Contents
- 1Introduction–A Collection of Heists
- 2The Murkmire Malevolence
- 3The Stygian Gambit
- 4Reach for the Stars
- 5Prisoner 13
- 6Tockworth's Clockworks
- 7Masterpiece Imbroglio
- 8Axe from the Grave
- 9Vidorant's Vault
- 10Shard of the Accursed
- 11Heart of Ashes
- 12Affair on the Concordant Express
- 13Party at Paliset Hall
- 14Fire and Darkness
- 15Credits
Shard of the Accursed
An Adventure for 8th-Level Characters
A mysterious shard made of obsidian places a curse on everyone who bears it. When the shard comes into the characters' possession, they must break its curse by returning the shard to the ancient tomb it came from. But a dangerous crime syndicate controls the tomb and its riches, and the criminals won't take kindly to the characters' intrusion.
This adventure isn't a typical heist; rather, it's a reverse heist. Instead of retrieving a valuable item, the characters are tasked with returning one to its proper place.
[image: An unearthed tomb holds the key to saving a nearby town, as adventurers are about to discover]
Adventure Background
Long ago, a giant named Xeluan was attacked by his ruthless kin and left to die. After a group of heroes found him and nursed him back to health, the grateful giant pledged his life in their service. Xeluan and his heroic friends went on to perform great deeds.
When earthquakes and volcanic eruptions threatened to destroy the heroes' homeland, Xeluan carved a citadel into a mountainside, creating a refuge for the heroes and their people. The giant harnessed earth magic to create a protective ward around the settlement, but the devastation proved unstoppable. As the mountain crumbled and volcanic rifts threatened to engulf those he loved, Xeluan lifted the sanctuary above his shoulders and made a final, desperate sacrifice. He wove his life energy into the magic protecting the citadel, allowing it to withstand the onslaught. In doing so, Xeluan sacrificed his life to save thousands.
After the calamity, the heroes looked for the giant amid the changed landscape. They found his petrified body buried beneath the citadel, still holding it aloft. When all efforts to restore him failed, the heroes built a mausoleum around Xeluan's body to honor his sacrifice. The heroes lived prosperous lives, and afterward, their bodies were interred in Xeluan's tomb. When the last hero died, the tomb was sealed, and so it remained for centuries. Xeluan's sacrifice was lost to legend, and the heroes were remembered only as fables. As the citadel eroded to ruins, the tomb below it was all but forgotten.
About a century ago, a group of explorers found the ruins of the citadel, its protective wards still intact. Around the citadel, these explorers founded the settlement of Oztocan. The settlement grew into a thriving hub of commerce. Today, that prosperity is threatened by the machinations of a criminal organization known as the Onyx Scar. The criminals have unearthed Xeluan's tomb and are mining the giant's petrified corpse, selling his remains at local markets. Additionally, their delving has weakened the citadel's wards, causing earthquakes to plague the region.
The Accursed Shard
This adventure revolves around an obsidian shard imbued with powerful magic. In the course of the adventure, the characters discover that the shard is a fragment of Xeluan's petrified heart. Only by using the shard to mend Xeluan's broken heart can they stop the earthquakes that rock Oztocan.
Shard Rumors
Some of this adventure's impact relies on the misunderstood nature of the shard of Xeluan. No one remembers Xeluan's sacrifice or knows the shard is a fragment of his petrified heart. Moreover, the shard has gained an undeservedly sinister reputation because of rumors surrounding it.
Use the Shard Rumors table to inspire stories the characters might hear about the item's history. Whether a rumor is true or false is left to your judgment.
Shard Rumors
| d4 | Rumor |
|---|---|
| 1 | The shard comes from the Abyss. The misery it causes feeds a dying, long-forgotten demon. |
| 2 | A sage who tried to learn the magical properties of the shard dropped dead without warning, and her soul became trapped in the shard. |
| 3 | A group of bandits received the shard as ransom. That night, a sickly green light bathed their camp, and all but one bandit disappeared. |
| 4 | A knight tried to destroy the shard, but the shard's curse petrified her. |
Shard Description
See the shard of Xeluan entry. Characters don't become aware of the shard's curse until it comes into play.
