Page 59 - Tomb of Annihilation
P. 59

A massive chunk of  earth and rock torn from the earth
                                                               drifts over the swampy forest, about a hundred feet
                                                               above the ground. A petrified tree towers above the
                                                               stone, with its stone roots protruding from the bottom.
                                                               Between the shape of  the rock and the branching of  the
                                                               tree's limbs, it creates the impression of  a gigantic stone
                                                               heart hanging in the sky. The impression is only made
                                                VALI NDRA      more gruesome by the red liquid dripping from the roots.
                                                5 H ADOWMANTL E
                                                                 You see a cave mouth in the side of  the slowly rotating
                                                               "heart," and a staircase winding from the cave up to the
                                                               Aattened top where the petrified tree stands. The stair·
                                                               case definitely isn't natural; it was carved with tools into
                                                               the rock.


                                                             The Heart of Ubtao (map 2.8) is an earth  mote- a mas-
                                                             sive chunk of  earth held aloft by magic that can't be dis-
                                                             pelled. It hovers 200 feet above the ground and rotates
                                                             slowly counterclockwise, completing one revolution
                                                             every hour. Chultans call it the Heart of Ubtao because
                                                             the earthmote is vaguely heart-shaped, and the petrified
                                                             tree adds the impression of  veins and arteries. The drip-
                                                             ping red liquid is rainwater that was stained by filtering
                                                             through iron ore deposits in the rock.
                                                               Chultans who've seen the earthmote believe it's actu-
                                                             ally the petrified heart of the god Ubtao, and they con·
                                                             sider it sacred. Priests ofUbtao used to travel here on
           lOH.  GAUNTLETS' ROOM
                                                             the backs of  flying dinosaurs to seek visions inside the
           This ready room was intended to house a squad of  sol-
                                                             heart and to beseech Ubtao to return. Many Chultans
           diers assigned to regular guard duty in the bailey, but it's
                                                             would be incensed to learn that the Heart of Ubtao has
           been taken over as quarters by Sigbeorn Dunebar (see
                                                             become the lair of  an uodead monster.
           area lOD) and three other veterans who serve as corpo-
                                                               Valindra Shadowmantle works for Szass Tam, the
           rals (gauntlets) in the Flaming Fist garrison.
                                                             most powerful lich among the Red Wizards of Thay,
                                                             though she is not a Red Wizard herself. She found the
           101.  COMMAND QUARTERS
                                                             heart and converted it into a base to use while her min-
           Liara Portyr sleeps in the southern chamber, while
                                                             ions search for the Soulmonger. Her orders from Szass
           Gruta Halsdottir sleeps in the smaller, southeastern
                                                             Tam are to seize control of  the Soul  monger, if possible,
           chamber. Both rooms contain books, clothes, and other
                                                             or destroy it otherwise. Valindra created a teleportation
           personal effects.
                                                             circle inside the heart that she uses to travel instantly to
             Treasure. A character who searches under the bed in
                                                             and from Thay (where her phylactery is safely stored),
           Liara Portyr's chamber finds a locked iron strongbox. A
                                                             to deliver reports to Szass Tam and pick  up new in-
           character using thieves' tools and succeeding on a DC
                                                             structions.
           18 Dexterity check can pop it open. The box contains
                                                               Characters who explore the Heart ofUbtao are cer-
           220 gp and a sending stone that Liara uses to communi-
                                                             tain to meet Valindra. She's considered the possibility
           cate with the pirates of  Jahaka Anchorage.
                                                             that adventurers might cross her path, and she won't
           IOJ.  GUEST QUARTERS                              necessarily be hostile toward them. Her mission is to
           Important guests sometimes come to the fort: a mer-  seize the Soulmonger by any means; if  adventurers can
                                                             help her achieve that, she'll use them.
           chant prince from Port Nyanzaru, a high-ranking
                                                               Valindra is an elven lich, with these changes:
           officer of the Flaming Fist, or a noble from Baldur's
           Gate. Such individuals are housed in one or more of   •  Valindra is neutral evil.
           these chambers.                                   •  She speaks Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Dwarvish,
             Characters  might be given the use of  one or more of   Elvish, and Infernal.
           these rooms if they do something to earn that privilege.   •  When preparing her spells, Valindra can swap out any
           Examples include turning over a valuable discovery to
                                                              spell on her list of prepared spells for another wizard
           the Flaming Fist, leading a counterattack against as-  spell of  the same level.
           saulting undead, or bringing proof that they drove off an   •  As a bonus action, Valindra can mask her shriveled
           incursion by frost giants.                          flesh and appear to be a living elf. This magical illu-
           CHAPTER 2  I TllE LAND OF CHULT
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