THRALLS

of the SUN
A Fantasy Adventure
For Use with the Blood & Bronze Game System

Concept by
Johan NORDINGE

Artwork
Leanna TENEYCKE (2014) • Interior
Glynn SEAL (2015) • Maps & Handout
Axel WIDÉN (2015) • Cover
(c) each artist, respectively. Used herein under license

Text by
Olav NYGÅRD • Johan NORDINGE

With
Gustaf BROWALL • Jocke ANDERSSON
Mike BERGAMOTTE • Christoffer LINDAHL

Editing
Jensen TOPERZER • Joseph WALERKO

Thanks to
Danuta LINDEKRANTZ • Tomas BRATTSTRÖM
Fredrik SERGLER • Johnny BERGSTRÖM

Special Thanks to
Christian MEHRSTAM

Transatlantic Edition • Revision 2016-02-14

www.bloodandbronze.com

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 Chapter I -
INTRODUCTION

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 4 CHAPTER I

The players are free to decide what their char-

INTRODUCTION acters do, but their choices are limited by the
Enter the Slave Pits, where the wretched are sent possibilities provided by this particular context.
to perish. You have stepped away from the light of
life-giving Shamash; your trespasses have forced the While the setup is designed with a starting
divine eye of the heavens to dismiss you into the shad- group in mind, it can easily be inserted into an
ows, for if you ever met his gaze again his flaming ongoing campaign. There are many situations
wrath would surely strike you down. that may cause the adventurers to find them-
selves in the slave pits, including: being defeat-
But one day, maybe, you can win your freedom back: by ed in combat and subsequently sold as slaves;
hard work, by cunning or by blood in the Sun’s court. becoming indebted to a patron and forced to
enter into slavery to repay the debt; seeking the
visions of the Black Priestess; or being contract-
The Basics ed by the family in 104 to free their father.
The adventurers are thrown into the slave pits
under Sippar, accused of a crime they did or
Outline
didn’t commit. The adventurers' goal is to sur- The setup can be broken down into four parts,
vive the slave pits and escape them. But there as follows:
are secrets hidden in the shadows: both in the
heart of their fellow slaves and in the dark soil
1. Introducing the Adventure
they tirelessly tunnel. Introduce the adventure by telling the players
that they are brought as slaves trough the twelve
This setup is designed to provide the very first
Gates of Twilight, deep under the golden zig-
adventure for groups new to Blood & Bronze
gurat of the Mid-day Sun. They have been sen-
and will take you through the basics of the
tenced by the court of Shamash, the gleaming
game: that you—the referee—describe the
God of Sippar, to toil until dead in the city’s un-
scene and the non-player characters (NPCs);
derground waterworks. For each gate they pass,
that the players say what their characters do and
the darkness grows thicker and as the last gate
say; that you adjudicate their outcomes, using
closes they stand in eternal gloom. Here, the
the rules as help and reference; and that you
Pit Master Mal-Hara and her men greet them
describe how the NPCs react to the adventur-
by fastening leather collars around their necks,
ers’ actions and how the situation changes as a
sealing them with a brimstone curse as a sign
result.
that they are now property of the priesthood of
Thralls of the Sun is a location-based setup, Shamash. The PCs are bereft of their weapons
meaning that the geographical layout sets lim- and sent down a long rope ladder to the Cave of
its to the both the freedom of movement and Sorrows where their fellow slaves dwell.
possible actions of the player characters. For
As a referee, you should:
example, at the beginning of the adventure the
adventurers are in a large underground cham- emphasize the darkness and despair.
ber, lit by a large bonfire and housing hundreds
emphasize the necklace and its curse
of slaves. Two visible paths lead into the dark-
(see p. 8).
ness of the underground canals or qanats, an-
other opening leads to the living quarters of instruct the players that they must es-
the self-appointed leader of the slaves. A ledge cape or perish.
above—too high to climb and heavily guarded
give them an overview of the platform
by men in gleaming armor—separates them
and point out where their weapons are
from the only known path to freedom.
being stashed away.

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 INTRODUCTION 5

important features, encounters and secrets.

2. The Slave Camp Use your own imagination to expand on this
The introduction ends with the PCs arriving in information.
the slave camp in the Cave of Sorrows. Built from
every ten minutes of game time, roll a
leftover materials from the construction of the
die for chance encounters as per the
vast network of underground tunnels, the camp
level. Use reaction rolls for key NPCs; oth-
consists of several huts, tents and shelters. In the
ers will react according to situation. Guards
middle of the camp a great fire burns, illuminating
should react to physical danger with violence
the cave with a flickering hellish red.
and strive to capture fugitives by any means
As a referee, you should: necessary, but otherwise prefer to question,
harass, or hinder in that order.
encourage the players to explore the
cave and the camp. THE OPEN PASSAGES
There are three open-ended passages on level 2.
let your NPCs interact with the PCs.
You must decide beforehand whether they are
Have them inquire into who the PCs are and
open or not, and if so where they lead. Use them
what they have done to end up here.
to string together several underground adventures
every ten minutes, tell the players that or seal them off. Either way, they should not lead
a the shift changes and that they are directly to freedom.
forced to work: let each player roll on
THE CRYPT OF UBARA-TUTUM
the slavery chart (p. 8).
The third and fourth levels contain the antediluvi-
Except for when led to work, the PCs cannot an crypt of Ubara-Tutum.While they are connect-
leave the Cave of Sorrows until they have found, ed to the qanats, they form a separate adventure
crafted, stolen or traded a torch, lamp or similar, setup and can be run as such.
as the underground tunnels cannot be navigated
As the referee, you should note that the third and
freely without a light source.
fourth levels have a different atmosphere than the
3. Exploring the Tunnels two higher and are significantly more dangerous.
For more details on the Crypt levels, see informa-
Once the PCs have acquired a light source, they
tion on p. 30.
are free to begin exploring the labyrinthine tun-
nels of the qanat. 4. The Escape
As a referee, you should: There are at least three ways for the adventur-
ers to exit the slave pits:
encourage the players to map their
explorations on a piece of paper. Correct 1. They can find a way out
them if they are gravely mistaken, but let
2.They can buy their way out, using wealth
them draw. Sticks-and-balls will suffice well
stolen from the tomb of Ubara-Tutum
as exact dimensions of rooms are of little
import for this adventure. This will give the 3. They can negotiate a deal with the three
players a better overview of the areas they sisters in 104 or with Mal-Hara in 116
have explored as well as the passages that
The adventure ends when the adventurers exit
remain unknown.
the slave pits. However, if they haven't devised a
use the included maps and numbered plan to remove their collars, they will continue
entries to provide content for each to trouble them. Additionally, if the Crypt is left
location. All rooms are keyed: the corre- unexplored, players may choose to return at a
sponding entries contain information about later point.

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 Chapter II -
The SLAVE PITS

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 8 CHAPTER II

THE SLAVE PITS # SLAVE WORK EVENT

The slave pits are located in southern Sippar, 1 Severe disease.You contract a severe
somewhere under the looming Ziggurat of the disease. Endurance is halved until you
Mid-day Sun. The purpose of the slaves' labor roll 10+ on a recovery die. Subtract 2
is simple, yet requires tremendous effort and from future rolls on this chart.
great ingenuity: to provide the desert city and 2 Disease.You contract a disease.Your
its ever-thirsting god with water. endurance is halved until you roll a
Via a network of tunnels and caves, the Cave of 7+ on a recovery die. Subtract 1 from
Sorrows where the slaves reside connects to the future rolls on this chart.
underground canals carrying water from dis- 3 Whipped. The slave-drivers choose
tant hills, the large halls where water is pumped you to set an example. 1d6 endurance
from reluctant sources deep under the earth lost; Might saves for half. Subtract 1
and the bases of towering chimneys collecting from future rolls on this chart.
dew from frosty mornings. Every sixth hour a 4 Minor accident. The ceiling gives in,
signal reverberates through the tunnels, indicat- killing some in your team and wound-
ing the change of shifts: sending some to their ing you. Lose 1d4 endurance.
first or second daily period of work, others to
5 Insufferable hardship. The labor at your
rest or for meals and recuperation.
station exerts a terrible toll: lose 1d4
To signify the unfree situation that the adven- endurance from the physical strain.
turers are in, you should set an alarm to ring 6-7 Arduous labor. Roll a twenty-sided die
every ten to fifteen minutes. Inform the players under or equal to your endurance. On
that when the alarm rings, they must choose to a hit, you cope fine; on a miss you fall
either stop whatever they are doing and instead behind and attract unwanted attention
roll a twenty-sided die on the slave-work chart from the guards. Subtract one from
below, or accept that all guards will turn hostile future rolls.
against them. 8-9 Toil. Lose 1 endurance.
All slaves in the waterworks are equipped 10 Fight. On the way back from work,
with slave collars. The collars mark the slaves some slaves sees an opportunity to
as property of the temple, but are also imbued settle a score with you. Roll a twen-
with sorcery that prevents them from stepping ty-sided die under or equal to your
into the light of day. Whenever new shafts are endurance: on a hit, you stand your
dug, large sun-shades have to be put in place ground—increase status by 1; on a
by nightly chain-gangs. Despite this, casualties miss they overwhelm you. Either way,
among the surface crews are still common. you lose 1d6 endurance.
11 Informant.You are asked by the guards
THE COLLAR OF BURNING VENGEANCE to act as their eyes and ears in the slave
Upon entering the Slave Pits, all slaves—in- camp. If you accept, check Guile. On a
cluding the PCs—get a collar etched with hit, add 1 to all future rolls; on a miss
brimstone curses fastened around their your status is lowered by 1d4. If you
necks. If exposed to sunshine, the sorcerous refuse, subtract 2 from future rolls.
glyphs will burn with a baleful glow, causing 12 Unrest.You overhear some slaves plot-
1 dmg per round; if broken, they will catch ting to murder a particular guard. If
fire and set the bearer aflame (2d8 fire dam- you warn him, add +2 to future rolls
age for 1d4+1 rounds). on this chart but lose one status.

