Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

Giant Enclave General Features

Locations built, repurposed, or furnished by giants have a grand scale. A giant's castle contains massive thrones, dining tables that could serve as the foundation for a human's home, and cutlery a human army could use as weapons. As a general rule, multiply each dimension of a space or object by three to estimate its giant-sized version, or by four if it's made by cloud or storm giants. Giant-sized locations have the following features:

• Ceilings. Comfortable ceilings for giants must exceed 20 feet at minimum. Most ceilings are 30 feet high, with luxurious or impressive construction pushing their height to 60 feet or more.
• Doors. Door handles are typically 10 to 12 feet off the floor (or half the height of the giants who built them). Large or smaller creatures must reach the handle to unlatch it. Opening a door typically requires one character to operate the latch and another to wrestle the door open. While the handle is unlatched, a creature must use an action to push or pull on the heavy door, opening it with a successful DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check. (Alternatively, you can set the DC to 6 + the Strength modifier of the giants who built the door.) On a failed check, the door doesn't open.
• Oversized Furnishing and Objects. Furnishings and other items in a location made for Huge giants are typically three times the size of human-sized equivalents and roughly twenty-seven times the weight. Medium and smaller creatures can clamber over or scuttle under giant-sized furniture, treating it as difficult terrain. Such creatures can move normally beneath particularly hefty pieces of giant furniture, such as a 12-foot-tall dining table.
• Stairs. Giant-made steps range from 1½ to 3 feet high. Large and smaller creatures treat such staircases as 3. Ladders made for giants, with rungs spaced 3 feet apart, can also be treated as 3 for creatures smaller than Huge.

Annam's Cradle Features

The Radiant Sun fluctuates in size and intensity to approximate a cycle of day and night. During the day, the rift sheds bright light that counts as sunlight, raising the temperature in the jungle to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the light fades to dim light and doesn't count as sunlight. The cavern's ceiling is a quarter of a mile high and has the appearance of a strangely rough-looking blue sky. The microclimate within the cavern features cloudy and rainy weather in addition to sunshine.

Map 4.1 depicts a region of Annam's Cradle with the following features:

• Jungle. Nourished by the light of the Radiant Sun and persistent rainfall, this part of the cavern is covered in lush rain forest. The jungle is rife with natural hazards, including razorvine (explained in the Dungeon Master's Guide).
• Ruins. Ancient structures built by giants lie in ruins, partially swallowed by the verdant jungle.
• Villages. Settlements populated by giants, duergar, deep gnomes, and other creatures dot the cavern.
• Waterfall. A mighty river plummets down a cliff face beneath the Radiant Sun. The waterfall gleams with inner light infused by the sun, and the water flows throughout the rest of the cavern in lesser rivers and streams. The waterfall sheds dim light for 30 feet. Water downriver of the falls sheds dim light for 5 feet.

Annam's Cradle Magic

The Radiant Sun imbues Annam's Cradle with the following properties:

• Abundance of Life. Creatures other than Constructs or Undead who finish a long rest within Annam's Cradle regain all expended Hit Dice and remove 2 levels of exhaustion.
• Infused Water. Water taken from the waterfall retains the imbued positive energy for 24 hours, during which time the water sheds dim light in a 5-foot radius. A creature that isn't a Construct or an Undead that drinks the water gains 2d10 temporary hit points and the benefits of a greater restoration spell. A creature that gains these benefits can't do so again until it finishes a long rest.
• Planar Rift. The Radiant Sun is a permanent, one-way portal from the Positive Plane.

Annam's Cradle Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Annam's Cradle or to give them missions to pursue within the cavern.

Ashen Grotto Features

The walls of this seaside cave of white limestone are reinforced with masonry and inscribed with verses extolling the ordning and reverence for one's ancestors. Most of the cave is above the sea's reach.

Map 4.2 depicts the Ashen Grotto's chambers and burial sites, including the following features:

• Caskets. Stone and crystal caskets house the remains of stone giants.
• Coral Pool. The bottom of a pool fed by an inlet from the sea is carpeted with storm giant bones covered in coral.
• Frozen Skeletons. Frost giant skeletons lie or sit propped, wearing ancient armor covered in lasting rime.
• Hidden Tomb. A secret door hides a repository of cloud giant dust.
• Ossuary Pits. Hill giant remains are heaped in pits where scavengers thrive.
• Urns. Brass and iron urns contain fire giant ashes.

Scattered among all these urns, caskets, and burial niches are the remains of other creatures who were loyal allies or loved ones of giants long gone, including creatures of the Giant type such as ettins and ogres, and even some Humanoids and other non-Giants.

