower in the Nocturnal Seaand its peak towering above the city of Nod itself. Such a linkage would allow thehorrors of the Nightmare Lands and the folk of the waking world access to each other'srealms, simply by traversing the steps of the Tower of Flint.complete, unnerving indifference to othersthat is somehow more ominous than maliceor rage. When her disdainful air does crack,her revealed emotions are nigh-superhumanin intensity; her fury is terrifying, her smileentrancing, her despair crushing.Her charisma is so potent that the Lady ofRavens can dominate nearly any group bysheer force of personality; attacking her oreven disobeying her commands is well-nighinconceivable for most people.The Lady is absolutely indifferent to otherhumans, regarding them as either nuisancesor tools, depending on circumstances. Herdeep, impartial callousness only eases whenshe is in the presence of the island's ravens.She regards the birds as her true family, andher only pleasure is to watch them at play inthe air above her island. However, even thisrespite has been rendered bitter by her curseas a darklord: the Lady is no longer able tocommunicate with the ravens in any way.The birds are now under her absolute control- she can see and speak through them at will- but the ravens are now, in truth, a part ofher, and she can no more find solace in theircompanionship than she could with her ownhand or eye.The Lady of Ravens is desperately isolatedwithout the contact of the only friends she320has ever accepted, and strives ceaselessly tobreak the barrier between herself and thebirds, so she might relate to them as friendsand equals again. The Lady believes that herinability to communicate with the ravensstems from having forgotten her name: as thepower to speak with them was a legacy ofher ancestors, she believes that if can reestablishher ancestry she will regain thatability. Whether this is true or not, no one inRavenloft knows the truth of her heritage, soshe is destined to search in vain.If the Lady of Ravens encounters a personor group she regards as well-read or capableof accessing special sources of information,she may decide to send them out to searchfor her name, rather than transforming themto avian form. She will usually lay a geas onthe individual or party to assure compliance;if she feels some extra inducement is neededfor a group of searchers, she may transformone of the group to raven form as a hostage,offering to restore the victim's human shapeif the rest of the group seek out her name fora time (usually a year and a day). Despiteher alignment, she takes such an agreementvery seriously and will hold to the letter ofany bargain she makes.Past searchers have brought a bewilderingvariety of tomes, parchments, and papers to

the Lady, and she has pored over each onemeticulously. From this library (now quiteextensive), she has learned more than manyabout the Land of Mists, and particularly itsfolklore and noble houses. She concentrateson these topics, as she believes they are herbest chance of finding some clue regardingher identity.In addition to the ravens, the Lady has, attimes, summoned various elemental and feyentities to her service. Some of these beingsremain in her service; others have escaped,had their terms of indenture expire, or havesimply been forgotten, and now wander theisland, unable to return to their planes oforigin. Even though the latter creatures areno longer bound by magical ties to the Ladyof Ravens, they still fear her, and only theearth-spirit Kalibos would ever act directlyagainst her.Unverified stories persist of sailors whomthe Lady has favored in one way or another,from promising good weather to providingone of her ravens as a special companion,something like a wizard's familiar. Some ofthese stories claim the man with the Lady'sfavor won great stores of wealth in piracy ortrade, but all of them end the same way: theunfortunate seaman offends his patroness insome way (usually by causing or allowingthe death of a raven) and is pursued by hervengeful birds until he gives himself up andbecomes a transformed replacement for theslain bird. It is possible some of the sailorson the Nocturnal Sea are her servitors evennow, and many ships bring a raven mascotaboard in the hope of warding off her wrath.CombatThe Lady has no interest in combat; if shedoesn't want to deal with a group or believesthey have no relevant information, she usesher Circe's Eye ability to change them intoravens, sparing one of their number to sendaway as a warning for others to keep clear ofher isle. If Circe's Eye is not fully effectiveand her other opponents persist in attacking,she will use dimension door to leave the areaand send summoned minions to deal with thetrespassers, possibly engaging in combatfrom long distance with spells. If forced toAppendix III Who’s Doomed321engage melee, she employs Circe's Touch totransform her opponents into ravens.Lair: The Tower of FlintThis strange edifice - the only testament to ahuman presence anywhere in the domain - isa 400-foot spire of dark gray flint, roughlysixty feet across at its base and tapering totwenty feet at its top (usually obscured byfog and invisible to viewers at ground level).The entire tower seems to consist of a singlepiece of stone, lacking any seams or mortar.Enormous, bronze double doors provide thesole route into the tower; broad stairs risesome twenty feet from ground level to thisentrance. The ground floor is one enormousantechamber with a forty-foot-high ceiling.Numerous slim windows set high up in thewalls illuminate the whole room; at the farend, opposite the double doors, a great stonethrone stands upon a dias. If the Lady ofRavens is (relatively) well-disposed towardher visitors, she waits to meet them at theentry hall's center; if less hospitable, she sitsupon the throne instead. Flocks of ravens sitwatching in this room at all times. A circularstair of stone winds upward behind the diasand throne to the second and higher floors;this same stair leads eventually to the top ofthe tower.Below the entry hall (accessed by atrapdoor set in the dias before the throne) is ametal ladder, rungs set solidly in the stone,which leads below ground level to what wasonce a dungeon. Half of this space is givenover to cells, the other half to a torturechamber, its equipment neglected andrusting. Both a 3rd rank ghost and a graveelemental reside on this floor, attackinganyone except the Lady who comes here.(The two don't coordinate their attacks, aseach is quite unaware of the other'spresence). The ghost, now nameless, isunable to speak and can only be put to restby dismantling the rack on which it waskilled; unfortunately, it considers the tortureroom its territory and attacks intruders withblind vehemence.

Appendix III Who’s Doomed322

Above the main entry hall are two floors ofwhat might loosely be termed 'guest rooms'.On the infrequent occasions when the Ladyreceives visitors whom she doesn't turn intoravens immediately, she instructs them tospend the night here. The possessions of pastoccupants might well be found here. Abovethese floors is the library, where the Lady ofRavens spends much of her time perusingthe many books, scrolls, maps, charts, andother documents brought by those travelerswhom she has geased to do so.Visitors are strictly forbidden fromentering this floor or the higher floors. Thelibrary is watched over by an invisiblestalker, a 1st rank female ghost now knownonly as "the librarian", and a 3rd rank ghostreferred to as "the moneychanger", who sitsat a table only he can see, countingnonexistent coins. If the librarian (who canwander throughout the Tower) is elsewhere,the invisible stalker will most likely ignoreany intruders, and the moneychangercertainly will. However, if either thelibrarian or the Lady is present, they willencourage both to attack. The Lady ofRavens tolerates the librarian - probablybecause the latter ghost performs a usefulfunction; left to herself, the tower's mistresswould simply pile all the documents on thefloor - and ignores the moneychanger: if notattacked or spurred to action by the librarianor Lady, he remains contentedly oblivious toeverything but his imaginary money.Situated above the library are two floors ofstorerooms where the Lady of Ravens keepsthings that are not books. (It was here thatshe stored Felauragoth, for example, beforearranging for it to be taken to the mainland.)When a ship wrecks on the Isle of Ravens,she often has her ravens inspect it for usefulor exotic items, sending invisible stalkers tofetch things too heavy for the birds to carry.Anything she finds interesting, pretty, and/orvaluable will be stored here. These floors arepatrolled by two invisible stalkers at alltimes, unless there should be a disturbance inthe library, in which event the creatures havebeen instructed to aid their fellow. A 2ndrank ghost called "the walker" appears heresporadically, parades the length of the tower(walking directly through the walls asAppendix III Who’s Doomed323necessary) several times, then vanishes. Hewill not attack unless accosted or interruptedin his promenade.The Lady of Ravens herself makes herapartments above the storerooms, furnishingher quarters with those things she likes bestof the detritus the sea brings her. Her mostprized possession, a crystal ball, is here, andshe spends much of her time observing farofflands with it. Above her chambers aretwo vacant floors, then another set of roomsoccupied (if such a word is applicable) by a4th rank ghost referred to as "the weeper".Why she weeps is no longer known, but shetakes very great exception to having hermourning interrupted and will savagelyattack anyone but the Lady of Ravens whomshe finds on this level.The tower terminates, at last, in acrenellated viewing platform. On those veryrare days when the weather permits it, aperson with a telescope can make out theshores of every land mass bordering theNocturnal Sea, as a long line at the horizon.KalibosMale earth-spirit CR 12NE Large fey (earth)Init: +0; Senses: low-light vision, Listen+17, Spot +17Languages: Sylvan*, Vaasi, DarkoneseOutcast Rating: 4AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+9 naturalarmor, -1 size, +3 deflection)hp 75 (10 HD); DR 10/cold ironImmune: Steel weapons, AcidResist: Fire, Cold and Sonic resistance 10;SR 16Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +11Weakness: BaneSpeed: 30 ft.Melee: 2 slams +10 (1d12+5)Space: 10 x10 ft; Reach 10 ft

Appendix III Who’s DoomedBase Atk: +5; Grp +14Special Actions: Hide in Plain SightSpell-Like Abilities: (CL 10): 3/day -entangle, pass without trace; 1/day - fear,hallucinatory terrain, invisibility, plantgrowthAbilities: Str 20, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 14,Wis 18, Cha 8Feats: Craft Magical Arms and Armor, CraftWondrous Item, Great Fortitude, TrackSkills: Craft (weaponsmith) +4, Hide +13*,Intimidate +8, Knowledge (arcana) +7,Knowledge (nature) +15, Listen +17,Move Silently +17*, Spot +17, Survival+19Bane (Ex): Kalibos is harmed by sunlight (1hp damage per minute of direct exposure)and is reluctant to approach any significantartifical light source. In full daylight orequivalent illumination, such as a daylightspell, he is dazzled.Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): Kalibos receivesall benefits of the Hide in Plain Sightability, as if he were a 17th level ranger.Skills: * Kalibos receives a +4 racial bonusto Hide and Move Silently checks.Kalibos stands about eight feet tall and isproportionately broad. He appears to be acrude, near-human effigy crafted of mud,wood, and leaves. Hair-like mosses sproutlushly on his head and body, and the exposedwood of his "skeleton" can be see in hisinjured left leg. His eyes, however arestartlingly human.Kalibos hates the Lady of Ravens and istrying to bring about her death; his mostlikely interaction with visitors to the islandwill be an attempt to get them to search forthe sword Felauragoth and return it to him.He has a fair amount of wealth in the form ofgemstones to offer, and will spin tales of thetreasures to be found in the Tower of Flint ifhe finds his audience receptive to that line ofpersuasion.For more complete information aboutKalibos, please see the Quoth the Raven #13article "The Isle of Ravens".324

MeredothDarklord of NebligtodeMale human necromancer 15 /archmage 5 CR 24CE Medium humanoid (human)Init: +2; Senses: Listen +3, Spot +3 w/Alertness [rod]; permanent arcane sight,darkvision & see invisibility; 3/daydeathwatch [goggles]Languages: Todsteiner*, Akiri, Aquan,Auran, Balok, Darkonese, Draconic,Grabenite, Vaasi; permanent comprehendlanguages, read magic & tongues,empathic linOutcast Rating: 20AC: 22, touch 12, flat-footed 20(+2 Dex, +4 armor [robe], +6 enhancement[bracers])hp 71 (20 HD)Immune: Attacks of undead 5 HD or less;mind-affecting, detection or scrying spellsand effects [mind blank]; energy-drainingand death effects [scarab]; natural coldtemperatures [moccasins]; drowning[pearl]Resist: cold resistance 5, lose hp at halfnormal rate if disabled, Mastery ofCounterspelling; -10 to incorporeal foes'touch attacks [crystal], evasion [ring ofevasion], divert or dispel one spell/day[ring of spell-battle], cast and act freelyunderwater [pearl], contingent teleport toWright's Hollow if rendered unconsciousor slain; SR 20Saves: Fort +12, Ref +13, Will +19 [cloak]Weakness: Heals naturally at half normalrate, item-bond backlashSpeed: 30 ft (6 squares), unhindered bysnow or ice [moccasins]; fly 40 ft [broom];swim 60 ft [pearl]Melee weapon: rod of the white-fang +13/+8 (1d6+3 plus freezing venom); orAppendix III Who’s Doomed325Melee weapon: Rod of withering +11/+6touch attack (withering)Base Atk: +10/+5; Grp +10Atk Options: Arcane Reach 30', Mastery ofShaping; freezing venom (single DC 18Fort save; paralysis and 1d8 hp/round ifsave fails, else -2 Str & Dex for 2d6rounds); withering (1d4 Str + 1d4 Condamage, DC 17 Fort save, ability drain oncritical hit); enervate spell [rod of thewhite-fang]Special Actions: Arcane Fire; un-shrinkconstructs; divert or dispel spell [ring ofspell-battle], extinguish flame [rod offlame extinguishing], push attacker away[gloves], rapid casting [circlet], redirecthealing [shirt], retrieve item [belt]Combat Gear: belt of hidden pouches (w/spell components), broom of flying‡,circlet of rapid casting, repelling gloves,ring of spell-battle, rod of flameextinguishing‡, rod of the white-fang, rodof withering‡, shirt of the leech, 6 potions†of cure serious wounds, 2 potions† ofneutralize poison, 1 potion† of removedisease; constructs (various) under shrinkconstruct effect[‡ - Pinned to robe under greater shrinkitem if not in use. † - Stored in belt if notin use.]

Appendix III Who’s DoomedWizard Spells Available: (CL 21, 22 forspells of Necromancy; Base DC 18 + spelllevel, 19 + spell level for Necromancy &Evocation; Prohibited schools:Enchantment & Illusion)9th (3+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,Create Quasimancer Ga2 , major salienceVRGWD8th (5+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB7th (3+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,Inviolate Soul VRA , Mystic Cage VRA6th (4+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,minor salience VRGWD , revive undead SpC5th (3+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,deadly feast LotB , Feign Undeath RLCS/RLPHB , Lichbane Daggers VRA , shrinkconstruct FoSNS , transmute snow to stoneFoSNS , transmute stone to snow FoSNS4th (6+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,Bone Seizure Ga2 , corpse whisper Ga2 ,Deconstruct VRA , eyes of the undead Ga2 ,repair critical damage SpC , Shackle VRA ,vision stone FoSNS3rd (6+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,augment undead VRA , Hag's Blessing Ga5 ,Immerse Mind VRA , repair serious damageSpC2nd (6+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB,Ground Fog Ga1 , locate mark Ga2 ,Protection From Curses VRA , repairmoderate damage SpC , Wall Of Gloom VRA1st (6+1/day)- All non-prohibited PHB,Befoul Ga5 , Dead Man's Tell Ga5 , ray offatigue VRA , repair light damage SpC ,Rotted Warning Ga50 (4+1/day) - All non-prohibited PHB, frostshroud FoSNS , repair minor damage SpC[Note: Meredoth first learned capitalizedspells in Ravenloft. He does not cast thesespells spontaneously, but prepares them inadvance like a normal wizard.]326Spells always in place: mind blank,contingency (teleport)High Arcana: Arcane Fire, Arcane Reach30', Mastery of Counterspelling, Masteryof Shaping, Spell PowerAbilities: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 26,Wis 12, Cha 5SQ: carrion collector, construct communion,Corpsecrafter, icy rebirth, item-bond,minions' link, share or imbue spells, what'smine is mineFeats: Alertness R , Bind Salience VRGWD ,Cold One D ; RLPHB , Corpsecrafter D ; LiM ,Craft Construct B , Craft Magic Arms andArmor B, Craft Rod B , Craft WondrousItem, Enervate Spell LiM , Maximize Spell,Quicken Spell, Scribe Scroll B , Skill Focus(Spellcraft), Spell Focus (evocation), SpellFocus (necromancy).[Capitalized feats may only be applied tospells prepared in advance. B - wizardbonus feat. R - bonus feat for rod of thewhite-fang. D - bonus feat from darklordstatus.]Skills: Concentration +24, Craft (alchemy)+29, Craft (metalwork) +14, Craft(sculpture) +14, Hide +9, Heal +9,Intimidate +13*, Knowledge (arcana) +31,Knowledge (architecture & engineering)+13, Knowledge (nature) +13, Knowledge(Ravenloft) +9, Knowledge (religion) +13,Move Silently +9, Reign Undead+13*;VRGWD, Spellcraft +36Possessions: combat gear plus bracers ofarmor enhancement +6 w/ augment crystalof greater screening, cloak of resistance+5, moccasins of the winterlands (asboots), goggles of lifesight, pearl of thesirines, ring of evasion, robe of arcanemight (necromancy), scarab of protection(9 uses)Arcane Fire (Su): +12 ranged touch, range1240 ft. (un-typed) or 1280 ft. (negativeenergy), 5d6 hp damage + 1d6 per spelllevel expended. Damage is un-typed if a

normal spell slot is expended, or negativeenergy damage if one of his Necromancyonlyslots is used.Carrion Collector (Ex): Most spellcasters'control of Obedient Dead in Ravenloft islimited to 4 HD per caster level, butMeredoth's limit is 4 HD per level for eachvariety he controls. "Variety" can refer tothe species being animated, or actual typeof undead creature; thus, he might control88 HD each of human skeletons, elfskeletons, and archer skeletons at once.Todstein's master is forever in the marketfor carcasses of exotic creatures and/ornew Obedient Dead variants, to broadenhis "collection's" diversity. Lebendtod donot count against the number of ObedientDead that Meredoth (or any villain) cancontrol.Since he became a darklord, undead thatMeredoth crafts have been both strongerand hardier than those he had made before.All undead created by his magic receive a+4 enhancement bonus to Strength and +2hp per HD, as per the Corpsecrafter feat(Libris Mortis). Obedient Dead he createdprior to 737 gained a +2 Intelligence bonuswhen he died (VRGttWD), offsetting thelebendtod template's penalty, and givinghis skeletons and zombies access to skillranks.Meredoth has no inherent influence overundead which are not his creations (but see"Strays & Sleepers" Dread Possibility).Construct Communion (Ex): Meredoth isfar more at ease with constructs thanpeople, and the Dark Powers have grantedhim the ability to communicate his desiresto such creations by the briefest of words,gestures, or cues. His constructs nevercommit errors due to unclear instructions,so long as those orders come directly fromMeredoth. When one of his golems goesberserk, the sea-mage can reassert controlover it instantly by swatting it with his rodof the white-fang or bare hand. He caneven teach his mindless constructs basictasks via his Reign Undead skill, albeit at a-4 penalty.Appendix III Who’s Doomed327When he expects battle or venturesbeyond Todstein, Meredoth pins constructsunder a shrink construct spell to his robe'shem, to be activated as defenders ordecoys. Number and type of constructsvaries, based on the sort of danger heanticipates and how much fighting-roomhe expects to have.Death Proof (Ex): Undead of 5 HD or lessseem powerless to harm Nebligtode's lord.Either they lose track of their target (if theattacker is mindless), or their blows glanceoff his skin (free-willed corporeal forms)or pass through him without effect (freewilledincorporeal forms). He is likewiseimmune to ranged special attacks byundead of under 6 HD, such as an allip'sbabble.Many undead are disinclined to attackthe sea-mage in any case, as the imperfectthawing of his cloned body has given himall qualities of the Cold One feat.Meredoth's minions aren't fooled by hisreduced body temperature or metabolism,so never ignore him or his orders.Icy Rebirth (Su): Meredoth lacks the usualUndying Soul special quality, but the DarkPowers permit him to return to life via theclone spell without losing a level. Thisform of rebirth isn't without consequence:when he woke in his current body, not onlyhad the old necromancer gained the ColdOne feat, but he'd acquired cold resistance5, and his fingernails - always long and illkempt- took on a claw-like appearance,increasing his Outcast Rating.If he knew more about Ravenloft'sworkings, Meredoth might suspect hisclone displays all the usual marks of "TheCaress", as if the Path of Corruption hesidestepped, having become a darklord allat once, has imposed itself on his clone.This begs the question of how his nextcloned body will turn out, or the next…Item-Bond (Su): Using the arcane secretsof his homeland, Meredoth has traded theclass ability to acquire a familiar for thecapacity to bond with a permanent magicitem: his rod of the white-fang. So long ashe holds this item, the sea-mage gains the

Appendix III Who’s Doomedbenefits of the Alertness feat, as if the rodwere a living familiar. When the rodtransforms into the white-fang Hoarfrost,the sea-mage loses his Alertness (even ifhe and Hoarfrost are still touching), but hecan share spells with the white-fang ordeliver touch-spells through her attacks.Meredoth shares an empathic link withHoarfrost, identical to that of a truefamiliar and its master.Hoarfrost does not receive any of theother powers or perks of a normal familiar,and Meredoth will lose no XP if the whitefangis 'killed' and reverts to rod form. Ifhis rod of the white-fang is destroyed, thedarklord immediately suffers 2d6 points ofInt drain from psychic backlash,convertible to Int damage on a DC 35 Willsave.In addition, the rod of the white-fang alsofunctions as a greater metamagic rod(enervating), letting Meredoth imbue threespells each day with negative energy. Thisincreases the damage they inflict by +50%to targets harmed by negative energy,while halving the damage to undead,constructs, or objects. This only works ifMeredoth holds the rod in item form, andwill not function for any other wielder.Master of Sky and Storm (Su): Meredothcan control storms throughout his domain,raising or calming them or directing thecourse of their winds. His control is tooimprecise to target individual ships orbuildings, but areas as small as a two-mileradius can be singled out.To change the weather, the darklord mustpersonally come to the area to be affected(often on his broom of flying) and hurlblasts of arcane fire into the clouds andwaves. For every 5d6 hp of arcane fire heexpends in this manner, wind conditionsworsen or improve by one step (DMGp.95, Table 3-24); wind direction also fallsunder his control. An additional 10d6 canstart or halt rain or snow, and another 10d6adds hailstones or lightning to rainfall, orconverts light snow to heavy snow or sleet.Any storm Meredoth raises lasts as long as328a natural one; the sea-mage can repeat theprocess to prolong it.As "beating Nature into submission" inthis way eats up his time and rapidlydepletes his spells, Meredoth only uses thisability when his need is pressing, lettingthe Nocturnal Sea's own lousy weatherprevail most of the time. Nebligtode'smaster can't influence Todstein's ownsupernatural 'dire weather' in this way, norcan he part his domain's unbroken cloudcoveror alter the overall climate of itsislands.Minions' Link (Su): Since his own death in737, the sea-mage has sensed it when anyof his undead servants are slain in hisdomain. He can tell which of his creaturesexpired and the approximate direction tothe site of its demise, but no specifics as tohow it was destroyed or by whom. Thisapplies to any undead which he personallyanimated, or to any lebendtod or ghastarising as a spawn-descendent of hislebendtod creations. He cannot sense thedestruction of his creatures beyond thebounds of Nebligtode.When using corpse whisper or eyes ofthe undead (described in Gaz II), thoughthe necromancer learned both spells on hismagically-advanced homeworld -Meredoth can maintain links to his undeadanywhere inside the Icewalls' perimeter,not just in a one-mile radius.Sorcerous Mastery (Su): Since he arrivedin the Land of Mists, Meredoth's ownmagic functions more like a sorcerer's thana wizard's, allowing him to foregopreparation of spells and cast them asneeded. He may freely choose among allwizard spells in the PHB (plus a few othersources; see above), provided they aren'tfrom his prohibited schools and he hasn'tused up his daily slots for a given level.Meredoth may only cast spells he'd knownbefore entering Ravenloft in this way, andcannot apply his metamagic feats (whichhe learned as a wizard, not a sorcerer, andhas never managed to adapt to his alteredpowers) to them. Intelligence remains hiskey ability as a spellcaster.

Even if he wishes to, the necromancercannot prepare spells known prior to hisdarklordship in advance. Spells he learnedsince his arrival can (and must) beprepared as is usual for wizards, andMeredoth can apply his metamagic feats totheir effects. He may exchange theseprepared spells for Necromancy spellsinform his spontaneous-casting repertoire,just as divine spellcasters exchange spellsfor cure/inflict or summon nature's ally.Meredoth seldom fills more than a fewslots with prepared spells, leaving the restopen for spells of any school.One of Meredoth's daily slots of eachlevel can be devoted only to Necromancyspells, whether prepared or spontaneous.If Meredoth spends such a slot to power hisArcane Fire, its usual (un-typed) damagebecomes negative energy damage, lettinghim heal undead minions from a distance:a morbid twist to his talents as anarchmage, courtesy of the Dark Powers.What's Mine Is Mine (Ex): Any sentientbeing setting foot on Todstein is instantlydetected by Meredoth, as is any attempt toteleport into the area warded by itsIcewalls. He can't tell how many intrudersstep ashore at a time, but he can sense ifthe new arrivals are living, unliving, or amixed group of both, and whether unlivingarrivals (undead or construct) are "his".Skills: * Meredoth's -3 Cha penalty convertsto a +3 bonus for use of the Intimidate andReign Undead skills (included). This alsoapplies to all Charisma or Diplomacychecks he makes in his dealings withintelligent Walking Dead (but not otherundead), or sentient constructs such asdread golems. The Walking Dead ignorethe sea-mage's OR penalty.Hoarfrost, Meredoth's PetFemale white-fang / huptzeen CR 8NE Large magical beast (cold)Init: +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft, low-lightvision, scent, tremorsense 120 ft,permanent see invisibility; Listen +8, Spot+8Appendix III Who’s Doomed329Languages: Understands Draconic butcannot speak; empathic linkAC: 16, touch 12, flat-footed 13; Dodge(-1 size, +3 Dex, +4 natural)hp 84 (6 HD); fast healing 2 in rod form; DR10 / adamantineImmune: cold, negative energyResist: fire resistance 15 (75 hp/day),permanent resistanceFort +11, Ref +9, Will +6Weakness: +50% damage from fireSpeed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 30 ft., burrow(snow or ice) 20 ft.Melee: bite +15 (2d4+10 & freezing venom)and tail lash +4 (2d6+5); orMelee: bite +15 (2d4+10 & freezing venom);orMelee: Tail lash +13 (2d6+8)Space: 10 ft; Reach 5 ftBase Atk: +4; Grp +14Atk Options: constrict (1d8+10), delivertouch spells, improved grabAbilities: Str 22, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 6, Wis14, Cha 13SQ: alternate form, construct affinities,crystal augmentation, +3 enhancementbonus (bite), +1 enhancement bonus (taillash), freezing venom, icy camouflage,permanent greater magic fang, share orreceive imbued spellsFeats: Alertness, Dodge, Improved Initiative,Improved Natural Attack B, Tracking BSkills: Balance +3, Climb +8, Hide +6 (+18in snow*), Listen +8*, Move Silently +15*,Sense Motive +2, Spot +8*, Survival +7*,Swim +16*Freezing bite / Constrict / Improved grab /Skills: See “White-Fang” on page 289.Alternate form (Su): Hoarfrost has controlover her shape, allowing her to shiftbetween rod and white-fang (as perpolymorph any object) at will. While in herrod form, she remains aware of hersurroundings, retaining all senses including

Appendix III Who’s Doomedher empathic link to Meredoth. NormallyHoarfrost assumes a shape her masterdictates, but if stolen in her rod form orendangered (e.g. by a larger, hungry whitefang)in serpent form, she can shift betweenstates of her own volition. If the rod iswithin 5' of Meredoth when he casts a spellon himself, Hoarfrost can share in itsbenefits, even if she doesn't assume whitefangform until a later combat round.The rod of the white-fang is usable as a+3/+1 quarterstaff, and its +3 end - the oneMeredoth wields in melee, corresponding toHoarfrost's head - delivers freezing venomon each hit. It has the usual AC 9, hardness10, and break DC 27 for magic rods, but itshit points are one-third of Hoarfrost's at herfull strength (28). Its caster level is 21st.In addition to delivering touch spells inserpent form, Hoarfrost in rod form can actas a receptacle for spells lent by her master.In effect, the serpent/huptzeen has the dailycasting abilities of a level 6 sorcerer (7/6/5/3 with Cha bonus), but her list of knownspells is empty until Meredoth provides herwith choices. By expending low-levelspells as if he had cast them, the darklordadds these spells to Hoarfrost's repertoire,which she uses in rod form to defendherself and him, or perform tasks in hermaster's absence. Meredoth must hold therod of the white-fang to imbue it with spelloptions; once he gives a spell to the rod,that choice remains available to Hoarfrostfor 24 hours.The rod cannot cast Hoarfrost's spells inthe same round when it serves as a greatermetamagic rod (enervating), nor on a roundwhen Meredoth wields it for a melee attack.The necromancer often imbues the rod withdispel magic, which it casts on his behalf tonegate silence effects; if he needs to knowwhat Hoarfrost has seen or heard, imbuingwhispering wind grants his pet a voice. Therod's imbued spells are equal to a 6th levelsorcerer's - weak enough so that Meredothforbids Hoarfrost to use them offensively inserious battles, preferring not to drawhostile attention to her - but need nocomponents.Note that Meredoth captured Hoarfrostalive and converted her into a magic item,rather than crafting an item that turns into amagical beast. If the rod of the white-fangsuccumbs to dispel magic or an antimagic330field, Hoarfrost shifts to serpent form ratherthan remaining an object.Construct Affinities (Ex): Hoarfrost neednot eat, drink, sleep or breathe, and she doesnot age. To spells or abilities that detectliving presences, she registers as a constructrather than as alive. When in rod form, sheis considered a magical object for purposesof spell effects; for example, Meredoth canconjure the rod of the white-fang to himselfvia Drawmij's Instant Summons.Crystal Augmentation (Su): Inset into herivory head-scutes, or the sculpted viperheadof her rod form, a fiery red crystalgrants Hoarfrost fire resistance 15. It canblock up to 75 hp of fire damage per day,calculated before the +50% increase for hersubtype. The crystal is etched withMeredoth's own arcane mark, helping himkeep track of his pet more easily.Hardness (Ex): In serpent form, Hoarfrostretains her rod body's hardness, whichconverts to DR 10/adamantine.Imbued magic (Su): Meredoth has enhancedhis pet with permanent spells, as above. Allbut Greater Magic Fang - applied by adruid lebendtod, not the darklord himself -can't be dispelled by spellcasters under 21stlevel.Negative energy immunity (Ex): As a fringebenefit of her rod form's metamagicfunction to imbue such energy, Hoarfrost isimmune to negative energy damage andenergy drain.Reversion Recovery (Su): If she is injured,Hoarfrost can revert to rod form, in whichshe regains her 84 hit points as if she hadfast healing 2. If this isn't quick enough,she can be healed by repair damage spellsin rod form, or cure wounds in serpentform. Shifting to rod form halts ongoingdamage incurred by continuous magicaleffects (unless they affect objects), poison,or disease. Ability damage to Hoarfrostwill be healed if she spends 24 hours in rodform.If 'slain', Hoarfrost reverts to rod formand cannot regain her serpent form for threedays. The rod's other powers (metamagic,poison, spells) are suppressed for 24 hours,though it remains a +3/+1 quarterstaff.

