Lost Caverns Adventure Information
From Black Country Role Playing Society
This information will be updated as PC's progress through the adventure
Contents |
Iggwilv’s Horn
Iggwilv’s Horn is a towering mountain, both wide and tall.
It stands roughly 11,700 feet in height, and is over 20 miles in diameter at the base. The highest point of the peak, which leans 15 degrees to the east over sheer cliffs, hosts snow much of the year. The Horn stands in unclaimed mountainous territory between Ket and Perrenland. The peak sits on the bank of the Velverdyva River, along the trade road between Schwartzenbruin and Highfolk.
The terrain is rocky, treacherous, and difficult to travel. Except for the main road running along the Velverdyva, most paths are merely game trails, overgrown by roots and lichen. Characters must move carefully, walking their mounts through all but the widest sections of road.
All roads and paths on Iggwilv’s Horn are considered mountainous terrain, allowing for only 3/4 normal overland speed. Move Silently and Tumble check DCs increase by 2 due to small plants, loose rock, and shifting earth.
For the most part, the weather in the region is uncomfortable but not dangerous. It is abnormally warm and humid for this part of the continent, averaging 85°F during the day and dropping to 75°F at night. Slow, soaking rains are common, leaving the air wet and sticky.
Tharizdun
Tharizdun is the god of Eternal Darkness, Decay, Entropy, Malign Knowledge, Insanity, and Cold. He was imprisoned ages ago by a coalition of deities to prevent the destruction of existence itself. His holy symbols are a dark spiral rune and a two-tiered inverted ziggurat known as an obex. His holy number is 333.
Description
Tharizdun is a pitch-black, roiling, amorphous form. As the Dark God, he is described as an incorporeal wraith-form, black and faceless.
Other aspects
Tharizdun is sometimes worshipped as an entity called the Elder Elemental Eye (a being similar to Ghaunadaur), but few of these worshippers recognize the two as being the same entity. The Elder Elemental Eye is described as a huge, mottled, tentacled being, or as a pillar of vast elemental force with a body of burning magma, radiating steam.
Relationships
It is believed that Tharizdun has no allies, given his desire to destroy the entire universe. Should he ever escape from his prison, it is thought that even the most evil of deities work with their good counterparts to return Tharizdun to his prison. However, the Dark God has been known to work his will secretly by employing various demons (with or without their knowledge) to do his bidding. Examples of fiends so used include Iuz and Zuggtmoy, and the Princes of Elemental Evil.
Dogma
Tharizdun's doctrine is to destroy all and everything encountered (himself included), as he puts it: The very threads of existence must be torn asunder, then burned, then the ashes scattered, until all is nothing and no one exists to remember existence.
Scriptures
Most of Tharizdun's ancient scriptures are long lost. The only one known to remain is the Lament for Lost Tharizdun, penned his last cleric "Wongas".
Worshippers
Tharizdun's worshippers are often insane. Their ultimate goal is to free their dark deity from his prison. He is rumored to be worshipped by the Scarlet Brotherhood, though these followers are actually a splinter sect of the organization known as the Black Brotherhood or The Blackthorn
Clergy
Like his lay worshippers, many of Tharizdun's priests are mad. Those who are not believe (mistakenly) that they will reap great rewards and privileges for their aid in freeing him. All of his clerics are extremely secretive and trust only fellow cultists. They lead foul rituals, including human sacrifice, and search ancient sites for clues to freeing their deity. Due to Tharizdun's imprisonment, his priests must remain in contact with a site or object holding some of the Dark God's power in order to use their magic. Their favored weapon is the "spiral of decay," a bizarre weapon about which little is known. Those priests who follow Tharizdun's Elder Elemental Eye aspect have used a weapon known as a "tentacle rod" (a rod topped with animate tentacles), but it is unknown if this is the same object.
Temples
Tharizdun's temples (often in the shape of black ziggurats) are usually hidden, due to necessity. Known places of worship include an ancient temple located in the Yatil Mountains, as well as a more recently discovered temple in the Lortmils, near the Kron Hills. Although not many people in the Flanaess are aware that Tharizdun exists, it is said that public knowledge of one of his ziggurats would be enough to "raise an army of paladins"
Artifacts
Tharizdun has many known artifacts. "One" that is known is actually many: a collection of gems known as the 333 Gems of Tharizdun. Their current location is unknown, but it is certain that the collection was split up long ago. Other artifacts associated with Tharizdun include the sword Druniazth and the Spear of Sorrow. The Scorpion Crown was gifted by him to the last king of Sulm. Another item, the Wailer of Tharizdun, is said to have originally been a key to lower levels of his vile temples and all with the power of summoning. Still another artifact, the Weeping Hexagram, is in the hands of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
History
Some say that Tharizdun originated in the Far Realm or in a previous universe. Tharizdun was imprisoned eons ago by the forebears of those beings known as the Great Powers, although it is said that Pelor was also involved. It's said that both good and evil deities worked together to ensure his imprisonment. As the Dark God, he is credited with the corruption of the Seelie Court. Through the Scorpion Crown, he is said to have destroyed the ancient kingdom of Sulm.