Adventure Hooks
Either the Golden Vault delivers the shard of Xeluan to the characters at the start of the adventure (see "Using the Golden Vault" below), or the characters come to possess the shard from one of the following individuals:
- Jamishka Zaril. Oztocan is an important outpost for a flourishing trade organization called the Couatl Company. Its owner, Jamishka (lawful good, elf veteran), recently acquired the shard and has since learned that it must be returned to the tomb from which it was taken to stop the earthquakes that threaten Oztocan. Jamishka hires the characters to bring the shard to Leandro Sedhar, a playwright in Oztocan who can help them, and promises them a suit of elven chain (or some other rare magic item of your choice) as payment for stopping the earthquakes.
- Yana Resendes. A kindly scholar named Yana (neutral good, hobgoblin mage) recently acquired the shard at a market. Her investigations revealed the shard comes from Oztocan, which is beset by earthquakes. In Yana's opinion, returning the cursed shard to the place from which it was taken is the best way to stop the earthquakes. If the characters vow to complete this quest, Yana gives them a necklace of prayer beads (or some other rare magic item of your choice) as a token of her thanks and instructs them to bring the shard to Leandro Sedhar, a playwright in Oztocan who can help them.
Using the Golden Vault
If you're using the Golden Vault as a patron, a golden key is delivered to the characters in whatever manner you deem fit. If the characters don't already have the shard of Xeluan in their possession, the golden key is tied to the shard, and both objects are delivered in a stoppered lead tube.
When the golden key is used to open the music box, the lid pops open and a soothing voice says the following:
Closing the music box causes the golden key to vanish. The shard of Xeluan and the lead tube remain.
What Really Happened
Two decades ago, an elf archivist named Rilago found crumbling journals and architectural plans in his family's ancestral library that mentioned a tomb beneath Oztocan. The town's mayor refused to allow Rilago to mount an excavation, but the mayor's daughter, Aminta, overheard their conversation and became obsessed with finding the tomb.
Years later, the mayor passed away and his son, Tavio, was elected to replace him. Aminta, who had become involved with the Onyx Scar crime syndicate, persuaded Rilago to join her search for the tomb and convinced Tavio to overlook their endeavor. Aminta and Rilago found the tomb and Xeluan's petrified remains, but no treasure. Disappointed, they tried to profit by shattering the giant's body, only to find it indestructible.
One day, as Rilago climbed on the scaffolding surrounding Xeluan, he punched the giant's stone chest in frustration. It unexpectedly cracked open, revealing a heart of obsidian. A single shard broke off from the heart, impaling and killing Rilago.
Unbeknownst to everyone involved, Rilago was descended from one of the ancient heroes Xeluan died to protect. One of Rilago's rings was a family heirloom from that ancestor. When he punched the giant with that ring, he literally and symbolically broke Xeluan's heart, weakening the magic that protects the giant's corpse.
The formerly indestructible giant began to deteriorate, allowing Aminta to collect broken-off pieces of Xeluan's body. This material, called "oztocanite," can be worked into precious gemstones or used to empower spells (see x). The sale of oztocanite has become a profitable enterprise for Aminta and has increased her status in the Onyx Scar.
Town of Oztocan
Perched on a flat between two large mountains, the town of Oztocan is surrounded by deep canyons. The town shares the warm and dry climate of the region, which has sparse vegetation and rivers that run dry most of the year.
Magic radiating from Xeluan's tomb protects the town and the surrounding region from monster attacks and destructive natural occurrences, but the wards have weakened since Xeluan's heart cracked. Earthquakes that would normally be suppressed by the magic are now being felt, raising concerns that Oztocan is no longer safe.
Arrival in Oztocan
As the characters approach the town, read the following:
The three guards eye the characters warily, but they don't stop or interfere with the party in any way. If the characters ask about Leandro Sedhar, a guard directs them to a local inn called the Giant's Skull, where Leandro is known to spend much of his time.
Tremor
As soon as the characters enter the town, whoever is carrying the shard of Xeluan feels it drawn downward, as if attracted to something underground. Simultaneously, a small tremor ripples through the town, shaking dust from buildings but otherwise causing no damage. The locals appear accustomed to the quake and continue their activities unfazed.
Leandro Sedhar
Asking for Leandro around town leads the characters to the Giant's Skull, a welcoming inn made of wood and adobe. Leandro has been staying here for the past few weeks.
Leandro (chaotic good noble) is a tabaxi—a Humanoid with feline features, including claws and a tail. He's short and stout, with lush, sand-colored fur and thin whiskers. Tiny square glasses frame his amber eyes. He was born in a distant land but has been traveling abroad for nearly twenty years. He arrived in Oztocan a few months ago and is working on a play inspired by the town's local legends. As a playwright, he often draws inspiration from history.