Dungeon Master’s Tips: Exotic Magic 101Appendix III Who’s DoomedThe product of a sophisticated culture in which arcana took the place of science, Meredoth grew upsurrounded by magics more plentiful and refined than are usually seen in mainstream D&D settings,let alone a magic-sparse realm like Ravenloft. His archmage abilities and bond to the white-fangHoarfrost (an alternative class ability, in PHB II terms) are just the tip of the iceberg: if a DM hasbeen dying to include a high-powered magical effect or item in her campaign, but can't justify givingit to Azalin due to his curse, Meredoth is the ideal darklord to use it, or to introduce it to another partof the Core in the hands of a lebendtod minion.While Meredoth already has a phenomenal number of spells to choose from (see "DM Tip: TooMany Spells!"), adding a few more to his list can emphasize the potency and diversity of optionsavailable in a truly magic-saturated environment, and give PCs who dare face down a villain of thiscaliber the thrills they were craving. Appropriate effects to spice up the necromancer's arsenal (eitheras spontaneously-cast spells from his homeworld, or prepared ones looted from Ravenloft natives' oroutlanders' grimoires) include arctic-themed spells like obedient avalanche or 'quirky' offensiveevocations like lightning ring. Defensively, practical divinations like know vulnerabilities are usefulto Meredoth, and anything which expands his opportunity for counterspelling (reaving dispel) is likegold to Nebligtode's darklord. Even adding just one or two rare, off-world spells to his roster (likethe examples above, each from the Spell Compendium) can snap players who've "seen it all" out oftheir complacency. Two additions to his spell list - the construct-healing repair damage spells (as percure wounds), and revive undead (a raise dead for the unliving) - are already included above, beingcentral to this villain's vocation as a creature-crafter.In addition, Meredoth has created, stolen or looted a plethora of magical items in the last century,some of them specifically chosen from the Magic Item Compendium to highlight the breadth of hisalien culture's arcane advancements. Capsule descriptions of their effects follow:Belt of Hidden Pouches: This utility belt of miniature bags of holding (10 hidden, 20 hidden &opened by command word; each will hold up to 5 lbs, with 6" maximum dimensions) holdsMeredoth's staggering variety of spell components. Stored items appear in its wearer's hand oncommand.Bracers of Armor Enhancement +6 w/ Crystal of Greater Screening: Provides +6 enhancementbonus to armor (stacks with robe); inset crystal imposes -10 penalty to incorporeal foes' touchattack rolls.Circlet of Rapid Casting: Wearer casts low-level spells as a swift action (3 charges/day: 1 chargefor 1st or 2nd level spells, 2 charges for 3rd, 3 charges for 4th) as per the Quicken Spell feat.Goggles of Lifesight: Provides deathwatch, 3/dayRepelling Gloves (= Gauntlets; uses/day increased): Push an enemy back one space (immediateaction) if they enter an adjacent space, 3/day; Reflex DC 17 to resist being pushed.Ring of Spell-Battle: Wearer continuously senses all spellcasting within 60', allowing a Spellcraftcheck (DC 15 + level) to identify spells sensed but not seen; 1/day, the wearer may counterspell anidentified spell (as dispel magic) or redirect it to another valid target within 60'.Robe of Arcane Might (necromancy): Provides a +4 armor bonus (stacks with bracers), and a +1bonus to caster level for wearer's spells of the Necromancy school.Shirt of the Leech: Wearer instantly recognizes healing spells of 4th level or lower (60' range); 3/day, Meredoth may redirect a healing spell from its intended target to himself (30' range).Meredoth's rod of the white-fang is an unique item of his own design, blending features ofmetamagic and python or viper rods with an obscure sapient construct from his native world knownas a "huptzeen". A number of unsociable wizards from his homeland kept sentient magic items inlieu of familiars, and Meredoth - who can't abide living pets - has belatedly formed such a bondwith this item and the deadly ice-serpent it transforms into.331

Appendix III Who’s DoomedA grim, glowering figure some six feet tall,with gnarled hands and a pronounced stoop,the necromancer Meredoth appears less of ascholar than some doom-saying prophetfrom antiquity. His ill-kempt beard andwind-tossed mane are a glimmering, frostedwhite, save for a few residual black strandsin his moustache. The Nebligtode darklord'sheavy-lidded blue eyes are too small to suithis wizened, homely features, especially hisnarrow, hooked prow of a nose. Hiswrinkled skin is paper-white, laced by bluetraceries of veins, and his thin lips are tintedlavender; his fingernails bear a purplish tintalso, and are thick and cracked like a ghoul'sragged claws. Since 737, Meredoth's earshave lacked outer rims, lost to frostbite whenhis cloned body was thawed. The smallesttoes are missing from each of his feet: asubtle clue the old necromancer has moreclones in waiting. No matter how deep thechill, Meredoth's exhalations do not fog theair. His flesh is very cold - as clammy as acorpse's - but few even among his unlivingservants know this, as he loathes beingtouched.Meredoth adheres to the styles of hisoutlander home, favoring floor-length robeswith flowing sleeves he can tie back as heworks, and hooded over-cloaks. His garb isblack with purple hems; embroidered sigils,waves and lightning-bolts in gold threaddecorate the trim of his garb. Color-codedcloth patches - gear and golems under theeffects of shrink item or shrink construct -are pinned inside his robe's hem, out of sightyet near to hand. Sealskin moccasins, anastounding array of spell components, andhis 6' narwhal-ivory rod of the white-fang,which he leans on as a walking-staff,complete the aged sea-mage's ensemble.Until Nebligtode's integration into theCore, the necromancer made do with GrabenIsland wool for his garb, but has sincepirated enough silk from cargo vessels tofabricate a more regal wardrobe. That hebothered doing this is owed entirely to hissense of entitlement, not concern for eithercomfort or appearances: Meredoth's finery isbadly rumpled and seldom laundered,invariably reeking of unwashed wizard,332alchemical residues, and embalming fluid, ifnot grislier odors.The old sea-mage's voice is a croaking,wheezy rasp in conversation, to which he isnot much accustomed. Only when he issuesorders to his unliving minions or intones hisspells does it take on clarity and a derisive,sour edge. Though permanency and tonguesmake him fluent in all languages, Meredothconsiders it beneath his dignity to speak to"mundane drudges", so he seldom addressesothers in any tongue save Draconic: anyonetoo ignorant of magic to understand that can'tpossibly be worth talking to, in his opinion.The necromancer's native tongue (herecalled "Todsteiner" by default) is not sharedwith any population in the Land of Mists, sohe uses it exclusively to direct his constructs,which will not accept orders in any otherlanguage.BackgroundBorn on an outlander world that teemed withmagical creatures and occult energies,Meredoth grew up in a grand empire ofwizardry: one where arcane might reignedsupreme and those lacking in magical talentwere summarily consigned to servitude.From an early age, young Meredoth's arcanepotential was encouraged, despite its morbidbent, for the Empire was proudly amoral anddeemed no field of magic "forbidden". Bothhis parents (unwed, but such parentage boreno stigma in their culture) were wizards ofconsummate skill, and their great wealth andresources helped facilitate their son's rapiddevelopment as a necromantic prodigy.Unfortunately for Meredoth, his emotionaldevelopment was not so well-served byeither parent. His father, an introverteddesigner of constructs, worked nighobsessivelyand spared his child no interest,entrusting his upbringing to golems andother magically-crafted servitors. When theattention-starved lad tried to attract hisfather's notice by having his artificialcaregivers turn upon and destroy oneanother, he incurred only a stiff scolding fordelighting in such crude, physical violence:the sort of base brutality a "mundane drudge"might find amusement in. His mother, a

frivolous enchantress preoccupied with herown pleasures, was even worse, for the selfabsorbedwoman had no qualms about usingher own favored school's spells to disciplineher sullen, irksome son: a violation that lefthim forever hostile to others' efforts toimpose their will upon him. By the timeMeredoth entered his teens, chronic selfindulgencehad lured his mother to sampletsongha, a narcotic wildly-popular with thedecadent Empire's elite. The youngnecromancer watched her wither away froma spirited and powerful, albeit narcissisticarcanist to a listless, vacant-eyed addict in afew months' time.To Meredoth, the lessons of his upbringingseemed clear. From his mother, he learnedthat mortal flesh was inherently weak andflawed, undermining the dignity andachievements of whomever heeded its baseurges, and that being in control was farpreferable to being coerced or pressured.From his father, he learned that arcanecraftsmanship was the only thing in life thathad value or could improve upon Nature'simperfections, while all that was "mundane"was barbaric and coarse, beneath an imperialaristocrat's notice. From his constructcaregivers, he learned that only that which awizard creates could truly be counted upon,to satisfy his needs - counted on (as hisparents could not be) even unto its owndestruction - and nothing at all of moralaccountability, decorum or respect: thingshis father had never thought to have hiscreations teach the boy; and which hismother's callous mind-control led the futuredarklord to regard as yet another coerciveimposition, which he would not demeanhimself by yielding to.Despite the lamentable dearth ofinterpersonal skills which his rearing hadequipped him with, Meredoth's creativebrilliance at school gave the other youngwizards cause to put up with his unwittingcrassness and beastly personal habits. Theisolated youth was greatly perplexed by theintricacies and randomness of humanbehavior - his father's constructs had beenreliable and rational, whereas people provedto be erratic and moody, interacting by ruleshe'd never learned and heeding cues that heAppendix III Who’s Doomed333could neither perceive nor fathom - but yearsof parental neglect made him ache forcompany, even so. Meredoth anxiouslyaccepted his schoolmates' overtures, in thepathetic hope of finding camaraderie amonghis academic peers … only to have hisproposal for a ground-breaking variant of theskeletal golem stolen, and submitted to theinstructor, by the most welcoming of his new"friends".Repulsed by how his own emotionalneediness had lured him into vulnerability,the snubbed prodigy overreacted. He bitterlyresolved to forsake fellow humans' ficklecompany and superficial ways - the longingsfor adoration and acclaim which haddestroyed his mother - and retreated to hislaboratory, dreaming that he might one dayfind a way to purge such betraying flaws asweakness, insincerity, and sentimentalgullibility from those around him. Meredothalso covertly drugged his betrayer withconcentrated extract of tsongha, addictingand mind-crippling his deceitful "friend" at astroke.It was Meredoth's first use of poison, buthardly his last. His false friend's treacheryhad taught him the wrong lesson: in the yearsto follow, the slighted youth - lacking thewords or tact to ask others to shareknowledge - incapacitated several scholasticand professional rivals in this way, then stoletheir secrets as they lay insensate. Thosewho might dare to accuse him of thesecrimes found themselves challenged toterrible spell-duels "of honor", should theyseek to press charges. As the futuredarklord's aptitude and fondness fordestructive evocations were nearly as greatas his talent for necromancy, Meredotheasily bested the weaker, less aggressivevictims he'd preferentially targeted for suchpiracy, and claimed their grimoires as hisrightful spoils of victory. The nascentdarklord's hidden lust for cathartic violence,for which his father had once chastised him,was sated, and his spell-repertoire expanded.In the black heart of the Empire, when hewasn't robbing or dueling his peers,Meredoth experimented upon mundanedrudges and hapless beasts alike, seeking themeans to expunge those sentiments and

Appendix III Who’s Doomedcravings which made the living so much lessreliable than constructs: flaws he believedarose from the brutish, primal, and irrationalcomponent of human nature. His ignoranceof enchantments, to which his mother'sdisciplines had given him a lasting aversion,hindered his endeavors, but he stubbornlysacrificed many test-subjects in these vainpursuits.Unwilling to concede that Nature's lawsmight refuse to give way, to accommodatehis uncompromising agenda - to re-make allthose around him into worthier beings, thatcould neither disappoint nor betray him - thefrustrated necromancer finally altered hisapproach, and set about crafting uniqueundead and constructs. Always, he soughtways to make his creations appear more lifelike,function with greater animation, anddisplay a higher capacity for unsupervised,self-directed action. This line of study wasfar more fruitful, with many significantbreakthroughs accruing to his name, but thekey to eliminating humanity's many innate"weaknesses" yet eluded him.Decades passed and Meredoth's powersflourished, as the secrets of necromancy andthe archmagi opened before him. Still, hislifelong quest had yet to be fulfilled, and oldage - yet another base, organic flaw to beeliminated - began catching up with theobsessed mage. Realizing it was too late toseek Ascension to a higher state of being,and disdaining lichdom as a last recourse ofdesperate incompetents, the necromancerstoically endured the indignities of his years,until arthritis began robbing him of thedeftness his work as wizard and craftsmandemanded. Only then did Meredoth consentto partake of those alchemical elixirs thatpreserved the youth of the Empire's elite. Incontrary rebellion against his mother'sshallow vanity, he opted not to restore hisphysique to its prime, but arrested its agingin its late 60s - the same age he appears to betoday - so that his frost-white locks andwrinkles might broadcast his contempt forthe aristocracy's primping decadence.Rumors of the testy old recluse's thefts hadcirculated for years, and his slovenly habitsand rudeness bred resentment even amongwizards he'd never directly harmed. Unable334to prove his crimes, the imperial bureaucratseventually hit upon another way to get rid ofthe cantankerous old crank: promotion.When Meredoth's stature as a suprememaster was formally accredited by the state,he received, not the obligatory Council seathe expected, but the title of Baron and aland-grant in one of the Empire's distantfrontier territories. Though startled by thebequest, the misanthropic necromancer wasglad to be excused from tediousparliamentary duties, and the notion of asecure, undisturbed barony of his own - farfrom imperial politics and the long list ofenemies he had accumulated - was likewiseappealing.At first, Meredoth's new dominion seemedideal for his needs. It lay in an isolatedregion with no native wizards - at least, noneworth speaking of - and its icy climate wouldpreserve his necromantic materials, retardingspoilage. A forested isle, off the shores of agreat bay, he chose as his own residence andresearch facility; the contingent of settlers hehad been burdened with, to colonize his newlands, were dropped off on the coastline tosee to their own affairs. The human nativesof the region - fair-haired, loutish barbarians,fittingly ignorant and fearful of magic -could serve as test-subjects or be conscriptedfor forced labor as needed. Best of all, anindependent realm of wizards lay far to thesouth. Although tiny and laughably young,it could provide a suitable venue for spellthefts,and without the usual risk of Imperialprosecution which his depredations chancedin his homeland.Using snow-sculpting magics and a frigidvariety of golem - the last truly original ideasMeredoth would ever have, had he butknown it - the necromancer constructed hisresidence on the dormant volcanic island,snidely playing up to native superstitions byits morbid architecture. He had scarcelysettled in and resumed his research,however, when his retainers on the coastcontacted him with word of the colonists'difficulties. Summer was over, autumnnearly so, and their harvest's bounty hadbeen too scanty for the settlement's needs.Disinterested in the trivial whines of drudgelaborers- didn't they realize that his

esearches could eliminate their flaws andweaknesses, and so benefit their kind in thelong term? - the new Baron ignored theirincreasingly-strident pleas for assistance asthe snows piled up.Finally, Meredoth reached a convenientstopping-point in his work and spared amoment to look into the settlers' complaints… only to discover that many had alreadydied, still more were ill or starving, and thefew who yet had strength to be angry saw fitto blame him for their own blatant ineptnessas frontiersmen. Offended by their insolentaccusation he'd failed in his baronialobligations, the old mage peevishly fulfilledtheir request for "assistance", re-animatingthe frozen bodies of the dead and taskingthem to construct cabins, gather firewood,and clear the land for next season's crops.When his accusers proved unappreciative ofthis generosity, he lost his temper, killed andanimated their spokesman as an example tothe rest, then returned to his isle in a huff,leaving the remaining ingrates to starve in avillage of silently-laboring zombies.By spring, the initial cohort of settlers hadperished to the last, yet Meredoth's animateddead had succeeded in erecting an entireseries of villages, one after another, alongthe coast, where the living had failed him.His studies were progressing nicely, spurredon by ideas he'd "borrowed" from thesouthern magocracy, so the necromancerwas not overly concerned by the previousyear's losses; indeed, their posthumousachievements proved he was on the righttrack. He transferred these Obedient Dead tohis isle, and called for fresh colonists fromthe Empire to come occupy the corpseconstructedvillages. To facilitate this vitalinflux of new blood, Meredoth stooped tofulfilling his tiresome baronial chores inperson, rather than entrusting them to hisunderlings' ineptitude, a second time. Thathis dominion's soil was no more productive,the crops no more plentiful, than before didnot worry him, as it would only ensure hisplan's success.By mid-autumn, the new colonists, like theprevious year's, had realized that theirharvest would not last out the winter. Byfirst snowfall, they too were pleading forAppendix III Who’s Doomed335Meredoth's help, without a response. Byyear's end, the last of their stores ran out, asthe young and elderly drew ever-closer todeath. Then, like a miracle, their Baronarrived at last … with food. Ample portionsof fish, bread and vegetables were doled outto each grateful colonist, along with thebearer's solemn vow they would never wantfor nourishment again. In this, Meredothwas good as his word, for each meal hedistributed was saturated with slow-actingpoison. After the food was consumed andthe toxin worked its deadly effect, Meredothbrought his zombies out of hiding, to preparetheir successors' remains for revival as asuperior breed of unquestioning, need-freeObedient Dead: the very sort of beings intowhich the misanthropic baron had longdreamed of transforming all the 'imperfect',undependable humans around him.As sunset colored the seas off Todstein,Meredoth returned to his macabre island torefresh himself for tomorrow's marathon ofundead-creation. It was the last time thenecromancer's ice-pale skin would ever feelsunlight. As the murderous baron's broom offlying alit, the winter skies erupted insnowflakes - blinding, dizzying, disorienting- cloaking the coastline from view with theirswirling whiteness. Taking shelter from therising blizzard, Meredoth slammed the fauxmausoleum'sdoor, sealing out the eerie wailof the storm. Although normally as cold inhis logic as Todstein's permafrost, the farfetchednotion that his actions might havesomehow angered the very forces of nature -a laughable prospect: Nature bent to thecommands of wizards; it couldn't set its willagainst them! - crossed his mind, as hestalked off to his bed.But the forces whose attention Meredoth'scallous deed had attracted were anything butnatural. And though the snows would abate,Todstein's skies would never clear, for thenecromancer and his icy refuge had beendrawn into the Land of Mists.

Appendix III Who’s DoomedMirror Curses: The Lich-King and the Sea-MageWhile the sheer size of Darkon makes it a likely domain for new additions to the Core to share aborder with, the fact that the Nocturnal Sea's emergence left the realm of Azalin abutting that ofMeredoth - one of very few darklords whose arcane power actually exceeds the lich's own - maybe no coincidence. Their respective curses hint that the Dark Powers' taste for irony may be anequal factor in their realms' confluence.In this case, the irony is that each of these arcane masters is cursed in a manner that cripples hisendeavors, yet the mechanisms of their curses are opposites: inverted images of one another.Azalin - a man whose studies were driven by purpose, not invention for its own sake, even in life- has the brilliance to conceive of new spells and creations, yet has been rendered impotent toexecute whatever novel magics his fertile, scheming mind concocts. Meredoth, conversely,easily assimilates stolen spells, appropriates others' ideas for magic items or constructs, andplagiarizes abilities for his minions that he witnesses or hears tell of; yet devising such ideashimself - the one act that ever won the repellent necromancer approval from others - liestauntingly beyond his grasp. One is a "doer", the other a craftsman, yet each is denied hisstrongest aptitude, and spared the very knack which his new neighbor desperately craves.Were these grim wizards' backgrounds or personalities even remotely compatible, it would benatural for them to form an alliance of mutual advantage, each compensating for the other's curseimposedlimitation. Were Azalin's diabolical inventiveness ever coupled to Meredoth's matchlessspellcasting flexibility, even the Dark Powers might find their pooled capabilities too potent toconstrain! But such a joint endeavor is unlikely in the extreme: Meredoth has no pressing wish toescape the Land of Mists or retaliate against their "tormentors", and Azalin's lichdom - far fromintimidating the sea-mage, as the undead tyrant expected it to - only convinced Nebligtode'smaster that Darkon's king is a bungler, when his neighbor revealed the truth. (Competent magesof the Empire seek Ascension as their means of shedding mortality, not an unpalatable undeath.)Nor can their shared fondness for necromancy override Meredoth's revulsion at the authorityAzalin bestows on "mundane drudges" among his barons and Kargat, or the lich's flagrantcontempt for the antisocial sea-mage's ineptitude at political gamesmanship. This mutual distastewould only grow, were they to learn more of each other's pasts: Azalin would surely equateMeredoth's willful neglect of his barony with his own self-indulgent brother Ranald's past royalnegligence; and the sarky sea-mage would jeer Azalin's lasting obsession with reclaiming and reeducatinghis son Irik … a boy who wasn't even a spellcaster, and hence (by Meredoth's politicalviews) had no business being the heir to a throne, in the first place!In short, these two darklords seem custom-made to rub each other the wrong way, and far moreabrasively than Strahd and Azalin ever did. (The vampire, at least, grasps the notion of tact.)This makes durable alliances between the pair psychologically untenable, even if Azalin werewilling to reveal his mental block to Meredoth, or the necromancer, admit his creative limitationsto the lich (or himself for that matter). Short-term cooperation, as each wizard strives to exploitthe other's envied aptitude, is far more viable, assuming either darklord finds sufficient cause tostomach his counterpart's infuriating habits and pretensions.336

In becoming the darklord of Nebligtode,Meredoth suffered less immediate dismaythan most domains' masters. Unlike manyothers, he had little emotional connection tohis homeland (save an unshakable belief inits superiority), and cared nothing for thosehe'd left behind. Having long coveted theprivacy of total isolation, the necromancerhas, in fact, never made more than a tokenattempt to escape his domain. If Meredothever truly needs to return to the Empire, hepresumes he'll find a way, regardless of howthe fumbling "barbarian hedge-wizards" withwhom he shares the Land of Mists may havefailed in their own past escape-attempts. Fornow, Nebligtode's darklord is quite satisfiedto remain where he is, taking full advantageof the enhanced power which both golemcraftersand the spells of his favored schooldisplay in this entropy-saturated otherworld.A man who admires and idealizes constructs- creatures capable of mutely standing guardfor centuries at a time, without complaint - isnot one to be put off by mere physicalconfinement.Rather, Meredoth's own suffering as adarklord stem from internal sources:specifically, changes to his former talents asa spellcaster and a designer of unnaturalcreatures. On the first day of his captivity, asthe sea-mage reached for his grimoire torefresh his magics, a torrent of information -the collective contents of his duel-garneredlibrary of spells - poured into his mind, itsevery pen-stroke burning itself ineradicablyinto the old wizard's brain. As he staggeredback reeling, his precious spellbook tumbledto the floor, its meticulously-inked pageswiping themselves blank before his eyes.Alarmed, Meredoth ransacked his quarters,only to find his other grimoires and scrollshad likewise gone blank. Nor had any of hisresearch notes on undead- and constructcraftingbeen spared this wholesale erasure.Only the belated realization that his spellknowledgehad stamped itself indelibly intohis mind, letting him invoke his spellsspontaneously - not just the meager handfulafforded to a sorcerer, but every spell he hadever learned - eased Meredoth's initial gutreactionof horrified helplessness. But thisshift in his casting-methods - one any otherAppendix III Who’s Doomed337wizard might deem a huge advantage - leftthe aged necromancer outraged: he'd deeplyenvied the easy appeal of sorcerers, as asocially-inept lad, and as a grown, hardsloggingarcane craftsman, had despisedtheir lack of diligence with equal bitterness.Yet now, his own magic emulated that of thespontaneous casters he resented!Worse, the spells which now sprang toreadiness at the necromancer's call alwaysfunctioned exactly as his grimoires haddescribed them: his former techniques formodifying such spells' effects (= metamagicfeats) could not be applied to magics he hadnot prepared in advance. Even interrogatingcaptured bards or sorcerers, in the years tofollow, could not teach Meredoth to adaptsuch techniques to his new, off-the-cuff wayof spellcasting. As the exacting control andpersonalization of one's magics had beenlauded, in the Empire, as a crucial hallmarkof arcane expertise, having such formulaic,by-the-book versions of spells heed his call -as rigid as a raw apprentice's! - chafes the oldwizard's pride as an erstwhile 'suprememaster', with every incantation he utters.Nor was his capacity to adapt and toinnovate in other fields - Meredoth's soleredeeming talent, in the reckoning of his oldcountrymen, and a key buttress of his brittleself-esteem - left unmarred by the DarkPowers. Though quite capable of utilizingnew spells or crafting new creatures, thenecromancer's once-fruitful imagination nolonger offers up ideas for fresh inventions.His efforts to concoct novel spells, engineerpioneering styles of construct, or confer rareand startling powers upon undead minions,must now stem entirely from other peoples'suggestions: his own wits only offer upbland, trivial variants on existing spells orcreatures, or hackneyed concepts he'd heardof before his arrival in Ravenloft.The sea-mage has recreated some spellsfrom his homeland, and made various pettyadjustments to creatures and spell-effects, onenough occasions to assure himself he's stillcapable of successfully completing projects.Proper breakthroughs, however, continue toelude him, no matter what he tries, or howmany innocents - 'harvested' from GrabenIsland or ships traversing the open sea - his

Appendix III Who’s Doomedexperiments use up. Nor has Meredoth evermanaged to reverse-engineer the "perfected"type of undead into which he'd planned totransform his barony's poisoned inhabitants.Every variation the necromancer has devisedsince 635 BC has fallen short of his vision(though the lebendtod come close) of loyal,compliant servitors purged of organic flaws,whom he can trust to do their jobs exactly asinstructed, without supervision or support.In a response typical of his culture, theaged necromancer "refuses to see" thisembarrassing lapse in his own creativity,blaming his perennial lack of progress ontrespassers' continual distractions, inferiorraw materials, or his incompetent minions'mistakes. The possibility that the loss of hisinventiveness could have anything to do withhis arrival in Ravenloft - let alone, that suchinspired talent might actually be a product ofthe very human sentiments and "flaws"which he still aspires to eradicate in others -has never so much as crossed Meredoth'snarrow, self-absorbed and (now)unimaginative mind.For just over a century, Meredoth's domainwas isolated and nearly inviolate, and thesea-mage lived in strictest seclusion; his illreputedisland was warily avoided by mostmen, save the occasional whaling ship orservants bringing in supplies. The firstGrabenites who spotted the darklord passingover their Island on his broom of flyingdubbed the dark-cloaked apparition "Aegir'sJackdaw". It is a nickname the sea-magefinds a bit annoying - the Islanders' muscleboundmythology seems quite puerile to thenecromancer - yet tolerates anyway, as hemuch prefers being branded as a creature ofmyth, by the blandly-mundane magophobeswho share his domain, over being positivelyidentified as a wizard.At first, Todstein's master employed livingagents - Mist-led pirates or outcast Grabenitesmainly - to supply him with cadavers for hisceaseless research, and the exotic items hismany, many spells require as materialcomponents. Later, when he learned theGrabens owned a cache of gems suitable forhis use as spell-foci, Meredoth poisonednearly the entire clan and raised them as anew, well-camouflaged variety of Obedient338Dead - the lebendtod - thus obtaining theirunquestioning servitude and loyalty. Fromtime to time, outlanders or adventurers fromother domains appeared on the Rock,delivered by the Mists to interrupt hisresearch; the darklord annihilated many, stolespells from or experimented on others, anddispatched a select few back into the Mists aslebendtod agents, to retrieve spells and ideasfor constructs and undead from the realmsbeyond Nebligtode's border.The easy victories he achieved over thisfeeble opposition left Meredoth complacent,and the arrogant darklord became lax abouthis own security. In 737 BC, he paid a highprice for his lack of vigilance. Confronted bya hostile band of intruders he might havecrushed with ease, had he but taken theirthreat seriously, Meredoth unwisely tried tocapture the lot alive for experimentation,foregoing the aid of his golems and undeadservitors. But rather than battle him outrightas he'd expected, the trespassing outlandershit on a tactic his decades as a spell-duelisthad failed to prepare him for, for no mage ofthe Empire would have contemplated such ashameful ploy: they caught Meredoth insidean antimagic field, then beat him to death -even their wizard! - with the crude handweaponsof ignorant barbarian thugs. Evenknowing a readied clone awaited, the fallendarklord's repulsed outrage at the shamefulmanner of his defeat burned like fire.For a week, this outrage was the only heatthe fallen darklord knew, as wild stormsravaged his domain and his unliving minionsdrove off the intruders. Then, heeding pre-setcommands, they gingerly revived the clonehe kept hidden in Todstein's network ofextinct lava tubes. (Arcane clones in theLand of Mists being notoriously intractable,Meredoth kept his substitute-body inert bythe expedient of freezing it solid.) Thoughhis minions did their best, the clone wasthawed imperfectly, such that the chill of itspreservation never wholly left him.This temporary brush with death hadfurther side-effects. The necromancer's linkto his undead creations grew stronger, in thewake of his own brush with mortality; hisprior tolerance for frigid conditions becameeven greater, giving him a modicum of coldresistance; and the fervent wish to avoid anyrecurrence of his humiliation has driven thereclusive darklord to pay a greater (albeitsullenly-resentful) heed to self-defense.

