Table of Contents

Adventure Synopsis ...... 1 Saint Berthold’s Order...... 19 Meeting in the Hedge Maze...... 19 Using This Book ...... 1 Milestone Leveling...... 1 The Regency Council ...... 20 The Ticking Clock ...... 21 ap of the antan mpire M D E ...... 2 Councilmembers...... 21 Chapter 1: King Leo of Lorenz. . . .3 Darius von Jugo, Steward ...... 21 Adventure Synopsis ...... 3 Rutger von Freyberg, Lord Field Marshal . . . . 21 Sidebar: Starting the Adventure Here ...... 3 Zanibald the Red, Ancient Supreme...... 22 Janina Morgenstern, High Curate ...... 22 The High Road to Lorenzburg ...... 4 Miles 1-20 – Devastation...... 4 Halimeh Zerinker, Lord Admiral...... 22 Mile 15 – Lone Shrine...... 4 Drusilla Lederman, Guild Representative. . . . 22 Mile 20-50 – High Mountain Idyll...... 4 Lukas Petrochas, Lord Arbiter...... 23 Mile 25 – Giant Attack ...... 4 Benedikt Weisman, Imperial Chancellor. . . . .23 Mile 50 – Welcome to Lorenzburg...... 5 Valentina Feist, Imperial Treasurer...... 24 Optional Councilmembers...... 24 Tea and ...... 5 Celina DeMarsus, Queen of Axphain...... 24 Researching of Eibon...... 6 Atrax, King of Axphain...... 24 Seeking an Audience ...... 7 Yvaine, Queen of Yetive ...... 24 The Royal Secretary ...... 7 Walter Karl von Osthafen, Master of Horse. . . .24 Entry without an Appointment ...... 8 Volker Ludwig Kuhn, Master of Ceremonies. . . 24 The Funicular ...... 8 The Motion Passes...... 25 Meeting with King Leo ...... 8 The Motion Fails ...... 25 Flight of the Pegasi ...... 9 Queen Yvaine Triumphant ...... 25 Taking Off...... 9 Sidebar: Experience Points...... 26 Sidebar: Flying on Pegasi ...... 10 Chapter 3: Choose Your Fate. . . . .27 Mile 50 – Leaving Lorenz...... 10 Mile 100 – Grosskalber...... 10 Adventure Synopsis ...... 27 Mile 200 – Over the Sunless Forest...... 11 Making Preparations ...... 27 Mile 250 – Guardians of Slumber Mountain . . . .12 Exodus by Sea – Preparations...... 28 Return to Slumber Mountain...... 12 Marsus ...... 28 Entrance 1 – The Ledge...... 12 Holding the Ships ...... 28 Entrance 2 – The Backdoor...... 13 The Jenny Haniver...... 28 The Crystal Chamber...... 13 The Dolphin of Joxiness...... 29 Leo’s Crystal...... 13 The Nightmare of Ubalo ...... 29 Sidebar: Stasis Crystals...... 13 The Treasure Ship ...... 29 Messing with Tsathoggua...... 14 All Aboard...... 29 Sidebar: Experience Points...... 14 The Boese Krebs...... 29 The Seepocke ...... 29 Chapter 2: The Empire The Saint Helga...... 30 on the Brink ...... 15 Exodus by Sea – Leaving Port...... 30 Adventure Synopsis ...... 15 Tsathoggua Rises ...... 30 Flight to Verotha...... 15 Sidebar: Destruction at Sea...... 30 Sidebar: Chase Sequence Rules...... 16 Evasive Maneuvers! ...... 30 The Chase...... 16 Escape...... 30 Sidebar: What of the Dread?...... 17 Ramming Speed! ...... 31 Weather Conditions...... 17 Sidebar: The Ship’s Statistics ...... 32 Escape...... 17 Back to Port! ...... 32 Flying Random Encounters...... 17 Shipwreck...... 32 Anchorite Convoy...... 17 Warding Spell – Preparations ...... 32 Eremite...... 17 Dwarven Dust from Lorenz...... 32 ...... 17 Back to Lorenz...... 33 Hunting Horror...... 17 Xorn Attack...... 33 SampleNightgaunt Raiders...... 17 Catching Formless Spawn. . . . . file...... 34 Roc...... 18 Warding Spell – Under the Dome . . . . . 34 Toad-Bats and Warlock...... 18 Cut Off...... 35 The Court of the Empress ...... 18 Battle – Preparations ...... 36 iii Arrival of the Yetivan ...... 36 The League of Scoundrels...... 49 Arrival of the Pegasus Knights...... 37 Blackmail...... 50 Drilling the Troops...... 37 Mission: The Peridot Pear...... 50 Battle Demonstration...... 37 Mission: The Silver Shipment...... 50 Companion Units ...... 37 g . Guildhall of Weaponsmiths & Armorers.51 Battle – Into the Fray...... 37 h . Imperial Expedition Outfitters . . . . 