Page 194 - Curse of Strahd_Neat

The creatures huddled in this room are four nothics­ West Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­
former wizards reduced to this evil state by their mad agus offers the dark gift of Great Taar Haak, the Five­
quest for forbidden lore. The nothics use their Weird Headed Destroyer. Taar Haak's gift is great strength.
Insight feature to pry secrets from the characters. Al­ This dark gift grants its beneficiary the benefit of a belt
though this power is wickedly invasive, the nothics don't of fire giant strength. This benefit lasts for 10 days, after
consider their prying to be offensive, and so they are which the dark gift vanishes.
taken aback if the characters retaliate. The nothics fight The beneficiary of this dark gift the following flaw:
only if one of them is accosted, or if the characters try to "I like to bully others and make them feel weak and
destroy the amber sarcophagi. inferior."
Characters who touch the amber sarcophagi are South Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­
offered dark gifts by the evil vestiges contained within agus offers the dark gift ofYog the Invincible. Yog's gift
them (see the "Amber Sarcophagi" sidebar). is one of physical resilience. This dark gift increases
West Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­ the beneficiary's hit point maximum by 30. This benefit
agus offers the dark gift of Delban, the Star of Ice and lasts for 10 days, after which the dark gift vanishes.
Hate. Delban's gift is the power to unleash deadly cold. Oily black fur covers the beneficiary's face and body.
This dark gift allows its beneficiary to cast the cone
of cold spell as an action. After it has been used seven X33F. VAULT OF THAN GOB
times, the dark gift vanishes. Until it vanishes, the bene­ The amber door to this room is sealed with an ar­
ficiary also gains the benefits of a ring of warmth. cane lock spell. The password to suppress the spell is
The beneficiary of this dark gift gains the following "Thangob." The door is otherwise identical to the door
flaw: "Fire terrifies me." of area X33a.
North Sarcophagus. This sarcophagus has been shat­
tered in a way that suggests the vestige inside it some­
how broke free. This room has amber-glazed walls, a floor of grayish
West Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­ marble with black veins, and three amber sarcophagi
agus offers the dark gift of Khirad, the Star of Secrets. standing in alcoves.
Khirad's gift is the power of divination. This gift allows
its beneficiary to cast the scrying spell as an action. Af­
ter it has been used three times, the dark gift vanishes. Characters who touch the amber sarcophagi are offered
The beneficiary's voice becomes a low whisper, and its dark gifts by the evil vestiges contained within them (see
smile becomes cruel and evil. the "Amber Sarcophagi" sidebar).
West Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­
X33E. VAULT OF HARKOTHA agus offers the dark gift of Norganas, the Finger of
The amber door to this room is sealed with an arcane Oblivion. Norganas's gift is the power to turn life into
lock spell. The password to suppress the spell is "Har­ undeath. This dark gift allows its beneficiary to cast the
kotha." The door is otherwise identical to the door of finger of death spell as an action. After it has been used
area X33a. three times, the dark gift vanishes. When it vanishes,
the beneficiary must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw or drop to O hit points.
This room has amber-glazed walls, a black marble floor This dark gift turns the beneficiary's blood pitch black
with red veins, and three amber sarcophagi standing and viscid, like tar.
in alcoves. South Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­
agus offers the dark gift ofVaund the Evasive. Vaund's
gift is the power of evasion. This dark gift grants its
In the center of the room, a death slaad has cast invis­ beneficiary the benefits of an amulet of proof against de­
ibility on itself and stands ready with its greatsword in tection and location and a ring of evasion. These benefits
hand. The slaad attacks anyone who enters the room, last for 10 days, after which the dark gift vanishes.
fighting until slain. It can't leave the Amber Temple. The beneficiary of this dark gift becomes twitchy and
Characters who touch the amber sarcophagi are nervous, and also gains the following flaw: "I can't give a
offered dark gifts by the evil vestiges contained within straight answer to any question put to me."
them (see the "Amber Sarcophagi" sidebar). East Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcopha­
North Sarcophagus. The vestige within this sarcoph­ gus offers the dark gift of Seriach, the Hell Hound Whis­
agus offers the dark gift of Yrrga, the Eye of Shadows. perer. Seriach's gift is the power to summon and control
Yrrga's gift is the power of true seeing. This dark gift hell hounds. As an action, the beneficiary of this dark
grants its beneficiary the benefits of truesight out to a gift can summon and cont.rot two hell hounds. Both
range of 60 feet. These benefits last for 30 days, after hounds appear at the same time. The beneficiary can
which the dark gift vanishes. summon hounds only once, and the da.rk gift vanishes
The eyes of the beneficiary �ecome starry voids un­ when they die.
til the dark gift vanishes. The beneficiary of this dark The beneficiary gains the ability to speak and under­
gift also gains the (ollowing flaw: "I believe that all stand Infernal; if he of she doesn't already know the lan­
life is pointless and look.forward to death when it fi. guage. (The hell hounds understand no other language.)
nally comes." _ Sulfurous smoke issues from the beneficiary's pores
whenever he or she speaks Infernal.
-- CHAPTE�� I THE AMBER TEMPLE j 1 93

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