Appendix III Who’s DoomedDread Possibility: The One (?) That Got AwayWhile he finds undead better company than the living, Meredoth has no wish to personally jointheir ranks … at least, not until he improves upon the undead condition to a greater extent than hefeels he did with the lebendtod. Thus, he relies on the clone spell to elude death, growing himselfnew bodies and preserving them until needed.Prior to his arrival in the Land of Mists, Meredoth had prepared such a clone, which he stored intemporal stasis in a cavern beneath Todstein's Gargoyle Point. The stasis-spell allowed him to keephis duplicate 'fresh' indefinitely, provided it was reinstated yearly, after his world's annual Day ofMagic Void. The necromancer's constructs were under orders to deactivate the temporal stasis andfree him, in the event their creator died and his spirit entered his new body.Magic, however, can have odd pitfalls in Ravenloft. Six months after Meredoth's arrival in thisentropy-rich Land - fully half a year before it was due - the Day of Magic Void hit Nebligtode outof season, disrupting his work and setting his research back years. Once he'd cleaned up the mess,Meredoth recalled his clone's temporal stasis needed replacing … but, arriving at Gargoyle Point,he discovered his spare body was gone.The puzzled wizard soon determined that this world affected clones differently, causing them toanimate prematurely. Deducing from animal studies that his duplicate must have awakened whenits temporal stasis failed, stumbled from the cave in a daze, and fallen from the cliff, he thought nofurther about its fate, but devised a means of keeping clones frozen prior to use. As the cavern wasinadequate for such procedures, Meredoth abandoned it to his gargoyle minions.However, Meredoth's first clone did not awaken dazed, as he believes, but in full command of itsfaculties and with a burning desire to murder and supplant its 'parent', thus becoming a man and nota thing. Naked and without material components or spellbooks, lacking Meredoth's darklord status,and with its own half-recalled spells in a muddle, the clone hid until it could flee Todsteinundetected, then escaped into the Mists via overland flight, one of the few spells it retained.Calling itself "Thedmore" as an anagram of its "other self's" name, Meredoth's clone shares noneof the real necromancer's darklord powers, save for the fact that Thedmore, like Meredoth, hasn'taged a day since Nebligtode was created. Denied Meredoth's ability to call up spells as needed,Thedmore (CE necromancer 15 / archmage 4) has spent the last century and a quarter assemblingits own copies of its forbearer's lost grimoires, sometimes in direct competition with its unwittingcreator's own thieving agents. Thedmore's statistics are identical to what Meredoth's were at 19thlevel; it lacks the Arcane Fire ability, and seems unable to gain levels of its own.Determined to keep Meredoth ignorant of its existence until it is ready to strike, Thedmore leadsa nomadic life, maintaining no unliving entourage and relying on its low Charisma to keep others'questions at bay. It is unable to think of itself as a person rather than an "it", so long as Meredothsurvives. Obsessed with its forbearer's downfall, yet uniquely aware of what a ruthless and lethaladversary it is up against, Thedmore shaves regularly and dyes its hair gray to obscure its telltaleresemblance to Meredoth. Over the years, the clone has dodged countless near-encounters with itsforbearer's lebendtod: creatures it has an uncanny knack for identifying on sight.Notably, a wizard of some power matching Meredoth's/Thedmore's description is known to havebeen killed in 734, in a botched robbery attempt in Borca that also left the lady of the house dead.Although the culprit's body was never positively identified, several additional acts of spell-thefthave been attributed to just such a figure, both before and after the Nuikin tragedy. It is possiblethat Thedmore, like Meredoth before it, has been using clone spells as insurance against mishaps …or that it has cloned additional (18th-level) copies from its own flesh as its accomplices, so theymight collectively gang up on and dethrone the sea-mage, before fighting it out over which of theclones will step into Meredoth's moccasins.339

Current SketchAppendix III Who’s DoomedThe darklord of Nebligtode is a man who hasmade denial a way of life: denial of others'worth, his own lapses, or anything - pleasure,company, sentiment - that might inject lightor happiness into his colorless, lab-boundexistence. From one trivial incident in hisyouth (long since avenged, and in a mannerout of all proportion to the offense), he hasfabricated excuses for a complete break withmoral accountability, assuring himself thathis own thefts and betrayals merely returnothers' past abuses toward him, in kind.Too weak a personality to hold his own inhuman society, he consoles himself with abelief that human interaction is pointless,treacherous and shallow, finding vindicationin enumerating traits - biological, cultural,emotional - that make people inferior toconstructs or Obedient Dead. These beings,lacking in free will or hidden agendas, thedarklord trusts implicitly as he cannot trustthe living. It's not that he fears other livinghumans are actively plotting against him -Meredoth isn't paranoid, and he fears verylittle, apart from shaming himself in his owneyes - but rather, that even the possibility ofbeing let down by others (even by accident)is too much uncertainty for this chroniccontrol freak to tolerate. If he can't count onsomething to do exactly as it's told, everysingle time, he wants no part of it.After decades of smug complacency, hisshameful defeat at adventurers' hands andthe appearance of new lands beyond hisborders have at last spurred Meredoth to stepoutside of his lab in earnest, albeit notparticularly in haste. Though still convincedhe has little to object to about his position -his death, he reassures himself, could neverhave come to pass, had he not misjudged thesheer barbarity of his opponents - his owninability to reach these neighboring lands hasat last gotten him wondering how the Landof Mists affects more than just hisnecromantic spells. The sea-mage's belatedinquisitiveness about Ravenloft is hamperedby the peculiarities of his own homeworld'scosmology - one in which concepts pivotalto native scholars' theories, such as that of a"Plane of Shadow", do not apply - so the340necromancer has a lot of catching up to do,the more-so as his curse makes it difficult forMeredoth to think 'outside the box'. Hislearning is further undermined by his disdainfor the Land's resident theorists. By his natalEmpire's standards, the civilizations of theCore seem little more than jumped-upvillages ruled by louts; thus, Meredoth takesit for granted that any theories the Core'sexperts have yet hit upon are superstitioushokum and folk myth, not fact.While his interest in events beyond theIcewalls has grown, Meredoth is still highlypreoccupied with ongoing research projects,most of which involve close variations uponexisting types of undead, constructs, oraggressive evocation-spells. At any giventime, the workaholic necromancer jugglesdozens of works-in-progress - half-builtconstruct chasses, composite undead in needof some additional bits and pieces, trivialmodifications of familiar spells - in additionto the hundreds of dead-end projects the lossof his creativity has led him to cast aside infrustration, unfinished. When he does comeup with something "new", it is generally thebyproduct of someone else's stolen research,or an idea fed to him by Colin Graben or hisMuspelhounds. Even Meredoth's personalhallmark, the lebendtod, are little more thanenhanced Obedient Dead, their one novelability plagiarized from Grabenite accountsof trollish regeneration. The mightiest of allthe sea-mage's vile creations, the voraciousaquatic abomination known as "the Horror",was based on a deranged research-victim'sblood-scrawled sketch on the wall of aTodstein prison cell. Meredoth refuses toacknowledge that such bootlegging is notreally his work, stubbornly denying the facthe has become as parasitic and thieving asthat false "friend" who betrayed his youngerself's trust, so long ago.On a practical note, the necromancer hasseized on Nebligtode's new neighbors as themeans to rectify a loss he does admit to: hisspellbooks. While spontaneous casting hasgiven him incredible flexibility, Meredothloathes the fact that he cannot modify thesespells as he once could, and he dreams ofrebuilding the cherished grimoires he slewand betrayed so many of his peers to obtain.

He has already amassed a collection of overa hundred spells, from slain trespassers orspellbooks retrieved by lebendtod spies, andhe often ambushes and robs lesser wizardswho dare to enter his domain, adding theirknowledge to his library.Meredoth prefers not to murder fellowwizards outright, unless they fight back toostubbornly or behave in ways that offend hismagocratic sensibilities (e.g. swearing fealtyto a non-spellcasting liege). In this villain'sview, most of Ravenloft's mages are hedgemagiciansand spineless dabblers, afraid toopenly assert their rightful authority over therabble, so he feels justified in confiscatingthe spell-knowledge they lack the nerve toproperly reap the benefits of. The sea-magedoesn't view other varieties of spellcaster -also aristocrats, in the Empire's reckoning -as fair game for vivisection or experimentaluse, either; however, he has no qualms aboutconverting sorcerers, bards, or divine castersinto lebendtod, justifying such murders as"sparing them" from the weaknesses of theliving. When killing non-spellcasters, evensuch flimsy excuses are unnecessary to him:serving their wizardly betters, be it as livinglaborers, lab-rats, or Walking Dead, is whatmundane drudges are for.Despite his vast personal power, the seamagehas a hobbyist's liking for low-level,utilitarian magic items such as his moccasinsof the winterlands. In his homeland, pettymagical wares were an everyday part of life,and Meredoth often reverse-engineers suchtrinkets for himself or his minions. Whereitem-crafting is concerned, the necromancerprefers producing goods that are permanent;wands or other exhaustible items had struckhim as a waste of their crafters' talents, evenbefore the alteration of his spellcasting madesuch gear a bit redundant. Meredoth's ownenchanted items are all his own handiwork,save potions brewed by his Niflhounds, andthe rings he claimed from slain adventurers.In recent years, he has devoted much effortto replacing the gear looted from his originalbody by the outlanders. One particularstolen item he cannot craft himself - a ring ofshooting stars he'd been rather fond of - stillnags at him, and the necromancer would bequite interested in the chance to acquire aAppendix III Who’s Doomed341similar ring. Alas, enchanted items seemastonishingly hard to come by, in the Land ofMists: one of the few things Meredoth trulydoes dislike about this world.Just as he finds it diverting to fiddle withminor magic items, Meredoth derives artisticsatisfaction from stretching the limits ofwhat his necromantic and construct-craftingskills can birth. Unlike many who share hisarcane specialty, Todstein's master has nouse for armies of unliving soldiers - his soletaste of political authority was bitter andbothersome, when he was a baron on his ownworld - and prefers to maintain a low profile,which precludes using his undead to deliverthreats or as instruments of terror. (He doeskeep a stable of animated skeletons in theHouse of Bones, for manual labor and tosoak up trespassing clerics' Turningattempts, before he sends any minions hevalues against them.) Rather, Meredoth is acollector of the outré and exotic, creatingrepresentative examples of as many differenttypes of Obedient Dead or construct as hecan steal or recall the plans for. Were it notfor his curse, his private menagerie of theunliving would have outgrown Todstein'slabyrinth of lava tubes decades ago; evenbereft of his imagination, the sea-mage's"collection" is quite bewilderingly diverse,containing reanimated and crafted creaturesfrom the far corners of the Land of Mists,plus a few from his homeland that no nativeof Ravenloft has ever seen alive.With the possible exception of the laws ofnature that hamper his work, Meredothdoesn't consider himself to have enemies,only inferiors too stubborn or stupid to keeptheir distance. Of the various neighboringdarklords, Azalin and the Lady of Ravens arethe only ones mighty enough to warrant thehaughty necromancer's regard, and heconsiders the former a perennial bungler andthe latter quite insane. Easan, too, he looksdown upon for his careless meddling withunreliable wild magic; nevertheless, word ofthe Vechorite darklord's experiments withhuman/golem hybrids has recently reachedthe sea-mage. Meredoth is now consideringwhether to seed lebendtod spies inside themad elf's household, or simply have hisneighbor's research stolen outright.

Appendix III Who’s DoomedEmploying the more verbose of Grabens asghost-writers, the sea-mage does engage inoccasional correspondence with mainlandwizards: mostly Hazlani necromancers fedup with their monarch's low opinion of theirchosen school, or fugitive Darkonians whohad looted the lich-king's arcane secrets inthe Shrouded Years, then fled when Azalinreturned. However, this is merely a ploy tolure them into his domain to be robbed. Asimilar invitation to correspond, sent tomainland ruler and known wizard Strahd vonZarovich, never received a reply.Feigned overtures aside, the master ofTodstein has no allies either, only servantsand tools … and the distinction between thetwo is vague. He accords the Muspelhoundsand other spellcasting lebendtod additionalprivileges as an affectation, but still treatsthem very much as lackeys and underlings;non-spellcasting Obedient Dead, he treatslike furniture. Meredoth's handful of livingminions (gargoyles and a few summonedoutsiders) and those indigenous monsters ofthe Rock that he has bullied into submission(wild white-fangs, night twists) are seldomtrusted to do anything correctly, and tend tobecome targets for the spectacular arcanetemper tantrums he throws when a projectends in failure. Some of his handiwork, hetakes great pride in (the nigh-unstoppableHorror among them), yet he treats even such"favorites" like well-trained dogs - barkingorders in brusque tones, or directing themnon-verbally with a curt snap of his fingers -and with none of the encouragement orpraise to which even animals are entitled. Inthe rare event that the sea-mage does speakto the living, he is gruff and mule-headed inthe extreme, communicating either throughcontemptuous snorts and jeers, or snooty,accusative rants about others' failings.The one creature in the world for whichMeredoth harbors anything that approaches anormal affection is Hoarfrost, a young whitefanghe'd found eating his laboratory rodentsin the Hall of Flesh, shortly after his deathand resurrection. Impressed that the magicalbeast had found a route through his lair'swarded ventilation system, he made thisintruder the nucleus of a new magical item toreplace ones taken by the outlanders: one342which could defend itself against theft.Given his own recent trauma and brush withmortality, the aged necromancer was not socoldly-indifferent to Hoarfrost as he wouldhave otherwise, even making a fumblingeffort to soothe the half-grown serpent's fearand discomfort during its transition. Now,he and the rod of the white-fang are nearlyinseparable. Keenly proud of having sparedhis "pet" from mortal flesh's vulnerabilities,he is actually willing to forgive Hoarfrost'serrors - an unprecedented concession, on theexacting necromancer's part - and Hoarfrost(unaware that Meredoth had been the causeof her anguish, when her body was re-made)is sincerely devoted to her master, whosesimmering angers and subliminal, desperateloneliness she dimly intuits, yet is powerlessto articulate or mend.Should Meredoth be slain permanently,Hoarfrost is the one and only being that willgrieve for him. When her master sleeps, shetransforms to her white-fang shape and curlsaround his body, her lush, snow-white fursoft against his equally-pallid skin; when heshows signs of waking, she leaves his side toreturn to rod form, knowing he would neverconsciously tolerate such soppy indignitiesand "weakness". Even so, rarely - perhapsonce or twice a year - the ancient archmagebriefly strokes his pet's luxuriant coat, in hissleep: slim proof of caring, and learned twocenturies too late, but it satisfies her.CombatMeredoth is no tactical genius - with sheerfirepower on his side, he's seldom had to be -but he believes in forward planning. Giventhe chance to choose and prepare hisbattleground, he seeks to limit opponents'mobility and options, by corralling his foeswith minions, traps, and hindering terrain.The smallest and most accessible of his lairs,the House of Bones, is designed as a serialdeathtrap and killing field that funnelsintruders into vulnerable positions, allowinghim to strike at trespassers repeatedly fromsafe venues.Maintaining a prudent distance fromenemies is a matter of common sense, notcowardice: the necromancer behaves quite

oldly during such cat-and-mouse games,willingly exposing himself to peril in orderto coax his opposition into place for his nextdevastating fusillade of attack-spells. Usinglethal necromantic spells with Arcane Reachis a favorite ploy against weak opponents,particularly if he can observe the bodiesafterward to see if Ravenloft's altered magicwill animate them. Opponents whom thedarklord regards as truly dangerous arebombarded with evocations and arcane firefrom long - often very long - range.Although he fancies himself methodicaland stoic, like the constructs he admires, apart of Meredoth craves battle for its ownsake, and he can easily get carried away -drunk on his own power and the rising panicof foes who hadn't realized what they weregetting into - when high-level spells startflying. At such times, he attacks recklesslyand neglects to use his powers of HighArcana; he is most vulnerable to enemymagic then, when he's too busy lashing out tocounter hostile spells. Such lapses cease assoon as his adversary gets in a solid strikeagainst him or Hoarfrost, or when he forgetsto use Mastery of Shaping and accidentallyinflicts heavy collateral damage on his ownminions or lair.Appendix III Who’s DoomedIf forced into closer combat, the sea-mageuses abjurations, conjured creatures(including Hoarfrost or shrunken constructbodyguards), and his repelling gloves tokeep attackers at bay. Unshakable in hisbelief that melee combat is for drudges,Meredoth has never drawn a dagger in angerin his life; he lashes out with his magicalrods only if he has no alternative, and wouldliterally rather die (and be reborn as anotherclone) than cast Tensor's transformation onhimself, applying it to Hoarfrost instead.Meredoth does not consider his minions tobe as expendable as most necromancers -aborn craftsman, he detests seeing his finestworks destroyed - and makes judicious useof repair damage spells or negative-energyArcane Fire to keep highly-prized specimensoperative. If faced with certain death, thenecromancer bids Hoarfrost return to her rodform and uses teleport object to transport therod of the white-fang to a safe hiding place,rather than risk its being taken out ofNebligtode before his clone can thaw out andretrieve his pet. Rendered unconscious ordead, a contingent teleport transports thesea-mage's body back to Wright's Hollow, sothe Muspelhound clerics can attend to hisinjuries or (if slain) so his other magicalitems will be available to his next clone.Dungeon Master’s Tips: Too Many Spells!While Meredoth's genius lets him keep track of the boggling range of spells as hisdisposal, the sheer number of magics he can choose from on-the-fly may seemoverwhelming to DMs. The following guidelines can help narrow his options, preventingencounters with this volatile villain from bogging down while the DM ponders what tocast next.• Nebligtode's master is a hard man to catch unprepared. He casts mind blank daily andother abjurations and buffing-spells at the first whiff of trouble; the details of these canbe worked out prior to a game-session, freeing him (and DMs) to concentrate onoffense and tactical positioning in a fight. Precisely which spells he applies to himselfdepends on his intentions - does he want the opposition captured, dead, robbed or justplain gone? - and how much he has learned about a foe's abilities beforehand. Notethat Meredoth's caster level is so high, most defensive spells' durations can safely beignored in combat encounters.343

Appendix III Who’s Doomed• Beneath his jeers and snobbery, Meredoth's ego is too fragile to stand the humiliation of beingslaughtered by "barbarians" again: strategic withdrawal strikes him as less shameful. Healways keeps slots open for escape spells (greater teleport, gaseous form), and others (wall ofice, summon monster) that keep opponents busy long enough for him to bug out.• Ever since his spellcasting was altered by the Dark Powers, Meredoth has learned to keep hisoptions open. He avoids expending his last spell slot of any level if another level's spell willdo.• With roughly half of the Player’s Handbook spell-list constantly at his fingertips, Meredothmilks Mastery of Counterspelling for all it's worth. If his enemies include a wizard or sorcererstrong enough to be a threat, he keeps at least two slots free at each level instead of one(the better to fight fireballs with counter-fireballs), and avoids launching 3rd or 6th levelspells offensively, reserving these slots to dispel unfamiliar, prohibited, and non-wizard magics.Confronting casters he deems weaklings, the necromancer dodges area-effects with hisring of evasion as he waits to be targeted individually, then volleys his foes' own magic backat them, potentially claiming victory without firing a shot.• If a Necromancy spell will do a job, that's what Meredoth uses. He doesn't fear running out ofhis Necromancy-only spell slots, and is unconcerned by the consequences of such magic's usein the Land of Mists: he's been a darklord since he arrived, so has never learned to be wary ofPowers checks, and is frankly intrigued by such spells' creepy side effects.• After Necromancy, Meredoth's favorite spells are Evocations, the more destructive the better.Blasting things into flinders is a catharsis for this frustrated old grouch, and Mastery of Shapingassures he need not be wary of these spells' collateral damage, unless the battle takes placein a location he'd rather not demolish (like his laboratories). He rarely uses fire or acid ifother energies or force effects will do, as the former tend to leave slain foes' bodies in an unusablestate.• Due to his curse, Meredoth is unoriginal even in combat. He often borrows tactical ploysfrom his enemies, or from things he's done or seen lately; if he's been brewing poison in hisalchemy lab, odds are good he'll conjure a cloudkill or summon a venomous monster in hisnext fight.• Meredoth is a bit of a cheapskate where spell components are concerned, preferring to investhis resources in his projects. If a spell's material components cost over 100 gp, are bulky tocarry, or need to be imported, he won't cast such a spell if he can substitute another.• With Illusion and Enchantment as prohibited schools, Meredoth has few techniques to captureenemies alive. Transmutation is his preferred means of capture (either turning foes into somethinghelpless or ensnaring their feet in snow transmuted to stone), but barriers such as wall offorce work better if a large number of agile subjects must be corralled at once.Considered together, these factors should help reduce Meredoth's spellcasting options to a slimsub-set, while retaining his primary asset of adaptability. Later run-ins with this same villain canfind him using an entirely different suite of spells, if his projects and goals have evolved in theinterim.344

It has been a long time since Meredoth hasfaced a worthy challenger in a formalwizards' duel, and professional and ethnicpride gives him an uncharacteristic streak ofhonor, where one-on-one battles against hisfellow arcanists is concerned. If an enemyspellcaster who has won his respect has thenerve to challenge him to such a duel, thenecromancer will accept … but only as afight to the death. Whichever contender fallscan never be restored to life, even by a wishor as an undead creature - a stipulation whichis upheld by the Dark Powers - andMeredoth's spirit will not seek out its nextclone, if he expires in this way. If neitherduelist is slain by the 12th round of combat,the Mists descend on the 13th round to snuffout both casters' lives, just as irrevocably.Thus, a declared spell-duel is a viable (albeitextremely risky) way in which to vanquishthis darklord permanently.Between the Graben clan and his otherlebendtod spies, Nebligtode's darklord canpotentially learn of unusual developments onGraben Island within hours, and of majorevents on the coast, Liffe, or Vechor withindays. He seldom pays any attention to localmatters unless they involve arcana or theundead, however; unless they come across adefinite threat to their master, his agents andMuspelhounds stockpile all relevant factsand wait for the darklord to demand them (arare event). Heroes who do nothing overt toattract attention from Meredoth's spies, andavoid broadcasting their spellcasting poweror arcane knowledge, can travel about withimpunity in Nebligtode, with negligible riskof running afoul of the reclusive sea-mage.As ever, indifference to the wider world'sminutia is this darklord's chief weakness.Unlike Strahd, Azalin, or other politicallyadept villains, Meredoth is uninterested inothers' blandishments and plea-bargaining.Due to his stunted understanding of humanbehavior, he interprets offers of appeasementas either cowardice or a prelude to treachery- both of which he violently rejects - ratherthan exploiting the situation. Likewise, hehas no interest in manipulating or deceivingPCs who oppose him, having opted out ofsuch political gamesmanship decades beforebecoming a darklord. If he should deem hisAppendix III Who’s Doomed345adversaries potential assets, he murders themoutright and revives them as lebendtod, thusguaranteeing their loyalty; otherwise, he juststomps them like bugs so he can get back tohis work.LairsThe aristocratic spellcasters of his nativeEmpire were prone to think big - big spells,big magical items, big palaces, etc - andMeredoth is no exception. Although forcedto live and work underground by Todstein'sdire weather, he has had over a century inwhich to adapt the Rock's subterranean lavatubes as he sees fit. A purposeful man, thenecromancer has three purpose-built lairsthat serve as his residences, workshops andstrongholds, in addition to a number ofsecure bolt-holes in other locations - one onTodstein, three on Graben Island, two onnameless outcroppings in mid-sea, and oneunderwater near the Serpent's Staircase -well-stocked with curative potions and otheremergency supplies. Which such refugehouses his next clone is a secret even theMuspelhounds won't learn until he dies.Whichever lair he stays in, Meredoth'shousekeeping habits are atrocious, and heparadoxically lives like both an ascetic and aslob. He holds physical comfort in contemptand subsists on little more than barley bread,vegetable broths, and tea.The House of BonesThe only one of Meredoth's lairs not shieldedby a permanent private sanctum - adeliberate omission - this humble (by theEmpire's standards) complex is primarily atrap for intruders, although the necromancerassembles skeletal or cold-related creationshere also. Much of the House of Bones isbuilt from transmuted snow or ice, and itstemperature hovers near the freezing point.Major features of this lair include a gigantic"battlefield" chamber where Meredoth testsnew spells or rains his evocations down onintruders from the safety of a large balcony;corridors floored in ebony ice (+2 to undeadattack rolls and a +4 profane bonus to turnresistance, as per Frostburn); and a sculpted

Appendix III Who’s Doomed"ice palace" of delicate icicle stalactites andcolumns, that will shatter in an explosion ofrazor-shards if disturbed by the least sound.Skeletal golems (new monster) back up thetraps in defense of this lair, and the qorasshiand its frost salamander pack ("Niflhounds"sidebar) rest here when off-duty.Labeled crates of bones from men, animalsand monsters are kept in storage here, as area few score undead skeletons. The formerare animated only as needed, to soak upintruders' Turning ability and soften uptrespassers; the latter perform a variety ofmenial tasks here and on the surface. Someof the animate skeletons have an Intelligenceof 2 - smart enough to flank opponents, orretreat if overmatched - and a handful haveIntelligence 4: enough to lay ambushes fromcover and direct the others to do the same.Even the mindless majority of the skeletonshave been taught sophisticated behaviors viaReign Undead, such as capturing foes alive.Their vulnerability to Turning is partiallyoffset by the presence of ebony ice in muchof the underground complex, and a darkskullthe smarter skeletons have been taught tocarry around to shield themselves.Meredoth spends relatively little time inthe House of Bones, as its frigid conditionsmake it unsuited to many lines of research.Skeletons, skeletal or snow golems, andmany cold-related monsters are constructedor studied here. A number of the latter -imported freaks of nature collected from theFrozen Reaches or gated in from frostdominatedalien planes - are kept in frozenstasis behind the translucent walls of the icepalace: a refrigerated zoo of voracious teethand claws, poised in timeless menace untilthe necromancer has need of them. The seamage'sworkshop in the House of Bones isadequate for his work with bones, snow, orice, and provides bulk storage for variousgrisly, yet cheap material components. It isalso a deliberate "stage set", to lure rivalswho scry upon his isle into assuming it is hisonly laboratory. Meredoth has a bedroom inthe House of Bones, but he stores no actualvaluables there, apart from draft copies ofthe grimoires he's reassembling (another bitof stage-dressing), and a decanter of endless346water he uses to re-construct the ice palaceafter it shatters.Despite its morbid connotations, the Houseof Bones is not a Sinkhole of Evil. Meredothis the only person who goes there regularly,and while the necromancies he employs inits lab are corruption incarnate, his callouslack of emotion whilst working precludesthis lair from giving rise to one.The Hall of FleshFocal point for Meredoth's research andbirthplace of the lebendtod, this is where thenecromancer continues to pursue his dreamof purging organic weakness and sentimentfrom flawed, unreliable humankind. To thisend, he probes the mysteries of the body andits workings as diligently as any doctor, butwith neither a physician's compassion nor anormal human being's empathy, and with anengineer's habit of "tinkering" with hismaterial. Though well aware of the medicalexpertise of Ravenloft's native scientists - forfifty years, his domain was linked to the seasoff Lamordia by the Call of the ClawMistway, and he's captured Lamordians forinterrogation and even read Mordenheim'sEnigma Vitae - the necromancer (ironically)feels the same about science as that land'sscientists feel about magic, so he insists onrooting out his own answers - often literally -from his hapless specimens' anatomy.A vertical network of annexes branchingoff a heavily-warded inner shaft, the Hall ofFlesh extends from permafrost level to justbelow sea level. It is normally accessed byteleportation circles, a phase door in the cliffnorth of Fogview Bay, or an underwateraccess-tunnel; the last is used by the Grabenclan for covert deliveries of corpses and liveresearch subjects, and by the Horror to enterits flooded repair-bay if heavily damaged.Ascending the central stairwell, one passesprison cells for human test subjects, cages oflaboratory animals, and reinforced pens formonsters the necromancer is raising for theirabilities or body parts. An apothecary'sworkshop and alchemy lab follow, used bythe Muspelhounds for potion-making and byMeredoth to formulate his poisons. A tinyinfirmary where the darklord's ailments or