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 THE SLAVE PITS 9

# SLAVE WORK EVENT # SLAVE WORK EVENT

13 Robbed. Another slave, desperate from 19 Favored. One of the slave-drivers take
hunger, tries to take your rations from a liking in you, and begins to favor
you. If you fight him, check Might: you. If you accept, add 3 to future rolls
on a hit you floor him, on a miss you on this chart but lose one status. If not,
suffer 1d4 damage and must starve. If subtract 1 from future rolls until you
you don’t fight, you lose one point of make it up to her.
status in addition. 20 Extra rations. As a reward for work
14 Incineration. An accident causes one well done or as an incentive to work
of the slaves in your team to break her better in the future, you and a few oth-
collar; moments later she is inciner- ers are granted extra rations.You may
ated by a terrible fire. If you steal her recover completely. In addition, add
belongings before they are consumed one to future rolls on this chart.
by fire; gain an extra ration today—
roll a d10 to determine its magnitude
(with 1 denoting a ration befitting a Status & Rations
status 1 character, and 10 denoting a
status ten ration). Each dawn, the Twilight Gates open to bring
in rations supplied by the temple and awarded
15 Bet. Some slaves pass time by placing to the slaves collectively. If a player character
bets. If you participate, roll a die: odd, has no food of her own, she must rely on her
you lose todays ration and must go share of today’s rations. The recovery dice for
hungry; even, you win one of theirs extended rests are then determined by each
and get a double ration. character’s status, reflecting the size and quality
16 Rat. Tools have been stolen and the of her cut.
guards put the blame on you. If you
rat out another slave as the thief, your Unless modified, a characters status equals her
status is lowered by 2; if you don’t you Might rating.
are flogged for 1d6 damage.
STATUS RECOVERY DIE
17 Murder.You are asked to prove your-
self by murdering one of the guards. <1 D4-2 (minimum 1)
If you accept, check Guile: on a hit 1 D4-1 (minimum 1)
you get away with it, on a miss you are 2 D4
spotted and bludgeoned for 3d8 dam- 3 D6
age (will not lower endurance below
4 D8
0). Either way, you gain 2 status.
5 D10
18 Supervisor.You are commanded to su-
pervise a small group of slaves. Check 6 D12
Might: on a hit, add 2 to all future 7 D12+1
rolls on this chart; on a miss subtract 8 D12+2
1 from them. Either way, your status is 9 D12+3
lowered by one.
10+ D12+4

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 Level I -
The UPPER
QANAT
Overview Chance Encounters
+ The upper qanat lies just below earth’s sur- For every ten minutes of game time spent in the
face: a combination of cellars, culverts and upper qanat—except in rooms 119-122—the
natural tunnels, created from the gradual sub- referee should roll a twelve-sided die for chance
mersion of mud-brick huts by sand from dust- encounters. In addition, a new roll should be
storms and flood-brought sediments over mil- made if the adventurers do something noisy or
lennia. that could otherwise attract attention.
+ Houses the managerial functions of the qanat:
1D12 ENCOUNTER
the Pit Master’s office (116), the living quarters
of the guards (117) as well as the control room 1 1d4 Guards on patrol duty.
and siphons that prevent flooding (107). 2 1d4+1 Guards. 50% on their way to
begin shift at post 221, 50% leaving
+ The massive Gates of Twilight (118) separate their shift.
the underground qanats from the sprawling city
3 1d12 slaves, escorted to work by
they serve.
1d4 guards.
+ A newly built brick wall (102) hides a tunnel 4 Engineer, guarded by two guards.
to the basement of a commoner's house. In the 5 Ghiri (203), sneaking off to trade
house lives three women who will aid the PCs with the guards.
to escape if their enslaved father (109 or 112)
is rescued. 6+ Nothing.

+ Aside from the illuminated guard posts and Guards: pwr 2, save 6, end 18. Clad in white
well-lit living quarters, the level is dark and flax clothes with red emblems and armed with
cool. The desert wind pours down through nar- spears (dmg 1d8).
row air-holes dug at an angle to keep dirt from
Slaves: pwr 2, save 5, end 6. Wearing little but
falling in at the cost of keeping light out.
loin-cloth. Unarmed (dmg 1d4; no crit).
+ The player characters briefly pass through
Engineeer: pwr 2 (Craft 4), save 5, end 12.
this level during the adventure’s prelude: walk
Wearing a saffron robe with gold-tread fringes
through the heavy gates of twilight, see their
and an amethyst ring of office (worth 120 s),
weapons being thrown into the storage (115)
armed with a sledge (dmg 1d6; bludgeon 1d6).
before being forced at spear-point to climb the
ladder down to the slave chamber on the lower
floor (201).

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 THE SLAVE PITS 11

RANKS AND IMPROVEMENTS

Mal-Hara As a slave, you are in no position to bargain.
Mal-Hara is the warden of the slave pits, a ma- When gaining new ranks with the bondsman
jestic woman of terrible strength and ogrish covenant, your adventurer must follow the five
temprament. Her cruelty towards the slaves step procedure below:
is of that peculiar kind found in those who are
1. Lose at least three weeks of her life to
themselves subjected, for she is no more free
slavery. Roll three times at the slave-work
to leave Sippar than the slaves she commands.
chart. If an equal period has already passed,
Mal-Hara's power is kept in check by her fear lose just one week and roll once.
of her own masters in the temples above. The
2. Reroll ability score for either Might, Vigor
threat of reprimands for anything that could
or Craft, using 2d6+1.
jeopardize productivity has prevented the Pit
Master from destroying the more influential 3. Reroll another ability score, chosen at
slaves: Zabaia (216), Talwar (225), Ghiri (203) random from the remaining five, using 2d6.
and the priestess (227). Nonetheless, she is de-
4. Increase Endurance by 1d4.
termined that they must die before they grow
powerful enough to undermine her authority. 5. Gain a +1 bonus to all future rolls on the
For this reason, she recruits agents among the slave-work chart.
lesser slaves, using them to spy on the prospec-
TRIBUTE AND WRATH
tive usurpers or for various other deeds.
After entering this covenant, the PC is expected
Bondsman Covenant to pay fealty by doing one month of labor for
Mal-Hara each time the adventurer gains anoth-
Any player character can enter into a covenant
er rank.
with Mal-Hara. There are several ways this can
happen: an adventurer may seek her out and of- Failure to do so means risking her wrath. The
fer services and wealth in return for a favorable player must roll a single six-sided die. If the
treatment, or enter on pain of death after being result is lower than or equal to her adventur-
bested in combat by the Pit Master or her men. er’s current rank as bondsman, the Pit Master
forgives the trespass. Otherwise she will dis-
To enter into the bondsman covenant, the ad-
patch 1d6+Rank deputies to hunt and capture
venturer must either pay 480 shekels (8 mina)
the adventurer. A hunted character must roll a
to the Pit Master Mal-Hara or carry out an or-
percentile die each day: if she rolls 01 her per-
der to murder one of her two main enemies
secutors catch up. For each additional day the
Zabaia (216) or Talwar (225).
character remains in the same place, the chance
is increased by one. For example, lingering in
the same spot for a week results in seven rolls,
where the first is being made against 01, the
second against 02 and the seventh against 07.
The deputies will try to catch the adventurer
and bring her before the Pit Master; if caught,
her player must choose between a year of puni-
tive work or paying 1000 shekels per rank for
her release.

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 14 LEVEL I

Locations
107 Dam control room. From here,

101
water flow in the aqueducts and
Spiraling aqueduct (top). The
canals can be regulated by lowering or raising
lead pipes of the spiraling aqueduct
a series of dam gates. Designed to prevent the
(222) leads up here, to a small landing.
water clock in the Great Temple above from

102 Brick culvert. The walls and floor

of this wide culvert consist of love-
lessly made mud bricks of various age, coated
malfunctioning in times of extreme drought or
flooding, the dams are also used to drain canals
or aqueducts to facilitate larger repairs. Three
in sun-red glaze to keep from withering in the guards are stationed here at all times, some-
dampness. Scrutiny of the walls reveals a sec- times (50%) accompanied by an engineer.
tion that is newer than the rest. Breaking down
Guards (3): pwr 2, save 6, end 18. Clad in yel-
the mud bricks opens a secret passage to a
low flax clothes with white emblems and armed
basement (103).
with spears (dmg 1d8) and tall daggers (dmg

103 On the other side of the brick

wall, a narrow corridor leads
to a basement. Onions, dry dates and salted
1d6).
Engineeer: pwr 2 (Craft 4), save 5, end 12.
Wearing a saffron robe with gold-tread fringes
goat-meat hang from hooks in the ceiling; two
and an amethyst ring of office (worth 120 s),
pouches with grain and lentils lie on a flat stone
armed with a sledge (dmg 1d6; bludgeon 1d6).
covered in salt to keep mold and vermin away
and a nigh-empty clay basin holds two days’
worth of water. A ladder leads up into to com-
moners’ house (104).
108 Cistern room. A damp cave with a
large cistern in middle, where sur-
plus water from the mills (109 & 219) is kept

104
before being released into the system by the
Commoners’ house. Three sisters
dam gates in the control room (107).
live here. Their father is held as a
slave, chained to the treadwheel (109). They
will not alert authorities unless threatened,
and will offer to smuggle the PCs to freedom
109 Tread mill (top). Shackled slaves
turn large wooden wheels, hauling
up water from a lower level. If not recuperating
if their father is rescued and brought to them. (50%), Barawan—father of the three women
in 104—is among them.
Sisters: pwr 2, save 7, end 8. Wearing simple
dresses and moon-servant rings (worth 60 s), Slaves (12): pwr 2, save 5, end 6.Wearing little
allowing them to walk unmolested to and from but loin-cloth, many of them have their limbs
the moon-temple in the foreigners’ quarter. wrapped in dirty bandages to soothe their blis-

105
tered hands and bleeding feet. Unarmed (dmg
Empty. Some broken pottery and
1d4; no crit).
food scraps are the only things re-
vealing that this brick-wall room is not entirely Barawan: pwr 3, save 8, end 10. Wearing a
abandoned. short tunic of fine quality, torn by lashes. Un-

106
armed but competent (dmg 1d4).
Stone stairs. Polished black by the
passing of innumerable feet, the
stairs lead down to the warm light of a guard
post (221).
110 Aqueduct. Water filled passage
constructed from bricks, about a
pace wide. If swam, the passage leads to open
air on top of a narrow aqueduct near the west
gate of the city.

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 THE SLAVE PITS 15

111 Guards (1d4+1). pwr 2, save

6, end 18. Clad in sweat-stained
clothes with red emblems and armed with
116 Pit Master's office. In front of
the gates, a wide landing houses
the dwelling of the Pit Master. As the hulking
spears (dmg 1d8). warden of the pits, she is responsible for fasten-

112
ing the collars and counting the slaves. It is also
Holding cells. In wooden cages,
her order that lowers and hoists the stepladder
the slaves working on this level
connecting the landing and the slave pits below.
are held for recuperation between shifts to not
reveal secrets of the organization to the main Mal-Hara the Pit Master: pwr 3 (+Sense
body of slaves. Unless working the treadmill -Craft), save 10, end 51. Clothed in leather and
(50%), Barawan—father of the women living armed with a mace of office (1d6+3) and large
in 104—is among them. pliers.
Slaves: pwr 2, save 5, end 6. Wearing little
but loin-cloth, many of them have their limbs
wrapped in dirty bandages to soothe their blis-
117 Guardpost.
Sentries (1d10): pwr 2, save 6,
end 18. Clad in white flax clothes with red em-
tered hands and bleeding feet. Unarmed (dmg
blems and armed with spears (dmg 1d8).
1d4; no crit).
Barawan: pwr 3, save 8, end 10. Wearing a
short tunic of fine quality, torn by lashes. Un-
118 Twilight gates. Separating the
dark pits from the glorious Court
of Zenith are the Twilight Gates. Fully opened
armed but competent (dmg 1d4).
only for the heralds of Shamash, the gates are

113 Empty. A slow dripping of water

echoes between the polished stone
walls, but the room is remarkably tidy as if new-
pushed ajar each dusk to let new slaves in.
The Twilight Gates cannot be unlocked without
aid from the outside.
ly swept.

