A COMPLETE ADVENTURE PRESENTED BY

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I C I
F F A
O L

T
C C
I

E U
N D
S E
D P R O

BY MIKE MCARTOR, F. WESLEY SCHNEIDER, AND JAMES L. SUTTER

BY KYLE HUNTER
BY KYLE HUNTER
LOWLEVEL (1ST3RD) DUNGEON CRAWL
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DUNGEON 1
 SERVANT OF DECAY MIKE MCARTOR, F. WESLEY SCHNEIDER, AND JAMES L. SUTTER

T
he sinister wizard Malek and his ten. As the magic of their traps and plane and beyond, one of the vaults of
sprees of terror are long past, yet at treasures decay, the bonds of at least Malek has been revealed to an ambi-
the edges of civilization a new evil one of Maleks vaults have weakened, tious young follower of the Faceless
festers in the heart of one of his long- spilling forth Juiblexs centuries-old Lord named Charv Verlane. Fearful of
forgotten redoubts, a demonic taint that corruption to again taint the land. what dangers lurk within the aged hold,
threatens to corrupt all it touches. Charv hungrily desires the unholy rel-
Servant of Decay is a D&D adventure Adventure Hooks ics that might lie within, eager to use
for four 1st-level characters, although Servant of Decay is meant to be an early them in supplanting his cults current
many of the encounters here could easily adventure in the careers of novice adven- leader. Thus the cultist seeks a group
challenge a party of four 2nd-level char- turers. As such, numerous events or parties of unsuspecting dupes to plunder the
acters. This Dungeon magazine adven- might steer the PCs toward Maleks vault vault for him. Approaching the PCs in
ture takes explorers into the depths of for a variety of reasons. While some of the disguise of a student of magic, the
one of the evil wizard Maleks lost vaults, these plots might serve as isolated errands, cultist oers them a map to the vaults
similar to the one depicted in the movie others plant the seeds of events that might hidden entrance, 200 gp to explore its
Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the be revisited later in a campaign. depths, and the promise to buy whatever
Dragon God, written by Brian Rudnick Corruptive Inuences: A quagmire treasures with which they return.
and Robert Kimmel. This adventure pre- has inexplicably formed at the edge of a
cedes the exploits in the lm and allows forest, adjacent to a small farming com- MALEKS VAULT
characters to participate in integral, munity. Rancid and foul in the extreme, The magically concealed entrance to one
behind-the-scenes events. the bog expands daily and already mires of the infamous wizard Maleks numer-
the edges of several elds. Cast in the ous haunts hides at the edge of a tangled
Adventure Background hope of uncovering the source of the forest. Less than half a mile outside a
Ageless and uncaring, Juiblex the Face- growing sludge, simple spells have small farming community, the area is
less Lord festers amid his Abyssal realm revealed something magically obscured overcome by an unnatural decay.
of corruption and ruin. Yet when com- at the corruptions swampy center. The Within, unless noted otherwise, the
pelled by the dual temptations of power- obscured object is the invisible statue vaults ceilings are 15 feet high and all
ful magic and the promise of spreading that serves as the entrance to one of walls are of a dark gray stoneusually
his cancerous inuence, the pseudopods Maleks vaults, which leads to the source encrusted in ooze or other lth. Doors
of the Demon Prince of Slimes and of the corruption: a decaying relic con- are either simple rotted wooden barri-
Oozes anxiously seep into the unsus- secrated to Juiblex. Fearful of how far ers with rusted, useless locks or larger,
pecting realms of mortals. the quagmire might spread, the local ornate stone double doors.
When summoned by the dark call farmers and magistrate have oered a Stone Vault Walls: 5 . thick; Hardness
of Malek, an ex-magistrate of Ismir 50-gp reward to anyone who can provide 8; hp 900; Break DC 65; Climb DC 20.
seduced by the Faceless Lord, Juiblex information on the unnatural bog, with Stone Double Doors: 4 in. thick; Har-
planted several drippings of his eternal an additional 100 gp going to any who ness 8; hp 60; Break DC 28.
rot just beneath the skin of the world. somehow manage to stop its spread. Rotted Wooden Doors: 2 in. thick;
From these blisters of Abyssal stone Search for the Elemental Might: It is Hardness 4; hp 15; Break DC 14.
and petried slime, the demon princes well recorded in certain scholarly circles
most depraved slaves sculpted lightless that the foul wizard Malek curried the 1. Entrance and Descent
strongholds and vaults. Each instilled favor of the Demon Prince Juiblex in
with powerful magic, these secret sanc- return for powerful magical gis. One of The ground of this forested dell is putrid
tuaries were gied to Malek so that he these gis was a pool of scrying, capable of in the extreme. Each step has the feel of
might cull the surrounding lands in his revealing to the user anything he sought. treading upon rotten fruit and causes fetid
masters blasphemous name. Such a tool could prove of great use in brown liquid to seep from the surround-
But Maleks time is past. locating a weapon to combat the threat of ing earth. The vegetation grows wild here,
With Malek long dead and knowl- Damodar and the Orb of Falazure. but even it droops under the weight of its
edge of his foul deeds and dark master The powerful wizard Oberon has recently own rot.
faded to reside tales and superstitious located one of Maleks numerous sanctuaries
warnings, Juiblexs secreted bastions and suspects that it might hold the ancient The soil here is aicted by the taint
lie decayed, deled, and appropriately spellcasters infamous pool of scrying. Even of the vault below and the unnatural
overcome by rot, lost even to mem- if it does not, at the very least it likely holds oozes seeping into the land from area
bers of the Faceless Lords own cult. clues as to where the pool does lie. 12. All of the land within 90 feet of the
Yet reduced to mere aerthoughts in The Shadow of Juiblex: The cult of entrance should be treated as under-
historys memory, sometimes even the Juiblex reaches far and through many growth (see page 87 of the Dungeon
most forlorn evils refuse to be forgot- shadows. From connections on this Masters Guide).