What Leandro Knows
Leandro welcomes the characters and takes an interest in the shard of Xeluan if they show it to him. He asks to see it more closely but refuses to touch it.
In the course of a conversation, Leandro shares the following information with the characters:
- Earthquakes. "Oztocan hasn't felt earthquakes in years, but quakes have become common in recent weeks. No damage has been done yet, but the quakes are getting worse. It's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt."
- Rilago. "Years ago, an elf archivist named Rilago claimed to have proof of a giant's tomb beneath Oztocan. Rilago tried to mount a full-scale excavation, but the mayor wouldn't allow it. Rilago stayed in Oztocan until his disappearance a few weeks ago—around the time the earthquakes began."
- Tavio. "I recently spoke to the Tavio Solana, the mayor. He grew uncomfortable when I mentioned Rilago. It was Tavio's father, the previous mayor, who refused to allow the excavation of Xeluan's tomb. I don't believe Tavio had anything to do with Rilago's disappearance, but I can't help but think Tavio knows something about it."
- Aminta. "Tavio's sister, Aminta, commands the town guard. Rumor has it she was involved with Rilago romantically."
Leandro's Secret
Leandro knows that Aminta is a member of the Onyx Scar, a criminal syndicate with operatives scattered throughout Oztocan. Leandro is fond of Tavio, the mayor, and doesn't want him to suffer blame for Oztocan's troubles or Aminta's criminal pursuits, so he keeps these facts to himself.
Leandro recently confronted Tavio, who admitted he has been covering up Aminta's criminal activities and her excavation of Xeluan's tomb. Guilt-ridden over the earthquakes, Tavio stole a map of Xeluan's tomb from Aminta's quarters and gave it to Leandro for safekeeping.
Leandro's Map
If the characters seem interested in stopping the earthquakes and solving the mystery of Rilago's disappearance, Leandro shows them the map Tavio gave him. (Give the players a copy of map 9.1.) The map is pieced together from several torn scraps and shows most of Xeluan's tomb, minus locations that hadn't been uncovered at the time the map was drawn. Leandro informs the characters that the handwriting on the map is Rilago's.
If the characters draw Leandro's attention to the words "Heroes Rest Here" on the map's upper level, Leandro shares an Oztocan fable about a band of heroes who defended their homeland with the help of a giant. When the giant died, the heroes honored their mighty companion by building a tomb around his petrified body. Leandro doesn't know what became of the heroes, nor does history remember their names, but the giant's name was Xeluan.
Casa Solana
Tavio and Aminta Solana are the children of the town's previous mayor, the late Nadario Solana. Oztocan has no aristocracy, but the Solana family is the next closest thing.
If the characters want to question Tavio Solana, Leandro informs them the mayor lives in a large two-story house with his sister. Well-tended gardens surround the house, which has six guards (veterans). Two guards stand outside the front entrance, two stand outside the back entrance, and two are inside the house within earshot of the mayor.
Tavio Solana
Tavio Solana (neutral, human noble) is the amiable and easily manipulated mayor of Oztocan. In his forties, Tavio has brown skin and sports short black hair, a scruffy beard, and simple clothes. Although he is smart, he has an aversion to conflict and is filled with self-doubt.
When the characters first arrive at the Solana residence, Aminta is not present, but Tavio is in the gardens.
- Approaching the Mayor. If the characters approach Tavio and politely request his help, he hesitates before telling them that he wants his sister to stop despoiling the tomb, as he believes her actions endanger the town. If the characters press him for information, Tavio laments that most of the town guard is under the sway of the Onyx Scar, except for two guards who have been with his family for years. Tavio then reveals the following information in the course of a whispered conversation:
- Aminta's Whereabouts. "It grieves me to say that my sister is obsessed with plundering the tomb under Oztocan. Of late, she talks of nothing else. She doesn't trust anyone, which is why she is overseeing the operation personally."
- Cause of the Earthquakes. "Unearthing the tomb has angered the gods, who send earthquakes as warnings. If we don't heed these warnings, Oztocan will be destroyed."
- Rilago's Fate. "Rilago? He was so keen to explore the tomb—he and my sister, both. Aminta told me a trap killed him—an obsidian splinter through the heart. Poor man."
- Workers Needed. "Aminta needs more workers to help remove precious stones from the tomb. I'm supposed to help her find workers who know how to keep their mouths shut."
- Secret Entrance. "Workers are led to and from the tomb through a guarded passage in the ruined citadel around which the town is built."
