Epic Level Handbook

The altar is dedicated to no particular deity, although 8. Pantry CHAPTER 6:
some of the trappings bear the markings and colors of
Boccob. This chamber contains a single cabinet that stands AN EPIC
against the far wall. The cabinet is clean, bright, and SETTING
Creatures: The statue is actually a mithral golem freshly polished, untouched by the dust that thickly
constructed by Kerleth to prevent unauthorized beings cloaks the rest of the room.
from entering the chapel or moving up the stairs to the
upper stories of the tower. It attacks anyone not accom- If the cabinet is opened, aromas of stewing meats,
panied by either Kerleth or Ignition/Inferno who freshly baked bread, cheeses, pies, and fresh fruit sud-
passes through the doors (merely opening them does denly waft through the air. It smells as though someone
not trigger an attack). The golem pursues creatures who has been cooking up a feast fit for a monarch, and
flee via the stairs (even if they originally entered the indeed, the cabinet is bursting with a bountiful spread.
chamber from that direction), but it does not chase Crocks and platters of every size and shape are filled to
those who retreat through the double doors back into overflowing with fine foods of every sort.
area 3.
Treasure: The cabinet is a cabinet of feasting. Kerleth
Mithral Golem: hp 198; see full statistics in Chapter 5. had this unusual magic item commissioned so that he
would never have to rely on a cook’s talents to please his
Treasure: Resting in a secret, magic-impervious com- palette, nor would he need fear being poisoned at the
partment within the altar (Search DC 40) are a mask of the hands of an unscrupulous chef.
skull and a cube of force.
9. Library (CR 10)
Development: One round after any conflict begins The door and window to the chamber is trapped.
in this room, the two lava-wights descend the stairs
from room 7 and join any ongoing attack against the Transfer to Mirror of Life Trapping Trap: CR 10;
PCs. One round after that, Ignition/Inferno arrives magic device; proximity trigger; automatic reset; spell
from room 10 (if the ettin still lives) and also attacks effect (imprisonment variant); spell effect (any creature
the PCs. that passes through lintel of the door or window (either
direction) without first uttering the password “exoge-
7. Dining Hall (EL 25) nous” is transferred directly into the mirror of life trapping
in room 12, no saving throw—equipment of the victim
This spacious chamber has a long table in the east- clatters to the floor in room 13); Search (DC 32); Disable
ernmost section with large, stout chairs around it. Device (DC 32).
Eight large statues, depicting stylistically lean
humanoids, stand along the walls. The statues are Each time a victim is sent into the mirror of life trapping,
all immolated in flames, yet they are not charred. a thorciasid is kicked out in room 12. This was the diabol-
Several sets of doors lead off into other chambers, ical trap that caught Regalid (even though he knew the
all shut. password, he forgot to use it just once).

The statues have continual flame cast upon them for effect. The scent of glue and paper is strong in this chamber.
Should any effect dismiss the spell, continual flame Bookcases fill most of the available space from floor to
springs up again of its own accord while each statue ceiling, interspersed with the occasional overstuffed
remains in one piece. Otherwise, the statues are mun- chair and elegant lamp. A single table sits between
dane (with two exceptions), and close examination of two of the chairs, and a half-eaten meal appears atop
them reveals this to be the case. it. The room is pleasantly cool.

Creatures: The two southwesternmost statues are The room is filled with books, tablets, scroll tubes, and
actually lavawights, blending in among the other stat- etchings of all size, shape, and materials. Both magical
ues (Spot DC 30 to notice something strange on first and mundane materials can be found here.
glance into the chamber). They were set here by Ker-
leth, and continue to guard his tower against intruders Regalid stayed in this room while he was in the tower.
to this day. The meal is his, though it is quite stale now (composed
of bread and cheese). The implements are of silver, and
Lavawights (2): hp 208; see full statistics in Chapter 5. monogrammed with Regalid’s name. Agnimia recog-
nizes them as belonging to her brother.
Development: More than likely, the PCs fought
the lavawights prior to entering this chamber, as the Mundane Books: Among the hundreds of books and
lavawights respond to the sound of combat either scrolls in the library are these gems of fame and antiq-
above or below. Otherwise, the lavawights attack the uity: Chambliss: My Life in Flames by Belch Fardown, an
PCs here.