2 DUNGEON
 The entrance to the vault is in this
area, but the obelisk marking it has been
rendered invisible by a permanent invis-
ibility spell. Fortunately, age and the rot-
ting of the land have caused the entrance
to decay, shi, and partially sink into the
earth, leaving the stone seal partially ajar.
Any character who spends half an hour
or more searching the quagmire and
who succeeds at a DC 14 Search check
discovers a 10-foot-square depression
in the ground, as well as a triangular
gap leading into the earth. Characters
specically directed to the center of the
bog need spend only 5 minutes and suc-
ceed at a DC 12 Search check to uncover
the entrance. Those who investigate the
area further discover that the depres-
sion is being created by some tall invis-
ible structure. Should the PCs somehow
manage to dispel the structures invis-
ibility or otherwise reveal its shape (such
as through the use of spells like glitterdust
or generous application of mud), they
nd it to be a 20-foot-tall obsidian obe-
lisk. On one face of the obelisk is a raised
area that might once have borne a mes-
sage, but weather and the areas unnatu-
ral decay has worn it to nothing more
than a rough-faced panel.
Characters who wish to enter the gap
in the ground will nd it barely more
than 3 feet wide at its broadest part. Crea-
tures of Medium size have to squeeze
to pass through the crack, but smaller
creatures have no problem entering.
Larger creatures cannot pass, but a DC 18
Strength check forces the entrance open
far enough to allow a Large creature to
squeeze through and a Medium creature
to move through unhindered.
Below the opening a ight of spiraling
stairs descends 30 feet into the darkened
vault, attening out into a brief ante-
chamber before descending again. As the
PCs reach the landing at the bottom of
the spiral steps, read the following:

Walls of dark, crumbling stone enfold the

passage from above, which ends in a small
landing. Patterns of strange tentacles, curl-
ing alien waves, and writhing pseudopods
trace the walls, intermingled with all man-
ner of skittering insects and dripping ichor.
Above, wisps of dense cobwebs and pale

DUNGEON 3
 SERVANT OF DECAY MIKE MCARTOR, F. WESLEY SCHNEIDER, AND JAMES L. SUTTER

dangling roots sway as if moved by some hidden beneath the muck unless a crea- hidden in area 2) could pass by the golem
breath rising from a second descending ture approaches within 2 feet of the sur- unmolested.
ight of slick-looking steps. face, at which point the entire swarm While the majority of its form has
attacks mindlessly until it or its foes are crumbled away, the oversized arm of
There is nothing of any danger or destroyed. Its been a long time since the former golem continues to follow
value in this room. A DC 12 Knowledge theyve had fresh meat. its ancient orders. The golems arm is
(architecture and engineering) checkin Monstrous Centipedes, Small (6): hp 2 roughly 5 feet long and about 6 inches
this room or any otherreveals that the each; Monster Manual 286. in diameter at the bicep. Although the
walls and ceilings are weak, but are in Treasure: A successful DC 15 Search arm possesses the animating magic of
no immediate danger of collapsing any check uncovers 15 gp in the belly of the a true stone golem, it lacks the strength
more than they already have. exploding-torso statue of Zuggtmoy and toughness of a complete construct.
in the northwest corner of the room. Stepping within 5 feet of the dais acti-
2. Gallery of Slime (EL 1) Malek and his few followers used to vates the stone golem arm. A DC 12 Spot
place coins there for luck on their way check allows a character to notice the
This room is dominated by an enormous into the temple proper. arm before it has begun moving. Once
pool of brown muck contained by a 2- In addition, those who take on the animated, the arm drags itself along with
foot-high stone lip. A fountain shaped disgusting task of searching the muck tireless ngers, making a loud scraping
like a screaming goblin head on the discover a balled-up mass of ooze-soaked noise detectable with a DC 10 Listen
western rim oozes putrid liquid from its black robes hidden within (Search DC check. In battle the arm rears up on its
eyes, nostrils, and mouth. Alcoves on the 20). While in poor condition, these three shoulder and attempts to punch its foes
north and south walls contain a variety of wretched-smelling robes are promi- with a clenched st.
unnerving statues. nently embroidered with the symbol of
Juiblex. Each robe might fetch up to 20 Stone Golem Arm CR 2
The pool at this rooms center is gp from a worshiper of Juiblex or other N Small construct
Maleks answer to the problem of pro- student of dark arcana. Init 1; Senses darkvision 60 ., low-light
visioning his guardians. Perpetually vision; Spot +0, Listen +0
brewed beneath the floor tiles and 3. Broken Statue (EL 2) AC 19, touch 10, at-footed 19
pumped in through the goblin head, the hp 21 (2 HD); DR 10/adamantine
brown ooze radiates a faint aura of trans- Rounded slabs of basalt comprise the Immune mind-aecting eects, death
mutation magic and is both lling and oor of this hallway. An unnatural green eects, disease, necromancy eects,
nutritious. A single draught can sustain tints the wide swaths of cracked mortar paralysis, poison, sleep eects, spells that
a Medium creature for an entire day between the ill-tting stones. Fine white allow SR, stunning
assuming it can get past the decidedly dust mingles with larger pieces of black- Fort +0, Ref 1, Will +0
foul aertaste. Ooze taken from this swirled white stone and gray rubble on the Weakness transmute rock to mud slows for
pool loses its magical properties aer oor. Cobwebs hang in the corners of the 2d6 rounds, stone to esh negates damage
one hour. In addition to the muck, sev- ceiling, and the place stinks of rotting fruit. reduction and immunity to magic for 1
eral monstrous centipedes have taken Upon a foot-tall dais in the center of the round
up residence in the pool. Anyone who hallway hunches the dilapidated remains of Spd 10 .
comes within 2 feet of the pools surface an oversized black-marble statue. Chunks Melee slam +4 melee (1d4+2)
is attacked by these Creatures. of shattered marble lie scattered about on Base Atk +1; Grp 1
The statues in the four alcoves are all the dais and nearby oor, which appear to Abilities Str 14, Dex 9, Con , Int , Wis
variations on the same themeJuiblex have once represented a humanoid gure 11, Cha 1
drowning, dissolving, and otherwise van- dressed in robes. Tactics: The arm does not utilize any
quishing a beautiful clawed woman. One tactics beyond moving toward its closest
particularly disturbing piece displays Creature: This statue once bore the foe, rearing back, and punching. If grap-
one of Juiblexs pseudopods reaching likeness of a middle-aged human man pled, the arm attacks its grappler for at
down his victims throat and exploding wearing owing robes and holding a thin least 1 round before attempting to break
out through her chest and stomach. A tome in one hand. Although almost dou- the grapple. (If it successfully damages
successful DC 15 Knowledge (the planes) ble his true height, the statue looked like a its grappler the arm continues to attack
check identies the woman as Zuggtmoy, rough-hewn version of Malek. Despite its instead of attempting to break free).
Demon Lady of Fungi and Juiblexs prin- mundane appearance, the statue was actu-
cipal demonic rival. ally a stone golem and acted as a guardian 4. Broken Trap Gallery
Creatures: Six Small monstrous cen- for the galleries to the north and south.
tipedes make their home in the nutri- Only Malek or a creature bearing the sym- The northern and western walls of this
ent pool. The vermin remain completely bol of Juiblex (such as those on the robes room have almost completely collapsed

