Tales from the Yawning Portal: Against the Giants

Giants' Bags

Many opportunities arise throughout these adventures for the characters to search miscellaneous bags and chests that belong to giants. The contents of these containers can be determined randomly by using the following table. Roll 3d4 to determine the number of different items among the contents, then roll d100 for each item and refer to the table to determine its nature. Either apply the result of the roll or use it as inspiration for something along the same lines.

Adventure Start

It is assumed that the party has safely arrived at a spot near the giants' stronghold—a small cave, well hidden, where they can hide mounts and equipment. They come to the place of the giants just at dusk. No windows are visible, nor can giants or any other creatures be seen about the place, although occasional bursts of shouting and laughter can be heard faintly from within. The characters have been warned to expect guards at the great doors to the steading, but none are visible. (If the party returns to the stronghold after an initial foray, there will be guards present on the second and subsequent visits.) The time has come to see what is afoot!

If the party decides to retire between forays against the steading, they can retreat to the relative safety of the hidden cave base camp to rest and regain spells—provided they take moderate precautions not to leave a plain trail or be followed to this sanctuary. Failure to take such basic precautions may lead to disaster! The characters are assumed to have brought sufficient supplies for several weeks' stay with them.

Random Encounters

On the upper level of the stronghold, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, roll a d6. On a roll of 1, which indicates a random encounter, consult the section below that corresponds to the characters' current location.

1. Front Gate and Foyer

Most of the floor in the entryway is bare, but various items of giant outerwear (capes, cloaks, and the like) and bags hang from the many pegs along the walls. Use the Giant's Bag Contents table to randomly determine what's inside any bag or sack the characters happen to open. Any noise the characters make could awaken the sleeping guards in the area.

1B. Tower Guard

Steps in the western end of the foyer lead up to the watch tower, where a hill giant guard is dozing, an empty flagon smelling of mead still in his hand. An iron hoop and a straight bar hang on ropes from a rafter above; striking them together will alert everyone in the upper level.

2. Subchief's Room

This place contains a scattering of furnishings: hides on the floors, a bear skin on the wall, a chair, a stool, a huge chest, and a vast bed mounted with furs.

Under the furs on the bed is a sleeping hill giant. It requires successful DC 8 Dexterity (Stealth) checks for characters to enter this room without waking her, as well as when the characters do anything else that might make enough noise to rouse her. Any loud noise wakes her immediately.

3. Dormitory

Here twelve young hill giants (use the orc statistics) are rollicking; beefy smacks, and shouts, laughter can easily be heard through the corridor outside. All these youngsters have weapons and will readily attack any intruders they spot. Noise coming from here, even shrieks and swords clashing, will be regarded by others as the kids simply having fun.

4. Barracks

Two soundly sleeping, loudly snoring hill giants occupy two of the ten beds in the barracks. Typical giant clothing hangs from the walls, and a couple of torches smolder in wall-mounted cressets. A wooden chest stands near the western wall.

5. Maids' Chamber

Three hill giant servants (use the ogre statistics) are in this room, along with the usual furnishings. Only the nasty old matron, a normal hill giant, is inclined to fight, but she dominates the others and orders them to attack if necessary. If the matron is slain, the three others cease hostilities and cooperate with the characters by describing Chief Nosnra's sanctum (areas 8, 9, and 10) and telling how to get there safely—if they are allowed to have the matron's hoard.

6. Hall of the Chief

Numerous interesting things fill this place, which is dominated by an enormous fireplace. The mantel of the fireplace holds a few items, including a shiny brass jar and a humanoid skull. The room has two tables, several chairs, and two stools, as well as rugs, hides, and skins on the floors and walls.

The tables have pottery flagons and platters on them; pots and kegs are all about the place. The walls display various trophies: heads of humanoids and other creatures, skulls, skins, and some arms and armor. Directly across from the fireplace, eight shields are mounted on the wall.

7. Chamber of the Chief's Wife

Grutha, the chief's wife, is at feast in the great hall (area 11), while her pet cave bear (use the cave bear variant with the polar bear statistics) stays in her room. The creature acts as a guard and immediately attacks any intruder, for it can smell the person at the door. The bear makes no noise until it attacks.

The room has a bed, a small table, a chair, a stool, two chests, and a coffer, plus rugs, hides, and the like. The chests contain only clothing, since she is wearing her jewelry at the banquet.

8. Chief's Chamber

The room where the chief sleeps is hung with rugs and skins, and there are hides on the floor. It holds a bed, two chairs, a small table with a tun of cheap wine on it, a chest for clothing, and other clothing hanging on pegs. A thick chain (for the chief's cave bear) is set into one wall. An old shield and some of the chief's well-used weapons lie on the floor near one of the corners.

9. Arms Room

The chief's best personal armor, shields, and weapons are stored in a chamber that can be accessed only by going through the dining room (area 10). There are also four huge fur capes among the dozen or so items in the place.

10. Small Dining Room

The room beyond the double doors is used for meals and also the council meetings of the chief. It contains a long table, a great chair, a lesser chair, and six stools. A rough map of the area drawn on a large animal skin, showing past and planned raids, hangs on the wall opposite the fireplace. Several shelves, a smaller table and chair, and some miscellaneous items (a mug, some paper scraps, an old knife, a rock paperweight) round out the furnishings. There are hides on the walls and the floor.

10A. Secret Stairs

Several scroll tubes are concealed in this room under a stack of logs in the alcove to the northwest. Someone who glances at the logs notices the bone tubes with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check, and any search of the pile reveals them.

One tube, sealed and marked with a triangle surrounding a Y, holds instructions on the next raid, written in Giant and signed Eclavdra. Also inside is a map of the floor plan of this level of the steading. All the other tubes are empty.

The steps lead to the secret area of the steading's dungeon level (areas 29 through 33).

11. Great Hall

The long corridor that leads north from area 1 is dim, shadowy, and generally deserted and ignored, for all of the feasting and fun lies beyond, in the great hall itself. A few torches burn smokily high up along either wall.

The vast room at the end of the corridor contains trestle tables, benches, stools, and the like. Here and there stand barrels and kegs of ale, beer, and mead. All of the tables are crowded with various sorts of meat, cheese, bread, and drinking containers. Singing, talking, laughing, shouting, arguing, wrestling, joking, and the like are going on, so the place is a veritable din of noise. To the north of the central firepit (where a whole ox, two sheep, and four pigs roast on huge spits) is a higher table reserved for the chief, his wife, and their guests.

12. Arsenal Room

Thirty helmets, twenty-six shields, twenty-two spears, nine clubs, and three great axes are stored in the arsenal, scattered around the place. All are giant-sized.

13. Weapons Room

Spears, shields, clubs, and axes are abundant here—no fewer than a dozen of each, all sized for giants. There are four great swords (two-handed with respect to human-sized creatures), two huge iron maces (Strength 17 required to lift), and a sheaf of 6-foot-long spears that the giants use for javelins. All the shields are leaning against the walls.

14. Main Guest Chamber

The cloud giant ambassador and the stone giant visitor (currently in the great hall, area 11) are lodged here. In all, the room holds seven beds and various small furnishings including chairs, nightstands, and chests. One torch burns at the west end of the room in a sconce; on the opposite wall is a sconce holding a large, unlit torch. Various skins and hides cover the floors. Several others hang on the walls alongside giant garments on pegs. All are worthless, as are the contents of all the chests and the bags tucked under four of the beds. Still, a valuable reward waits for those who can find it.

15. Common Room

The place contains several cots, boxes, and stools, a table, two benches, and various odds and ends.

16. Common Room

This place is almost identical to the matching room across the hall (area 15), with the addition of a few cloaks plus some hides on the floors and walls.

17. Kitchen

This is a typical giant kitchen with counters along the walls, several tables, benches, a stool or two, and various items for cooking and baking (pots, kettles, bowls, knives, forks, spoons, ladles, spits, and so forth).

Twenty-nine orc slaves (commoners) work about the place, but they run away from conflict. Five hill giant servants (use the ogre statistics) and six young ogre servants (use the orc statistics) also run, but they call loudly for help as they flee.

18. Kitchen Workroom

The storage area north of the kitchen doubles as an eating place for servants. It includes three tables, a long counter, stools, benches, and an assortment of kitchen gear. Numerous sacks, boxes, and barrels contain flour, dried meat, dried fruit, honey, and other foodstuffs. Various cheeses, smoked meats, and sausages hang from the rafters. Several casks and tuns hold a wide variety of potables—ale, beer, mead, and wine—all of giant strength. Loaves of bread, still warm from the ovens, are stacked on one table.

18A. Pantry

The room to the south contains more provisions of the same types found in the kitchen workroom (area 18), as well as stairs that lead to the dungeon level.

19. Servants' Quarters

A large common room in the extreme north end of the stronghold has various cots, tables, chairs, stools, and the like. It is cluttered with old clothing and junk. Six hill giant servants (use the ogre statistics) are here, and a few are flirting with a handsome male hill giant. The giant enters combat to show off for his admirers. He will not call for help unless his current hit points drop to less than half of his hit point maximum. On the round when this happens, he begins to shout. Some of the servants aid him if he starts to cry out, but others prefer to avoid direct conflict, perhaps taking the opportunity to hurt or disadvantage a character from the blind side.

The giant warrior is the keeper of the wolves in area 22. His whip is hanging beside the door in the southeast corner of this room; this whip need only be shown to the wolves to make them whimper, cower, and fall back.

20. Orc Slave Quarters

This hall is a messy and smelly place filled with pallets and junk. The two orc slaves (commoners) currently in this place are too injured to work (since giants' kicks break bones). All the other slaves are elsewhere, helping with the feast.

The two slaves will happily aid the characters if allowed to do so. These orcs know about the rebellion in the dungeons, and they tell the party that any orcs they see down there should be hailed as friends. Aside from that, they are familiar with only the servants' quarters (area 19), the kitchen (area 17), and the great hall (area 11).

21. Ogre Quarters

The hill giants employ ogres as scouts, messengers, servants, and the like, for the ogres are trusty flunkies as well as hard workers and fighters. In addition to those in the great hall (area 11) and the youngsters at work in the kitchen (area 17), five more ogres are in their quarters playing at knucklebones and drinking beer. Ogres are a rowdy lot; hence, noise from this place attracts no attention. Scattered on the floor of the room are nearly a dozen heaps of skins on which the ogres sleep, and a locked iron chest is tucked into one corner.