51 Sidebar: Optional Rule: Mass Combat Events. . . .38 i . Leatherworkers’ Guildhall...... 51 Offensive Battle 1: The Front Lines ...... 38 Offensive Battle 2: The Second Rank...... 38 j . The Isle Arcane...... 51 Offensive Battle 3: The Inner Circle ...... 38 Missions ...... 51 Defensive Battle 1: Cenogguar Charge . . . . . 38 A Dubious Experiment...... 52 Defensive Battle 2: Underminers...... 38 k . The Illuminated Mind...... 52 Defensive Battle 3: Heavy Infantry...... 39 l . Mirdan Bank...... 52 Aerial Combat...... 39 Financial Pressure ...... 52 Air Skirmishers ...... 39 m . Postilons’ Waystation...... 52 Shantak Cavalry...... 39 n . The Docks ...... 52 Eremite...... 39 Against Tsathoggua...... 40 Appendix c . Magic Items ...... 53 Taking the Next Step...... 40 Hammer of Saint Berthold ...... 53 Saint Berthold...... 40 Journal of Arcane Correspondence. . . . . 53 The Hradivaz Borehole...... 41 Ooze Capture Vial...... 53 Sidebar: Experience Points...... 41 Ring of the Pegasus Knight...... 53 ap of orenzburg M L ...... 42 Appendix D: Non-Player ppendix orenzburg A A: L ...... 43 Characters ...... 54 A . Oberlorenzburg ...... 43 Adelhelma of Brutwin...... 54 B . Funicular Guardhouse ...... 43 King Leo...... 56 c . Saint Helga’s Cathedral...... 43 Appendix E: Monsters ...... 57 D . Temple of Grum Gorgrim ...... 43 High Priest Norgard...... 43 Anchorite ...... 57 entogguar e . Ralf’s Supplies...... 44 C ...... 58 League of Scoundrels...... 44 Court Arcanist ...... 59 Getting into the Castle ...... 44 Debased Serpentfolk...... 60 Mission: Re-Acquiring the Goods ...... 44 Debased Serpentfolk Archer ...... 60 f . Innman’s Inn...... 45 Debased Serpentfolk Warlock ...... 61 g . Queen of Cups Treehouse...... 45 Gibbering Giant...... 62 Getting into the Castle...... 45 Lorenzer Guard...... 64 h . Guild Arcane ...... 45 Mythos Scholar...... 65 Missions ...... 46 Pegasus Knight ...... 66 Bathhouse Apparition...... 46 Road Warden...... 68 i . Postilion’s Waystation...... 46 Swarm of Toad-Bats...... 69 j . The Baths...... 46 Voormis Warrior ...... 70 Appendix B: Verotha ...... 47 Winged Lancer...... 71 A . Imperial Palace...... 47 Winged Lancer...... 71 B . Grand Cathedral ...... 47 Winged Lancer Captain ...... 72 c . Other Churches and Temples...... 47 C1. Church of St. Berthold...... 47 C2. Church of St. Zalan...... 47 C3. Church of St. Helga...... 47 C4. Temple of Grum Golgrim...... 47 Map of Verotha...... 48. C5. Chapel of Julovna ...... 49 SampleD . Statuary Garden...... 49 file e . The Three Roses Inn...... 49 f . The Wicked Wyvern...... 49 iv Book III: The Fate of the Empire A Mythos adventure for 4 to 5 characters of 8th-11th level

dventure ynopsis ence Document or the Fifth Edition core books. If the A S reference is to SPCM, it is followed parenthetically Our heroes arrive in the Kingdom of Lorenz, a by SPCM and the page number. If followed only by mountainous land seemingly untroubled by the chaos a parenthetical page number, it can be found on the wreaking havoc in the lowlands. The King of Lorenz appropriate page in the appendices of this book. All is just a boy who seems unconcerned with his duties, other references to monsters, spells, or magic items but the PCs’ tales pique his curiosity. proposes an without such an indication are available in the SRD. expedition on pegasus-back to the Voormittenhorn to investigate the crystals in which Tsathoggua’s cultists Milestone Leveling slumber. But the boy-king has an ulterior motive: to The Big Sleep is an adventure that takes your play- join the Big Sleep himself! ers’ characters from level 1 to level 15. At the end With the King of Lorenz encased in crystal, the ad- of each chapter, the PCs gain enough experience to venturers must fly to the capital of the Empire to seek progress to the next level. This keeps the campaign aid against Tsathoggua. They find a Regency Council moving quickly, allowing everyone to experience the riven by petty strife and unable to effectively deal with story at a good pace. the crisis at hand. Through persuasion or coercion, the heroes champion a plan to combat Tsathoggua: do they attempt to evacuate the Empire by ship, face Tsathoggua in battle, erect a magical ward over the capital, or forge their own path to victory?

