Exemplars of Evil

FEATURES OF THE AREA
The sea cave has the following features.
Illumination: If the PCs come here during the day, some
light filters into the cave. The first 20 feet beyond the cave
entrance is in bright illumination, the next 20 feet is in shadowy
illumination, and the remainder of the cave is in darkness.
Water: The water in the cave is rough (Swim DC 15), but
the relative shelter keeps it from being as turbulent as the water
outside. At low tide, the water in the cavern is 30 feet deep.
Slick Rock Floor: The surfaces of the rock ledge and the
partially submerged rock shelf are extremely slippery and uneven.
A successful DC 15 Balance check is required to run or charge
across either surface. A failed check indicates that the character
cannot move farther in that round (but can take other actions).
Steep Stair: The Stair Martial is a steep stair and affects
the movement of creatures climbing up or down the steps (DMG
63). In addition, while on the stairs and attacking opponents
below them, creatures gain a +1 melee attack bonus for fighting
from higher ground.
Narrow Staircase: As the steep stair, detailed above, but
only 5 feet wide and heavily eroded. Treat the narrow stairs as
light rubble (DMG 60). At low tide, the stairs end just above
sea level.
Seaweed-Covered Statues: These worn, seaweed-draped
statues depict human warriors clad in archaic plate armor
holding greatswords in front of them, point down.
Walls: Up to a height of 10 feet above the entrance to the
Stair Martial, the walls are slippery (Climb DC 20). Beyond
that level, however, the walls are drier and easier to negotiate
(Climb DC 15).
ENCOUNTER 6-1
entire cavern, floods 20 feet of the Stair Martial, and creates
a hump of water 50 feet long that extends out into the open
sea. Once the waters recede, the flooded portion of the Stair
Martial remains slick, increasing the DC of Balance checks
on the steps by 5.
In subsequent rounds, the scyllan attacks submerged
characters, trying to swallow them whole. It swims up the
narrow staircase in search of prey but remains in the water,
gaining improved cover against opponents on land. While
completely submerged, the scyllan has total cover against
opponents on land unless they are under a freedom of movement
effect.
The scyllan does not pursue foes up the Stair Martial,
but otherwise it fights to the death. After all, the PCs have
invaded its home.
CONCLUSION
If a battle occurs in Durrin’s Rest, Jebrix and the minotaur
guards might hear it from their position on the lowest ceremonial
landing (area 3). Each minotaur can attempt a DC
–10 Listen check, which includes a –7 penalty because of the
distance. If the minotaurs hear the battle, they prepare for
combat. (See tactical encounter 6–2, page 106.)
The scyllan lairs underwater below the rock ledge. If the
PCs kill the beast, they can search the waters for treasure
(see Features of the Area, below).
Treasure: Scattered on the cavern floor are the remains of
the scyllan’s previous victims and various items they carried.
If the PCs dive underwater and search the floor, they find a
corked bottle of air, a type II necklace of fireballs, 1,000 gp worth
of coral, and 500 gp in mixed coins.
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