Ashen Grotto Magic

The Ashen Grotto's magic reinforces the ordning specifically, and the natural, harmonious order of things in general. It can be used to break curses and ease afflictions, and to find insight into that which must be returned to its rightful course. The site is consecrated ground with the following properties:

• Bane of Undead. Dead creatures can't become Undead in the grotto. An Undead that enters the grotto for the first time during a turn or that starts its turn there takes 22 (5d8) radiant damage. An Undead reduced to 0 hit points by this damage dies and can't be returned to its undead state by any means short of divine intervention.
• Ordning's Path. A creature who spends 8 hours meditating in the grotto on the nature of order and the rightful course of history can cast one of the following spells at the end of that time (no additional casting time or spell components required): legend lore, greater restoration, or remove curse (cast at 9th level). The spellcasting ability for the spell is the creature's choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. After casting the spell, the creature gains 2 levels of exhaustion.

Ashen Grotto Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Ashen Grotto or to give them missions to pursue within the cave.

Dreamer's Reach Features

[image: Map 4.3: Dreamer's Reach]

The mound around the stone fingers has been smoothed to a circular plateau. Giant-sized shelters are carved into the sides of the plateau, and several free-standing structures made of fitted stones surround the mound. Map 4.3 depicts Dreamer's Reach, including the following features:

• Monoliths. Four of the monoliths—the fingers of the primordial's outstretched hand—are arranged in an arc and stand about 30 feet tall. The fifth (the thumb) is set apart from the inner curve of the fingers and stands about 15 feet tall. Spiraling carvings and Giant runes adorn all five monoliths.
• Shelters. The shelters are spacious for Small or Medium creatures, but they are cozy for the stone giants who built them, with just enough room for two Huge creatures to lie down side by side.

Dreamer's Reach Magic

A creature who falls asleep or uses a feature such as an elf's Trance trait at Dreamer's Reach can call upon the magic of the place while sleeping, activating one of the following properties:

• Dreamer's Call. The creature casts the dream spell as it sleeps, requiring no additional casting time, action, or spell components. The caster must be the spell's messenger. When the spell ends, the recipient of the spell is immune to this property for 24 hours.
• Dreaming Intuition. The creature casts either the commune or the divination spell as it sleeps, requiring no additional casting time, action, or spell components. The spells tap into a collective reservoir of dreams, and the answers come as dream imagery. This reservoir can answer the caster's questions if the subject has ever been dreamed of.

A creature who uses one of these properties can't use either one again for 24 hours. On waking, the creature must succeed on a DC 10 Charisma saving throw or have the charmed condition for 24 hours. A creature charmed in this way refuses to leave Dreamer's Reach and wants to use one of the site's properties the next time the creature sleeps. Each time a creature succeeds on or fails this saving throw, the save DC permanently increases by 1 for that creature.

Dreamer's Reach Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Dreamer's Reach or to give them missions to pursue there.

Endless Rockslide Features

[image: Map 4.4: Endless Rockslide]

The Endless Rockslide plunges down the mountainside with tremendous force and thunderous sound. Creatures within 100 feet of the earth slide make ability checks that require hearing with disadvantage. A creature that starts its turn in the rockslide must make a DC 20 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature descends 200 feet and takes 33 (6d10) bludgeoning damage. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and can grab a stable handhold within reach to avoid descending. After descending 1,000 feet from the rockslide's origin, the creature passes through a permanent portal to the Plane of Earth. A creature with a burrow speed can use that speed to move in the slide, has advantage on the saving throw, and takes half damage on a failed save and no damage on a successful save. A creature with the Earth Glide trait automatically succeeds on the saving throw. The source of the slide is also a permanent portal to the Plane of Earth.

Map 4.4 shows the following features surrounding the Endless Rockslide:

• Bridges and Walkways. Bridges carved with Binding Runes (see below) span the chasm, and walkways allow access around the rockslide. A crane and winch with buckets and sieves, installed in recent times, allow workers to gather minerals from the slide.
• Chambers. Giant-sized chambers are carved into the rock near the falls, including a workshop that holds tools for working metal, stone, and gems.

Endless Rockslide Magic

The Endless Rockslide has the following properties:

• Binding Runes. A creature touching one of the runes on the bridge can attempt to activate it with 1 minute of concentration and a DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check. On a failed check, the creature takes 22 (4d10) force damage, as the bound elemental power releases explosively. On a successful check, the rune conjures an earth elemental that remains for 1 hour and obeys the creature. Once a creature has used this property to cast the spell, that creature can't use this property of any binding rune again until it finishes a long rest.
• Endless Resources. The Endless Rockslide is an inexhaustible source of minerals. A creature who spends 8 hours using appropriate tools to gather materials from the slide acquires 2d6 × 50 gp worth of useful or valuable minerals.

