KRAWLITY HOUSE

No longer mourn for me when I am dead than you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that I am fled From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell.

William Shakespeare, Sonett 71 Sample file

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Introduction I’ve always thought one of the most evocative foes Other sources in a Dungeons and Dragons game is the elder power Information about Baldur’s Gate and the Kyuss and its minions of undead spawn animated by for this adventure comes primarily green worms, which was first described in 1981’s from these Dungeons and Dragons products: . Forgotten Realms , by Ed During the third-edition era, good use was made Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams and Rob of this motif, from the Spawn of Kyuss in Monster Heinsoo, c. 2001 Manual 2 to the that Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, by Bruce R. appeared in Dungeon magazine issues 124-135. Kyuss Cordell, and Chris Sims, c. 2008 received extensive treatment in the 2007 companion Ed Greenwood Presents ’s Forgotten supplements Elder Evils and Exemplars of Evil. Realms by Ed Greenwood, c. 2012 The lore of Kyuss was used in fourth edition in Murder in Baldur’s Gate, by Ed Greenwood and 2009’s Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead. Matt Sernett and others, c. 2013 The inclusion of the Spawn of Kyuss in 2016’s Hoard of the Dragon Queen, by Volo’s Guide to Monsters for fifth edition inspired me to and Steve Winter, c. 2014 write a Kyuss-themed introductory adventure. Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, by Steve Kenson Although that creature does not appear in this and others, c. 2015 adventure, I’m hopeful the encounters are useful in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, by , Jeremy laying the groundwork to a series of adventures with Crawford and others, c. 2016 Kyuss as a central figure. By the end of this adventure, Krawlity House, the player characters will have been introduced to the Table of Contents threat posed by the cult of Kyuss. There is a Course of Adventure ...... 5 mysterious figure — Ransom Krawlity — whose and Background ...... 5 location, scheme and aims have yet to be uncovered. A Fortunate Turn ...... 6 And the players will have a home base (supported Map of Baldur’s Gate ...... 7 by the Temple of Tymora) from which to investigate Meeting Miristum ...... 7 how the cult has infiltrated all aspects of Baldur’s Healing Services ...... 8 Gate government and society. Dealing with Squatters ...... 8 Destroy from within is a common Kyuss theme, Getting the lowdown ...... 8 and this adventure can serve as a launch pad to full Map of Krawlity House ...... 9 campaign of that nature. Carriage Lane ...... 10 Squatters’ Rights ...... 10 Connecting Garden ...... 11 Editorial credits Statue of Kyuss ...... 11 Adventure Design Two Trees Corner ...... 12 Troy E. Taylor Dead Hound ...... 13 Editing Receiving Hall ...... 13 Carolyn P. Taylor Closet ...... 13 Music Room ...... 13 Sewing Room ...... 13 Art and Cartography Credits Private Bath ...... 13 Cover: Zombie silhouettes designed by Let’s Dance, Shall We? ...... 14 Freepik.com, Kitchen ...... 14 Green hand-painted background Designed by Solar ...... 14 Layerace - Freepik.com Dining Hall ...... 14 The base map of Krawlity House is the Patreon- Tower Floor ...... 15 suppored, commercially available map “Strange Ending the Adventure ...... 15 Mansions” available from the library of Dyson Logos, Handout: Tymora Adventuring Contract ...... 16 https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/maps/ Monster and NPC List ...... 17 commercial-maps/ The map of Baldur’s Gate was a hand-drawn facsimile based cartography found in various products by TSR and . Victorian ornaments, Designed by Pio_pio - Samplefreepik.com file Trees without Leaves, Shamrock coins, Open Books and Alchemy Symbol by freepik.com