114 Overseer’s platform. Overlook-

ing large slave chamber (201) at an
119 Old canal. Water trickles in
through several holes in the wall,
inadequately sealed by dissolving rags and rot-
unclimbable distance. Guards are stationed here
ted pieces of wood. A hole in the floor leads
at all times; equipped with bronze horns they
to room 206.
trumpet the change of shifts and the passage
of time, or call the other guards to arms in the
events of unrest among their subjects. 120 Empty. Damp walls gleaming with
moisture. A rotten rope and some
splintered logs on the stony and debris-covered
guards (1d6+2): pwr 2, save 6, end 18, wear-
floor hint at the original structure.
ing copper armor (armor 3) and equipeed with
spears (dmg 1d8; thrown).
Note that this location is also included on the
121 Old canal. If searched, a blackened
torch stub thrown among the large
stones on the floor shows that someone passed
map of level 2 (see 202).
here after the canal was abandoned, perhaps en-

115 Storage room. The adventurers’

weapons are here, together with
gineers assessing the possibility of reopening it.
A hole in the floor leads down to room 207.

122
the guards' rations and two tall ladders used
Cave chamber, full of debris. If
when sending slaves down into 201, intention-
the debris is cleared, it reveals a
ally weak as to break if they are swarmed by
hidden passage to room 216.
slaves trying to climb up and overwhelm their
keepers.

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 Level II -
The LOWER
QANAT
Overview Chance Encounters
+ Contains the underground canals that supply For every ten minutes of game time spent in the
southern Sippar with water, and its well-offs lower qanat, you should roll a twenty-sided die
with air-conditioning through wind towers. for chance encounters.
+ A mix of tunnels and caves: some natural,
1D20 ENCOUNTERS
some excavated and some the result of the
ceaseless piling of sand upon sand. New tunnels 1 Slaves carrying a dead comrade
are constantly dug, while old ones are repaired to the Sepulcher Well (228).
or abandoned. 2 2d4 patrolling guards.
3 1d6 Guards. 50% on their way to
+ Contrasts between the pitch-black darkness
begin shift at nearest post (212, 221
of tunnels currently unused, the sooty dung-
or 232), 50% leaving their shift.
fires lighting up the sites of heavy work, the
torch-like shafts from the surface where glim- 4 Slaves, seeking to assassinate the PCs
mering dust dances endlessly under the searing and steal their things.
light of day and the clear flames of the olive-oil 5 Sabad or Ubad (215), with 1d6+1
lamps and lard candles of the patrolling guards. loyal slaves.
+ Houses the underground village of the slaves 6 1d4+1 thieves, on their way to or
working there (201). When the PCs inter- from their hideout (209).
act with other slaves, use the chart opposite 7 Slave crew on their way to work.
to quickly generate information. Share their 8 Engineer, followed by two guards.
knowledge generously. 9 Aqueduct children (222), spying
+ Four hideous stone faces, one in each cardi- for Talwar.
nal direction (229, 220, 205, 237), erected in a 10 Talwars' brutes (224) and 1d4
time when sand had not covered this place. slaves loyal to them.
11+ Nothing.
+ A Black Priestess (227), presiding over a
small shrine and the hole where corpses are
Guards: pwr 2, save 6, end 18. Armed with
thrown.
spears (dmg 1d8).
+ Three open-ended corridors. Decide before-
Engineeer: pwr 2 (Craft 4), save 5, end 12. A
hand whether to use them to expand the adven-
copper ring of office (worth 60 s), armed with
ture by adding more rooms, or seal them off as
a sledge (dmg 1d6; bludgeon 1d6).
impassable or filled with water to prevent the
adventurers from entering them.

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 THE SLAVE PITS 17

2D8 NAME SEEKS RUMOR

2 Baran Sunshine I hear Zabaia isn’t here because of debts or crimes.
Maybe he was set up?
3 Chania Company There are dead that refuse to stay dead, living in the
sepulcher well.
4 Dikah Divine omens These tunnels are much older than the water works.
Once they were city streets... and what we think are
caves were originally temples to their glorious rulers!
5 Hasun Love Yufara is the only slave to ever escape. After him new
guards were enlisted and new posts set up, but they
never found his tunnel…
6 Kelay Lotus Sabad and Ubad, the right-hand men of Zabaia, are
doing their own excavations each night. I bet you they
are digging an escape tunnel.
7 Malor Food To appease Shamash, each summer a handful of slaves
are summoned to die in the Court of the Zenith.
What glory to rise from slave to such elation!
8 Nura Freedom Make friends with Ghiri. She can trade you anything.
9 Raziel Respect Zabaia has a powerful patron on the outside; I have
seen him handing messages to the guards.
10 Idnatum Status The hideous stone faces—glaring at us from east,
north and south—keep age-old secrets that are best
left to wither away.
11 Asharta Rest Zabaia is a just leader; it is thanks to him that the fire
burns constant and bright.
12 Gelem Solace The qanats run four levels deeper than this. If you dis-
please the Overseer, you will be sent to a lower level.
13 Zidrial Revenge The old witch by the sepulcher well hides diamonds
in the tunnels. I saw it myself but alas her sorcery has
stolen the location from my memory.
14 Shul-Kubi To labor well The collars have no power; they are just a means of
scaring the superstitious into subjugation.
15 Kal-adad Wine The Akkadian Empire is marching as we speak; they
will raze the palaces of Sippar and set free all who
oppose her tyranny.
16 Dital Songs and Look at us, the simplest of slaves! Our canals only
poetry supply waters for the lowest of citizens; the nobles
and priests drink from wells manned by chained
princes and viziers for faraway realms.

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 20 LEVEL II

Ghiri, the trader: pwr 2, save 10, end 10.

Locations Wearing leopard-skin loin-cloth, a gray cape

201 The palatial Cave of Sorrows.

A large bonfire burns in the center
of the room; fed by dung, stolen construction
and poorly fitting point-toed boots, fighting
with a hidden dagger (dmg 1d6) or by using
her necklaces to strangle opponents (dmg 1d4,
material and broken equipment and constantly no crit; 1d10 exhaustion, ongoing until target
tended by a watch put there by Zabaia, it is the makes a successful Might check).
only constant source of light and the heart of
Ghiri has one of the five stone teeth from the
the underground life. Hundreds of slaves live
slumbering face (room 205).
here, sleeping in huts made of debris or living
beast-like in holes or burrows under rocks or
heaps, or sleeping wherever they find place to
lie down. The slaves are of all ages and genders,
204 Wind tower. A constant chilly
breeze rises with a faint hissing
noise, flowing towards a narrow chimney and
and they hail from every part of the lands of the temperate chambers of a noble’s house.
Hard Soil. During daytime a dull light falls down the shaft,
hinting of the open air high above. Charred
Slaves: pwr 1 (+Sense -Lore), save 6, end 5.
bones of a dead slave lie here, together with a
Clad in tatters and armed with tools, rocks or
lump of molten silver worth 2d12 shekels.
cudgels (dmg 1d6, no crit).
Two passages lead into the dark qanats. If the
PCs wish to enter without the escort of the
205 Slumbering face. A tilted basalt
face covers the entire southern
wall, with its right ear towards the ground as
armed guards whose lamps lead the slaves to
if listening for distant foot-falls. Its eyelids are
work each day, they must first steal, trade or
shut and the slack jaw gapes dumbly, showing
craft a torch or similar.
five fist-sized holes where now-missing teeth

202 The Overseers’ platform (114).

guards (1d6+2): pwr 2, save 6,
end 18, wearing copper armor (armor 3) and
once sat. A withered inscription along the ridge
of the nose reads “truth in stone.”
If the teeth are recovered and inserted so that
equipped with spears (dmg 1d8; thrown).
their acrostic reads UBARATUTUM (see be-

203 The trader’s hut. In a shack made

of driftwood and hides of curious
colors lives Ghiri, the most well-connected
low), the right eye will blink open to reveal a
circular tunnel leading steeply down to room
313. If the teeth are instead inserted so that the
slave in the camp. She can provide almost any- last letters form a similar acrostic, the marble
thing given time and proper compensation. door in room 314 also opens.
TO OPEN PASSAGE DOWN TO OPEN BASALT GATE
URMUDA (Guard Hound) ARRATU (Evil Spell)
BELET (Goddess of the Netherworld) TUN-BARAB (Splitting Axe)
A-ESHTU (The Early Flood) UR-NATA (Strong)
RIBBAT (Supreme) TABIHHUR (Swordsman)
ARRATU (Evil Spell) URMUDA (Guard Hound)
TUN-BARAB (Splitting Axe) BELET (Goddess of the Netherworld)
UR-NATA (Strong) A-ESHTU (The Early Flood)
TABIHHUR (Swordsman) RIBBAT (Supreme)
UMU (Storm) UMU (Storm)
MAR SARRIM (King born of Kings) MAR SARRIM (King born of Kings)

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 22 LEVEL II

206 Collapsed ceiling. 10 feet above

ground, a small opening reveals
the crumbling remains of abandoned canals
211 Long tunnel. The smooth sand-
stone walls curve inwards, creating
a cylindrical tunnel. A cracked hammer-head
from an earlier epoch. The walls are covered lies on the floor, next to a spot of blackened
in brown algae, watered by the defunct canals' blood.

212
constant dripping. The opening leads to 119.
Guard post. Four guards are sta-

207 Log trap. A small chamber with

the mosaic floor covered in sand
and debris, fallen from a ceiling crisscrossed
tioned here at all times, throwing
dice and roasting nuts on a low brazier that fills
the room with a soft golden light.
by broken piping and rotting logs. A hole in the
Guards (d6+1): pwr 2, save 6, end 18. Wear-
ceiling leads to 121.
ing white flax clothes with red emblems, belts
Trap: A tripwire running across the room re- loosened and their leather helmets (armor 1)
leases one of the logs that swings down from the put aside. Armed with spears (dmg 1d8)

213
ceiling for 1d8 dmg (Vigor halves).
Rickety log aqueduct. A deep

208 Storage. Stolen goods—a half-

sack of grain, twenty fathoms of
white silk, an assortment of drinking jugs and
hole, spanned by a rickety aque-
duct of hollow logs. The aqueduct is drooping
under the weight of the water running through
urns covered in animal motifs, three pairs of it, and several metal patches bandage the age-
bull-horns, a bronze-tipped barbecue fork, a ing construction. As long as water is running
brass hammer, two small cedarwood boxes, a through it, the aqueduct will not support the
length of string, three papyrus sandals (all left) weight of a human. Falling to the bottom (312)
—and a rope ladder with hooks, long enough results in 2d10 damage, Vigor saves for half.