22. Open Yard

Fourteen dire wolves run free here, and they immediately attack any humanoid that enters their area. If they see the whip from area 19, however, they cower and whimper, allowing the intruders to pass unchallenged.

23. Guard Room

A huge horn rests upon the small table in the center of the room; blowing it calls the dire wolves. Eight stools and two benches line the walls, and a sheaf of eighteen spears is leaning against the wall by the door. A line of seven giant-sized shields and four clubs stands along the south wall. The guards that would normally be stationed here have gone to the celebration in the great hall.

24. Barracks Room

No one currently occupies the hill giants' barracks room. The place contains ten beds, equal numbers of chests and stools, two tables, a bench, and miscellaneous junk. A few hides decorate the floors and walls, and several broken weapons and dented helmets are strewn about.

25. Barracks Room

This room's contents are similar to those in area 24 (see above), except for the partially enclosed area to the northwest. This alcove belongs to the sergeant of the guards, who is now away feasting. There are three chests in the space, all filled with clothing and equipment for the troops and herself. Giant-sized boots are gathered in a sack that hangs from the wall.

Random Encounters

On the dungeon level, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, consult the section below that corresponds to the characters' current location.

1. Marshaling Area

At the bottom of the stairs that lead from area 18A on the upper level is a room where slaves are rounded up and sent about their tasks under guard. It is also used for the revels of the off-duty dungeon crew. A few smoky torches burn along the walls. Several benches and tables are pushed out of the way against the walls, revealing a floor of black stone, much worn by the tread of countless feet.

2. Chamber of the Keeper

A cluttered room near the marshaling area has skins on the floor, a bed, a table and chair, two wooden boxes, several crates and barrels, a chest, and odds and ends of armor, weapons, furniture, tableware, and so forth.

Residing here is the Keeper, a ghastly hill giant (use the stone giant statistics, without Stone Camouflage) that is hunchbacked and twisted, and has only one good eye. He is thoroughly wicked, strong, and remorseless. In his lair, he is never without his two pet apes (which have 30 hit points each). One is on guard to the north of the door, the other resting on a platform built above the door.

The Keeper wears a thick chain mail shirt (accounting for his AC), and he fights with a giant-sized +1 battleaxe that gives him a +10 bonus to hit. He has a reach of 15 feet with the weapon, which deals 20 (3d8 + 7) slashing damage on a hit.

3. Cell Block

In the outer guard room are two bugbears, initially located in the eastern end of the area. If not engaged immediately, they will raise an alarm by striking a large brass gong that hangs near the door. If they are prevented from doing so and are faced by an obviously superior enemy, the bugbears feign surrender and direct the characters' attention to the fourth cell (see below), where—so they say—treasure is to be had. Then, when the characters are occupied fighting the monsters that await within that cell, the bugbears will strike the alarm and flee. In addition to the alarm gong, the guard room contains a table, two stools, torches, and a ring of keys that open four of the five cell doors.

The cells, from left to right, have the following occupants:

Bugbear Complex (4-8)

Each of the five areas of the bugbear community has a few torches and braziers burning. Hides and skins decorate walls and floors, while mounds of straw and similar litter serve for bedding. Rounding out the furnishings are a few stools and small crates, boxes, and the like, a scattering of (worthless) personal belongings, and tables with scraps of food and odds and ends of eating utensils upon them.

Obedient Slave Quarters (9-11)

The three chambers south of the bugbear complex are occupied by orc slaves that are considered docile by their captors. As such, these rooms are not heavily guarded. Each door is barred on the outside with a heavy iron rod.

Each room has a few smoky torches on the walls and moldy straw strewn on the floor. Some crude benches are built into the walls.

The occupants of these rooms are subdued to the point of being nearly helpless. They will defend themselves if harmed, but they offer no resistance otherwise.

Unruly Slave Quarters (Areas 12–14)

Three enclosures to the west of the bugbear complex are used to house orc slaves that have proved themselves to be troublesome; as such, this area is under heavy scrutiny. A bugbear guard, watching for trouble, is stationed at each position marked W on the map.

Each of the barracks is secured by a barred gate through which the bugbears can keep an eye on the slaves. Each set of bars is secured by a lock and a bolt. The lock can be opened by a character who uses thieves' tools and succeeds on a DC 15 Dexterity check, or the gate can be forced open by someone who makes a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check.

The rooms are unlit, have only scanty straw, and are quite noisome with the scent of unwashed orc.

The slaves housed in these rooms are not as meek as those in the chambers to the south. If their guards are dispatched and they are freed, some of them might be willing to take up arms against the giants.

15. Torture Chamber

This large area contains various implements for torturing prisoners large and small—an iron maiden, two racks, thumbscrews, iron boots, chains, whips, branding irons, strappados, and so forth. A firepit in the center of the room lends it all a hellish light.

Huddled next to the northwest and southwest walls, two hill giants are dozing.

16. Armory and Smithy

Stacks of giant arms and armor, either newly made or in need of repair, clutter this place. The alcove north of the entrance holds several pike-sized spears, battleaxes, two-handed swords, and other weapons and armor usable only by giants. Some helmets are balanced on shields, each propped up by a warhammer or a mace.

The armorer and the smith, two fire giants, are occupied in the eastern section of the room when the characters enter. If any of the armor and weapons in the northern section are touched, they collapse with a clatter that warns the armorer and the smith of trouble. The giants immediately shout and come out fighting.

Also in the room, near the forge and bellows in the southwest corner, are five dwarves chained to the floor and forced to labor making weapons. Four of them are dwarf commoners intent only on escaping if they are released, but the fifth is a veteran who volunteers to stay with the characters as long as he receives a share of treasure equal to that of a character and a chance to fight giants.

17. Blocked Passage

The rebel orcs have piled finished and rough stones against the north side of this door to keep it closed. The wooden door is bound with moldering bands of bronze, and a heavy bronze bolt secures it. Beyond the door, the corridor that leads to the southwest is disused, dusty, and reeks disgustingly.

17A. Weird Abandoned Temple

This room is lined with faintly glowing purplish-green stone, engraved with disturbing shapes and signs that seem to stare out from the walls and columns and to shift positions when the viewer's back is turned. Touching the walls sends a chill up a character's spine, and touching a pillar brings on nausea—a creature that does so must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature becomes poisoned for 1 hour.

At the far west end of the temple is an altar of pale, yellow-gray translucent stone. It feels greasy to the touch but has no obvious effect upon those who touch it. Behind this altar is a flight of low, uneven stairs that lead to a semicircular alcove with a back wall made of a purplish-black, glassy-appearing substance. Anyone who stands before this wall and gazes upon it for 1 round sees a writhing, amorphous form of sickly mauve and violet stretching its formless members to embrace the viewer. This sight forces a character to succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or be cursed with insanity (as the symbol spell's insanity effect, but permanent until ended with remove curse, greater restoration, heal, or similar magic).

18. Buried Vestry

The visible walls of the corridor leading south bear faint traces of disgusting murals and bas-relief depictions of nasty things. After about 40 feet, the way is completely blocked by tons of stone blocks and rubble.

19. Natural Cavern

In their excavations, the ancient builders of the stronghold stumbled upon an enormous expanse of natural caves and caverns. The southern part of this network is now inhabited by seventy-eight escaped orc slaves, including two orogs, twenty-six orcs, and fifty orc commoners, for whom the place is a sanctuary.

The orcs, making ready for a rebellion against the giants, are armed with clubs, axes, daggers, and various cast-off weapons, as well as seven highly prized crossbows. They obtain food from raids, supplemented by fungus they find in a subterranean cave accessed through the sinkhole along the southwest edge of the cavern.

The rebel orcs have an uneasy truce with the nearby troglodytes (see area 20) and trade food to these creatures in exchange for water. If the orcs are approached in a non-hostile manner, they become agreeable immediately if the characters mention the possibility of fighting against bugbears or giants.

20. Troglodyte Cavern

A tribe of troglodytes dwells in the central portion of the cavern complex. The group includes twenty-three adult troglodytes and fourteen young (use the kobold statistics). Trapped as they are between the orcs in area 19 and the lizards at area 21, they are trying to make do until they can escape.

21. Lizards' Lair

A mated pair of exceptionally old and large subterranean lizards have chosen this spot to raise their young. The adults use the statistics for giant crocodiles, except that they have a climbing speed of 30 feet, no swimming speed, and darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. Their four young use the statistics for giant lizards.

These reptiles occasionally dart forth on forays to hunt and devour troglodytes or orcs, but their main hunting ground is the series of caves beneath their own, the entrance to which is through the sinkhole on the eastern edge of their lair. Those unmapped lower caverns wander off into the darkness, and are barren of treasure or anything of interest aside from many different types of fungus. The lizards feed on the fungus when more substantial fare is unavailable.

22. Partially Cleared Passage to Cistern

The well-like chamber at the end of the broad corridor is filled with a deep pool of water. This dark liquid is cool and wholesome to drink, and only a few albino tadpoles dwell in it. It is an emergency water supply fed from several spouting springs that come through holes in the wall to the west.

The pool is 14 feet deep, and at the bottom is an outlet large enough for a Medium humanoid to pass through, The opening is finished stone, obviously constructed. This outlet slants upward, providing access to the stream that flows through area 23. Anyone who travels downstream, along a route that is underwater the whole time, comes out about three miles below the stronghold in a small pond.

23. Cavern of the Carrion Crawlers

In the northern end of the cavern complex, two sinkholes lead down to an even larger area where a number of carrion crawlers lurk. They come up to this area from time to time to breed or to devour prey that the creatures have dragged here to consume at leisure. All sorts of bones, human and otherwise, are heaped and piled here and there. Seldom does any other sort of creature venture into the place, for any that do usually end up by adding their bones to the litter.

Two carrion crawlers are in the northeast finger of the cavern when the characters first enter. Every 10 minutes, there is a 30 percent chance that 1d3 more of these monsters appear from either the northern or southern sinkhole.

24. Storage Room

The chamber at the end of the corridor leading northwest contains various tools for digging and stone masonry—shovels, pickaxes, hammers, drills, chisels, baskets, and so forth, many sized for giants but some for smaller creatures.

The door to the north is locked with a huge padlock. Unlocking it requires thieves' tools and a successful DC 15 Dexterity check. The door can be forced open by someone who succeeds on a DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check.

