La infidelidad estrictamente dicha

Sarcophagi (EL 15)

The stench of rotting eggs fills the clearing which is noticeably warmer where the path leads around a huge pool of surging water. Ruddy clay coats the banks around the boiling water, but the water is clear except for occasional rust-colored streaks. The hot spring churns up ochre-colored clay and mineral deposits. During the rainy season, this is just one of the many springs that contribute to the reddish color of the river.

The 70 ft. diameter pool reeks of sulfur. Gurgling and splashing disrupts the otherwise peaceful ra- vine. The soaked ground and wet rocks are evidence this spring occasionally develops into a geyser. The majority of the exposed water is covered with a crust of yellow-and-orange mineral deposits. The pool is approximately 50 ft. deep.

Three half-submerged sarcophagi tilting at various angles sit in the middle of the pool. Radiant light shines from the center tomb through thin cracks in its broken outer stone layer. The coffins rest on a large pillar of rock that disappears into the waters. The lower third of each tomb is below the water level. Thick clumps of orange and copper rock encrust each coffin. Elaborate, mineral-encrusted decorations adorn each coffin, although it is difficult to make out details from the bank.

G L A D E S O F D E A T H

The sarcophagi are the tombs of three followers who served Hel, the goddess of pestilence. Arden cursed the temple that once sat here for marring the beauty of the canyons, causing it to sink deep into the earth. The temple fell into the volcanic waters, leaving only a 20 ft. wide pillar supporting the three tombs that survived the destruction. The center coffin is the home of 2 cunning will-o’-wisps, who share the space with the entombed body of a priest. The wisps enter the coffin through the small cracks in the outer layer and have no treasure. The coffin to the right is the resting place of Nikatal’ Shazar, an evil priestess of Hel whose mummified body has been altered by the sulfur springs.

The third watertight tomb contains the dried re- mains of another priestess. She wears her ceremonial robes, jewelry and prized possessions. The body is adorned with a gold-and-ruby encrusted death mask (1,750 gp), golden bracers (500 gp), two gold band rings with solitaire rubies (750 gp each), a staff of healing (16 charges), and a necklace of fireball missiles Type V.

The pool is under an unhallowed effect, with a dispel

magic against anyone not wearing a holy symbol of

Hel. The pool is also much larger than it appears. A thin 10 ft. wide crust of calcite minerals covers the edge of the pool. More than 100 pounds on the crust causes the crust to break. Any creature exceeding these limits punches a hole through the coating and plunges into the boiling water. A successful Reflex save (DC 20) allows a PC to leap back and avoid

submersion. Those in the water take 10d6 points of heat damage each round due to submersion. Those who jump away may still take damage as the boiling water splashes (1d6, splash 5 ft. radius; see heat dan- gers in the DMG). Victims in the water also find it very difficult to climb out along the crust water.

Will-o’-wisp (2) (Hriss and Herri): CR 6, hp 40. Nika tal’ Shazar, Female Mummy Clr10: CR 15;

SZ M; HD 8d12 plus 10d8; hp 97; Init +5; Spd 20 ft.; AC 28 (+2 Dex, +4 armor, +2 deflection, +10 natu- ral), touch 14, flat-footed 26; BAB/Grapple +11/+16; Atk +16 melee (1d6+8 plus mummy rot, slam); Full Atk +16 melee (1d6+8 plus mummy rot, slam); SA despair, mummy rot, rebuke undead (+2), spells; SQ damage reduction 5/–, darkvision 60 ft., undead traits, vulnerability to fire; AL LE; SV Fort +13, Ref +9, Will +19; Str 20, Dex 14, Con –, Int 13, Wis 18, Cha 17.

Skills: Concentration +12, Knowledge (religion)

+9, Listen +12, Spellcraft +9, Spot +12. Feats: Aug- ment Summoning, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Spell Focus (conjuration).

Divine Spells Prepared (6/5/5/4/4/2, spell save DC

14+ spell level; conjuration spell save 15+ spell level*): 0–detect magic, inflict minor wounds (x3), light, resis-

tance; 1st–bane, curse water, divine favor, obscuring mist*, protection from good; 2nd–darkness, hold person (x2), silence (x2); 3rd–contagion, dispel magic (x2), protection from energy; 4th–inflict critical wounds, poi- son, spell immunity (x2); 5th–summon monster V *, spell resistance.

C H A P T E R N I N E : C A N Y O N S O F A R C U R I

Domain Spells (Death, Evil): 1st–cause fear; 2nd– death knell; 3rd–magic circle against good; 4th–unholy blight; 5th–slay living.

Possessions: +2 ring of protection; ring of water walk- ing; +4 bracers of armor.

Description: Nika tal’ Shazar is encrusted with min-

eral deposits from the boiling waters of a hot spring. She appears to be made of stone at first glance. She still wears an imitation of the jewed crown she wore in life and numerous other worthless trinkets peek through the mineral-encrusted bandages wrapped about her body.

Tactics: The wisps attack if someone breaks through

the stone crust. If PCs cross the boiling water, the wisps retreat, but return once the mummy awakens. It has been awhile, but they have worked with Nika tal’ Shazar before.

Nika tal’ Shazar casts a few spells inside the tomb before PCs open the lid. She prepares herself with spell

immunity (magic missile), spell resistance to give her an

SR (22), and poison. She then summons 2 huge

fiendish sharks and proceeds with offensive spells.

She casts dispel magic on PCs using magical means to access the sarcophagi. She removes her ring and sinks into the depths of the spring if combat goes against her. The fiendish sharks leap from the water to snatch anyone swimming, boating, walking on the surface or flying within 10 ft. of the boiling water.

The atmosphere and steam inside Nika tal’ Shazar’s coffin toughened her weathered hide over the past few centuries giving her fire resistance (10). Her wrap- pings are hardened with mineral deposits. The hardened cloth wrappings do not add to her armor class, but they do present a stone-like appearance that may confuse PCs as to her true nature.