Page 156 - Tomb of Annihilation

DC 19) erupts from the wall behind the sarcophagus. All
A frog-like behemoth with four Omuan hunters riding on creatures in the room, as well as creatures in the nar-
its back finds a small boy in the jungle. The hunters seem row hallway to the south, become targets of the spell.
elated. In the foreground, a young woman wearing a frog
'IR.EA SU RE
mask holds a knife in one hand and a headless chicken in
The sarcophagus contains a pair of bracers of archery
the other. and twenty brittle arrows in a rotting leather quiver.
Each arrow shatters on impact and deals only 1 piercing
damage on a hit. Carvings of froghemoths adorn the
Fresco 4. This fresco shows a time when Kubazan got
angry and the Omuans appeased him with treasure: bracers, which keep the skin of any character attuned to
them disturbingly moist. The bracers tum to dust and
are destroyed if they leave the Tomb of the Nine Gods
A frog-like behemoth wallows in a shallow pool as (but see "Lost Treasures," page 189).
Omuans offer it urns of food and treasure as tribute. Kubazan's Spirit. The spirit of Kubazan tries to in-
habit any character who touches either of the bracers
Cracks in the fresco obscure the head of the human fig-
(see "Spirits of the Nine Trickster Gods," page 129).
ure in the foreground, but you can see that it grasps a
When Kubazan's spirit manifests, read:
lit candle.
The bracers glow as watery light ripples across the walls.
A search of the wall shrine reveals several items:
A monstrous, tentacled shadow rises from the sarcopha-
• A 6-inch-tall stone statuette of a froghemoth (see ap- gus, and the air fills with the stench of a swamp. A rum-
pendix D), which weighs 5 pounds and has an inscrip- bling voice echoes through the tomb: "You are brave to
tion on its base in Old Omuan: "Give thanks to me as summon me. Together, we will crush the undying one!"
others have done since the dawn of time."
A copper bowl containing rat bones
• Four dead cockroaches If the spirit successfully inhabits the character, give the
• A green wax candle with a salvageable wick player Kubazan's card (see appendix F). If the attempt
• 5 gp (loose) fails, the spirit returns to the bracers and waits for an-
other character to touch one of them.
PERFORMING THE RITUAL
To open the sarcophagus, one or more characters must
43. VEILS OF FEAR
stand before the wall shrine and perform the following
actions in no particular order: This room lies beyond a double door, the outside of
which is carved with leering and laughing skulls. The
• Donate at least 5 gp to the shrine while wearing a doors are neither locked nor trapped, and they swing
frog mask. inward on rusty hinges to reveal the room beyond.
• Light a candle before the shrine while wearing a
frog mask.
• Spill the blood of a living creature into the copper Ten feet from the doors, a thick tapestry curtain hangs
bowl while wearing a frog mask. from wall to wall. Its embroidery shows a scene of mer-
• Eat a bug (living or dead) while wearing a frog mask. riment: nobles feasting around a banquet table, a roast
If any of these actions are performed incorrectly, three boar on a platter, and servants pouring wine.
wraiths rise from the bones on the floor. The wraiths at-
tack until they are destroyed and pursue any characters
who flee this area. When the wraiths appear, any char- Two more curtains hang beyond the first, each showing
acter wearing one of the frog masks is polymorphed into the same image descending into horror. When the sec-
a frog, as though it had failed a saving throw against the ond curtain is revealed, read:
polymorph spell.
Another curtain hangs behind the first, showing the
SARCOPHAGUS
Kubazan's sarcophagus is bereft of adornment, though a same scene but descended into depravity. The nobles
detect magic spell or similar effect reveals auras of abju- fight with each other, partake in carnal encounters on the
ration and evocation magic around it. table, or sprawl on the floor in puddles of vomit.
When the ritual is performed correctly, the sarcopha-
gus lid unlocks and slides open. It contains the bones of
a froghemoth (Kubazan's animal form; see appendix D) Behind the second curtain is a third:
as well as some valuable items (see "Treasure" below).
The sarcophagus lid is otherwise sealed shut with an A scene of horror confronts you: nobles feasting on ser-
arcane lock spell. It can be opened with a knock spell or vants, eating each other alive, and setting fire to the hall.
forced open with a successful DC 25 Strength (Athlet- I
ics) check. However, if the sarcophagus is opened by any The roast boar is alive and laughing on its platter.
means other than the ritual, a prismatic spray spell (save

CHAPTER 5 I TOM» OF Tl-fE NINE GODS