The Lair of Maldred the Mighty was an AD&D adventure that first appeared in issue 24 of the British magazine White Dwarf (April/May 1981). Designed by Mark Byng, this adventure was the prizewinning entry in the White Dwarf D&D Scenario Competition and was later reprinted in The Best of White Dwarf Scenarios, volume 2. Byng published several other articles in WD, including some new magic items and at least two more scenarios.

The original “Lair of Maldred the Mighty” was designed for “experienced players with characters of moderately high level,” while this 3.5e conversion has been designed for a party of four to five 8th-level characters. Appendix A details new monsters. Appendix B details new magic items. Appendix C provides a stat block for Maldred’s simulacrum.

Trademarks and copyrights are cited on this page without permission. This usage is not meant in any way to challenge the rightful ownership of said trademarks/copyrights. D20 System and D&D are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc; The original adventure text and all artwork is copyright © Games Workshop 1981. The Tome of Horrors is copyright © Necromancer Games, Inc 2005. The Book of Templates is copyright © Silverthorne Games 2005. All copyrights are acknowledged and remain the property of the owners. All rights reserved by their respective owners. This page is for entertainment only.

Adventure Background

If the PCs include a good-aligned character with a divine patron (such as a paladin or good cleric), that character will be summoned to an allied Temple and informed that a chrysalis of potentially immense evil has been discovered. If the PC is willing, it become his or her task to gather together a group of adventurers and destroy the chrysalis before it hatches.

The PCs may keep any booty they discover and upon the expedition’s return divine restorations, raising of the dead, and cures will be made available at a special discounted rate.

If the task is accepted then give the expedition leader the following information:

Adventure Synopsis

The PCs must travel to the island and locate the entrance to Maldred’s Lair. They must then navigate the many traps, illusions, and guardians found within in order to find and destroy Maldred’s chrysalis before his transformation is complete.

Part One: The Island

The expedition will be provided with the use of 2 small galleys (60-foot long by 15-foot wide drakkars) for reaching the unnamed island. Neither is equipped with a ram but each has 2 ballistae on board (1 fore and 1 aft), and 2 longboats (15-foot long by 4-foot wide). Each galley also carries 20 longspears, 10 shortbows and 100 arrows, 80 javelins (which cannot be used in a ballista), and 40 harpoons (which are used in the ballista).

The crew of each galley consists of 14 oarsmen (N human commoner 1), 8 ballistae crew (N human warrior 1), 4 mates (N human expert 1), 2 artillerists (N human warrior 3), 2 lieutenants (LN human expert 2), and 1 captain (LN human fighter 5). Each crew member has leather armor, a scimitar, and a dagger. Lieutenants and captains also have bucklers.

The crew will only engage in combat if their vessels are endangered. At no time will they attempt to invade the island or put themselves at risk; they are not marines.

The distance that the galleys must travel to reach the island may be as long or short as you desire. Encounters outside of the immediate vicinity of the island have not been included but it is hardly likely that the journey to island will be uneventful, and any number of encounters may be introduced at your discretion.

The island is surrounded by a coral reef, only navigable by longboats at just one point. So the two galleys will anchor offshore and the PCs will be rowed in to the only possible landing point on the island—a small beach. The rest of the island’s coastline comprises tall slippery cliffs without ledge or crevice.

Once the PCs have disembarked, the accompanying sailors will row the longboats back to the galleys. The PCs must move inland through a narrow pass in the cliffs that surround the beach. The galleys will wait four days before leaving.

Countdown to the Transformation

In order to heighten the amount of tension and dramatic suspense during this scenario, you may find it useful to periodically emphasize the passing of time to the PCs. In addition to the four day limit set by the ships, the forces of good were uncertain just how soon Maldred might emerge from the chrysalis. It could be a matter of weeks, days, or even only scant hours!

The Island of Maldred the Mighty

1. Shassar, an Ancient Dragon Turtle (EL 11)

Creature: Placed here by Maldred when she was just a hatchling, Shassar has never felt inclined to leave and regards the lagoon as her territory, which she will jealously guard against all intruders. Despite the abundant fish supply (and probably due to her contact with Maldred), Shassar has developed a taste for human flesh, so all entrants into her little world will be considered as being on the menu.

2. The Wreck

This galley came into the lagoon many years ago, before the coral reef had grown too large for ships to enter. The galley promptly had its bottom smashed in by Shassar who then ate most of the crew.

Treasure: If investigated a successful DC 20 Search check indicates that some item or creature has been encountered near the wreck. Each item may only be recovered once but creatures may be encountered repeatedly.

3. The Beach

Tall, steep cliffs (over 90 feet high), without ledge or crevice, apparently cut this sandy beach off from the rest of the island. But near the center of the rock wall is a small, 10-foot high cave with a narrow, 10-foot high passage leading from its rear. This is the entrance to the Lair of Maldred.

Part Two: The Lair of Maldred the Mighty

The Lair consists of two levels connected by a shaft (area 28) that links area 27 on the upper level with area 29 on the lower level.

Standard Features

Unless otherwise stated, all the rooms and corridors are 10 feet high and have been cut out of a black glassy stone that is slippery and difficult to climb. The floors have been roughened to provide better traction.

