Elder Evils

CHAPTER 8
SERTROUS
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bears the symbol of Sertrous (a coiled but headless snake
wrapped around and through a snake’s skull), as do the
immense tapestries and banners that hang from the hall’s
100-foot-high ceiling.
The approach to the double doors that lead to area B is
warded by a forbiddance spell (CL 15th, Will DC 28) keyed
to chaotic evil. As soon as a creature of any alignment other
than chaotic evil enters this area, the snake statues scattered
throughout areas B through G begin hissing loudly
in alarm, alerting the entire Reliquary to the presence
of intruders.
B. Grand Temple of Sertrous (EL 20)
The leaders of the Vanguard meet in this grand chamber
to hear the teachings of their leader, to offer prayers and
offerings to Sertrous, and to present captured treasures and
religious texts. As the central chamber, it also serves as the
primary point of defense. When the PCs reach this chamber,
they are confronted with a band of Vanguard assassins and
Seghulerak herself (see encounter 8–1, page 122).
This room provides the only entrance to the Inmost Vault
(area H), an entrance that normally doesn’t even exist.
Carved into the ceiling of the chamber is the visage of an
immense serpent. It can be commanded to open through
the use of Dark Speech, by a miracle or wish, or with a
password that can be found in area E. When opened, the
jaws reveal a stone shaft leading up through the ceiling.
No stairs or other means of ascent is apparent—flight (or
Seghulerak’s air walk) is the standard method of travel up
to area H above.
In this chamber and in areas C through G stand statues
of coiled serpents. These statues function as an alarm
system and as guardians. A statue can make one attack of
opportunity per round against a creature of any alignment
other than chaotic evil that is within 5 feet, striking with a
single bite attack.
C. Assassin’s Hold
The assassins who guard the Reliquary from intrusion sleep
and eat in this chamber. If the PCs invade the Reliquary
without Seghulerak having a chance to prepare for them, the
six Vanguard assassins begin here instead of in area B.
The secret door that leads to area G can be discovered with
a DC 30 Search check and is protected by a symbol of insanity
(Will DC 30).
pqs
RING OF AIRWALKING
Price (Item Level): 40,000 gp (17th)
Body Slot: Ring
Caster Level: 7th
Aura: Moderate; (DC 18) transmutation
Activation: —
Weight: —
This blue crystal ring allows the wearer to act as if continually
under the effect of an air walk spell.
Prerequisites: Forge Ring, air walk.
Cost to Create: 20,000 gp, 1,600 XP, 40 days.
pqs
D. Pits of the Forsaken (EL 19)
The most important prisoners are kept in these pits, hateful
holes that remain perpetually half flooded and infested with
snakes. The warden of this prison is Seghulerak’s cohort, a
powerful marilith demon named Zuvexus (see encounter 8–2,
page 124). Zuvexus wears a ring of airwalking (see sidebar) that
allows her to move around the room with ease.
E. Heretic’s Walk
This towering chamber is lined with bookshelves, upon
which rest the collected lore stolen during dozens of crusades
against the mortal realm. Many books are badly damaged, but
they all share one theme—they are religious works stolen
from countless razed temples. Characters who spend enough
time in research can uncover the solution to any remaining
mysteries that still vex them about the Vanguard, Sertrous,
and his history. The password for operating the portal in
area B to the Inmost Vault can be found here with a DC
30 Knowledge (the planes) check made after 1d6 hours of
research. As in area C, the secret door that leads to area G can
be discovered with a DC 30 Search check and is protected
by a symbol of insanity (Will DC 30).
F. Apostle’s Chambers
Seghulerak’s chamber is decadent, with a haphazard decor
of stolen artwork and furnishings from two dozen nations.
Seghulerak spends increasingly little time here, kept busy
with the work of leading the Vanguard to triumph. As in
area C, the secret door that leads to area G can be discovered
with a DC 30 Search check and is protected by a symbol of
insanity (Will DC 30).
G. The Treasury
This room should represent the greatest single treasure
that the PCs find during their entire adventuring career.
The wealth here has accumulated over dozens of crusades
and consists of coins, gems, and all manner of artwork
and magic items. It’s not unlikely that an artifact or two
languishes here as well. You should tailor this treasure to
the campaign, but it should represent at least 1,500,000
gp in value.
H. Inmost Vault (EL 23)
Upon passing through the portal in the ceiling of area B,
a character must make a DC 25 Fortitude save to enter the
Inmost Vault. A character who fails takes 2d6 points of
Strength drain and is teleported to a prison in area D, while
all his gear is teleported into the treasury (area G).
With a successful save, the character emerges from a well
up into a strange realm. Unlike the other seven chambers, the
Inmost Vault lies in an area bordered below by the tesseract
the Reliquary is built upon. One could fly forever into the
boundless gray skies above, but after a day’s journey along
the steaming festering fens of the ground here (regardless
of the speed of the journey), a traveler finds himself in the
Hungry Tarns of the Abyss.
Of more import, however, is the stone altar about 50 feet
from the well, for upon it rests the skull of Sertrous—and
next to it, the final guardian and First Heretic Avamerin (see
encounter 8–3, page 126).