4 DUNGEON
inward, bringing down half the ceiling and amorphous demon lord. The dagger cut oor as stylized renditions of Juiblexs
lling the room with rubble. The exposed goes through the head of a middle-aged sigil. The other paintings include:
sections of worked stone behind the col- human male, which a DC 20 Knowledge A pastoral river owing through a cow
lapsed facades reveal narrow rods and gears (history) check identies as Malek. Nor- pasture.
built into the underlying rock. Chipped mally the rug would fetch 10 gp and the A remote mountain valley with no sign
paint covers the remaining, uncollapsed picture 25 gp, but a worshiper of Juiblex of habitation.
walls. Broken gilded wooden frames lie on or morbid historian might pay double. Endless dunes of beige sand.
the tile oor, their paintings blackened and A massive evergreen tree growing
ripped. A dried layer of greenish slime cov- 5. Art Gallery directly out of a body of water
ers the entire oor and wide swaths of the whether a pond or an ocean is impos-
intact walls. Five large landscape paintings hang on sible to tell.
the walls of this room, each with a colorful
This room once housed a side gal- symbol engraved into the oor directly in Treasure: The paintings themselves
lery of paintings, frescoes, statues, and front of it. are glued securely to the walls, requiring
ornate pieces of jewelry. Many of the art a DC 16 Strength check to remove. Dis-
pieces depicted Juiblex in some act of While ve paintings here at rst seem playing only a novices skill, the entire
destruction or corruption, but most of to be nothing more than amateurish set fetches a mere 20 gp. For many wiz-
the valuable pieces disappeared shortly ards or worshipers of Juiblex, however,
aer Malek did. Some art objects remain, these are major nds that could help
although very few of them hold any locate Maleks other infamous holds.
The sign
value to a non-cultist. Such buyers might pay up to 80 gp
of juiblex
Every square in this room is for all ve pictures.
considered dense rubble (see
page 90 of the Dungeon Mas- 6. Shrine of the Faceless
ters Guide) Lord
The metal rods and
gears are the exposed Dark splattered stains mingle
remains of an elabo- with the shadows upon the
rate dart-ring trap that walls of this wide room. From
once guarded the entire an alcove across the chamber
room. Fortunately, the howl the silent screams of a
crumbled wall and pas- throng of tortured souls. Doz-
sage of time has reduced the ens of humanoid gures, each
trap to scrap that possesses no carved from inky black stone,
threat to those in the room. Hidden writhe in a grotesquely complex
in the random designs painted on the sculpture. Each drowning figure
wall just to the west of the doorway is hopelessly struggles for life within a
a small catch that once deactivated the mound of churning ooze. A basin sur-
trap (Search DC 20). Now, pressing the rounds this morbid sculpture, but it
hidden lever causes a rusted snap to stands empty except for the same molds
sound from behind the wall and some and foul growths that choke the rest of
debris on the opposite wall to shi, but the hall.
nothing more.
Treasure: A DC 16 Search check reveals This room once served as a place of
threadbare and worn fragments of a musings in oil, they once served as guides worship and sacrice for Malek and
once-plush rug partially buried beneath to Maleks other sanctuaries (especially his few acolytes in their foul devotions
the rubble, along with a battered frame useful in certain scrying or teleportation to the Demon Prince Juiblex. Now just
and painting in the northeastern cor- spells). Any PC who bothers to study the as decrepit as the rest of the vault, this
ner of the room. While its wood frame paintings and succeeds at a DC 18 Intel- shrine still bears the Faceless Lords lin-
is crumbling, the painting remains ligence check immediately notices that gering taint.
relatively undamaged except for a sin- one is a portrayal of the grove containing Those who investigate the stains on
gle hole, about the width of a daggers the dungeons entrance as it might look the walls with a DC 10 Spot check can
blade. Careful examination shows sev- if uncorrupted. Characters who make conrm that they are in fact ancient
eral Juiblex cultists oering a sacrice of a DC 15 Knowledge (the planes) check bloodstains, but nd nothing else of
a young woman dressed as a bride to the recognize the amoebalike glyphs on the any interest.