A standard wooden door is 5 feet wide, 6 feet high, 4 inches thick, made of oak and reinforced with 3 metal bands to which the hinges are attached. At the center of one side is a metal ring and on the other a metal latch. The latch may be raised by hand or by turning the ring (the latch is always on the side of the door that swings sway from an opener); a standard wooden door’s overall weight is 600 lb.

A standard iron door is 5 foot wide, 6 foot high, 2 inches thick and 2,400 lb in weight. Unless specified otherwise, all metal doors (when and if they are unlocked) may be opened by pushing on their plain side or by pulling on a small metal rung provided on the other side. The hinges of all metal doors are concealed, and so cannot be seen from either side of the door.

Unless otherwise specified, arcane spells found in the Lair are as cast by a 16th level wizard. Any divine spells are as cast by an 18th level cleric.

Upper Level

3. The First Ward (EL 5)

Trap: The obelisk (1-foot by 2-foot rectangle base, 8-foot high) is the first of the powerful wards that Maldred has left to protect his Lair. Formed from stone quarried from the deepest of the Nine Hells, the obelisk is magically bonded to the rock floor of the passage. The runes on the obelisk are very evil in nature.

The passage ends in a large, arcane locked iron door (10-foot high, 2-inches thick and weighing 4,000 lb). It was once barred and padlocked but both bar and broken padlock now lie on the floor in front of the door. The door’s hinges are not discernable from this side.

4. Cavern and Pit (EL 9)

The cavern roof here hosts a species of phosphorescent lichen that provides shadowy illumination out to 90 feet.

The stone floors here have not been roughened and are slippery, increasing the DC of Balance and Tumble checks by 5.

Trap: Only the first 5 feet of the bridge are real, the rest is an illusion.

Treasure: The bodies in the pit are those of adventurers who survived the wrecking of the galley (area 2) but who, after getting this far, fell victim to Maldred’s illusory bridge. If the bodies are investigated then the following details will be noted:

The first body lies face down; it is of a human and seems to have once worn metal armor of some sort, the remains of a shield and sword lie nearby. Upon its back is a cracked bowstave and a dried-up leather quiver which, if opened, contains many broken arrows and one intact arrow made entirely of silver and inscribed with many sigils (this arrow is magical and the sigils may be deciphered using read magic; they will inform a reader that this is an +1 elemental slaying arrow). If the body is turned over, a bandolier supporting many dried and cracked leather pouches will be revealed and, if these are searched through, an old wallet will be found containing 15 sp, 5 pp and a small dark gray engraved gem that a DC 15 Appraise check will readily identify as hematite—an ornamental stone worth about 10 gp (in fact it is a periapt of wound closure).

The second body lies on its side. It is of a gnome, and only the rags of a robe cover the withered body and the only weapons discernable amongst the wreckage of equipment seem to have been daggers. Next to the body is an old satchel containing 50 cp and a cracked ivory and gold ornamental hunting horn (worth 90 gp, or 900 gp if a mending spell is used to repair it).

5. Cavern and Tunnel (EL 9)

The slabs are smooth and slippery; this condition is worsened by the tunnel sloping downwards at an angle of about 15 degrees. The DC of Balance and Tumble checks in this area are increased by 7.

Creatures: Lurking in the west half of the cavern near the edge of the pit are 9 shadows. They still obey the last commands given them by their master Maldred the Mighty, who told them to attack any living creature that crossed the pit. Until their attack starts the shadows will avoid bright lights and will attempt to get behind a victim by hiding in areas of shadowy illumination.

Thirty feet into the tunnel is a skeleton lying on the floor. The tunnel ends in two 10-foot high bronze doors. They are curved at the top, perfectly fitting the arch of the tunnel. Neither has any discernible feature; no hinges can be seen. They are heavily barred on the inside. Each door is 2 inches thick, weighs 4,100 lb, and is worth 410 gp.

The skeleton is that of an adventurer from the wrecked galley. He was the leader and last survivor of a small party that attempted to loot Maldred’s Lair. Having drank a potion of invisibility, he escaped the guardians of the room beyond the bronze doors, but died of his wounds whilst trying to crawl up the slippery slope to the cavern.

Treasure: If the skeleton is investigated the following will be noted: The body lies to the rear and to one side. A badly ripped backpack lies half on and half off the body. Little remains of the half plate armor that the body once wore, much having corroded away and the rest is missing. No helm can be seen, though an intact but dented small shield lies partially under the body (it is a +2 light steel shield). If the rotted remains of gauntlets are removed, a ring will be revealed on each skeletal hand. On the left is a copper band holding a small transparent blue stone (a DC 15 Appraise check identifies this as aquamarine worth 100 gp in value; actually it is a ring of water walking). On the right is a silver band holding a small translucent apple-green stone (A DC 15 Appraise check identifies this as chrysoprase, worth 50 gp in value).

The rest of the equipment is either too smashed up or corroded to be worth anything, but various bits and pieces of broken pottery, rope and unidentifiable scraps of leather and metal can be seen at the bottom of the slope next to the doors. Closer examination will reveal the shattered remains of an ornate wooden staff, a steel scroll tube bent at right angles (a scroll can be seen within, it is a scroll of magic circle against evil and it is up to you to judge whether or not the PCs extract it without damage) and a small clear glass bottle sealed with a wired-on glass stopper. The bottle contains an effervescent golden liquid with a sweet taste/odor (elixir of vision in a glassteel bottle).