25. Wine Cellar

A padlocked door identical to the one at area 24 blocks entry to the wine cellar. Inside, in addition to several large barrels, and various kegs, thirteen casks of exceptional wine, holding 5 gallons each, are stored here. Each of the casks has a bung seal with a blob of black wax impressed with a death's head.

The wine is black, has a slightly earthy smell, tastes like no other drink, and is of such excellence that it is difficult to stop drinking it. A character who tastes the wine must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution or Wisdom saving throw (drinker's choice) to keep from becoming intoxicated. (One quart is enough to make a giant reel, while a pint will make a human drunk.) On a failed save, the drinker becomes drunk (poisoned) for 1 hour, and must then repeat the saving throw.

On a successful save after 1 hour, a character stops drinking and is no longer drunk. On a failed save after 1 hour, the character continues to drink until falling unconscious for several hours, then awakens and remains drunk for 1 hour thereafter.

Once a character's drunken state ends, whether after 1 hour or several hours, the drinker suffers one level of exhaustion.

26. Gallery Under Clearance

The north face of this area is being cleared, and a few tools are scattered about. The place is otherwise unremarkable and empty.

27. Chamber Under Clearance

Another unlit and unremarkable place with a few tools left lying around.

28. Quarters for Stone Giant Miners

The chamber at the end of the corridor holds piles of skins, five cots, several stools, two tables, and several chests and sacks containing personal gear (including several huge, thin books on mining techniques written in Giant, with many illustrations).

Two stone giants, subordinates of the one currently in the great hall, make this room their abode. These giants are the master miners and engineers for all work in the dungeon. They are not interested in fighting for the hill giants and politely decline combat with intruders unless they are attacked or extorted.

29. False Treasure

If the characters descend the stairs in area 10A and follow the obvious route, they come to a large chamber in which a faint glint of light shines from the far western wall. A collection of coffers can be found in that area, one tipped so that some of the gems it held are strewn before it. (The gems are worthless rocks, and the unopened coffers hold more of the same.)

To the south, thick iron bars separate this room from another chamber that is shrouded in darkness.

If a character touches one of the coffers or the spilled contents, thick iron bars drop from above the entrance. This portcullis can be lifted by someone who makes a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. At the same time, the bars that block entry into the adjacent room (area 30) lift into the ceiling, allowing the creatures therein to emerge and attack.

30. Imprisoned Guards

Four manticores are confined here by Nosnra to serve as guards for his treasure. Fed kitchen garbage dumped down a chute from above, these monsters are wild with rage at their captivity and attack any creature if the opportunity presents itself. The manticores can fire their tail spikes through the gaps in the bars but cannot attack through the bars with bites or claws.

If the bars across the entrance are down, they can be lifted by someone who makes a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. A separate check is required for each 10-foot section.

31. Minor Treasure Room

The place that the manticores are supposed to guard is the storage area for the chief's excess coinage.

32. Secret Room

This hideaway is equipped with spy-holes for the chief so he can look out upon areas 1 or 29. (There are also smaller spy-holes at about 5 feet off the ground that the hill giant has never noticed.)

Two levers are set in the west wall. These control the thick portcullises that can block off entry to area 29 or release the manticores in area 30.

33. Chief's Secret Treasure Room

Beyond the secret door to this room waits a hidden pit, 30 feet deep, with a trapdoor cover that snaps shut once someone has fallen through it. A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check can discern the edge of the trapdoor. In addition, someone who prods a pit lid forces the pit open with a successful DC 10 Strength check. The lid can be wedged shut with a piton or similar shim. A character doing so must succeed on a DC 15 Strength check to place the shim, or else the shim fails if someone treads on the pit. A creature that falls in takes falling damage plus 11 (2d10) piercing damage from the spikes. The spikes are also poisoned, so someone injured by them must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Start

It is assumed that the party has either followed the map obtained at the steading or used the magical chain found there to arrive in the neighborhood of the glacial rift. If they spend a few hours searching the area, they discover a hidden cave in which they can safely hide themselves, their mounts, equipment, and even treasure if they take minimum precautions with respect to keeping their hiding place secret (do not lead pursuers to the spot, allow a light to show, make undue noise there, etc.). In any event, the same search will also reveal the rift.

The party can travel on the surface of the glacier-mountain (over the caves shown) to circumvent the whole rift if they so desire. Ropes can be lowered to gain the ledges below—a distance of some 50 to 150 feet depending on position. Every hour the party moves along the icy terrain, randomly choose one character to make a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the check fails, the character slips and falls. If the check fails by 5 or more, the character goes over the edge of the rift.

The whole place is windy and very cold. Visibility atop the rift is about 150 feet. The wind at the bottom of the rift is worse still, and visibility there is only 30 feet. The floor of the rift is a maze of snow and ice hillocks and mounds, with peaks of ice and rock thrusting up here and there like fangs. All movement in the rift is hampered by this 3. Due to wind force and eddying currents, attempts at levitation or flying cause movement in a random direction equal to half the distance traveled (use a d8 to determine direction: 1 north, 2 northeast, 3 east, and so on).

If the party is on the floor of the rift and fleeing from pursuing monsters, the blizzard-like conditions in this area makes the characters hard to catch. The characters have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks to evade pursuit. At the same time, winter wolves are considered to have passive Perception scores 4 higher than normal when they are pursuing the characters.

The map the characters have shows only the location of the rift and the entrance to the place, and they have no other idea as to which path they should follow. Other than a few traces of giant footprints, the ice and wind-driven snow hide all traces of who or what uses the ledges to gain access to the caves. The characters must learn for themselves what lies in store.

If the adventurers decide to fall back between forays into the rift, they can use their hidden cave as a base if they have seen to its provisioning.

Tokens of Free Passage

In a few locations within the rift, the characters can find and obtain special items that enable them to move through the stronghold without raising an alarm. If one member of a group displays a token of free passage, its privilege extends to the entire group. Those individuals are safe from attacks by the giants or the giants' allies as long as they take no aggressive action.

Random Encounters

On the upper level of the frost giant stronghold, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, roll a d12. On a roll of 1, which indicates a random encounter, choose from the following possibilities:

• 1d4 + 1 yetis
• One frost giant
• 1d4 + 1 ogres
• 1d6 + 1 winter wolves

1. Guardroom Ice Cavern

One frost giant keeps watch here at all times to prevent any unauthorized use of the long passage that leads south. If combat goes against the giant, he flees through this passage to give a warning of intruders to the guards at areas 9 and 10.

The room contains piles of hides, a giant sack, and a pile of rocks and ice chunks for hurling. The guard certainly hurls missiles if not immediately forced into melee. His treasure is at area 6. Note that the giant in area 2 will hear sounds of combat here and rush to aid his comrade (and vice versa).

2. Guardroom Ice Cave

One frost giant waits here on standby guard. On the floor of the cave are a pile of sleeping skins and two bags. The guard has an ample supply of rocks and ice blocks at hand for hurling at opponents.

If the giant hears noise from area 1, he rushes there to help; conversely, if attacked, he will raise a cry to bring the guard from area 1 to aid him.

3. Empty Ice Cave

If loud noise is made in the unoccupied chamber south of the guardroom, the ceiling of ice and icicles in this area partially collapses. A creature beneath the ceiling must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Softer noises or visual clues could give warning of the unstable ice.

4. Small Ice Cave

This bone-strewn cave is the den of two adult winter wolves and their three half-grown pups (use the dire wolf statistics). If the young are harmed, the parents fight recklessly, risking opportunity attacks and ganging up to kill quickly.

5. Ice Caverns

In a chamber southeast of the wolves' lair, the giants have preserved eight corpses of mutilated victims, standing them upright and enclosing them in blocks of transparent ice. These exhibits are meant to frighten off any trespassers. The bodies are obviously hacked and very dead, not merely frozen whole.

6. Provisions

Various pieces of frozen meat, some bales of cloth, piles of hides, and a few odd boxes and barrels of foodstuffs are stashed in an out-of-the-way cave.

7. Cavern

This natural rock cavern is covered with ice formations, so unless the characters pay particular attention, only the lack of light will tip them off that they are no longer surrounded by solid ice. On the floor near the southeastern end of the place are four big heaps of furry hides (or more, if ogres from the steading survived and relocated here).

The hides cover four sleeping ogres, who are awaiting an audience with the jarl. Any noise will awaken them, and they will give the alarm to their fellows in area 8 as well as attempting to give the party the slip and warn the giants too.

8. South Cavern

Ogre mercenaries that serve Jarl Grugnur dwell here. There are currently six ogres here. All fight fiercely when ordered to do so, or when they come upon intruders. Also in the place are five chests, twelve sacks, and three barrels, as well as many piles of the usual skins and hides used for beds.

Cavern Guard Post (Areas 9 and 10)

Giants encountered here are always alert (not sleeping). To determine the position of each guard when the characters first enter, roll a d4 twice. Use one of the results as the location of the guard in area 9. Add 4 to the other roll and use it as the location of the guard in area 10. These guards will cooperate and attempt to set up ambushes.

11. Cave of Bones

This place is the disposal area for unwanted bodies and similar refuse tossed into the place by the various giants in the upper area. If the characters decide to look through the refuse, it takes 10 minutes to search a 10-foot-square area, and the toads from area 12 come into the place to look for food if they hear any noise. Even if the characters are quiet, there is a cumulative 15 percent chance for every 10 minutes that passes that the toads will come looking for food.

12. Lower Bone Cave

This place has many bones and skulls littering it and serves as the lair of five giant ice toads (see appendix B). These creatures feed on the leavings in area 11. The toads rest on small ledges from 8 to 12 feet above the cave floor, and they will hop down and savagely attack anything that touches it.

13. Ice Cavern

This place is the home of six yetis that act as scouts for the frost giants. The yeti leader at the location marked A has a frost brand greatsword. It fights with this weapon instead of its claws, dealing 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) cold damage on a hit, and carving great chunks out of those held fast by his Chilling Gaze.

14. Misty Ice Cave

Escaping hot air from somewhere beneath filters into this place through numerous cracks in the floor, making it full of damp, cold fog. The cracks are about 1 foot wide, not enough to hamper movement. The fog renders the area heavily obscured, and the floor is very slippery.

A creature hit by an attack when on the slippery ice or that moves more than half its speed over the ice must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. If a character's save fails by 5 or more, the character drops an object in hand, which falls into one of the cracks. The object tumbles somewhere into the bowels of the earth, forever lost.