Appendix III Who’s Doomed347injuries can be tended adjoins these rooms.The necromancer has a modest bedroomsuiteand office here, and Colin Graben andthe current chief of the Muspelhounds sharea rather dingy office as well.Next to come are Meredoth's pride and joy- his dissecting theater, complete with over300 types of cutting, pinning, paring,suturing, cleaving and prying implements invarious sizes and metals - and the adjoiningreanimation, taxidermy and embalming labs.Here, too, is the darklord's "Inner Museum":a display of over a hundred meticulouslypreparedbodies, each preserved with gentlerepose and dissected to expose the hiddenworkings of organs and tissues, joints andmuscles. Some are little more than bone andsinew, while others remain intact, save theneatly-carved fistulas that offer views intotheir viscera, limbs, or brains. Neither fullyObedient Dead nor wholly inanimate, theseposed bodies of men, women, children, nonhumansand animals cannot fight, but theirtissues never dry or rot, and each will shift itsposture or move its parts (internal partsincluded: on command, hearts beat, bloodflows, lungs breathe and stomachs churn) todemonstrate the physiological functions ofsuch structures. It is unclear how much lifeor unlife these sundered cadavers are reallyendowed with … but if instructed to exhibittheir former life-processes, those that retainboth eyes and tear-ducts have a tendency toweep, unbidden.Above the Museum, more bodies are keptin permanent cold storage at permafrostlevel, on slabs of transmuted snow that keepthem refrigerated. One wing of this annex isoccupied by the humanoid dead - futureNiflhounds included, preliminary lebendtodcreatingspells already cast and equipmentalready assigned to them - while the otherhouses carcasses of animals and monsters,ready to be butchered for composite undeadand flesh golems. Many of these stockpiledspecimens already show telltale signs of thenecromancer's work - stitched-up incisions,missing limbs, the stench of formaldehyde -being remnants of projects long finished orabandoned. A portcullis-barred tunnel linksthe cold-storage rooms to the sub-annex inwhich Ichabod Graben and his ghastly packmatesare caged; a secured secret passage tothe Boneyard lets these Hungry Dead out toforage when necessary.Defense of the Hall of Flesh is providedmainly by creatures, as the vast majority ofMeredoth's undead oddities are kept here,and will fiercely defend themselves and theirmaster's lair. In addition to these individualchallenges, the central shaft is extensivelytrapped and warded, and each annex's entrypoint is defended by a sorcerer … or rather,part of a sorcerer: a lost scion of the Grabenclan, who had developed arcane abilities atadolescence. Too dangerous to leave amongthe family, lest their erratic powers exposetheir elders' nature, the youths were turnedinto lebendtod and sent to Todstein. There,Meredoth - not caring to have a bunch ofsnot-nosed sorcerer brats in his service, evenif they called him 'Master' - stripped eachone down to a head, neck, upper torso andlone arm, mounted these parts in niches overthe entry halls' inner doors, and recycled theexcised bones and flesh to reinforce othercreations. Numbed by their conversion intodisembodied doorkeepers, these warders areyet shrewd enough to watch for intruders,and to delay them with their spells aftersounding an alarm. The doorkeepers are theonly beings besides Meredoth who can openthe arcane locked entrances to the Hall ofFlesh's annexes - they just reach down andtouch their doors, and they open - and theywill not let strangers pass.As a place of torture for the living andviolation for the dead, and as the birthplaceof the infamous lebendtod, the Hall of Fleshis a Rank 3 Sinkhole of Evil (agony). WhenMeredoth is actively vivisecting a sentientspecimen, this rises to Rank 4.Wright's HollowItem-crafting and construct creation are thetwin purposes of this, the largest and newestof Meredoth's lairs. (He has thought ofbuilding a lair devoted to the study of theEthereal realm, but never mustered enoughinterest in incorporeal undead to get aroundto it.) The darklord usually moves in and outof Wright's Hollow by teleportation, thougha physical entryway from the surface is

Appendix III Who’s Doomedlocated at the heart of the night twists' icelockedmarsh. The ancient night twist MMIIIthat roots itself directly on top of thisentrance is the mightiest and oldest of itskind on Todstein. While the sea-mage hasmanaged - just - to badger this dreadful plantinto acknowledging his authority, it isslightly senile and does not always recall itsplace without a reminder or two. Remindingit often expends more magic than teleportingdoes, so Meredoth prefers not to waste timeand spells convincing the tree to move aside.Far more "livable" than his other lairs,Wright's Hollow is warm rather than frigid,and smells of incense and potpourri ratherthan blood and embalming fluid. There arerugs on the floors and silken draperies on thewalls; continual flames in various soothingcolors illuminate the rooms. Furnishings arefew and low-built (futons, chaise-lounges);some chambers sport daises or sunken areaswith cushions in lieu of furniture. Animatedmagical servants - humanoid in shape, butwith metallic skin and smooth, featurelessheads (statistics as per dread guards MMII ) -stand at attention in the corners, mutelyawaiting instructions. Décor is minimalist,reflecting Meredoth's disdain for ostentationand luxury, and the overall impression is thata motif of opulence (if not pampereddecadence) has been pruned down to its bareessentials, leaving only those elements mostconducive to focusing the intellect and toalleviating anxiety. Artwork is lacking, butenchanted features such as continual flamebraziers and arcane lock-secured doors areembossed with the fluid, graceful Todsteinerscript and the pictographic sigils of magic.This exotic, yet mellow veneer is (ofcourse) deceptive. Wright's Hollow is thesea-mage's private sanctuary - one reservedfor spellcasters and constructs, alone - andnone but the Muspelhounds or Hoarfrost areever permitted to come here. Many of thedraperies conceal hidden passages or nicheshousing other, more formidable constructdefenders; others cloak phase doors, givingthe darklord and his minions easy mobilitywhere intruders must take the long wayaround, or false "secret passages" designedto shepherd trespassers straight into magical348traps and guardians. As a majority of theseguardians are golems - hence, invulnerableto most forms of magic - Meredoth pulls outall the stops with abjurations and symbolshere. He often pairs his warding spells withconstructs that can benefit from their effects(e.g. an iron golem in a corridor full of firetraps), or with brute-force necromancies thatonly the unliving can endure. One and all,the traps and guardians of Wright's Holloware tasked to ensure no breathing creaturebut the darklord may set foot here. Even theMuspelhounds don't dare to maintain theirveils of life here, as the relentless constructstake orders only in Todsteiner - Meredoth'snatal language - and are programmed to erron the side of caution when distinguishingfriend from foe.Most of the constructs on Todstein wereCreated in Wright's Hollow, as were most ofthe darklord's magical items, and Meredothhas invested considerable time and effort inequipping his craft-workshop/lab. Smallerconstructs serve as his assistants, and muchof his equipment is magically enhanced -knives that can cut stone or metal, floatingplatforms that move massive golem-chassesfrom place to place, etc - to facilitate hiswork. Drafting tables and workbenches forsmaller projects are situated off to the sides,as are alcoves girded by mystical sigils, toward off the unstable energies that mightrender new-made items cursed (the eldritchequivalent of "clean rooms"). The finalanimation of each construct takes place atthe bottom of a 40' pit (covered when not inuse), ensuring it won't damage much if itmalfunctions and goes berserk.A secret vault concealed in this chambercontains the necromancer's most importanttool for golem-crafting: the stylus of theMaker, a rare outlander magical item heinherited from his father. This item letsMeredoth engrave his constructs with mysticsymbols that substitute for the geas/questspell. Losing the stylus wouldn't stop thedarklord from crafting golems, but it wouldforce him to use wish to finish the processeach time … or to hunt down and "recruit" alebendtod who can cast geas/quest, a spellwhich neither he nor his current Niflhoundsare familiar with.

Other highlights of Wright's Hollowinclude Meredoth's second, more elaboratealchemy lab, complete with a task-traineddread guard assistant; craft workshops formetalworking, sculpture, lapidary and use ofthe fabricate spell; a sophisticated forge andsmelter powered by a bound 18-HD hearthfiend; a large scriptorium staffed by unseenservants and (mundane) library that imposessilence on every occupant but Meredoth; amagical library, housing stolen spellbooksby the dozens, as well as precious mastercopiesof those grimoires the darklord hasbeen recreating; personal offices for theMuspelhounds and a low-key shrine for theirclerical members' use; ritual chambers forplanar binding, one for each of the fourelements, plus one each for Law and Chaos;and a dust-cloth-covered mirror of mentalprowess, that could - potentially - act as aninvaluable tool for Meredoth to traverse hisfar-flung domain, were he not convinced it isunsafe to travel through. (It hasn't answeredhis questions once since he got to Ravenloft,so he assumes it's broken.)Meredoth has a bedroom, bath chamber,and kitchen here, but only the latter seesmuch use. Staying at Wright's Hollow canbe relaxing in the wake of his failures andtemper tantrums, yet living there for morethan a few days at a stretch makes him fearhe's going soft. Little actual evil is donehere, save the crafting of necromantic magicitems, but as the place where a darklord goesto mope, Wright's Hollow is a Rank 2Sinkhole of Evil (despair).Closing the BordersWhen Meredoth wishes to close his borders,he hurls bolt after bolt of arcane fire into theclouds and surf. Expending 20d6 dice of hispower in this way causes violent storms torise and deadly waves and deep-watercurrents to churn along Nebligtode's border.Swimming, sailing or flying against thefrenzied might of wind and water provesfutile, and any ships that foolishly persist inchallenging this raging maelstrom invariablyfounder, shattered by titanic waves andlightning-strikes or sucked down whole intomonstrous whirlpools.Appendix III Who’s Doomed349By stirring Todstein's icy inshore waterswith the rod of the white-fang, the sea-magecan cause the ice floes which gird his hometo shift, accreting into the massive Icewalls.Note that the necromancer can only performthis action while he stands on the bone-dustbeaches of his isle, not while flying abovethe waves or on Graben Island. As not evenhe can teleport past the Icewalls' defenses,this means he must leave Todstein's barriersopen if he ventures off the isle.Ironically, Meredoth hadn't appreciated thefact that he is physically trapped in hisdomain until fairly recently, having neverbothered trying to cross the Mists personallywhile Nebligtode was yet isolated. When theneighboring islands appeared, he sought toreach the nearest (Île de la Tempête) on hisbroom of flying, only to feel his jointswracked by the same crippling arthritic painwhich once plagued him on his homeworld.Withdrawing from the border eased hisagony, but his physical agility and deftnesshave never wholly recovered, and the dreadof losing the use of his hands still lingers.True to his nature, the darklord now avoidsthinking about his captivity, like any otherdisturbing unpleasantness.

Dread Possibility: Strays & SleepersAppendix III Who’s DoomedEver since his grimoires went blank, Meredoth has longed to regain them. If he can find copiesthe many spells he'd lost, he fancies his casting abilities might revert to their "proper" state. Tothis end, he steals spells from other wizards at every opportunity, as he did in the Empire: a habitthat cements his reputation as a tactless, unsubtle bully, among rivals who know of his misdeeds.While none can dispute his bullying or lack of tact, Meredoth's schemes aren't quite so palpableas this brute-force reputation suggests. Well aware he hasn't a hope of persuading other mages totrade spell-knowledge with him - not with his social handicaps - the Nebligtode darklord uses hislebendtod servants as proxies, bidding the Grabens to direct any wizards they meet his way, anddispatching other lebendtod on undercover missions to wrest secrets from arcanists beyond hisdomain's boundaries. Many of these undead agents attach themselves to wizards' households inthe guise of living servants, awaiting a chance for theft, or link up with adventuring bands thatinclude a wizard, lead them into the jaws of one of Ravenloft's horrors, then put themselves backtogether and claim the fallen mortals' magic for their master.Just recently, Meredoth has hit on a more insidious tactic: preying on other necromancers' envyof his lebendtod creations. At the instant of his temporary demise, every then-extant lebendtod inRavenloft sensed their master's death, leaving his Craving-bound servitors aimless and devoid ofpurpose. His subsequent return in a cloned body re-asserted his dominion over all the lebendtodin Nebligtode, but those few which had been sent off to other regions failed to sense his revival.Lost and confused without a master, these strays took up service with the first villainous arcanecasters they could find, eventually spawning new colonies of lebendtod commanded by other evilwizards, sorcerers, or even assassins and bards.What such substitute masters do not realize is that the loyalty of these orphan lebendtod iswholly contingent on their continued ignorance of the "First Maker's" return. Should a straylebendtod originally created by Meredoth, or the spawn-descendent of such a lebendtod, learnthat the sea-mage has returned to life, its obedience is immediately transferred back to Meredoth,regardless of how many spawn-generations separate it from the First Maker's handiwork, or howlittle it knows about the origin of its kind. It also receives an intuitive sense of where the FirstMaker may be found (Todstein), and resumes whatever task - usually theft of spells - it or its'ancestor' had been pursuing, at the time it lost its way. Ghasts descended from the strays are fartoo savage to understand who the 'First Maker' is or why they should heed his orders, althoughtheir loyalties will shift if they encounter the necromancer in person.Meredoth learned of his roving minions' fate when a stray and its spawn turned up on Todsteinof their own volition, having murdered their substitute master and brought her spellbooks to theFirst Maker as tribute. Since then, he's realized that leaving such false 'masters' alive - andunaware of their lebendtod minions' altered loyalties - is more productive in the long term, as itallows his reacquired servants to pass on additional new spells as the faux-master learns them.The darklord has his agents investigate reports of lebendtod who aren't "his", and sends a Grabento enlighten such wayward colonies and pass on his order to keep up a pose of servitude. Theirundead ability to hide their thoughts is especially helpful in keeping up their ruse, once theirloyalty turns.Note that Colin Graben is uneasy about this latest scheme of the necromancer's, as it requireshis fellow lebendtod to play the role of sleeper-agents against their presumptive 'masters' andhence, comes dangerously close to his own dream of escaping Meredoth's control. So far, thedarklord's curse and arrogance blinds him to the possibility that his own presumption of absolutemastery over the lebendtod could likewise be taken advantage of.350

Colin GrabenLeader of the Graben FamilyMale human lebendtod swarm-shifteraristocrat 3 / rogue 9 CR 14NE Medium undead (augmented humanoid,shapechanger)Init: +4; Senses: darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +4,Spot +4Languages: Grabenite*, Draconic,Mordentish, VaasiOutcast Rating: 6 if identified aslebendtod, 9 if appearance is unveiledAC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +3armor [cardigan], +2 deflection [ring], +2natural)hp 124 (12 HD); swarm-form shift restores12 hp; DR 10 / magicImmune: undead immunitiesResist: evasion, uncanny dodge, improveduncanny dodge; +4 Turn Resistance (+8 vs.Command Undead) [overcoat]; +5 onsaves vs. detect undead or equivalent;continuous nondetection [hair-strap];feather fall as immediate action [ring]Fort +4, Ref +11, Will +8 (+12 vs. undeadcontrollingeffects)Weakness: severance (Ref save DC 10 + hptaken by slashing critical hit to avert), veildisruption (Concentration check DC 10 +hp damage taken by spell to avert)Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), unimpeded byrubble, slopes, or stairs [boots]Melee weapon: +14/+9 +1 rapier (1d6+4;15-20 threat range w/ keen edge); orMelee or ranged weapon: +15/+10 Splice(1d4+5 plus paralytic burst; 17-20 threatrange w/ keen edge); orRanged weapon: thrown hand (touch attack,10' range increment; hand may attack insame round if it hits); orMelee weapon: 2 claws +12 (1d4+3) andbite +7 (1d3+1)Appendix III Who’s Doomed351Base Atk: +9/+4; Grp +12Atk Options: Paralytic burst on critical hit(see sidebar), sneak attack +5d6Special Actions: Assume swarm form,create spawn, detach/reattach body part,feather fall at will as immediate action[ring], keen edge 3/day [scabbard], QuickDraw (hand or weapon), scry on distantbody parts (DC 20 Concentration check, 1mile range), veil of life 2/dayCombat Gear: +1 rapier, ring of the fourwinds, scabbard of keen edges, Splice (seesidebar)Abilities: Str 16, Dex 19, Con - , Int 14, Wis15, Cha 16SQ: Aging, flesh-sheaths, kin-stitching,shapechanger subtype, trap sense +3,trapfinding, undead traits, utter servitudeFeats: Alertness, Quick Change SaS , QuickDraw†, Skeleton in the Closet FoSNS ,Warm One FoSNS , Weapon Finesse[† -This lets Colin detach one hand as afree action, or both at once as a moveaction. SaS - Savage Species; this lets

Appendix III Who’s DoomedColin shift in or out of swarm form as amove action.]Skills: Appraise +5, Bluff +14,Concentration +9, Decipher Script +7,Diplomacy +14, Disable Device +5,Disguise +10, Gather Information +17,Hide +24, Intimidate +11, Knowledge(arcana) +3, Knowledge (local) +7,Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +7,Knowledge (religion) +3, Listen +16,Move Silently +11, Ride +5, Search +16,Sense Motive +9, Sleight of Hand +11,Speak Language (Draconic), Spot +4, UseMagic Device +9 (+11 for scrolls)Possessions: combat gear plus boots of themountain king, figurine of wondrouspower: scrimshaw skua [as silver raven],hair-strap of anonymity [as hat], magiccardigan +3 [as magic vest], overcoat ofturn resistance [as cloak]Flesh-sheaths (Ex): Not long after rousingColin into undeath, the darklord Meredothcored out hollow spaces inside each of hisforearms, creating a pair of 9" long tubularcompartments in which the lebendtodcould smuggle items. First used to carrywritten instructions to and from hisgrandfather Ezekiel, these spaces now actas sheaths for Splinter and Splay, thelebendtod leader's magical daggers.Accessible only if Colin detaches hishands, these flesh-sheaths are virtuallyundetectable if his wrists are intact (SearchDC 40), and easy to overlook (DC 25)even if one or both hands are absent.With his wrist stuffed deep into one ofthe large pockets of his overcoat, Colin canextract or add to the contents of its fleshsheathusing the corresponding hand as astandard action, on a DC 15 Sleight ofHand check. Failure indicates it takes afull-round action to access the sheath, andwitnesses may make an opposed Spotcheck to notice he's fiddling withsomething in his pocket. Setting a handback in place after accessing its wrist'sflesh-sheath is a standard action.If he can use both his hands to access aflesh-sheath, no check is needed to do sodiscreetly. As "Josiah", Colin had352cultivated the habit of standing with hishands clasped behind his back, to facilitatethis minor feat of stealth.Kin-stitching (Ex): As a prerogative of hisposition as leader and 'public face' of theGraben clan, Colin has been granted thesalient ability to replace his owndetachable body parts, should they ever bepermanently destroyed. Such replacementparts must come from another Grabenfamily lebendtod of the same size categoryas himself (i.e. adults). Once forfeited tohim, the substitute part becomes subject tohis swarm-shifting and other abilities. Itsunveiled appearance transforms to recreatehis lost extremity - hack-marks, burnedpatches, and all - over the course of aweek. Only parts that have been destroyedmay be replaced in this way, not thosewhich are merely damaged or out of theclan-head's range of control.Unlike the conventional Stitching salientability from VRGttWD, confiscating bodyparts of his relatives does not restore any ofColin's hit points. Only Colin Graben, andEzekiel before him, have ever beenendowed with this ability. Like hisgrandfather, Colin prefers to confiscatereplacement parts from Grabens who havealready lost parts (like heads) that bar themfrom public activity.Lebendtod traits: (aging, create spawn,detachable parts, severance, veil of life,utter servitude) These abilities are asdescribed in this netbook's revisedlebendtod template.Statistics for Colin's body parts, whenseparated and within 100' of his torso,differ from his intact statistics (above) asfollows:Colin's HandsDiminutive undead (augmented humanoid)Init: right hand +9 (w/ Splinter), left hand+7; Senses: darkvision & normal sight in10' radius, deaf; Spot +2Languages: Cannot speak or hear; can readlips via Spot if within visual range

AC: 28, touch 19, flat-footed 21 *[* - Left hand loses +2 deflection bonus toAC from ring if over 100' from right.]hp 15 (12 HD); cannot swarm-shift; DR 10 /magicRef +14Weakness: undead vulnerabilities, veildisruptionSpeed: 15 ft. (3 squares)Melee weapon: +21 Splinter (1d4+1† plusslow burst; 17-20 threat range w/ keenedge); or[† - Surprise and first rounds only; Splinter'sbase damage after that is 1d4-1]Melee weapon: +21 Splay (1d4-1 plusweakening; 17-20 threat range w/ keenedge); orMelee weapon: claw +11 (1d4-2)Base Atk: +9; Grp -5Atk Options: slow burst or weakening oncritical hit (see sidebar), +5d6 sneakattack‡ (Splinter) or +6d6 sneak attack‡(Splay)[‡ - Colin's hands must climb, jump, or droponto a target, or be thrown by him as aranged touch attack, to direct SneakAttacks at opponents larger than Tiny.]Special Actions: feather fall at will asimmediate action*[* - Left hand loses this benefit from ring ifmore than 100' from right.]Combat gear: Splinter (right) or Splay(left), ring of the four winds (right)Abilities: Str 6, Dex 25SQ: aging, trap sense +3, trapfinding,undead traits, utter servitudeFeats: Quick Draw, Weapon FinesseSkills: Balance +11, Climb +8, DisableDevice +5, Hide +39*, Move Silently +14,Search +16, Sleight of Hand +14Appendix III Who’s Doomed353[* - Both hands' Hide scores drop to +34when more than 100' from Colin's head.]Colin's Arms (w/ Hands)Tiny undead (augmented humanoid)Init: right hand +8 (w/ Splinter), left hand+6; Senses: darkvision & normal sight in10' radius, deaf; Spot +2Languages: cannot speak or hear; can readlips via Spot if within visual rangeAC: 25, touch 20, flat-footed 19 *[* - Left arm loses +2 deflection bonus toAC from ring if over 100' from right.]hp 31 (12 HD); cannot swarm-shift; DR 10 /magicRef +13Weakness: undead vulnerabilities, veildisruptionSpeed: 10 ft. (2 squares)Melee weapon: +18 Splinter (1d4+2† plusslow burst; 17-20 threat range w/ keenedge); or[† - Surprise and first rounds only; Splinter'sbase damage after that is 1d4]Melee weapon: +18 Splay (1d4 plusweakening; 17-20 threat range w/ keenedge); orMelee weapon: claw +10 (1d4-1)Base Atk: +9; Grp +0Atk Options: slow burst or weakening oncritical hit (see sidebar), +5d6 sneak attack(Splinter) or +6d6 sneak attack (Splay)Special Actions: feather fall at will asimmediate action*[* - Left hand loses this benefit from ring ifmore than 100' from right.]Combat gear: Splinter (right) or Splay(left), ring of the four winds (right)Abilities: Str 8, Dex 23SQ: aging, trap sense +3, trapfinding,undead traits, utter servitude

Appendix III Who’s DoomedFeats: Quick Draw, Weapon FinesseSkills: Balance +8, Climb +4, DisableDevice +5, Hide +34*, Move Silently +12,Ride +, Search +16, Sleight of Hand +13[* - Both arms' Hide scores drop to +29when more than 100' from Colin's head.]Colin's HeadTiny undead (augmented humanoid)Init: +2; Senses: as per intact formOutcast Rating : 4 if disembodied state notconcealed, 6 if both exposed and unveiledAC: 21, touch 16, flat-footed 19 *[* - Head loses +2 deflection bonus to ACfrom ring if over 100' from right hand.]hp 31 (12 HD); cannot swarm-shift; DR 10 /magicRef +9Weakness: undead vulnerabilities, veildisruptionSpeed: 15 ft. (3 squares)Melee weapon: bite +10 (1d3-1); orMelee weapon: slam +10 (1d3-1 nonlethal)Base Atk: +9; Grp N/AAtk Options: noneSpecial Actions: feather fall at will asimmediate action*[* - Head loses this benefit from ring if over100' from right hand.]Combat gear: noneAbilities: Str 8, Dex 15SQ: aging, undead traits, utter servitudeFeats: noneSkills: * Appraise +5, Bluff +14,Concentration +9, Decipher Script +7,Diplomacy +14, Gather Information +17,Hide +30, Intimidate +11, Knowledge(arcana) +3, Knowledge (local) +7,Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +7,Knowledge (religion) +3, Listen +16,354Move Silently +9, Sense Motive +9, SpeakLanguage (Draconic), Spot +4, Use MagicDevice +9 (+11 for scrolls)[* - Not including possible OR effects onCharisma skills.]Colin's Legs (w/ Feet)Small undead (augmented humanoid)Init: +5; Senses: darkvision & normal sightin 10' radius, deaf; Spot +2Languages: cannot speak or hear; can readlips via Spot if within visual rangeAC: 23, touch 18, flat-footed 18 *[* - Leg loses +2 deflection bonus to ACfrom ring if over 100' from right hand.]hp 31 (12 HD); cannot swarm-shift; DR 10 /magicRef +12Weakness: undead vulnerabilities, veildisruptionSpeed: 10 ft. (2 squares)Melee weapon: trip attack +10 (-4 sizepenalty to Strength check if successful)Base Atk: +9; Grp N/AAtk Options: noneSpecial Actions: feather fall at will asimmediate action*[* - Leg loses this benefit from ring if over100' from right hand.]Combat gear: noneAbilities: Str 12, Dex 21SQ: aging, undead traits, utter servitudeFeats: noneSkills: Hide +29*[* - Both legs' Hide scores drop to +24 ifover 100' from Colin's head.]Colin doesn't often detach body partsother than his hands, but may use his headto decoy someone into an ambush, or lendit to a relative with the Interchangeable

Parts feat (see "The Graben Legacy").Note that even though legs only make tripattacks, Colin may set a leg to flank anapproaching target, as these are his onlyextremities big enough to flank opponents.Swarm-shifter: traits (shapechanger, swarmform): Ever since his carcass was hackedto bits by adventurers in 737 BC, ColinGraben has possessed the swarm-shiftertemplate. This grants him theshapechanger subtype, allowing him toshed polymorph-type effects as a standardaction.Moreover, he may shift from lebendtodform to that of a swarm of crawling or flyingundead body parts, or vice versa, at will andwith a move action. Each such shift floodshis body with negative energy, healing up to12 hp of damage with each transformation inor out of lebendtod form. As the number oftimes he may assume swarm form per day isunlimited, Colin often shifts simply to repairhis own injuries. Shifting in or out of swarmform is a supernatural ability for Colin, butremaining in that state and functioning as aswarm is not.While in swarm form, Colin's veil of lifeability is in abeyance. Damage inflicted byspells or other magical effects to his swarmform will not disrupt a veil that was in effectwhen he split up his lebendtod form; instead,his veil resumes working when he reverts toan intact state. Thus, reestablishing his lifelikefaçade when he reassembles himselfdoes not count against Colin's two daily usesof veil of life. True seeing directed at hisswarm form reveals both the swarm and theGraben leader's horrific true appearance, butnot his living veneer.Most of Colin's magical items ceaseaffecting his swarm body, when he shifts outof his lebendtod form. His ring of the fourwinds and hair-strap of anonymity are keyexceptions, as these may continue to benefithis swarm form, provided the body part thatwears them is omitted from the swarm and isin range (100') to share its benefits with theswarm. He has even learned to use the ringof the four winds to reduce wind's impact onhis own dispersed body parts.Appendix III Who’s Doomed355The Graben clan-head need not take all ofhis body parts along with him, when heshifts: often, he leaves his hands behind tofight independently, while the bulk of hissubstance attacks or monitors events fromabove as a swarm. Body parts that are notincorporated into a swarm retain their usualstatistics when detached (above), and theycontinue to gain the benefit of magical itemsthat have been incorporated into the swarm -even though the swarm, itself, does not - solong as they remain within 100' of it. Colin'storso is the nucleus of his swarm form, so itcannot be left intact while his extremitiesbreak apart to create one. If his swarm-formoccupies or passes through a spacecontaining one of his own detachedextremities, Colin can incorporate that loosepart into his swarm form as a swift action,without incurring one-third of the detachedpart's current hit point damage (if any) as heusually would. The opposite is not true:once an extremity has been incorporated intothe swarm, its tissues become inextricablymingled with the rest of its pieces, so hecannot reassemble that extremity unless hereturns to lebendtod form.When he shifts into swarm form, Colin canopt to leave the contents of one or both of hisflesh-sheaths behind. Any such items areleft in the square that he occupied when heassumed his swarm form. The clan-headcannot reconstitute his arm around an objectto enclose it inside a flesh-sheath, when hereassembles his body, but must manually putitems into them.Perhaps due to many decades of practice atsubdividing his flesh and independentlydirecting its separated extremities, Colin cansplit his body into either Tiny or Diminutivepieces, using his Tiny part swarm-form toattack or to terrify, and his Diminutive partswarm-form to penetrate secure locations orfor retreat. Colin may adopt either conditionwhen he first shifts into swarm-form, and hemay switch between these two states as amove action (regaining no hp by doing so).As is normal for lebendtod, Colin's headretains the ability to speak if it is detachedfrom his body. As a Tiny parts swarm, hishead remains intact enough to talk, but whenhis skull splits apart into Diminutive pieces

Appendix III Who’s Doomedthis ability is lost. Therefore, only the latterversion of his swarm form is mute.Watching Colin fly apart into pieces orreassemble himself like a gruesome jigsawpuzzle is all but guaranteed to incur Horrorsaves. Statistics for his swarm forms (Tinyand Diminutive) differ from his lebendtodformstatistics as follows:Tiny Body Part SwarmTiny undead (swarm)Init: +6Outcast Rating: 14AC: 22, touch 20, flat-footed 16 *[* - Swarm loses +2 deflection bonus to ACif ring is out of range or included inswarm.]Immune: hive mind, swarm immunities,undead immunitiesResist: half damage from slashing andpiercing weapons, evasion, uncannydodge; +4 Turn Resistance vs. CommandUndead; +5 on saves vs detect undead orequivalent effect; continuous nondetection[hair-strap]*; feather fall [ring]*[* - If item is within 100' range and notincorporated into swarm.]Ref +13Weakness: swarm vulnerabilities, undeadvulnerabilities, wind vulnerability*[* - Parts are treated as if Small if his ring ofthe four winds is outside the swarm andfunctional, or as if Tiny if the ring'sbenefits are unavailable.]Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 20 ft.(poor)Melee weapon: swarm (4d6 plus distractionplus fear)Space: 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.Base Atk: +9; Grp N/AAtk Options: distraction, fearSpecial Actions: feather fall at will asimmediate action*356[* - Swarm loses this benefit from ring if it isnot functional or out of range.]Combat: Gear noneAbilities: Str 8, Dex 23SQ: aging, hive mind, swarm traits, trapsense +3, trapfinding, undead traits, utterservitudeFeats: Alertness, Quick Change SaS ,Skeleton in the Closet FoSNS[ SaS - Savage Species: this feat lets Colinshift in or out of swarm form as a moveaction.]Skills: Appraise +5, Bluff +14,Concentration +9, Decipher Script +7,Diplomacy +14, Disable Device +5,Disguise +20#, Gather Information +17,Hide +29†, Intimidate +11, Knowledge(arcana) +3, Knowledge (local) +7,Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +7,Knowledge (religion) +3, Listen +16,Move Silently +13, Search +16, SenseMotive +9, Speak Language (Draconic),Spot +4, Use Magic Device +9 (+11 forscrolls)[# - Applies only if posing as inanimate bodyparts. † - Reduced to +24 if hair-strap isout of range or incorporated into swarm.]Diminutive Body Part SwarmDiminutive undead (swarm)Init: +7Languages: understands as per intact formbut cannot speakAC: 25, touch 23, flat-footed 19 *[* - Swarm loses +2 deflection bonus to ACif ring is out of range or included inswarm.]Immune: hive mind, swarm immunities,undead immunities, weapon damageResist: evasion, uncanny dodge; +4 TurnResistance vs. Command Undead; +5 onsaves vs detect undead or equivalent effect;continuous nondetection [hair-strap]*;feather fall [ring]*