Endless Rockslide Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Endless Rockslide or to give them missions to pursue there.

Forest Crystal Features

[image: Map 4.5: Forest Crystal]

Map 4.5 depicts the forest crystal and its surrounding glade, including the following features:

• Crystal. The 80-foot-tall, 50-foot-wide crystal sheds dim light in a 30-foot radius. Shades of blue swirl within the crystal, occasionally resolving into murky images of giants' faces or Giant runes. The crystal radiates powerful but fluctuating magic.
• Plants. The plants around the crystal grow quite large and can move on their own as if sapient—often uprooting themselves to wander into the forest, keeping the glade relatively free of undergrowth.
• Tree Dwellings. Wooden huts with slate or thatched roofs perch in some of the larger trees around the edges of the glade.

Forest Crystal Magic

The Forest Crystal extends a powerful magical shroud covering the surrounding region. The land surrounding the crystal within a radius of 5 miles is transformed into lush forest as if by the mirage arcane spell, except pieces of the forest brought outside this range don't vanish. The magic has the following additional properties:

• Dispelling the Shroud. A dispel magic spell targeting an area of the forest ends the effect in a 20-foot cube for 1 hour if the caster succeeds on a DC 20 ability check using the caster's spellcasting ability. The affected area reverts to a fetid swamp.
• Shifting the Shroud. A creature in the glade can take limited control of the crystal by concentrating on it for 1 hour and succeeding on a DC 25 Intelligence (Arcana) check. A creature who takes control of the crystal can end the shroud for 24 hours or change it to a different type of terrain permanently. Additional creatures beyond the first can assist in controlling the crystal. For each additional creature who concentrates for the full hour, reduce the DC of the check by 1 (to a minimum of DC 15).
• Wild Magic. The Feywild energy that fuels the crystal interacts unpredictably with other magic. Whenever a creature casts a spell of 1st level or higher within the glade, that creature must succeed on a DC 10 saving throw using its spellcasting ability or roll on the Wild Magic Surge table (see the "Sorcerer" section in the Player's Handbook).

Forest Crystal Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Forest Crystal or to give them missions to pursue there.

Forsaken Deep Features

Map 4.6 shows the ruins of the storm giant retreat and the trench, including the following features:

• Library. The retreat's flooded library holds five crystalline, coral archives that contain knowledge preserved in crackling lightning. The formations are 10 feet across and 20 feet high. Two are shattered and useless, but three still spark with knowledge.
• Meditation Chamber. The great dome still holds the ocean at bay, but the air inside is fouled by time and rot. After each hour spent within the dome, a creature that breathes air must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature has the poisoned condition until it finishes a short or long rest in a place with fresh air. The restless spirits of the slain storm giants congregate in this chamber, harmlessly but mournfully wailing their sorrow. A circle of Giant runes on the floor hums softly (see "Storm Call" below).
• Trench. The oceanic trench dives into darkness (see "Planar Crossing" below).

Forsaken Deep Magic

The Forsaken Deep has the following properties:

• Lightning Archive. A creature touching an archive can use an action to access the stored knowledge. Roll a d10. On a 1 or 2, the archive surges with lightning. Each creature in the room must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. If the d10 roll was 3 or higher, the creature can query the archive as by a commune spell. Once a creature uses the archive successfully, that creature can't do so again for 24 hours.
• Planar Crossing. The trench below the retreat pierces the fabric of the planes. Two rifts in the planar fabric open in the depths of the trench, one leading to the Shadowfell and the other to the Elemental Plane of Water. Sluggish currents flow from each rift, each traveling about 200 feet before they meet and well upward, 500 feet below the fortress. By swimming against the current, a creature can pass through the rift that's the current's source and enter the connected plane.
• Storm Call. A creature that meditates within the Meditation Chamber's rune circle for 10 minutes and succeeds on a DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check can create the effects of either the control weather spell or the control water spell, or both simultaneously (user's choice). The magic affects the ocean and surface above the retreat within a radius of 10 miles for up to 8 hours, requiring no concentration.

Forsaken Deep Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Forsaken Deep or to give them missions to pursue there.