DUNGEON 5
 SERVANT OF DECAY MIKE MCARTOR, F. WESLEY SCHNEIDER, AND JAMES L. SUTTER

Creature: The statue here, once the physical action aside from movement. caused it to dry up. When the dungeon
focus of such depraved worship, contains These eects persist for 5 minutes. later ooded, the powdered slime resi-
the most miniscule droplet of Juiblexs When the PCs enter the chamber the due dissolved into the water. The result-
immortal putrescence: a single drip of statues initial attitude is indierent (or ing diluted green slime deals 1 point
his foul form. Buried at the heart of helpful if theyre wearing the robes in of damage per round to any creature
its Abyssal stone, the slime imbues the area 2). If the characters can manage to immersed in it. The walls out of the pit
entire statue with a demonic sentience, convince the sculpture that they are wor- are small and pitted, but slick, requiring
an insane kind of life le to serve Malek shipers of Juiblex or change its attitude a DC 18 Climb check to scale. Characters
and his cult. Languishing in the dark- to friendly they might question it about above may aid this check or, if they are
ness for over a century has caused the the dungeon, but it actually knows very strong enough, li allies adjacent to the
statue, half-crazed when created, to cross little (only that Rivers of blood owed bridge or landing out of the pit.
into complete madness. Anyone who before me long ago.). If the statues atti- Underneath the bridge, where it meets
comes within 5 feet of the sentient sculp- tude can be changed to helpful it hints the western landing, is a prominent
ture causes an echoing voice to boom at great treasures below, where its master lever in the shape of a femur, concealed
through the room, commanding them lingers. Its master, Malek, is in fact not from creatures on the bridge and land-
to Kneel before the Faceless Lord! below, having passed by the statue ages ing (Search DC 22) but painfully obvi-
This statue serves one primary pur- ago, le the vault magically, and later ous to anyone in the pit (Spot DC 10).
pose: to allow only worshipers of Juiblex met a grisly end. The statue tells the A Medium or larger creature can reach
passage into the halls below. Imbued PCs that to pass below they must merely it easily by kneeling on the landing and
with the power to temporarily transform touch it, but it does not think to mention leaning over the side. Moving the lever
creatures into slime, this ability in tan- the drains at its base or any other way disarms the Trap.
dem with several wide drains at its base to access the lower level. Any character The bridge itself seems unremarkable
provides transformed beings access to who touches the statue to pass below is except for faint ripple patterns, likely cre-
area 7. Traveling through the 80 feet of considered willing and does not receive ated by dripping liquid, noticeable on a
pipes leading below requires less than a saving throw to resist being turned into DC 16 Spot check. At DC 18 Search check
two rounds for most characters. A DC 14 slime. If the statues attitude changes to also reveals that the central 10 feet of the
Search check reveals the drains hidden unfriendly or hostile, or if it does not bridges stones are loose, serving as trig-
amid the basins lth to any character believe the PCs are worshipers of Juiblex, gers for the Trap in this area. Holes on
who investigates the statue. it attempts to transform anyone who the north and south walls also provide
Self-superior, belligerent, and par- touches it into slime (allowing them a evidence of this trap, but a DC 14 Search
tially convinced that it is Juiblex itself, saving throw) as a scare tactic, heedless check on wall sections 10 feet above the
the sculpture is not incredibly intelligent of the repercussions. pit is required to detect them.
(Intelligence 8, Wisdom 6, Charisma 12; Trap: Passing over the bridges middle
Diplomacy +2, Intimidate +3, Sense Motive 7. Shooting Gallery (EL 2) section triggers a complex slime-shoot-
+2). It has little motivation beyond deter- ing trap that has remained operational
mining whether those who enter are faith- The western end of this room is devoted through the centuries. With a chorus of
ful to Juiblex (Follow you the Prince of entirely to a statue of Juiblex situated so phut sounds, holes in the walls to
Slimes?) and initially has little patience beneath numerous small drains in the ceil- the north and south begin ring globs of
for divergent conversation (What matter ing. To the east, a narrow causeway passes dense green goo which shoot powerfully
is such idiocy? All things rot.). over a stinking pit of foul greenish sludge. across the bridge to splatter against the
At will, the sculpture here can trans- opposite wall. Anyone attempting to walk
form any creature (and all of its equip- The statue of Juiblex is identical in or crawl through this area becomes the
ment) in contact with it that fails a DC both form and function to the one in target of 1d4 attacks for every round they
18 Fortitude save into a living puddle area 6, though slightly smaller and non- spend on or traveling over the bridge.
of slime. While transformed, the target sentient. Anyone who touches this statue In addition to the damage, any character
retains all of its normal statistics, but has must make a DC 18 save or turn to slime stuck must make a DC 10 Balance check
no appreciable anatomy and does not as in area 6 (willing creatures automati- for each hit or fall into the ooded pit.
suer damage from physical attacks. The cally make the transformation). The Characters who watch the ooze
aected creature also gains the eects of sculpture rests in an alcove opening onto shooting from the walls for a whole
the spell spider climb as an extraordinary an unremarkable 20-foot-square stone round can make a DC 16 Intelligence
ability and can pass through any open- landing. To the east, a 5-foot-wide bridge check to notice that the shots re in a
ing larger than 1 inch in diameter (such passes over a 10-foot-deep pit, lled with predictable order. Those made aware of
as the drains in this room). However, 3 feet of muck. Once this pit was lled this order may make a DC 18 Dexter-
while in this state the target cannot ver- with green slime, but a lack of regular ity check to try at avoiding the arching
bally communicate or perform any other attention aer Maleks death eventually slime. Successful characters suer no