Using This Book The Fate of the Empire is the third book in The Big Sleep, a Saga campaign designed to take your player characters from level 1 to level 15. This act of the adventure takes place across three chapters. PCs starting this book at 8th level reach 11th level at its conclusion. Each chapter should take between one and three gaming sessions, depending on your group’s play style. Before running each adventure, you should fa- miliarize yourself with the entire chapter. Sidebars, developer’s notes, and appendices at the end of the book provide additional context, cues, and informa- tion to aid you in running The Big Sleep. This adventure makes extensive use of Sandy Petersen’s Cthulhu Mythos for Fifth Edition and having a copy of that book is essential to its success. Monster stat blocks, the Dread and Insanity mechan- ics, and the Yog-Sothothery skill from SPCM are all referenced in this adventure. The player options presented in SPCM are well-suited to The Big Sleep, providing additional roleplaying opportunities and evocative details. Throughout this adventure, references are made to monsters, NPCs, spells, and magic items. Monster and NPC names may appear in bold, while spell and magic item names appear in italics. In both cases, this is a prompt for you to look up the stat blocks in Sampleone of three places: the appendices in the back of this file book, in SPCM, or in the Fifth Edition System Refer-

The Fate of the Empire 1 Sample file

2 The Fate of the Empire Chapter 1: King Leo of Lorenz A Cthulhu Mythos adventure for four to five 8th-level characters “Saint Helga, we beseech thee: guide our winged horses well and lead them safely through the fray. Starting the Adventure Here Give us clear skies and set storms on our enemies. This adventure assumes the PCs have played And should we die upon the wing, have mercy on our through the previous two acts. If the GM wishes souls.” to start the adventure in Act III, they should supply – Traditional prayer of the Pegasus Knights some context to the PCs. The Dantan Empire has been ravaged by the sudden appearance of Tsathoggua, a voracious Great Old One who Adventure Synopsis devours entire cities. The Kingdoms of Axphain and Yetive have both come under assault from the Fleeing the destruction in Yetive, our heroes come gigantic creature and his minions. Lorenz and the to the high mountain Kingdom of Lorenz to seek Crown Lands of Dantan may be next in the path of the aid of its king. But King Leo is not eager to hear destruction. from them, and the common people of Lorenz barely The PCs might be refugees fleeing the carnage speak of the war that is ravaging the lowlands. Once in Yetive, perhaps adventurers who escaped the the adventurers meet King Leo, he proposes an destruction of one of the Yetivan cities. They may expedition by pegasus to the Voormittenhorn, where be members of the Esoteric Order of the Candle or Tsathoggua’s cultists sleep inside crystal coffins. one of Dantan’s other organizations, tasked with Along the way they combat the flying minions of finding a way to stop Tsathoggua. The GM may Tsathoggua in daring mid-air duels. When they reach need to modify the adventure slightly, especially the mountain, King Leo abandons them—and his where the adventure presents consequences for the Sampleresponsibilities—to join the Big Sleep with Tsathog- file PCs’ past actions or relies on knowledge of prior gua’s cultists! events.