Gale's Eye Tower Features

[image: Map 4.7: Gale's Eye Tower]

Map 4.7 depicts Gale's Eye Tower, including the following features:

• Control Chamber. The topmost level of the tower is covered by a roof and enclosed with unbreakable crystal windows.
• Labyrinth Funnel. The Labyrinth Funnel (the Wind Dukes' gift) is a permanent cyclone in the center of the control chamber. The cyclone is a cylinder of strong winds 60 feet in diameter and 60 feet high. The eye of the cyclone is a column of crushing winds, 10 feet in diameter, that forms a portal leading to the Elemental Plane of Air. A creature that enters the central column takes 110 (20d10) thunder damage and appears in the realm known as Aaqa, a shining domain of silver spires and verdant gardens atop a fertile earth mote.
• Storm Wall. The tower hangs suspended in the eye of a perpetual storm, surrounded by a wall of tempestuous weather (equivalent to the effect of the wind wall spell) about 400 feet in diameter. Beyond that wall, the storm rages.

Gale's Eye Tower Magic

A creature within 5 feet of the Labyrinth Funnel can safely attune to it (remaining outside it) as if it were a magic item. While attuned to it and within the control chamber, the creature can control the tower's movement, control the surrounding storm, and summon creatures from the Plane of Air as follows:

• Flying Tower. While uncontrolled, Gale's Eye Tower drifts at an altitude of 500 feet at 8 miles per hour (80 feet per round). During its turn, a creature in the control chamber who is attuned to the Labyrinth Funnel can cause the tower to ascend or descend 100 feet, can stop the tower, or can change the tower's speed, to a maximum of 12 miles per hour (120 feet per round), in a direction of the creature's choice.
• Perpetual Storm. While uncontrolled, the storm surrounding the tower creates light wind and occasional rain in a 5-mile radius. Every day, there is a 10 percent chance the storm spikes in intensity to become a full thunderstorm with strong winds and heavy precipitation for 24 hours. A creature in the control chamber who is attuned to the Labyrinth Funnel can cast control weather (as an action) at will to change the conditions of the storm. The creature can also cast call lightning at will (spell save DC 17), targeting any point the creature can see under the perpetual storm regardless of range.
• Summoned Aid. As an action, a creature in the control chamber who is attuned to the Labyrinth Funnel can summon an air elemental or an invisible stalker that serves the summoner. The summoned creature vanishes after 1 hour or when another creature is summoned with the funnel.

Gale's Eye Tower Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Gale's Eye Tower or to give them missions to pursue there.

Grolantor's Larder Features

[image: Map 4.8: Grolantor's Larder]

Map 4.8 depicts Grolantor's Larder, including the following features:

• Groves. Fruit trees and berry bushes fill the valley, and fields of wild grains surround it.
• Pond. The pond brims with fish, and the cool stream that feeds it contains clear, safe water.
• Revelers' Clearing. The central clearing is carpeted with lush, soft grass. A great flat stone propped upon smaller boulders serves as a table that can accommodate giants.

Grolantor's Larder Magic

The essential magic of Grolantor's Larder is the abundant growth of food-bearing plants, providing ample food for all who visit. Foraging in the grove is a simple task that requires no ability checks. With some extra effort, visitors can gather a feast of gigantic proportions, but this magic has its risks:

• Boundless Bounty. With 2 hours of foraging for the choicest foods, a character can gather enough magical food to furnish a heroes' feast spell (no other components required). A creature who receives the benefits of the spell must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature suffers uncomfortable indigestion for 12 hours. On a successful save, the creature gains the enlarge effect of the enlarge/reduce spell for 12 hours. Once this magical feast has been gathered, the grove can't furnish another until the next dawn.
• Entrapping Beauty. After each hour a creature spends in Grolantor's Larder, the creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be unwilling to leave. A creature who has eaten food gathered from the grove in the last 24 hours has disadvantage on the saving throw. A creature that fails the saving throw can repeat the save after finishing a long rest.
• Rampant Growth. Seeds, fruits, and cuttings of food-bearing plants from Grolantor's Larder retain their magic for up to 7 days. If they are planted in that time, the plants that grow are enriched for 1 year and yield twice the normal amount of food when harvested. After 1d4 such plant samples leave the grove, this property doesn't function until the next dawn.

Grolantor's Larder Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Grolantor's Larder or to give them missions to pursue there.

Hiatea's Hearth Features

Map 4.9 depicts Hiatea's Hearth, including the following features:

• Feast Tables. Several giant-sized tables carved from whole tree trunks run the length of the hall.
• Hearth. An enormous fireplace holds iron spits, pots, and kettles within. Inscribed on the stone arch surrounding the fireplace are Giant runes.
• Throne. An immense granite throne stands at the head of the hall. It is intricately decorated with stylized figures of giants and beasts, as well as more Giant runes.