214
to climb one of the wind towers.
Dead end. The narrow tunnel

209 Thieves’ hideout. A group of

thieves, led by Tiyala, lives here.
They employ rope ladders to enter and exit the
ends in a small chamber, where the
air is thick with dust and hard to breathe. This
place was supposed to be the site of a new wind
qanats through one of the wind towers. tower servicing a great palace, but a change in
fortune cancelled such plans. Tools and con-
Thieves (d4+1): pwr 2 (Vigor 3), save 9, end
struction material lie in dust-covered piles,
9. Wearing a motley display of stolen garments
waiting to be put to use.
and armed with thin axes (dmg 1d6).

210 Tiyala, the master thief. Tiyala

has taken an interest in the slum-
215 Lieutenants’ dwelling. Zabaia’s
two lieutenants live here, in a me-
dium-sized chamber with plastered walls and a
bering face (room 205) as she guesses that it
dull floor, dotted with the white spirals of snail-
holds opulent secrets. She will pay handsomely
shells and disjointed segments of oblong fossils
to anyone retrieving the stone teeth. She knows
like minute galaxies of a night-time sky frozen
that Ghiri has one, but hasn’t attempted to steal
in stone. Due to their master’s influence over
it for fear of jeopardizing their hideout.
the wardens, none of them have to work in the
Tiyala: pwr 3, save 12, end 15. Wearing a qanats. For this reason, they are fiercely loyal to
smooth leather harness, black-dyed bronze their chief.
greaves and a close-fitting helmet (armor 7),
Sabad and Ubad: pwr 3, save 8, end 16. Wear-
fighting with two copper adzes of good quality
ing rawhide garments (armor 3) and fighting
(dmg 1d6+1; expert dual wielder: roll damage
with stone warclubs (dmg 1d8).
twice and choose highest set).

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 THE SLAVE PITS 23

216 Zabaia’s Dwelling. In a separate

chamber, furnished with a couch,
some stools and a low table and lit by a brazier,
217 Passage to the qanat. The floor
is polished smooth by the passing
of innumerable feet on their way to and from
lives the slave-leader Zabaia. A panel in the work in the qanats. The beige sand-stone walls
ceiling can be removed, to gain access to 122. are covered in graffiti: simple figures by those
fearing oblivion more than notice, elaborate
Zabaia possesses a rawhide pouch of rubies
glyphs by scholars fallen out of luck or grace,
(worth 231 s) and an ancient clay tablet map-
erotic imagery to lift the spirits of those with-
ping the crypt of Ubara-Tutum. The tablet is
ering away as well as the occasional symbol of
almost worn unintelligible by time, but depicts
rebellion or spite.
what appears to be a four-spoked wheel. Some
strange symbols and a grinning face mark the
intersection of each spoke with the wheel. 218 Main shaft. A wide shaft lead-
ing up to a roofed surface station.
Through an intricate system of ropes and pul-
Also in his possession is a wooden box contain-
leys, the mud and broken rock from the con-
ing a mysterious cylinder seal, stolen from
stant maintenance and expansion of the qanat
the dead grasp of Ubara-Tutum. Within a week,
is hoisted up and removed by a heavily guarded
he will trade it for his freedom with the Emis-
surface crew, while logs and other construction
sary of the Akkadian God-King. If deemed ap-
materials are lowered down. 2d20 slaves work
propriate, you could let the PCs witness how
here, hauling the heavy baskets up and down.
the rope ladder is lowered, and Zabaia and his
lieutenants are allowed to ascend under the su- Surface Sentries (12): pwr 3, save 6, end 18.
pervision of heavily armed mercenaries. Wearing bone-white leather harnesses and
gilded leather helmets (armor 5). Armed with
Fighters (5): pwr 2, save 7, end 12. Wearing
spears (dmg 1d8) and bows (dmg 1d6; 6 ar-
loincloths and fighting with obsidian daggers
rows)
(dmg 1d4).
Zabaia, leader of the slaves: pwr 4, save 14,
end 18. Covering his sinewy and tattooed body
219 Tread wheel. A huge spiral made
of wood and metal drills cease-
lessly down, carrying up water with each slow
with a dark-red robe, fighting with a curved
revolution. 12 slaves orbit around it, shackled
dagger (dmg 1d6) or employing sorcerous
to the spokes of a great wheel that they turn
tricks (see below).
with tremendous labor to drive the mechanism.
Confusion: check Lore or become Thick tubes of clay and bronze rise at an angle
unable to act, overcome by bewildering to a chamber above (109), where yet another
sights and sounds. The effect lasts for 1d4 group continues the work with similar devices.

220
rounds.
Broken head and excavation.
Dead fumes: the sorcerer breathes forth At any time, 2d8 bondsmen are
a vile smoke, filling one zone per round toiling here digging through the rock-hard
for 5 rounds (either by spreading to loam. The work seems senseless, as neither the
nearby zones or following a moving location nor the angle dug at is suitable for find-
caster) before dissipating. All characters ing water; but none of the slaves dare oppose
within the zones must check Might: on a miss their orders for fear of reprisals from their 2d4
they suffer 1d4 damage from choking and overseers.
suffer a reroll to all actions relying on sight,
Overseers (2d4): pwr 2, save 8, end 9.Wearing
on a hit they only suffer 1d4 damage.
leather armor (armor 2), wielding clubs (dmg
1d6) and ox-hide lashes (dmg 1d4; reach 1).

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 24 LEVEL II

221 Guard post. A small group of

soldiers are stationed here at all
times, guarding the stairs that lead up to the
225 Talwar’s chamber. Here lives Tal-
war, a hulking man feared for his
strength and temper. Through force and manip-
higher level and fighting off their boredom by ulation, Talwar controls the child-servants of
harassing the slave-children that scurry by to the aqueduct. For this reason, the guards leave
service the nearby lead-pipe aqueducts (222). Talwar alone and never force him to labor as
long as the child-servants tend the aqueducts
Sentries (d4+1): pwr 2, save 6, end 18. Wear-
properly.
ing yellow flax clothes with dark emblems,
leather helmets (armor 1) and small shields (def Talwar has taken two ornate stone teeth from
2). Armed with spears (dmg 1d8). the Black Priestess with the intent of handing

222
them over to the guards to improve his posi-
Spiraling aqueduct. A thin aque-
tion. However, he soon found that his command
duct of lead pipes, supported here
over the slave-children made all other leverage
and there by rickety pieces of wood and ropes
redundant and traded one with Ghiri (203) in
spiral down from a higher floor. The leaking
exchange for some luxury articles instead. The
construction is constantly serviced by spindly
other stone tooth is hidden in his chamber, in
child-slaves, climbing along the pipes like pale
case his luck would turn.
and malnourished monkeys.
Originally a simpleton, Talwar has grown am-
The aqueduct children heed only Talwar (225),
bitious with the power he holds over the aq-
who protects them from other slaves and pun-
ueduct-children. Now, he is measuring his
ishes them if unruly.
strength against Zabaia, hoping one day to

223 Wind tower. A constant breeze is

felt here, soaring up a narrow shaft
into the darkness of a temple. The back flow
out-manoeuver him and seize his place as the
leader of the slaves.
Keen sighted and hard to notice, the children
carries whiffs of cardamom and myrrh together
have spied Zabaia’s men sneaking west into the
with sonorous prayers and muffled foot-falls of
qanats outside of their shift more than once and
the thick-robed priests that sing them.
Talwar is highly interested in learning what his

224 Brutes’ chamber. Three brutes

loyal to Talwar live here, sleeping
on straw mattresses on the damp floor or sitting
rival is plotting.
Talwar: pwr 4, save 6, end 25. Clad in hides,
fighting with his bare hands (skilled unarmed
on segments of a broken ornamental pillar that
fighter: dmg 1d8).
graced the room in a more glorious time. The
walls of the chamber are scribbled with graffiti
from earlier residents, and the brutes will go to
great lengths to seem cultivated enough to be
226 Junction. The narrow tunnel
opens up into a junction with
shallow ditches leading off in all directions. To
the authors. the west, the ditch is dammed to concentrate
the flow east and north but the weak stream is
Brutes (3): pwr 3, save 5, end 9. Wearing
still on the verge of drying up. Faded mosaics
leather waist-cloth and rawhide bracelets,
of foreign design adorn both walls and ceiling
armed with clubs (dmg 1d6).
of the junction, adding to its air of dwindling
grandeur.

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 THE SLAVE PITS 25

227 The Shrine of Waning. A large

boulder and a coarsely hewn stone
vaguely resembling a human together form a
ORACLE POTION
The black priestess concocts a strange po-
tion which she can sell to the PCs for 200
crude shrine dedicated to the retreating moon.
shekels each, or give them for performing
A Black Priestess lives in the cave, calming the
some task of similar value to her. She cur-
miserable souls of those thrown in the sepul-
rently has 1d6 potions.
cher well and selling advice for those dreary
from labor. The drinker glimpses a future, prophesizing
the outcome of her actions. The player rolls
The Black Priestess knows how to operate the
a six-sided die to determine a sequence of
northern face so that its secret passage opens.
outcomes foreseen (Rogues roll twice and
She also has three of the stone teeth needed to
choose):
open the secret passage by the southern face,
hidden in room 230. Originally she had all five, 1 Success, Failure
but two of them were stolen by the brutes in 2 Failure, Success
chambers 224 and 225. She is willing to pay 3 Success, Success
handsomely to have the missing teeth returned, 4+ Success, Success, Failure
offering either a vision from her dark lord or
The prophecy is vague and the character
knowledge on how to operate the northern
must decide on its meaning herself. At any
statue.
time after drinking the potion, a player may
The Black Priestess: pwr 1 (Lore 4), save 16, declare that this was the event her charac-
end 18.Wearing a dark cloak, her hood adorned ter foresaw. After this point, the outcome
with human teeth. Armed with a meteorite dag- of the characters' actions should follow the
ger (dmg 1d6, may reroll damage on the pen- basic pattern of successes and/or failures.
alty of a 1-in-6 risk of the weapon breaking). If the subsequent die rolls conform to the
sequence dictated, the vision was true and
The priestess is continuously haunted by ghast-
the player may add a success to all naturally
ly visions of things future and past. Her limited
successful rolls as long as the pattern is not
knowledge of the future causes a negative re-
broken.When this happens, the effect wears
roll on all attacks targeting her, even those done
off and the character must forfeit her next
by surprise. This also gives her a 70% chance of
round due to confusion.
knowing the answer (fully or partially) to any
direct question the adventurers may have re- Example: a rogue drinks the potion, and her
garding the qanats and the things found therein. player rolls two dice: 2, 5. Preferring not to

228
start with a failure, she chooses 5 which in-
The Sepulcher Well. A reeking
dicates a sequence of two successes followed
pit where the deceased are thrown.
by one failure. As she attempts to sneak past
Since it isn’t uncommon that people are mistak-
the guards post in 221 she invokes the vi-
en for dead and end up in the pit prematurely,
sion.To comply with the prophecy, she must
anyone listening closely can hear whimpers and
now succeed with her roll. With one suc-
faint cries for help mixing with the gnawing and
cess rolled, the dice come out to her favor.
crawling of millipedes and rats. If climbed, see
This also means that her interpretation was
404 for details on the bottom of the well.
correct, and so she adds another success
for a total of two. Had she failed, the vision
would have fooled her and she would have
been helpless against the guards’ reactions.

