Loud noises (mechanical thrumming and animal shrieks). Humid stench (hot copper and feces). Cut stone walls (encoded chalk scribbles). Vaulted ceiling (40' high). Hanging glass orb (pulsates with harsh white light). Owlchemist (back to door). Steel desk (covered in buttons and levers). Two bronze vats (20' tall, 10' wide, door with window and locking wheel). Crates (stacked haphazardly). Copper cables spark (crisscross the floor).
=> Sneaking up on the Owlchemist: 4-in-6 chance to successfully surprise the Owlchemist
=> Examine the walls: Notes can be decoded with read language (thief or spell). Explains how to complete ascension ritual with contraption. "Lever 2: Place animal, Lever 3: Place humanoid, Lever 1: Up (turn on), Button 1, Button 2, Button 3, Button 4, Lever 1: Middle or Down (turn off)."
=> Moving through chamber: Unless specifically avoiding the cables (half speed), characters have a 2-in-6 chance of being shocked for 1d4 damage.
=> Examine vats: Left vat (mutilated mule corpse). Right vat (naked confused mule-man).
=> Open vats: Left (mule corpse looked cooked and blended). Right (see Clydson the Mule-Man).
=> Examine steel desk: 3 levers and 4 buttons (5th button missing).
=>Lever 1 (Middle): Down (Turn on, room brightens), Up (Turn off, room goes dark), Middle (Light)
=>Lever 2 (Up): Down (Unlocks), Up (locks) left vat
=>Lever 3 (Up): Down (Unlocks), Up (locks) right vat
=>Button 1: Molecular disassembly of left vat's contents
=>Button 2: Molecular disassembly of right vat's contents
=>Button 3: Mix molecules
=>Button 4: Reassemble right vat
=>Button 5: Broken (Reassemble left vat).
=>Examine Crates: Live animals (bat, vulture, rat, turtle, bullfrog, lynx, coyote, boar, viper, baboon)
SEZAR THE OWLCHEMIST
Human Sized (6' tall). Barn Owl (no wings, burly arms). Man's Face (dastardly mustache). Black Mace (right hand).
AC 7 (12), HD 5* (21hp), Att 1 x Black Mace (1d6+1), THAC0 14 (+5), MV 90' (30'), SV D10 W11 P12 B13 S14, ML 7, AL Chaotic, XP 425
Spells: Charm Person, Darkness, Invisibility, Wizard Lock, Hold Person
Reaction: Surprised 5-in-6 (back to door). Polite. Tries to convince party to join cult. Offers ascension (see Ascension). If attacked will try to bribe for freedom. If forced to fight will use Black Mace to invoke darkness and order Batboons to attack. Uses spells and potions to escape.
Items: Black Mace (see The Ebon Cudgel), 2 sapphires (300 gp each), 3 potions (Control Animal, Diminution, Gaseous Form), Spellbook (with known spells within), 7 sp.
BATBOONS (2)
Giant Baboon (4' tall), Wings (bat)
AC 7 (12), HD 3 (9,13hp), Att 2 x claws (1d4) or 1 x thrown rock (1d6), THAC0 17 (+2), MV 90' (30')/150' (50') flying, SV D12 W13 P14 B15 S16, ML 9, AL Chaotic, XP 50
Echolocation: Unaffected by effects that impair, modify, or rely on sight. Blinded by magical silence.
Reaction: Batboons are perched on roosts far up in the vaulted ceiling. Will not attack unless summoned by Sezar. Swooping down from above they surprise 4-in-6.
ASCENSION
Lore: Sezar's followers believe that the contraption allows them to become like the gods who left the contraption behind by combining man and beast. If players choose to ascend they become humanoid-beast hybrids and gain an ability as shown below.
Bat: Echolocation
Vulture: +2 save vs. poisons, eat/drink spoiled food/water.
Rat: Move Silently 20% (+10% for thief)
Turtle: AC 3 (16)
Bullfrog: Swim 90' (30') and breath underwater
Lynx: Claws (2 x 1d4 + Str)
Coyote: Bite (1d6 + Str)
Boar: Smell Tracking 20% (+10% for ranger)
Viper: Spit poison 1/day (save v. death or 1d4 str damage)
Baboon: +1 with thrown weapons
CLYDSON THE MULE-MAN
Human sized (5'5'' tall). Human body (naked, muscular, sorrel hide). Mule head (blue human eyes).
AC 7 (12), HD 1+1* (5hp), Att 1 x weapon (1d6+2), THAC0 18 (+1), MV 120' (40'), SV D12 W13 P14 B15 S16, ML 12, AL Neutral, XP 19
Strong Back: Double carrying capacity.
Battle Rage: +2 to hit humans and similar humanoids (e.g. orcs, goblins). Rage sometimes makes them attack him attack his allies.
Reaction: Fly into rage if attacked or if Owlchemist is attacked. Can be persuaded to join party if Owlchemist is alive or gone. Easily tricked.
THE EBON CUDGEL
Matte black metal (unusually heavy). Flanged head (goat motif).
Powers: The mace is magical: +1 to attack and damage. 3/day wielder can cast darkness centered on mace's head.
History: A scepter that once denoted the station of the Moon Pontiff in the cult of Klastmir, the Oblivion Goat who is said to eat the moon. He is the bringing of darkness.