If the characters show Tavio the shard of Xeluan, he tells them the following:
Regardless of what the characters tell him, Tavio urges them to return the shard to its proper place in the tomb. He also asks them to beware his sister, whose allegiance to the Onyx Scar is absolute.
Infiltration Plans
The characters have several options for infiltrating the tomb.
Infiltrating as Workers
Tavio believes the characters could most easily infiltrate Aminta's operation by posing as workers, but he warns they'll be searched on the way in. His two trustworthy guards can hide the characters' gear in a chest near the workers' quarters. If the characters agree to this, Tavio concocts an excuse to visit Aminta at the tomb. He and his guards leave the party's equipment in x.
Tavio directs the characters to a spot near the citadel where workers wait to be escorted to the tomb (see "x").
Rilago's Notes
Other than the citadel's main entrance (on the lower level of map 9.1), Rilago's notes point to three other possible means of entry: two ventilation shafts exiting to the hills outside Oztocan (see "x") and a fountain connected to a nearby grotto (see "x").
[image: Map 9.1: Players' Map]
Reaching the Tomb
The following locations provide different ways to access Xeluan's tomb.
Ruined Citadel
Oztocan's most prominent landmark is the ruined citadel around which the town was built. A recently excavated tunnel leads to Xeluan's tomb and is guarded at all times, as described below:
The ten veterans guarding the tunnel entrance are loyal to Aminta and attack anyone who tries to enter the tunnel without an escort. If the characters come here in the guise of workers, five of the guards lead them to x at the start of the next shift change, which occurs whenever you deem appropriate.
Ventilation Shafts
Ventilation shafts connect Xeluan's tomb to two caves: one to the east, the other to the west. Oztocan's residents are familiar with the caves but avoid them because they're hard to reach.
The characters must climb or fly 200 feet to reach either cave, which is situated in the middle of a hillside escarpment. Any such climb requires pitons, rope, and a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check for every 100 feet climbed. On a failed check, a character falls 50 feet before they're caught by their climbing rope, taking 17 (5d6) bludgeoning damage from the fall.
Each cave is empty except for a ventilation shaft in its back wall. Both shafts are 20 feet wide, 20 feet tall, and made of smooth limestone. The east ventilation shaft leads to a corridor between areas x and x. The west ventilation shaft leads to a corridor between areas x and x.
Each ventilation shaft ends at a grate made of corroded, vertical iron bars, which the characters must bypass to enter the corridor beyond. As an action, a character can try to bend or break the rusty bars, doing so with a successful DC 17 Strength (Athletics) check and creating an opening big enough for Medium or smaller creatures to pass through.
Ironbed Grotto
Rilago's map mentions Ironbed Grotto—a name Leandro and Tavio recognize as a cavern network east of town. Near Ironbed Grotto's easily found entrance, an underground river winds through the caverns, eventually feeding the fountain in x. The cave network is devoid of town guards, but monsters might dwell here at your discretion.
Once the characters near the fountain, the caverns narrow into a small underwater channel the characters must swim through, as detailed in area X6. If the characters use this route, they enter the tomb soaking wet.
Xeluan's Tomb
Xeluan's brave companions built a tomb around the giant's remains so everyone who wanted to honor him could do so. One of these heroes—an elf monk named Itze—founded the Order of Xeluan, a sect of monks dedicated to preserving the tomb.
As the years passed, the tomb came to house the remains of Itze's other companions, who wished to join Xeluan in eternal rest. Finally, only Itze remained. In the final years of her life, she prepared to be buried with her companions. When Itze died, her remains were placed in the tomb, and the Order of Xeluan sealed the tomb and disbanded.
Tomb Features
Xeluan's tomb has the following features:
- Ceilings. Ceilings are 15 feet high, with the exception of the 40-foot-high Great Chamber (x).
- Doors. Unless otherwise specified, doors are made of iron-reinforced wood and are kept locked, requiring a successful DC 17 Dexterity check using thieves' tools or DC 17 Strength (Athletics) check to open. Guards carry keys to each door on their level unless otherwise noted.
- Light. Areas x, x, x, and x are brightly lit by torches imbued with continual flame spells. The rest of the tomb is dark. Members of the Onyx Scar use oil lamps to light their surroundings. Area descriptions assume the characters have a light source or other means of seeing in the dark.
- Walls and Floors. The tomb is carved from limestone. The walls on the upper level are engraved with scenes depicting Xeluan's life, though they've eroded considerably after years of neglect.