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 26 LEVEL II

229 Spherical Face. In the northern

wall of this chamber sits an enor-
mous stone face, crushing its round cheeks and
231 Small shrine. The floor slants
softly up to the north and west,
strewn with rocks the size of skulls. A small im-
spherical features against the physical limits of promptu shrine by the wall with a few offerings
the room. The nose is broken and its mouth commemorate the site of a recent accident.

232
is shut, and even the two shield-sized obsidian
The pool. A great pool of cold
eyes that glare into the room seem lazy. An in-
water, pouring up from an under-
scription reads "seeing the signs."
ground spring. The icy water is always guard-
Looking closely into the right eye will reveal a ed by 1d4 guards, stationed there to prevent
myriad of white specks, as if the stone was full it from being defiled by the slaves. A weak ray
of bubbles or riddled with pale impurities. If of dust and light drizzles down from a hole in
the surface is polished with water, oil or similar, the ceiling, too high to reach for everything but
the glimmer comes into focus as a starry sky. dreams.
The eye can be rotated so that the sky is seen
Guards (1d4): pwr 2, save 6, end 8. Clad in
from different angles.
bronze armor (armor 4) and fending them-
Looking closely into the left eye will reveal a selves with tall spears (dmg 1d10; first strike;
faint glimmer, as if a flake of gold was buried wt 4).

233
in the crystalline darkness by sage craftsmen.
Empty. Ancient pictograms in
If polished, the glimmer comes into focus as a
bas-relief cover the sandstone
moon-shard. Rotating the eye makes the minia-
walls, depicting strange birds and crowned
ture moon wax or wane.
women locked in eternal dance.

234
If the two eyes are rotated in such a fashion
Wind tower. Hot air pours down
that their visions reflect the current sky and
from a hole in the ceiling 15 feet
moon-phase, the stone face will open its mouth
above ground, where a narrow shaft leads up
enough to allow passage to 301 via a broad but
into the humid darkness of a bath house’s base-
low set of stairs.
ment.

235
If the two eyes are instead rotated so that they
Collapsed tunnel. The tunnel
match the sky on the great kings passing—the
seems to have collapsed on more
9th day in the 9th month—the great basalt door
than one occasion, as the rocks on one side sit
in chamber 302 will also open. This date is not
much looser and are less covered in dust. A few
general knowledge, but a seer or sage with suit-
stones are spattered with blackened blood,
able background can recognize it at the refer-
but there are no corpses to be seen. The sandy
ee’s discretion.
floor reveals partial footprints of several per-

230 Forking tunnel. The ceiling,

blackened with oil-lamp soot,
hangs so low that a full grown person cannot
sons and some more blood spatters, incoherent
and far apart as if swept away in haste.
A keen-sensed character can feel a slight breeze
walk upright. A few planks serve as a half-heart-
coming through the fallen rocks from the other
ed boardwalk across the mud that makes up
side.
most of the floor next to the broad ditch that
forks with the tunnel. The loose stones can be removed with some la-
bor, to reveal the continuing passage.
In a muddy hole under one of the planks three
stone teeth lie hidden, placed there by the
Black Priestess to keep them safe from theft.

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 THE SLAVE PITS 27

236 Pit trap. A narrow corridor. The

fine-grained sand covering the
floor is perfectly smooth, as if no-one has ever
Escape & Further Adventures
Unless the adventurers perish in the dark, they
will eventually find a way to escape: by fleeing
walked this corridor before. The sand is actu-
into one of the tunnels leading to freedom, by
ally brushed smooth to hide a large tarp cov-
striking a deal with Zabaia or Mal-Hara, by
ering a pit trap. The trap is rather shallow, but
fighting their way out or with the aid of the
the sharpened sticks lining the bottom make it
triplet sisters loyal to the moon temple.
dangerous none the less (d6 dmg, Vigor saves
for half). Once the adventurers leave the slave pits, there

237
are several ways to use the events in this set-
Western face. A large square face
up as foundation for further adventures. When
sits in the western wall, extending
designing follow-up adventures, you should be
its tongue between bared teeth in an endless
limited only by your own imagination. None
grimace whose meaning is lost in time. A line of
the less, some possible starting points are pro-
glyphs across the jaw reads “uttering the last
vided below for your consideration.
word.”
Removing the collars of vengeance. Un-
Speaking any sentence into the mouth of the
less the players have already come up with a
stone face will make the last word echo back.
plan to remove their characters' collars, one of
Only complete sentences will work. Saying a
their first concerns upon escape will probably
sentence ending with “death” (or similar at the
be to remove them. Consider how this can be
referee’s discretion) will make the tongue begin
achieved: with the aid of a sage, by retrieving
to recoil, but the motion will grind to a halt as
some anti-magical artifact, by threatening the
if the machinery is broken. Saying a sentence
priests that cast the spell...
ending with “uttering” (making uttering the last
word) will open the vermillion gates in room Fleeing pursuers. If someone witnessed
317. the adventurers' escape—or if they left many
corpses to tell of their path—they are likely
In the floor next to the stone face, a newly ex-
to be pursued. Consider if they made any ene-
cavated tunnel leads down to 316. It appears
mies during their time as slaves. Consider also
that the excavators left in a hurry, because some
if Mal-Hara, or someone else may wish them
equipment lies tossed on the ground. A rope
dead, and how it could be prevented.
ladder lies next to the hole, deliberately cut
apart in several places. Exacting revenge. Whether justly or wrong-
fully, someone caused the enslavement of the
adventurers. Perhaps the players want to visit
death or punishment on whoever was respon-
sible. Consider why the PCs were sentenced
to slavery. Who issued the order, and on what
grounds?
Tracking down Zabaia. Unless slain by the
PCs, the self-proclaimed leader of the slaves
was released. Slanderous tongues whisper that
his work was done, that he was never a slave
to begin with. Consider what his actual agenda
was, what powers the cylinder seal hold and to
whom he did deliver it in return for his release.

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 Chapter III -
The CRYPT of
UBARA–TUTUM

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 Level III -
The CRYPT of
UBARA-TUTUM
THE CRYPT Overview
The third and fourth levels of the underground + Chambers of various sizes and geometrical
tunnels contain the antediluvian crypt of Uba- shapes, corridors and doors, indicative of a se-
ra-Tutum.While they are connected to the qanats, cret pattern. Walls are adorned with mosaics,
they form a separate adventure setup and can be frescoes or faded paint; floors are lined with
run as such. As the referee, you should note that flagstones sprinkled with quartz and pale fossils
these levels have a different tone than the two reflecting back each light.
above.They are also significantly more dangerous.
+ No light reaches down to this level, making
When the players choose to explore the crypt, you all rooms impossible to navigate without a lamp
should emphasize this change of mood by high- or torch. In the north-eastern section, a few
lighting details that signal danger—blood stains, terminally ill or violently insane persons are
bones, broken weaponry and shattered helmets, kept for treatment or study by the Black Priest-
foreboding sounds, doors closed from the oppo- ess with a few candles keeping them company,
site side as if someone is in there, and so forth. but these are the rare exceptions.
This will forewarn your players that they should
+ Three passages lead up under the hideous
proceed with greater caution, if they continue.
stone faces on level 2 (301; 313; 316). A fourth
It is likely that your players will begin to explore once existed (309), but has since completely
the third level but escape the onslaught of the scor- collapsed.
pion-men with whatever treasure they can carry
+ Four heavy gates block passage to level 4
from room 328. If so, they might wish to return
(302; 314; 317; 308). They are sealed and must
to the fourth level later on in your campaign when
be opened by operating the corresponding
they are more powerful and experienced, and thus
stone face on level 2.
better equipped to meet its dangers.
+ A lavish burial chamber (328) holds incredi-
When the characters rummage through the
ble treasure but also great peril; as every breath
crypts' treasures—found in the central tomb or
and every word uttered attracts more and more
otherwise—use the chart on the opposite page to
scorpion men, fighting to protect the treasures
quickly determine what they find.
of the vault.
If no danger is present, for example because all
+ A tunnel is being dug from 220 to gain access
scorpion-men have been killed, you could instead
to this level. You should assume that, irrespec-
let the players roll a percentile die to determine
tive of the PCs' action, the crew will succeed in
the fraction of plunder they escape with. Rolling
2d4 weeks. Following that, the crypt will grad-
43 would then indicate entries from 1 through 43.
ually be explored and its treasures plundered.

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 THE CRYPT 31

Getting stuck # TREASURE

Since it is possible to fall down to the tomb level 1 A silver torque (150 s).
by accident, and as the gates only open from the 2 A ring with a topaz eye (180 s).
level above, there is a risk of player characters 3 A bracelet in the shape of a millipede
becoming trapped in the darkness without a (150 s).
means to re-ascend. As the referee, you should 4 A tablet in a vanished tongue, contain-
consider beforehand how to handle this. Below ing a demonic name (90 s).
are some suggestions.
5 A silver bow of ceremonial use
THE BLACK PRIESTESS (230 s).
Once a week or more, the Black Priestess (227) 6 A wooden crown that withers away
visits the infirm and deranged in rooms 303 and when touched (1d10 s).
307. When she does, the PCs may have a chance 7 A jade comb (80 s).
of exiting the level with her.
8 A game piece carved from ivory
THE TUNNELING CREW (75 s).
The slave crew tunneling down from 220 will 9 A teak box containing 1d6 doses lotus
eventually succeed; when they do, the PCs powder.
could use the newly dug tunnel to escape the 10 An amber sphere, the size of a fist
level. If the adventurers are stuck, you may (300 s).
choose to shorten the time needed for the tun-
neling crew to reach this level. 11 A golden dagger that can damage
specters (dmg 1d6-1; 1d4 against
THE CARDINAL GATES specters and other immaterial foes;
Four heavy gates block passage to level 4 (302; 425 s).
314; 317; 308). Normally, they cannot be 12 An amulet, made from coral (120 s).
opened from this level but must be operated
13 A brass chalice, split in two perfect
from the level above. However, you may rule
halves (150 s).
that an adventurer may attempt to open them
by a feat of amazing strength. If so, give each 14 A skeleton hand, encrusted with pearl
player a single chance to roll under or equal to (620 s). Any spell, sorcery or similar
her character's Might score with a percentile cast while holding this hand has its
die (d100). A success indicates that she forces effect increased one step.
open the gates. If a character fails, she cannot 15 A copper plate, showing a map of the
retry unless her Might score has increased since underworld (750 s).
the last attempt. 16 A broken onyx idol of a many-limbed
god (110 s).
17 Two embalmed cats, clothed in silk
(40 s).
18 A copper flute engraved with grinning
faces (130 s).
19 An acacia reliquary containing bone
salt (2 uses).
20 A jade mug of clumsy design (110 s).
21 Five unevenly sided bone dice (55 s).