[* - If item is within range and notincorporated into swarm.]Ref +13Weakness: swarm vulnerabilities, undeadvulnerabilities, wind vulnerability*[* - Parts are treated as if Tiny if his ring ofthe four winds is outside the swarm andfunctional, or as Diminutive if the ring'sbenefits are not available.]Speed: fly 30 ft.(average)Melee weapon: swarm (3d6 plus distractionplus fear)Space: 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.Base Atk: +9; Grp N/AAtk Options: distraction, fearSpecial Actions: feather fall at will asimmediate action*[* - Swarm loses this benefit from ring if it isnot functional or out of range.]Combat Gear: noneAbilities: Str 6, Dex 25SQ: aging, hive mind, swarm traits, trapsense +3, trapfinding, undead traits, utterservitudeFeats: Alertness, Quick Change SaS , Skeletonin the Closet FoSNS[ SaS - Savage Species; this feat lets Colinshift in or out of swarm form as a moveaction.]Skills: Appraise +5, Concentration +9,Decipher Script +7, Disable Device +5,Disguise +20#, Hide +34†, Knowledge(arcana) +3, Knowledge (local) +7,Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +7,Knowledge (religion) +3, Listen +16,Move Silently +14, Search +16, SenseMotive +9, Spot +4, Use Magic Device +9(+11 for scrolls)[# - Applies only if posing as inanimate bodyparts. † - Reduced to +29 if hair-strap isout of range or incorporated into swarm.]Appendix III Who’s DoomedThe following descriptions apply to bothTiny and Diminutive parts swarms:Wind Vulnerability (Ex): As is usual forswarms, Colin's split parts are susceptibleto being blown off course by the wind(DMG p. 95). Winds can't inflict nonlethaldamage to his undead form, but they canimpede his progress and force him to theground.Distraction (Ex): Fort DC 19, nauseated 1round. The save DC is Charisma-based.Fear (Su): Any creature damaged by Colin'sswarm form must make a DC 19 Fear save.Hive Mind (Ex): In swarm form, Colin iseffectively immune to spells or effects thattarget a set number of creatures (includingsingle-target spells like disintegrate)except for those that specificallycommand, control, turn, rebuke, bolster ordestroy undead.More information on the swarm-shiftertemplate may be found in Libris Mortis.Skills: * As a lebendtod, Colin receives a +5racial bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks(included). He also has a +12circumstance bonus on Escape Artistchecks, provided he is willing and able todetach his body parts to wrest free fromphysical restraints; this bonus does notapply to already-separated body parts.Uniquely among his kind, Colin can alsouse his swarm form to free himself(including any separately-bound parts hecan draw into the swarm) from bonds.When Colin's veil of life is inactive, hereceives a +4 competence bonus to allMove Silently checks and a competencebonus to Hide checks (+6 if stationary, +2if moving), owing to his status as an intact- sort of - Walking Dead (as perVRGttWD).As a Graben, Colin receives a +3 bonuson his Appraise checks involving gems orjewelry, and a +3 bonus on Diplomacychecks made to haggle over the price ofsuch wares (see "The Graben Legacy").357

More Exotic Magical ItemsAppendix III Who’s DoomedJust as Nebligtode's darklord equips himself with some unusual enchanted goods, so he has seenfit to give the head of the Grabens a number of items to facilitate the chief lebendtod's deceptionsand covert operations. All of the following are of Meredoth's manufacture except the ring of thefour winds, a family heirloom and signet Colin inherited when Ezekiel retired as clan head.Unless otherwise indicated, all Colin's unusual items are from the Magic Item Compendium.Boots of the Mountain King: Wearer ignores increased movement costs and skill check DCs forlight or dense rubble, and may ascend stairs or slopes at normal speed, and run or charge downhillwithout making Balance checks.Cardigan +3: As magic vest (RLDMG), this woolen garment provides a +3 armor bonus.Hair-Strap of Anonymity: As hat (but less likely to blow off), the band of leather that ties backColin's hair grants continuous nondetection and a +5 bonus on Hide checks.Overcoat of Turn Resistance: As cloak, this item increases undead Turn Resistance by 4.Ring of the Four Winds: As described in Stormwrack, save that it functions only for recognizedGraben family members. The wearer gains +2 deflection bonus to AC, feather fall at will as animmediate action, and can generate a stormrunner's ward (+4 to sailing-related skill checks & tofoundering or capsizing checks) around a ship, 3/day, for three hours. Embossed with the Grabencoat-of-arms, it is normally worn on - or, as the case may be, by - Colin's right hand.SpliceConceived of by Colin, then hinted at until Meredoth "got the idea", Splice is actually two slim,stiletto-style daggers (Splinter and Splay). These twin weapons can be locked together back-tobackinto a single blade: a union which forfeits some of their advantages, but melds their criticalhit-based powers into one stronger ability. Interlocking or separating Splice's halves is a moveaction. Both Splinter and Splay have finger-loops built into their hilts, similar to a set of brassknuckles; these let Colin's hands carry and manipulate the blades easily when detached from hiswrists. When fitted together as Splice, these loops appear to be ornamental metalwork only.Note that the Burst effects of Splice and Splinter can affect beings otherwise immune to damagefrom critical hits, and that a keen edge effect applied to Splice by Colin's magical scabbard alsoapplies to both Splinter and Splay, if the conjoined blades are later separated.Splinter: +1 eager slow burst daggerEager: Drawn as free action, +2 on initiative, +2 damage on surprise & first roundSlow Burst: critical hit slows target for 3 rounds (Will save DC 14)Splay: +1 deadly precision weakening daggerDeadly Precision: +1d6 to sneak attack damage for wielders with that abilityWeakening: critical hit imposes -4 Str penalty on target (non-cumulative) for 10 minutesSplice: +2 paralytic burst daggerParalytic Burst: critical hit paralyzes target 1 round (Will save DC 17)Colin typically wields Splice as a single piece if he ambushes an opponent in his intact form, andespecially if his goal is to kill or convert a lone target quietly. If his body parts attack separately,his right hand wields Splinter while the left attacks with Splay. When he appears in public as"Josiah", Colin conceals the blades in his flesh-sheaths, and wields a more respectable rapier.358

Like the other undead of his clan, ColinGraben maintains the illusion of life throughhis veil of life power, voluntarily droppingthis disguise only to terrorize those he fullyintends to dispose of. In his "living" façade,Colin displays the tall, rangy build typical ofGrabenites, but the gray-green cast to hiseyes and the auburn highlights in his wavyblond locks - gifts from his Mordentishmother - distinguish him from the commonrun of Islanders. A lebendtod for over eightdecades, his false guise has aged but oneyear in ten; slain and reanimated at 22, Colinnow appears to be entering his 30s. Both inlife and veiled in undeath, the clan-head isruggedly handsome, albeit in a self-satisfied,playboyish mode.Colin's style of dress and mannerismsdepend upon the role he assumes. Under hisown name - seldom employed these days,except when directing other lebendtod or inaudiences with Meredoth - he dons thesomber garb of a senior Grabenite, speakingwith a strict gravity and formality. In hisdealings with the living, he adopts the aliasof "Josiah" (a fictitious grandson of thecentenarian clan-head), tailoring his clothesand bearing to seem both cooperative andlikeable. "Josiah" favors well-crafted, yetcasual native garb - comfortable cardigans,sturdy shin-length breeches, and a broken-insealskin overcoat - and employs a genial,outgoing manner of speech. Only when hefeels confident of absolute privacy does thelebendtod leader revert to his narcissistichabits from life, dressing up in importedNova Vaasan finery to strut about in hisbedchamber, acting out the half-rememberedadulations, seductions, and games of cruelone-upmanship he'd so relished before hisdeath. In all three modes, Colin wears hishair tied back in a long, jaunty tail: onevanity which he can't bear to forfeit, for thesake of his more sober roles' dignity. Likemost Grabens, Colin is partial to black forhis garb, although "Josiah" favors the classicIsland browns and grays.Exposed in his unveiled state, Colin's trueappearance is horrific even to his fellowundead, as his body graphically displays themangling that it suffered in 737 BC. Prior tothen, he'd shared the "jaundiced zombie"Appendix III Who’s Doomed359look of other lebendtod; now, his face andframe are a ghastly patchwork of shreds andhunks of undead flesh - some near-perfect,some raw and ragged, and some blistered orcharred by fire - that join up, helter-skelter,along jagged, ill-fitting temporary seams.Battle-veterans can correctly identify thesehack-marks as the work of broadswords andaxes: weapons with which the adventurerswho'd assaulted Graben Manor had choppedColin's body to pieces. It is along thesehewn furrows that the lebendtod leader'sbody falls apart or re-assembles itself, as heshifts in and out of his swarm form: a grisly,whirling cyclone of fleshy fragments, rentorgans and bone-splinters, some fire-searedand blackened, others rancid and slick withnoxious ichor.Because the mincing suffered by Colin'sflesh was so thorough, his real appearance asa human jigsaw-puzzle bears almost noresemblance to the one he adopts with veil oflife. Even his clothes appear to be in tatters,charred and stained with seeping fluid, whenhe is not veiled. Thus, only the signet-ringon his right ring finger and the gray-greenhue - extremely rare on Graben Island - ofhis one undamaged eye (the left) betray hisrevealed form's similarity to "Josiah". Evenhis voice is different in his true or swarmforms, shifting from a hearty baritone to thegasping, asthmatic rasp of soot-encrusted,frayed vocal cords.BackgroundAs firstborn son of Matthias Graben andLydia Wickinson (a Mordentish descendentof the Holsworth clan, swept off to GrabenIsland by the Call of the Claw Mistwaywhilst seeking her ancestors' legendary isle),Colin Graben was raised in the lap of luxuryby Island standards, being the second in linefor his grandfather Ezekiel's position as thefounding house's patriarch. Handsome andwell aware of it, Colin spent his childhoodlistening enviously to his mother's tales oflands - cultured, wealthy and sophisticatedlands - that lay beyond the Mists, and hisearly adulthood basking in the affections ofwealth-bedazzled Grabenite lasses, preeningat banquets held for visiting merchant

Appendix III Who’s Doomedseamen, and lording it over the servants andnumerous minor cousins living on the fringeof the Graben estate.Unbeknownst to his elders, the smuglynarcissisticyouth also indulged in baserpleasures: betting on horse-fights, samplingtsongha-fruit smuggled in from Todstein,and pressing his unwelcome attentions onvillage maidens unimpressed by his outwardcharms or heritage. In order to pay for suchpricey "entertainments" without his seniors'knowledge, Colin took to jewelry-theft - firstfrom his family's gem collection, then fromforeign traders who stayed as guests ofGraben Manor - and to planting his clan'sfilched valuables upon innocent townsfolk,so he might "stumble over" their "crimes"and extort wealth or favors from them inexchange for his "discretion".By 672 BC, Colin's refusal to outgrowsuch hedonistic, irresponsible behavior hadcome to his grandsire Ezekiel's attention,putting the wayward aristocrat's worthinessto inherit the clan-headship in doubt. Whileeavesdropping on one of his elders' privatediscussions, Colin learned his future statuswas in jeopardy, and he took measures toconceal the worst of his sordid hobbies fromthem. Within a week, three of the villagersColin had crossed, but failed to intimidateenough to guarantee their silence, expired in"freak accidents". When his uncle Danar, aYeomanry officer, became suspicious aboutGraben-town's sudden surge of misfortunes,Colin sabotaged a cliff-side riding path onwhich his uncle rode for his daily exercise.Sadly, Danar's wife Brynna refused to stay athome that day, despite being two monthspregnant: both riders' steeds plummeted totheir deaths at the wave-scoured foot of theSüdklippe, leaving the couple's two smalldaughters orphaned.Subdued at having killed his aunt (whomhe'd rather liked) alongside his intendedvictim, Colin ceased his string of murdersand kept silent; even today, none of his clansuspect his hand in Danar's and Brynna's"accident". But Colin himself couldn't haveknown his misdeeds would have far moredreadful repercussions: some of the familialgemstones he'd sold to pay off his hidden360debts had found their way into the hands ofMeredoth's agents. As gems were a crucialcomponent in many of his projects, news ofthe Grabens' hidden stockpile of rare jewelssettled the issue of whom the sea-mageshould "recruit" as his first lebendtod slaves.It was, in fact, the dead couple's funeral-feastthat Meredoth poisoned, killing every lastGraben in attendance - man, woman, orchild, with only babes-in-arms or infants tooyoung to maintain their decorum at such asorrowful occasion being spared - includingthe nephew who'd murdered them.Whether aware of Colin's darker deeds ornot, Meredoth certainly knew about thedelinquent heir's thefts. And the abrasivedarklord told the young aristocrat as much -taunted him for having led the necromancerto his family's very doorstep, every scathingjape weighted with the incontestable sway ofa divine commandment - when the fallenkinslayer awoke again from death … and tohis Master's voice and service.For six and a half decades, the voice of hisMaster was all that Colin Graben knew orcould act upon: the once-willful heir felt nomotivation, no desire, no curiosity and nofear. Now an uncaring machine of jaundicedflesh, he executed Meredoth's instructionswithout passion or interest, feigning "life" asthe darklord's mandate demanded he must,yet never truly participating in the pretense.Uncomplaining, he submitted to the seamage'scallous exploitation, complying witheven the most demeaning or repellant ofinstructions without a wince. Insensate anddocile, he lay meekly on a dissecting table inthe Hall of Flesh as Meredoth bored out twincavities in both his forearms; his own freeroaminghands dutifully fetched tools andwiped the sweat from his murderer's brow, asthe grisly surgery progressed.On an abstract level, Colin knew that hisunliving form's appearance and its ability touncouple its appendages were grotesque, yetthe repellent horror of his state could stir noresponse from his Craving-numbed psyche.However sorely the helpless ignominy of hisenslavement may have outraged his former,arrogant disposition, any impulse to detestthe wizard who'd broken and degraded himwas extinguished, stillborn, by the alien

compulsion to heed - indeed, to plead for -Meredoth's all-pervasive commands. For thespan of a human lifetime, not even thetreacherous Graben's feelings were his ownto choose or to influence, and true death - arelease from subservience which the aghastand beaten dregs of his pride would havegratefully embraced - was denied him, evenas was true life.Until the Great Upheaval.In the fulfillment of Hyskosa's secondverse, foreign adventurers attacked GrabenManor in 737, destroying many of Colin'slebendtod kinfolk. Compelled to fight backby standing orders from Meredoth, the rakishGraben threw himself heedlessly into thefray, perhaps to the relief of the crushedfragment of his being that equated extinctionAppendix III Who’s Doomedwith release. But the grip of undeath wouldnot be broken so easily: rather than slayinghim outright, the intruders struck Colin'shead and limbs from his body, then keptright on hacking when his severed piecesrefused to lie still. Fortuitously, the ax withwhich his writhing torso was hewn to bitswas not enchanted, and hard put to inflicttelling damage on a lebendtod; nonetheless,Colin's reanimated carcass was diced likemincemeat, hacked apart and scattered overthe grand dining hall in which he and hisclan had been murdered. To add insult tographic injury, the departing intruders setfire to Graben Manor, and the rampant blazescorched many of his strewn fragments pastall recognition, even as they continued towrithe and flop among the embers.Dread Possibilities: Colin's Vengeance, Brynna's CurseThough Colin likes to believe that his fierce determination to become free brought himback from death's brink, neither his own rebelliousness nor Meredoth's magic isresponsible. His injuries rightly should have destroyed a lebendtod like him … but ColinGraben is not really a lebendtod, or at least not exclusively. Just what he really might be isleft for DMs to decide, but here are two possible reasons why his undeath did not end whenhis body was sliced to ribbons:Vengeance RisenEvil and narcissistic as he was in life, Colin's personality made him the perfect candidate torise from death as one of the Restless Dead: either an avenging creature like a dreadrevenant, or an envious, spiteful entity such as a wight or jolly roger. Had Meredoth notsingled out Colin - the thief who'd drawn his attention to the Grabens' wealth - as one of thefirst among his slain family to be revived, Colin might have had time to rise, thus.However, before his own hate could bring him back to animation, the necromancer's magicusurped that prerogative, trapping him as one of the Obedient Dead rather than a freewilledRestless. His lebendtod's Craving to obey his Master is at war with the nascentCraving for vengeance of his Restless side, causing his present state of secret rebellion; thissame vengefulness also makes him cling to his flesh-bound state, despite the physicaldamage he takes … or even his own desire for true death.If this is the case in your campaign, then in addition to his powers listed above, ColinGraben is entitled to the following trait from Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead:Undying (Su): The creature cannot be permanently killed by normal means. If brought to -10 hit points or less, it ceases to function but rises on the following night. Even if its bodyis destroyed (burned, disintegrated, etc), its spirit occupies the nearest corpse, rising againin 1d3 nights. The corpse slowly changes, over the course of a week, to resemble theoriginal creature. Creatures with the Undying trait usually have a specific task that must beachieved or a weakness that must be found before they can be permanently slain.In Colin's unusual case, rather than occupying an intact corpse if his body is destroyed,his spirit might gravitate to the nearest graveyard, charnel house, or battlefield, and reassemblea body from pieces of multiple cadavers in varied states of preservation.361

Curse-BoundAppendix III Who’s DoomedColin Graben was a murderer before he became a lebendtod, and the punishment of murderers inRavenloft is not always left in the care of mortal justice. When Colin engineered the deaths ofDanar and Brynna Graben, he unwittingly incurred higher forces' wrath.After he undermined the Südklippe riding-path, Colin hid behind an outcrop of rock andwatched his aunt and uncle plunge over the edge. What he did not expect was that Brynna -Danar's own foreign-born bride, a redheaded daughter of Forfar - had somehow caught a fold ofher dress on a tiny lip of rock, after her steed went over. Clinging desperately to the cold stone,unable to make herself heard over the roaring winds, Colin's pregnant aunt peered up to theSüdklippe's rim, and saw a human silhouette at the edge, gazing down at the tide-washed rockswhere her husband and the horses lay smashed and ruined. Gazing down at her, also, in herdesperate plight … and then turning and walking away, calm and undismayed, even jaunty in itsstride.Though she did not know whom it was who had condemned her, Brynna's soul lashed out at theanonymous figure for its self-satisfied indifference. How dare the onlooker care nothing for herhusband's death and her own imminent demise? Her unborn child's demise?! A spirited womanto the last, she cried out her outrage, righteously enumerating all that she would lose in death:"True love, family, a child quickened, yet not to live! Life and beauty, hope and hearth! Taken,all taken … and taken for naught by you! Taken from you then, by Arawn's Maw, if there bejustice: taken, that you might taste the consequences of your wrongdoing!"These were Brynna's final words. The very effort of spitting them at Colin's retreating back hadspent the last of her strength; her grip loosened and she plunged to the rocks beside her husband.Had she not uttered them, Meredoth would likely still have learned of the Grabens' gemstones,but perhaps not for another generation. As it was, the curse of vengeance that Brynna laid uponColin was answered, and shortly, the necromancer himself provided its means of implementation.To date, nearly everything that Brynna lamented losing - life, home, beauty, family - has in turnbeen taken from Colin Graben, as prey to "Arawn's Maw" and the death it symbolizes. Life andbeauty were lost when he was rendered undead, home and family when the outlanders burnt themanor and slaughtered his kin. Even her reference to "a child quickened, yet not to live" came topass, when emergent familial customs dictated that Colin, himself, should personally draw out thelife's breath of his only child, Horst Graben - son of the dowdy merchant's-daughter wife whomhis elders had foisted upon Colin at 19 - after his heir grew to manhood: doomed to undeath fromthe cradle by his bloodline. Witnessing Meredoth's abuses of his clan, and feeling Horst's stolenbreath grow cold within his own lungs, Colin has most definitely felt the costs of his past crimes.Indeed, his greater self-direction and independence are, themselves, a result of Brynna's curse, asit denies him the sheep-like, contented numbness with which the other lebendtod experience theircondition, "tasting" nothing of consequences or of loss.However, in one respect, Brynna's curse has not been, and cannot yet be, fulfilled: Colin Grabenhas never fallen in love, hence cannot lose his true love to Arawn's Maw. Thus, the very callous,self-centered attitude that led him to murder his aunt and uncle in the first place now stands in theway of her curse's resolution … and until it is resolved, the dark forces of retribution will not letColin die. (Whether or not he remains Meredoth's lebendtod slave is another story.)If this scenario is true in your campaign, Colin's efforts to escape his present misery are destinedto fail, as escaping his current predicament will only lead him to some other grief. That needn'tstop him from trying however, or even temporarily appearing to succeed: his hopes, too, will needto be dashed for Brynna's curse to be fulfilled.The task to end his unlife may be his killing Meredoth - difficult, given that he's Craving-boundto obey the darklord! - or his weakness may be exposing Danar's and Brynna's, and/or Olsain's,murders to the Grabens.362

What happened next should have beenimpossible. For half a hundred of his kin -slain permanently by the intruders, beyondeven Meredoth's capacity to restore - it didprove impossible, on that bitter day. Butsomething more than the old necromancer'smagics seemed yet to be at work, bindingColin's spirit into his sundered flesh andgoading his will to resist death's allure. Ittook hours of hard effort and concentration,during which the flames ravaged much of histissue, but with phenomenal persistence andno small measure of desperation, themangled lebendtod managed to draw hishundreds of cleft, writhing fragments backtogether and fuse them forcibly into a whole,much as he'd routinely re-attached his heador limbs.Perhaps it was outrage at this latest andgreatest violation of his bodily integrity, orperhaps it was the sheer force of will whichre-assembling his strewn and tattered piecesdemanded. But when a reintegrated Colincrawled forth, at last, from the Manor'ssmoldering shell - his physique, now less a"body" than an animated collage of burnedand rotting tissues - he realized he could nowbring himself to despise his Master. Andwhen he set out to gather his remaining kinfor a retaliatory strike at the adventurers,only to meet his cousin Olsain - grandson ofColin's great-aunt Marietta, and a particularboot-licker of Meredoth's - hastening upfrom town along the Südklippe's rim to aid inthe recovery-effort, Colin also discovered hecould once more commit murder for his ownends, rather than the darklord's.Pushing Olsain off the cliff gave Colin hisfirst spark of real satisfaction in decades, butactual freedom was not yet his: only thecomplacent necromancer's failure to forbidhis ever-tractable lebendtod from destroyingone another had made it possible. Not untilthe intruders had departed, and the Grabensbegan sifting through the wreckage of theirfeigned "lives", would Colin fully regain hisself-determination, albeit only temporarily.Shortly after the adventurers ended many aGraben's existence - Olsain's included, or soColin told his kin - the crushing weight of hisMaster's almighty dominion abruptly lifteditself from the treacherous lebendtod's spirit.Appendix III Who’s Doomed363Confusion and aimlessness swept the ranksof his fellows as Meredoth's voice fell silent,and an ecstatic Colin felt alone in his ownhead for the first time since his unholyreanimation.Had Colin but spoken to Olsain beforekilling him, the rakish lebendtod might haverushed to Todstein immediately, to sabotageMeredoth's ice-locked clone and ensure thatloathed voice could never return. Instead,Colin frittered away the storm-tossed weekto follow in frantic, yet futile efforts to relishthe various earthly vices he'd savored in life… pleasures which, he quickly discovered,his shredded carcass of a body was long pastindulging in. Food bore no flavor, drinkconferred no intoxication, beauty stirred nolust. Gambling brought a scant few hours'excitement, but bitter memories of the finegems he'd collected in Meredoth's service -and slavishly turned over to the sea-mage,with neither pause nor recompense - spoiledhis zest for such paltry stakes as the frugaltownsfolk could be persuaded to play for.Only venial social cruelties still providedhim any real amusement, and Colin soonlearned that those verbal barbs slung back athim by others - slurs upon his appearance orpresumed lack of backbone, as a rich clan'scoddled son - which had never stung in life,now pierced his self-assurance to the core,for he knew his true physique was now morehideous than ever, and had long been subjectto a greater will's domination.The barbs were prophetic. A week afterMeredoth's control over them had failed soshockingly, Colin and the other Grabens felttheir Master's implacable grip assert itselfonce more, as incontestable and scornful asever. The other Grabens received this as asoothing return to their normal placidity; forColin, it was an unliving hell. He'd knowntrue freedom, only to have it ripped away at astroke. He had known life once - he hadeven begun to recollect how living had felt -yet he'd been robbed of that precious life bythe same will that now mockingly returned,to dominate him once more.To dominate him… but not completely.Something profound had changed in Colin,with his Master's death and resurrection, orhis own sundering and self-assembly. His

Appendix III Who’s Doomedmind was clearer - sharper - as focused as ithad been in life. He could scatter himselfnow, should he wish it, turning violation anddefeat into a miraculous new font of power.He could kill on his own behalf, not solely atanother's bidding. Colin Graben was still aslave, and still utterly subject to his mastermaker-murderer'sleast whim … but he wasgrowing Restless within his Obedience.And Colin Graben could still hate hisMaster, and the unliving, unwitting, tractablemockery of himself that Meredoth had solong made of him.Current SketchToday, Colin Graben remains one of theObedient Dead, but one who has developedambitions of his own. In most respects, heperforms precisely as Meredoth's standingorders compel him to: running the Grabenclan's business affairs, coordinating theabduction of living specimens and theft ofcorpses and other foul supplies for thenecromancer's experiments, and supervisingthe darklord's spy network on Graben Islandand in neighboring realms. In secret, underthe cover of these ongoing plots, Colin alsopursues his own personal agenda, seekingthe means to free himself from Meredoth'scontrol or - his dearest, unspoken dream - torestore his much-abused body to life. Even atransition to some less-demeaningpermutation of undeath would be preferableto his current enslavement; true death is arecourse Colin is no longer (quite) desperateenough to seek out … at least, not while thehope of true life remains to him.Were Colin's creator a different sort ofman, such double-dealing would long sincehave been discovered, and the mutinousclan-head would doubtless have been brokendown for spare parts, years ago. As it is,Meredoth's callous indifference to affairs onthe Island, his ignorance of human nature,and his curse-imposed dearth of imaginationhave hindered the darklord from eithernoticing, or conceiving of, the clan leader'ssubtle breaches of compliance.Colin loathes his unliving "meat", hisforced servitude to Meredoth, and his clan's364placid acceptance of their state, in that order.In regaining his personality from life, he hasfound existence as a lebendtod to be utterlyanathema to his old self, even more so than itwould be to most people. Like a vampire, hecan walk undetected amongst the living, andhe takes a certain wry sport in deceivingthem; however, his ruined carcass's inabilityto either feed like a vampire or make lovelike a mortal grates at Colin's long-thwartedlicentious streak. Like many undead, he canconvert his slain victims into creatures likehimself; but any spawn which Colin createsfall under Meredoth's control rather than hisown, denying this natural bon vivant theiraccolades and support. Like a pact-boundfiend or genie, Colin can (and does) twist thewording of his Master's orders to exploitwhatever loopholes best serve his aims; yetthe lebendtod knows the sea-mage's power isso great, he dares not take advantage of evenhalf the opportunities he sees, lest his actionseither expose his true intentions or make himseem too inept to bear his presentresponsibilities. Colin cannot even find anyjoy in his prolonged undead "lifespan" - tohis rediscovered persona, a month's livelydebauchery is well worth a thousand years oftedious bookkeeping - although his newpowers as a swarm-shifter have brought hima modicum of satisfaction, both as proof ofhis growing autonomy over his despised,dead flesh, and as a means of terrorizing oreluding his enemies.Colin's father, Matthias, met with a truedeath when his storm-tossed dory collidedwith the Kielbrecher in 708 BC, so Colin isnow the rightful heir to the Graben estate, inhis family's eyes. His grandfather Ezekiel(whose natural demise was reported to theGraben-towners decades ago) is actually stillanimate, but he retired as acting head of theclan long ago, entrusting management of thefamily and its business affairs to Colin. Tofacilitate his commerce with the townsfolkand foreigners, Colin presents himself as hisown (non-existent) grandson "Josiah", onlychild of the late Horst Graben. Entertainingguests, he passes the semi-senile Ezekiel offas "Colin" and his daughter-in-law Hilda as"Josiah's" widowed mother, all the better tosubstantiate his "grandson's" image as the

dutiful, well-meaning successor to an ailingtycoon. Barely any Grabenites on the Islandare old enough to recall Colin's face fromdays when he still bore that name publicly,and the few who have noticed "Josiah's"startlingly-close resemblance to a youngColin Graben are too aged or absent-mindedfor their claims to be taken seriously.By eliminating Olsain, Colin inherited hiscousin's position as the family's liaison to theMaster, as well. It is a role that Colindespises beyond belief, as Meredoth treatshim no differently than his golems: barkingout orders in brusque, simplistic terms, as ifthe lebendtod leader were no brighter than azombie, and otherwise ignoring him like apiece of furniture. In the event that Colin'sreports (or the hints laced within them) givehim useful ideas, the necromancer invariablyneglects to acknowledge their true source,but gloats at length over his own "creativebrilliance". The darklord's unliving servantsall either bore Colin to tears or, frankly, givehim the creeps - his misspawned nephewIchabod and the other ghasts make him ill,especially knowing that he could potentiallyhave wound up that way himself - and thesea-mage's pet white-fang strikes him as farmore alert and perceptive than either a dumbanimal or a construct should be.Making his regular reports and supplydeliveriesto Todstein has granted Colin aneducated layman's knowledge of constructsand necromantic sciences. Given the natureof the experiments he's stood as a witness to,and occasionally assisted with, during hisvisits, he invariably returns to Graben Islandthankful that he does not sleep. Chillingly,Meredoth has had Colin deliver randomlyselectedmembers of the Graben family tothe Hall of Flesh on three past occasions, sothe darklord can dissect them to determinehow his undead creations have held up overtime. This makes Colin dread the day whenhis Master might take an interest in how thechief Graben's own swarm-shifting abilitiescame about. So far Meredoth's curiosity hasyet to turn in that direction, but Colin knowsthat if he does not escape his bondage, it'sonly a matter of time before he is summonedback to the dissecting table. (His dead fleshwould experience no actual pain from suchAppendix III Who’s Doomed365mistreatment, but Colin doesn't think that hecould conceal his revulsion at the wizard'sgrisly probing… and letting slip even a traceof reluctance to undergo such an obsceneexamination would expose his capacity forindependent thought: a fatal mistake.)Colin is convinced his independence is afluke, and unique to himself. Having tried invain to discern signs of rebelliousness in hisrelatives, he firmly believes every otherlebendtod in the family to be as sheep-likeand compliant as the necromancer intended;thus, he does not deem the shackled minds ofhis kin to be worth salvaging. BetweenMeredoth's periodic dissections, ships lost tothe Nocturnal Sea's many tempests, and thedecimating attack of 737, nearly all ofColin's immediate relations - both parents,two of his four younger brothers, and two outof three sisters, plus his son Horst and drab,neglected spouse - have met with theirpermanent ends, and he wastes no affectionon the plodding, subjugated husks of his fewremaining siblings. Should his service to thedarklord or his own covert plans demand thedestruction of his relations, Colin does nothesitate to order undead clan-mates to theirdoom. For their own part, the other Grabensseem oblivious to Colin's ulterior motives orinsubordination, obeying his orders simplybecause he is the clan-head and Meredoth'sliaison. They do not ask questions, any morethan Colin did before 737.While catering to the petulant temper of apitiless, repugnant old hermit abrades hisrediscovered pride, the Graben leader knowshis position is incredibly precarious as longas Meredoth lives, and has no choice but toplay the dutiful, submissive puppet. He hasobserved his Master for decades, and knowsjust how to obliquely insinuate ideas into thenecromancer's thoughts, thus subtly leadingthe mighty, yet socially-inept Meredoth toadvance Colin's plans, in pursuing his own.It was Colin's hints that greater traffic inGraben-town would increase the long-termsupply of experimental subjects (which ithas) that led the darklord to refrain fromtargeting merchants as "research material",facilitating increased trade and the Island'spresent fishing-boom. That this commercialprosperity gives Colin an excuse to visit or