15. Ice Cave

This is the den of two large snow leopards (use the tiger statistics), which serve as pets of the yetis in area 13. These creatures lair on a ledge above the floor of the cave, and they try to take intruders by surprise.

Barracks Complex (Areas 16–19)

This section of the stronghold houses a group of frost giants readying for a raid. Each of the separate areas has piles of hides for sleeping, a table and stools, and a few extra giant-sized weapons around. Each giant here has 2d4 rocks to hurl.

20. Ice Storage Cave

This place is full of large and small pieces of frozen meat. Some of the chunks resemble parts of human and other humanoid bodies.

21. Ice Cavern

A warning carved into the icy floor in Giant with Dwarvish runes clearly shows that this place is to be shunned. Ten feet beyond where the passage turns to the southwest, the walls appear to be crusted with rough old ivory—in fact, this is an infestation of brown mold (see "Dungeon Hazards" in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide). The floor is dotted with mounds of what look like old snow with the ends of bones sticking out of them. These are the bony remains of various creatures, covered by the growth.

22. Guard Ice Cave

Two frost giants are stationed here; one watches at the cave mouth, while the other naps on a pile of hides. Eight throwing rocks are within reach in the cave.

23. Guard Cave

Two frost giants rest here. One giant watches down each passage while the other sleeps on a heap of skins. Each has a weapon and four rocks to hurl.

24. Visitors' Cave

Two hill giants and their three hill giant servants (use the ogre statistics) are camped here awaiting a summons from the jarl. The cave has five heaps of hides and five giant-sized bags.

25. Visitors' Cave

Two stone giants have come to the rift to pay their respects to the jarl and to see how well the frost giants are doing in their war on humankind. They will report their observations to other stone giants if they get the opportunity. They fight only if attacked. Each has a stone greatclub and three rocks handy.

26. Special Visitors' Cave

This location is warmed somewhat by volcanic activity and lit by dim reddish light. In it are a fire giant messenger and his fire giant servant (as a hill giant with fire immunity) who have delivered their message and are about to depart for their own land. There are two piles of furs and skins in the place, a rude table, a bench, three stools, a large brazier, and two sacks.

27. Winter Wolf Pack

Along the western side of the rift floor is the lair of a pack of five winter wolves. The wolves are encouraged to roam the place by the frost giants.

28. Snow-Covered Dome of Ice

This hollowed-out ice formation has been created by the creature that lairs inside—a remorhaz that has recently moved into the rift. A number of charred skeletons are strewn around its icy den.

29. White Puddings

The two spots marked with numbers along the east edge of the rift floor are the locations of a pair of Huge white puddings. A white pudding uses the statistics for a black pudding, and its coloration gives it perfect camouflage in these icy conditions. While a white pudding remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a mound of snow.

Random Encounters

On the lower level of the frost giant stronghold, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, roll a d10. On a roll of 1, which indicates a random encounter, choose from the following possibilities:

• One frost giant, a guard making the rounds
• 1d4 + 1 ogres on an errand for the jarl
• One frost giant and two ogres servants out for a walk
• If the giants know intruders are about, one frost giant and three winter wolves search for those intruders.

1. Grand Entry Cavern

The entrance to the lower level is obviously meant to be impressive, as its walls bear carvings of battle and hunting scenes in bas-relief. These carved scenes show giants slaying enemies, hunting dragons and other fearsome monsters, and engaged in similar activities. Torches burn at intervals along the length of the cavern.

Survivors of attacks on the level above will most likely make a stand in the grand entry cavern if they are still in relatively good shape.

2. Vaulted Cavern

The noise of moving the boulder that closes the place off from the rest of the complex awakens a mated pair of young white dragons that are kept here, along with a great pile of treasure. If they have enough warning, both the dragons hide and wait to see who enters.

The only intruders that the dragons do not object to are frost giants coming to feed them or bearing treasure to add to the dragons' hoard. Unless the male dragon is hiding, he sits proudly atop a heap of valuable items in the north end of the cavern. The female rests nearby on a ledge that projects from the western wall of the chamber (see area 2A).

2A. Dragon's Ledge

A ledge about 30 feet above the floor of the cavern has a cave-like nook at the back. On the elevated area, the female dragon hides and watches. If roused to action, she joins the battle as stealthily as she can.

3. Abandoned Storage Cave

The place contains some remnants of carcasses, a few broken boxes with spoiled provisions, some split sacks containing moldering grain, casks of wine turned to vinegar, and ale barrels that have been stove in.

If any of the denizens from above fled to this level and are injured or were being hotly pursued, they attempt to avoid notice by hiding in this storeroom.

4. Deserted Cavern

Broken items of giant-sized furniture litter this place—the remnants of tables, benches, stools, and chairs. Soot-covered wall cressets hold burned-out torches. Three skeletons of frost giants are plainly visible near the center of the cavern.

4A. Stone Rubble

A frost giant skeleton rests in the far south end of the chamber, half-buried under stone rubble. It appears that the giant was trying to flee from the cave-in of a passage to the south (behind the rubble) but failed to make it and was killed by falling rocks.

4B. Hungry and Hopping

Six giant ice toads (see appendix B) lair in the northern extreme of this chamber. They are very hungry and seek to kill and devour any creatures that enter the cavern, forcing themselves to wait only long enough for intruders to be distracted by the glint of gold and lure of bone in the center of the main cavern.

5. Entrance Cavern

Hidden by a camouflaged boulder from prying eyes, this chamber is the actual entrance to the jarl's complex. It is always guarded by a frost giant equipped with a weapons and throwing stones, plus a giant's bag. If a conflict erupts, the giant tries to sound a great iron horn suspended from the ceiling on iron chains in the center of the cavern. The giant has to use an action to blow the horn.

6. Emissaries' Cavern

An oni and its four ogre servants are staying here. They have had an audience with the jarl, and after a special wassail to be held on the morrow they will depart for home with a treaty scroll. This scroll is signed (with a special mark) by the jarl and offers the Lord of the Oni 25,000 gp worth of gems, plus whatever loot the lord's minions garner, if they will join the war on humankind.

7. Guest Cavern

A torch-lit place adorned with tapestries, this comfortable chamber has skins and hides covering the floor and a bed heaped with soft pelts. Furnishings include a chest, a bag, a table, two chairs, and a small cabinet. The cloud giant who is the current guest has just agreed to join the jarl as his chief henchman.

8. Prison Cavern

Torches light the place dimly. A female storm giant is chained on the north wall with huge manacles at her wrists and ankles. A fur rug in the middle of the place bears a table and two chairs. Upon the table are heaps of food on six golden platters and in three silver bowls. Two huge flagons of ivory set with gems have been filled with fine wine; the scents from the food and the wine fill the chamber.

These refreshments have been set out to tantalize the giant into submitting to the jarl's will and becoming his leman, but she has not been won over—quite the opposite is true. Being subjected to this durance vile makes her a friend to any who rescue her, although she despises evil. Thus, the presence of evil characters in the party will cause her to fulfill her obligation as quickly as possible and depart. By contrast, she might strike up a long-term friendship with a party of good-aligned characters.

9. Servants' Quarters Cavern

Eight ogres dwell here. Each has its own pile of hides and rags for sleeping, a wooden box for goods, a peg to hang outer garments, and a bag. The ogres serve the jarl willingly and fight fiercely.

10. Antecavern

A frost giant guard is alert inside this oblong cavern at all times. He has a greataxe and one throwing rock. He shouts to alert the guards to the south if intruders enter the area.

11. Great Cavern of the Jarl

This is where all the special functions and feasts hosted by the jarl take place. Various tables and benches line the east and west walls, pushed out of the way for now until they are needed. Caged fire beetles dimly illuminate the place, which appears to be deserted.

12. Audience Alcove and Throne Dais

A stone outcrop partially encloses an area in the south of the jarl's cavern. A enormous ivory and bone throne, decorated with skulls, silver, and gems, rests near the south wall of this alcove. Hung behind it, spread out against the rough wall, is a white dragon hide. Before the throne on the floor is the skin of a huge polar bear. Three ivory stools are off to one side of the throne; these are the seats of the jarl's lieutenants.

13. Guard Area

One frost giant guard stationed in the far southern end of this chamber looks east and west at varying times. He has two rocks. If an intruder is seen, he will sound a large gong on the north wall (possibly with a thrown rock).

14. Kitchen

Two fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) and four ogres labor in the kitchen, roasting a horse over the natural firepit and otherwise readying the jarl's food. Various foodstuffs, furniture, and utensils are scattered about in all the nooks that lead away from the firepit. Amid heaps of foodstuffs to the north are four human captives (commoners) in a cage, being saved for a feast. They can warn the characters about what lies in areas 15, 16, and 17.

15. Weapons Cave

Herein are stored sixty-two throwing rocks, eight shields, fifteen spears, five clubs, and five helmets, all of frost giant size. The cave also holds six battleaxes (which the giants can hurl) and a well-made chain shirt of giant size.

16. Common Quarters Caverns

Currently one frost giant, two frost giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to cold damage), and three young frost giants (use the ogre statistics, plus immunity to cold damage) call this place home. If the frost giant is killed, the others weepily surrender, not fighting thereafter unless they are attacked.

In addition to the giants, the room holds piles of skins and hides, a few stools, eleven large boxes, five chests, and many pegs (currently with fourteen capes and nine bags hanging from them).

17. Kennel Cave

The jarl's hunting pack—four huge polar bears with 65 hit points each—lairs here.

Caverns of the Jarls (areas 18-19)

Two large caverns provide quarters for the frost giant gentry. Each inhabitant has a cot, a chest, a chair or a stool, and several hides and skins for bedding. The whole area is lit by torches and a few fire beetles, with many pegs holding cloaks, capes, and bags along the walls. Three huge lockers, three hampers, and six wardrobes make up the rest of the furnishings. The giants, some of them warriors and some of them servants, are willing to negotiate to protect the young, which they fight to the death to protect or avenge.