6 DUNGEON
attacks while crossing, while those who check, but scrambling over the top takes in its destruction, although the few nota-
fail are subject to 1d4, as normal. only a DC 16 Climb check. Alternatively, ble tomes detailed below can be removed
Slime Cannon Trap: CR 2; mechani- swimming through the narrow gap cre- without incident.
cal; location trigger; automatic reset; ated by the shelves underwater involves Terrain: Due to the 3 feet of water cur-
hidden button bypass (Search DC 22); merely a DC 5 Swim check. rently ooding the area, treat movement
Atk +10 ranged (1d4 acid damage, glob); Despite its current dilapidated con- in this room as if it were a deep bog,
multiple targets (res 1d4 globs at any dition, the amount of information still with Medium or larger creatures mov-
targets on bridge); Search DC 14; Dis- available in this chamber is staggering. ing at one-fourth their normal speed
able Device DC 20. Anyone researching in this room gains and smaller creatures forced to swim (see
Treasure: Anyone making a DC 14 a +2 circumstance on all Knowledge page 88 of the Dungeon Masters Guide).
Search check within the muck at the bot- (arcana), Knowledge (history), and Knowl- Creature: A swarm of bloodbloater
tom of the pit discovers a fully equipped edge (the planes) checks. The titanic oozes dris lazily near the far staircase.
skeleton oating in the ooze. Besides number of books in this room and their Any disturbance of the water in this room
ooze-soaked clothing and a backpack, extreme states of decay mean that many immediately alerts it, causing the oozes
the skeleton still possesses a common are bound together merely by the to slowly gather then move to
lantern, three asks of oil, a set of thieves molds growing within attack 3 rounds later.
tools, a masterwork dagger, and 12 gp. them. Any attempt
to remove the col-
8. Flooded Library (EL 1) lection results

A short ight of stairs leads down to the

ooded stone oor of a sizable library.
Sturdy stone bookshelves dominate
the rooms edges and center, tower-
ing toward the high domed ceil-
ing. Several rolling ladders lean
against the stacks, each packed
to bursting with mildewed
scrolls and moldering tomes.
Several feet of standing water
has turned low-lying texts to pulp
and le the leather bindings of a
few unfortunate manuscripts to oat
docilely through the placid murk. The
far end of the room is choked with
fallen bookshelves.

Numerous 20-foot-high
stone bookcases ll this
room. In the middle is
a giant stone block, 20
feet high, with book-
shelves carved on all
sides. Arches to the north
and south lead off into
other chambers, and a ight of stairs
at the far end of the room leads
to a set of locked stone dou-
ble doors. These
stairs, leading
to area 12, are
obstructed by
two bookshelves that juiblex,
have toppled against each other. Clearing the faceless lord
the shelves requires a DC 28 Strength