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Course of Adventure This adventure is designed for four to five 1st-level player characters. The adventure takes place in Baldur’s Gate, a city on the Sword Coast of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. In the course of the adventure, the PCs accept a commission from Miristum Holdsfast, a Tethyrian priestess of the church of Tymora, to investigate a vacant property the church had just purchased. It was the home of occultist Ransom Krawlity who has not been seen for ten years. During their exploration of the house the his manor home in Baldur’s Gate to become the adventurers will discover Krawlity’s connections center of the cult’s activities. to the cult of Kyuss and will battle a green worm About ten years ago, his activities could no of immense size that resides within the tunnels longer be tolerated by his family. At the same beneath the home’s deteriorating tower. time they were taking legal action to formally end all ties, he disappeared. The family closed his Background manor home, allowing it to fall into disrepair. Ransom Krawlity was a cousin to one of the Krawlity’s fate remains a mystery. But his city’s oldest founding families, the Dluskers. Yet, activities there had already made the site a lordly pursuits bored him. He devoted himself to lightning rod for creatures in Kyuss’ portfolio. the study — and practice — of the occult. The statue of Kyuss had, in a fashion, been His own works on the subject were lauded consecrated to the elder entity, drawing worms for their academic merits, though he incurred and larva to it. the disdain of his family and was removed from Among the worms that soon resided on the the line of inheritance. property was a Great Green Worm, which grew In the course of Krawlity’s varied and ever larger as its feasted upon lesser worms and esoteric research, he became fascinated with the other creatures. It took residence in the place lore and aims of the cult of Kyuss. beneath the tower, coming out only occasionally Kyuss was known by many names — to hunt. Spawner of Corruption, Lord Betrayer, and But its presence, as well as other blighted Bonemaster. But the elder power’s most powerful creatures associated with undeath, soon gave moniker was “The Worm That Walks,” and he Krawlity House its reputation as a cursed and was described as being either an agent or a haunted abode. herald of Orcus. This intersects the fading fortunes of the Kyuss’ aim was to bring about an Age of Dlusker family and the continued interest from Worms, undermining civilization by feeding upon the church of Tymora to acquire more property, its bloated and decadent underbelly, hastening especially a site perfectly situated as a site for a the self-destruction of societies and mission post . The Dluskers were glad to sell and governments. the temple was willing to buy without asking too The worm, the larva, and the maggot were many questions, despite the home’s sinister his tools. These are the lowest of creatures, yet reputation. also the most pure — for they do not So it is that a priestess, at the behest of the discriminate that which they feed upon. elders of Tymora, goes to the Blushing Mermaid Krawlity’s interest in Kyuss soon became an seeking adventurers to investigate the manor. obsession. But he was not repulsed by this turn, And so the adventure begins. rather he embraced it. He commissioned Sampleartisans to create a statue of Kyuss, intending file

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A Fortunate Turn The DM is free to read aloud or paraphrase the following:

You’ve heard that many an adventure begins in the Blushing Mermaid tavern, so your party goes there and finds a boisterous, bustling place in the Heapside district of Baldur’s Gate. The Blushing Mermaid serves thick, bitter beer, strong whiskey and simple meals of stew, fish and crusty rolls with gravy. It’s most notable feature is the wood carving of a mermaid that dominates the inn’s reception area. Blackened hands are nailed to the carving, grim reminders of the cost for skinflints failing to pay their bar or inn n bill. The inn itself is a maze of wings and interconnected floors with scores of rooms for private meetings and romantic trysts. Sea toughs, fences, smugglers, bandits and adventurers spend time gaming, drinking and plotting in the common room. Into this den boldly strides a lithe human woman of median age with the dark hair and dusky skin of a Tethyrian. She is inscribed scroll that she unrolls. There are some wearing a belted tunic, breeches, a pair of moans from those anticipating a sermon from throwing stars that are tucked into her belt, and her. “Now, I’ll have you know I was supposed to a small cape clasped by an ornament fashioned deliver and post this notice at the Helm and from a large gold piece stamped with a woman’s Cloak ... ” she pauses for an anticipated chorus profile in a circlet of shamrocks. of boos. Using an empty chair as a step stool, she Indeed, hearing the name of the rival tavern alights to a table top in the center of the room, that caters to the upper crust elicits hisses and eliciting wolf whistles and, in equal measure, shouts of derision, and one jaunty “I wish you’d shouts of encouragement and grumbles of protest rather had stopped there and let us be!” which is from the taverngoers. met by a round of laughter. “That’s a fetching lalandath!” “Be that as it may, I walked past that fine “Hey, lady, we’re dicing here!” establishment, and took a chance, that the “Let her speak!” patrons of the Blushing Mermaid would be far Smiling, ignoring all, she waits for the more receptive to an offer from Lady’s Hall.” hubbub to settle down, then addresses the “What of it?” comes a shout from a corner. gathering. “I’m glad you asked,” she says, hopping down “Our Smiling Lady blesses you all,” she says. into a clear space in the center of the room. “It’s There is a scattering of responses, some saying not news that the temples of the city acquire “Trust in the Lady!” in return. She nods to those property from time to time.” in acknowledgment. “From time to time? You’re the biggest Sample“I am Miristum Holdsfast, a fortunate of landowners! Who doesn’t pay rentfile to one temple Tymora,” she continues, holding up a freshly or another?”