6. Entrance Hall

All of the curtains are 10 feet wide and 10 feet high and are made from many overlapping 2 inch wide strips of cloth that have been bonded at the top to a wooden slat nailed to the ceiling. The bottom is weighted by metal beads sewn to the cloth.

7. Alcoves (EL 9)

Creatures: In each alcove is a stone golem. Both have been damaged by previous attacks and have been programmed to perform the following functions:

1. To attack any intruders but to wait until an intruder moves between the green curtains or either green curtain is moved by something other than a golem.
2. To slow opponents as often as possible.
3. To ignore any intruders that lie on the ground but only if a golem has hit them at least once.
4. If given a choice of targets to attack the one wearing least armor.
5. Never to leave the Entrance Hall (area 6).
6. When all intruders have either left the Entrance Hall or obeyed rule 3, to place any remaining bodies in an alcove, close the entrance doors and re-bar them, and then return to their alcoves to await the next intruders.

Hazard: Alcove A contains the remains of 4 or 5 bodies (the rest of the party that attempted to loot Maldred’s Lair). Unless precautions are taken, anyone searching amongst these dry and dusty remains may breathe in a disease. Such a character must make a DC 16 Fortitude saving throw or contract cackle fever (see DMG 292).

Treasure: Apart from piles of broken bones and dried flesh, the remains consist mostly of torn robes, spikes and lanterns, also parts of a suit of splint mail and bits of some leather armor as well as several barely identifiable weapons, amongst them a heavy crossbow, a hand axe, and several types of swords.

When a character makes a successful Search check, the following intact or interesting pieces of equipment are recovered, including all items from lower DCs. Each item may only be recovered once. If magic detection is used, the four items of magic in the heap will be readily unearthed.

8. Antechamber (EL 8)

The atmosphere is warm and the floor, if struck hard, will sound hollow. The passage ends with a locked iron door. The lock is in the center of the door. It is a dial, similar to those found on safes.

Trap: The dial is trapped. If triggered, the entire floor of the antechamber, except for the exit passage, will vanish to reveal a 1-foot deep pit (previously under vacuum) that has at its bottom a layer of white phosphorous. The body heat of any character falling or stepping into the pit will cause the phosphorous about him to ignite, which will in turn cause the rest of the phosphorous to flare up (if no heat source is applied to the phosphorous then it will merely glow). Once ignited, characters take 1d4 points of fire damage. Each round thereafter, the damage dealt increases by 1d4, up to a maximum of 5d4.

In the center of the other side of the door is an identical dial (not tied-in to the trap mechanism). If the door has been opened and the lock mechanism kept intact, then closing the door and turning either dial will relock it.

9. Antechamber (EL 5)

The atmosphere is chill and the floor if struck hard will sound hollow. All of this floor, except for the eastern portion of the room, is of marble. The east portion is a thick sheet of ice.

Trap: The ice covers a 5-foot deep pit that has at its bottom a large patch of brown mold (DMG 76) that stops the ice from melting. If this sheet of ice is stepped upon or struck, it will only break.

The exit passage is 6 feet high and ends in a locked iron door. The lock in the center of the door is a dial identical to that in area 8, requiring a DC 30 Open Lock check to open. The dial has cast upon it a phantom trap. If the door has been opened and the lock mechanism kept intact, closing the door and turning either dial will relock it.

10. Laboratory (EL 8)

The room is lit by a continual flame that radiates from the center of the ceiling.

Creature: This room is guarded by an invisible stalker, which has orders to kill all intruders (and it’s in a hurry to finish the job!).

The containers under the northern workbench are all empty. The set of weighing scales on the southern workbench are a very finely balanced (and fragile).

The glass-sided cabinet that rests on the northern workbench is a fume-cupboard; the pipe leading off from it eventually reaches the outside and provides an outlet for the noxious gases that are sometimes produced during chemical reactions.

Trap: The large metal cabinet is not locked, but opening it will set off a fire trap.

Treasure: Inside the metal cabinet are over 400 bottles in six different colors (red, yellow, green, blue, black, and white), all numbered and all arcane locked. These bottles contain different elements, compounds and special ingredients in solid, liquid, and even gaseous form, but since their identities are concealed by Maldred’s code not even an alchemist would pay for them as the time, trouble and risk involved in identifying them would exceed their probable value.

In the east wall is a 5-foot wide, 6-foot high section. A DC 20 Search check will reveal the section as gray stone painted over with black gloss paint. A DC 20 Knowledge (architecture and engineering) or a DC 25 Spellcraft check further reveals that this section of the wall is, in fact, a passage that has been sealed with a wall of stone and painted over in an effort to disguise it.

The secret door in the south wall may be found on a DC 25 Search check. It may be opened by a character pushing hard against its lower half. This will engage a hidden counter-weight that will lift the door up into the ceiling. On the other side of the door is:

11. Secret Chamber (EL 3)

If pulled down the metal lever will, after a 1 minute delay, lower the secret door. If pulled up, it will raise the secret door immediately. (If the secret door is opened from the outside, the lever, if down, lifts at the same time as the door.) Inside the desk drawer is a sheet of folded-up vellum, a leather scroll tube, a small leather bag and a brass bottle stoppered with a silver plug and sealed with wax.

Treasure: The mace is one of Maldred’s experiments in weaponry: a rod of the mighty (Appendix B).