DUNGEON 7
 SERVANT OF DECAY MIKE MCARTOR, F. WESLEY SCHNEIDER, AND JAMES L. SUTTER

Bloodbloater CR 1 WestpeakScrying Pool Besides the trap, the drawer contains only
N Diminutive ooze (aquatic, swarm) The FordHelm of the Elder the key to area 12, along with a pile of
Fiend Folio 16 DeeptreeJasmine muck that might have once been paper.
Init +1; Senses blindsight 60 .; Listen 5, This oor plan depicts one of Maleks Characters who investigate the oor
Spot 5 other vaults, specically the one holding with a successful DC 22 Search check
AC 11, touch 11, at-footed 10 the pool of scrying. While no location is probably by touch alone, considering the
hp 22 (2 HD) provided, historians or those interested several feet of murky waterdiscover a
Immune ooze traits, swarm traits, weapon in the creations of Juiblex would pay 40 pattern covering a 10-foot-diameter area
damage gp for this annotated blueprint. at the rooms center. A summoning cir-
Fort +6, Ref +1, Will 5 Besides the mundane tomes, a DC cle created by Malek in ages past, this
Weakness re vulnerability 22 Search check produces a scroll of symbol still holds an ancient power. Any
Spd 5 .; swim 30 . unseen servant and another of comprehend conjuration spell cast within the area of
Melee swarm (1d6 plus 1 Str/0) languages. this symbol is treated as if it had been
Space 10 .; Reach 0 . cast using the Extend Spell feat. A DC
Base Atk +1; Grp +1 9. Maleks Study (EL 1) 22 Knowledge (arcana) check reveals this
Special Atk distraction (DC 10) fact. This symbol cannot be removed
Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 22, Int , Wis Several pieces of furniture oat like rotted from its present place and a mere copy
1, Cha 1 islands within this ooded hall. The largest, does not provide the same eects.
SQ amphibious a massive desk of black stone inlaid with Terrain: This area is partially ooded.
Skills Swim +8 animal bones, dominates the far wall. A Medium or larger creatures move at one-
Treasure: Although time and humidity small nearby table, charred and splintered fourth their normal speed and smaller
have rendered most of the texts worth- under a pile of shattered glassware, seems creatures are forced to swim.
less, a DC 14 Search check of the room to be the source of a faint chemical odor Trap: A needle coated in wyvern
produces several texts, most notably that suuses the room. Opposite it stands poison once protected the drawer to
a hymnal full of amateurish odes and two pillars, both supporting grim trophies, Maleks desk. Fortunately, time has
chants to Juiblex, several detailed histo- and a closed wooden door. From the rear evaporated the poison, reducing this
ries of the Empire of Ismir, an oversized of the room, the periodic thud of wood trap to nothing more than a nasty sting.
illustrated tome entitled The Quest for on stone marks a bobbing chair knocking At the DMs discretion, those damaged
the Rod of Savrille, and a small yellowed against the wall. by the trap might still feel a slight diz-
manual titled Shedaklah. While most of ziness from a minuscule amount of
the information in these texts is incon- This room served as one of Maleks per- remaining poison, but nothing threat-
sequential, the hymnal and nal tome sonal studies and research chambers. ening or statistic altering.
might prove of some interest to those The table here holds the remains of Needle Trap: CR 1/2; mechanical; touch
interested in Malek or the Demon Prince what was once an impressive collection of trigger; manual reset; Atk +8 ranged (1, nee-
Juiblex. Though the hymnal is nothing alchemical equipment, but time and cor- dle); Search DC 22; Disable Device DC 20.
more than talentless gushing and might rosive contents have destroyed the fragile Treasure: Along with the key in the
fetch 15 gp from an interested buyer, the tools and the majority of the chemicals desk, the display pillars and alchemy
innocuous-looking title Shedaklah proves they once held. Although scattered and table both hold items of value. An inter-
to be a detailed description the 222nd buried, some of these valuable com- ested spellcaster might purchase the dis-
layer of the Abyss, the realm of Juiblex pounds might be salvaged as Treasure. played skull and heart for 20 gp apiece.
and his immortal enemy Zuggtmoy, The two pillars opposite the alchemi- A successful DC 16 Search check on the
Lady of Fungi. Any student of planar cal table are merely displays for two of table uncovers four empty and service-
lore might pay 30 gp for such nd, and a Maleks more morbid trophies: a mold- able glass asks and a broken bottle con-
worshiper of Juiblex or Zuggtmoy would covered hezrou demons skull and a taining a yellow liquidrecognizable
eagerly pay upwards of 50 gp. still-beating amalgamated black heart. with a DC 5 Cra (alchemy) check as a
In addition to the books, a DC 18 Search The heartmade up of no fewer than 12 asks worth of useable acid.
check reveals a oor plan, but not one that chambers stitched together from sepa-
the characters recognize. Ornate halls rate beingsstops beating if removed 10. Living Quarters
intermingled with complex deathtraps from the pillar. Decades of immersion have swollen shut
lead to a large room bearing the notation Maleks desk of Abyssal stone squats at the wooden door leading from area 9
pool. Noted on the back in a hasty-look- the rear of the room, nearly 10 feet wide into this room. A DC 14 Strength check
ing scrawl is the following list: and 5 feet across. Inlaid with spiraling pat- is required to yank open the door.
terns of yellowed bones, the desk holds
SandcavePortal only a single deep drawer. Anyone who An ornate canopy bed, its thick but
Quiet GroveLibrary opens the drawer sets o the Trap within. unraveling mattresses oating above it