Appendix III Who’s Doomedspy upon neighboring lands, seeking clues tohis liberation and/or resurrection, went quiteunnoticed by the unperceptive necromancer.Although he fully realizes every hint hepasses on to the darklord, in this manner,risks exposing his pretense and incurringannihilation, Colin Graben would rather bedead in truth than remain forever an undeadslave. If not for his still-greater yearning tolive, and reclaim the passions and free willthat were stolen from him, the renegadelebendtod would have dispersed his ownshredded fragments to the four winds andembraced oblivion years ago.Ironically, although he detests Meredoth tothe core, Colin would far rather see hisMaster trapped in a frozen, cloned body foreternity than permanently killed. He knowslebendtod whose masters die go searchingfor some other will to control them, and hewants his freedom from any master, not justMeredoth. That such an outcome would alsoprevent Nebligtode's darklordship frompassing to another - quite possibly him - orhis native isle from vanishing into the Mistsdoesn't factor into his agenda: Colin knowsnothing of darklords, and believes the seamage'spower over the domain stems solelyfrom arcane knowledge.CombatUntil his long-smothered autonomy wasrekindled, Colin had fought with the witless,suicidal heedlessness of a zombie, ultimatelyleading to his near-destruction in 737 BC.Since that trauma and his swarm-shiftertransfiguration, his survival instincts androgue's cunning have reasserted themselves,and Colin now fights like the back-stabbing,eye-gouging, down-and-dirty bastard he is atheart. Honor and fair play mean nothing tohim, nor does causing pain or humiliation tohis opponents, for that matter: he fights towin, not to impress.Only if Meredoth's direct or standingorders gainsay his strategy (e.g. if his Masteris in peril, the lebendtod must immediatelyfight in the darklord's defense) will Colinattack recklessly, or stand his ground if hedoes not have a solid expectation of success.366When Meredoth does give him an order, theswarm-shifting Graben follows it exactlyand to the letter, both to maintain his façadeof willing servitude, and because - despite allhis covert loathing and defiance - Colin isstill an Obedient Dead, and his Craving ofcompliance still binds him. He cannot defyor ignore a direct order from his Master, nomatter what the cost to himself or his plansmight be.The Graben clan-leader concentrates onflanking for sneak attacks when fighting inconcert with others, or hit-and-run strikesand incitement of terror through his swarmshifting,when battling alone. If striking anintended victim in secret, he conceals one orboth hands or arms near his target's expectedposition, then distracts the quarry at the rightmoment to give his extremities their chancefor surprise. Cellars and workrooms withshelving are a favorite ambush site, as theyprovide places for his detached hands to lurkat waist-level or higher; thus, they need notclimb up their opponents' legs or be throwninto position to strike. When conducting anambush in Graben-town, Colin takes steps toconceal his identity, by wearing a mask if hefights as an intact whole, or by removing hishead and/or dropping his veil of life, if hispieces fight separately. Should he believe atarget is vulnerable enough, he may let hishands carry out an attack alone, turning thesignet ring of the four winds to face his palmso that it, too, will not be exposed.Should his hands' attacks not suffice, heuses his swarm form to distract and confusehis enemies, whirling into the fray as acyclone of guts, charred meat, and ichor, andsweeping up any body part that is damagedor in danger of destruction. Depending onwhether his foes have magic weapons, Colineither uses his Tiny parts form for additionalpunch, or his Diminutive parts form for itsinvulnerability. While he rather enjoys hisswarm forms, Colin is well aware that he issusceptible to area-effects and - by harshexperience - to fire when in such a state. Hehesitates to adopt swarm form when facingenemies with the potential to launch areaattacks, something he assumes all wizards tobe capable of.

If engaged in a prolonged battle, Colinshifts in and out of swarm form as often ashe can, to restore his hit points and confusehis foes. He likes to coalesce in one of thefour squares he occupies as a swarm, thenexplode outward to encompass a different setof four, each time. (Note that expanding orcontracting one's space is not the same asmoving in or out of squares; hence, he doesnot provoke attacks of opportunity by doingso.) If his Tiny parts swarm crawls along onthe ground, any independently-fighting bodyparts within the swarm's space - not just hisown, but any lebendtod's extremity, or evenother "body part" monsters (e.g. crawlingclaws) - receive all the benefits of cover, aspicking out specific bits to strike is not easy.Attackers who just try to hit "everything"automatically strike at Colin's swarm form,not specific autonomous pieces that might behiding in the gruesome crowd.Colin may use a free action to shed one ofhis hands before reverting to swarm form. Ifhe opts to try this in the heat of combat, anopposed Sleight of Hand check allows himto do so without his opponents noticing theappendage is left behind. If he successfullyfeinted earlier in that round, any opponentwho fell for his Bluff receives no Spot checkto notice the hand has been dropped. Ifunnoticed, Colin's hand then has a chance tocatch opponents flat-footed; it starts out itsactions at floor level, however, so is unlikelyto be in a position to achieve a sneak attackunless a target is prone or otherwise withinreach. A trick like this will only work oncefor a given opponent.In the rare event he is called on to fight inthe role of Josiah Graben, Colin feignshaving only limited familiarity with combat,wielding his rapier in the manner of a sportfencerrather than a warrior. He may foregomaking an attack of opportunity when thechance arises, or miss a strike on purpose, tohide "Josiah's" true level of competency. Ifhe eludes a spell via evasion or a sneakattack with uncanny dodge, he fakes injuryto allay suspicion or marvels at his "luck",after-the-fact. More often, Josiah summonsa score or so of hefty cousins for backup, ifthreatened at home, or promises villagersAppendix III Who’s Doomed367that their familial debts will vanish if theydefend him, whilst in town.Faced with destruction, Colin does nothesitate to abandon his relatives, riches, orplans. So long as Meredoth's orders do notexplicitly forbid him to retreat, he saveswhat-little remains of his hide. Colin willuse any means necessary to deter pursuers,up to and including slaying a few innocentbystanders, stealing their breath, and thenkicking the corpses before he flees, leavinghis foes to deal with it when his victims riseup - as ravenous ghasts - moments later.LairColin's chambers in Graben Manor areamong the grandest on the crowded estate,second only to venerable Ezekiel's. While hegrudgingly honors his grandsire with afancier suite, Colin's personal quarters areequipped with extra security-measures andescape routes, built into the Manor during itspost-fire reconstruction. Should his homeever be invaded again, he can flee throughconcealed passages to the west side of thehouse or the tunnels beneath it; in a pinch, hecan rapidly slip through the air-vents inswarm form to any room in the house.Servants are strictly forbidden to enter theGraben leader's quarters, and with goodreason: ever since he regained his formerself-determination, Colin Graben has been awannabe hedonist. Deprived for so long ofthe earthly satisfactions he'd once lived toindulge, he accumulates whatever tawdry orhigh-priced amusements he can find, in thehope that something - drugs, horse-racing,exotic liquors, spicy foods, alchemical curealls,racy novels, anything! - might provokesome vestige of pleasure or exhilaration inhis ruined flesh. Once these playthings havedisappointed him, Colin casts them aside indisgust and sulks until his obligations, or atemptation he hasn't yet tried, pry him out ofhis funk.

Appendix III Who’s DoomedDread Possibility: Transpossession TemptationSearch though he might, Colin's hopes of restoring his rent corpse to life are all but guaranteed tobe in vain. Even restoring the truly-dead is a miraculous rarity fraught with risks, in Ravenloft,and without the inborn resiliency inherent to living creatures, such mighty magics as resurrectionwould merely cast him into some other undead form … most likely, one which cannot even passfor human. Were he but guaranteed to return as a vampire (and free of Meredoth's control), he'djump at the chance, but Colin has heard horrific tales of life-restoration gone awry, so the thoughtof becoming something even worse than what he is now - possibly even something as repellant asIchabod - makes divine magic a gamble he won't dare to take, unless faced with no alternativesave a return to the darklord's dissection theater.However, a far older story has recently come back to Colin: one which holds the promise oftrue, breathing life. A century ago, Lydia Graben (née Wickinson) told her eldest son a tale fromhis great-grandfather's youth, of a terrible device that had Converted the inhabitants of herbirthplace of Mordentshire into fell creatures out of legend. Large parts of Lydia's account wereconfused or distorted, and Colin's mother passed away some time before her kin became undead,barring him from pressing her for details. Still, the key to her swarm-shifter son's salvation maywell lie embedded within this old nursery-story … for the infamous device in question worked itsevil by exchanging the minds of upright townsfolk with those of wicked night-predators, trappingthe innocent in bestial or unliving shells, even as monsters walked freely in the bodies of men.Recently, Colin's ongoing search for deliverance from his own putrid, tattered shell led him to asecret cache of documents in Egertus, which imply that an individual (identified only as "M") ison the trail of the very device Lydia Graben described. Though the papers are unclear as to who"M" is - or, indeed, whether "M's" intention is to possess this device or destroy it - their contentshave convinced Colin that the device (which "M's" papers refer to as 'the Apparatus') may not bethe mere legend he'd always thought it to be.Having heard the tale of the Apparatus only three generations after the events in question, Colinactually has a fairly good idea of what the original device did; he knows that its inventor's notesare what "M" is looking for, and that the Rod of Rastinon (which "M" also seeks) would not berequired, for his body-switching purposes. He also knows that Meredoth would almost certainlybe up to the task of constructing such a mechanism, if properly motivated - for instance, with thepromise of separating humans' "flawed" side from their "rational" side - and that Graben Island,not Todstein, is the only reasonable place for the necromancer to assemble it, as the device needsto be accessible to natural lightning-strikes, yet safe from the Rock's negation flurries.Of course, Colin still needs to find the Alchemist's notes - hopefully before "M" does - and talkMeredoth into utilizing something as distastefully-scientific as a machine of any sort. Finding asuitable body to usurp is also an issue, and could be difficult: no mere villager will do, and mostof his kin are either lebendtod already, or slated to become so in the next few years. Claiming thelife of a sea-merchant - even a prosperous one - is hardly the best realization of his desires, afterso many decades of humiliating servitude and years of stymied defiance and frustration.A prince-in-waiting, on the other hand, would be perfect. If Othmar Bolshnik's naval ambitionsare realized (see "Plans of a Prince" Dread Possibility), and Graben Island becomes a protectorateof Nova Vaasa, the Vaasi ruler's son Ingemar might well return to Kantora after his governorshipwith far more experience, ruthlessness and ambition than Othmar intended…368

Beneath its clutter of discarded clothes,half-done paperwork, drained wine bottles,and crumpled sheets of imported erotica,Colin's chambers are decorated in a lavishNova Vaasan style, with nary a trace ofGrabenite motifs or influences to be found.His personal wardrobe, too, contains dozensof sets of imported Vaasi finery, in additionto his everyday Grabenite wear as Colin orJosiah. Based on all he's heard of that realmsince Nebligtode joined the Core - its sordidand vice-riddled underbelly, in particular -the lebendtod leader has come to regard thevast nation to the west as something of aparadise-on-earth, for a hedonistic lothariolike he once was, and he regularly dressesthe part in private, fantasizing about leavingdreary, backwater Graben Island for themainland once his body lives again.VirundusAppendix III Who’s DoomedIn addition to his own suite, Colinmaintains a lavish (very respectable) officeat Graben Manor, along with satellite officesin two of the rooming-houses his familyowns in town. "Josiah" keeps a light dorymoored at Graben-town's docks, forappearances' sake, though his Strondgangerrarely leaves port, being too flimsy tocomplete the journey to Todstein. In theHall of Flesh, his Master has assigned theclan-head a desk at which to transcribedocuments and keep inventory. Colin has noactual quarters on Todstein; at night, theindifferent wizard simply tells the lebendtodto stand in a corner - exactly like a servingconstruct- as his maker slumbers. This, theGraben clan-leader does, without hesitation:he has no choice.(Darklord of the Drowning Deep)Male aberration CR 27NE Colossal aberration (aquatic)Init: -2; Senses: blindsense 30', darkvision120'; Listen +50, Spot +50Languages: Telepathy, Xalote, Aquan,DraconicOutcast Rating: 24 (8)Melee: 1 bite +45 (5d10+10 plus swallowwhole)Space: 30 ft; Reach 20 ft (120 ft withtentacles)Base Atk: +25; Grp +65Atk Options: Blood frenzy, constrict,improved grab, improved grapple, poisonAC: 30, touch 0, flat-footed 30(-8 size, -2 Dex, +30 natural)hp 540 (40 HD)Immune: fire, acid; regeneration 10SR: 25Saves: Fort +27, Ref +14, Will +29Weakness dread hunger, hand of the OldGod, light-based damageSpeed: 0 ft [Trapped]Melee: 2 tentacles +46 (2d12+20 plusconstrict); orMelee: 4 slams +45 (1d20+10) and 1 slam+45 (1d20+10 plus poison spine); or369

spine (Fort DC 24, 1d6 Con/1d6 Con),swallow wholeSpecial Actions: abyssal taint,bioluminescence, close the borders, inkcloud, mask of the past, voice from thedeepAppendix III Who’s DoomedAbilities: Str 50, Dex 6, Con 28, Int 20, Wis20, Cha 20SQ: malefic visage, master of the deepFeats: Alertness, Blind-fight, Cleave, GreatCleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical(tentacle), Improved Grapple, ImprovedInitiative, Improved Multiattack, ImprovedTrip, Iron Will, Multiattack, Power Attack,Weapon Focus (tentacle)Skills: Concentrate +25, Intimidate +50,Knowledge (arcana) +14, Knowledge(nature) +14, Knowledge (Ravenloft) +14,Knowledge (religion) +14, Listen +50,Sense Motive +25, Spot +50Abyssal Taint (Su): Three times per day,Virundus may attempt to apply the Seaclaimedtemplate (see New Monsters) to ahumanoid or monstrous humanoid, simplyby making a successful touch attack. AWill save at DC 25 prevents thetransformation.The nature of the victim's taint dependson his or her primary character class:fighters, barbarians, and rangers get theReaver taint, wizards and sorcerers get theSahuagin taint, clerics, druids and paladinsacquire the Anguillian taint, and monks,rogues and bards get the Wereoctopus orWereray taint. If the character's main classis an NPC class he or she gains theLocathah taint. For multiclass characters,or prestige and non-PHB classes, DMsshould choose whichever taint best fits thesubject's class abilities.If this ability is used on a willing subjectof at least 12 Hit Dice, the creaturebecomes an abyssal horror of a typedetermined by the Dungeon Master(aboleths, kopru, kraken, morkoths, andmaster sea spawn are among the possiblechoices, but any malignant deep-sea370creature may be selected). Only Virundus'most capable and powerful servants areextended this great 'blessing'.If used on a subject of less than 12 HDthat has sworn service to him, Virundusmay select which of the five Sea-claimedtaints to apply. The Deep darklord uses hispower in this way only rarely, to promoteor demote his minions between castes.Bioluminescence (Ex): At will, Virunduscan cause his flesh to luminesce, emittinglight of any intensity and color up to theequivalent of a light spell.Blindsense (Ex): Because of his familiaritywith the currents in and around his prison,Virundus can detect anything displacingwater within 30 ft of any appendage of hisbody. Otherwise, this power functions asnormal blindsense.Blood Frenzy (Ex): Virundus may (andsometimes must) enter a blood frenzy,dashing himself against the walls of histhrone room and lashing out at everythingthat comes near. While in his frenzy hegains +20 to Strength and Constitution;each round he deals 10d10 bludgeoningdamage to himself and anyone in thethrone room who fails a DC 30 Reflexsave, in addition to his attacks. He canonly end the frenzy by beating himselfunconscious, then regaining consciousnessas he regenerates. While in his bloodfrenzy, he loses control of all creaturesdominated by his Master of the Deepability.The blood frenzy is triggered if Virunduschooses to enter it voluntarily, if he takesor deals a total of 400 hp damage incombat, or if he fails either aConcentration check while using his Maskof the Past ability, or a Dread Hunger Willsave.Call of the Abyss (Su): Once Virundus hasused his Abyssal Taint ability on a givencreature, he retains a degree of telepathiccontrol over it. Once per day, he mayinstruct the creature to follow one simplecourse of action ("Return to me", "Detainintruders" "Visit the high priest"), and the

creature must make a Will save at DC 25 orobey immediately. More complicatedinstructions must be given "in person" viatelepathy.Any instruction Virundus gives in thisway is treated as equivalent to a lesser geasspell. This compulsion remains in effecteven if the subject is in another domainwith the border closed; however, if thesubject is somewhere where he cannot hearthe sound of the sea beating at the shore,the only message Virundus can convey is"return to the sea".Closing the Borders (Ex): Virundus has nosupernatural ability to close the borders.He may, however, telepathically instructhis minions to search for anyoneattempting to leave the domain.Constrict (Ex): Virundus deals automatictentacle or bite damage (his choice) with asuccessful grapple check, after using hisImproved Grab ability successfully to seizehold of a victim.Dread Hunger: Whenever any livingintelligent creature comes within range ofVirundus' telepathy, he must make a Willsave at DC (25 + the number of rounds thecreature has been present) or try to seizeand devour the unfortunate. Each week hedoes not devour an intelligent creature, hisown Intelligence drops by two points; eachsuch creature devoured restores 2Intelligence points, up to his natural scoreof 20.Hand of the Old God: Weapons blessed bya cleric of the Old God of his homeland, orwielded by a faithful worshipper of the OldGod, deal damage which Virundus cannotregenerate, as do spells cast by such acleric.Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability,Virundus must hit with a tentacle or biteattack. He can then attempt to start agrapple as a free action without provokingan attack of opportunity. If he wins thegrapple check, he establishes a hold andcan constrict or attempt to swallow hisopponent whole.Appendix III Who’s Doomed371Ink Cloud (Ex): Virundus can emit a cloudof jet-black ink 120 ft high by 120 ft wideby 120 ft long once per minute as a freeaction. All vision within the cloud isobscured, providing total concealment.Malefic Visage (Ex): Seeing Virundus' trueform for the first time demands a Horrorcheck at base DC 34.Mask of the Past (Su): With a successfulDC 30 Concentration check, Virundus canregain a measure of his humanity, brieflytaking on the appearance of a gigantic, butwell-formed merman. This change lastsone round for each point by which heexceeds the check's target number. Failingthe check sends Virundus into a bloodfrenzy.While using Mask of the Past, Virundusloses all use of his tentacles, bite, andpoison spine attacks, as well as his MaleficVisage. He retains his four non-venomousslam attacks and his other abilities. Whilein his 'giant merman' guise, his OR dropsto 8.Master of the Deep (Su): Virundus maytelepathically control up to 160 HD ofwater-breathing creatures of Intelligence 1or 2, at any location within the DrowningDeep. Assuming control of a new creatureor releasing a previously-controlledcreature is a move action. When heattempts to take control of any creature, itgets a Will save at a DC of 1 per 10fathoms below the surface (a fathom is sixfeet, or roughly two meters). Thus, nearthe surface his control is tenuous, but in thedeep ocean his grip is inescapable. Hereceives full sensory input from creaturescontrolled in this way and may control alltheir actions, compelling even suicidalactions. A controlled creature isdominated until Virundus chooses torelease it.Poison Spine (Ex): One of Virundus' fiveslam attacks is delivered with a poisonedspine like that of a lionfish. In addition toits base damage, this attack deals primarydamage 1d6 Con, secondary damage 1d6Con (Fort save DC 24 negates).

Appendix III Who’s DoomedRegeneration (Ex): Virundus takes lethaldamage from damage-dealing spells withthe Light descriptor, such as searing light,sunbeam, and sunburst. Such spellsdamage him as if he were undead. He alsotakes lethal damage as described in theHand of the Old God special quality.Swallow Whole (Ex): Virundus can try toswallow an opponent of a smaller size bymaking a successful grapple check. Onceswallowed, the opponent takes 2d12+20points of crushing damage plus 10 pointsof acid damage per round from hisdigestive juices. A swallowed creature cancut its way out by using a light slashing orpiercing weapon to deal 20 points ofdamage to the Deep darklord's gizzard (AC25). Once the creature exits, muscularaction closes the hole; another swallowedopponent must cut its own way out.Virundus can swallow 2 Gargantuancreatures, 8 Huge creatures, 32 Largecreatures, 128 Medium creatures, 512Small creatures, and any number of Tiny orFine creatures.Telepathy (Su): Virundus has the power tocommunicate mentally with any intelligentcreature (Int 3 or higher) within 120 feet ina way that the creature finds intelligible, ifunpleasant. Being contacted in this mannerby Virundus does not provoke a Madnesssave, as his actual thoughts are not beingconveyed, only what he chooses to 'say'.He is too large to communicate verbally, atleast under normal circumstances; hisvoice produces subsonic vibrations outsideof the human hearing range.Trapped (Su): Virundus cannot leave thethrone room in which he is imprisoned. Hecan, however, use his two longest tentaclesto reach well outside of its doors (up to 120feet). When extended outside hischambers, Virundus's tentacles are treatedas separate opponents, with statistics thatdiffer from those above as follows :TentacleHuge aberration (aquatic)Outcast Rating: 8372Init: 0; Senses: blindsense 30'AC: 20, touch 8, flat-footed 20(-2 size, +12 natural)hp 60Saves: Ref +16Base Atk: +25; Grp +57Space: 10 ft; Reach 120 ftAtk Options: improved grab, constrictSpecial Actions: bioluminescenceAbilities: Dex 10Spells which alter their target's size ordimensions (reduce/enlarge person,polymorph, shapechange, etc.) have noeffect on Virundus and cannot be used tohelp him escape the throne room.Water Breathing (Su): Virundus may grantor remove water breathing to anyhumanoid anywhere in his domain. An airbreathingcreature with other provisionsfor breathing underwater does not losethem if Virundus grants, then removes, thisabilityHistoryVirundus' account of his history is largelyaccurate; he was born the son of the Emperorand Empress of Parathalassa, the greatestempire on the world of his origin. Theemperors of Parathalassa were descendedfrom the great sea-deity Oceanus, alsoknown as the Old God, who was patron andprotector of the Empire; Oceanus had builttheir great palace and promised that it was afortress that would never fall so long as asingle man remembered his name andworshipped him, and all the Empire ofParathalassa worshipped him inremembrance of his great generosity towardthem. Virundus was thus born to rule aprosperous and happy country; and if thiswere not enough, his birth was accompaniedby signs and wonders indicating that thechild born would be no ordinary man; he wasthe bearer of a mighty destiny, and if any ofthe signs and portents were ambiguous, orhinted that the newborn prince might bringdestruction and woe not only to his enemies

ut to his people-the astrologer andsoothsayers who came to pronounce theirvisions over the child were wise enough notto say so in front of the proud parents.Of course, the dark side of theseprophecies were heard and considered bymany, but as Virundus grew to manhood heseemed to put the lie to any dark speculation.He was widely accounted noble, generous,and brave, and if he was over-impetuous andrefused to crossed or counseled in anything,such things are no great fault in a young manof great ability; after all, an emperor must behis own best counselor.Virundus grew to be a man strong,handsome, intelligent, and charismatic.Between his native gifts and his princelystation he found no-one willing to criticizehim or deny him in anything, and manyflatterers who were eager to rehearse hismany successes and point to the signs at hisbirth as evidence that the divine blood whichhad founded his lineage had, at last, reacheda new apotheosis; and Virundus did nothingto disappoint expectations. When his fatherdied he immediately began a campaign ofconquest, turning the empire's allies intoclient states and warring on its enemies. Heled navies and armies to victory after victory,and those who opposed him were killed orenslaved, their cities looted and burned andtheir lands given over to those of Virundus'servants whom it pleased him to reward.Seeing that all of his endeavors prospered,Virundus became more and more convincedthat he was, in truth, a god on earth, and thathe was meant to take his place not alongside,but above, the god who his ancestors hadworshipped.Being himself an emperor and a god inembryo, Virundus resolved to make asacrifice more precious than any that hadever been made before to his forefathers'god; and, knowing that the lifeblood of ahuman being was accounted the mostvaluable of all things on earth, he ordered itspilled out in "reverence" to Oceanus. Inawe of his prowess, and deceived intobelieving him truly divine, the priests of theOld God carried out his wishes andslaughtered a hundred captive enemies,Appendix III Who’s Doomed373pouring their blood into the saltwater springwhich flowed from the temple of the OldGod. In sorrow and anger the Old Godcursed the fountain, and from that timeforward it gave forth only blood, hot andstinking; but Virundus convinced the prieststhat this was a sign that their offering hadbeen accepted, and encouraged them tocontinue, and to offer the heart's-blood oftheir captives not only to Oceanus, but tohim as well. Within a few short years theworship of the old god had been almostentirely supplanted by worship of Virundus,and those who adhered to the Old God andthe old ways kept it secret for fear of themobs who formed, throwing down thestatues of Oceanus and stoning those whorefused to acknowledge Virundus as bothEmperor and God.Virundus' ambition and aspiration togodhood would not, could not be slaked byanything less; he summoned to him theprophets and wise men of a hundred landsand demanded of them that they tell him howhe could take his rightful place as a divinity.Those who refused their counsel when theyheard his goal were imprisoned until theyspoke; those whose counsel he followed, butwhose counsel proved fruitless, he drownedin the spring of blood flowing in the templewhich had once been the Old God's; whilethose who revealed to him some new secretwhich augmented his power he covered ingold and jewels, and kept with him.Still he could not achieve his goal, untilone morning when he summoned his priestsand wise men to him and told them that hehad had a dream, in which a shadow hadrevealed to him the way in which he mightobtain eternal life and godlike power. On theday of the summer solstice twenty-fourthousand slaves and prisoners were broughtforth from their prisons, and the freemen ofhis capital city of Xalot gathered themselvestogether, ten men for each slave, and awaitedthe sign which was to be given them; at noonof that day the twenty-four thousand were todie, and the power of their lives were tomake Virundus a god.As he stood in the throne room of hisforefather's palace Virundus exulted at hiscoming triumph; but as the sun rose the sea

