Page 7 - Tomb of Annihilation

ABBREVIATIONS Tzindelor in Wyrmheart Mine. If the characters are un-
able to locate Omu or ascertain the source of the death
The following abbreviations are used throughout this
curse, the following additional creatures might possess
adventure:
the knowledge they seek, at your discretion: Krr'ook in
hp = hit points LG= Lawful good Dungrunglung, Nephyr in Firefinger, Nanny Pu'pu in
AC= Armor Class CG= Chaotic good Mbala, Bwayes O'tamu in the wreck of the Narwhal, the
DC= Difficulty Class NG = Neutral good survivors of the Star Goddess shipwreck, and Red Wiz-
XP = experience points LN =Lawful neutral ards under Valindra Shadowmantle's command.
pp= platinum piece(s) N=Neutral As the adventurers explore Omu, they are either
gp =gold piece(s) CN = Chaotic neutral captured by yuan-ti or forced to confront them in their
ep = electrum piece(s) LE= Lawful evil underground temple (chapter 4). Not far from the yuan-ti
sp = silver piece(s) CE = Chaotic evil temple is the entrance to the Tomb of the Nine Gods
cp =copper piece(s) NE= Neutral evil (chapter 5). The Soulmonger lies deep within the tomb,
NPC = nonplayer character which is riddled with puzzles, traps, monsters, and mag-
ical wards. Best case scenario: the adventure concludes
ADVENTURE SUMMARY
with the destruction of the Soulmonger and the heroes'
The adventure is likely to play out as follows. daring escape from the tomb. Worst case scenario: the
The adventurers are teleported to Port Nyanzaru, the characters succumb to the evil of Acererak, and their
souls are devoured.
only major settlement in Chult. After exploring the city
(chapter 1), they embark on an expedition into the wilds
DEATH CURSE
of Chult (chapter 2), eventually finding the ruined city of
Omu (chapter 3). The characters don't know that Omu is Understanding how Acererak's death curse works is vi-
their ultimate destination from the outset; they must find tal to running the adventure smoothly.
clues or evidence pointing in that direction. The Soul monger was activated 20 days ago and re-
In this adventure, three creatures know that the cause mains active until it is destroyed. While the Soulmonger
of the death curse Hes in Omu: Grandfather Zitembe in is active, the following effects are in play:
Port Nyanzaru, Valindra S hadowmantle in the Heart of
• Any humanoid on the planet that has been brought
Ubtao, and Saja N'baza in Orolunga. Several creatures
back from the dead begins to waste away. Its hit point
know Omu's location: the guides Eku and Salida in
maximum is reduced by 20 (1 for each day the Soul-
Port Nyanzaru, Valindra Shadowmantle in the Heart
monger has been active) and decreases by 1 every
of Ubtao, the aarakocra of Kir Sabal, Zalkore of Nan-
midnight until the Soulmonger is destroyed. If a hu·
galore, Saja N'baza in Orolunga, and the red dragon
manoid's hit point maximum drops to 0, it dies. Travel-
ing to another world or plane does nothing to halt the
WHo Is AcERERAK?
wasting effect once it has begun.
Acererak is a powerful lich known and feared throughout • A humanoid whose hit point maximum is reduced
the multiverse. Much of his past is forgotten, but ancient
can't increase or restore it This is true whether the
texts assert that he comes from a world called Oerth.
creature's hit point maximum is reduced by the Soul-
Acererak travels the planes in search of artifacts. When
monger or by some other life-draining effect, such as
he finds something useful or interesting, he locks it away.
the touch of a wight, wraith, or similar creature.
A lthough he's powerful enough to pursue godhood as
• If a humanoid dies anywhere on the planet, its soul
other liches have done (Vecna being a prime example),
Acererak has no interest in being a god or being wor- becomes trapped inside the SouJmonger. Only the de-
shiped. He prefers to create evil gods and unleash them struction of the Soulmonger can free the trapped soul.
on mortals and immortals who oppose him. • Any spell that breathes life into the dead (including re·
Despite passing up opportunities for godhood, Acererak vivify, raise dead, resurrection, and true resurrection)
attracts his fair share of followers and worshipers. He automatically fails if cast on a humanoid whose soul
doesn't grant spells, nor does he give his devotees much is either trapped in the Soul monger or bas been de-
of his precious time. Mostly he likes to watch them suffer
voured by the atropal (see "Soul Devouring" below).
and die as a result of their magical pursuits and folly.
• The Soulmonger does not affect the workings of speak
Although he has lived on many worlds and crafted
with dead spells or similar magic. The death curse
countless demiplanes, Acererak spends most of his time
has no effect on preexisting ghosts or spirits.
building tombs. He fills each one with treasure to attract
powerful adventurers. He then kills them off in terrible
MEAT GRINDER
fashion, using deadly traps and monsters while baiting
and ridiculing them. The terror he evokes scars their souls, Tomb of Annihilation can be played as written, or you
which he traps in his phylactery, the location of which is can make it even more difficult by running it as a meat
one of the multiverse's greatest secrets. grinder. This mode of play is suitable for experienced
Not too long ago by human standards, Acererak found players who have highly optimized characters and who
an atropal adrift at the edge of the Negative Plane and don't mind putting those characters in jeopardy for the
built the Soulmonger to nourish it to godhood. The lich
sake of a good challenge. It is less ideal for players who
chose one of his tombs- specifically the Tomb of the Nine
are inexperienced or get anxious at the thought of losing
Gods on Toril-to serve as the atropal's nursery.
their characters.
For more information on Acererak, including his statis·
You must choose to run the adventure as a meat
tics, see appendix D.
grinder from the very beginning. In this mode of play,