Tomb Locations
The following locations in Xeluan's tomb are keyed to map 9.2.
X1: Main Entrance
A 200-foot-long, excavated tunnel connects the citadel ruins to a natural cavern under Oztocan. Torches light the tunnel at 10-foot intervals. When the characters reach the cavern, read the following:
If the characters arrive here under the pretext of pretending to be workers, their armed escort (five veterans) leads them through the iron doors into area X2.
Iron Doors
The doors are held shut by two iron bars that can be removed only by creatures in area X2. If the party approaches the doors with an armed escort, one of the guards knocks on the doors six times, which signals the guards in area X2 to lift the bars and open the doors. The guards in area X2 won't open the doors unless they hear a sequence of six knocks—no more, no less. The doors have AC 17, 80 hit points, a damage threshold of 10, and immunity to poison and psychic damage.
The noise of breaking down the doors can be heard by all creatures on the tomb's lower level. These creatures remain in their respective locations but are alert for the next hour, during which time they can't be surprised.
X2: Vestibule
The following boxed text assumes the characters enter from the south. If they enter from the north, they can't see the carvings on the granite slab, the furniture behind it, or the guards:
This antechamber once welcomed pilgrims wishing to pay their respects to Xeluan, but the Onyx Scar has converted it into a guard post. The guards stationed here are four veterans.
If the characters are pretending to be workers, the guards search them for concealed armor and weapons before leading them to x. A character can try to smuggle a light weapon or smaller object past the guards. Doing so requires a successful DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. If the check fails, the guards spot the prohibited item and try to confiscate it; the character must either talk their way out of trouble with a successful DC 18 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion) check or be attacked.
Barred Door
Two iron bars seal the double door to the south. Removing an iron bar takes an action.
X3: Arrow Slit Hallway
This area once contained shrines to various gods, but the Onyx Scar renovated it, creating a hallway with arrow slits on both sides.
Arrow Slits
Four Onyx Scar thugs stand behind the western arrow slits, ready to shoot their crossbows at intruders who traverse the hallway without an Onyx Scar escort. The arrow slits give the thugs three-quarters cover.
No guards are stationed behind the eastern arrow slits.
[image: The statue of a giant braces the ceiling in Xeluan's Tomb]
X4: Great Chamber
Tremor
The first time the characters bring the shard of Xeluan into this room or onto the mezzanine (x), the ground shakes and rubble falls from the ceiling. Each creature in these areas must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage from falling debris.
Workers
Roll 1d6 + 3 to determine how many workers (commoners) are here when the characters arrive. One of the workers acts as an overseer. If the characters are pretending to be workers, the overseer gives them tasks as the other workers retire to x for some much-needed rest.
The Onyx Scar pays the workers to keep their mouths shut. Any character who questions the workers can pry the following information from them with a successful DC 10 Charisma (Intimidation) check:
- Aminta. Aminta was last seen on the upper level.
- Edino's Research. An elf mage named Edino is conducting experiments on the giant's remains. Edino's study (x) lies west of here.
- Trouble to the East. The Onyx Scar has sealed off the area to the east due to a "fungal infestation." That area contains a garden, a fountain, and a secret exit from the tomb. (The workers overheard two members of the Onyx Scar talking about x but don't know any more details.)
Raw Oztocanite
Chunks of oztocanite (the giant's magic-imbued remains) are gathered into crates around the room. A fist-sized chunk of oztocanite can be used as a spellcasting focus that grants a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls. However, if its wielder rolls a 1 on a spell attack roll while using it as a focus, the chunk shatters and the creature takes 10 (3d6) thunder damage.
Giant's Heart
The first character to inspect Xeluan's body notices a large sliver is missing from his heart—the shard of Xeluan would easily fit into it. However, the characters can't mend Xeluan's heart without the help of Rilago's ghost in x.
If the characters attempt to place the shard of Xeluan in the heart without Rilago, the shard falls out again and nothing happens. A character who observes this and succeeds on a DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana) check realizes a mystical force shattered the giant's heart and that this same force might be able to mend it.
X5: Barricaded Corridor
The Onyx Scar barricaded this corridor after the myconids in area X6 began to attack anyone who got close to them. The hall contains two barricades, each one a floor-to-ceiling stack of wooden logs. A single character can remove a barricade in 30 minutes. Multiple characters working together can reduce this time proportionately.