The sheet of vellum in the drawer bears some writing. The first part is an explosive rune, if this is avoided and the sheet remains intact, there follows an explanation of Maldred’s coding system. Using this a character will be able to pick out the most valuable bottles from the metal cabinet in the laboratory (if they are still available). These will amount to 20 bottles, each weighing ½ lb and each worth about 200 gp.

Inside the leather scroll tube is a scroll of feeblemind. This is in fact a cursed scroll and the caster will be struck by the spell when he attempts to invoke it.

The small leather pouch contains a rune-engraved, round lump of transparent gold-colored mineral that has a black sphere embedded at the center. A DC 17 Appraise check identifies this as a black pearl embedded in a lump of amber, worth 5,000 gp. Actually it is a periapt of foul rotting.

The brass bottle contains another of Maldred’s experiments: an odorless potion, syrupy and steel-gray in color, with grains of red suspended in it. The solution has a metallic taste and is an elixir of Titan’s power (Appendix B).

12. Library (EL 5)

The room is lit by a continual flame spell that radiates from the center of the ceiling.

The fireplace is 5 feet wide, 3 feet high, and 3 feet deep with a 1-foot diameter flue; there are no signs of either ashes or fuel. The exit passage is 6 feet high and ends in a standard wooden door.

A 5-foot wide by 6-foot high section of the west wall is a passageway that has been filled in by a wall of stone; it has been disguised and is detectable in the same way as the section of east wall described in area 10. The secret door in the south wall may be found on a DC 25 Search check. The door may be opened by pushing hard against its lower half; this will engage a hidden counter-weight that will lift the door up into the ceiling.

Trap: This room is guarded by a permanent version of mage’s faithful hound. This hound will not leave the library.

Treasure: There about 1,000 books, ancient histories and documentaries on past events—generally useless to the PCs. On average each book weighs 6 lb and measures 12 inches high, 9 inches wide, and 2 inches thick.

There are 100 books on religious history, devil worship, and the rituals pertaining to it. What little value these would have been to good characters (information on where covens gather so that they could be destroyed) is made invalid by being out of date. There are 200 books on ancient legends of great evil artifacts (of all these only one had some truth in it, and that led to the discovery of The Book of Yandross). There are 200 books on general research material, which form the basic library required by any mage to research spells.

A final section is subdivided into 4 groups of 100 books each and they form a high quality reference library dealing with chemistry, divination, dweomercraft, and the lower Outer Planes. Using these books requires 2d6 hours, access to comprehend languages (as the books are in many different dialects), and grants a +3 insight bonus on any Craft (alchemy), Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (the planes), or Spellcraft checks.

There are about 200 scroll tubes in the cabinet, and they contain generally useless information. The majority (about 160) are short histories, scraps of legends, written orders for long dead functionaries of the empire of Nastrond, and a few floor plans of proposed temples (but none of Maldred’s Lair). The rest (about 40) are maps of all sizes, from large scale maps showing lost continents to highly detailed plans of the areas around now defunct dungeons; none are useful.

13. Secret Chamber (EL 6)

The metal lever operates the same as the one in area 11.

Treasure: The desk has one drawer containing several quills, 3 bottles of ink, 2 blank scrolls, and a magnifying glass.

The stone block measures 30 inches by 15 inches by 20 inches and weighs about 700 lb. It is hollow with 1-inch thick walls but no seam or crack can be seen, as it was formed by a stone shape spell (and can be identified as such with a DC 24 Spellcraft check). Inside are 12 metal-bound, clasped and padlocked books, 6 steel scroll tubes and a metal helm.

All 12 books have a poison needle trap in the padlock and they all have a fire trap spell cast on them (so they all radiate magic if it is detected for). The books include eleven volumes on arcane lore and an emergency spell book, which contains 5 1st-level spells, 4 2nd-level spells, 4 3rd-level spells, 3 4th-level spells, 3 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells, 2 7th-level spells, and 2 8th-level spells (all to be determined by you).

The six scroll tubes are not trapped but the scrolls themselves each have explosive runes cast upon them. The first scroll contains 2 divine spells—dispel magic and locate object. The second scroll contains 4 arcane spells—bull’s strength, enlarge person, passwall, and water breathing. The next three scrolls are treasure maps to monetary treasure. The last scroll is a treasure map to magical treasure. (Where the maps lead to, what they lead to, and whether the treasure is still there is entirely up to you.)

The metal helm is a helm of comprehending languages and read magic.

14. Trap (El 8)

A symbol of insanity has been inscribed on the eastern wall at this point.

15. Trap (EL 4)

At this point a permanent, invisible wall of fire stretches across the corridor with its cool side facing south.

16-19 Traps

These traps are all greater glyphs of warding. Any creature touching the glyph area without first speaking its name will set it off.

16. Fiery Trap (EL 6)

This glyph protecting 15 feet of corridor (floor, walls, and ceiling) is fah, glyph of fire.

17. Toxic Trap (EL 6)

The 5-foot x 5-foot floor here is protected by xin, glyph of poison.

18. Abyssal Trap (EL 6)

The 5-foot x 5-foot floor area here is protected by pa-shi, glyph of plane shifting.

19. Withering Trap (EL 6)

This 15 feet section of corridor (floor, walls, and ceiling) is protected by vith, glyph of withering.