King Leo of Lorenz 3 he igh oad to member of the Esoteric Order of the Candle, though T H R in her old age she felt drawn more to the service of Lorenzburg Saint Helga. She is prepared to speak on the follow- ing topics: From the border crossing at Paszloged, the High ◊ Wasteland. One week ago, a tide of formless Road runs 50 miles up into the mountainous land spawn roiled up from Yetive and devoured of Lorenz, terminating at the capital city of Lorenz- everything for miles around before withdrawing. burg. Depending on the events of the previous act Thusnelda waited out the attack in her hut and of the adventure, the PCs may be mounted or riding has been living off conjured food ever since. a Yetivan war wagon, and they may or may not be guiding to safety a group of prisoners they freed at ◊ Elder Signs. Thusnelda can explain the meaning Paszloged. As the PCs progress up the road, they and purpose of Elder Signs to those who do not encounter sites of interest and potential encounters know. As to why they are painted on her hut, she at set milestones. explains that she put them up 10 days ago after Consider having the PCs have to scrounge for seeing a column of strange, green-robed pilgrims supplies or work extra hard to maintain themselves pass by on their way out of Lorenz. She surmised as they travel, to play up the post-apocalyptic tone. If that trouble was ahead and put the signs up as they are unable to find sufficient supplies, they might a precaution. She also gives the PCs a 4th-level be unable to take long rests or have to make daily spell scroll of Elder Sign (SPCM 102) and 250 Constitution saving throws (DC 12) to avoid gaining gp worth of special ink to serve as the material levels of exhaustion. component if a spellcasting character wishes to learn the spell. Miles 1-20 – Devastation ◊ Green Monks. 10 days ago, a large group of cultists in green robes passed by Thusnelda’s The lower reaches of this area look to have been shrine, heading from Lorenzburg to parts un- scoured clean and left barren by some tremendous known. Shortly thereafter, a messenger stopped force. There are no trees, shrubs, or even grass. No at the shrine on her way to Lorenzburg and gave animals roam the wasteland, and there is no food Thuslenda the news of the fall of Hradivaz. Since to be found by any amount of searching. Winds then, Thusnelda has been sheltering in her hut coming down from the mountains whip up clouds and tending to the shrine, as is her duty. of dust that blow through the area. Occasionally the PCs may pass by an isolated farmstead or small ◊ The Order of the Candle. Thusnelda joined the hamlet, but even these are ruined and abandoned, Esoteric Order in her youth, but as she grew older with only stone and brick remaining. A plague of she felt called to the Order of Saint Helga. She formless spawn ravaged this area recently, devouring suggests the PCs visit Agnes Akombe, a friend everything they could, including wooden beams and from her youth who is now the highest-ranking bones. Characters who succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom Order of the Candle member in Lorenz. Agnes (Yog-Sothothery) check realize that formless spawn runs a tea shop in Lorenzburg. could have wreaked such devastation, but only in ile igh ountain dyll great numbers. M 20-50 – H M I Beyond the area ravaged by formless spawn, the Mile 15 – Lone Shrine land of Lorenz becomes green and fruitful. The steep Fifteen miles into the lifeless wasteland the PCs valley walls are carpeted with grass and dotted with come upon a roadside shrine. It is a small hut, about sheep and goats. The road occasionally passes close eight feet square, with a painted statuette of Saint to the Holber, a narrow, rushing river that bears little Helga set into a covered alcove facing the road. A resemblance to the wide, slow-moving waterway it shelf in front of the statuette holds the waxy remains becomes by the time it reaches Gorz-Nachek. There of dozens of spent candles. One small, purple candle are some lonely farmsteads and insignificant thorps still burns there. Each wall of the hut is painted with along the road to Lorenzburg. Some are abandoned a strange symbol somewhat like a curving pentagram due to the recent unrest, but others gladly trade food of irregular dimensions. Characters who succeed on and a night’s rest for tales of the PCs’ adventures and a DC 10 Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) check know this news of the ongoing troubles. is an Elder Sign, a protective sigil against eldritch ile iant ttack entities. M 35 – G A The small hut is occupied by Thusnelda (LG hu- As the PCs pass through