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CHAPTER 6: autobiography of a noted fire elementalist; Guide to the The same conditions that occur outside in the Elemental
Underdark by Winninger, a lexicon of a dangerous Plane of Fire are present here, with the exception of
AN EPIC underground realm on a Material Plane world; Efreet Life steam clouds and rains of ash.
SETTING and Culture by Colvathus, a treatise on the nature of the
fire genies; Legacy of Night by Andar, a history and origin Creatures: Ignition/Inferno, the ettin, lairs here
of vampirism; Military Review of the Blood War by Ronna- (see room 2, above, for additional information concern-
sic, a discussion of military organization of the various ing the ettin). The ettin keeps a pet, a fire cat, that has
factions; Mind Kampf by Ronassic, a brief foray into the run of the chamber. If anyone other than the ettin
mind flayer culture; Magical Tactics of the Outer Planes, enters the chamber, the cat (which most likely has
author unknown, a questionable guide of less than per- been napping on the bed or atop the shelves) arches its
fect recommendations for paradimensional travel; The back and hisses. It does not attack unless it is attacked
Illithiad by S. Wakeman, the quintessential illithid first. Assuming the heroes have not already dispatched
guidebook; and The Economics of Interplanar Commerce by the ettin elsewhere, Ignition/Inferno is here. The ettin
Kharlin, a much-sought primer on establishing trade attacks intruders with its twin scimitars, muttering
routes across several worlds. about the impoliteness of trespassing, and how it
seems to pervade the entire multiverse. It assumes
Magic Books and Scrolls: Kerleth’s spellbooks are that, like many recent visitors (it regards Regalid as a
stored in the library; one whole shelf contains an alpha- guest since the agent retriever knew the passwords),
betically sorted set of volumes scribed with all the spells the PCs are somehow looking for the treasures of its
found in the Player’s Handbook, plus any the DM sees fit to master, Kerleth.
include from other sources. A concerted search through
the stacks eventually brings to light eight epic scrolls: Ignition/Inferno (paragon half-fire elemental ettin):
Roll normally eight times for epic scrolls on the tables hp 300; see full statistics at the end of the adventure.
provided in Chapter 4 of this book.
Fire Cat: hp 3; see full statistics at the end of the
In addition to spellbooks and scrolls, unique volumes adventure.
of magical lore also reside here, including a libram of
silver magic, a libram of ineffable damnation, a manual of 11. Closet
bodily health, and most significantly, the Codex of the This small closet is filled with rotting meat, harvested by
Infinite Planes. The Codex, an enormous book, stands on the ettin from its frequent hunts outside the tower.
the floor along one wall, nearly filling the area of a
normal bookcase. 12. Audience Hall (EL Variable)

Flameguard: Mounted on one of the walls, seemingly This chamber is a combination audience hall and
part of the decorations above one shelf, is Flameguard, an museum. A large black stone throne rests upon a
epic magic shield of fire warding. Kerleth hung it there raised dais between the northernmost pillars,
when he was finished researching it. This is the shield facing south. Throughout the room are weapon
Regalid is supposedly set to recover, though Regalid fab- stands, display cases, and pedestals, holding rem-
ricated the commission. nants of a weapon collection. Most of the items are
missing, and cases are left broken and in some
Development: The crux of the backstory of this instances toppled.
adventure revolves around the Codex, Schaethreth the
infernal, and Regalid. Schaethreth has it out for Regalid A look up (or a Spot check DC 30) reveals that the ceiling
not because Regalid bested the infernal in some past con- is covered with a hanging multichambered cocoon—like
flict—Schaethreth wants Regalid because the agent a nest that might be spun by a very large insect. The nest
retriever stole the Codex from Schaethreth and hid it covers all the ceiling except for a mirror set at the very
within Kerleth’s tower. Regalid knew that the tower was center. This is a slightly enhanced mirror of life trapping,
proof against all abominations. See room 12 and the con- and looking into it immediately requires a Will saving
clusion of this adventure for additional details. Suffice it throw (DC 23) to avoid being drawn in.
to say that the infernal really wants the Codex; Schae-
threth sees Regalid only as a means to an end. Creatures: At least two thorciasids scuttle about on
the ceiling (there could be more, depending on how
10. Ettin’s Chambers (EL 23) many victims of the trap in room 9 were sent directly into
the mirror, displacing an equal number of thorciasids (up
This swelteringly hot chamber is outfitted with a to twelve). A thorciasid (see Chapter 5) appears as a par-
large bed, a reading table, a chair, and a stone couch. ticularly lean and monstrously large cockroach. The crea-
A set of small shelves with a few knickknacks and tures are quick, multilimbed, and the color of burnt
stone tablets stand along one wall. The furniture is wood. They scuttle about on four hind limbs, using two
constructed of black igneous stone, with no cush- fiendish forelimbs and two writhing antennae to deliver
ions or cloth. The place is illuminated by a steady life-draining attacks.
red glow, as though the walls were actually glowing
hot rock.