Domestic Quarters

Unless otherwise stated, rooms 20, 22, 23, 24 and 25 have 6-foot high entry/exit passageways and standard wooden doors.

20. Kitchen

The exit passage in the southwest wall is only 3 feet high.

21. Slaves Quarters (EL 3)

Any halfling will recognize these bodies as being of his own race.

Creature: In the northeast stall there is also a violet fungi. It will move to attack anyone investigating this room.

22. Dining Room

Treasure: The chair weighs 4,000 lb and is worth 2,000 gp.

23. Bathroom

The curtained alcoves are toilets. The large stones weigh about 5 lb and were once used to heat water.

The eastern part of the room is hidden by a curtain (all the curtains in this room are formed from a heavy-duty cloth draped over a ceiling-height steel rod) behind which the walls, floor and ceiling are covered with yellow tiles. A 4-foot deep sunken bath occupies the easternmost section of the room. At the southern end of this bath, one of the tiles on the bottom is raised above all the others (noticed on a DC 15 Search check). If it is removed, a drainage pipe is revealed. Projecting from the north wall above this bath is a metal spigot.

Hazard: If either spigot is opened, stale water will pour out (they are gravity fed from a water-tank above the room). The water is germ-laden and any character touched by this contaminated liquid must make a DC 16 Fortitude saving throw or become infected with the disease blinding sickness (DMG 292).

24. Bedroom of Jasmine the Magic-User

A 5-foot wide by 6-foot high section of the north wall is a passageway that has been filled in by a wall of stone, disguised and detectable in the same way as the section of east wall described in area 10.

Treasure: The bottle on the bedside table contains a watery, sweet-smelling liquid (perfume). Inside the drawer is a complete set of female cosmetics and a gold coin that has had a continual flame spell cast upon it.

Under the bed is a large wooden trunk holding many items of female apparel, none of which are of exceptional quality. A DC 15 Search check will find a pouch containing 10 pp.

25. Bedroom of the Clerics (EL 9)

A 5-foot wide by 6-foot high section of the north wall is a passageway that has been filled in by a wall of stone spell, disguised and detectable in the same way as the section of east wall described in area 10.

Treasure: The table nearest the door has upon it an incense burner and a small book of evil prayers. Its drawer contains 3 black tallow candles (the fat for which is of highly dubious origin) and a desecrated holy symbol.

The other table has nothing upon it but its drawer contains a ceremonial dagger made from a shard of jet black stone, a gold coin that has had a continual flame cast upon it, and 9 vials of unholy water.

Under each bed is large wooden trunk containing items of female apparel, all of which are religious is nature: ceremonial gowns, vestments, head-dresses, etc. Some bear bloodstains. Each trunk also contains a silver unholy symbol. The trunk under the bed in the southwest corner also has a leather bag containing a large sapphire (value 11,000 gp) that radiates strong conjuration magic. This is the prison for a vrock demon captured by a trap the soul spell.

26. Bedroom of Maldred the Mighty (EL 6)

If the blocks are still there, the blocked-in passageways in the southern wall are plainly visible as 5-foot wide, 6-foot high patches of gray stone and the remaining parts of wall are painted a deep red.

Each ‘gold’ door is 5-foot wide, 10-foot high, and 3 inches thick. They are arcane locked. In actuality both doors are made of brass and have had a permanent image cast upon them (DC 19 Will save if interacted with). As gold, each door feels like 15,000 lb in weight and is apparently worth 150,000 gp; as brass each door is actually 6,600 lb in weight and only worth 660 gp.

The metal trunk is 5-foot long, 2-feet wide, and 2-feet high, and made from ½-inch steel plates. It weighs 970 lb empty (with its present contents it weighs 1,050 lb), has no hinges or lock, and has a slot-on lid (like a shoe-box) that has been arcane locked into position (DC 23 Strength check to open).

Trap: The trunk has had a glyph of warding cast on it, so any creature who touches the trunk without without saying the name of the glyph will set it off.

Treasure: The rug weighs 500 lbs and is worth 1,000 gp intact.

The gray stone paperweight is made of slate. It has not been shaped or carved, but if examined carefully (DC 15 Spot check), a single word in small letters will be discerned upon its base: ‘gersit.’ This is a figurine of wondrous power: the slate stirge (Appendix B).

The papers from the bedside table give details of a lair Maldred had constructed far to the north of this island and how he intended to move there for his ‘chrysalis’ phase. (This is a false trail left by Maldred to confuse any invader who reaches this far.)

The trunk contains a full set of gem-encrusted ceremonial robes, a set of half plate, and a 1-foot x 6-inch x 6-inch wooden box with a sliding lid that contains a pair of gauntlets (which are in addition to the gauntlets that come with the half plate). The half plate, box, and gauntlets all radiate magic.

The robes are encrusted with low value ornamental stones so their value is 2,000 gp.

The armor is +2 half plate, but unless it is carefully cleaned it will kill the wearer 8 hours after he or she puts it on due to a cumulative dose of slow-acting, skin-absorbed poison that is coated on the inside of the armor. There is no saving throw. The poison does not leave a victim’s system so death occurs after 8 (not necessarily consecutive) hours of wearing the armor.

The box is a folding boat, but the command words have been lost and must be discovered. The gauntlets are gauntlets of ogre power.