Appendix III Who’s Doomedretreated, far below the lowest neap tide,leaving the shore bare. Virundus took it tobe the sea doing obeisance to him; but hewas disastrously wrong.Just as the ceremony the shadow hadrevealed to him was to begin, the first of thetsunamis struck Xalot. The first earthquakefollowed immediately thereafter. Thethousand islands of Xalot were beingreclaimed by the sea. But Virundus wouldnot be so easily defeated by the god he nowrealized to be his enemy; even as the waterswirled around his knees he finished theceremony and called on the power which hadpromised him eternal life to make good theirend of the bargain. As he did so the seaswallowed Xalot once and for all.Current SketchOnce human, the darklord of the DrowningDeep is now a 100 foot long nightmare offlesh. Generally shaped like a merman,Virundus' body is covered in tentacles,scales, mouths, eyes, suckers, fins, claws,shells, and other features of aquaticlifeforms, constantly growing, shifting, andbeing reabsorbed. Thousands of symbioticlifeforms grow upon Virundus' flesh -shellfish, barnacles, tubeworms, corals,sponges, anemones, and more. Virundus'shead sports a gaping maw combining thefeatures of a shark and a toothy deep-seafish. He is so large that he cannot fullystraighten himself within the confines of histhrone-room prison.First and foremost, Virundus is amegalomaniac; he truly believes thatgodhood is his destiny, and that other beingsexist primarily as tools for his use inachieving that end. The ironic humor of theDark Powers has twisted that goal byappearing to grant it; Virundus' subjectsworship him as a deity and claim to domiracles in his name, their clerical powergranted by the Dark Powers themselves.Virundus, totally unwilling to reveal hisfundamental helplessness, pretends to be thegod his slaves believe him to be, but themasquerade is bitter to him; his deformity,imprisonment and isolation combine toremind him in every moment of his essential374weakness, and nothing could be so galling-orfrightening-to a man accustomed to absolutepower over all he saw. He knows well hehad more power as a mortal man than he hasnow as a "god", and he alternates betweenwrathful determination to break his prisonand achieve godhood and the debilitatingfear that this is all there is-that he hasactually become a god, and hates it.Virundus has made many plans (some selfcontradictory)to end his curse. One of themost important is his ongoing attempt totrack down and convert or kill anyworshipper of the Old God who remains; heremembers full well the prophecy that hisforefather's palace could not fall while asingle worshipper remained faithful to theOld God, and he hopes that by ending theworship of the Old God he will at last be freefrom his prison-house. In addition, he ismaking efforts to spread worship of himselfthroughout the Core. Although this has onlybeen effective in a few small villages onGraben Island and the Darkonian coast up tothe present, he is persistent; after all, he hasnothing but time. He also seeks continuallyfor ways to raise Shay-lot from the oceanfloor, thereby reversing the curse of the OldGod, or, failing that, to drag all of the surfaceworld below the waves-into his territory. Heworks mostly through wereray andwereoctopus spies who trade along thecoasts and islands of the Nocturnal Sea,getting information and such of man's waresas are useful beneath the waves, but he alsosends the occasional raiding party of reaversand sahuagin against surface villages, toteach them fear of the sea.He is also conducting a long-term guerillawar against those few creatures (mostnotably whales, the aquatic elves of theDarkonese coast, and the triton of the Vechorcoast) which resist his rule, although hepursues the struggle in a rather cursoryfashion-more out of habit and for the trainingof his troops than for any pressing strategicreason.Virundus' principle attacks are with hislong, hooked tentacles, with which he canreach well beyond the limits of his palaceprison; if anyone is foolish enough as toenter his presence to attack him there, he can

also attack with a massive bite or up to fiveextra attacks per round, extruding arms,tentacles, stingers, toothy maws, and othernatural weapons from whichever part of hisbody his enemies are near as needed (all ofthese attacks are listed as slam attacks,above). Because of the tentacles' greatlength it is actually possible to "encounter"Appendix III Who’s Doomedthem without meeting with Virundus face toface; statistics for an isolated tentacle arealso given. Any serious combat withVirundus will almost certainly end with himgoing into a blood frenzy; the chances ofanyone within reach of his attacks survivingsuch a frenzy are not high.Geography of the DeepThe great abyssal plain is home to two main groups of intelligent humanoids not in thrallto Virundus, a group of aquatic elves living in the shallows along the Darkonese coastand a group of tritons living in the shallow, warm water in the "plain" between Liffe andVechor. Because they live in shallow water, Virundus finds it very difficult to controlhis deep-sea minions well enough to spy on them; he sends patrols into their territoryregularly, but has not yet found it worth his while to attempt to conquer them. The elvesof Nevuchar Springs are aware of their aquatic neighbors and carry on some trade withthem, but are careful not to reveal their presence to outsiders. The principal settlementof the aquatic elves lies just south of the mouth of the Vuchar River, mirroring theplacement of Nevuchar Springs.The triton, having no air-breathing allies, are in a more precarious position; they haveno permanent settlements, ranging for the most part across the shallow water betweenLiffe and Vechor. They rely on their mobility to keep them out of the reach of Virundus'patrols.Hadalpelagos (the four rift valleys, plus the central deep of Shay-lot) consists mostlyof normal deep-sea terrain, but is dotted with the remnants of the great cities ofParathalassa. A careful observer can see the remains of roads and buildings here andthere on the ocean floor; some of the most intact buildings have been restored enough tobe usable by Virundus' slaves. (There are enough deep-sea menaces not underVirundus' control to make the deep a hazardous place, even for them, and they havefortified some buildings to make them secure against predators.) As one goes downthese valleys toward the center of Hadalpelagos these ruins become more frequent, untilone reaches Shay-lot proper, a more-or-less level depression of roughly twenty squaremiles covered with ruins.375

In the Drowned CityAppendix III Who’s DoomedMany of these ruins were levelled in the tsunamis and earthquakes that ended Parathalassa andthey can hardly be recognized as being of human construction, but large parts of the DrownedCity are surprisingly well-preserved. The architecture is beautiful but often rather eerie; oceanicmotifs (sea creatures, waves, storms, seabirds and the like) are ubiquitous, and there is a strongarchitectural emphasis on curved lines rather than angles and corners.Much of Shay-lot is simply empty, or occupied only by deep-sea animals; the city was oncehome to hundreds of thousands of humans, but is now populated only by roughly ten thousandintelligent creatures. The anguillian clerics, or hieroi ("holy ones"), of the highest caste live inand around the Great Temple of the God Below, a huge domed building near the center of thecity. (Because of the stream of blood which flows continually from beneath the central altar ofthe temple the sahuagin cannot enter here without being driven into frenzy, and those of lowercastes are not considered pure enough to enter the temple itself, although all the denizens of Shaylotmay come to the outer courtyard of the temple to worship the God Below.)Behind the temple lies what remains of the great palace of the Emperors of Parathalassa. In theearthquakes that sunk Parathalassa forever a rift was opened beneath the palace, and the throneroom now lies at the bottom of the rift, its roof below the level of the surrounding seafloor.Virundus' servants have cleared passageways from the throne room to the remainder of thepalace, and with his great tentacles Virundus can reach into rooms in those upper levels of thepalace. This rift is referred to as the Most Low Place by the priests of the God Below, and onlythose most (or least) fortunate ever enter there for an interview with the "god". The priests of theGod Below devote themselves, first and foremost, to the rites of worship, but also are responsiblefor communicating the wishes of the God Below to the rest of the denizens of Shay-lot.The House of Glass was an observatory used by the wise men of Parathalassa in ages past topredict the future from the motion of the fixed stars and planets. The night sky no longer revealsany truth to the sahuagin-wizards (hydromagi, "water-wizards") who serve Virundus, but theystill make their homes here, and keep their libraries of learning inscribed in tablets of stone andplates of glass or gold. (It was here that Paul Dirac was held, in a cell set aside for meditation inbetter days. Alone, unarmed, and stripped of his spellbook and magical items, his captors did noteven bother to set a guard on him, although they looked in on him fairly frequently. Prisonersconsidered to be a great flight risk would be held in the House of Sand under continual watch, oreven in the Great Temple.) When the peripateioi, or "wanderers", return to report to Virundusthey also make their home here or near here; despite the difference in physical appearance thehydromagi and peripateioi are considered to be equivalent to each other in caste.The House of Sand is the former gladiatorial arena of Shay-lot; because it remained largelyintact and had dormitories and armories for the gladiators, it has been converted into a barracksfor Virundus' reaver servants, known as the thorakoi, or "armored ones". The Strategos, generalof Virundus' troops, makes his home here, as do the majority of those reavers present in Shay-lotat any given time. It lies a little more than a mile southeast of the Great Temple, in a relativelyflat and well-preserved part of the city. Many of the city's locathah (icthymorphoi, "fish-formedones") live near here, because it is one of the safer and more densely populated parts of Shay-lotand because, as low-caste and impure, they are not welcome nearer the temple except for worshipon certain specific occasions. The reavers patrol the city regularly in groups of four, on thelookout for the deep-sea predators which enter the city regularly; if they see any which theycannot defeat themselves they raise the alarm. More interesting visitors may be captured withnets and taken to be interviewed by the sahuagin wizards.The Sea-Garden, where the locathah under-caste tend sponges, polyps, and fish for the feedingof the city's inhabitants, occupy a miles-long bench to the east of the House of Sand where theearth shifted, leaving the eastern part of the city roughly a hundred feet higher than the westernpart. The slope created by this shift quickly became home to numerous sponges and similar376

Appendix III Who’s Doomedcreatures feeding on organic detritus "raining" from higher in the ocean, which provide the basis forfeeding most of Shay-lot's inhabitants. Unforunately, the abundance of food also draws innumerous predators, and the area is heavily patrolled by reaver guards, supported by whicheversahuagin wizards and anguillian priests are out of favor with their superiors at the moment.(Serving with the lower-caste reavers and locathah is considering deeply shameful and is avoidedby anyone of a higher caste who can arrange to do so.)Generally, a member of a lower caste must never touch a member of a higher caste (this is relaxedsomewhat for the wizards and priests, but strictly enforced at all other levels), nor speak to amember of a higher caste unless spoken to first. A member of a higher caste who touches amember of a lower caste must make ritual purifications afterward; the length and rigor of thispurification depends on the degree of difference in caste. (After beating a locathah sponge-farmerfor insolence, a reaver foot soldier would probably mutter a few prayers and get back to business,but an anguillian priest doing the same would have spend a week purifying itself after doingsomething so demeaning.) Any order from a member of a higher caste must be obeyedimmediately and without question, although giving overtly self-serving or unnecessary orders willoften result in "unfortunate misinterpretations", especially when the sahuagin-wizards are thosebeing commanded. A member of a lower caste must not enter a room in which a member of ahigher caste is present until invited; no-one may handle the weapons or personal items of someoneabove (or below!) themselves in caste without defiling either the item (in the first case) orthemselves (in the second). This caste system makes the Hadalpelagic social system extremelyrigid and slow to adapt, but actually somewhat dissipates the cruelty of the upper classes toward thelower, as too much interaction or interest in the activities of those of lower caste is demeaning tothose of high caste.Virundus' closest servantsare changed by their ruler toabyssal horrors (kraken,morkoths, aboleths, and soforth), and are not consideredto have any caste in thenormal sense; having beentouched directly by the powerof the God Below, they areconsidered beyond mereconsiderations of caste andmay interact with those of anyother caste however they seefit.377

Appendix IVGraben Legacy

"Even at our birth, death does but standaside a little. And every day he looks towardsus and muses somewhat to himself whetherthat day or the next he will draw nigh."– Robert Bolt, Sir Thomas More, Act IIWhen the darklord Meredoth committedmass murder at Graben Manor in 672, theliving bloodline of the once-prolific Grabenclan was almost, but not quite, wiped out. Ofan extended family of more than ninetysouls, only a handful of infants – too youngto dine upon the poisoned feast or be of anyuse to the necromancer – escaped death andreanimation as lebendtod. In the wake oftheir transformations, the undead Grabenscontinued to raise these surviving children,keeping them ignorant of the malign changethat had overtaken their parents. Thus, theGrabens preserved their lineage’s posterity,while safeguarding their evil Master’s futuresupply of undead servants.To date, a full five generations of theGraben household have become lebendtod–all forcibly converted by their undead kin,after fulfilling their procreative duties to theclan – and the latest cohort of new parentshave unknowingly been slated for imminentconversion, now that an adequate number ofseventh-generation heirs have been birthed.The few living Grabens who have stumbledupon their elders’ terrible secret have beentransformed also, and ahead of schedule, soeven young, childless members of the familyare not always as they seem. In particular, anumber of “long-lost cousins” have recentlybegun attaching themselves to the Grabens’estate: in truth, children who did attend thatfatal banquet, and are only now reaching astate of physical maturity, having concealedtheir unnaturally-slow aging for decades.Although never “nobles” in the technicalsense, the Grabens’ stature as the foundingfamily of the Island grants them much thesame air of prestige and entitlement as otherlands’ hereditary aristocrats. Their staunchrefusal to integrate fully into the Grabenites’culture, even before Meredoth transformedthem, has always set the reclusive clan apartfrom other Islanders. Symbolic of their selfimposeddistancing from the “late-comers”Appendix IV Graben Legacy379of the villages, the undead Grabens prefer toarrange their (living) children’s marriages toforeigners or even outlanders, wedding otherGrabenites only if no presentable alternativeis forthcoming. Likewise, their snobbishinsistence that anyone – male or female –who marries into their family must adopt theclan’s surname estranges them further fromthe settlers, amongst whom neither genderforfeits his or her patronymic at marriage.Notoriously reticent about their clan’searly history, the Grabens’ strict silence onthis issue has spawned rumors of scandal,banishment, or even curses and fiendishpacts. Once idle fancies and slander havebeen filtered from the morass of speculation,a persistent tale emerges: that the originalsponsor of Graben Manor’s construction,revered clan forefather Efraim Graben, wasnever truly a ‘Graben’ at all, but a masterjewelry-forger and thief, fleeing prosecutionin his corrupt and imperialistic homeland.By this account, “Graben” had merely beenthe original name of the island (= “trench”)rendered in Efraim’s birth-tongue: a name headopted for his alias, after investing his illgottengains in the Manor. In Graben-town’searly days, this rumor would have been metwith furious denunciation by the affrontedclan, but umbrage over this slur to theirancestor’s honor has abated with time.(Less-credible tales that Efraim’s wife was,in fact, one of the enigmatic zwerge of theZaubereiwald, still provoke violent outragein the Grabens, living or otherwise.)True or not, the Graben family’s strongmercantile affinity for jewelry, primarilysilverwork and gems, has held true from theearliest days of their residency on the Island.The family is said to operate a small, yetlucrative silver mine on their estate – no non-Graben knows precisely where – and topossess an astonishing heirloom-trove ofexotic gemstones, including minerals foundnowhere in nature. More prosaically, theyhold proprietary claim on nearly all GrabenIsland’s real estate, being legally entitled topre-empt most natives’ attempts to sell landor pass it on to their children. The Grabensare also the closest thing to “investmentbankers” available to Graben-town’s risingentrepreneurs, so can potentially foreclose

Appendix IV Graben Legacyon any number of businesses founded withtheir start-up capital, should their loans’recipients offer any offense. That they donot take such action is lauded in public, butensured with many discreet “expressions ofgratitude” – i.e. bribes – by the prudent.Fitting InDue to generations of intermarriage withnon-Grabenites, the Grabens are much lesshomogenous in appearance than other Islandfolk. Palest hues of skin, hair and eyes stillpredominate in the family, but Lamordiansea-green or Mordentish gray eyes crop upon occasion, as do brunette or red highlightsin Grabens’ pale-blond hair. In stature, also,many Grabens stand apart, being a bit shortand stocky by local standards, albeit not incomparison to mainlanders. Grabens’ hairtends to go gray rather early, then remainwith them till death (or long after, in undeadGrabens). As with certain other renownedCore families, even non-lebendtod Grabensare famously long-lived. Unlike the Boritsisor Hiregaards, Grabens’ longevity doesn’tentail extended youthfulness, but merely aprolonged old age, often culminating in yearsof invalidism.Aloof and tight-knit, the insular Grabensassiduously maintained their distance fromthe bucolic settlers for over a century, andthey are still getting used to the proximity ofother upper-class households in neighboringdomains. Living or otherwise, Grabens havebeen without any social peers for so long thatthe appearance of such foreign gentry makesmost a bit overcautious: wary of the motives– or secrets – which other powerful lineagesmay be concealing. The extreme ages of allthe influential (lebendtod) family membersmean that the Grabens’ collective habits andattitudes are slow to change; barring outsideimpetus, it will likely take decades beforemost of them adjust to their realm’semergence in the Core. Until then, leerinessof the unfamiliar keeps them close to home,shielded from foreign strangeness by theirwell-known distaste for trespassers and thesafety of their own numbers.For living members of Graben Island’spremier household, the pressure to remain380within the family circle is especially strong.Lebendtod Grabens are compelled by theircondition to stay wherever their Master’sorders might dictate; however, they worrythat letting their still-breathing relatives drifttoo far from the nest could tempt the clan’sliving heirs into abandoning their familialresponsibilities. Younger Grabens’ lives aretightly monitored by their undead elders,who prohibit them from socializing with theordinary townsfolk or leaving the estate unchaperoned.Many, in fact, are so shelteredfrom the world’s realities as to constitute apotential danger to themselves, ignorant asthey are of risk. Strong-willed Graben heirsmight rebel against this stifling attention,dodging their babysitters’ scrutiny to seekinterludes of merriment or romance amongthe non-gentry.Should Graben youths fail to take thewisest route, and desert the clan – a trickyproposition, as the lebendtod are loath to lettheir kin escape from Meredoth’s service –then the whole of their futures will bemeticulously scripted by their elders: anarranged marriage, children (preferably fiveor more; large broods are a family tradition),and eventual death and undeath. Potentialspouses of Grabens are either drawn in bythe lure of the family’s great riches – whilethey hide the fact, the undead elders prefer“gold-diggers” for in-laws, as unscrupulousfortune-hunters often have skills useful inthe clan’s darker doings – or coerced intomarriage by threat of foreclosure, blackmail,false criminal charges, etc. Living Grabensand their mates are transformed at the sametime, to ensure neither has the opportunity tonotice a change in the other’s temperament.By grim custom, the actual conversion ofnew lebendtod is regarded as a “parentalresponsibility” by the clan’s undead, bestcarried out by the Graben-born parent of theheir to be animated. Living “recruits” aredrugged unconscious and suffocated, mouthto-mouth,to guarantee a successful spawncreationand to minimize unsightly wounds.For rare, lucky Grabens who slip theirfamilial bonds in time, emerging into theworld at large can be a revolutionary event.Adjusting to life without constant directionand supervision from their elders can be

liberating for some, disorienting and evenfrightening to others. One Graben may taketo independence whole-heartedly, savoring alife not circumscribed by boundaries andtraditions; another may become intimidatedby the dark, unforgiving world beyond thefamily’s estate, and naively flee home to itspresumed “security”. Should a Graben witha high Sense Motive score experience theclose company of non-Grabens for long, thecharacter may develop a nagging suspicionthat there’s something amiss – perhaps innon-Grabens, perhaps in the character’s ownfamily – on comparing strangers’ behavior tothat of Graben Manor’s residents.Alternately, a Graben player character maynot have grown up on the clan’s estate at all,in which case the PC’s formative years willhave surely been quite different. Aside frompossible illegitimate ancestry – a rarity inthis bloodline, given how tightly its livingheirs’ activities are overseen – a PC couldalso be a descendant of Araby Graben, wholeft Graben Island to run off with a seacaptain in 661 BC. Her fate, and even hernautical paramour’s name, are a mystery tothe rest of the family. As Araby renouncedher heritage when she left, PCs descendedfrom her will likely know little or nothing oftheir ancestress’s roots on Graben Island …let alone, of the chilling alterations which herkin have undergone since she left.Claiming MembershipAs Graben lebendtod are wholly subject to adarklord’s control, they are unsuitable asPCs, even in those campaigns where anundead player character might otherwise bepermitted. Likewise, even if Graben eldersshould allow a lapsed or long-lost relation toofficially join the family, it is only so thatthey can add the newly-recognized scion tothe ranks of Meredoth’s unliving minions.Thus, if an unwitting PC seeks to establishformal membership in the Graben clan, it isthe DM’s job to conduct a mystery-scenarioaround this endeavor, laying subtle, ominousclues in the character’s path: clues, whichwill slowly reveal the awful truth, hopefullybefore it’s too late.Appendix IV Graben Legacy381Illegitimate descendents of the Grabens(including the disowned Araby) are onlyreluctantly acknowledged as such by thehighly-conservative clan. This fact actuallygrants such characters a degree of protectionfrom conversion – the lebendtod prefer notto have such “embarrassments” remain partof the family for centuries, so do not attemptto convert them without a good reason – butit also earns them scorn and disrespect from“proper” Grabens. Such illicit relatives willbe grudgingly tolerated, but freely exploitedby the family, especially if the relative hasclass abilities and/or skills unknown to theundead clan-members.A peripheral relation could easily spendyears serving the clan’s agenda, performingdonkey-work related to its public businessdealings, while remaining blissfully ignorantof the dark side to his or her “long-lostcousins”. True acceptance, conversely, willbe slow in coming, strenuous to earn, andultimately rewarded only by an attempt toconvert the would-be Graben into one of theundead. Should such distant relatives growprematurely suspicious, the aspiring Grabenwill be converted into a lebendtod to securehis or her loyalty … or (if deemed useless)simply murdered outright, with the remainsdelivered to Todstein: fresh components forMeredoth’s other ghastly creations.To date, no non-human Graben has everbeen born on the Island, not even a caliban.If a Graben who was born elsewhere is otherthan human, even in part, the hidebound clanrefuses to have anything to do with the“embarrassment” to their bloodline, even asraw materials for their Master’s work.Graben Family Traits+2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom: LivingGrabens are a robust lot, hardened by thebleak conditions of their native Island, buttheir secluded upbringing leaves them illpreparedto cope with or recognize dangersin the outside world. A PC Graben whowas not raised on Graben Island will lackthis family trait (both modifiers).Go Not Gently: Grabens’ lifespan is longerthan is usual for their race. A human

Appendix IV Graben LegacyGraben adds 7d10 to 70 years to determinemaximum age, as would a possible half-Vistani descendent of Grabens. A half-elfGraben (should such a person exist) has alifespan of 125 + 5d20 years, and ahypothetical Graben caliban’s life lasts 60+ 3d12 years. Age-brackets and startingages remain unchanged, and aging effectsapply normally to living Grabens.Keen Eye For Quality: Fine jewelry hasbeen a mainstay of the Grabens’ fortunesfrom their beginnings, and almost acentury of grave-robbing for Meredoth hasfurther honed their eye for evaluating andtrading in such treasures. A Graben has a+3 bonus on Appraise checks to determinethe worth of jewelry or gemstones, and ontheir Diplomacy checks to haggle over theprice of such wares (see CompleteAdventurer for haggling rules).Bonus Language: Young Grabens on theIsland are all taught the Draconic tongueby their elders: ostensibly as a part of a“classical education”; in truth to facilitatetheir postmortem service to Meredoth(who hates speaking the “barbarian”languages of Ravenloft). This is a freebonus language that does not require anyskill ranks. A Graben PC who grew upaway from the Island will lack this bonus,but may know Grabenite as a bonuslanguage, should their Graben parent havepassed on his or her ancestral tongue.High-Grade Materials: Though fewGrabens (and no live ones) are aware ofthis, a deceased Graben’s remains areunusually receptive to reanimating magics,which makes the clan’s dead membersideal “raw materials” for the production ofboth Obedient Dead and the grisliervarieties of construct. A Graben cadaveranimated as any type of skeleton or zombiealways receives maximum hp for its firsthit die, and constructs built out of theearthly remains of Grabens receive one HDat maximum, for each such corpse used inthe construct’s assembly.For undead who retain their class abilities,such as Slain skeletons or lebendtod, anObedient Dead Graben always receives382maximum hit points for the first hit die, orfor its first two HD if the base creature is“elite” and already entitled to such abenefit. If the template normally imposesability penalties on the base creature, onesuch penalty (DM’s choice) becomes 2points less severe; for example, the variouslebendtod Grabens suffer either a –2 Int or–2 Dex modifier, but not both.Deathly Heritage: With their tissues’ highaffinity for necromantic energy, the WillDC for intelligent undead to recognize aGraben with the Cold One feat as living is16, not 13. A Graben does not need toknow the animate dead spell to select theDeathly Pallor feat, or to lose a level to anenergy-draining attack before selecting theCold One feat.If subjected to effects that would directlytransform them into Obedient Dead (suchas the zombify attack of a zombie lord) orconstructs (such as a living wall’s power toabsorb victims), living Grabens suffer a –2penalty on any saves made to resistsuccumbing. This does not apply toindirect effects such as create spawn, inwhich the Graben must actually be killedbefore the reanimation can commence.Family FeatsWhile a Graben character is unlikely toassociate with his or her family for long,without falling prey to it, members of thisclan are particularly drawn to the followingfeats, whether or not their family ties areclose:Agile, Alertness, Back To The Wall RLPHB ,Cold One RLPHB , Deathly Pallor CoD , DeftHands, Diehard, Diligent, Dirge Of Woe CoD ,Eschew Materials, Improved Trip,Investigator, Jaded RLPHB , Machiavellian CoD ,Mimicry CoD , Nimble Fingers, Persuasive,Quick Draw, Scent Of The Grave VRA , SilentSpell, Skeletal Dread Companion CoD ,Stealthy, Still Spell, ThreateningPresence LotB , Unseen VRA , UnwholesomeIchor CoD , Weapon Finesse.

Because so few of their adult number areactually alive, Grabens have developed featssuited to lebendtod rather than mortal clanmembers. The following feats are exclusiveto the Graben family, or perhaps some ofMeredoth’s other unliving servants:Appendix IV Graben LegacyOnly skills, weapon proficiencies, andfeats listed above may be shared in this way.Attacks, spellcasting, armor proficiencies, orclass abilities are not acquired along withborrowed body parts. Donors and recipientsmust be of the same size category.Borrowed Parts[monstrous]Prerequisite: Dex 15, lebendtod,Interchangeable PartsThe undead Graben is able to join bodyparts from other lebendtod to its own body intheir normal anatomical positions. The“donor” lebendtod must willingly contributethe loaned body part, but it need not havethis feat to do so. The recipient lebendtodmay direct the borrowed part as if it were itsown, or may forfeit control to the donor ifthe two lebendtod are no more than one milefrom one another and in the same domain. Ifpermitted to direct the loaned body part, thedonor senses the part’s surroundings andcontrols its movements, just as if the donorwere in range to autonomously direct thatappendage (see revised lebendtod template).The recipient of a borrowed head perceiveswhatever the head’s eyes and ears perceive,whether or not the head’s speech and facialexpressions are under its own control. If aloaned part is detached from its borrower,then the part becomes inert until it can be reattachedto its true owner: re-connecting it tothe recipient does not work.While joined to the recipient, the part’sability scores become those of the borrower,but its skill ranks, weapon proficiencies, andRun (legs only) or Focus (Skill, Spell, orWeapon) feats remain those of whicheverlebendtod directs its actions. Grabens whotake this feat often borrow the hands ofrelatives who are their superiors at specifictalents – anything from swordsmanship topicking pockets to playing the piano – sothey can apply the skills in settings where therightful owner of the hands would not beadmitted or welcomed. Alternatively, a slytonguedGraben’s head could be lent to anineloquent relation who has this feat, to talkthe borrower’s body past social impedimentsit cannot circumvent on its own.383Interchangeable Parts [monstrous]Prerequisite: Dex 13, lebendtodThe undead Graben is able to re-attach itsappendages – head, arms, legs, hands andfeet – at any location where another of itsparts has been removed, not just their usualanatomical positions. Parts retain their fullmobility and normal function when attachedin abnormal positions, provided their localeis not inappropriate to the task (e.g. a legjoined to a neck can’t reach the ground).Rearrangement of parts is primarily of useas an intimidation-tactic, as foes who areinured to the sight of Grabens’ limbs fallingoff may still be appalled at the sight of thesesame limbs joined to bodies in unnaturalways. In addition, lebendtod which have theInterchangeable Parts feat may extend theirReach by building end-to-end chains out oftheir limbs. Each limb after the first that isadded to the chain increases Reach by 5 feet,to a maximum of +15 Reach (two legs andtwo arms). A lebendtod that attaches itshead to its wrist may peer around cornerswithout forfeiting either the protection oftotal cover over its torso (successful attackson the peeking head reduce only its head’shp), or the superior Dexterity of its intactbody (so the head’s usual Dex penalty whendetached does not apply). A lebendtod thatinverts and exchanges its legs leaves tracksthat point backward, and a DC 25 Survivalcheck is needed to discern this discrepancyand realize its true direction of travel.Normal: Lebendtod’s parts must be reattachedin their natural anatomical positionsand orientations.Skeleton In The Closet[monstrous]Prerequisite: Must be an Obedient Deadwith an Intelligence score, created by a 15 th +level spellcaster

Appendix IV Graben LegacyThe undead Graben does not “leak” tracesof necromantic magic, so no lingering auracan be discerned by detect magic from itsbody or from locations where it has been(“Detecting Undead Presence”, VRGttWD).If subjected to detect undead or equivalenteffects, the Graben receives a +5 bonus onany saving throw it makes to conceal itsundead nature from that spell or effect.Special: This feat can only be selectedwith assistance from a 15 th + level spellcasterwho knows animate dead. This caster maybe itself.Warm One[monstrous]Prerequisite: Cha 13, lebendtod, SkeletonIn The ClosetThe undead Graben’s veil of life ability isexceptionally persistent. When damaged bya spell or magical effect, the Graben maymake a Concentration check (DC 10 + hp ofdamage dealt) to maintain its disguise as aliving being. The Graben’s veil also hides alloutward signs of injury from contact withholy water or quintessence, although hitpoints are still lost.Family ClassesIts landscape and climate may be harsh, butGraben Island is a fairly serene locale by theLand of Mists’ fearsome standards, andadventurers are not liked by most residents.The savage attack against their estate byoutlanders in 737 has given even the livingGrabens particular grounds to detest such“brigands”; their lebendtod elders, of course,have ample cause to be wary of prying dogooders.The majority of the living Grabens areeither commoners (those so sheltered theyscarcely leave the house) or aristocrats, butGrabens who fixate on a particular interest orhobby may opt to acquire levels in theexpert, fighter, bard or ranger classes, in thatorder of frequency. The lebendtod Grabensoutright forbid their heirs from pursuing anysort of religious calling or wizardry, headingoff the risk that such knowledge might leadthem too close to the truth. A few living384Grabens take after their thieving ancestor,Efraim, acquiring rogue levels without theirelders’ knowledge. Any Grabens youthswho exhibit sorcerous talent are immediatelyconverted into lebendtod, even at an earlyage, to ensure their emergent abilities won’tinadvertently disrupt their lebendtod elders’veils of life. A Graben who successfullykeeps such power hidden, be it out of shameor secretiveness, might avoid such a fatelong enough to gain sorcerer levels.While Obedient Dead do not normallyadvance in levels, lebendtod are sufficientlyactive and intelligent to do so, particularly ifservice to their creators provides frequentchallenges for them to overcome. ThoseGraben lebendtod whose responsibilities aresufficiently demanding to earn experienceusually advance in the rogue, fighter, bard,expert or warrior classes. A few lebendtodrangers also gain levels, and are sometimesassigned to patrols alongside the Niflhounds.Graben sorcerers are sent to Todstein afterconversion, never to be heard from again bytheir Island kin. Meredoth can’t stomachteaching and never takes apprentices: only ifa Graben’s talent shows exceptional promisewould he even consider having one of hisMuspelhounds or spies take time out to teachan undead Graben wizardry.Whatever their initial class, a breathingGraben who remains in contact with the clanis unlikely to earn enough levels to qualifyfor any prestige class, before conversion. AGraben who leaves home in time could windup pursuing virtually any class or prestigeclass, thereafter. Lebendtod Grabens mostoften pursue the assassin, court poisoner Ga4 ,crypt raider VRA , deceiver LotB , dirgist VRA ,duelist, propagandist CoD , or recruiter LotBprestige classes, whichever is dictated bytheir public and covert duties to family andMaster.