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# TREASURE # TREASURE
22 An animal figurine carved from tor- 47 Two small bronze bells with a shrill
toise shell (80 s). tone (80 s).
23 A golden ring set with onyx gem- 48 Eight male heads made from marble,
stones (215 s). crudely cut but similar enough to
24 A silver necklace with an ebony pen- suggest they depict the same person
dant (140 s). (wt1; 25 s each; 250 for all eight).
25 A square statuette of a muscular man, 49 A large electrum bowl (140 s).
carved from bone (130 s). 50 A delicate glass vase (25 s).
26 A small silver mirror set in a wooden 51 A bronze telescope with cracked lens-
frame (205 s). es (220 s; when used, has 50% chance
27 A bronze crown (320 s). of giving a distorted image)
28 A decaying silk robe with gold em- 52 An obisidian feline with four eyes
broidery (1d10 s). (40 s).
29 A large gold bracelet (190 s). 53 A hollow ball, made from wound
30 A tall female statuette carved from golden wire (145 s).
mammoth tusks (wt2; 610 s). 54 A mango-wood statue of a balding
31 A jet mask with silver filigree (210 s). man (50 s).
32 A silver ewer (150 s). 55 A granite fertility symbol (wt 3;
100 s).
33 A giant brass ewer (wt 4; 270 s).
56 A silver lamp that can be lit for one
34 A copper chalice with golden filigree
hour per day even without oil (390 s).
(220 s).
57 A large chunk of glittering rock crys-
35 A golden bird cage (100 s).
tal (wt2; 125 s).
36 A silver headband (armor 1, 270 s).
58 A garnet gemstone (50 s).
37 A lapis lazuli gemstone, once crown-
59 A brass trumpet (160 s).
ing a now-lost scepter (280 s).
60 A gold-tipped bull's horn (35 s).
38 An obsidian brooch (95 s).
61 An amethyst gemstone (75 s).
39 A ceramic ewer painted in sunset
colors (95 s). 62 Nine peculiarily well preserved feath-
ers, arm-long and gleaming in all
40 A golden tiara, missing several gems
colors (20 s each; wt 0).
(125 s).
63 A cedar-wood model of a strange
41 A tall silver fork (130 s).
stronghold (80 s).
42 An empty tortoise-shell box (25 s).
64 A lead helmet (armor 2; wt 6; pro-
43 A broad-bladed dagger with a pommel tects from mind-reading and other
made from lapis lazuli (60 s). mind-affecting magic; 370 s).
44 A cloudstone key (250 s). 65 A stone eye, large as an infant head
45 A sun emblem made of verdigris (wt2; 200 s).
stained copper (36 s). 66 A gargantuan ceremonial mace (dmg
46 A fine urn with decorations sligthly 1d20; brittle: breaks on a 1; wt 8;
out of joint, expertly made from the 350 s).
shards of three broken urns (45 s).

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# TREASURE # TREASURE
67 Twelve small glass figurines of en- 89 A ceremonial sword (dmg 1d6-1; wt
cephalopodes (18 s each). Carries bad 2; 80 s).
luck: enemies always target whoever 90 A gold-plated muscula (armor 5; -1 to
holds them first. all saves; wt 3; 350 s).
68 Fifty glass beads in an oblong stone 91 A draught of wisdom (1000 s). In-
box with wooden lid (50 s). creases drinker Lore score by +1.
69 An onyx gemstone (70 s). With every sip, there's a 50% chance
70 A zircon (60 s). of depleting the vial.
71 A jasper gemstone (55 s). 92 A silver axe (dmg 1d8; versatile d10;
72 A carnelian gemstone (40 s). piercing 1; wt 3; 580 s).
73 A sapphire gemstone (65 s). 93 A large goblet, made of fake gold
and vermillion (10 s, 830 if its secret
74 A piece of amber (80 s).
is known). Any drink poured in the
75 A silver necklace shaped like a coiled cup loses its purpose: water doesn't
snake. Will constrict to suffocate bear- quench thirst, wine doesn't intoxicate;
er each full moon (120 s, 640 if its posions become useless etc.
secret is known).
94 86 small golden coins (86 s).
76 An ivory box containing 1d8 doses
95 A sorcerous tablet, containing a ran-
impure lotus powder (dmg 1 with
dom Seer sorcery that is cast when-
each use).
ever the tablet is broken (700 s). The
77 A silver harp (55 s). effect lasts 1 day.
78 A sorcerous tablet. Contains a random 96 A tablet, translating between two
Mystic spell that is cast whenever the tongues (180 s).
tablet is broken (660 s).
97 A narrow electrum girdle (240 s).
79 A pearl (90 s).
98 A copper shield (def 3; wt 2; 180 s).
80 A rotten box containing 162 shekels
99 Gold-plated farmers' tools (120 s).
in clay ancient markers.
00 A fake treasure: roll again to deter-
81 Two silver plates (30 s each).
mine what it seems to be.
82 A ceramic doll with lapis lazuli eyes
(180 s).
83 A quarter-scale golden chariot (wt 9;
915 s).
84 Nine left arms of marble, severed
from their statues just below the
shoulder (wt 2 and 40 s each).
85 A foot-long copper cylinder, con-
taining a tasteless and fragrance-free
powder (70 s).
86 A skinless drum made from tin (25 s).
87 A threadbare carpet, whose motif is
hidden by dirt (40 s).
88 Two golden sandals (50 s each).

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 36 LEVEL III

Locations LINE DECIPHERED

301 80 limestone steps lead up to

the secret door in the north
statue (see 229 for details).
1

2
The sacred and first, tomb of King
Ubara-Tutum,
He who eighteen times outlived a

302
thousand years
A towering basalt gate in the
south wall. The gate is sealed and 3 And yet remained six-hundred more,
can only be opened by operating the north stat- 4 Vice-regent of Akkad, king of the
ue (229). Beyond the gate is a passage leading Two Sipparas, lord over the northern
to 403. Land of Gates,

303
5 Chosen of Enlil and Ninurta, beloved
Infirmary. A few sick slaves live
of Anu and Dagon,
here, sleeping on rat-eaten hay and
filthy blankets with nothing but a few candles to 6 Destructive weapon of the Greater
ward off the oppressive darkness. Fearful of be- Gods.
ing executed to prevent an epidemic they have 7 Valiant one who acts like Shamash,
submitted themselves to the care of the Black his lord,
Priestess, accepting her tinctures and com- 8 Marvellous shepherd, unrivalled by
mands without questions. Consequently, they the princes of the four quarters,
all suffer fits of prophetic visions, allowing 9 Heeding the Five Queens, each one
them a (combined) 25% chance of knowing the in their proper order
truthful answer to any question the PCs pose 10 Unopposable mighty floodtide.
regarding the burial vaults and their inhabitants.
The infirm: pwr 1, save 7, end 5. Dirty and
dressed in rags and filthy sheets, unarmed and
weak (dmg 1d4; no crit). 306 Secret chamber. A rectangular
room, with slightly concave walls

304
as if flexing under the weight of the earth above.
Hidden passage. Flagstone floor,
Twenty-six humans are buried upright in the
green like jade. A large idol sits in
earthern floor so that only their skulls are visi-
a niche in the wall, its arms crossed with a palm
ble, forming neat lines of yellow craniums. By
on each shoulder and a ball under its right foot.
the eastern wall, four narrow pits gape emptily,
If the idol is removed it reveals a secret pas-
suggesting the placement of the last four corps-
sage—no more than two feet wide—leading
es to complete the rows.
to 306.

305
If unearthed, all twenty-six bodies are buried
Murals #1. The walls here are
with a golden coin—large like the palm of a
covered in murals, depicting kings
man's hand and worth 16 shekels—under their
riding heavenly chariots. Old glyphs run along
right foot and their arms crossed over their
their path. Sages and other literate characters
chests in painstaking replications of the idol in
may roll a d10 and add their Lore rating: this is
front of the passage; an arrangement that un-
the number of lines they are able to decipher,
doubtedly must have taken tremendous effort
starting from the top. Other characters may at-
due to their upright positions.
tempt to decipher the text using the same roll,
indicating instead the number of words they are
able to comprehend.

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 THE CRYPT 37

307 Chamber of the mad. This cham-

ber reeks with feces and rot, and
the walls reverberate with wordless sobbing
312 The bottom of a hole. Three or
four men’s height above, what ap-
pears to be a thin wooden bridge spans the hole
and beastly cries. Eight men—mad from lotus (see 213).

313
abuse—are bound here with thick cords that
A decorated hallway. The hallway
keep them from killing each other during bouts
slopes upwards towards a spiralling
of hallucinatory rage, or themselves under brief
staircase leading to the southern stone head
moments of clarity. Having consumed lethal
(205).
doses of lotus powder, the eight men suffer the
arrested death known as waqrat; they can speak
and occasionally answer questions in eloquent
manners, but mostly scream obscenities at the
314 A large marble gate to the north,
tilted and wedged under the
weight of eons but slightly ajar. On the flag-
invisible demons that torture them. They have a stone floor lies the remains of Yufara, trans-
25% chance of attacking at random, throwing fixed in an unnatural position as if clawing the
rocks or feces at those out of reach from their air. If the corpse is searched, it carries a rope
gnarly clubs. ladder in bad repair (1-in-3 risk of breaking
each time used), a torch, a shattered urn and a
Each full moon, their madness gives way to
short obsidian knife (dmg d4).
melancholy and kindness; on those nights the
Black Priestess collects their tears to produce
philters of rare quality. 315 A pillared corridor leading west
and north. About 100 paces in—as
it turns north—it is collapsed. Scraping and
Murderous madmen (8): pwr 2, save 3, end 6.
scratching noises fill the dark corridor, as if a
Sticks and unnatural strength (dmg 1d6).
myriad of insects crawl behind the walls and

308 A small room, painted yellow

from ceiling to floor. From the
north-west corridor faint grunts and muffled
below the floor tiles. If the rubble is removed,
one hundred scorpions will rush forth each
round, clawing and stinging in frenzy (Check
noises can be heard. In the western wall sits a Vigor to flee: on a miss, suffer 1 point of poison
heavy bronze door, firmly locked into place by damage per turn for d20 rounds; no subtraction
broken machinery. from armor or shields; Might saves for half).