27. Secret Corridor (EL 4)

The two blocked-in passageways at the north end are plainly visible as 5-feet wide, 6-foot high patches of gray stone. In the middle, the floor drops 20 feet. This 20-foot x 30-foot pit is filled with water. At the center of the bottom of the pit is a 10-foot diameter recessed steel disc. To the south are two arcane locked gold doors (see area 26), ‘pull’ handles are provided on this side of the doors.

Creature: The water in the pit is inhabited by a water weird, a life form that has its origins on the Elemental Plane of Water. These creatures attack all living things, and as their victims lay dying, the water weirds drain their life’s essences.

The water weird takes but two rounds to form from the body of water it inhabits. It appears as a large serpent constructed entirely of water.

The pit contains 12,000 cubic feet of water (about 74,880 gallons), so for each 600 cubic feet of water removed, the level will drop one foot—count each helmet-full as about 0.1 cubic feet in volume.

The steel ‘plug’ is 2-inches thick and weighs 6,300 lb. As well as being heavy, the plug is held by water pressure. To lift the plug requires a total combined Strength score of 30, plus 2 for every foot of water above it. (Thus, at its initial depth it will require a total combined Strength score of 70 to ‘pull the plug.’ How the players apply their strength is another problem.) The plug is indented ½-foot into the pit floor, is smooth and fits its hole perfectly, offering no grip or leverage. Of course the players will probably avoid lifting the plug by using spells such as passwall or rock to mud.

28. The Shaft (EL 9)

The plug conceals a smooth-sided, slippery, circular shaft (Climb DC 25). Unless by some chance the players managed to conjure up 12,000 serfs with buckets, when the plug in area 27 is removed, or some other hole made, the water will drain down the shaft and into the 'bucket room,' area 29 below, possibly taking with it any unanchored characters who happen to be in the pit at the same time. The fall does 9d6 lethal and 2d3 nonlethal damage.

Creatures: Halfway down the shaft on the south side is a small (1-foot x 1-foot) hole leading to a small chamber that is the lair of 2 spectres.

Lower Level

29. ‘Bucket’ Room (EL 5)

Note: Unless it has been dispelled permanently, any water in the ‘bucket’ room will also contain the water weird from area 27.

The exit passage at the top of the southern wall goes 5 feet before it ends in two large iron doors (each is 5-foot wide, 10-foot high, 2 inches thick, and weighs 4,000 lb), each with a metal ring at its center.

Trap: Pulling on the ring will undo the bolts that anchor the door to the floor and ceiling, and without their support the door will fall in the direction it is being pushed.

30. Pit and Morghiss Lair (EL 8)

The pit is 55 feet deep. Anyone falling in takes 5d6 falling damage and an additional 2d6 fire damage. Each round spent at the bottom of the pit inflicts another 2d6 fire damage.

Creature: On some ledge of this literal hell-hole is the lair of an evil spirit called a morghiss. By his arcane powers, Maldred has bound this morghiss to the pit and it may not move further than 100 feet from it. Having been without live prey for almost 900 years the morghiss has taken to lying in a torpor in its lair. It will be stirred by any loud noise or vibration (such as a 4,000 lb door falling over), by magic spells being cast near the pit entrance, by any light moved over the pit, or by any object or character being dropped down the pit.

Once the morghiss is aroused (as one of the above is bound to happen), it will spy on the PCs by using its clairvoyance ability.

31. Alcoves

These alcoves have been provided by Maldred for the use of the morghiss during its liaisons with party stragglers. Both of these alcoves are completely silent (as the divine spell silence). This effect is permanent and cannot be dispelled.

32. Jasmine’s Magic Jar Room (EL 9)

Neither of these precious minerals can be removed from the pillar without breakage. A DC 15 Knowledge (architecture and engineering) would note that, as the ceiling has been deliberately weakened in this room, removal of the pillar would result in a cave-in.

Creature: The pillar radiates strong necromancy magic. A DC 32 Knowledge (arcana) check will reveal that this is a special soul receptacle designed to enhance a magic jar spell. How well it does this is tied in with the size and quality of receptacle that the life force is kept in, which is why the pillar is so large and valuable. Sapphire was used because it is blue (a spiritual color) and because it boosts magical abilities; jet is a soul object material. The pillar currently contains the life force of Jasmine the magic-user, one of Maldred’s minions.

The pillar greatly enhances a magic jar spell in several ways. First, when used as the focus component for a magic jar spell, the pillar extends the spell’s duration to last until the caster returns to her own body (Jasmine’s is currently located in area 33). Second, the pillar maintains the caster’s body in a state of suspended animation and preservation while the magic jar is in effect, as a temporal stasis spell. Finally, the magic jar does not require line of effect to any victim and is not blocked by solid barriers.

From the pillar Jasmine will attempt to magic jar one of the PCs (DC 20, CL 9th). Her range is 90 feet (the dotted line markings on the map) and she is immediately aware of all living things that enter her area of effect (unless they are magically shielded by a nondetection spell or the like). She will begin attempts at jarring into PCs as soon as they enter her territory.

Treasure: If the pillar is successfully removed from the dungeon and sold it is worth 10,000 gp.

33. Preservation Chamber (EL 8)

Creature: Whilst Jasmine’s body is without a life force, this room keeps it in a state of suspended animation and preservation, similar to a temporal stasis spell. This condition is broken only by Jasmine’s life force returning to her body.