Hiatea's Hearth Magic

Hiatea's Hearth carries Hiatea's blessing as well as the curse of Karontor, giving it the following properties:

• Hiatea's Blessing. Hiatea's Hearth is consecrated ground. A creature in the hall that has the Channel Divinity class feature and worships Hiatea can use that feature once without expending a use of it. Once a creature benefits from this property, the creature can't do so again until it finishes a long rest.
• Prosperity. A creature can attune to the hall's throne as if it were a magic item. While the attuned creature sits on the throne, the creature's Charisma score becomes 25. While a creature is attuned to the throne, whether it sits there or not, any creature that finishes a short rest within Hiatea's Hearth removes 1 level of exhaustion and regains hit points as if the creature spent 2 Hit Dice without actually expending them. A creature's attunement to the throne can't end while the creature lives, and no other creature can attune to the throne until the attunement ends.
• What Rises Must Fall. The creature attuned to the throne has disadvantage on Wisdom checks, initiative rolls, and death saving throws. Any creatures friendly to the creature attuned to the throne have the same disadvantage while within Hiatea's Hearth.

Hiatea's Hearth Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Hiatea's Hearth or to give them missions to pursue there.

Horizon's Edge Features

[image: Map 4.10: Horizon's Edge]

Map 4.10 depicts Horizon's Edge, including the following features:

• Building Platforms. Massive plates made of meticulously fitted stones form patches of solid ground upon which giant-sized structures are built.
• Rune Ring. A great ring of glowing Giant runes slowly rotates around the equator of the spherical demiplane. A creature who studies the runes and succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check realizes their rotation marks out repeating 12-hour cycles, allowing visitors to keep time with the Material Plane worlds they came from.
• Transport Disks. Inlaid near one edge of each platform is a distinct 20-foot-diameter magical disk of intricately woven copper, iron, and silver. A creature standing on one of these disks can use an action to manipulate sliding portions of the disk and designate a destination platform. If the creature succeeds on a DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check, the disk flies at a speed of 60 feet to the destination, where it hovers for 1 minute or until no more creatures or objects are on it, then returns to its original position. A creature who succeeds on this check automatically succeeds on future attempts to fly any disk to the same destination.

Horizon's Edge Magic

In contrast to the other locations described in this chapter, Horizon's Edge is notable more for the magic and technology it contains than for any magic inherent to the site itself. However, the magically created demiplane has one peculiar property:

• Looped Gravity. The outer boundary of the demiplane warps space. Anything that falls without being arrested passes through the bottom of the bubble. It then reappears at the top directly above that point and continues plummeting until something arrests its fall.

Horizon's Edge Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Horizon's Edge or to give them missions to pursue there.

Howling Iceberg Features

Map 4.11 shows the Howling Iceberg, which has the following features:

• Biting Winds. The area within 500 feet of the Howling Iceberg is always extreme cold, and strong winds blow throughout that area in the direction of the iceberg's movement. When undirected, the iceberg drifts up to 4 miles per hour (40 feet per round) with the tide and winds.
• Longhouse (A). An ancient, weathered longhouse sits on a flat plain of ice and snow. Trophy hides and horns of monsters decorate the walls and roof of this structure.
• Tunnels. Openings in the ice lead to twisting tunnels, some naturally formed by wind and water, others tooled and cut, and still others melted by great heat. A creature who finishes a long rest in the tunnels must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion from the howling winds wearing down the creature's mind.

Howling Iceberg Magic

The tunnels in the Howling Iceberg twist deeper than should be possible. A creature exploring the tunnels can make a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception or Survival) check after each hour. A creature that succeeds on three checks in a row or that rolls a 20 on the d20 finds a special destination, as shown on the Howling Iceberg Tunnels table.

A creature who finds the Frostfell Shard can attune to it as if it were a magic item. If the creature finishes a long rest more than 1 mile from the iceberg, the creature's attunement to the shard ends. The shard can't be moved. Attunement to the shard gives the following benefits:

• Howling Wind. While on the Howling Iceberg, a creature attuned to the shard who doesn't have the incapacitated condition can direct the winds to howl and propel the iceberg up to 8 miles per hour (80 feet per round) in a direction of the creature's choice. The iceberg continues this movement until the attuned creature changes the direction and speed or the creature's attunement ends.
• Planar Tunnels. A creature attuned to the shard can navigate the tunnels within the iceberg to reach any desired destination in 1 hour without making an ability check. The creature is also immune to the exhausting effects of the howling winds in the tunnels.
• Spellcasting. While on the Howling Iceberg, a creature attuned to the shard can cast the control weather (to lower the temperature and manipulate wind only), cone of cold, fear, and gust of wind spells (spell save DC 17), requiring no material components. Once the creature uses this property to cast a spell, the creature can't cast that spell with the property again until it finishes a long rest.
• Weather Resistance. A creature attuned to the iceberg's shard is resistant to cold damage and immune to the effects of strong wind.