309 Square chamber. The excavation

overhead (220) creates a drizzle of
sand from the ceiling and the earth reverberates
316 86 concave steps lead up to the
western stone face (237). Below
them is a vault of ancient design, sealed away
faintly from the spades and pick-axes. in eons past to keep its lord and treasure safe

310
forever.
Stairs. 120 low and narrow steps
once led to the eastern statue (see
220 for details), but nothing but broken stone
and plaster remains.
317 A vermillion gate in the eastern
wall. The gate is sealed and can only
be opened by operating the west statue (237).

311
Beyond the gate is a passage leading to 408.
Corridor. A corridor leading
In the north wall there is another door, bar-
north/south, curving slightly to
ricaded from this side by stones deliberate-
the west. The corridor is broad and paved with
ly piled upon stones. A fractured helmet and
square stones neatly cut, like the processional
blood stains on the floor speak of recent and
roads leading between the temples in the city
fatal violence. In the southern wall, a hidden
above. A south-east passage is blocked by tons
door leads to 325.
of sand that has collapsed down.

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 38 LEVEL III

318 A few human teeth lie scattered

on the sandstone floor, together
with a splintered club and long strands of
321 The honor guards. Seven sand-
stone statues lie toppled on the
floor, ancient and in bad repair. Their weapons
red-brown hair. and war-gear lie scattered on the floor, old and

319
all but withered. The adventurers can recover
Murals #2. The walls here are
1d6+1 weapons from the room. Decide type
covered in murals with old glyphs
at random, and give them all the brittle quality:
following their path. Sages and other literate
with each use there’s a 1-in-6 chance that they
characters may roll a d10 and add their Lore
break.
rating: this is the number of lines they are able
to decipher, starting from the top. Other char-
acters may attempt to decipher the text using
the same roll, the result indicating instead the
322 The hallway. The rich mosa-
ic floor is covered in blackened
blood. Five men lie dead on the ground,
number of words they are able to comprehend. their ribcages split open and their hands cut
off. The sturdy door to the south is shut and
LINE DECIPHERED barred from the opposite side, and requires
1 Tomb of Ubara-Tutum, the sacred great strength and industry to pry open.

2
and first,
Strong king, king of the universe,
born on the ninth day, son of Tukul-
323 The royal advisors. Five old urns
with flaking paint, placed in a ring
on the floor. Inside them are the embalmed
Namara, livers of Ubara-Tutum’s most elevated scribes,
3 Great king, noble king, born in the hidden from the world so that none should spy
ninth month, son of Ahab-Enmen- their secrets. A hidden door leads to 324.

324
Durana, Three hydraulic apparatus. The
4 Great king, strong king, king of the north-east, east and south-east
universe, king of Sumer. walls of this many-sided chamber are criss-
5 Glorious sage of thousand scrolls crossed by lead pipes, siphons and valves, form-
6 Of six times sixty hidden wonders. ing together some strange hydraulic machinery.
7 Prince who subdues the disobedient, A melodic hissing noise from the pipes suggest
that they are still in function.
8 Strong one who treads upon the
necks of his foes, The three hydraulic machines (N/E/S) power
9 Trampler of all enemies, the three traps on the level below. Destroying a
10 Indomitable both in life and death.
machine will impede the corresponding trap’s
working but not necessarily stop it from spring-
ing. See room description (N—407, E—414,

320
S—409 ) for details.
Antechamber. Caked blood-
smears streak the grey sandstone
floor, as if someone had been dragged into the
next room while bleeding out.
325 The marble tiles covering the
floor and walls are fractured
by cracks, running across them like a mad
spider’s web. A thin stream of sand pours con-
An altar stands next to the western wall. The
stantly through a hole by the ceiling, slowly fill-
floor holds large chunks of render that once
ing the room with grey dust like an hourglass
adorned the eastern wall, but nothing of the
metering out eternity.
adornments remain on the single large lime-
stone slab.

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 THE CRYPT 39

326 Ceiling trap. Three dozen arm-

long spikes of black volcanic glass
protrude from the ceiling, just out of reach for
328 The Antediluvian Crypt of
Ubara-Tutum. A lavish hall,
brimming with grave-goods. Several opened
an outstretched arm. Four sturdy doors swing sarcophagi reveal their horribly mummified
both inwards and out, but have a 25% chance of innards. In the most splendid of them lies the
closing unless jammed open. If a door is pushed remains of what appears to be a great king. His
open from inside the room, the ceiling will fall embalmed hands are locked in a forever grip,
down with tremendous force, causing 4d6 dmg clenching grimly in thin air around something
(no save) to everyone inside. If a door is instead now missing.
pulled open, passage is safe. In addition, each
All PCs gathering treasures may roll once per
door open into the room will break the fall, re-
round on the treasure table (p. 31).
ducing damage by half.

327
Moments after the adventurers enter the crypt,
Murals #3. The walls here are
the guardians of the tomb arrive. At the end of
covered in murals, depicting kings
the first round, a hideous scorpion man comes
riding heavenly chariots with strange glyphs fol-
burrowing out of the floor. At the end of the
lowing along their paths. Sages and other liter-
second round two more join, then three, then
ate characters may roll a d10 and add their Lore
four and five and so on. Fiercely loyal to their
rating: this is the number of lines they are able
dead sovereign, the scorpion men will stop at
to decipher, starting from the top. Other char-
nothing to defend primarily his corpse, and
acters may attempt to decipher the text using
secondarily all grave gifts in the vault. Howev-
a similar roll, indicating instead the number of
er, this loyalty also prevents them from giving
words they are able to comprehend.
chase beyond this level.
LINE DECIPHERED Scorpion Men (144): pwr 2, save 9, end 18,
1 First and sacred, Ubara-Tutum’s protected by rust-red carapace (def 3) and
tomb; fighting with scissor-like claws (dmg 1d4; crit
2 King who has conquered the wet- 1d8—once a d4 explodes, roll an eight sided
lands and diked them out, die instead) and a poison stinger (dmg 1d4; poi-
son: check Might or be paralyzed, recovers on
3 Gained dominion over the highlands a 5+).
where the gates-keepers live
4
5
And received their tribute in keys,
Warred against the demons among
329 A menagerie of mummified
animals. Even here, the scorpi-
on men keep coming: first one, then two then
sand and rock
three in a fashion similar to that described in
6 And captured them as hostages, 328.
kneeling to his bidding.
7 He who is victorious over all peoples
and countries, 330 An unfinished chamber. This
chamber resembles the other in the
crypt, but lacks their finish and detail as if work
8 And knows no peer among mortals
was prematurely terminated. Yet, the scorpion
or gods alike
men keep burrowing out of the ground and the
9 From these words of eternal design walls as per 328. From the eastern wall, long,
10 Compels you by the power that is curved stairs lead down to 401.
his.

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 40 LEVEL IV

Level IV -
The DEEPER
CATACOMBS
Overview The Scorpion Covenant
+ The deeper catacombs consist of narrow cor- Any adventurer can enter into a covenant with
ridors, vaults and burial chambers, laden with the Scorpion Queen.
age and decaying splendor. Here, the most sa-
RANKS AND IMPROVEMENTS
cred part of Ubara-Tutum's crypt is guarded by
To increase her rank in the Covenant of the
mortal dangers.
Scorpion, the adventurer must either offer the
+ Three rooms hold elaborate traps (407, 409, Scorpion Queen 600 shekels (10 mina), or re-
414), powered by machines in the secret cham- lease her from the curse that binds her. When in
ber of the sages (324). As long as the machinery the Covenant of the Scorpion Queen, the fol-
is intact, the traps will function with lethal ac- lowing rules apply:
curacy and even reset after being sprung.
1. All damage from poisons or similar are
+ Two rooms are guarded by deathless servants, reduced by twice the Covenant rank.
animated by ancient sorceries. In these combat
2. All saving throws against poisons, drugs,
encounters, spatial positioning is a key compo-
philters and similar are modified to the char-
nent as the stone guardians (413) use lagged at-
acter's favor by the Covenant rank.
tacks—hitting only if the target remains in the
same place—and the twin mummies (415) are TRIBUTE AND WRATH
themselves immobile, attacking instead from a After entering this covenant, the adventurer
distance or with magic that affects everyone in must pay 60 shekels in tribute each time she
a zone. For this reason, separate maps are pro- gains ranks in another covenant. The tribute
vided for these two encounters, detailing the must be offered at a temple in the Queen's
rooms and dividing them into combat zones name, or buried in a scorpion nest.
(see p. 45 and 47, respectively).
If a PC fails to do so, her player must roll a
+ At the center of the catacombs thrones a ma- six-sided die. If the result is lower than or equal
jestic room, covered in gold-leaf from ceiling to the covenant rank, the Scorpion Queen for-
to floor (417). gives the oversight; otherwise the demonic sor-
cery coursing through the adventurer's veins
+ Separated from the epicenter by a secret door
turns against her, permanently reducing her
lives the catacombs' jealous guardian: a terrible
maximum endurance by a number of points
scorpion-demon bound to this place by an aw-
equal to the betrayed covenant's rank.
ful curse that was uttered by Ubara-Tutum with
his dying breath (418). Each further increase in any rank will reduce
the adventurer's endurance by an additional
point, as long as the Scorpion Queen lives.

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 THE CRYPT 41

veers north to a door slightly open. Some bones

Locations and remains have fallen through the cracks of

401 A lever in a hole in the wall.

When pulled it gives a rattling
the northern door, making this passage a ghastly
display of caducity.

406
noise and two secret doors open: one to a short
Loculi. Four stories of plain-look-
corridor in the western wall and another in its
ing loculi, perhaps for servants, fill
end to 418. As soon as the lever is released it
the entirety of the western and southern walls.
resets and both doors close, trapping anyone
Grave-goods worth 2d20 shekels can be found
in the corridor. It takes the mechanism 1d6
if thoroughly searched.
minutes to reset so that the lever can be pulled
again; during which time a sharp clicking can be
heard. To the south, stairs lead up to 330. 407 Spike trap. A square room with
neatly bricked walls and floor

402
and a ceiling covered in tall spikes. Four sturdy
Stairs lead up, but are buried
doors swing both inwards and out, but close af-
in sand and debris from a cave-
ter the adventurers enter the room. If a door is
in. The stairs are currently impassible, but
pushed open from inside the room, the ceiling
would lead to 308.
will fall down with tremendous force, causing

403 Steep stairs, leading up to the

basalt gate (302).
4d6 dmg (no save) to everyone inside. If a door
is instead pulled open, passage is safe.

404 Bottom of the Sepulcher Well

(228). Over a hundred dead
slaves lie heaped on the floor, unceremoniously
If the northern machine in room 324 is still
operational, the trap will reset after 1d10 min-
utes. If not, the doors won’t close themselves;
thrown here at life’s end together with lime- including the one that the PCs entered through.