Treasure: Under her bed is a locked metal chest (Jasmine has the key). The lock is trapped and, if the key is not used, poison gas will spray out of the chest.

The chest contains 5 metal-bound books (not locked) and a block of jet (value 1,000 gp). The books are Jasmine’s spellbooks, on each is also an explosive runes.

Development: If Jasmine is forced to re-enter her body by the destruction of the pillar, she will do one of two things:

If she feels that the PCs are too weak to destroy Maldred then she will use a magic jar spell to store her life force in the block of jet (an inferior receptacle compared to the pillar, but good enough to last her till Maldred’s ‘hatching,’ which she knows will be soon). This will, of course, place her body back into suspended animation.

If the PCs seem very powerful and likely to succeed in destroying Maldred, she will wait until the PCs have passed, then leave her secret room and attempt to leave the Lair (she knows of all the traps that lie between her room and the exit). Knowing that any PCs invading the Lair would probably come by ship, she will avoid using all her dimension doors so as to be able to use one to board the ship and stow away.

34. Metallic Curtains (EL 6)

A series of curtains here shrouds the corridor. Each hangs from a rod attached to the ceiling.

A. This curtain of metallic bronze colored satin completely blocks the corridor and hangs from a bronze rod (10-feet long, 1-inch diameter, weight 30 lb, value 3 gp).

B. This curtain of metallic silver colored satin completely blocks the corridor and hangs from a silver rod (10-feet long, 1-inch diameter, weight 35 lb, value 17 gp).

C. Hazard: This looks like a curtain of metallic gold colored satin that completely blocks the corridor and which hangs from a gold rod. In fact it is a colony of yellow mold (DMG 76).

35. Iron Room (EL 7)

The doors to this room are made of iron; each is 5-foot wide, 10-foot high, 2 inches thick, and weighs 4,000 lb. They may be pushed open quite easily.

The iron walls are 2-inch-thick plate coated with lead on the outside. A DC 25 Search check will reveal a small gap between the door-frame and the walls, floor, and ceiling of the outside corridor; the iron wall of the room does’t actually join with the floor or ceiling. Instead, there is a small gap: the iron pillar is in fact an iron sheath over a stone pillar. This sheath is made of 2 inch thick iron plate and stops just short of the floor; there is oil between it and the stone pillar within.

A successful DC 20 Knowledge (architecture and engineering) check will determine that if the bars are pushed in a clockwise direction, the wall will slowly rotate. (Anti-clockwise movement is prevented by a ratchet within the pillar.) It requires a total combined Strength score of 80 to push the bars. If the iron doors are kept open, it will be noticed that there is a northern exit; if the wall is turned further, the doorway will reveal another exit to the south. (There is an eastern exit passage but it has been concealed by a plaster-board facade, and is found with a DC 20 Search check.)

Creatures: When the door to this room comes into line with the northern exit, 3 doombats will fly in and attack.

36. False Hall (EL 10)

The doors to this area are each 10 feet wide, 10 feet high, 2 inches thick, and are made of platinum. They are very ornate, depicting scenes of Maldred emerging from his Chrysalis and descending into Hell to become its greatest Arch-Devil.

Each door is actually made of iron plated with platinum and weighs 8,115 lb; 115 lb of this is platinum that is worth 5,750 gp. If either door is touched, even lightly, both doors will swing wide open.

Two alcoves are set into the eastern wall, one on each side of the iron doors. Both alcoves shown are concealed by a permanent image of an ordinary wall (CL 16th, DC 19 if interacted with). From inside of the alcove this illusion is transparent. The eastern exit (behind the doors) is only 6 feet high.

Creatures: A total of 9 guardian skeletons hide in and around this room, waiting for the eastern doors to be opened before they spring to attack. When fully open the western doors conceal secret recesses in the north and south walls (noticed on a DC 20 Search check); a guardian skeleton waits in each recess. Each of the eastern alcoves contains 2 more guardian skeletons hiding behind the permanent images. Finally, 3 more guardian skeletons hide behind the closed eastern doors.

As soon as the PCs open the eastern doors, the 4 skeletons hidden in the alcoves and the 3 skeletons hiding behind the eastern door all charge out to attack. At the same time the skeletons hidden in the recesses will push the western doors shut and slide into position two bolts that will effectively arcane lock the doors to anyone wishing to open them from the west side (break DC 38). These 2 skeletons will then attack the PCs as well, after a two round delay.

37. The Chamber of Summoning (EL 6)

The passage to the east is 10 feet high. It is blocked by a heavy, very squeaky iron portcullis. If any significant noise is made in this area, the mummy in 38 will be alerted as noted in that room's description.

Trap: It anything touches the pentagram or the floor area within it, 1d3 fiendish dire apes will appear and attack the party. Unless killed they will remain for 16 rounds before fading away.

The strange metal is orichalcum, which stores the energy for the summoning spell. Orichalcum after it is used turns into ordinary non-magical silver. If deactivated, the orichalcum loses its color but slowly regains it as the deactivation period runs out.

Treasure: If the pentagram is cut while it is deactivated or a successful Disable Device check is made, then the device is permanently broken and the orichalcum may be salvaged. The metal making up the pentagram is 1/10th of an inch thick and weighs 26 lb. As orichalcum it may be sold for 5,200 gp; as silver its value is only 26 gp.