Appendix IV Graben Legacy385

Appendix VNocturnal Sea Timeline

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineThis timeline summarizes key dates in the history of the Nocturnal Sea and those domainswhich are now part of it.Key sources for its content include Domains of Dread, Darklords, and JWM's Timeline. Alldates, whether of genuine or false history, follow the Barovian calendar.Table 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal SeaMid-300s(Nebligtode, false history)Mid-400s(Nebligtode, false history)Mid-500s(Isle of Ravens, questionable)580(Nebligtode, false history)Pre-600 BC (Vechor)Svidi Full-Sails of the Anatal leads his tribe to colonizeGraben Island, displacing the resident monasticcommunity at the Black Chapel. The nuckalavee isconjured by the expelled clergy, then geas-bound and sentinto hibernation by the Anatal. To placate malign powerssuch as it, the Anatal begin sacrificing condemnedhumans, creating the Strangled.Svidi's colony is wiped out by a plague, leaving behindruins and the Island's ancient runestones. The nuckalaveeremains quiescent.The first report of an encounter between shipwreckedsailors of Darkon and a "fell sorceress surrounded byravens" date to this time period. Unfortunately, all suchreferences must be false history, as Darkon did not yetexist … but is it false history for Darkon, meaning theLady was already present in the Mists, or false history ofthe Isle of Ravens, belatedly grafted into Darkon's past?Even more puzzling, this encounter refers back toprevious legendary or folkloric encounters of a similarnature: stories allegedly dating back centuries. Similarreports are occasionally given throughout the next twocenturies.Graben Manor is built on Svidi's former island by awealthy jewel-thief from the south.Time of Good Dreams600 BC (Vechor) First Time of the Outlanders: Vechor enters the mists.Barovian and Darkonian references put the firstappearance of Vechor as an island in the Mists at aboutthis time.610? (Vechor) War of the Mud-Men: The Vechorites claim to havestruggled against humanoids made of river clay for aperiod of several years soon after the First Time of theOutlanders.620-650? (Vechor) The Red-Sky Years: For decades Vechor's sky wasusually red, with a green sun.610(Nebligtode, false history)The Graben family moves onto the Island full-time,adopting the island's name for their own.387

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineTable 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal Sea630(Nebligtode, false history)Ancestors of the Grabenite villagers arrive on GrabenIsland, as refugees fleeing the Óvinur Ódn (= "enemystorm") besetting the "North Wild" (March). Graben-townis founded (August). Settlers are initially led by clerics,with assemblies filling an advisory role.630 (Île de la Tempête) Monette is born on a foreign material plane, the son of aship builder.633 (Nebligtode) Meredoth attains the status of supreme master and isgranted a barony in the "North Wild" by the Empire,including an isolated isle he names "Todstein".635, New Year's Day(Nebligtode)Meredoth murders his own vassals en masse in order toreanimate them as undead, becoming the darklord ofNebligtode. Todstein and Graben Island emerge from theMists as an Island of Terror.635 (Nebligtode) Genuine Graben Island history begins. The 336-dayAnatal calendar loses step with the seasons. The All-Father's Muting strips the godi of both clerical andpolitical powers, leaving assemblies in charge ofGrabenite government. The nuckalavee awakens, butfinds itself confined to the Aassumpf and Senkenwiese.640 (Nebligtode) Lars Viggsen and the Óndskapur discover Todstein,visiting it again each year until 644, when the vessel failsto return to Graben Island.643 (Nebligtode) Curious about Viggsen's repeated trespassing, Meredothinvestigates Graben Island and its natives. Early reportsof "Aegir's Jackdaw" circulate in response to the wizard'sbroom-mounted flights over the Island.647 (Nebligtode) First reports of Meerdorf on Knammen Isle.651 (Nebligtode) Kirchenheim is settled permanently after one previousfailed attempt.654 (Île de la Tempête) Capitaine Monette earns his title, and ruthlessly leads theOuragan to commercial success.657 (Nebligtode) The Yeomanry is organized after a series of reaver attackson Graben Island.658 (Nebligtode) First documented trade between Graben Island andvessels from the Sea of Sorrows. The Call of the ClawMistway connects Nebligtode to the Core at this time.659 (Nebligtode) Seeheim is founded as a bolt-hole, also in response to thereaver attacks.388

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineTable 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal Sea660? (Vechor) Visit of the Yellowbirds: The Yellowbirds weresupposedly small yellow birds who spoke with humanvoices; they visited Vechor for "a year and a day,"prophesying and speaking as oracles, and then departed tothe sky.661 (Nebligtode) Araby Graben runs off with a sea captain, whose vesseldisappears into the Mists.672 (Nebligtode) Colin Graben murders his aunt and uncle, only to bemurdered in turn by Meredoth, along with the rest of theGraben clan's adults. The darklord reanimates them aslebendtod, and tasks the undead family to secure researchsupplies for his experiments.675 (Île de la Tempête) Capitaine Monette viciously beats an innocent youngsailor, leaving him half-dead in the next port. His crew'sintimidated respect turns to mortal fear.675-680? (Vechor) The Long Summer: The seasons vary relatively little inVechor, but this was a long period of extremely hightemperatures and relatively little rainfall.677 (Île de la Tempête) Having nearly been slain by his crew, Monette wakes onÎle de la Tempête, then an isolated Island of Terror. Hecontracts lycanthropy from the island's bats, then murdershis nephew, an act of evil solidifying his darklordship. Hefinds and rebuilds a ruined lighthouse and places hisnephew's gleaming skull within, and the Lighthouse'sBeam - a deadly Mistway - is born.680? (Vechor) The Mirrored City: An empty version of the city ofAbdok--identical to the one then existing save for itsbeing uninhabited--appeared at this time in the jungle andendured for roughly one year. This ended the LongSummer.690? (Vechor) Plague of Butterflies: There were so many insects in thisplague that they broke the limbs of trees and poisonedlarge numbers of people simply because their bodiescould not be adequately cleaned from any kind of food.690 (Île de la Tempête) The merchant ship Dragon's Gold enters Ravenloft in thedomain of Île de la Tempete, and its crew falls victim toMonette.697 (Liffe, false history) The College of Liffe is founded. Its School of Businesswill open in 752, and the School of the Physical Sciencesin 753. The college's first female students will be enrolledin 753, the first non-humans in 756.389

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineTable 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal Sea700? (Vechor) Year of Singing Stones: Numerous monoliths appearedin random locations throughout Vechor and sang forseveral months before disappearing as quickly as they hadcome.705? (Vechor) War of the Omophagists: The Vechorites were attackedby a tribe of cannibal savages, supposedly from beyondthe Mists, and fought them for several years beforeexterminating them.705 (Île de la Tempête) Monette is slain by a powerful necromancer, but revivesafter a period of time thanks to his Undying Soul specialquality. He will loathe spellcasters from then on.705-715? (Vechor) Second Time of the Outlanders: Unlike the other twoTimes of Outlanders, this does not correspond to anylarger event in the Land of Mists.708 (Nebligtode) Matthais Graben loses his (un)life in a shipwreck, leavingColin Graben as acting head of the Graben family.715? (Vechor) River from the Sea: The Nostru River reversed its flowand carried water from the sea to the highlands, causing anear-famine as it killed much of the vegetation in itscourse.717? (Vechor) The Year of Five Earthquakes: This is fairly selfexplanatory;the river reversed course again after thesetremors.720? (Vechor) The War of the Trees: The forests of Vechor went tobattle against each other for several months.725? (Vechor) The Plague of Serpents: A enormous number ofserpents, many poisonous, infested Vechor throughoutthis year.730? (Vechor) The Year of Bad Births: A very great number of calibansand other freaks were born this year, both to humans,animals and plants.732 (Isle of Ravens) The Lady of Ravens has a falling-out with one of herchief servants, the earth-spirit Kalibos (reported in somerecords as "Kalipos", "Kalipan" or "Kaliban".) She throwshim from the top of the Tower of Flint; unknown to her atthe time, he survives and makes his lair in a burrow-caveat the extreme southern end of the Isle of Ravens.734 (Nebligtode) The outlander Captain Garvyn breaks his oath to deliverbodies to the Graben crypts for the third time. Garvyn'sship, the Endurance, becomes the latest Ship of Horrors.390

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineTable 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal Sea735? (Vechor) Year of the Dreamstone: A huge meteorite fell a fewmiles outside of Abdok; it was blamed for sickness and arash of disappearances which occurred soon thereafter.736-738 (Liffe) Formation of several of Liffe's component domains.736 (Liffe) A werewolf ravages its way through the population ofMoondale before being dispatched by a group ofadventurers.737 (Nebligtode) Meredoth and many of the Graben undead are killed byadventurers. Sleet and gales wreak havoc throughoutNebligtode for a week. Captain Garvyn's curse is brokenand the Endurance vanishes out of Ravenloft; it ispresumed lost to the storms.737 (Nebligtode) Meredoth revives via the Clone spell, acquiring some newtraits in the process, and begins tightening up hisdefenses. His Obedient Dead minions gain someintelligence (as per VRGttWD), both as a result of hisdeath and the older specimens' reaching 100 years of age.737 (Nebligtode) Colin Graben becomes a swarm-shifter in the process ofrecovering from the adventurers' attacks. He regainsenough intelligence and self-direction, due to Meredoth'stemporary demise, to begin plotting his own futureresurrection behind his master's back.740 (Nebligtode) The Call of the Claw Mistway is severed (or, at least,becomes far less reliable) due to the Grand Conjunction.740 (Liffe) After a short period of peace, a number of dhampires,spawned from a vampiric infestation a generation earlier,come of age and reduced the town of Moondale to chaos.740 (Vechor) The Plague of Nightmares: This corresponds to theGreat Upheaval.741 (Liffe) Several fragments of dying domains begin to merge,creating the composite island of Liffe.743 (Isle of Ravens) Kalibos forges the sword Felauragoth and enters theTower of Flint, intent on killing the Lady. He fails; theearth-spirit escapes with his life, but leaves Felauragothbehind.750 (Liffe) The Beast Cult' sacrifices attract the attention of heroes.They root out the cause of the sacrificial victims'disappearances and slay the cult's leader, Malisha.391

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineTable 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal Sea750, New Year's Eve(Nebligtode)750, New Year's Eve (Isle ofRavens)750, New Year's Eve (Île de laTempête)The Nocturnal Sea emerges from the Mists. Nebligtode'sshape is altered drastically to accommodate the newcoastline and islands. Lebendtod are dispatched byMeredoth to gather new secrets of magic and undeathfrom the mainland.The Nocturnal Sea forms, and the Isle of Ravens becomessituated in it. This is the first time the Isle can be assigneda definite geographic location and a "true" history.The Île de la Tempête becomes fixed in the NocturnalSea. Still trapped, Monette is unaware of any changes,only that more ships now "visit" his island.750, New Year's Eve (Liffe) Liffe is revealed to the Core as an island off theDarkonian coast. Trade soon commences with this, themost accessible of the new Sea's islands.750 (Vechor) The New Sea, or the Third Time of the Outlanders:This obviously corresponds to Vechor finding itself on theshore of the Nocturnal Sea.751 Arriving in the Nocturnal Sea via the newly-discoveredWake of the Loa, Captain Teach commences a long careerof piracy.751 (Nebligtode) Lebendtod scouts are sent to Il Aluk to investigate reportsof mass undead transformations, but fall under Death'scontrol and fail to return to Meredoth's service.751 (Liffe) Borcan merchant Sulo Boritsi of the Boritsi TradingCompany stayed briefly in Armeikos, to open a localbranch of the Boritsi Trading Company.751 (Nebligtode) Colin Graben appoints "Josiah Graben", his allegedgrandson, as his proxy in Graben-town, allowing him totake a more active hand in the port's economictransformation from backwater to boomtown.752 (Isle of Ravens) The Lady of Ravens disposes of Felauragoth by sending itto the mainland with a shipwreck survivor, Babettel'Jeunese. The castaway leaves it in the boat whichbrought her to shore; when she returns to retrieve it, it hasdisappeared. Its current location is unknown.752 (Darkon) Would-be mayor Weick and his lieutenant HewBeardunsuccessfully tries to colonize the ruined coastal city ofRookhausen, with tall tales of buried riches (the city wasabandoned in 757).752 The Mouse's notoriety as an expert burglar beginsspreading along the eastern sea's coast.392

Appendix V Nocturnal Sea TimelineTable 1: Timeline of the Nocturnal Sea753 (Vechor) The War of the Sea Demons: Humanoid aquaticinvaders harassed Vechorite coastal settlementsthroughout most of this year, withdrawing asmysteriously as they had come after several months ofintermittent conflict.754 (Vechor) The Year of the Dead: For a week, the dead came out ofthe cemeteries and resumed their former life.755 (Nebligtode) Azalin returns to Darkon, and animosity grows betweenhim and Meredoth.756 (Liffe) Protest riots erupt at the University (formerly College) ofLiffe. Breaking in to steal back his tuition under cover ofthe unrest, a student watches his coin purse explode in acyclone of gold, which slays him and his companions.757 (Liffe) Foundation of the Patriots of Liffe secret society.759 (Liffe) Factors of the Carlyle Trading Company arrive inArmeikos and begin acquiring storage facilities and ships,threatening the Boritsis' dominance of the local shippingindustry.760 The Fraternity of Shadows explores the Nocturnal Sea,seeking the fugitive lich Van Rijn.393

Appendix VIFurther Reading

Appendix VI Further ReadingFor complete rules on maritime adventures and ships, WotC's Stormwrack is highlyrecommended.Official Ravenloft books:The whole of the Nocturnal Sea is briefly presented in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting andRavenloft Player's Handbook.LiffeBook of Crypts ("Rite of Terrors", set in Aferdale; "Cedar Chest", set in Armeikos; "Blood inMoondale", set in Moondale; "Death's Cold Laughter", set in Risibilos; and "Living Crypt",featuring Nightblood), Children of the Night: Demons (Straw God), Ravenloft MonstorCompendium II (Andres Duvall), Children of the Night: Created (Lucre).VechorSecrets of the Dread Realm, Domains of Dread, Ravenloft Monstor Compendiem II - "Golem,Mechanical (Ahmi Vanjuko)". Davion first appeared in Book of Crypts and then in Domains ofDread.Ile de la TempêteMonette and Île de la Tempête were first presented in Darklords.Isle of RavensThe 2nd edition sourcebook Domains of Dread mentions the Lady of Ravens in its overview ofthe Nocturnal Sea.InterludesSelbstmorde Reef and Tidemore are places taken from the Children of the Night:Werebeasts, inits entry for Hilde Borganov. Mavalga is briefly described in Children of the Night: Demons, inthe adventure "Bad Wind".NebligtodeThe Ship of Horror adventure first introduced these islands, and many NPCs were borrowedfrom this book. The 2nd edition sourcebook Domains of Dread also reviews Meredoth and hisdomain. Additional (out-of-setting) inspiration came from The Northern Reaches and Dawn ofthe Empires, both supplements for OD&D, and from the cult film Dead & Buried.Fan-made articlesFor further information about the Isle of Ravens, see the Book of Sacrifices articles"Felauragoth" and "The Isle of Ravens". Also, the Quoth the Raven #13 article "The Isle ofRavens" recounts Dirac's first visit to the Lady's domain.Vechor's Hypatia complete stats were presented in Complete Misty Warrior article (Quoth theRaven # 10) by Mark Graydon.395

Appendix VI Further ReadingThe accursed ship, Crescent Moon, was introduced by James Wyatt in the Haunted SitesKargatane netbook.The Eternal Torture, first glimpsed in Ship of Horror, was elevated to a full domain by StefanMac in 2001's Undead Sea Scrolls.The domain of Locknar Cove, created by Stephen C. Sutton, is described in the Book ofSacrifices Kargatane netbook.The Chained Captain was first presented in "Sword, Fist and Mist" (Quoth the Raven #1), byMark "Mortavius" Graydon.The Mouse debuted in Quoth the Raven #4, in "Love, Labour and Lynch Mobs", CaptainTeach in Quoth the Raven #9 ("Scourge of the Misty Seas"); both were created by Stephen C.Sutton.Nedragonne, a domain by Adam Garou, is from Quoth the Raven #9, as are the monsters of"Terrors of the Deep: New Nautical Nightmares" by Uri "Shadowking" Barak.The Carlyle Trading Company was created by Mikhail "NeoTiamat" Rekun for Van RichtenSociety Research Files: Doppelgangers.396

Appendix VI Further ReadingTable 1: Book References UsedBVD Book of Vile DarknessCAr Complete ArcaneCWa Complete WarriorDoD Denizens of Dread / DarknessDra# Dragon Magazine and issue numberDragC Dragon Magazine CompendiumDTDL Dark Tales and Disturbing LegendsEPH Expanded Psionics HandbookFiFFiend FolioFRMF Magic of FaerûnFoSNS Fraternity of Shadows Nocturnal Sea ReportFroFrostburnGa# Ravenloft Gazetteer and volume numberJWM New monster by J W MangrumLiM Libris MortisLoM Lords of MadnessMM1 Monster ManualMM2 Monster Manual IIMM3 Monster Manual IIIMM5 Monster Manual VOrA Oriental AdventurePlHPlanar HandbookQtR# Quoth the Raven and issue numberRCS Ravenloft 3e Campaign SettingRLMCIII 2 Edition Ravenloft Monsterous Compendium IIIRStRaces Of StoneRWi Races of the WildSanSandstormSaSSavage SpeciesSpC Spell CompendiumStoStormwrackVRA Van Richten's ArsenalVRFSM VRS Research Files: Sea Monsters (netbook planned by the FoS)VRGSF Van Richten‘s guide to the Shadow FeyVRGWD Van Richten‘s guide to the Walking Dead397

Index

AAs Heard in a Port...Drowning Deep ...................................235Lebendtod ...........................................280AzalinMeredoth .............................................336BBaron Lyron EvensongLair ......................................................298Behind The CurtainWhat’s In A Name? ............................128Blake the Baker ........................................15BoatsGraben Island Dory .............................164CCaptain Teach ........................................124Conclusions ............................................236Creature creationCreate AberrationExampleGod of Many Faces .................253Feat ................................................243Process ..........................................252Create Magical BeastCreated Beast Template ................249Feat ................................................243Process ..........................................243ExampleScorpiwolf .............................244, 250Cresent Moon .........................................121Cryoskeletons .........................................198DDarklordsAlain Monette .....................................306Baron Lyron Evensong .......................295Easan the Mad .....................................301Lady of Ravens ...................................317Meredoth .............................................325Virundus ..............................................369Demilords .................................................42Liffe ......................................................42Puncheron ...........................................299Domainsboundaries ...........................................181Isle of Ravens ......................................108Liffe ......................................................10Index399Nebligtode ........................................... 128Graben Island ................................ 130Todstein ........................................ 184Vechor ................................................... 44Doomwright ........................................... 138Dread PossibilitiesBog-Pits of the Strangled .................... 136Captain Teach ..................................... 124Cat’s in the Cradle .............................. 141Circle of Blood ...................................... 37Colin's Vengeance, Brynna's Curse .... 361Davion the Many-Souled ...................... 76Dead Stone’s Demise .......................... 192Drowned and the Damned .................. 126False Hopes ......................................... 116Filthy Lucre ........................................... 27Groom of the Sea ................................ 235Lost at Port .......................................... 145Malisha ..................................................14Merry Rioters ...................................... 121Message in a Bottle ............................. 315Mouse .................................................. 125One Life’s Measure .............................. 18Ouragan ...............................................314Plans of a Prince ................................. 179Refugee .................................................41Rookhausen ......................................... 127Ship of Horrors ................................... 173Strange Powers of the Point .................. 23Strays & Sleepers ................................ 350The Demon Within? ............................ 303The Land Remembers ........................... 39The One That Got Away ..................... 339The Sleep of Reason ........................... 320Transpossession Temptation ............... 368Trow ...................................................... 34Walking Stones ..................................... 25Drowning DeepAs Heard in a Port... ............................ 235Encounters .......................................... 229Geographical Survey ........................... 225Settlements .................................... 226Shay-lot ................................... 228Geography of the Deep ....................... 375Heroes ................................................. 230in Short ................................................225In the Drowned City ........................... 376People .................................................. 228Art and Trade ................................ 233

IndexDaily Life ......................................230Government ..................................234History ..........................................233Language .......................................230Xalote Phrasebook ..................231Outlook and Worldview ................232Religion .........................................232God Below ..............................232Teleportation .......................................235Virundus ..............................................369Dungeon Master’s Appendixes1 New Magic and Feats ......................2422 New Monsters ..................................2623 Who’s Doomed ................................2944 Graben Legacy .................................3785 Nocturnal Sea Timeline ...................3866 Further Reading ...............................394Dungeon Master’s TipsExotic Magic 101 ................................331Snouters in Wonderland ........................62Too Many Spells! ................................343Understanding Monette .......................310Vechor and the Techniques of Terror ...78EEasan the Mad ........................................301Ejrik Spellbender .....................................16EncountersDrowning Deep ...................................229Graben IslandMonsters ........................................139Wildlife .........................................138Isle of Ravens ......................................110L’Île de la Tempête .............................102LiffeMonsters ..........................................31Wildlife ...........................................30Nocturnal Sea Surface (any domain) ....86Todstein ..............................................197VechorMonsters ..........................................66Wildlife ...........................................65Evensong, Baron Lyron .........................295FFeatsCreate Magical Beast ..........................243Creature Creation ................................243Graben Family ....................................382400Flayed Rider ........................................... 135Flora ....................................................... 109GGerardBats ..................................................... 100God Below ..................................... 148, 232Graben FamilyColin Graben ....................................... 351Legacy ................................................. 378Claiming Membership .................. 381Classes ..........................................384Feats .............................................. 382Fitting In ....................................... 380Traits ............................................. 381Post-Upheaval ..................................... 155Graben Island .........................................130Colin Graben ....................................... 351Domain Boundaries ............................ 181EncountersMonsters ........................................ 139Wildlife .........................................138Flayed Rider ................................ 135, 265Food .................................................... 164Geographic SurveyClimate ..........................................131Topography ................................... 133Geographical Survey ........................... 131Government ........................................ 176Heroes ................................................. 157History ................................................ 170Age of the Sea-Raiders ................. 170Emergence .................................... 172Exodus to Graben Island ............... 171Recent Events ............................... 173In Short ............................................... 131Language ............................................. 165Primer ............................................ 166Law Enforcement ................................ 178Lebendtodtemplate .........................................274Ledendtod ........................................... 153Map ..................................................... 180Meerdorf ............................................. 145Outcast ratings .................................... 159People .................................................. 156Attitudes and Beliefs ..................... 167Clothing ........................................ 159Daily Life ...................................... 160

Religion ...............................................167An Unaccepted Pact? ....................169Runestones ..........................................143Settlements ..........................................140Graben-town .................................140Kirchenheim ..................................150Meerdorf .......................................145Shadow over Meerdorf ...........148Seeheim .........................................148Sunlight ...............................................156Trade and Craftsmanship ....................175Winter .................................................132Graben, Colin .........................................351Curse-Bound .......................................362Splice ..................................................358Vengeance Risen .................................361HHeroesDrowning Deep ...................................230Graben .................................................157Liffe ......................................................32Vechor ...................................................67IInterlude I .................................................80Interlude II .............................................118Isle of Ravens .........................................108Encounters ..........................................110Fauna ...................................................109Fey ......................................................111Flora ....................................................109Geographical Survey ...........................109History ................................................110Kalibos ................................................323Lady of Ravens ...................................317Librarian ..............................................113People ..................................................111Tower of Flint .....................................113JJean-Marcel l’Voy .................................153KKalibos ...........................................109, 323LL’Île de la Tempête ..................................88Bats ...............................................99, 100Bats, Afflicted .....................................102Index401Encounters .......................................... 102In short ..................................................90Lighthouse .......................................... 102Beam ............................................. 106Monette .................................................98Monnette ............................................. 306Sailing the Storm ................................ 308Settlements ............................................ 91Shipwrecks ...................................... 92, 94The Eye of Midnight ........................... 106Tides of Tempête ................................ 309Lady of Ravens ...................................... 317Lair ...................................................... 321LanguageGrabenite ............................................. 165Primer ............................................ 166Liffen .................................................... 33Phrasebook ...................................... 34Vechorite ............................................... 68Liffe ................................................... 10, 42Art and Trade ........................................ 36Baron Lyron Evensong ....................... 295EncountersMonsters .......................................... 31Wildlife ........................................... 30Flora and Fauna .................................... 30Geographical Survey ............................. 11Government .......................................... 40Heroes ................................................... 32History ..................................................40in short ..................................................11Language ............................................... 33Phrasebook ...................................... 34Locales ..................................................21Maiden Point ................................... 21Neverwere Manor ............................... 298People .................................................... 31Daily Life ........................................ 31Language ......................................... 33Outlook and Worldview .................. 34Religions ......................................... 35Puncheron ........................................... 299SettlementsAferdale .......................................... 13Armeikos ......................................... 14Claveria ........................................... 17Goldendale ...................................... 19Moondale ........................................ 19Risibilos .......................................... 20

IndexLocales of Interest ..................................113MMagicMagic Void ...........................................84New SpellsFrostshroud ...................................256Shink Item, Greater .......................257Shrink Construct ...........................257Somnambulism .............................257Somnambulism, Directed ..............258Transmute Snow to Stone .............258Transmute Stone to Snow .............259Vision Stone ..................................260Magic RatingsNocturnal Sea ........................................81Magical Items ........................................358Meredoth ................................................325Hoarfrost .............................................329Lairs ....................................................345Hall of Flesh ..................................346House of Bones .............................345Wright’s Hollow ...........................347Mirror Curses ......................................336MistwaysNocturnal Sea ........................................83Sleep of Reason ....................................57The Call of the Claw ...........................132Umbral Curtain .....................................57Vechor ...................................................47Monette, Alain .................................98, 306Monette, Capitaine AlainLair ......................................................314MonstersFlayed Rider ........................................265God of Many Faces .............................253Golem, Skeletal ...................................270Lebendtod ...........................................274Scorpiwolf ...........................................250Sea-claimedAnguilian ......................................284Locathah ........................................283Reaver ...........................................283Sahuagin ........................................283template .........................................281Wereoctopus .................................284Wereray .........................................284Shipbane ..............................................284Undead Salient Abilities .....................263402White-Fang .........................................289Mouse, the .............................................. 125NNebligtode ...................................... 118, 128Graben Island ...................................... 130in short ................................................ 128Todstein .............................................. 184Nocturnal SeaDomain Boundaries ............................ 181Encounters (surface) ............................. 86Magic Ratings ....................................... 81Magic Void ...........................................84Navigation ............................................. 82Nebligtode ........................................... 118Temperatures ........................................ 81OOutcast RatingsGraben Island ...................................... 159PPiratesCaptain Teach ..................................... 124Mouse, the ........................................... 125Prologue ................................................. 6, 8Puncheron .............................................. 299RReferencesAbreviations ........................................ 397Book Reference ................................... 397Fan-made articles ................................ 395Official Ravenloft Books .................... 395ReligionThousand Gods, The ............................. 36Rookhausen ............................................ 127Runestones ............................................. 143SScorpiwolf .............................................. 250Sea-Strange ............................................ 148Secret ....................................................... 13Secret SocietiesBeast Cult .............................................. 13Niflhounds ..........................................203Patriots of Liffe ..................................... 38The Beast Cult ...................................... 13Wise Women ....................................... 151

Seeheim ..................................................148Shadow FeyDoomwright ........................................138Merry Rioters ......................................121Trow ......................................................34Shay-lot ..................................................228Sea-claimed .........................................281Snow Golems .........................................199TTable of Contents .......................................5TemplateCreated Beast ......................................249Thousand Gods, The ................................36TimelineNocturnal Sea ......................................386TodesteinHall of Flesh ........................................346House of Bones ...................................345Wright’s Hollow .................................347Todstein .................................................184Boneyard .............................................206Encounters ..........................................197MonstersCryoskeletons ..........................198Gargoyles ................................190Snow Golems ..........................199Gargoyle Point ....................................190Geographical Survey ...........................186Climate ..........................................186Fauna .............................................195Flora ..............................................191Locals of InterestGeographic Oddities ...............205Temperature ..................................186Topography ...................................189In Short ...............................................185Locales of Interest ...............................199Graben Family Tombs ..................199Serpent’s Staircase ........................201Watchposts ....................................203Meredoth .............................................325Wright’s Hollow .................................205Tower of Flint ........................................113UUndeadSalient Abilities ...................................263IndexUniversity of LiffeAffiliation .............................................. 28Unreality Wrinkles ................................... 74Effects ................................................... 74Lost Ones .............................................. 77Recovery ............................................... 77VVechor ...................................................... 44Art and Trade ........................................ 72Attitudes toward Magic ........................ 71Climate ..................................................48Easan the Mad ..................................... 301EncountersMonsters .......................................... 66Wildlife ........................................... 65Geographical Survey ............................. 48Government .......................................... 73Heroes ................................................... 67History ..................................................73House of Fallen Leaves ......................... 57in Short ..................................................46Language ............................................... 68Outlook and worldview ........................ 68People .................................................... 67Perpetual Change .................................. 46Plants and Animals ............................... 59Religion .................................................71Settlements ............................................ 51Abdok .............................................. 52Spellbook hunters ................................. 54Unreality Wrinkles ................................ 74Weather .................................................49Wilderness ............................................ 49Virundus ................................................. 369403

Index404

Chapter 22405

406