The Frostfell Shard can be destroyed by dealing at least 75 fire damage to it in a single turn, whereupon it melts and the iceberg shatters.

Howling Iceberg Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Howling Iceberg or to give them missions to pursue there.

Karontor's Hold Features

Map 4.12 shows Karontor's Hold, including the following features:

• Far Realm Distortion. The physical structure of the hold is warped near and above the well. Within this area, glistening stone flows like viscous liquid, sickly purplish radiance gleams at the edge of perception, and the air has an acrid taste.
• Throne Room. Damaged bas-reliefs on the walls of the crumbling throne room depict fomorian nobles (see chapter 6) passing through a portal, girded for battle. The next scene, presumably the aftermath, is defaced and illegible.
• Well. A giant-sized well in the keep's deepest level plunges a seemingly infinite depth. Faint purple light shines from the depths, and psychic whispers caress the mind of anyone who peers into the depths. A 5-foot-high wall surrounds the well.

Karontor's Hold Magic

The Far Realm intrusion flowing from the well in Karontor's Hold twists space and time in and around the keep to a range of 6 miles. The enclave has the following properties:

• Dilated Time. The Far Realm distortion in Karontor's Hold warps creatures' perception of time in stressful situations. At the start of each creature's turn in combat, roll a d4. On an even number, the creature's speed is halved until the end of the turn. On an odd number, the creature's speed is doubled until the end of the turn. Aberrations and creatures with a psychic gift from the Psychic Well (see below) are immune to this effect.
• Psychic Well. A creature can try to harness the psychic power of the well by gazing into it for 1 minute while remaining within 10 feet of the well. At the end of the minute, the creature must make a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 22 (4d10) psychic damage and gains 1 level of exhaustion. On a successful save, the creature gains a psychic gift of its choice: either the ability to cast the dimension door spell requiring no spell components, or the use of a mind flayer's Mind Blast action. The psychic gift fades when the creature uses it, or if it tries to harness the well again. While this psychic gift is available, the creature also gains telepathy to a range of 30 feet (as described in the Monster Manual). Once a creature attempts to harness the power of the well, the creature can't do so again until it finishes a long rest.
• Twisted Space. Roll a d4 when creatures travel within 6 miles of the keep. On a 1, the creatures travel normally. On a 2 or a 4, distance stretches and the journey takes longer than it should; multiply the distance creatures have to travel by the number rolled. On a 3, distance constricts and the journey is faster; divide the distance by 3. Roll once for creatures traveling as a group. This effect ends once creatures enter the keep or get farther than 6 miles from it.

Karontor's Hold Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to Karontor's Hold or to give them missions to pursue there.

Misty Vale Features

[image: Map 4.13: Misty Vale]

Map 4.13 shows the Misty Vale, including the following features:

• Foggy Border. The edges of the valley are heavily obscured by fog, which thins to lightly obscuring mist in the valley itself.
• Grounded Boat. A riverboat rests on a grassy hill, canted to one side. There is no water anywhere near it and no sign of it being dragged.
• Misty Canyon. Gravel-choked, fog-shrouded ravines lead to and from the vale.
• Partial Village. Some houses in this village are intact and others only partially present, as if they were sliced in half and set down gently in their current place. The interiors are perfectly in order, as if the human-sized occupants walked away moments ago.

Misty Vale Magic

The Misty Vale has the following properties:

• Guardian. A creature known as "the guardian" is the only being that can control the Misty Vale's movements and connections among worlds. The guardian's exact form is unknown and changes from encounter to encounter, but its alignment is always chaotic neutral, its Intelligence is at least 16, and it speaks both Common and Giant. You can roll on any encounter table in chapter 3 to determine the guardian's current form. If the guardian dies, it re-forms in a new guise at the next dawn. A creature can convince the guardian to grant safe passage to virtually any location on the Material Plane by one of three methods: answering a riddle posed by the guardian, offering a valuable gift such as a magic item or a secret to the guardian, or verbal argument. The last option requires a successful DC 25 Charisma (Persuasion) check.
• Multiversal. The Misty Vale connects to other places on the world and to different worlds of the Material Plane. The surrounding fog acts as a portal when the valley connects to a new place, allowing two-way travel.
• Shrouded Presence. Divination spells cast from outside the vale can't target anything in the valley or reveal information about it. Trying to navigate the dense fog into or out of the valley without the aid of the guardian requires 1 hour of travel and a DC 20 group Wisdom (Survival) check. On a successful check, the group finds its way to or from the valley. On a failed check, the travelers wander the foggy terrain for 1 additional hour before they can repeat the check.