20. Jarl's Antecavern and Trophy Hall

Jarl Grugnur receives visitors in a chamber on the southern edge of the lower level. The eastern half of the cavern is a private audience hall, with pelts and skins on the walls and floor, a table, and four chairs. Some worthless scrolls are on the table, and on the walls of this area hang two normal shields, a heavy crossbow, two normal two-handed swords, and a pair of huge ivory tusks of no value. A few worthless furs and tapestries hang on the short sections of wall to the north. Both halves of the hall are illuminated by caged fire beetles. To the east a set of well-worn steps, each about 3 feet high, lead up to an exit screened by thick, leathery hides.

The western spur of the chamber is the jarl's trophy hall. Here, the jarl often sits in a comfortable chair and ruminates over past glories and future plans; the floor in this area has actual rugs. The walls of the alcove are adorned with a host of trophies, including a cave bear pelt of enormous size, a wyvern skin, the rack from a giant stag, the mandibles and claws of an umber hulk, giant scorpion claws, the horn of a woolly rhinoceros, a pair of mammoth tusks, a pair of mastodon tusks, a giant boar head, a griffon skin, the wings of a giant eagle, a giant lynx pelt, and the jaws from a subterranean lizard,

21. Jarl Grugnur's Private Cavern

The chief of the frost giants and his lady reside in a secluded chamber on the southeast edge of the stronghold's lower level.

Hidden Escape Tunnel

Behind the wall hangings in the northeast end of the chamber is a natural passage about a mile long that turns south and exits at the base of the glacier, out of sight of anyone near the rift. Someone who looks around the room can notice the opening in the wall through gaps in the hangings with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check. Someone who handles the hangings in this area or looks behind them finds the opening without needing a check.

The alcove to the northwest just inside the tunnel has a thick iron bar protruding from the wall about 10 feet off the ground. To a casting of detect magic, the bar has a strong aura of conjuration. Noticing the bar without specifically looking up for it requires a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception check). If the bar is pushed downward, that act transports whatever or whoever is standing on the floor of the alcove to a spot some 50 feet distant from the entrance to Snurre's hall (the Hall of the Fire Giant King).

An apparently empty ledge high in the southwest wall is the resting place of an iron box that is invisible, has no magical aura, and is locked (requiring a successful DC 20 Dexterity check to open). Those who investigate the ledge can find the box only if they blunder into it or they are able to see invisible objects. The chest becomes visible when opened. It has a glyph of warding (save DC 17) inside the lid. The glyph triggers if the chest is opened without its key. If triggered, the glyph casts cloudkill (spell save DC 17) centered on itself. The box's contents are meant to be taken to the fire giants' stronghold and given as gifts to the powers behind the uprising.

Adventure Start

The party might have arrived before the huge obsidian valves that bar entrance to the hall by means of the transporter found in the lair of the frost giant jarl. In this case, they will have to search to find a place of safety to rest and recover their strength between forays into the hall.

If the group journeyed hence by some other method, they will have noted such a place of refuge about two miles distant from Snurre's sooty palace. This hidden site should initially prove to be safe from detection as long as the characters leave no plain trail to it and as long as they are not followed to it. There is a limit, though, to how far they can push their luck. Each time they venture forth from their refuge to raid the fire giant hall, there is a 10 percent cumulative chance that the hidey-hole will be found by the giants (a 10 percent chance after the first raid, 20 percent following the second, and so forth).

A nearby ravine leads directly from the safe cave to the spiny, broken heap of slag indicated on the characters' map as the site of the hall. A wide, well-trod path winds its way across the barren land up to two great slabs of black stone—the obsidian portals that give access to Snurre's hall. Each valve is 29 feet tall, 10 feet wide, and no less than 3 feet thick. Normal human strength cannot even budge them; for Medium or smaller creatures to open them requires at least two characters working together to make a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. On the second and any successive raids upon the place, there is a 50 percent likelihood that the gates will be ajar, and some guard will be watching for attackers in order to alert the hall.

The plain around the stronghold is most evil and drab in appearance. The sky is gray and filled with sooty clouds. A distant volcano can be seen, and far to the south a glowing river of molten lava moves sluggishly down a slope and out of sight. The air is hot and smells of heated rock and metal. The ground is covered with cinders and sharp rocks that make walking cross-country difficult (and noisy). The area is lit by night with dim red light, both from flaming gases that shoot forth out of the bowels of the earth and from the glow of molten rock.

The pile of lava, slag, and jutting black rock that houses the Hall of Snurre is a steeply rising hill about 300 feet high at its summit. It is difficult to scale. Smoking vents are everywhere, and some of these holes spurt out jets of flame from time to time. The characters will never locate any entrance into the place other than by the main gate, and there is a 33 percent chance that any member investigating a vent hole will be struck by flaming gases for 7 (2d6) fire damage.

Random Encounters

On the entrance level of the fire giant stronghold, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, roll a d12. On a roll of 1, which indicates a random encounter, choose from the following possibilities:

• One fire giant guard
• One fire giant with 12 gnoll workers
• Four young fire giants (use the ogre statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) with two hell hounds
• One cloud giant, one frost giant, or one stone giant, a visitor looking around

1. Entry Passage

The floor here is polished obsidian, and great wall hangings can be seen by the characters as soon as they enter. The tapestries displayed between the torches are rendered in bloody colors and show victorious fire giants. The door guard is hidden in the alcove (area 1A).

1A. Alcove

The tapestry that covers the opening to this guard post is of loose weave, allowing the fire giant guard in the dark recess to clearly see whoever enters the corridor. If intruders are spotted, he sounds his great bronze horn to warn the hall (see area 2). The giant has four rocks for throwing.

If the characters are returning after severely defeating the giants, a ballista (from the arsenal at 10A) will be set up at the far end of the hallway in anticipation of a second raid. This weapon is triggered by a nearly invisible tripwire set 30 feet inside the entrance, and someone must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check to find the wire. Once the wire is found, it can be avoided, but cutting it sets off the ballista. The ballista fires an array of bolts down the length of the hall, so each creature in it is subjected to one attack at a +6 bonus to hit, dealing 11 (2d10) piercing damage on a hit.

2. Grand Hall

Two ettins are always in the hall that runs east–west off the entry passage, using their four heads to watch in all directions. If the guard at the gate sounds the alarm, these creatures move to hold the mouth of the entryway until help arrives from area 3, area 18, or areas 21–25.

The floor of the grand hall is of reddish-black, highly polished stone. The pillars are carved into the shapes of dwarves, each straining to hold up the figure atop it. Light flickers weirdly from burning gases that spurt from the walls. One of the tapestries on the south wall screens the entrance to the royal apartment (areas 4–7).

3. Throne Room and Audience Chamber

Two steps of white-veined black marble lead up to an area where the floor is of deep red polished stone, Between two pillars of polished obsidian sits a massive throne made of jet and black-and-white-banded onyx, the whole inlaid with various large gems. The walls are inlaid with colored stone laid out to show various scenes of victory by King Snurre over his foes. On the wall directly behind the throne is depicted the flaming skull which is Snurre's own device, flanked by fire giants with clubs over their shoulders. The northern one of these inlaid giant-images conceals a secret door hidden in the wall; a cresset to the left of it, when pulled down, causes the portal to swing inward.

King Snurre is seated on the black seat of the throne. Over 19 feet tall, he is hugely muscled and extraordinarily ugly—very broad, with bandy legs. His teeth are tusk-like and protruding, his side whiskers and beard bright orange and full. Snurre is clad in black iron plate armor, and he wields a huge greatsword that displays flames running along its blade when it is swung. The king wears a necklace of coral skulls and has a broad girdle set with small gems. Around his shoulders is a cape made of white dragon hide.

When he sits on the throne, he wears his jewel-studded crown of iron. Otherwise the crown is in his bag and his bald pate covered by an iron helmet.

King Snurre is a fire giant with the following changes, which increase his challenge rating to 11 (7,200 XP):

• He has 187 (15d12 + 90) hit points.
• He has resistance to cold damage.
• He can speak Common and Giant.
• His greatsword deals an extra 7 (2d6) fire damage on a hit.

Two fire giants guard the king at all times; their positions are indicated by the circled numbers 1 and 2. Each giant has a carved stone to throw. Crouching at positions 3 and 4 are a pair of hell hounds, the king's constant companions.

4. Chamber of the Queen's Servants

The walls of the grand hall are covered with hide rugs and wall hangings, one of which screens the entrance to the queen's private chamber.

Inside this entryway are torches on the walls, and six chairs and three small tables along the hallway. At the end of the route westward is a chamber that holds four beds, four chests, two wardrobes, and four stools.

Three fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) are present here, one waiting outside the queen's chamber and two more in the end chamber. Each fights fiercely to protect the queen, with those at the end chamber rushing to aid the other. The servants wield longswords that deal 18 (3d8 + 5) slashing damage on a hit.

5. Queen's Chamber

The floors and walls in the chamber north of the servants' quarters are covered with rich rugs and tapestries of no great value. The place is well lit by torches and a large brazier, and this makes it very hot indeed (just right for fire giants!).

Queen Frupy, who resides here, is a veritable harridan, a sly and cunning fire giant. She is, if anything, uglier than Snurre. Topped by a huge mass of yellow-orange hair that looks like a fright wig, Queen Frupy's face is a mass of jowls and wrinkles set in the middle of a very large head that seems to grow directly out of her shoulders without the benefit of any neck. Her body is lumpy and gross, her skin covered with bristles the color of her hair. Her little pig eyes, however, are bright, suggesting intelligence unusual in a giant.

Her chamber contains a giant-sized bed covered with furs, a table and two chairs, a stool, and a dressing table with a huge mirror of seeing (weighing 100 pounds) that functions similarly to a gem of seeing, so that even unseen creatures and objects are reflected in it. (Frupy uses it if she suspects invisible creatures are about.) Also here are an ebony and mother-of-pearl wardrobe (filled with her clothing), an iron strongbox, a chest of twelve drawers, four small coffers of copper on the table, and two bronze caskets. Each bronze casket has a poisonous snake inside, which must be dealt with before the contents can be accessed (see "Treasure").

The queen wears garments of black dragon hide set with iron studs (giving her an AC equivalent to that of plate armor). She wields an iron scepter as a weapon (treat as a maul with the same statistics as a fire giant's greatsword, except that it deals bludgeoning damage). Out of sight under the bed are Frupy's two pets, a pair of giant weasels that obey her every command.

If intruders enter the place, Queen Frupy will command them to kneel in her august presence and state their business, so that she may fairly address their humble requests. Any who are so foolish as to do so will be sorry, as Frupy will call forth her pets and herself strike at the intruder who appears to be the most powerful. (A kneeling character is considered to be prone in this situation.) She will then bellow for her servants to come to her aid.

