Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Stolen Treasures

Laysa hopes to recover six ancestral treasures stolen from her people. Some of these treasures are magic items, although Laysa describes them only as detailed below. The items (and their locations on map 7.3) are as follows:

• Ebony wand decorated with bones and feathers (x)
• Ring of golden stars (x)
• Sacred scimitar dedicated to serpent spirits (x)
• Set of copper tablets engraved with incantations (x)
• Crystal orb used in rituals (x)
• Blue silk sash used in ceremonies (x)

If the characters uncover any of these items from the complex and return them to Laysa, she is ecstatic. For each item returned, Laysa pays the characters five gemstones worth 500 gp apiece. She keeps the gemstones in a pouch that hangs from her belt.

Magic Items

Marian has a Lantern of Revealing sitting near her and a Gem of Seeing strapped to her belt. If asked, she lends the characters the lantern but is hesitant to lend the gem. A character can convince her to lend them the Gem of Seeing by succeeding on a DC 18 Charisma (Persuasion) check.

Marian's Secret

When the characters speak at length with Marian, they notice the mage speaks enthusiastically, but somewhat guiltily, about Acererak. If the characters remark on or ask about this, Marian admits that she once admired the archlich and even considered studying necromancy. When Marian realized the great evil involved, though, she eschewed this grim path.

Regardless of the characters' reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the x rules in this book's introduction.

[image: Map 7.2: Tomb Complex]

Corrupted Mirages

Rerak's resentment, intermingled with the magic of the rod piece, causes strange mirages to appear throughout the complex. These mirages are described where they're encountered (see x, x, x, and x).

Explosion Trap

A creature that steps inside the corridor triggers a trap. When the creature touches the corridor floor, the floor tiles depress, and a slab of stone lodged in the ceiling lowers to the ground, sealing the corridor before flooding it with magical fire. Each creature inside the closed-off corridor must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

The stone slab seals off the corridor until the next dawn, when the slab rises into its ceiling cavity and the trap resets. In the meantime, a creature can use an action to try to lift the slab, creating a passable opening with a successful DC 18 Strength (Athletics) check.

Arrow Trap

Spring-loaded arrows are hidden in the pockmarked walls. A creature that enters the trapped area marked on map 7.3 for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there triggers a fusillade of arrows and must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) piercing damage from the arrows on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. The 5-foot-wide area along the east wall is outside the trap's area and safe to stand in.

Doors' Secret

The doors at the end of the hallway are fake and can't be opened. Tiny text is scrawled on the doors' front:

This is a clue for opening the door in x.

Mouth Portal

The relief's mouth is 10 feet wide and several feet tall. Objects and creatures that enter the relief's mouth are teleported to x.

Opening the Devil's Door

The relief is the key to opening the door to x. The door can be opened in no other way.

When a creature standing within 5 feet of the relief casts a spell using a spell slot, the spell slot is expended as normal, but the spell has no effect. Instead, the magic is absorbed by the relief, filling it with a number of charges equal to the level of spell slot expended and causing the relief's eyes to glow green. Once the relief has absorbed 6 or more charges, the door opens. The door closes on its own after 10 minutes unless it is held or wedged open. When the door closes, the relief's eyes stop glowing, and opening the door again from this area requires the expenditure of more spell slots. The door can be opened from the east side like any normal door.

Tunnel to Area T8

Characters who examine the floor can see an empty basement through the 1-inch cracks between the floorboards. The basement has a tunnel exiting to the east, toward x. The easiest way to reach this tunnel is to drink from the cask marked with the red square to adopt a cloudlike form. The floorboards are otherwise immovable and immune to all damage.

If the characters have trouble solving the puzzle, any character who walks across the floorboards realizes that the only way past this room is through the thin gaps between the floorboards. If the characters still struggle, allow them to make a DC 12 Intelligence (Arcana) check to determine that the magical liquor in one or more of the casks might facilitate travel through the cracks between the floorboards.

Gemstone Puzzle

All the jewels embedded in the walls are made of worthless crystal except for one: an emerald worth 1,000 gp. A character who spends at least 1 minute examining the jewels spots the emerald with a successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Prying the emerald from its wall socket is easily done. Placing the emerald in the statue opens the door sealing off the passage to x. The door resists all other attempts to open it. Once opened, however, it ceases to be locked and can thereafter be opened and closed without the emerald.

A character who succeeds on a DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana) check recalls that emeralds are used to contain water elementals.

Whenever a creature touches one of the other jewels embedded in the walls, the statue glows and launches a blast of freezing magic down the hallway in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that area must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 33 (6d10) cold damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

Necklace Trap

The first time a creature touches the necklace, it releases a burst of deathly energy in a 5-foot-radius sphere. Each creature in that area must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 36 (8d8) necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

Once the trap has been triggered, the necklace becomes a mundane choker worth 1,200 gp.