a bend in a narrow valley, man female priest), a hunched old woman wearing they hear roaring and grunting coming from ahead. Samplethe white robe of a monk of Saint Helga, now dirty Characters who succeed on a DCfile 14 Intelligence and worn as the land suffers around her. She greets (Nature) or Wisdom (Survival) check identify this any who knock on the door of her hut and welcomes noise as a territorial contest between giants. At the them in, though there is little room. Thusnelda is a end of the valley, the PCs come to a point where the 4 King Leo of Lorenz land in a 60-foot square centered in the middle of Less than two weeks ago, several hundred citi- the road has become lumpy and doughy and tinged zens of Lorenzburg donned the green robes of the with a sickly purplish hue. This is due to the aberrant Tsathoggua cult and filed out of town on a mysterious stomp ability of a gibbering giant (page 70). This pilgrimage, never to return. This destabilizing event giant has been deformed by the eldritch influence is spoken of only in hushed whispers, as if naming of Tsathoggua, its torso distended with massive, the situation would make it real. Refugees from Ax- tumor-like growths of discolored flesh dotted with phain and Yetive have filtered in to Lorenzburg, many rolling eyes and gibbering mouths. The gibbering of them occupying houses abandoned by the cultists; giant standing 100 feet to the left of the road faces off they have received a friendly welcome, but they find against a hill giant 100 feet to the right of the road, it strange how disconnected most Lo- both roaring and throwing rocks at each other. As renzers are from the reality of the soon as the PCs can see them, the two giants situation. Those who wish run to engage in melee combat with each to speak freely on current other. The giants consider the PCs to be a events tend to congre- food source to quarrel over. Between at- gate in the Queen of tacking each other they attack the PCs Cups Tearoom in order to subdue run by Agnes and take Akombe. posses- sion of them.

Mile 50 – Welcome to Lorenzburg

The gates of Lorenzburg stand open to you, as if the war being fought in the lowland king- doms were of no concern here. It is a peaceful-looking city nestled Tea and against the rich blue waters of the Upper Holber River. Its white Tsathoggua marble walls contain a network of During their stay in Lorenzburg, narrow streets lined with multi-sto- it is likely that the PCs ry, half-timber buildings with visit Agnes Akombe (LG high-peaked roofs to let the human female snow run off in winter. In the city Mythos [page 59]), the head of the center, this gives way to broad avenues between scholar Esoteric Order of the Candle in Lorenz. Agnes is newer marble buildings roofed with blue-green strong and aged with dark skin and auburn dread- copper. Just outside the city stands the fortress locks that show a hint of white. She is friendly, forth- of Oberlorenzburg, a gleaming white castle on a right, and thoughtful, with a strong moral compass. rocky crag, accessible by a steep cartway. She runs the Queen of Cups Tearoom in Lorenzburg with her wife Lucrezia Rossa (CG human female Most of the people of Lorenzburg seem reluctant to noble). Lucrezia, whose hair is entirely white and acknowledge the ongoing destruction in the rest of whose wrinkled skin is tanned and weathered from the Empire, as if their shining city on the hill were a lifetime of sunbathing, is impulsive with a playful somehow beyond the reach of such troubles. King sense of humor. They are both members of the Eso- Leo has even issued a decree levying a 1 gp fine on teric Order of the Candle. Sampleany who mention the war against Tsathoggua. While Once it is clear to Agnes who the filePCs are and the city guards largely do not enforce this absurd what roles they play in combating Tsathoggua, she is decree, it has helped stifle such conversation from all eager to help them. She ushers them into her inner but the most interested. sanctum, a secret room behind the shop’s storage King Leo of Lorenz 5 room, its concealed door warded with an Elder Sign. more horrific than himself. The knowledge that It is a small chamber much like the one belonging to there are things worse than Tsathoggua is not Father Joachim the PCs saw in Hradivaz. There is an comforting, but his flight from Xoth seems to iron-bound chest containing several strange books, indicate a fight for survival, and therefore that each connected to a chain just long enough that they Tsathoggua is in some way mortal. can be placed on a nearby lectern. ◊ Voormithadreth. This was a great five-peaked Agnes removes a thick tome from