6. Chamber of the King's Guards

Beyond the doors that lead north, along the east and west walls of the short hallway, are a total of twelve throwing rocks lined up ready for use. Two fire giants, off-duty guards, relax in the adjoining chamber. Each has a carved throwing rock and a greatsword nearby.

A table and two benches sit in the center of the room. The table has several platters and flagons on it, along with a small cask of wine and a wheel of cheese covered with mold. Two wooden lockers are tucked under the table.

7. King Snurre's Private Quarters

The great iron doors to this place bear the blazon of the flaming skull also found in the throne room. The doors open into an outer hall where six hell hounds roam.

The walls in the outer hall are set with torches in cressets and draped with crude tapestries. Six chairs and two benches lie along the walls, along with three tables—each with a keg of ale, beer, or mead and drinking vessels of horn or leather at hand. A small step up on either side of a natural stone column of reddish stone marks the end of the outer hall and the entry to the king's private chamber.

The bedchamber of the king is lit in an eerie manner by flaming jets of gas and a huge iron brazier full of glowing coals. The room contains a huge, fur-covered bed, a table, a small throne of ebony and three lesser chairs, a tall cabinet, four trunks, an iron chest at the foot of the bed, and a bench near the entry. The floor is covered with pelts, and the walls are hung with tapestries and trophies: two shields, an axe, four swords, a flail, and a hammer. All these items are sized for giants. A ledge on the south wall 9 feet above the floor holds thirty-nine skulls (human, dwarf, elf, giant, and other various and sundry creatures), eight helmets and helms, and five sets of armor (chain mail, splint, or plate as you desire).

The containers in the room hold the personal gear of King Snurre, consisting of clothing, footwear, and bits of armor. Arrayed on the table are several small items including pieces of carved ivory, animal teeth, bits of wood, and stones. Together these items, the king believes, can be made to serve as a divination device.

8. Hydra Cave

A hydra lurks in either the north or the south alcove of this area if it hears any creature coming up the steps toward its lair. The creature is very vicious, as the king beats it and torments it for fun, and it hopes to take revenge on virtually any other living thing.

9. King Snurre's Treasure Cave

The chamber to the west of the hydra's lair is filled with stuff, much of which is valueless or nearly so—a pile of 2,800 cp, three mounds of 4d4 worthless tapestries and furs, several dozen bales of valueless cloth, scores of various vessels and containers, and urns and vases of pewter and brass and bronze, plus ten urns of silver (worth 50 gp each) and two of gold (worth 500 gp each).

A chimney in the southeastern part of the cave leads up through the roof.

10. Arsenal Complex

A fire giant is always at the ready inside the entrance to this storage area. If summoned or attacked, the guard fetches the chimera from area 11. The guard has three throwing rocks at hand. Torches provide light, and a bench offers a place to sit down.

11. Chimera Pen

The fire giants keep a chimera here. This creature attacks intruders on sight, since it hates everyone except fire giants.

12. Advisor's Quarters

A corridor heads westward from the pillared hallway. The corridor and the chamber beyond contain furnishings of various sizes. The smallest of them are a table, a plush chair with a footstool, and a couch. Other items are more or less human-sized, including a long table, two benches, two chairs, and twelve chests. Finally, there are four huge chairs, a table, and a footstool sized for giants. Rugs on the floor, tapestries on the walls, and bronze cressets with flaming torches complete the decor.

Eight gnolls servants/bodyguards are lounging in this area, awaiting orders. They obey only the commands of King Snurre, Queen Frupy, or the Advisor—who is is a grossly fat but very strong and quite fast renegade mountain dwarf named Obmi (see area 12A).

12A. Obmi's Study

The door to this study appears to be locked from the outside, suggesting that the place is vacant (Obmi is very clever). He can see through the door by means of a peephole, and if he sees intruders who are battling the gnolls and winning he will yell for them to help him, claiming to be a victim and a prisoner of the giants.

In fact, at first sight, this chamber appears to be a cell rather than a truly comfortable study. Obmi is at work in the room, poring over several scrolls atop his plain wooden desk, searching for solutions for the problems besetting his King. The dwarf has been Snurre's advisor for twenty-five years, having spent five years as a slave before that. A case against the north wall contains various maps, scrolls, and papers, all written in Giant or Dwarvish.

If he finds himself at a disadvantage, Obmi (use the assassin statistics, with 16 Strength and Charisma and the ability to make three melee attacks using Multiattack) tells the characters that the giants have held him—a prince of his people—captive for ten years, trying to trick information out of him or to subvert his loyalty to dwarfdom when torture failed. He further claims that several humans in black robes aid the giants in their questioning. Finally, he asks to be allowed his armor and weapons in order to gain sweet revenge upon Snurre, and he claims to know exactly where the king will be.

While in his study, Obmi has only a studded leather jacket and a long knife (the equivalent of a shortsword, coated with one dose of the poison noted in the assassin statistics). If worst comes to worst, he bolts for room 12B and bars the door once he is inside.

12B. Obmi's Bedchamber

In a larger chamber adjacent to his study, the renegade dwarf has a soft bed, a small stand, a table and chair, a cabinet, two iron chests, and an arming rack. His dwarven plate and +1 shield (AC 20, or AC 23 with his shield) are laid on the rack near the door, and his +1 battleaxe and +1 warhammer (each deals 1d8 + 4 damage in Obmi's hands) hang on the wall above. Underneath the armor are his gauntlets of ogre power (giving him an additional +1 to attack and damage rolls with melee weapons). His ring of invisibility is on a small stand near his bed.

Upon entering the room Obmi will palm the ring, don the armor, put on the gauntlets, thong the axe to his belt, heft the hammer, and grab the shield. At the first good opportunity he will attack the party and raise a cry for help, but he will do so only when he knows help will be able to come. He knows a bit about the drow, and he will bargain with that information, or anything else, to save his life. If offered no quarter, he will fight to the very end.

13. Council Room

The king and his council meet in this large chamber, but the place is now empty. A long table near the center of the room has five great chairs around it. Hides cover parts of the polished black floor. Rude tapestries adorn the walls and are also hung across the openings around the perimeter of the room. There are several torches in the place, but none are lit.

13A. West Alcove

Within the alcove to the west is a table with a flat chest on it, locked and full of stones (weighing 200 pounds). If the chest is lifted or moved, a pressure plate underneath it shifts, causing six poisoned arrows to shoot out from the north wall. Each arrow has a range of 100 feet and a +11 bonus to hit; it deals 5 (1d10) piercing damage on a hit, and the target struck must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one). The arrows strike the south wall and shatter if they miss interposing creatures.

The holes for the arrows are sealed with a thin crust of mortar. A character who examines the wall spots them with a successful DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check. Someone who looks carefully at the base of the chest can spot the pressure plate with a successful DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check. The holes can be blocked by hammering iron pitons or similar objects into them. The pressure plate can be wedged in place with the use of at least two such objects. In either case, a character attempting to disarm the trap must succeed on a DC 10 Strength check. On a failed check, the trap operates anyway when the attempt to block it fails.

13B. South Alcove

Four extra chairs for the council table are stored in the alcove to the south, and a huge cabinet holds eighty-three scrolls and three hundred sixty-seven pieces of paper or parchment.

Most of the cabinet's contents are worthless and of no import, but the sixty-eighth scroll tube contains instructions for King Snurre, telling him to gather forces of hill, stone, frost, and fire giants, along with whatever strength he can raise in ogres, oni, cloud giants, and any other creatures for an all-out attack on humankind. The message further promises powerful help from the dark elves. It is signed "Eclavdra."

The papers are copies of messages to and replies from various types of giants and giant-kin. One, in Dwarvish, reads, "The fire giant of stone left and left elbow."

14. Door Guard

A fire giant stands guard at all times outside the doors to the council chambers.

15. Kitchen

Benches, counters, a table, several stools, three cupboards, various bins and barrels, and miscellaneous kitchen gear are scattered around the kitchen. The area to the west is a natural firepit, where flaming gases are used to roast whole creatures.

The place is typically occupied by busy workers: a fire giant matron, two fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage), and seven gnolls thralls. The servants and the gnolls fight only under the direction of the matron, fleeing or surrendering if she falls.

16. Storage Chamber

The room near the kitchen is jammed full of barrels of ale and mead, boxes, sacks, hampers, and wheels of cheese. Overhead hang smoked sides of meat, smoked fish, strings of sausages, and the like. There are smaller boxes of salt, and a screw-top copper container filled with spices (wonderfully hot peppers). Tuns of wine and casks of beer are kept handy near the door. The most common item, heaps of hard bread, is everywhere.

17. Guest Chamber

The doors to this room are closed on the outside by a great bar, because King Snurre does not fully trust his guest, a rakshasa, that resides herein. Naturally, most adventurers will assume a creature thus imprisoned might become a trusted associate—an attitude the rakshasa will encourage by taking some benign form (such as that of a fellow adventurer, a kindred soul, who has been deprived of equipment) to gain the characters' confidence before it attacks.

Inside are four beds, a table and two chairs, two stools, and other furnishings including three chests and a footstool (in reality a treasure chest). Rugs and tapestries adorn the floor and walls, and flaming torches in sconces provide light.

18. Barracks

Currently two fire giants and two fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) are housed here. They typically lounge around sharpening weapons and telling lies about their amatory prowess.

The room has eight cots, four stools, and four hampers. Each cot is heaped with skins. The hampers contain the giants' personal gear. Pegs on the walls hold their bags and cloaks. There are five clubs, three axes, six spears, and eight shields scattered about, mostly along the north wall. The place is lit by flaming gas jets.

19. Servants' Quarters

This room currently holds four fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage). The others that live here are presently at work in the kitchen (area 15). This torch-lit chamber has seven cots, various pieces of smaller furniture, and pegs on the walls that hold garments and the like.

20. Communal Quarters

Three fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) care for six young fire giants (use the ogre statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) in this vast chamber. All have weapons (kids' toys for the youngsters) and will fight with enthusiasm.

There are three beds and six cots along the walls. In each wing is a bench, three chairs, six stools, a long table, and various boxes, hampers, and cupboards.

21. Entry Hall of the Kennels

Four hell hounds scuffle and play just inside the doors. They are part of the pack at area 22 and will flee thereto by the safest route if threatened.

