Elder Evils

The surface of the mountain consists of three primary
materials.
Stone: Small patches remain where snow and ice have not
found purchase. These areas are rough, but otherwise easy
to traverse.
Snow: Although most of the snow is only a foot or so
deep (requiring two squares of movement), other areas
contain deep snowdrifts. These areas require 4 squares of
movement to enter and might hold other hazards as well,
such as pockets of empty space beneath the snow that act
as large pits.
Ice: Great smooth ice floes make their way down every
side of the mountain. Traversing these floes requires a
DC 15 Balance check. Failing by 5 or more results in a fall
that, depending on the slope, might carry a character far
away from his companions. Other areas are merely slick
and level, requiring a DC 10 Balance check to charge or
run across.
Aside from these effects, the weather itself makes traveling
the mountain extremely difficult. Snow, hail, and lightning
constantly assault its slopes. This weather can limit vision
and obscure trails.
DEFENSES
As long as Father Llymic remains imprisoned, defense of the
glacial tomb falls to his minions—the crazed cultists and the
brood spawn—and the harsh environment.
Cultists and insane individuals prowl the lower reaches
of the mountain, incapable of surviving the higher summits.
These groups all succumb to brood fever eventually,
joining the spawn up above, while new groups and individuals
constantly arrive to take their place. The cultist
groups might have an order among themselves, but none
of them work together toward any sort of common defense.
These maniacs attack anyone bearing natural or artificial
light. Characters who are not carrying such illumination
might be able to bypass these groups with a few Bluff and
Disguise checks.
When the PCs reach the mountainside, the environment
changes dramatically and brood spawn become common.
Encountering a single creature precipitates a much greater
conflict as all nearby brood move in to investigate the disturbance.
The concentration and power of the brood increases
the higher up one goes.
Those hoping to fly to reach the peak find it to be a nearly
impossible task. Fierce, driving snow and hail assault any
who ascend to more than 20 feet above the mountain’s
surface. This constantly roiling storm limits visibility to 5
feet, slows movement by half, and deals 4d6 points of cold
damage per round of exposure. As an added hazard, the
storm is home to flying brood spawn that have no difficulty
navigating it.
Anyone reaching the summit with a functioning light
source provokes the wrath of all the brood spawn within
1 mile, who quickly make their way to the peak to destroy
the intruders.
Illus. by H. Lyon
CHAPTER 3
FATHER
LLYMIC
The frozen mountain
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