Archways

The archways lead to the following destinations:

• North Archway. Any creature or object that enters this one-way portal is teleported to x, appearing at the southwest end of the corridor or the nearest unoccupied space.
• Northeast Archway. This archway connects to x. The tunnel leading there is made of smooth, gray stone.
• East Archway. Any creature or object that enters this one-way portal is teleported to an unoccupied space in x. If there's not enough space in that location for the creature or object, it is unable to pass through the portal and is rebuffed instead.
• Southeast Archway. This archway connects to area T7 via a hidden doorway. The tunnel beyond the archway is made of obsidian and covered in cobwebs.
• South Archway. Any creature or object that enters this one-way portal is teleported to a random unoccupied space in x.
• Southwest Archway. This archway connects to a basement under the floorboards of x via a dirt tunnel.
• West Archway. Any creature or object that enters this one-way portal is teleported to an unoccupied space in x. If there's not enough space in that location for the creature or object, it is unable to pass through the portal and is rebuffed instead.
• Northwest Archway. This archway connects to area T9. The tunnel leading there is covered with moss.

Piercing the Illusion

The mirage is linked to Abalahin's existence. If Abalahin is killed, the mirage ends, revealing the room to be a stone chamber containing Abalahin's remains.

Befriending Abalahin

Abalahin is covered with strangling vines that render the treant sluggish and distant. A Remove Curse spell or similar effect causes the blighted vines around Abalahin to dissolve. Once the vines are gone, Abalahin is grateful to the characters and, in return, suppresses the mirage, revealing the room's exits.

Bobbing Spirit Lights

There are 1d8 bobbing spirit lights (each uses the will-o'-wisp stat block and speaks Common and Sylvan) that fill the illusory glade at any given time. The spirit lights are part of the mirage, are indifferent to the characters' presence, and disappear if attacked. Any character with a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 17 or higher discerns the spirit lights whispering and overhears one of the following remarks:

[image: +3 Wand of the War Mage]

• "The next challenge is crushing—move fast!"
• "The master of this tomb longs to be free. Wouldn't you, if you were he?"
• "Steal not from the library, for it holds trouble."
• "Illusions are we, born from a mix of wanderlust and corrupted magic. Many more can you find in this forgotten place."
• "The jade serpents crave offerings."

Treasure

Close inspection of Abalahin's roots reveals an ebony wand decorated with bones and feathers (a +3 Wand of the War Mage). A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check can convince Abalahin to relinquish the wand voluntarily. The wand can also be removed without attracting Abalahin's notice by a character who succeeds on a DC 25 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. The wand is one of the treasures Laysa mentioned earlier in this chapter.

Abalahin is hostile toward creatures it catches trying to steal the wand. Once the treant has been defeated, the wand can easily be retrieved.

Altar Trap

Removing a chest or its contents from a niche causes the altar's carvings to glow with pale light. Creatures in the room have 1 minute to either return the chest and its contents to the niche or place one or more items of equal or greater value into the niche. Otherwise, one of the following effects occurs when the time expires, depending on the chest involved:

• Gold Chest. Six swarms of poisonous snakes teleport into the room. The snakes are hostile.
• Silver Chest. A burst of desiccating energy radiates from the altar in a 15-foot-radius sphere. Each creature in the area must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
• Lead Chest. A death knight teleports into the room, appearing in a random unoccupied space within 15 feet of the altar. The knight is hostile.

Fountain

The fountain's waters have healing properties. A creature that drinks from the fountain regains 21 (6d6) hit points. Once a creature has benefited from the fountain's magic, it can't do so again until the next dawn.

Observing the Night Sky

A character observing the mirage of the night sky can make a DC 14 Intelligence (Nature) check. On a success, a character realizes that, while beautiful, the night sky is wholly inaccurate, as if created by someone who has never seen the sky before. Succeeding on this check also allows the character to see through the room's illusions, revealing not only the walls and ceiling but also the box and the dais on which it sits.

Box Trap

The engraved box can't be forced open, but a character can try to unlock it using thieves' tools, doing so with a successful a DC 20 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. A Knock spell or similar magic also unlocks the box.

A character who inspects the box before opening it can make a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. On a successful check, the character notices a spring-loaded compartment beneath the box's lid. A character can use thieves' tools to try to dismantle this compartment and disable the trap, doing so with a successful DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. If the trap isn't deactivated, poisoned darts burst from the box when it's opened. Each creature within 10 feet of the box when the trap is sprung must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or take 10 (4d4) piercing damage and have the poisoned condition for 1 hour.