her book chest volcano in Eibon’s age, known to the ancient and sets it on the lectern. “This is the Book of Hyperboreans as the dwelling place of the gods. Eibon, a travelogue written by a great wizard from Tsathoggua was one of the beings that resid- the time of myth. Eibon was a worshipper of ed in that mountain and he supposedly grew a Tsathoggua, and much of his writing deals with network of crystals within it for some unknown his encounters with him. His narrative is unteth- purpose. Eibon’s writings indicate that a pow- ered from time, intermingling prophecy, first-hand erful force, possibly divine in origin, destroyed knowledge, and ancient history. The writing is … Voormithadreth and scattered its five peaks across difficult at best to understand, and I find that each the land. One such relict peak Eibon refers to as person who reads it gets something different out the Voormis Horn, which sounds suspiciously of it. similar to the Voormittenhorn. “Ever since Tsathoggua awakened and devoured ◊ N’kai. After the destruction of Mount Hradivaz, I’ve been scouring this book trying to Voormithadreth, Tsathoggua took up residence in understand more about him, looking for clues the lightless realm of N’kai, which lies beneath the that might help defeat him. So far, I have found ruins of Yoth. In the blackness of N’kai, Tsathog- reference to three places strongly associated gua slumbers on a throne of crystal. According with Tsathoggua: Xoth, Voormithadreth, and to Eibon, the throne is the central nexus of a N’kai. I think N’kai might be where Tsathoggua network of crystals that resonate at the frequency was before he emerged from beneath Hradivaz. of Tsathoggua’s dreams, letting Tsathoggua draw I’ve also uncovered hints that, far from being a power from and control his formless spawn even mindless eating machine, Tsathoggua is a master as he sleeps. of powerful magic. And I strongly suspect that his ◊ Yoth. Yoth is a subterranean realm beneath K’n formless spawn are just as much a part of him as Yan, lit by an omnipresent red light and inhabited your fingers are a part of you. by what Eibon calls dragons but which seem more “But I think a new set of eyes should look like giant quadrupedal reptilians. These creatures over this book.” She grabs a hammer and chisel are said to magically sculpt flesh to their purpos- and severs the book’s chain with one decisive es, designing new beings to serve them in specific blow. “I’m giving this book to you. It may not be tasks. Eibon also mentions an underground sea in completely safe on your adventures, but I think connection with Yoth. recent events have shown that a book isn’t safe in a major city either. Besides, you can do more with ◊ K’n Yan. K’n Yan is a subterranean kingdom this book out there than I can in here.” inhabited by humanoids known as the Ancients. The Ancients are an amoral civilization with the technology to reshape the flesh of the dead into Agnes gives the PCs her copy of The Book of Eibon powerful and horrific slaves. Their chief city is (SPCM 133) along with an oilskin pouch to keep it Tsath, named for Tsathoggua, whom they wor- safe from weather. She also tells the PCs that they shiped in Eibon’s time. But Eibon prophesied that can come here any time to do research; thanks to the Ancients would reject Tsathoggua at some the powerful magical wards in this room, characters point in the future, which may now be the past. have advantage on saving throws made against dread while researching these texts. Agnes also has copies ◊ Formless Spawn. The formless spawn of Tsathog- of The Pnakotic Manuscripts (SPCM 136) and Von gua are seemingly limitless in number and are Unaussprechlichen Kulten (SPCM 137) that the PCs controlled by Tsathoggua himself. When he sleeps, can use while they are here. so do the formless spawn unless he sits upon his resonant crystal throne. Eibon’s descriptions of Researching Tsathoggua seem to vary widely in size. He some- The Book of Eibon times describes Tsathoggua as growing as more For information on researching Mythos texts, see formless spawn are added to him, and in one page 132 of SPCM. Characters successfully re- instance he shrinks as a large mass of formelss searching The Book of Eibon can glean information spawn are sloughed off. Eibon even speculates on the following topics: that Tsathoggua might be composed entirely out Sampleof his own formless spawn. file ◊ Xoth. Xoth is mentioned only briefly as a mon- strous world lit by a green sun where once ◊ Tsathoggua. The Great Old One known as Tsathoggua dwelt among other things older and Tsathoggua is a powerful spellcaster and keeper of

6 King Leo of Lorenz