Exemplars of Evil

CHAPTER 3
EDGAR & KATARIN
TOLSTOFF
56
Spawn of Kyuss MM2 CR 5
hp 29 (4 HD); fast healing 5
CE Medium undead
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +0, Spot +3
Aura fear (40 ft., DC 14)
AC 11, touch 9, flat-footed 11
(–1 Dex, +2 natural)
Immune undead immunities (MM 317)
Resist +2 turn resistance
Fort +1, Ref +0, Will +4
Weakness curative transformation
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee slam +6 (1d6+6 plus disease)
Base Atk +2; Grp +6
Atk Options create spawn
Abilities Str 18, Dex 9, Con —, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 15
Feats Stealthy, Toughness
Skills Hide +5, Jump +7, Listen +0, Move Silently +5, Spot +3
Aura of Fear (Su) At the end of each of the spawn’s turns,
creatures within 40 feet of it must succeed on a DC 14
Will save or become panicked for 7 rounds. A creature
that makes its save is immune to this particular spawn’s
aura of fear for 24 hours.
Curative Transformation (Ex) If a spawn of Kyuss is targeted by
a remove curse or remove disease spell or similar magic, it is
instantly transformed into a human zombie (MM 266).
Create Spawn (Su) As an immediate action, whenever a
spawn of Kyuss strikes an opponent with a slam attack,
a melee touch attack, or a ranged touch attack out to 10
feet, it can transfer a worm from its own body into that of
its opponent.
Each worm is a Fine vermin with AC 10 and 1 hit point.
It can be killed with normal damage or by the touch of silver.
On the spawn’s next turn, the worm burrows into the
host’s flesh. (Creatures that have a natural armor bonus
of at least +5 are immune to this effect.) The worm makes
its way toward the host’s brain, dealing 1 point of damage
per round for 1d4+1 rounds. At the end of that period,
the worm reaches the brain and starts dealing 1d2 points
of Intelligence damage per round until it is killed or it
slays the host (death occurs at 0 Intelligence). A Small,
Medium, or Large creature slain in this way rises as a new
spawn of Kyuss in 1d6+4 rounds. Larger creatures gain
the zombie template instead. Newly created spawn are
not under the control of their creator.
While the worm is inside a host, crawling toward the
brain, a remove curse or remove disease spell will kill it. In
addition, a DC 20 Heal check will extract the worm and
kill it. Finally, a dispel evil or neutralize poison spell will
delay its progress toward the brain for 10d6 minutes.
Once the worm has reached the brain, it can no longer be
extracted or slowed. However, it can still be killed with a
remove curse or remove disease spell.
Disease (Su) Kyuss’s gift—slam, Fort DC 14, incubation
period 1 day, damage 1d6 Con and 1d4 Wis. These effects
manifest as rotting flesh and dementia. An afflicted
creature derives half the normal benefi ts from natural
and magical healing. A cure disease spell removes the
affliction.
6. Sitting Room: This room holds an oval arrangement
of couches and chairs. The upholstery is full of black mold
and reeks of mildew. A rotting carpet covers the floor and
squelches underfoot. One bookcase is intact against the eastern
wall, but bookworms devoured its contents long ago.
7. Private Rooms: A short corridor leads to a cluster of
passages and doors. Behind the doors are private rooms
containing beds, dressers, small rugs, writing desks, chamber
pots, and an assortment of miscellaneous items including
clothing, old papers, corpses, and dead rats.
8. Guest Quarters: A narrow passage widens into a hallway
here. Stuffed falcons, eagles, and ravens hang from the
ceiling, arranged so that they appear to be flying. Doors on
the south wall lead to a mixture of guest chambers, closets,
and privies. A staircase on the west end of the hallway leads
up to the second floor.
Three corrupted warriors and a corrupted commander
patrol the hall. For statistics, see tactical encounter 3–1
(page 58).
9. Turrets: The keep has three turrets that rise 50 feet into
the air. Arrow slits pierce the exterior walls. Within each
turret, a spiral staircase ascends to a large, open room with
a conical ceiling.
10. Archer Platforms: During its heyday, Tolstoff Keep
employed nearly fifty guards. To protect the family, the baron
installed archer platforms on the west and south walls, each
about 8 feet off the ground, to allow archers a good angle for
firing arrows down at attackers. The platforms are enclosed,
but careful listeners can hear the scurrying of rats beneath
their feet (Listen DC 10).
On the southern archer platform stands a corrupted human
warrior, who will shoot at the PCs in tactical encounter 3–1 (see
page 58) unless the party finds another way into the keep.
11. Barracks and Armory: This cluster of rooms once
housed the keep’s guards and their armory (the westernmost
room in this block). The remaining guards still sleep here, as
evidenced by the stink of sour milk and ammonia emanating
from their befouled bedrolls. Anyone who makes a successful
DC 15 Search check in a room has a 50% chance of turning
up 1d12 gp.
12. Storerooms and Cistern: These two rooms contain
the keep’s food and water supply. The northern room holds
a dozen kegs of beer and a well that drops to a cistern 30
feet down. The southern room holds sacks of grains, dried
vegetables and fruit, and other dry goods.
13. Male Servants’ Quarters: These rooms once housed
the keep’s male servants. Since they left soon after the death
of Edgar and Katarin’s mother, the quarters have been empty
for years.
14. Female Servants’ Quarters: These rooms held the
female servants. Like the male servants’ quarters, they are
long abandoned.
15. Antechamber: Thick rugs cover the floor of this
chamber. Dozens of religious icons and symbols, representing
deities of every alignment, sit on shelves that protrude
from the walls at different heights all around the room.
Light shines from a pair of floor candelabras laden with fat
black candles that are wrapped in incense-soaked oils. The
locked door on the northern wall leads to the chapel. The
door can be opened with a successful DC 25 Open Lock
check, or with the key found behind the secret door in the
feast hall (area 4).
Edgar preserves this room in the hope of absolving
himself of the sin of matricide. He comes here once each
day and lights fresh candles to keep the stench away from
the icons.