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The creatures here are hungry for life, but do not attack place in the multiverse I know of where abominations CHAPTER 6:
until the PCs have had an opportunity to look up. Once are shut out.”
even one PC has looked up and made (or failed) his AN EPIC
saving throw, the thorciasids attack. “I stole the Codex from an abomination, an infernal SETTING
named Schaethreth. I thought 1 had successfully impris-
The mirror of life trapping is affixed flush to the ceiling oned him—if the infernal is free, I am in great danger. I
by means of a stout hook at each of the four corners of may be able to buy my life by returning the Codex. If the
the mirror. infernal waits for me outside this tower, we would be
wise to surrender the book to it. Few can hope to stand
Thorciasids (2 or more): hp 502; see full statistics in against such an outrage to the multiverse.”
Chapter 5.
If the PCs convince Regalid to tight the infernal with
Tactics: The thorciasids use their cocoon power prefer- their help, he reluctantly agrees, but continues to voice
entially, then their energy- and ability-draining powers his reservations about such a risky plan.
against melee opponents.
Treasure: The mirror of life trapping (Will save DC 23) is
Development: One round after any conflict begins in the only significant piece of treasure here.
this room, the two lavawights from room 7 arrive up the
stairs (if they yet live) and join in the conflict. One round 13. Wizard’s Chambers (EL variable)
following, Ignition/Inferno arrives from room 10 (if the
ettin yet lives) and likewise joins in the conflict. Thorci- This chamber is filled to a depth of about 3 feet with
asids released also fight the PCs. layer upon layer of a hard, mucuslike substance.
Besides a grand bed still barely visible in one corner,
Regalid can be released if up to thirteen more victims the forms of various humanoid and animal bodies
are given to the mirror, or the password is somehow can be made out, all completely encased in the
learned for the mirror, or it the mirror is simply smashed, milky-white substance.
releasing all creatures simultaneously. The mirror has
hardness 1, 1 hp, and a break DC of 18. This was the wizard’s private chambers, but now the
thorciasids in room 12 use it as a larder, storing
If Regalid is released, he drops, dazed and confused. cocooned victims here.
He doesn’t have his equipment (it is in room 13, buried
in the resinous nesting material of the thorciasids), and Creatures: All but one of the creatures encased in
remains dazed for 10 rounds, even if combat with the the hardened webs are dead. The lone survivor is an
thorciasids rages around him. Once he regains his efreeti named Razaor who was exploring the tower
senses, he joins the fight (even without his equipment). (unknowingly guided into the tower by Schaethreth,
Afterward, he answers all questions the PCs put to him. just like the PCs). It succumbed to the thorciasids (it
If Agnimia is with the party, each is ecstatic to once was rendered helpless (Str 0, Con 1) and thus unable to
again see the other. use any of its spell-like abilities to escape) and was set
aside as a future meal.
Regalid says (directly or in answer to questions put by
the player characters): Razaor: Efreeti; hp 61; see Monster Manual.

“I was using this abandoned tower as my own personal Treasure: Treasure lost by any PC who was thrust
base. I long ago found a copy of Kerleth’s deed from the into the mirror of life trapping in the library (room 7) is
Sultan in the City of Brass, and so learned the lesser pass- here (buried below a layer of solidified mucus if more
words given guests here—I could come and go as I than a day has passed). Regalid’s equipment is also
pleased, without worry from these creatures. I simply buried beneath the surface of the resin, and includes +4
avoided the chamber where the thorciasids had begun a fire resistance and silent moves chain shirt, +4 mighty distance
colony—they were caught in the mirror, and I acciden- composite longbow (+3 Str bonus), +3 shocking burst short
tally released one while I experimented with the mirror. sword, +2 spell storing short sword, carpet of flying, cloak of
When I was caught in the mirror, another was released. I epic resistance +8, Daern’s instant fortress, dimensional shack-
have no idea why Kerleth had his mirror filled with these les, figurine of wondrous power (bronze griffon), periapt of
alien insectile creatures.” proof against poison, 2 potions of water breathing, ring of epic
protection +7, ring of regeneration, rod of enemy detection, rod
“I knew the password to get past the trap in the library— of negation, scroll with control water, cure critical wounds,
I bypassed the trap on several occasions previously. But 1 flame strike, and freedom of movement, and a wand of
read something in the library that quite ... unnerved me. summon nature’s ally IV.
I acidentally walked through the entranceway.”
Development: If freed, Razaor the efreeti is certainly
“I came here because, well... I had the mythical Codex grateful and more than willing to grant the heroes aid in
of the Infinite Planes! The supposed commission from the some fashion (in the form of one wish, or offering them
Gleaners was only one of a series of cover stories I used to safe haven at the City of Brass should they decide to visit
hide my true purpose out here. In my profession, the
Codex is the ultimate prize. But... I got it at the expense
of a terrible creature; an abomination. This is the only

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