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Lady’s Hal

Blushing Mermaid Tavern

Krawlity House Baldur’s Gate Locations for this adventure

“Fair enough,” Miristum says. “Well, the temple has recently acquired, after much Meeting Miristum After making her announcement, Miristum negotiation with the Dlusker family, the walled goes to the bar and orders a mug of the house compound down Seatower’s way known as the beer. She then finds a table and waits. Krawlity House.” PCs are free to approach and learn more There are murmurs of unease, scooting of about the job being offered. This is an chairs and shuffling in seats at that opportunity for the and player pronouncement. Otherwise brash men and characters to roleplay a simple transaction. women now look timidly toward their cups. Some players may want a straight payment. “What’s this?” Miristum says brightly. “One Miristum explains that instead of accepting the mention of the Krawlity House and all the terms of one discovered item, the church is skorchkettles in this tavern turn meek as mice? authorized to pay 50 gp to any member of the “The place is cursed!” investigation team. Anyone who accepts a straight “Cursed, smershed,” Miristum replies. “I’m payment in gold is not entitled to any salvageable authorized to offer a standard contract to a party items. In fairness, the PCs can accept the salvage of adventurers to investigate the property, deal, and if nothing in the house is to a eradicate any undesirable creatures, and, each character’s liking, the church will still pay 50 gp member of the team can take one discovered for the service rendered. item, so long as the thing isn’t nailed down, as Miristum can give accurate directions to the compensation of salvage. Of course, the temple Krawlity House, but she will not accompany the will attend to anyone injured or harmed during players on this mission. She returns to Lady’s the work. So, how about it? Now who doesn’t Hall to see to her other responsibilities. Samplewant a piece of that?” file

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Healing services During the course of the adventure, Miristum Holdfast will vouch with her superiors in the church of Tymora that PCs merit the following magical healing spells while in her employ:

cure wounds lesser restoration prayer of healing remove curse

Dealing with squatters Miristum tells the players that if they encounter squatters, the people are to be directed to Lady’s Hall, the temple of Tymora in Manorborn District. The priests will arrange for Lore About Krawlity House them to have shelter. DC 5: At great expense and fanfare, a marble statue was famously commissioned by Ransom Getting the lowdown Krawlity, the last family member in possession of The players are free to make additional the house. Visitors to the house thought it would inquiries before going to Krawlity House. That be on display, but it was never shown publicly. includes consulting with sages, hitting the street DC 10: Ransom Krawlity was a known for the latest scuttlebutt or making use of faction occultist. He had a reputation for being a leader contacts. among the occult movement in Baldur’s Gate. It’s The DM should allow the check to be made said he conducted rites and seances at the with Intelligence (Investigation) or any other skill house. or attribute that might make sense. DC 15: His research into the occult led him down the path of Kyuss worship. He has not been Lore About the Dluskers seen for ten years. DC 5: Once one of the most prominent of the city’s founding families, now snubbed by many of Word on the Street the other patriars for their support of Duke DC 5: There is a family of foreigners living Valarken’s attempted coup. somewhere on the grounds. They must be either DC 10: The family is disgraced because Lord fearless, stupid, or in league with the creatures Norold Dlusker older sister died from mummy rot that haunt the place. and her husband fled to Waterdeep, taking — DC 10: The top floors of the tower collapsed and squandering — the family fortune. years ago. Place is made of stone, good gnome DC 15: Deeply in debt and his income and dwarven construction, too, but otherwise it’s reduced to managing sheepfolds, textiles and a shambles. slaughterhouses,Lord Dlusker has been selling DC 15: Place is a nuisance. Pedestrians property as a form of ready cash to shore up an always steer clear of the compound’s north-facing alliance with the Caldwell family. wall; the word is the trees will swoop down and Sampletry to snag people walking on filethe other side.

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