Dragon Delves: The Will of Orcus

Cultist

Akira Norixius believes unquestioningly in the cause of Orcus' cult; she looks forward to her own death because she expects to be transformed into an Undead when it occurs. She therefore fights to the death and is entirely unwilling to share information with the characters.

Broken Tiles

Until recently, the floor had a painted tile mosaic set into it. The mosaic depicted Orcus slaying a legion of human knights and reanimating their corpses. Xia ordered her servants to destroy the mosaic, sweep up the tiles, and place them in the wheelbarrows. Any character who takes the Study action to inspect the broken tiles and succeeds on a DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check determines the mosaic once depicted Orcus, the Demon Prince of Undeath.

Secret Door

Set into the wall behind the southwest pile of rubble is a secret door (see "x"). Behind it lies a sloped passageway (area x).

Stolen Goods to Recover

The brooms, Ropes, and wheelbarrows are all stolen goods (see "Stolen Goods").

Skeletal Remains

See "x" for more on the skeletal remains here.

Doors

From within the tunnel, the doors to areas x and x are plainly visible.

Skeletal Remains

This room holds five piles of skeletal remains (see "x"). The first time someone opens one of the secret doors to the vaults (area x) in this room, one set of remains animates, ignites in unholy fire, and becomes a Flaming Skeleton, while the other four piles animate and each form a Skeleton. The skeletons are Hostile toward all creatures except Undead.

Secret Doors and Statues

This room contains three secret doors (see "x"), each one located behind a ghoul statue. The area between a statue and a secret door is wide enough for only a Tiny creature to fit comfortably. For a Small or Medium creature, those areas are Difficult Terrain.

Whenever a non-Undead creature tries to pass through a secret door, the statue in front of that door swivels on its base and swipes a claw at the creature. The creature must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (2d6) Slashing damage. As a Utilize action, a character can disable a swiveling statue by jamming a Dagger, an Iron Spike, or a similar object into the slight gap between the statue's base and the floor.

Hidden Lever

A character who takes the Search action to examine the southwest pillar automatically finds a loose panel, behind which is an iron lever (marked with an L on Map: Temple of Orcus). As a Utilize action, a creature can pull this lever to reset the trap described below.

Trap

The stairs collapse to form a slide whenever a creature that isn't an Undead steps on them. At the same time, the stone lid concealing a hidden pit at the bottom of the stairs snaps open.

The first time a non-Undead creature steps on the stairs, the creature must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or fall down the slide into the pit, which is 20 feet deep and lined with rusty spikes. The creature takes 7 (2d6) Bludgeoning damage from the fall plus 9 (2d8) Piercing damage from the spikes.

Pulling the hidden lever closes the pit's lid and resets the stairs. The lid opens only when the trap is triggered and otherwise is safe to move on. As a Utilize action, a character can try to force the lid open (from inside or outside the pit), doing so with a successful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.

Alcoves

Each alcove contains 4d10 + 20 barely legible books and scrolls, all of them brittle and flammable. A character who takes the Study action and succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check discerns that these materials describe various rites practiced by Orcus worshipers.

Ghostly Librarian

The spectral figure in the alcove is the Ghost of Melindra Vox, the librarian of the earlier Orcus cult. She is Chaotic Evil and initially Indifferent toward visitors. She is furious that the zombies are ruining her collection of books and scrolls but can't stop them herself, as she has vowed never to harm cult allies. When she notices the characters, Melindra assumes they are intruders who aren't subject to such vows, and she beseeches them to destroy the Ogre Zombies. If the characters oblige, Melindra becomes Friendly toward them. If they refuse to help, she remains Indifferent.

If the characters converse with Melindra while she is Friendly, she reveals that adventurers slew her many years ago during their raid on the temple, after she refused to abandon her library. If the characters ask about treasure or secret knowledge, Melindra advises them to search for secret doors behind every statue, claiming there are "secret vaults throughout."

Melindra doesn't know how to find peace in the afterlife. A character who takes the Study action and makes a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check discerns the way to lay her spirit to rest: either by removing all the books and scrolls from the library or by destroying them. Melindra becomes Hostile toward and fights anyone who tries to remove or destroy her collection.

Secret Door

A bookshelf in the north alcove conceals a secret door (see "x"), behind which lies the dining hall (area x).

Skeletal Remains

See "Temple Features" for more on the skeletal remains here.

Cultist

The young man sitting at the table (facing the secret door in the south wall) is Yondis Morgrin (Medium, Chaotic Neutral Cultist Fanatic), a member of x who is questioning his participation in it. He was initially attracted to the promise of being transformed into an Undead creature even more powerful than Xia, and he likes to pretend he is Undead already. He wears pasty makeup, shambles like a zombie, and eats undercooked and spoiling meat, but the disguise fools no one.

Yondis is Indifferent toward the characters, whether or not they wear the crimson robes of Xia's cult. If the characters combat him, Yondis fights until he is Bloodied, at which point he surrenders.

The whisperings of Nezzarum through the Orcus statue have thrown Yondis into confusion. He can't understand why Orcus would be ordering Xia to destroy the iconography of Orcus around the temple, and when Yondis is alone in the presence of the statue, it whispers to him of the beauty of life and the pleasures of fresh air, well-cooked meals, and heroic deeds. His doubts make him susceptible to being drawn away from the cult. A character who takes the Influence action can make a DC 10 Charisma (Deception or Intimidation) check to try to coax information from him (see "x" above for information Yondis can share about the cult).

