Page 76 - Tomb of Annihilation

Characters can discover Zalkore's tragic story by in- The water fl.owing down the main concourse is only 1
terpreting carvings throughout the garden. If that makes foot deep, and the current isn't particularly strong. Orig-
them sympathetic toward her, so be it, but her tragedy inally, the six side branches off the main avenue were
didn't ennoble Zalkore or make her a better person; it roofed over, but two of the roofs have caved in, and three
turned her into a monster. others are partially collapsed. Debris chokes the walk-
The medusa is not alone in the cursed garden. Eblis ways where the tunnel roofs fell. The roofs that remain
serve her as sentinels and spies. Colorful parrots and intact have vines and roots hanging down from them.
canaries flock to the garden's great variety of plants, The covered tunnels are only 4 feet high and contain a
some of which are hostile toward visitors. Finally, brave foot of water.
Chultans sometimes seek out Zalkore as a sort of jungle Stone Faces. The four stone visages staring across
mystic, either to learn the secrets of her hallucinogenic the avenue between the walkways portray a regal
plants or to ask questions about the distant past. woman (Zalkore) whose expression changes slightly
Nangalore lies a half-mile from the River Olung. with each visage. Inscribed above each face are phrases
Thanks to centuries of silting and erosion, one of the in Old Omuan. The phrases form a message. To get the
river's tributaries fioods right up to the garden gate (area message in sequence, it shouJd be read from the south
1), making the site easy to reach by boat. Traveling to end of the concourse to the tyrannosaurus spout while
Nangalore by foot is a nightmare, since the land within alternating from the left (west) side to the right (east).
1 mile is nothing but boggy marsh. Face 1 (lower west) has a bemused expression. The
The garden has multiple levels. Map 2.12 uses eleva- message above it reads, "This garden is dedicated to
tion markers to indicate how high the levels are relative Zalkore, queen of Omu and jewel of Cbult."
to the ground. Some keyed locations contain multiple Face 2 (upper west) has a condescending expression.
levels; for example, area 4 is 25 feet above ground The message above it reads, "Worshiped by her people
level, with a crumbled 10-foot-high balcony (35 feet and by Thiru-taya, who~ BETRAYED her." (The
above ground level) and a 20-foot-deep pit (5 feet above word "loves" has been chipped away, and the word "BE-
ground level). TRAYED" is scratched into the stone above it.)
Throughout Nangalore are inscriptions written in Old Face 3 (upper east) has a stern expression. The mes-
Omuan. A character with the cloistered scholar or sage sage above it reads, "In this, the tenth year of her reign,
background can translate an Old Omuan inscription may she govern forever in splendor."
with a successful DC 10 Intelligence (History) check. A Face 4 (lower east) has a serene expression. The
warlock with the Eyes of the Rune Keeper invocation message above it reads, "And may the gods themselves
can do so automatically. Otherwise, a comprehend lan- marvel at this humble reflection of her beauty."
guages spell or similar magic is needed.
2. TERRACES
1. ENTRANCE
Untamed overgrowth can't hide the fact that this garden
A fantastic edifice rises up out of the jungle: a hanging is a haven for exotic plants that don't grow naturally in
garden of exotic beauty. Water streams down the steps the surrounding jungle. Unfamiliar flowers, towering
between two massive elephant carvings. Beyond them, ferns, and even stranger plants resembling giant pine
a broad, flooded avenue runs arrow-straight for more cones or lily pads spread and tangle everywhere. Bright
than a hundred feet before ending at a carving of a ty- canaries flit between them, and parrots with striped
rannosaurus face. Water pours from the tyrannosaurus's beaks squawk at you.
jaws and flows the length of the concourse to drain down
the steps in front of you. Five-foot-high terraces flank
These terraces overlooking the main concourse are
the boulevard. Low archways- three on each side- are
home to myriad creatures, many of them dangerous.
built into the terrace walls. These archways are in various A mantrap (see appendix D) grows on the eastern
stages of collapse, as are the tunnels beyond them. Beau- terrace between two of the partially collapsed tunnels.
tifully carved, larger-than-life stone faces are mounted When it senses movement within 30 feet of it, the man-
trap releases its attractive pollen.
between the arches.
Characters who explore the western terrace encoun-
A wild profusion of plants grows on the upper ter-
ter six yellow musk zombies (see appendix D) lurking
races, and multicolored parrots and canaries flit and sing among the trees and plants. The zombi.es blend in with
among them. To the north, a dilapidated brick dome their surroundings, and any character with a passive
rises above the tyrannosaurus-head waterspout. Smaller, Wisdom (Perception) score lower than 12 is automat-
ically surprised by them. Coiled around the northern-
bell-shaped domes surmount the highest terraces to your
most tree on the western terrace is a yellow musk
left and right,
creeper (see appendix D) that uses its musk when one
or more characters come within 30 feet of it.
At the north end of the garden, two arched doorways
Four crocodiles Jive in the flooded marsh south of the
open into the southwest and southeast flower gardens
garden. They ignore characters in boats, attack anyone
(area 5). Steps still climb up to the doorway on the east,
in the water, and won't climb up the stairs.
CHAPTER 2 I TH"E LAND OF CHULT
75