Misty Vale Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Misty Vale or to give them missions to pursue there.

Runic Circle Features

[image: Map 4.14: Runic Circle]

Map 4.14 depicts the Runic Circle, including the following features:

• Carvings. The carvings are a combination of Giant runes of power, magical formulas like those in a wizard's spellbook, and extremely accurate charts of stars and other bodies in the sky.
• Shelters. Simple shelters of tight-fitted stone, just large enough to hold a single giant, dot the area around the hill. Most are partially reclaimed by nature, but some have been maintained.
• Standing Stones. The outer circle is formed of 40-foot-tall stone monoliths that bear constellation carvings and Giant runes of power. At night, the star carvings shed dim light for 10 feet.

Runic Circle Magic

The Runic Circle has the following properties:

• Magic Archive. The inscribed runes make up a gigantic archive of spells. With 1 hour of study, a creature that is capable of casting spells can try to decipher a spell coded in the carvings. The spell is subject to your approval and must belong to the conjuration, divination, or evocation school. If the creature has spell slots of the appropriate level and succeeds on an Intelligence (Arcana) check with a DC equal to 10 + the desired spell's level, the creature can cast the spell immediately without expending a spell slot. A character that is a wizard can copy the spell into the character's spellbook following the usual procedure, but must do so within 24 hours, or the character must repeat the hour of study to try again.
• Star Port. The largest circle of runes is a permanent teleportation circle. Additionally, at night, a character can spend 10 minutes tracing constellation carvings that match the stars visible in the sky to cast the sending spell from the circle. If the target is on the Material, Astral, or Ethereal Plane, there is no chance the message doesn't arrive, and the recipient knows the direction to the Runic Circle until it finishes a long rest. Targets on other worlds of the Material Plane might perceive the direction as nonsense, such as in the sky, in the ground, or in a direction that doesn't correspond to three-dimensional space.

Runic Circle Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Runic Circle or to give them missions to pursue there.

Singing Sands Features

During the day, the Singing Sands consist of two small dunes of gleaming, crystalline sand. The wind blows the sand across the desert at 1 mile per hour (10 feet per round). It reflects the sun and shines brightly, imposing disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight within 50 feet of them. As the sand moves, its melodious chimes are audible to 1 mile away. When a creature moves through the sand, the chiming becomes a discordant shriek.

Map 4.15 depicts the Singing Sands at night, when the sand forms a glowing, warm shelter. The construction matches a giant's proportions, but the architectural style is familiar only from ancient ruins. The temperature inside the fortress is always comfortable.

Singing Sands Magic

The Singing Sands don't just make music; creatures can use music to shape the sand to their will. As an action, a creature can sing or play music to magically shape the Singing Sands into physical objects as it desires. If the creature succeeds on a DC 10 Charisma (Performance) check, the creature can form up to a 5-foot cube of the sand into any shape. The resulting object is made of sparkling, crystalline sand and lasts for 1 hour. For every 5 by which the creature exceeds the DC, the creature can either shape an additional 5-foot cube or increase the duration by 1 hour. Alternatively, the creature can create a permanent crystal version of a simple or martial melee weapon with the light property, or a crystal version of an object worth up to 10 gp from the Adventuring Gear table in the Player's Handbook. Once a creature shapes a permanent object from the sand, the creature can't do so again until it finishes 1d4 long rests.

Singing Sands Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Singing Sands or to give them missions to pursue there.

Star Forge Features

[image: Map 4.16: Star Forge]

Map 4.16 shows the Star Forge, including the following features:

• Furnace. The forge itself is a great housing of iron. Pipes extend from a central vessel, channeling the radiance of the forge into a vent so bright it's painful to look at. Giant runes etched on the iron flare with white light. The Star Forge sheds bright light for 100 feet and dim light for another 100 feet. An Undead that starts its turn in the bright light takes 3 (1d6) radiant damage. On a clear night, the light is visible for 300 miles.
• Shelters. Iron and stone dwellings dot the shore, some collapsed, others carefully maintained.
• Bridge Remnant. An iron bridge once spanned the water from the lakeshore to the island. Now rusted iron pilings are all that remain.