He was imprisoned long ago, but his prison may weaken at times, allowing his influence to creep out into the worlds beyond.
Vale of Sorrows (The friendly Gnomes in the caverns)
The gnomes mention the colony at Thumbvale and have made it clear that their fellow Gnomes cannot be trusted and are no friends to the inhabitants of the Vale of Sorrows.
An ancient relic of Tharizdun corrupted the gnomes of Thumbvale. They also warn the PCs of "a creature of multiple nightmares bred into one" - and tell the PCs on which peak to search for its lair. They added that the creature sometimes flies with another beast, although they do not know of its lair.
The gnomes allowed the party into their home to rest and recuperate. Deep within, they host a shrine to Garl Glittergold. The characters had the option purchase one scroll each of Lesser Restoration, Restoration, and Heal from these clerics at standard cost.
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[edit] Wailer of TharizdunSome thirty years ago a group of adventurers returned to their gnome allies bearing treasures from a long-forgotten temple to Tharizdun. One of the treasures they brought with them was a strange horn with metal handles on either side of the mouthpiece. Price: Minor artifact This abnormally large horn is crafted of iron. It is capped with a darker metal that feels uncomfortably cold to the touch. The horn is a minor artifact, created during an age of potent magic by casters loyal to the lord of entropy and madness. It no longer serves its main purpose (see Lore). When wielded by a chaotic individual, however, it functions as a brass horn of Valhalla. When wielded by an evil individual, it functions as a horn of evil. If the wielder is both chaotic and evil, it functions as a silver horn of Valhalla, and its horn of evil effect is usable three times per day, rather than once. The wailer also has innate taint that cannot be cleansed. Anyone in contact with it gains 1d2 points of depravity every 24 hours, unless they succeed on a DC 21 Will save. Lore: This great horn, called the Wailer of Tharizdun, was once housed in a great forgotten temple to the mad god. Its primary purpose was to activate the magic chambers found in the lowest level of that shrine (DC 20 Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge (history) check). The Wailer of Tharizdun can be destroyed only by a good-aligned weapon, and only after being soaked in the blood of a slain demon for 1 hour. The individual who delivers the shattering blow is instantly cleansed of all taint. Prerequisites: Minor artifact. |
Scrap of paper found in the Hut
This paper appears to be the surviving page of a journal once kept by an adventurer who dared to brave the Lost Caverns. Much of the text is damaged, either by water or bloodstains.
[blurred]... and we descended. There was no certain path, so
we [smudge]... and this is told of above, for it is where Yaim
and Brelid met their end. Our persistence paid. The right way
was beyond and narrow, so [stain]... eam lies straight pas
[more stains]... pe the span swiftly to plunge to doom where
the wat [smudges and stains obliterate several lines]...
They were right. It is more dismal here than above. Only the
two of us su [blotch]... We pray that the lucky [smudge] is
true, for we are now going to attempt entry fo [large rusty
smears have wiped out the next words]... of no help. I
managed to escape. Why did we [here the remaining few
words are smeared and unreadable except for the last
word]... beautiful."
The Caves
All of the passageways and chambers are natural, with few signs of mining. The floor is mostly smooth and worn, although rugged places with fallen stone or stalagmites still exist.
Ceiling height varies according to the following table:
| Width | Height |
| 0 - 10 feet | 10 - 15 feet |
| 11 - 20 feet | 16 - 30 feet |
| 30+ feet | Domed ceiling with apex equal to 2/3 width |
General Description
The rock formations in these caverns are colorful. Stalactites descend from the ceilings. Drab grays and gray-browns dominate the walls and floor at the entryway, but farther along the stone is red, yellow, green, and blue.
Some areas have sparkling mica, quartz, or low value onyx deposits, or else contain minerals that reflect a prism of color under the torch or lantern light. Within the caves are frequent shelves and ledges, and along these grow strange lichens and fungi. A few of these organisms give off a faint, pale gray luminescence. This glow is insufficient for sight except for characters that have low-light vision, which can spot movement within 10 feet of the radiance.
Some areas also contain sand and compost, allowing for the growth of huge fungi of all types, some bearing a resemblance to Shriekers and Violet Fungi. These areas of growth occur where plentiful water leaks in from the walls and ceiling.
Small rivulets and pools of water have formed every 100 feet or so. The pools support small, pale life forms - crayfish and fish, as well as crickets, beetles, and other insects.