8 DUNGEON
in the water, lls much of this once-well- one-fourth their normal speed and An array of foul smells pervades this
appointed room. In the northwest corner smaller creatures are forced to swim. chamber: stale air, moldering wood, and
bobs a small, upside-down mahogany chest Creatures: As its been years since their some nameless bilious stench. The side
and an overturned chair. Filling most of services were required, the skeletons are walls are sculpted with lthy shelves,
the south wall, two massive broken mirrors currently resting partially submerged while four crumbling ebon display stands
reect multiple jagged images of the room. amongst the rotting crates, but any non- crowd the center of the room. Above one
Between them, a pair of rusted manacles ooze creature other than Malek who of these stands oats an abnormally
dangles from the wall. enters this chamber is attacked without decayed severed claw clutching a black
warning. In battle, one of the skeletons gemstone. From the gem, a constant
While slower to flood than other ails about with a mop (treat as a quar- trickle of putrid green ooze drips forth,
rooms on this level, Maleks bedcham- tersta) while the other two attack with sliding down the sides of the dark pillar
ber now lies just as waterlogged as the their claws. and covering the entire oor in several
rest. The bed and chair here are nothing Human Warrior Skeletons (3): hp 6; inches of disgusting muck.
more than worthless tatters of silk and Monster Manual 226.
mushy feathers, and the chest is rotted
to uselessness. Even the manacles here 12. Vault of Oozes (EL 2)
are rusted, worthless, andas a DC 5 A pair of imposing stone double doors New Magic Items
Search check uncoversstained with inscribed with the symbol of Juiblex Two new magic items craed by the
blood. They serve only as evidence that bars entry to this room. The doors are cult of Juiblex languish in Maleks
Maleks personal life was as depraved as lockedthe key is hidden in Maleks vault.
his professional undertakings. desk in area 9. They can be opened with
The Touch of Juiblex
Terrain: This area is partially ooded. a DC 30 Open Lock check.
A minor relic of the cult of the Face-
Medium or larger creatures move at one- less Lord, the touch of Juiblex is the
fourth their normal speed and smaller clawed hand of some unknown crea-
creatures are forced to swim. ture. The esh of the hand is putrid
Treasure: A DC 10 Search of the obscured in the extreme, little more than slime
area underwater and around the chest pro- given shape, and transparent enough
duces three sets of molded black robes, a to reveal the bone within. If axed to
ruined nobles outt (without the jewelry), a cord or chain and worn as a necklace,
a pair of portable manacles, and a signet this item allows the wearer to utilize
ring with a stylized M. Any buyer who the spell acid splash once per day. In
addition, any spellcaster wearing the
can be convinced that this ring is Maleks
hand casts all spells with the acid
personal signetas it ismight pay 50
descriptor at +1 caster level.
gp for such a historical treasure. Faint conjuration; CL 2nd; Cra
Wondrous Item, acid splash, Price
11. Storage and Servants 1,000; Weight 2 lb.
Chamber (EL 1)
Ichor Stone
This partially ooded room contains only a Corrupted and signicantly weaker
few rotten wooden crates, scattered clean- variations of the more common ele-
ing equipment, and a row of pegs holding mental gems, these black, unevenly-
faceted stones contain the essences of
tattered robes.
creatures of primal, living slime. When
an ichor stone is thrown as a grenade-
This area originally served as storage like weapon or crushed, smashed, or
and living quarters for Maleks three broken (a standard action), a creature
human caretakers, now long since of roiling ooze moves forth and attacks
deceased. Satised with their work, the nearest target. Such a creature has
Malek decided to reanimate them as the same statistics as a small water
skeletons so that they could continue tak- elemental, but deals an additional 1d4
ing care of the dungeon in perpetuity. The acid damage on all successful slam
wooden crates contain nothing but trace attacks and is CR 2.
The Touch Faint conjuration; CL 3; Cra Won-
amounts of long-spoiled foodstus and of Juiblex drous Item, acid splash, summon mon-
an unanimated but skeletonized rat. and the ster II; Price 1,200.
Terrain: This area is partially ooded. ichor stone
Medium or larger creatures move at

