Page 180 - ghosts-of-saltmarsh

s

0 0

/
/
/
1 square = 5 feet

Ml\P a. 3 : TeMP1.e oF T><ARnouN

point in the general direction of the temple-a structure
PART 4: THE LAMP'S
cobbled together from a partially sunken galley and
SHADOW some empty apartments under an abandoned pleasure
pier. The area surrounding the temple is filled with
Whether they learn of the temple of Tharizdun from partially collapsed buildings and walled-off alleys. atop
questioning Mr. Dory or from studying the documents which newer buildings and boardwalks have been built.
found in his lair, the characters should make seeking The entire place is damp, reeks of mildew, and is loud
the temple their next move. If they recognized the im- with the creaking and groaning of surrounding build-
agery injarme's sketches (see "Jarme's Last Message"),
ings. The floors. walls. and ceilings of the temple are old
they might also suspect that the true menace behind the
wood, too damp to burn and rotten enough to be almost
Lantern Ghost killings is an aboleth. Otherwise, that
spongy to the touch.
aspect of the plot remains unknown.
No cultists dwell inside the temple. The faithful of the
A huge complication in the characters' investigation
dark god hide their true calling and live otherwise nor-
is the imminent arrival in the Styes of a pair of aboleths
mal lives as dock workers, fishers, or sailors. For years,
from the Endless Nadir. Having learned of Sgothgah's
they gathered once a month at the temple to venerate
traitorous turn to religion. these creatures have used
the dark god through the night. but were little more than
magic to track both Sgothgah and the juvenile kraken to
a desperate mob whose tainted dreams brought them
their hiding place. and they are on a mission to destroy
together. With the arrival of the aboleth Sgothgah in the
Sgothgah and release the kraken into the sea.
Styes. the cult now has renewed vigor, and its members
As this part of the story begins, the aboleths have al-
meet once a week or more.
ready mounted one attack on their traitorous kin at the
This section assumes that no cultists are on site when
sunken temple at Landgrave's Folly (see part 5, "Thariz-
the characters arrive. giving the party a chance to ex-
dun's Progeny," for more information). This assault
plore in relative peace. But if you decide so, the cultists
has forced Sgothgah to flee to the temple of Tharizdun
could be in the middle of a dark ceremony to raise the
to recover. risk and the stakes. None of the culc members are dan-
gerous to a party of the characters' level (see area :s
TEMPLE O F THARIZDUN
for statistics). But the presence of a hundred chanting,
The temple ofTharizdun, depicted in map 8.3. is located swaying, convulsing zealots can add a large dose of ee-
near Frother·s Lamp in the Low Quarter. At sunset, the rie atmosphere to the characters' investigations.
shadow of the abandoned lighthouse stretches out to
I II \l'Tl Y. 8 THI srYFS