X6: Forgotten Garden
The room is lightly obscured by clouds of spores. The Order of Xeluan used to harvest mushrooms from the garden, which is now the home of two myconid sovereigns, four myconid adults, and a shambling mound. These creatures lurk amid the garden's vegetation. Characters who have a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 16 or higher see the creatures.
A recent effort by the Onyx Scar to clear the room for storage led to hostilities with the resident Plant creatures. The myconids and the shambling mound attack anyone who approaches the garden or emerges from the fountain (see "Fountain" below). If one or more myconids are killed, the surviving myconids use their Rapport Spores to signal their surrender. The shambling mound, however, fights until destroyed.
Fountain
A narrow underground river feeds the fountain and connects to the caverns of Ironbed Grotto (see "x"). Characters who enter the tomb via Ironbed Grotto emerge from the fountain's waterspout, which has an opening big enough for Medium or smaller creatures to crawl through.
Shrines
The shrines in the northwest, northeast, and southwest corners of the room contain statues representing gods of nature and protection.
South Corridor
The south corridor leads to area X7. Halfway down the east-to-west section of the corridor, a rusty iron grate in the south wall blocks access to a ventilation shaft (see "x").
Stairs
The stairs in the garden ascend to a trapdoor that Edino (see x) has sealed with an arcane lock spell. As an action, a character can use thieves' tools to try to bypass the magical lock, doing so with a successful DC 25 Dexterity check, or the character can try to force open the trapdoor, doing so with a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. A knock spell or similar magic also opens the trapdoor, which swings upward into x.
X7: Ruined Shrines
This chamber once housed shrines to the gods of ancient local religions, but they have all been smashed and ruined.
Secret Door
Any character who examines the west wall and succeeds on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check discovers a secret door in the middle of it. A character with the Stonecunning trait or proficiency with mason's tools has advantage on this check. The stone door is unlocked and can be pushed aside to access the eastern section of x.
X8: Living Quarters
Long ago, this area served as living quarters for the monks of the Order of Xeluan. Now it has been overtaken by the Onyx Scar for the same purpose.
X8a. North Quarters
Five Onyx Scar thugs sleep in these rooms, one per room. Each room contains a cot with an oil lamp hanging above it.
X8b. South Quarters
Each of these rooms contains a cot with an oil lamp hanging above it. All five rooms are currently unoccupied.
X9: Storage
If the characters were brought in as workers, Tavio's personal guards left a wooden chest in this area that contains any equipment the characters arranged for Tavio to smuggle in.
Stairs
The stairs ascend to x.
Warded Door
The door to area X10 is warded by an alarm spell that mentally alerts Edino if anyone touches it.
X10: Edino's Study
The hulking figure is a clay golem that doesn't wait for characters to enter the room before attacking them. It fights until destroyed.
A lawful evil, elf mage named Edino lurks in the room. Edino is the Onyx Scar's resident spellcaster and has cast greater invisibility on himself. If the characters defeat the golem, Edino hides until he can sneak to x and alert Aminta.
Edino's Experiments
Edino experiments with oztocanite in this room. As part of his experiments, Edino has bound the souls of Xeluan's companions (from x) to four fist-sized pieces of oztocanite. One of these soul fragments sits on Edino's desk. The other three fragments are in a desk drawer. Any character who examines a fragment and succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check senses there's a life force trapped inside it but has no clue how to release it (see area X22).
Treasure
A spellbook on the western bookshelf contains the spells Edino has prepared plus alarm, arcane lock, detect thoughts, dimension door, and glyph of warding. The other books in Edino's collection aren't valuable and cover such topics as geology, gemology, and mining.
X11: Mess Hall
Loud voices and laughter can be heard through the door to this room.
This area is used as a mess hall for workers and low-ranking Onyx Scar members. Four thugs sit at one table, while two veterans eat snacks at the bar. As soon as they detect intruders, the thugs and veterans draw their weapons and attack.
Brego, the dwarf bartender (lawful evil spy), is a longtime friend of Aminta's and a member of the Onyx Scar. He stands on a small crate to reach the bar's countertop. If a fight erupts, Brego ducks behind the bar and hurls flaming bottles of alcohol at intruders (treat each bottle as a flask of alchemist's fire) unless he is stopped. The bar gives Brego three-quarters cover.
X12: Worker Rest Area
Four workers (commoners) rest in the room, along with any workers who left x. These workers aren't interested in helping the characters or in making an enemy of the Onyx Scar. If the characters attempt to persuade, deceive, or otherwise recruit the workers to aid them, they can make a relevant DC 15 ability check. On a successful check, the workers won't endanger themselves, but they might share helpful intelligence or agree to stay out of the party's way.