22. Kennel Chamber

Four hell hounds are here. If those in area 21 are attacked and yelp for assistance, these beasts split into pairs and station themselves in the north and south ends of the open area, from where they spring to the aid of the others. The hell hounds love their handler at area 23 and come to his rescue if he whistles.

The kennel contains no treasure, other than the hounds' prized bones (of interest only to other hell hounds).

23. Kennel Keeper's Quarters

Herein dwell the Keeper and his mate, two fire giants who will rush to the aid of their charges if they hear a commotion outside. Their chamber contains a large bed, a table, two chairs, a bench, a chest, a cabinet, three barrels (beer, mead, and ale), two buckets (his and hers), and a crate (holding dried meat for the hounds). Burning torches light the place. Pegs on the walls hold wearing apparel and the giants' bags. A shield, a battleaxe, and a javelin lean against the wall to the north. Hides and pelts decorate the floor and walls, and a number of skins and furs are heaped on the bed and the bench.

24. Guardpost

A fire giant is on duty here at all times with four throwing rocks nearby. An iron cylinder hanging near the north wall is a gong to be sounded if intruders are seen.

25. Barracks

Two fire giant warriors and two fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage) are lounging among the cots, chests, and other furniture that fill this place. Several pegs here and there hold cloaks, capes, shields, and four giants' bags. There are only worthless giant-sized items in the chests and other containers.

One warrior has a greatsword, and the other one fights with a human-sized +2 greataxe. The weapon gives the giant a +13 bonus to hit and deals 22 (3d8 + 9) slashing damage. The room also has twenty-one throwing rocks, which all the giants will use if the opportunity presents itself.

Random Encounters

On the second level of the fire giant stronghold, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, roll a d12. On a roll of 1, which indicates a random encounter, choose from the following possibilities:

• One fire giant and one fire giant servant (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage)
• One troll escorting one hill giant, one stone giant, or one frost giant
• One troll with ten gnolls
• One drow mage with five wererats

1. Hall of the Dead

This dark hall contains twenty huge sarcophagi standing upright against the walls, and four even larger ones lying on the floor in the center of the chamber. Those four are made of stone, and the northern two have likeness of fire giants carved into their lids, while the southern two are blank.

Of the sarcophagi that line the walls, half are made of stone, six are crafted from bronze, two are brass, and two are iron. All of them bear likenesses of fire giant kings and queens.

Examination will reveal that each of these burial vaults contains only the remains of a king or a queen, moldering garments, a few corroded weapons, and similar worthless items (wererat grave robbers stole anything of value long ago).

2. Ettin Guards' Chamber

Four ettins reside here when they are not on duty near the main entrance to the grand hall (map 6.5, area 2). Two are asleep, their weapons within easy reach, while the other two quite alert. The chamber has a rude table, a bench, two stools, and four cots. Torches light the place. Nine pegs on the walls hold clothing and six giants' bags.

3. Visitors' Chamber

The doors to the north open into a room that houses two stone giants who have been working for King Snurre as engineers. The room, lit by torches, contains four cots, a large table, other furnishings, and pegs that hold clothing and two giants' bags. Eleven throwing rocks are scattered on the floor. A haunch of meat rests on the table along with mugs and platters of tin.

4. Storage Room

This room, illuminated by four torches set in wall cressets, has been cleaned out to serve as quarters for four hill giants. If they survived or escaped the assault on the steading, Chief Nosnra and his wife are among the occupants.

If only ordinary hill giants are here, the room contains nothing more than four heaps of skins for bedding, a table, and two chests.

If Nosnra and Grutha are present, the place has two cots, two heaps of skins, a trunk, a chain, a table, and two chests.

5. Community Quarters

In this large area are housed a fire giant warrior, three fire giant servants (use the hill giant statistics, plus immunity to fire damage), and four young fire giants (use the ogre statistics, plus immunity to fire damage). All are armed with various weapons, even the young, and there are twenty throwing rocks in the chamber.

The place holds several beds, two large cabinets, two tables, miscellaneous smaller furniture, a crate, and three small boxes. Lit torches are set along on the walls, as well as pegs that hold clothing and four giants' bags. Bits of gear, eating utensils, and odds and ends are scattered about the place too.

6. Smithy

As the characters approach the natural cavern on the west side of the stronghold, they hear an intermittent hammering sound, made by a metallic object, coming from the other side of the opening. The hall outside this place is tinged a bloody red by the light emitted from the lava pool and the flaming gas jets that are found inside.

A knotty-limbed, burly fire giant, King Snurre's weaponsmith, is working here. He uses the molten lava to heat the items he works. With him are two trolls that serve as his assistants. Currently in his forge, in various stages of completion, are three giant-sized swords, some pieces of armor, and several axe and spear heads.

7. Torture Chamber

At the midpoint of the east–west corridor, steps lead down to the south, ending at a cluttered room with a 50-foot-high ceiling (which enables even very tall victims to be suspended on chains well above the floor). The stairway and the chamber are lit by torches, but the area is lightly obscured due to steam and murk.

The gloomy chamber contains a large (giant-sized) rack, a smaller (human-sized) one, an iron maiden (at the location marked A), and a stone-rimmed well (at the location marked B). Various chains, bats, irons, whips, ropes, wires, and the like are strewn about the place. A table, two chairs, a stool, and a large barrel of ale complete the picture.

Two fire giants, the King's Torturer and the Royal Headsman, are crouched in the center of the room, playing knucklebones on the floor with stakes of jewelry gems scattered in front of them. The headsman has his gigantic +2 greataxe at hand—a weapon that can be employed only by a creature at least as strong and massive as he is. He has a +13 bonus to hit with the weapon, and it deals 28 (3d12 + 9) slashing damage on a hit. His friend the torturer has a greatsword nearby.

If the torturer is engaged in melee, he grapples his opponent and attempts to carry or throw the character into the iron maiden and slam it shut, dealing 55 (10d10) piercing damage to the unlucky victim. A victim can't open the iron maiden from within.

If the headsman is closely pressed, he grapples his opponent and tosses the character headfirst down the well. Anyone flung into the well falls 90 feet into an underground pool of water.

After the torturer uses the iron maiden, he begins tossing as many characters as possible down the well until the room is cleared of opponents. The headsman, by contrast, uses his axe after tossing one victim down the well.

Cell Complex

A number of small chambers are clustered around the center of this level of the stronghold. These rooms, labeled 1C through 14C, are cells meant to hold prisoners. In addition, the guardroom for the cell complex is marked with a G. Each cell has a thick wooden door with a high, barred window (about 15 feet up, too high for the average human to peek through without some climbing). Inside these rooms are rings set in the walls, chains attached to the rings, buckets, heaps of straw, and precious little else.

The occupants and other contents of the cells and the guardroom are as follows.

8. Secret Room

This place, pitch dark, is the lair of seven wererats. If the encounter is going badly for them, survivors flee down the northeast passageway to area 15 on the third level (map 6.7) and warn the drow.

Aside from stolen cloaks piled here and there like nests, the chief features in this secret room are three heavy iron chests. All are locked, and each key is on a different wererat. The chests are also trapped with poison needles (see "Sample Traps" in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide). The poison on these needles is oil of taggit (see "Sample Poisons" in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master's Guide).

The third chest the characters investigate is additionally trapped so that two poisoned darts fire upward from the inside when the lid is opened. Each dart has a range of 30 feet and a +8 bonus to hit. It deals 2 (1d4) piercing damage on a hit and subjects its victim to exposure to drow poison (see "Sample Poisons" in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master's Guide). The mechanism for this trap is inside the chest, thus it cannot be detected from the outside. A character who succeeds on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check while beginning to open the lid notices that it opens stiffly, with resistance from the inside. Those near the chest have a brief moment of warning before the lid springs fully open and the darts shoot forth; anyone who ducks down or lunges away from the chest can avoid being hit.

Temple of the Eye (Areas 9–11)

Illusionary walls (represented by dashed lines on the map) screen the temple area from discovery. Making physical contact with these images reveals their illusory nature. Someone who examines either image without touching it can determine that it is an illusion by making a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. On a successful check, the illusions fade for that character, becoming transparent enough to see through.

Beyond the illusions, the whole place is illuminated by a strange, swirling light that seems to be part of the very air. Eddies of luminosity drift here and there, causing the whole scene to be difficult to perceive. Distances and dimensions are tricky to determine in the shifting light of rusty purple motes and lavender rays. Globs of mauve and violet seem to seep and slide around. The ceiling of the temple is out of visual range, 50 feet high at its lowest point and well over 65 feet where it vaults upward in the center.

12. Drow Clerics' Area

The entrance to this chamber is protected by a wall of tentacles (not depicted on the map). It appears as rough brown-purple stone. This magic wall is like two ropers combined into one creature, giving it two bite attacks and eight tendrils that it can employ every round (though the tendrils have a range of only 20 feet). The wall has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons. A casting of dispel magic deals the wall 50 damage, and disintegrate deals it 100 damage.

Drow can freely pass through the wall. If any other creature touches it, the wall attacks and emits a hissing and champing noise to alert the occupants of the chamber beyond it. If its current hit points drop to half its hit point maximum or lower, the wall casts darkness on itself (affecting only the outside of the wall, not its inner surface).

The chamber south of the wall is lit by the same everburning black candles that are found in the temple (area 11), so the illumination is eerie and dim. The walls are hung with purple cloth, and the floor is thickly carpeted in black. The inner room to the east is screened off from the outer room by a brocaded hanging of black with orange, gold, lilac, and mauve.

13. Guest Chamber

If Jarl Grugnur and his lady, Estia, survived the assault on the glacial rift, they will be sequestered in this chamber, accompanied by a frost giant that serves as a door guard. If the jarl and his lady are not present, the room contains two frost giants, recently arrived messengers.

The place is dimly lit by a few torches. It holds eight cots, a long table, two benches, two chairs, three stools, two buckets, six chests, a large box, and a cabinet. Hides on the floors and pelts on the cots help to make this place more comfortable and familiar for frost giant guests. Pegs hold clothing and three giants' bags.

14. Guest Chamber

Two cloud giants, a noble and his traveling companion, have come to hear from King Snurre why his warfare will profit them and make them more powerful. The giants have two lions serving as watch-animals at the door. The noble has a chain mail coat (AC 16), and both have their great morningstars and throwing rocks nearby.