Treasure

Contained within the box is a delicate gold ring engraved with geometric star designs. This ring isn't magical or of any significant monetary value, but Laysa's ancestors once used it in traditional storytelling ceremonies involving astrology. This is one of the treasures Laysa mentioned earlier in this chapter.

Destroying the Stone

The triangular stone has AC 20; 100 hit points; immunity to poison and psychic damage; and immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks. When the stone is destroyed, the juggernauts in area T14 stop moving and become inanimate objects.

Treasure

Once the stone has been destroyed or both juggernauts have been defeated, characters can take the diamond, which is worth 5,000 gp. The diamond stops glowing when it leaves the room.

Gust Nozzles

Air blasts from nozzles in the walls north and south of the bridge with such force that they can't be easily stoppered. When a creature moves onto the bridge for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, or when a flying creature enters a space above the bridge or the acid pit for the first time on a turn, the creature must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is pushed by the gusts 5 feet north or south (determined randomly) and has the prone condition; if the space isn't on a surface that can support the creature, the creature falls as normal.

Appeasing the Statues

A character can use an action to try to appease the statues with a DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check; if the character makes an offering of food or treasure worth 50 gp or more, this check is made with advantage. On a successful check, the statues become friendly toward the characters and cease attacking.

The statues served as island guardians for centuries before Acererak abducted them. If informed about Laysa, the statues are thrilled to learn about her efforts.

Acererak's magic confines the statues to this room, but previous adventurers have told them about surrounding areas. The statues can share details about what's in areas T16 and T18.

Treasure

One of the central statue's swords functions as a Sword of Sharpness (scimitar) in the hands of a Humanoid. The scimitar is one of the treasures Laysa mentioned earlier in this chapter. If told about Laysa, the central statue willingly gives the sword; otherwise, the sword can be retrieved when all the statues have been defeated.

Mask Door

Upon closer inspection, the mouths of both masks are open slots, each large enough to fit a Medium or Small Humanoid's arm. The doors are locked.

Thin script engraved above the pair of masks reads as follows:

There are two ways to open the doors. A character can play one of the hallway's instruments and make a DC 20 Charisma (Performance) check; if the character doesn't have proficiency with the chosen instrument, this check is made with disadvantage. On a successful check, the doors open. On a failed check, the character takes 16 (3d10) psychic damage, and the doors remain locked.

Alternatively, a character can place one of their arms into a mask's open mouth. When each mouth has an arm in it, the mouths clamp down. If both arms belong to the same character, that character takes 28 (8d6) piercing damage; if the arms belong to different characters, each character takes 14 (4d6) piercing damage. The mouths then unclamp, and the doors unlock.

Guardians

Whenever an item is removed from this room's shelves, one of the five skeletal statues here springs to life. The statue uses the stone golem stat block but is Medium and hostile, attacking whichever creature took the item. The statue remains active until the triggering item is returned or until the statue is destroyed. Multiple statues can be active at once.

Treasure

A thorough search of the shelves' contents takes 10 minutes and yields the following items:

• Spell Scroll of Greater Restoration
• Set of engraved copper sheets that functions as a Manual of Bodily Health (one of the treasures Laysa mentioned earlier in this chapter)
• Thin, leather-bound journal written in Common that explains that the combination for the crypt doors (x) is the word "die" in Draconic

Spheres of Annihilation

In the center of each room is an uncontrolled Sphere of Annihilation. The magical darkness obscures the sphere; only creatures with truesight can detect its presence.

Piercing the Illusion

Creatures with truesight see the room for what it is: an abandoned study. A dusty desk and empty bookcase line the east wall.

Bridge Puzzle

Close inspection of the bridge's tiles reveals that each one bears an engraved symbol representing one of the eight schools of magic. A See Invisibility spell or similar effect uncovers concealed writing on the ledge before the bridge, which reads as follows:

To cross the bridge safely, creatures must step on the tiles bearing the symbol for evocation magic, which are red, or the tiles bearing the symbol for transmutation magic, which are orange. The tiles are shown on map 7.4.

When observed within the range of a Detect Magic spell or similar magic, the vortex radiates an aura of evocation and transmutation magic. A character who observes the vortex or witnesses the flight-inhibiting effect of the room's gravity well can make a DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana) check, recalling the following facts on a success:

• The spell Reverse Gravity is a transmutation spell.
• The school of transmutation magic deals with manipulating energy and matter.
• Evocation spells create powerful elemental effects.