Southeast Corridor
The southeast corridor leads to x. A little more than halfway down the corridor, a rusty iron grate in the south wall blocks access to a ventilation shaft (see "x").
X13: Reconstructed Shrine
Unlike the tomb's other shrines, which the Onyx Scar destroyed, the shrines in this room were repurposed so laborers could worship their gods and feel at peace while working underground.
Altar Deities
The deities represented on the altars are left to your judgment. Gods of work, industry, protection, and luck are particularly appropriate. If you're setting this adventure in the San Citlán region, La Catrina is the patron deity. She is a jovial death goddess represented as a skeleton dressed in expensive finery.
Secret Door
Any character who examines the east wall and succeeds on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check discovers a secret door in the middle of it. A character with the Stonecunning trait or proficiency with mason's tools has advantage on this check. The stone door is unlocked and can be pushed aside to access the western section of x. If the guards in that area haven't been dealt with already, they attack the characters on sight.
X14: History Room
The murals in this room depict Xeluan's legend (see the "x" section). If the characters already saw Xeluan in x, they recognize him in the etchings.
X15: Upper West Antechamber
The women playing cards are two doppelgangers that look exactly like Aminta. If they see three or more intruders, the doppelgangers retreat to area X19; otherwise, they stand and fight.
Door to Area X17
Only the real Aminta has a key to x. The lock on the door is trapped with a capsule that contains poisonous gas. The capsule can be found with a successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. A character who opens the door with Aminta's key safely disarms the capsule, as does a character who picks the lock and succeeds on their check by 5 or more. Otherwise, the capsule breaks when the door is opened, releasing a cloud of poisonous gas that fills a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on the door. Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 2d4 hours. A poisoned creature falls unconscious but wakes up if it takes damage. The cloud disperses a few seconds after the trap triggers.
X16: Aminta's Quarters
Treasure
A small coffer under Aminta's bed holds six zircons (50 gp each). Characters who search the wine rack find two bottles of exquisite wine (100 gp each) and three bottles of fine wine (10 gp each). The remaining bottles hold common wine.
X17: Treasury
The desk has a single drawer, inside which is a leather-bound ledger detailing how much money the Onyx Scar has invested in the tomb excavation thus far (nearly 15,000 gp).
Treasure
The four chests are unlocked, and each one contains 2,500 gp. Aminta needs this money to pay workers, bribe town guards, and keep the operation running.
X18: Mezzanine
This 15-foot-high mezzanine encircles the Great Chamber (x). A walkway made of wooden planks connects the mezzanine with the scaffolding that surrounds the petrified remains of Xeluan.
Revolving Stone Doors
Set into the mezzanine's walls are four heavy stone doors, each of which revolves on a vertical axis. The west and east doors are open, while the north and south doors are shut. These doors aren't locked but grind loudly when opened or closed, attracting the attention of anyone on the upper level or in area X4.
X19: War Room
This room was once a library chronicling the history of Xeluan and his heroic companions. The Onyx Scar now uses it for leadership meetings. Aminta Solana (neutral evil, human assassin) claims the seat at the head of the table.
Aminta is a human in her late thirties. She has brown skin and long dark hair streaked with gray. She is charming, confident, intelligent, and ruthless. In her pocket is a key to x.
Aminta is meeting with two of her distribution generals (veterans). Edino (the elf mage from x) and the two doppelgangers from x might be here as well.
If the characters show up pretending to be workers, Aminta yells at them to leave and warns that another intrusion will result in their deaths. If the characters pose an obvious threat, she calls for the doppelgangers in area X15.
Aminta fights until reduced to 10 hit points or fewer, then attempts to flee. Edino behaves similarly. The doppelgangers look and act like the real Aminta, and they do their best to cover Aminta's escape. The two veterans are confident in their combat prowess and fight to the death.
Revolving Stone Door
Set into the west wall is a heavy stone door that revolves on a vertical axis. The door is currently open and grinds loudly when opened or closed. West of the door is an L-shaped hallway leading to x.
Secret Door
Characters who examine the bookshelf in the northeast corner see scratch marks on the floor that suggest the bookshelf has been pulled away from the wall more than once. Behind this bookshelf is a secret door that leads to x. The secret door can be found by any character who examines the wall behind the bookshelf and succeeds on a DC 11 Wisdom (Perception) check. A character with the Stonecunning trait or proficiency with mason's tools has advantage on this check.