408
stone dust and salt to limit the stench as their
Stairs lead up to the vermillion
families were too poor to claim the bodies for
gate (317).
proper burials. Even with the corrosive powder
covering the bodies in an unnaturally pale coat-
ing, the putrid stench is suffocating and fat rats
and foot-long millipedes crawl over and feed
409 Fire trap. The floor of this room is
black from soot, and the air smells
vaguely of kerosene. A procession of brass sa-
from the cadavres. tyrs blowing blackened trumpets stand by the
south wall.
Among the corpses lies Obok the half-dead,
unconscious and bleeding out from several nas- When the first of the brass statues is passed,
ty wounds. The PCs have one chance of treating hell-flames will shoot out from their trumpets,
his wounds before he dies. If they succeed, he engulfing the room in fire. Anyone caught in the
will repay them by telling of the Tomb of Uba- flames suffers 2d4 damage on the first round,
ra-Tutum and warn of the clawed demons that 2d6 on the second, 2d8 on the third and so on.
dwell there. Vigor saves for half.
If the south wall is searched, it reveals a door to If the southern machine in room 324 is broken,
405, buried under the mass of dead limbs and the flames will subside after the first round.

410
corpses in various states of dissolution.
Stairs lead up to the marble

405 Broken pillars engraved with

forgotten gods stand like teeth
in a gaping maw. The floor is filled with plas-
gate (see 314).

ter and broken stones, bone fragments and

pottery shards. A corridor, stinking with death,

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 44 LEVEL IV

411 Jar trap. A huge ceramic jar inlaid

with a large precious stone stands
intact in the center of the room. The gem is
Statues (5): pwr 4, save 8, end 10. Made from
solid stone (armor 16) and wielding stone clubs
(dmg 1d10; reach: called attack, see below; wt
worth 2d100 shekels, but removing it will de- 8) and spiked shields (dmg 1d6; shield bash, see
stroy the urn and cause its acidic content to below).
splash out (dmg 1d10; reach 1; area: affects all
Solid stone: Each attack, attackers’
in zone, Vigor saves for half).
weapons have a 1-in-6 chance of becom-

412 In the eastern wall sits a soli-

tary arcosolium. Its vaulted ceil-
ing is painted in colors whose gaiety is lost to
ing dented, permanently lowering their
damage dice one step—from d12 to d10,
from d10 to d8 and so on. Weapons dealing
time, and much of the plaster has cracked or d4 or less breaks beyond repair if dented.
fallen away.
Called attack:The statues make melee

413 Living statues. A rectangular

room with vaulted ceiling, clad
in sea-green mosaic. Five looming statues of
attacks as called shots. On their turn, roll
to attack as normal but specify both target
and zone. If the attack is successful, set aside
heroes from a now-extinct race stand guard; the appropriate number of damage dice but
weapons raised triumphantly over faces ex- do not roll them until the end of the target’s
pressing emotions incomprehensible to mor- next turn. Add one die to the damage if the
tals. target is still in the specified zone; otherwise
reduce the number of dice by one for each
The statues guard three triangular doors, sealed
zone’s distance.
with sorcerous glyphs in bas-relief. A character
breaking the seal must check Craft or cause a Example: a character is attacked by a
shockwave, knocking all characters within a statue in her current zone. The referee
distance of two zones unconcious. The player of scores three successes for the statue. During
an unconscious character rolls a four-sided die the next round the targeted character moves
at the beginning of each round, starting with two zones away to engage another opponent.
the next. At her first turn, she rerolls all ones, Therefore, the blow deals only 1d10—three
on the second she rerolls both ones and twos successes minus two zones’ distance. Had the
and so on. On a four she regains consciousness, character instead remained in the targeted
otherwise her round is forfeit. After the seal is zone, she would have suffered 4d10 damage
broken, the door can be opened with a success- (3 successes plus one die for a successful
ful Might-test. called attack).
The shockwave will slam any other doors in the Shield bash:The statues can make a
room shut, and cause the statues to animate, charging attack with their shields. The
attacking anyone within the chamber without attack can target anyone in the room, as long
mercy. as she can be reached by moving in a straight
line. If the attack is successful, the target
suffers 1d6 damage and must check Vigor
or be knocked back into an adjacent zone. If
this results in the character hitting a wall or
similar, she suffers an additional 1d6 damage.
Additional successes modifies the target's
save by two to her disadvantage.

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 46 LEVEL IV

414 Pendulum traps. A set of trip-

wires—six in total—release heavy
pendulum blades from the ceiling. A character
Grey light: Every round, there’s a cumu-
lative 1-in-6 chance that the eyes of the
grey mummy will crack open, flooding
thus triggering one of the blades must check the room in a grey magic light. Anyone
Senses or be hit for 1d10 damage. Unless the caught in the light is slowly petrified by the
pendulums swing in perfect synch, there is a antediluvian spell, suffering 1d3 damage (no
chance of them colliding or locking together defense). In addition, an affected character
like arms on a hasting typewriter. Once a new must succeed a Might-save or permanently
pendulum is released, roll a twenty-sided die lose one point of endurance.
for each already swinging. If you roll the same
After a round, the mummy will again close
number for two or more, they become stuck.
its eyes. Reset the counter and start rolling

415 Chamber of the twin mum-

mies. A large chamber, whose
walls and ceiling are coated with flaking gold
again to see if they re-open.
Upon leaving the tomb, a player whose
character has permanently lost one or more
foil. Four square pillars, likewise golden, sup-
points of endurance may roll an eight-sided
port the roof. In the far end of the chamber
die. If the result is lower than the amount
two mummies—one white and one grey—sit
lost, the character gains a natural defense
on sandstone thrones, flanking a tall but narrow
equal to the die roll for having her skin hard-
marble door.
ened by the ossifying glare.
From the north-eastern wall, three golden keys
White mummy: pwr 5/2, save N/A (immune
of pre-flood design hang (110 s each, or more if
to sorcery but immobile), end 40. Clad in bone
their corresponding locks are known).
white cerements, ossified with age (armor 8,
As soon as someone enters the room the mum- def 5) and wielding a golden scimitar with a
mies will awaken, their closed eyes lit up by a whip-like multi jointed arm of terrible strength
fierce glow that grows in intensity with each (dmg 1d12, reach 3, wt 4, 810 s).
passing heartbeat. Neither mummy can move
Maddening glare: Every round, there’s
from their thrones, instead relying on magic
a cumulative 1-in-6 chance that the eyes
and great reach to combat opponents from afar.
of the white mummy will crack open,
Grey mummy: pwr 4/4, save N/A (immune to flooding the room in a pale magic shine.
sorcery but immobile), end 40. Clad in ash-grey Anyone caught in the light must check Lore
cerements, stiff with age (armor 6, def 3) and or be lost in a vertigo of insane visions,
wielding a long vermillion-tipped spear (dmg unable to do anything. An affected character
1d10, reach 2; wt 4; thrown: reach 5; worth must roll 1d6 at the beginning of each round,
745 s). The mummy can forfeit one action to rerolling all ones the first round, all ones and
have the spear return to her hand in a sorcerous twos the second and so on. On the roll of a
fashion. Special: Once the mummy is defeated, six, her character breaks free of the deranged
a character may attempt to become the new visions, otherwise her turn is forfeit. If treat-
master of the spear by making a Might check. ed by another character, recovery dice can be
If she succeeds, the spear can return to her as used to similar effects.
above. When this ability is used, roll a d10. On
After a round, the mummy will again close
the roll of a “1” the spear must be subdued again
its eyes. Reset the counter and start rolling
after returning.
again to see if they re-open.

(order #8929632)
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 48 LEVEL IV

416 Large sarcophagus. A grand

chamber, housing a large sarcoph-
agus carved from stone but inlaid with copper
418 Scorpion Queen. A square
chamber with a vaulted ceiling,
adorned with cracked and faded frescoes. Here
and lapis lazuli under the depiction of a gar- lives the scorpion mistress in eternal vigilance.
land-crowned man dancing on a pile of bones.
The Scorpion Queen (human): pwr 5/5, save
The original splendor of the room is still evi-
15, end 30. Wearing golden bracelets and a sil-
dent, despite the crumbling frescoes and flaking
ver tiara, her body adorned with layers of pearls
gold. If opened, the sarcophagus contains the
and beads (defense 0; worth 3d4 x 50 shekels).
silver-covered bones of several children (150 s).
Fighting with two copper daggers, dripping
The gemstones on the cover can be pried loose with venom (dmg 1d6; venom: 2 dmg for 1d6
with a successful Craft test—each success indi- rounds, Might saves for half).
cating 1d100 shekels worth of lapis retrieved.
Reduced to zero endurance, her skin will break
Only one such test is allowed as prying loose
apart and a great scorpion will crawl out and
the stones damages the remaining. A gem-cut-
uncoil. The transformation takes a full round
ter or similar may add a free success to her roll.
during which she is unable to do anything else.

417 Central tomb. A majestic room,

dimly lit by a hidden source, with
slanting walls intersecting at a point a hundred
The scorpion queen (scorpion): pwr 4/4, save
12, end 20. Carapace with gold-adorned head
(defense 6; worth 220 shekels). Fighting with
feet above like the mold of a pyramid. All sur-
four powerful claws (dmg 1d8; reach 1; each
faces are gilded with minute care, making all
successful attack targets 1d4 characters) and
imported light shine back a thousandfold. A
poisonous stinger (dmg 1d8; reach 3; venom: 2
fine geometric pattern runs across each wall,
dmg for 1d6 rounds).
like capillaries of a leaf. An abundance of gilded
objects—cylindrical or ring-like or wide and Reduced once more to zero endurance, the de-
curved like shields or bowls—lie neatly ar- mon’s tail will come off and the two parts will
ranged on the floor obeying a secret blueprint. continue to fight using the same statistics as the
scorpion form but having only one attack each
The center piece is spherical and five strides
(1d4 claws and stinger, respectively). If possi-
in circumference. Any closer scrutiny reveals a
ble, the demon will use guile and trickery to
hair-thin line at the equator, marking the seam
try to convince the characters that it is truly
where the two halves are joined. The ball is
indestructible and that they would be wiser to
made from gilded sandstone, hollow at the mid-
offer up their treasures to it and flee, or serve
dle but weighing three tonnes per half.
it for eternity.
Inside is 1982 shekels in clay coins (wt 40),
twenty-one gems worth 1d100 shekels each,
Further adventures
and five foot-long electrum rods (worth 512 Having reached this far, there are several pos-
shekels each). sibilities for further adventures. Two examples
include:
A secret passage in the south-eastern wall leads
to 418. Any loud noise in the room has a 50% Finding a way to break the curse that
chance of drawing the attention of the scorpion holds the Scorpion Queen.
mistress.
Piecing together information about the
lost ruins of Ubara-Tutums empire, in
search of his command over life and death.
But as usual, the only limit is your imagination.

(order #8929632)