DUNGEON 9
 SERVANT OF DECAY MIKE MCARTOR, F. WESLEY SCHNEIDER, AND JAMES L. SUTTER

This vault once held innumerable dark both items can be taken normally. While an uncorrupted, living, corporeal
treasures sacred to Juiblex or collected by the touch of Juiblex would be of consid- nonoutsider, it deals 1 point of vile
Malek. Time, the by Maleks apprentices erable interest to any worshiper of the damage. Like regular damage, vile
and enemies, and the unnatural decay Faceless Lord, the improperly craed damage results in the loss of hit points.
stemming from this room have reduced ichor stone here leaks an unending ow Unlike regular damage, vile damage can
nearly everything of value to rot. of otherworldly slime. Pooling upon the only be healed by magic cast within the
The most signicant items of note here oor to a height of about 3 inches, this area of a consecrate or hallow spell.
are the touch of Juiblex and an unnished muck is slightly viscous and slows move- Treasure: While the majority of the
experiment of Maleks called an ichor stone ment. As such, treat the oor of this room shelves contents have been reduced to
(see sidebar). Their levitation is merely an as dicult terrain. mud or consumed by mold, a few valu-
eect of the pillar that supports them and Besides being a hindrance, the ooze also able pieces still linger. A DC 18 Search
seeps through the stone of the vault and check of the shelves uncovers a vial
into the surrounding grove, tainting it into containing an oil of darkness, a gray bag
Converting the a rotting wasteland. Unless this ichor stone of tricks that summons a rabid-looking,
Adventure is destroyed, the corruption of the lands skeletally thin black cat, and three silver
As it is written, Servant of Decay surrounding the vault will continue. amulets. Each of these amulets bears the
takes place in the same world as the Even without touching it, a DC 16 symbol of Juiblex etched in green upon
lm Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath Knowledge (arcana) check reveals that its surface and a sizable bloodstone at its
of the Dragon God. Yet with only the the ichor stone here has been fundamen- center. While a normal buyer would pay
most minor changes, this adventure tally damaged or incorrectly created, 80 gp for one of these amulets, a wor-
might take place in any other cam-
and that it is extremely fragile. Any act shiper of Juiblex or collector of planar
paign setting.
meant to deliberately damage the black artifacts might pay 100 gp.
In Eberron gem will shatter it, putting an end to the
Upon the backdrop of Khorvaire, the ow of ooze but releasing the corrupted CONCLUDING THE
events of this adventure easily play out water elemental held within. ADVENTURE
within the nation of Breland. Malek Creature: Once free of the ichor stone, a The adventure ends once the PCs have
might be a nefarious criminal from creature of living slime attacks the near- destroyed the ichor stone and the cor-
Sharns past who preyed upon the est PC. Unthinking and irrational, the rupted water elemental imprisoned
unprotected families of those bat- creature ghts until destroyed. therein. Once the stone has been
tling in the Last War. Juiblex nds destroyed, the ooze seeping into the
suitable equivalents in the Shadow (a
Corrupted Small Water Elemental surrounding land begins to dry up, its
patron of evil wizards), the Mockery
CR 2 eects disappearing within a months
(an appropriately treacherous deity),
or some crazed focus of the Cults of NE Small aberration time. If the players managed to locate
the Dragon Below. Settlements near Monster Manual 100 (water elemental) information regarding Maleks scrying
wooded areas, like Ardev, Hatheril, Book of Vile Darkness 186 (corrupted creature pool, Oberon rewards the characters
Moonwatch, or Woodhelm all prove template) with 300 gp and vows to look into the
suitable as locations to be threatened Init 1; Senses darkvision 60 ., Listen +1, matter immediately. The cultist Charv
by the corruption stemming from Spot +2 Verlane is equally satised with any texts
Maleks vault. Languages Aquan or objects the PCs unearth, particularly
AC 16, touch 10, at-footed 16 the touch of Juiblex. Should the PCs wish
In Faern
hp 15 (2 HD); fast healing 1 to sell him the item, he pays 25% over
In the Forgotten Realms, Juiblexs
Immune acid, elemental traits the listed value.
evil might take the form of a remnant
of the dead god Moander, ancient Fort +6, Ref 1, Will 1 Cleaning out Maleks vault, however,
deity of corruption and rot. Malek, as Spd 20 ., swim 90 . may be just the beginning of the PCs tri-
some fanatical cultist, Zhent, or Red Melee slam +6 (1d6+6 plus 1 vile) als. Diligent research in the library hints
Wizard seeking ancient power, could Base Atk +1; Grp +1 at other caches yet unplundered, and
have tormented the people of Cor- Atk Options Power Attack the cult of Juiblex may yet seek to take
myr, the Dalelands, or the Moonsea Special Atk disruptive attack, drench, vortex, by force any items the PCs dont will-
regions for decades before nally dis- water mastery ingly agree to sell. Most dangerous of all,
appearing. The return of Moanders Abilities Str 18, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 9, Malek himself may not be as dead as the
rot would be well suited to nearly any Cha 9 legends imply.
town in the Dalelands, but might just
Feats Power Attack DMs interested in more background
as easily aict other rural settlements
Skills Listen +1, Spot +2 and game statistics for Malek should
like Neverwinter, north of Waterdeep,
or Immersea in Cormyr. Disruptive Attack (Su): When a see issue #129 of Dungeon magazine,
corrupted water elemental touches and players looking to better outt and

10 DUNGEON
advance their characters are encouraged a male model, editor of an erotica magazine,
to pick up Dragonboth available at and a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. In Scaling the Adventure
paizo.com. his spare time, hes published over a hun- While designed for four 1st-level
dred sometimes-award-winning articles characters, Servant of Decay can
AUTHOR BIOS and short stories in various newspapers and be adapted for use with higher-level
characters with a little work. Remem-
Mike McArtor does stu. In fact, he does a lot magazines. He currently works for Dragon
ber to increase the amount of treasure
of stusome of which even relates to D&D and Dungeon magazines. This is his rst
given out as appropriate for the actual
(like, did you know that he works as an assis- adventure. level of the party. Specic changes to
tant editor for Dragon magazine?). When make include:
not playing (or editing) D&D stu he spends F. Wesley Schneider is an assistant editor 2nd3rd-level parties: Increase the
his free time playing other games (no, really!) for Dragon magazine. He is not as long- number of Small centipedes encoun-
and watching anime. Servant of Decay is winded as his coauthors. tered in area 2 or simply enlarge the
the second adventure he has written and the six already there to size Medium cen-
rst with Wes or James. Kyle Hunter is the writer and artist of tipedes. Raise the saving throw DCs
Dungeon magazines serial Downer. He of the various traps by 1 or 2. Give the
James Lafond Sutter was born via a plunger lives and works in Seattle. E stone golem arm (in area 3) 4 HD. Add
a bloodbloater swarm to room 9. Dou-
to the head, which explains quite a lot. In
ble the number of skeletons in room
his 21 years, James has been a gigging punk
11 and add a second corrupted Small
rocker, a radio DJ, a National Merit Scholar, water elemental to room 12.
4th-level parties: Increase the num-
ber and size of the Small centipedes
to nine Medium centipedes. Raise the
various traps saving throw DCs by
2 or 3. Make the stone golem
arm Medium and give it 6
HD. Make the trap in room
4 active and remove descrip-
tions of broken gearworks
in the wall. Add a second
bloodbloater swarm in
the library. Add two
bloodbloater swarms
to room 9. Turn the
skeletons of room
11 into zombies
and include five
of them instead of
three. Increase the
size of the elemen-
tal in room 12 to a
Medium corrupted
water elemental.

Malek

DUNGEON 11
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