If the players have trouble with this puzzle, reveal that the characters must step on only evocation or transmutation tiles, and tell them which colors these tiles are. When a creature steps on an incorrect tile, the tile breaks away, and both the tile and the creature are sucked into the vortex below. The creature takes 36 (8d8) force damage and is teleported to a safe, unoccupied space at the south end of the room or in the tunnel leading to x.

Secret Desk Compartment

A character who searches the desk and succeeds on a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check discovers that one of its drawers contains a locked false bottom. Rerak (see x) carries the key to this compartment, but a character with thieves' tools can use them to try to unlock the compartment, doing so with a successful DC 20 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. A Knock spell or similar magic also unlocks the compartment.

The secret compartment bears a magical trap. If the compartment is opened by any means other than using the key found on Rerak in x, magical lightning shoots from the drawer. Each creature in the room must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 26 (4d12) lightning damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A Detect Magic spell or similar effect unveils the source of this trap: a tiny rune inscribed in the drawer. The trap can be disarmed by dispelling the rune with a Dispel Magic spell (DC 17).

Treasure

Within the hidden desk compartment is a rose quartz Crystal Ball and a stack of notes written in Common. The Crystal Ball is one of the treasures Laysa mentioned earlier in this chapter.

A character who spends 10 minutes studying the notes learns about Acererak's endeavors to create empowered simulacra of himself to guard his tombs. Acererak speaks of his simulacra with disdain, viewing them as tools. He finds the fact that his simulacra can develop sentience a sadistic joke.

The notes also explain that the combination for the crypt doors (x) is the word "die" in Draconic.

Piercing the Illusion

A creature that succeeds on a DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation) check can see through the illusion, perceiving the empty room and its exits. A creature with truesight can also see through the illusion.

Upon realizing the illusion, a creature can breathe the water as easily as it breathes air. However, the creature continues to interact with the water as if it were tactile, such as swimming through it.

Knockout-Gas Trap

If the double door is opened via any other means besides the correct combination, a cloud of sweet-smelling gas is released from the skull engraving. The gas fills the widened area immediately south of the double door. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or have the unconscious condition for 2d4 + 10 minutes. An unconscious creature can repeat this saving throw each time it takes damage, ending the effect on itself on a successful save.

Appeasing Rerak

Upon creation, Rerak was magically bound to Acererak's piece of the Rod of Seven Parts; as long as the rod piece remains within the tomb, so must Rerak. Rerak resents his creator for leaving him to languish within this tomb, and though he remains loyal to Acererak, he longs to experience the world beyond the tomb's walls.

Throughout the fight, Rerak commands the characters to flee. Each time Rerak does this, each character can make a DC 19 Wisdom (Insight) check without taking an action. On a successful check, the character discerns a melancholy tone to Rerak's words, as if he loathed that he must kill them.

During combat, a character can use an action to try to convince Rerak to turn against his creator. Have that character make a DC 23 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If the character mentions the mirages or Acererak's disdain toward his creations (found in the notes in x), this check is made with advantage. On a successful check, Rerak's loyalty to Acererak is shaken. After three successful checks, Rerak halts the battle and crushes his eye sockets' gems, severing his connection to Acererak and releasing any souls trapped within.

Rerak's Secret

If the characters convince Rerak to turn against Acererak and talk with the false lich about his imprisonment in the tomb or his mistreatment at the archlich's hands, Rerak reveals how unhappy and lonely he has been for centuries. Rerak also reveals that as far back as his earliest memory, the false lich never truly wanted to fulfill Acererak's will.

Regardless of the characters' reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the x rules in this book's introduction.

False Treasures

The items on the pedestals are false re-creations of treasures that can be found throughout the complex. A creature that touches one of these false treasures must immediately succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) necrotic damage and have the stunned condition until the start of its next turn.

Keys

Rerak carries two keys: a platinum key shaped like a skeleton that unlocks the door to the crypt's vault (area T27) and a plain iron key that unlocks the secret compartment in x. Characters who defeat Rerak find the keys amid his dusty remains.

If the characters convinced Rerak to turn against his creator, Rerak provides the keys willingly.

[image: The false lich Rerak is a terrifying sight to behold]

Treasure

If a character shows the silk sash to Laysa, she identifies it as a garment given to her people that functions as a Robe of Stars. The robe is one of the treasures Laysa mentioned earlier in this chapter.

The mundane treasure within the vault includes the following:

• 479 sp, 342 gp, and 179 pp
• Jade game board with platinum playing pieces, worth 7,500 gp in total
• Set of ruby earrings worth 500 gp
• Three fire opals worth 1,000 gp each

Exit

The door in the middle of the north wall is locked and can be unlocked only by using Rerak's platinum skeleton key. The door opens into a cave tunnel that leads to the beach, about 1 mile south of the archaeologists' camp.