Page 110 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

following their dead master’s instructions, patrol the surround- cloak Ss’thar’tiss’ssun. These wards were designed to prevent the
ing forest, and serpentfolk are said to inhabit the catacombs passage of Scaled Ones, dragons, and all other reptilian hor-
beneath the ruins. rors. But unbeknownst to the Cowlers, the wards have started
Netherese Villas: The ruins of Netherese villas dot the hill- to fray, and Medium and smaller serpentfolk and scalykind can
tops along the Serpent Hills. Dating back to the Silver Age of now enter the lower ruins through subterranean tunnels aligned
Netheril (–2758 DR to –2207 DR), most of these villas have with apertures in the lower wards. Should a large hole in the en-
been claimed by the ruling nagas and yuan-ti of Najara. The new circling ward ever open aboveground, one of the dragons living
owners typically leave the surface structures in ruins but make in the Forest of Wyrms is sure to make a quick snack of the
extensive changes to the dungeons that lie beneath. Many such village’s inhabitants.
subterranean complexes are linked via the Serpent Tunnels to Serpent’s Cowl (Village): Conventional, Monstrous; AL CG,
sites elsewhere in the Serpent Hills. CE; Assets 200 gp limit; Population 795; Mixed (79% human,
Orogoth: Founded in –2482 DR, the ruined villa of House 9% halfl ing, 7% yuan-ti (tainted ones), 5% gnome).
Orogoth dates back to the Silver Age of Netheril and has long Authority Figures: Aluena Halacanter, N female human
been a beacon for treasure seekers. The Netherese wizards of wizard 9/Harper Mage 3 (Harper agent, breeder of pegasi, and
this family sought to acquire draconic powers as well as the town leader); Helskar “the Sly” of Soubar, CE male yuan-ti
ability to assume dragon form. The elder wizards disappeared tainted one commoner 9 (bartender, leader of the tainted one
to live elsewhere as dragons (or so rumor holds), leaving their faction, and agent of the yuan-ti); Delwyn Whitedyke, LG male
gigantic, sprawling abode to their decadent descendants. These human paladin 2 (leader of the Town Guard).
latter-day Orogoths magically compelled dragons (possibly their Important Characters: Atad Yelloweyes, CG male yuan-ti
elders in draconic form) to seize treasure from the hoards of pureblood ranger 8/Harper Scout 1 (agent of the Harpers who
fellow wyrms and other sites across Faerûn and bring it back for never actually enters the village but can be contracted as a
their amusement. guide into the Serpent Hills at the Dusty Dragon); “Dusty”
Almost inevitably, the cruel scions of House Orogoth Helmspoke, CG male human commoner 5 (proprietor of the
destroyed one another in –2211 DR in a great battle that in- Dusty Dragon).
volved pitting dragons against their kin. The great villa’s towers Town Guard: Fighter 4 (1), fi ghter 2 (4), fi ghter 1 (8), pala-
toppled, and the survivors fl ed for their lives. Exactly what the din 1 (2), warrior 4 (1), warrior 2 (2), warrior 1 (30).
Orogoths battled over is unknown, but in the Year of Moor Yuan-ti Tainted Ones: Aristocrat 1 (1), adept 3 (1), adept 2
Birds (90 DR), the yuan-ti of Ss’thar’tiss’ssun recovered a host (2), adept 1 (3), bard 2 (1), commoner 3 (1), commoner 1 (33),
of artifacts dating back to the empires of the sarrukh (including expert 4 (1), expert 1 (3), fi ghter 7 (1), fi ghter 4 (1), ranger 2
at least one tome of ancient spells) from the ruins. (1), ranger 1 (1), warrior 1 (6). The fi ghters and warriors in this
Today, the ruins of Orogoth are home to “the Old One,” a list are also part of town guard.
black dracolich great wyrm, and the offspring of its great-grand- Others: Aristocrat 1 (3), bard 4 (1), bard 2 (1), bard 1 (4),
son, Wastirek (black wyrm). Wastirek’s mate is Vilholin (black cleric 3 (1), cleric 1 (2), commoner 5 (1), commoner 3 (3),
wyrm), and their children include Awsidorg and Woklef (male commoner 2 (8), commoner 1 (615), druid 4 (1), druid 2 (2),
adult black dragons), Cheleen (female young adult black dragon), druid 1 (4), expert 7 (1), expert 4 (1), expert 2 (4), expert 1 (18),
and Kasidikal (see the Serpent Hills). Efforts by adventurers ranger 1 (1), rogue 5 (1), rogue 3 (2), rogue 1 (4), sorcerer 3 (1),
and the Cult of the Dragon to plunder Orogoth’s treasures have sorcerer 2 (2), sorcerer 1 (4), wizard 1 (1).
come to naught—those who dare try are slain, transformed Serpent Tunnels: A subterranean network of tunnels links
into beast shape, or sent fl eeing across the High Moor. The the holdings of the serpentfolk in this area. With Ss’essethen’aa
serpentfolk of Najara have linked the depths of Orogoth with at its nexus, the tunnel network serves as an underground high-
the Serpent Tunnels beneath the Serpent Hills, and yuan-ti ex- way system for much of the Serpent Hills. Beyond the heart
plorers continue to haunt the ruins despite the dragons’ efforts of Najara, the Serpent Tunnels extend under the southern and
to drive them away. eastern fringes of the High Moor to give access to the Lair
Serpent’s Cowl (Village, 795): This small village sits on the of Ithkyxan and the ruins of Orogoth. They also lead under
western edge of the Forest of Wyrms just upstream of Boares- the Forest of Wyrms to connect with Ss’thar’tiss’ssun and
kyr Bridge, where the waters are safe enough to fi sh. Named for Ss’zuraass’nee, and out to the caverns beneath Mount Hlim, at
the ruins of Ss’thar’tiss’ssun on which it stands, Serpent’s Cowl the southern tip of the Greypeaks Mountains.
consists of a handful of cottages clustered around a small square. Ss’essethen’aa (Large City, 24,372): The City of Sunning
The only guesthouse is the Dusty Dragon, whose owner sells Serpents lies at the heart of the Serpent Hills, atop and within
food to visitors. The populace consists primarily of woodcutters, the largest tor of the chain. Ophidian laborers have constructed
hunters, farmers, and fi shermen. a host of gardens, chapels, and shrines on the spiraling terrace
Local legend deters the villagers from digging cellars or that winds its way up the hill, making seven full revolutions
pits, for fear of opening a route into the ruins below. The before reaching the top. At the apex of the tor lies a sprawling
villagers continue to live amidst the dangerous ruins because temple complex to Sseth, shaped like a massive serpent head.
of the protection provided by the Netherese wards that still The yuan-ti and ophidian clerics who rule the city live here, and

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