Star Forge Magic

A creature with proficiency in appropriate artisan's tools can use the Star Forge to create magic items using those tools and an amount of materials based on the item's rarity. For every 8 hours of work, the creature can make an Intelligence check using its tool proficiency, with a DC set by the item's rarity. On a successful check, the creature makes 100 gp worth of progress. On a failed check, no progress is made. For every 10 by which the check exceeds the DC, the creature makes an additional 100 gp of progress. The item is complete when the progress equals the cost of materials for the item. See the Star Forge Item Creation table for item rarity, cost, and check DC.

Additionally, a creature that works material in the workshop area can use the forge to cast the fabricate spell requiring no spell components. Once this property has been used, it can't be used again until the next dawn.

Star Forge Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Star Forge or to give them missions to pursue there.

Thundering Observatory Features

[image: Map 4.17: Thundering Observatory]

Map 4.17 depicts the Thundering Observatory, including the following features:

• Lightning Tethers. The tethers holding up the observatory shed bright light for 50 feet and dim light for an additional 50 feet. They also emit a constant, loud rumble audible for 10 miles. This constant thunder is so intense that any creature within the turret has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls. Creatures with resistance or immunity to thunder damage are immune to this disorientation. A creature that touches or enters the tether for the first time on a turn, or that starts its turn in the tether, takes 55 (10d10) lightning damage.
• Observation Chamber. The lowest floor of the observatory has transparent crystal walls that offer a spectacular view of the surrounding region. A magic control console made of copper and gold occupies this chamber.

Thundering Observatory Magic

A creature in the Observation Chamber can use the control console to activate the following properties:

• Death Ray. As an action, a creature can use the observatory controls to direct a deadly bolt of magical energy at a point it can see, including locations viewed through the observatory's Remote Viewing property (but not through any other means of scrying or magical sensing). The ray creates a line of destruction 10 feet wide starting from the target point and progressing 100 feet in a direction of the creature's choice. Creatures and objects in that line take 143 (26d10) force damage. A creature reduced to 0 hit points is disintegrated into fine gray ash and can be returned to life only by a true resurrection or wish spell. A creature that activates this property gains 6 levels of exhaustion. Immunity to lightning or thunder damage reduces the number of levels gained by 1 for each such immunity.
• Remote Viewing. As an action, a creature operating the controls can make a DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check. On a successful check, the creature can cast the scrying spell (spell save DC 17) from the device. A magical image of the target appears before the controls.

Thundering Observatory Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Thundering Observatory or to give them missions to pursue there.

Worldroot Sapling Features

[image: Map 4.18: Worldroot Sapling]

Map 4.18 depicts the Worldroot Sapling, including the following features:

• Gnarled Roots. The great, twisted roots of an enormous dead tree cover a vast area surrounding the sapling. The roots bristle with immense thorns, some up to 5 feet long. The roots can be climbed easily, but a creature that moves more than half its speed on its turn while within 5 feet of the roots must succeed on a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check or take 11 (2d10) piercing damage.
• Sapling. The Worldroot Sapling stands in a clearing created by the twisting roots. The sapling is 30 feet tall, and its trunk is 10 feet in diameter. Despite its size, it has the proportions and appearance of a very young tree. The tree glows with a bright, greenish-golden light for 30 feet, and dim light reaches an additional 30 feet.

Worldroot Sapling Magic

The Worldroot Sapling has the following properties:

• Font of Life. A dead creature buried in the soil within 30 feet of the sapling for 24 hours returns to life as if by a true resurrection spell. Once this property has been used, all properties of the sapling are suppressed for 30 days. Alternatively, a dead creature buried in the clearing's soil more than 30 feet from the sapling for 24 hours returns to life as if by a reincarnation spell.
• Invigorating Light. A creature within the bright light shed by the sapling has advantage on ability checks and saving throws based on Constitution and Wisdom. A creature that finishes a long rest within the bright light removes all levels of exhaustion it has.
• Life-Giving Sap. If the sapling's bark is pierced or cut, it bleeds enough golden sap to fill a vial. The sap functions as a potion of vitality. A creature that drinks a vial of sap stops aging while it remains within the clearing. The tree can produce 1d4 vials in a 24-hour period, and a vial loses its magic after 24 hours.

Worldroot Sapling Adventures

Here are sample adventure hooks to bring characters to the Worldroot Sapling or to give them missions to pursue there.