The secret door opens to reveal a dusty tunnel with another secret door at the far end. Characters inside the tunnel can find either secret door without needing to make an ability check.
X20: Food Storage
This room contains enough food and refreshment to supply the Onyx Scar and its workers for weeks. The stone door west of this room is described in x. The north door leads to area X21.
An invisible stalker floats near the ceiling and is the source of the breeze. If one or more characters disturb the supplies, the stalker attacks them. The stalker doesn't attack if the supplies are left alone.
X21: Guest Hall
This room serves as a guest hall for prominent members of the Onyx Scar and others who come to do business with Aminta. The adjoining guest rooms, which are unlocked, are outfitted with beds and basic amenities.
Secret Door
On the north wall, an unlocked secret door leads to x. The secret door can be found by any character who examines the wall and succeeds on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check. A character with the Stonecunning trait or proficiency with mason's tools has advantage on this check.
The secret door opens to reveal a dusty tunnel with another secret door at the far end of it. Characters inside the tunnel can find either secret door without needing to make an ability check.
Trapdoor
The trapdoor leading to x is secured with an arcane lock spell. As an action, a character can use thieves' tools to try to bypass the magical lock, doing so with a successful DC 25 Dexterity check, or the character can try to wrench open the trapdoor, doing so with a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. A knock spell or similar magic also opens the trapdoor.
X22: Crypt of the Watched
The stone caskets contain the earthly remains (dust and bones) of Xeluan's four companions and their loved ones.
Angry Wraiths
If the characters ignore the warning and enter the crypt, four wraiths emerge from the caskets that line the central wall. The wraiths don't respond to verbal entreaties and can't leave the crypt, but they attack anyone who sets foot inside.
Rilago's Ghost
The voice belongs to the ghost of Rilago. If the characters heed its warning and don't advance into the crypt, Rilago materializes in front of them and strikes up a conversation:
Rilago's ghost knows that only it can mend Xeluan's broken heart. If the characters present the shard of Xeluan, Rilago thanks the characters for returning the shard to Xeluan's tomb.
[image: Rilago's Ghost]
The ghost describes the events chronicled in the "x" section, then asks the characters to release the spirits of Xeluan's heroic companions. Edino trapped their spirits in chunks of oztocanite (see x), and Rilago knows how to release them: each oztocanite fragment must be brought in physical contact with the giant's petrified remains (in x). Physical contact with Xeluan reduces each oztocanite fragment to dust and frees the spirit trapped inside it. Freed spirits manifest as motes of spectral light that the petrified giant seems to absorb.
Mending Xeluan's Broken Heart
Once the spirits of Xeluan's four companions are released from their oztocanite prisons, the characters can safely enter this crypt (the wraiths don't arise from their caskets) and reconvene with Rilago's ghost. The ghost reveals that it can mend Xeluan's heart only by possessing the body of a hero and using its host to place the shard of Xeluan where it belongs: with the rest of Xeluan's heart. The ghost then asks permission to possess one of the characters, leaving it up to the characters to decide which of them should become Rilago's temporary host.
Rilago's offer to mend the giant's heart is genuine. If the characters allow it, Rilago's ghost uses Possession against a willing character, who forgoes the saving throw to resist the effect. Only then can the ghost leave the crypt and return the shard of Xeluan to its rightful place. When Rilago's host touches the shard to the giant's heart, they bind as one. As the giant's heart is made whole again, Rilago's spirit is laid to rest, and the character ceases to be possessed.
Conclusion
The story might conclude in one of the following ways, though other outcomes are possible:
- Xeluan's Heart Is Mended. If Xeluan's heart is mended, the earthquakes stop. Peace returns to Oztocan. Rilago's redemption and the characters' heroism have strengthened the protective wards around Xeluan, rendering the giant impervious to further harm. No longer able to mine oztocanite from the giant, the Onyx Scar terminates its mining operation.
- Xeluan's Heart Is Not Mended. If the characters fail to mend Xeluan's heart, the earthquakes worsen, forcing citizens of Oztocan to evacuate the town.
For the Golden Vault
If the characters are working for the Golden Vault, the organization rewards the characters once the shard of Xeluan is returned to its rightful place. They receive a rare magic item of their choice (subject to your approval) as payment. The item is delivered to the characters the next day.
What's Next?
The characters' adventures in Oztocan can continue long after Xeluan's heart is mended. The Onyx Scar might send assassins after the characters, or the syndicate's leaders might continue searching for other secrets hidden in Xeluan's tomb.