Curse of the Gorgon

Threats from the past and present will challenge level 5 heroes in this desert tomb exploration.

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01

What's Going On?

The gorgon witch Neferti was advisor to the dynasts. After viewing a prophecy that foretold the fall of the dynasty she bound her spirit to her Amulet to cheat death and vowed to return in a new age.

02

Quest Hooks

  • The Tower offers a favor as reward for bringing them the Amulet of Neferti , without anyone else knowing.
  • Xerathis the merchant sells directions to the tomb of Neferti and the countless others in the valley of tombs.
03

Treasures

  • (GMguide p20)
Very Rare

Hear-ring

No Actions; No Message Limits

A simple, matched set of enchanted jewelry worn on the ear. While worn, wearers can verbally communicate with one another no matter the distance.

Lesser versions exist limited by distance and message length, but true Hear-rings are invaluable and rare.

EEverdawn DM
Rare

Sands of Time

Consumable (3 Uses)

A handful of this sand can be sprinkled over an ancient object to reveal how it looked in the past. The illusion lasts only a brief period.

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Uncommon

Scarab of Protection

Consumable

Reaction: Succeed at a failed save. Then the scarab crumbles to dust.

An ancient scarab made out of pure gold. It is inscribed with protection chants from the old Dynasty.

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Uncommon

Sunstone Amulet

Wondrous Item (1 charge)

Shines bright light like a torch when activated.

Recharge: Needs to be placed in sunlight from sunrise to sunset.

Praise the Sun!

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04

Traveling Encounters

Restricted Resting

Heroes can't “Make Camp” or “Safe Rest” while traversing the Withering Dunes.

Idol of the first gods (Withering Dunes)

Withering Dunes Travel Encounter

A weathered stone idol can be seen surrounded by offerings (...

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Glowing Sands (Withering Dunes)

Withering Dunes Travel Encounter

Green glowing sand. Acrid smell in the air. Naturecraft Chec...

Giant Scorpion
Acid StalkerLvl 8
1 per 2 heroes
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Sandsharks (Withering Dunes)

Withering Dunes Travel Encounter

Sandsharks relentlessly pursue the heroes. Options:

  • Appea...
BuletteLvl 10
1 per 2 heroes
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05

Adventure Locations

Tomb Layout

(1) Tomb Entry

A stone hallway. Murals on the wall. Fresh trails disturb thick layers of dust.

  • The murals are showing a beautiful woman wearing an extravagant necklace surrounded by several servants. Beside it is a list of names, most are weathered and unreadable except one “Neferti ”. (Which means “The most beautiful” in Primordial language)
  • DC 12 Naturecraft/Examination: The trails were made by at least a dozen snakemen.

(2) Upper Hallway

Hallway of the Dead

Dark hallway littered with old bones and a few fresh snakemen corpses. There are hidden runes on t...

Zombie 1
Snakemen ZombieLvl 1/2
1 per 1 hero
Lesser Runes of ReanimationLvl 1
×1
Wight
SpecterLvl 3
1 per 2 heroes
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(3) Servant Hallway

Hieroglyphs adorn the floor and 3 pairs of statues flank the sides of this hallway.

  • Hieroglyphs read “The faithful servant is beneath notice.” (Primordial language).
  • Statues with angry faces and open mouths.
    • When walking past their eyes, flames come out of their mouths. 2d6 Fire or half on DC 14 Dex save (advantage after seeing how the mechanism works).
    • Possible to crawl by the statues without triggering them.

The hallway leads to 3 locations:

  • An open doorway leads to the fake Burial Chamber
  • A fake wall already opened by the snakement leads to the Witch Tomb.
  • Another cracked fake wall leading to the Secret Burial chamber can be opened with a DC 12 Finesse/Might check.

(4.1) Fake Burial Chamber

A small chamber, broken vases and sarcophagi.

  • Plundered long ago.
  • This can’t be the real chamber.

(4.2) Secret Burial Chamber

A small chamber with several upright sarcophagi (1 per hero) with burial gifts at their feet.

  • Burial gifts: 1 per 2 heroes.
  • Jewelry worth 50 gold.
  • Tier 1 magic scroll.
  • A Treasure. When touching the treasure or opening a sarcophagus combat ensues: 1 Stiff Mummy per hero (Mummy stats, but only speed 4 and vulnerable to fire). The mummies can be lured into the flame statue traps in the Servant Hallway.

(4.3) Witch Tomb

Flickering torches shine on a group of unmoving snakemen.

  • On closer look: The snakemen are lifelike statues.
  • The sarcophagus is broken open. Examination DC 12: The mummy’s neck is broken. The amulet was forcefully taken.
  • Praising hymns about the witch Neferti are written on the walls: "Blessed be her beauty.” “Temporary be her slumber.” “Magnificent be her return.”.
  • One of the snakemen is not fully turned to stone. Healing or DC 14 Naturecraft can revert the process. He recounts what has happened and asks the players to save his priestess.

(5) Treasure Room

The Gorgon Witch

*A hooded snakewoman is surrounded by treasure and more snakemen statues. Something wiggles and his...

Medusa
ZithisLvl 5
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Loot

  • Burial treasures worth 50 gold per hero.
  • A Treasure.
Legendary

Possessed Amulet

Wondrous Item - Cursed

Gain living snake hair and the “Stone Gaze” ability.

Stone Gaze. Daze a grappled target (for 10 minutes or until the wearer is Dazed. Dazed 3 times = Petrified.).

1/safe rest the spirit takes control (works like Lose Control from the Mage Control Table. Can use necrotic cantrips.).

An amulet possessed by the spirit of the ancient Gorgon Witch Neferti.

Dropped by: .

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06

Aftermath

  • If Neferti is not stopped, she will go to the other dynasty tombs and free powerful undead.
  • If Zithis is spared, she asks for help against the scorpion queen, offering the snakemen tribes support in return.
  • If the amulet is brought to the Tower, they will provide Neferti with a host and try to learn her ancient secrets.
  • If the heroes keep the amulet, Neferti whispers promises of power trying to convince the hero with the weakest WIL to wear it.
  • The Nameless Wanderer knows how to destroy the amulet.