Secret Door

A secret door in the south wall (see "x") pulls open to reveal the library beyond (area x).

Stolen Goods to Recover

Yondis's broom is a stolen item (see "Stolen Goods").

Secret Door

A secret door in the north wall stands ajar and requires no ability check to spot. Yondis (see area x) found it recently and jammed an old finger bone into the doorway to prevent the door from closing all the way and make it easy for him to find.

Secret Door

Set into the north wall, a secret door (see "x") leads to the main temple (area x).

Skeletal Remains

See "Temple Features" for more on the skeletal remains here.

Treasure

The inanimate skeleton next to the double door is all that remains of the temple's high priest. It clutches a ring holding three iron keys, which unlock the cell doors in area x, and wears an amulet shaped like a goat's rotting head (the symbol of Orcus) on a chain around its neck. The silver amulet is worth 25 GP and has a hidden compartment containing a folded-up Spell Scroll of Animate Dead. A character who takes the Search action to examine the amulet finds the hidden compartment with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check.

Cells

All three cell doors are locked; a skeleton in the east tunnel (area x) holds the keys. The DC to pick one of these locks is 15. The cells' contents are as follows:

• Cell A holds the skeletal remains of two humans.
• Cell B appears empty but contains a hidden compartment behind a loose stone in the east wall. A character who takes the Search action and succeeds on a DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check discovers the loose stone and the treasure hidden behind it (see "Treasure" below).
• Cell C contains the bones of a treacherous tiefling cultist who tried and failed to overthrow the temple's high priest. Disturbing this skeleton causes the traitor's spirit to manifest as a Wraith and fight the characters.

Skeletal Remains

The skeletal remains in the cells are clad in tattered rags and have no equipment or treasure. The skeleton draped over the northern slab is that of the high priest's torturer (see "Treasure" below and "x" for details).

Treasure

The dead torturer clutches a +1 Whip. Behind the loose stone in cell B lies a Wand of Secrets.

Stolen Goods to Recover

The Ladders, pots of paint, and paintbrushes are all stolen goods (see "Stolen Goods").

Roleplaying Nezzarum

Nezzarum has been waiting here in the hope that adventurers would come and defeat Xia and her cult, knowing that he isn't strong enough to defeat them on his own. If combat breaks out in x and Nezzarum is aware of it (either because Xia comes and implores the statue of Orcus for aid or because he notices the battle unfolding from his hiding place in the statue), he emerges from the statue and joins the fray. If the characters defeat Xia and Nezzarum survives the encounter, the dragon is Friendly toward them. If the characters approach Nezzarum without first fighting Xia, the dragon is initially Indifferent.

Indifferent Dragon

If Nezzarum hasn't seen the characters prove themselves in battle, he errs on the side of caution and decides to test them. He issues a random command, determined by rolling on the Nezzarum's Commands table, and judges them based on their consequent actions. If they fulfill his wishes, he seems pleased; if they refuse a command, he remains Indifferent toward them.

Each time the characters leave the hall and return, Nezzarum issues a new command until he has issued three of them. He never repeats a command, so if you roll the same result twice, roll again or choose a different option from the table. If the characters fulfill all three of his commands, Nezzarum's attitude toward them shifts to Friendly.

Characters struck by the bizarre nature of "Orcus's" commands can take the Search action and make a DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check. On a success, the character realizes a deception is afoot.

Friendly Dragon

If he becomes Friendly, Nezzarum tells the story of his coming to the temple and the cult's subsequent arrival (see "x"). If the characters haven't defeated Xia yet, that's the dragon's highest priority, and he promises to help them fight the ghast and any remaining cultists.

Nezzarum hasn't searched the temple thoroughly enough to locate any other secret doors (besides the one in the base of the statue). He has no objection to the characters searching the temple for treasure if they agree to give him an equal share.

Secret Doors

This hall contains seven secret doors (see "x"):

• Statue Access. A secret door in the base of the Orcus statue pulls open to reveal a winding staircase that ascends to a 10-foot-diameter chamber in the statue's head.
• South Wall Exits. Two secret doors in the south wall lead to hallways (areas x and x). The door on the west side (to area x) is ajar and doesn't require an ability check to locate.
• To the Vaults. Four secret doors hidden behind statues each lead to a different vault (see area x). The area between a statue and a secret door is wide enough for only a Tiny creature to fit comfortably. For a Small or Medium creature, those areas are Difficult Terrain.

Stolen Goods to Recover

The dragonchess Gaming Set and incense are stolen goods (see "Stolen Goods"). If Nezzarum is Friendly, he allows the characters to return the goods the cultists stole to the rightful owners.

Vault Contents

Use the Statues table to determine each statue's form, the Creatures table to determine the guardian of each vault, and the Treasure table to determine the items stored within (see "Accessing the Vaults' Treasure" below).

Accessing the Vaults' Treasure

Under each statue lies a cylindrical compartment 3 feet across and 3 feet deep. To get at the treasure within, characters must topple or destroy the statue. Each statue is a Medium object with AC 17, HP 18, and Immunity to Poison and Psychic damage. As a Utilize action, a character can try to topple a statue, doing so with a successful DC 17 Strength (Athletics) check.