38. The Mummy’s Room (EL 6)

Creature: Resting on the slab is a mummy. If the PCs make any sort of noise in area 37, the mummy will be ready to attack (in fact, it may charge down the corridor if it hears the PCs having trouble with the portcullis but it will first look to make sure that at least one character is on its side of the portcullis). If the PCs have been totally silent in their approach, the mummy will be at rest upon its slab.

The southern wall of this room is made of iron. A DC 26 Spellcraft check will identify this as a wall of iron that has been used to seal off the false chrysalis chamber (area 39).

Treasure: A DC 25 Spellcraft check will identify the stone slab as a wall of stone. It has been used to cover a pit that contains some of the temple treasure:

• 5 identical small bottles (1 inch diameter, 3 inches high, walls 1/8 inch thick, weighing about 1 lb and worth 50 gp each), each made of platinum and sealed with rune engraved wax. These bottles contain potions of cure light wounds, cure serious wounds, reduce person, and spider climb; as well as an elixir of love.
• A 2-foot long, 1/2-inch diameter wand of some rare white wood, tipped with a 1-inch diameter round knob of a transparent violet crystal (a garnet carbuncle). If any character stares long enough into the crystal then the words ‘Sebara Tralocus’ will form. This is a wand of detect secret doors with 50 charges. Sebara Tralocus are the command words.
• A sack containing 108 ornamental stones, each worth 10 gp. Sewn to the inside of the sack are two plain metal rings (found on a DC 20 Search check), one of copper, the other of iron. The copper ring is a minor ring of fire resistance; the iron ring is a cursed ring of clumsiness.

39. False Chrysalis Chamber

This pod is a permanent programmed image (CL 16th, DC 19 if interacted with). PCs making the save notice that the movements of the shadowy form are repetitious and that it doesn’t seem to be making any progress in breaking out. If attacked in any physical manner that would normally cause 1 or more points of damage, the illusion is programmed to shatter and, for 1 round, depict an ugly black corpse amongst the shards before totally fading away.

40. The Great Hall and the True Chrysalis Chamber (EL 11)

This entire area is magically shielded with a permanent nondetection spell (CL 16th).

The approach corridor is only 6 feet high and ends in two standard iron doors (the pull rings are on the side facing the PCs).

As soon as the doors are opened, a special wall of force effect is activated that completely envelops the Great Hall and Chrysalis Chamber (the effect is indicated by the dashed lines on the map). The force is generated by another infernal obelisk (see below), the second and last of the powerful wards that Maldred prepared to defend his Lair. In all respect, the force is the same as that generated by a cube of force switched onto its fifth facet (keeps out all things). Treat this ‘cube’ as having 30 charges in reserve.

The north and south passageways are only 6-foot high. Where they open out into the Hall, they have been sealed with sheets of glassteel, a magically created, transparent substance that has the tensile strength and unbreakability of actual steel. Beyond these sheets of glassteel, the Hall rises to 40 feet high.

The Great Hall and Chrysalis Chamber have an intensely evil aura that has the effect of a powerful prayer spell (CL 18th). All of Maldred’s allies gain a +2 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of his foes takes a -2 penalty on such rolls. (These bonuses are already factored into the stat blocks below.)

Near the center is small obelisk (1-foot x 2-foot rectangular base, 8 feet high) made of a fiery red stone, veined with sickly green lines and carved with runes. Atop this obelisk is a black crystal cube 1 inches to a side. Like the first obelisk (area 3), this one is formed from stone quarried from the deepest of the Nine Hells and is magically bonded to the rock floor of the Hall.

Creatures: When the force wall is breached four creatures will be temporally reinstated from the temporal stasis effect in which they have been held: two are invisible cockatrices and the other two are Morwenna and Vivien, female human clerics.

One cockatrice is in each of the entrance passages. As they are both invisible they gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls against sighted opponents, and ignore their opponents’ Dexterity bonuses to AC (if any).

Whilst the ‘invaders’ are disposing of the cockatrices and breaking down the glassteel walls, Morwenna and Vivien will have been preparing their spells and casting any that seem necessary.

In the center of the south wall is a 20-foot high curtain of yellow-white material. A DC 15 Spot check will reveal this curtain to be made of human skins.

The chrysalis is not as easy to destroy as the PCs were told. It is impervious to non-magical weapons and it is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. If the chrysalis is damaged by a weapon, both it and the weapon must make a DC 19 Fortitude save (the chrysalis has a +11 bonus on all saves). If the weapon fails it is destroyed. (Weapons with the holy special property are exempt from having to save and the chrysalis is automatically destroyed at the touch of such a weapon.)

If the chrysalis fails a save, or if it is reduced to 0 hp or less, it and Maldred will vanish with a clap of thunder followed by a rush of wind and the sound of leathery wings accompanied by long, drawn-out screams as Maldred’s soul is dragged off to everlasting torment.

Ad Hoc Experience Award: If the PCs manage to destroy Maldred’s chrysalis, award them experience points as if they had defeated a CR 8 creature.

Concluding the Adventure

The copper dais underneath the chrysalis weighs 35,300 lb and is worth 1,765 gp. Under the dais is the main cache of temple treasure. Its exact composition depends on how much wealth and magic you wish to introduce to your campaign.

Appendix A. New Monsters