Page 186 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

The characters' bizarre reflections are illusions meant
to discourage them from exploring the temple. The illu­ that has been shaped into bas-reliefs of wizards with
sions can be dispelled (DC 15). spell books. Stairs to the north and south descend twenty
The east hall leads to area X32, the west hall feet to an obsidian lectern, behind which a slab of black
to area X36. slate hangs from chains. Between the stairs are descend­
X6. SOUTHEAST ANNEX ing rows of red marble benches.

The hanging lanthorns have continual light spells cast
This room is featureless except for a rough-edged, on them. The black slate slab once served as a chalk­
10-foot-diameter circular hole in the floor to the east and board and has a few chalk marks on it.
empty torch sconces along the walls. Double doors of Hiding behind the lectern is Vilnius (NE male human
amber stand open to the north and west. A single closed mage) and his invisible quasit familiar. Characters
who have a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 17 or
door lies just south of the western set of double doors. higher notice him. A character who actively searches the
room for hidden occupants spots Vilnius with a success­
The ceiling here is 20 feet high. Beyond the open doors ful DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check.
to the north, the characters can see a long, wide hallway Vilnius wears scorched robes, his unkempt hair is
with amber-covered walls (area X8). half burned away, and his face and arms are covered
The hole in the floor forms a roughly hewn shaft that with blisters from magic fire. He is the apprentice of
descends 20 feet, then breaks through the ceiling of Jakarion, the dead wizard in area X17. After the flame­
area X33a. From the bottom of the shaft, it's another skulls there incinerated his master, the wounded Vilnius
10-foot drop to the floor of area X33a. The shaft has retreated here. He eats vermin to survive. The amber
abundant handholds and can be climbed without an golem has been patrolling the hallway outside (area X8),
ability check, but characters must still drop the last 10 and Vilnius won't leave this room until he knows the go­
feet to reach the floor below. If the characters make a lot tern has been destroyed.
of noise, the three ftameskulls in area X33a float up the Vilnius is a greedy, treacherous coward. He curses
shaft and attack them. The flameskulls also attack any­ his dead master for leading them to this wretched land.
one they can hear attempting to descend the shaft. If the characters try to befriend him, be is suspicious of
A secret door in the south wall opens into area X7. their intentions. He would like to retrieve bis dead mas­
ter's staff and spellbook, but otherwise he has no inter­
I The temple is a haven for forbidden knowledge.
X7. SECRET SCROLL REPOSITORY est in exploring more of the Amber Temple. He knows
the following information about the place:
Carved into the south wall of this dusty space are cylin­ • Flameskulls-constructs made from the remains of
I drical holes fit for scrolls or maps. dead wizards-guard the temple.
• Barbaric mountain folk use the temple for shelter.

The wizards kept magic scrolls here in case the temple
came under attack. The scrolls have crumbled to dust. VILNIUS ANO QUASIT

X8. UPPER EAST HALL

Glazed amber covers the walls of this twenty-foot-wide,
seventy-foot-long arched corridor. The amber doors at
both ends of the hall stand open. A closed door is in the
middle of the east wall, and three arrow slits are cut into
the wall across from it. Cracks in the black marble floor
run the length of the hall.

The cracks in the floor were made by the golem in area
XlO. The arrow slits are 5 inches wide, 2\h feet tall, and
1 foot thick. They look down on the temple (area XS).
l This chamber is b ightly lit by red copper lanthorns that l
X9. LECTURE HALL

�
hang from the ceiling. The walls are sheathed in amber

CHAPTER l3 I THE AM B.ER TEMPLE