Page 133 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

2. DINING ROOM over the window slit to keep the room dark. One wall boasts a
A large table of well-polished wood fi lls the center of this room, large fi replace, but it is currently cold.
surrounded by eight comfortable chairs. The remains of several
meals—roast fowl, boiled potatoes, and what seems to have Two normal tsochari have taken up residence in this room.
been a small goat—still lie scattered on the table. The creatures serve Yikk Tasst, and they await orders from

their leader to infiltrate or assassinate nearby spellcasters.
The worm cultists are somewhat slovenly and haven’t bothered One currently lurks behind the overturned bed, and the
to clean up after meals or wash dishes for several days. Yikk other hides in the spacious chimney of the fireplace. The two

Tasst sustains itself by slowly consuming Deros Frist’s body, tsochari attack any creatures (other than the worm cultists or
but it occasionally catches and eats small live animals.
other allies) that enter the room.
CHAPTER 7 THE WEARERS OF FLESH 3. LIBRARY Both tsochari hunger for the opportunity to possess an
Tsochari (2): hp 32, 31; see page 121.
arcane spellcaster and take his spells, and naturally make
A wooden staircase leads upstairs from this small sitting room.
any such character their prime target. If pressed hard, the
Wide bookshelves fi ll one corner of the room, and a capacious
fi replace with a few overstuffed armchairs in front of it stands

creatures with flexible bodies, they can scramble up or down
nearby. The bookshelves are in terrible disorder, with many tomes tsochari seek to escape. They are good climbers, and as Small
lying discarded on the fl oor. the chimney to areas 4 or 8 with DC 15 Escape Artist checks
(their skill modifier is +4) or even slip out the windowslit

Yikk Tasst has thoroughly ransacked the bookshelves, find- (DC 20).
ing little of particular interest. The discarded books include
genealogies, old adventuring journals, philosophies, histories, 7. SERVANTS’ QUARTERS
and other such scholarly tomes. This small bunkroom has two double bunks, small trunks at the
About one hundred books remain in this room. Most would foot of each bed, and looks relatively spartan.
be worth about 2d6 gp each to a dealer in a good-sized city,
but one tome (The Tale of the Golden Chalice) is not only a very The worm cultists Tilkos, Werra, and Zard use this room as
rare work of fiction but an outstanding example of a gorgeous their personal quarters, since the previous occupants—Deros

illuminated text, worth 350 gp. Frist’s servants—abandoned this place. They keep odd hours,
but are most likely to be found here in the early morning.
4. KITCHEN One of the servant’s trunks now holds a small stash of wealth
This room was clearly the tower kitchen. Countertops crowded belonging to Zard. The chest is locked (DC 25 Open Lock)
with dirty dishes and unscrubbed pots fi ll the room, and a faint and protected with a poison needle trap (DC 20 Search; attack
odor of rotting food hangs in the air. bonus +6 melee; blue whinnis, DC 14, 1 Con/unconsciousness).
It contains a sack with 225 gp, 40 sp, two black pearls worth

Deros Frist formerly maintained a small staff of five servants 200 gp each, and a scroll of wall of fire.

and attendants, but they all fled the house soon after their

master suddenly and severely changed personality. The 8. MASTER’S CHAMBER
servants are staying with kinfolk in nearby villages, wanting This large bedchamber features a fi ne carpet, comfortable fur-
nothing to do with the “new” Deros Frist. nishings, a bookcase with leaded glass doors, and a big stone
The small room to the east is a pantry, where some foodstuffs fi replace, now empty. A large mirror in a gilded wooden frame
have been allowed to go bad due to the inattentiveness of the hangs on one wall.
house’s new owner.
This suite formerly belonged to Deros Frist. Yikk Tasst has
5. SECOND FLOOR LANDING made little use of it since killing the wizard, because tsochari
This area is unremarkable, except for the fact that the secret need little rest, and because allowing their human hosts to

trapdoor in the floor of area 8 (the Master’s Chamber) opens relax brings no comfort to tsochari. The prefer to drive their
up in the ceiling overhead. Noticing the trapdoor requires a hosts mercilessly.
DC 30 Spot check by anyone simply passing through this hall, The bookcase in this room has not been ransacked, because
but if someone searches the ceiling in this square, it requires Yikk Tasst learned that Deros Frist protected it with a few
only a DC 10 Search check to discover. dangerous magic traps. First, the bookcase is guarded by a fire

trap (DC 29 Search check, DC 29 Disable Device check, 1d4+8
6. GUEST ROOM (EL 6) points of fire damage, DC 18 Reflex save for half). Second, the

An odd, almost metallic, smell permeates this small bedchamber, bookcase is guarded by a permanent mental alarm spell attuned
which has been ransacked. The bed lies on its side, furnishings are to warn Deros Frist if anyone opens the bookcase. (Of course,
strewn around the room, and a heavy blanket has been affi xed since Frist is dead, the alarm spell no longer serves any pur-

132