The chamber contains two very large beds, two wardrobes, two small tables, a large table, two chairs, two stools, two buckets, a cabinet, a bench, and four chests. The place is illuminated by torchlight, and there are tapestries on the walls, rugs and hides on the floor, and furs on the beds.

15. Trolls' Chamber

Six troll guards nest in this room. Two of them keep watch in the northern passage (within the area marked by Xs) and two others do the same in the southern passage. The other two monsters are in the central chamber. Dozens of various polearms, morningstars, and swords lie heaped in the middle of the room. (These are used to arm the gnolls currently penned in areas 16 and 17.)

16. Thrall Pen

Sixteen unarmed gnolls dwell here. Each has nothing but a heap of straw and a hide coverlet. Although these creatures are slaves of the giants, they identify with their masters' cause and will never help humans for any reason—in fact, they will gladly take up arms to fight intruders if given the chance.

17. Thrall Pen

Ten unarmed gnolls dwell here. They will behave in all respects like their kin in area 16.

Random Encounters

On the third level of the fire giant stronghold, the chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly basis. At the end of each hour, roll a d12. On a roll of 1, which indicates a random encounter, choose from the following possibilities:

• Two wandering trolls
• A fire giant patrolling with two hell hounds
• One drow elite warrior and three drow that use stealth to remain undetected and avoid confrontation

1. Cavern

This cavern is fairly colorful, having many reddish, pale yellow, and shining blue-gray rock formations that glisten in the light of torches or lanterns. Three ropers dwell here and conceal themselves among the natural stalagmite formations. They wait until prey approaches the center of the area before attacking.

2. Glowing Cave

This small offshoot of the larger cavern that runs north and south is filled with luminous plant growth and contains twelve hungry giant fire beetles. Some will be on the ceiling and drop upon any creatures entering their lair. These creatures served as a source of gifts for the frost giants in the past. They have no treasure.

3. Cavern End

The long cavern hooks eastward and terminates. Near the dead-end wall is an abandoned subterranean lizard's nest that contains several dozen shiny rocks (but none of value).

4. Cave

Four hell hounds are on guard here, immediately giving voice if they detect any intruders.

5. Cavern

Two fire giants are stationed here as a reserve on Snurre's order (acting on instructions from the drow, of course). One rests in the northeast end while the other keeps watch, patrolling between the spots marked G. Each has several rocks nearby for throwing. They have a typical giant's bag apiece, and the room also has piles of hides for bedding, a hamper or two, and some personal gear.

In a crisis situation, this is where King Snurre, Queen Frupy, Obmi, and other important fire giants and guests will retreat to, along with whatever valuables they can salvage.

6. Great Vaulted Cavern

In the middle of this place is a permanent illusion of a huge red dragon dozing atop a mound of treasure (appearing like area 7, below). What is actually in that spot is a gorgon that obeys drow and has been instructed to ignore the presence of such creatures as hell hounds and fire giants and trolls. If any other kind of creature speaks to it from a distance in Common or Draconic, it has been instructed to stand quietly but then to breathe upon intruders as soon as they are within range. The illusion disappears once the gorgon attacks.

7. Treasure Trove Cave

This room is actually an extradimensional space, ten times larger than shown on the map. Anyone entering will notice first the enormous pile of treasure that fills the central part of the area and second the adult red dragon sleeping upon it.

Brazzemal is the dragon's name. If the boulder across the entrance is moved, requiring the strength of a fire giant, he will certainly awaken. He will not immediately reveal that he is aware of intruders, preferring to wait until they are at the edge of his breath weapon's range before addressing them.

Brazzemal is persuasive and deceitful, and his real desire will be to slay and devour the party and take their treasures to add to his already considerable hoard. Few adventurers ever face a dragon of his size in battle and live to tell about it; make sure that players and characters are well aware that they face a truly terrifying foe. Characters who are suitably flattering and ransom themselves by handing over the bulk of their wealth and magic items may be allowed to withdraw.

If the dragon is cornered and in desperate straits, he will swear to anything in order to save his life, but his information is not to be trusted (although he will word things in such a way as to avoid uttering any magically detectable lie).

8. Cave

This is a drow guardroom, currently housing three drow elite warriors and six drow. All are clothed in black capes, shod with soft boots of black hide, and wear hoods over their helmets. Two sentries are on duty at all times near the entrance. The room holds only bedrolls and some miscellaneous gear.

9. Wide Passage

Twelve piercers make their home in a cul de sac, where they patiently await unwary prey. The floor of the place is strewn with shattered skulls and bones.

10. Singing Chamber

This small place has excellent acoustics, and the drops of water falling into the pool along the southern portion of the wall make a faint, pleasant musical sound that can be heard for 120 feet in silence (or from 60 feet away in normal conditions). The pool's edge is lined by a huge patch of gray ooze, and another lies along a ledge 11 feet high in the southeast of the place.

Stinking Caverns (Areas 11-13)

The large spaces along the southern side of this level are inhabited by troll servants of King Snurre. The stink that comes from these creatures, their nests, and the offal and remnants of rotted meat they leave about is noticeable from as far away as the head of the corridor that leads southwest from near area 9.

These caverns are very dangerous. If the trolls hear suspicious noises, or if any of them are assaulted, they split up to use the multiple passages in these areas to surprise and surround their attackers, leaping out of the darkness to tear them to shreds. An assault from nine trolls is nothing to sneeze at, even for a high-level party.

14. Narrow Cavern

The corridor leading north from the troll dens is striated with layers of blue and green and greenish-blue deposits and streaks. Patches of green slime (see "Dungeon Hazards" in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide) grow on the roof of the passage and in the pool of water at its end. The slime on the ceiling covers an area about 40 feet wide just south of the pool. The pool holds thirty-six agates (worth 10 gp each), which sparkle in the presence of any light-source. Any creature that reaches in to get these stones is 50 percent likely to blunder into the slime in the pool, which blends in with the greenish rock.

15. Gray Cavern

This dark-walled place is the drow strong point, and a drow watches each of the six routes that meet at this cavern. Four more drow are stationed in the chamber itself, for a total of ten.

In addition, the eastern alcove serves as a field headquarters for two drow elite warriors (the female is in command) and a drow mage. Near this alcove, a narrow passage leads east and then south, ending at a set of rough-hewn stairs that ascend to the second level, emerging near area 8 on map 6.6.

16. Small Cavern

The arrows to the north of the entry passage on the map mark the location of a trap. A character must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check to spot a tripwire made of fine spider silk that is stretched across the entrance of the cavern. If an intruder steps on the wire, the act triggers a torrent of small iron spheres, each ¼ inch in diameter, that pour out of hidden containers on the eastern wall. These little spheres coat the floor in the final 40 feet of the passageway and the first 20 feet of the cavern itself.

If they fall, the iron balls make a loud noise, and any creature moving across the affected area must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. A creature that moves through the area at half speed doesn't need to make the saving throw.

There are nine female drow in the place. Five are normal drow, and three others are drow elite warriors. These eight guards protect Nedylene, a drow priestess of Lolth who is opposed to anything Eclavdra attempts. She is here to check up on her rival, and she will be suspicious of any creature entering her current abode. On the other hand, she will not be averse to seeing her rival's plans go wrong, so negotiation is a possibility.

Nedylene wields a +2 whip and carries a staff of swarming insects in addition to her other gear.

17. Jeweled Cavern

If light strikes the walls of this cavern, mineral deposits make the place glitter and sparkle as if it were sown with jewels. This breathtakingly beautiful place is the current lair of two mind flayers who have decided to see what is going on with their friendly enemies, the drow. They plan to observe events, and the dark elves ignore them.

18. Small Cavern

The cave at the end of the passage to the northeast is another drow guardroom, with occupants and contents identical to area 8: three drow elite warriors and six drow, two of which are on duty at all times near the entrance.

19. Salamander Central

The huge cavern in the northwest corner of this level is lit up in reddish light from the bubbling, steaming river of molten lava that flows through the place. The cavern stinks of sulfur and heated rock, and the temperature here is very hot, although a strong draft cools it somewhat. The roof is no less than 60 feet high.

A rope bridge is suspended about 15 feet above the lava river, offering safe access to the northern chamber (area 20). The ropes have been specially treated to keep them from bursting into flame. A creature that comes within 10 feet of the lava for the first time on a turn, or starts its turn within 10 feet of the lava, takes 11 (2d10) fire damage. A creature that enters or touches the lava for the first time on a turn, or starts its turn in the lava, takes 33 (6d10) fire damage.

Amid this vaporous inferno in the area to the southeast are two salamanders enjoying a change of clime. The flames and smoke render the area lightly obscured. The salamanders are totally indifferent with respect to whom they attack, although they know and respect the drow.

20. Council Chamber and Drow HQ

The secluded section of the cavern to the north serves as the meeting place and council chamber for Eclavdra and her minions. If things have gone badly for the drow and Eclavdra has escaped, she will be here with any surviving followers.

A constant watch is kept on the east entry to the cavern—if intruders come, the dark elves will know of it. If threatened by powerful characters, the drow will cut the rope bridge, then flee to safety back along the passage to the north-northwest (at the location marked A), descending deep into the Underdark.

Currently in this place (at the least) are six drow and four drow elite warriors, one of which is a female commander who has 110 hit points. The commander has a +2 shortsword, a +1 hand crossbow, and three magic bolts, as follows:

• A bolt of holding, which casts hold person on a target hit with the bolt, as well as up to two other targets within 30 feet of that target
• A bolt of blinding, which casts blindness/deafness to blind on a target hit with the bolt, as well as up to two other targets within 30 feet of that target
• A bolt of vapors, which casts stinking cloud centered on the point it hits

Each of these effects has a spell save DC of 15 and a duration of 1 minute.

Pursuing the Drow

A pair of hoists—derrick-like machines with straps strong enough to hold cargo of any sort (even giants!)—are tucked into nooks on either side of the river of lava. If any of the dark elves escape and the characters want to follow them, they can use these hoists to transport their possessions over the lava. It will take several hours to set the devices into working position, but thereafter characters will be able to move supplies and pack animals across the river and begin their pursuit of the drow.

If the characters choose not to chase the dark elves, assume that the drow collapse the tunnel behind them, sealing off the Underdark and ending the threat of coordinated giant attacks thereafter. In any case, surviving characters are to be congratulated on the success of their mission.