The Tomb of Aum-Pharath
Open source p.22OSE CC2
Treasures lie in the long-forgotten tomb of a snake cult, deep in the rainforest.
The Adventure
Overview & introduction p.22
Level 3–5 Dungeon Adventure
Treasures lie in the long-forgotten tomb of a snake cult, deep in the rainforest.
General construction: Sandstone block, 10’ high ceilings, black wood doors with bronze serpent handles.
Monsters: Names underlined. See Snake Cult Monsters, p18 for descriptions. Flickering blue/green flames Mouldy smell
Scale: 5’ per square Pressure plate Iron bars —combined STR bonus to bend
Random Happenings: 1-in-6 per Turn
1. Zombie Snake-Guards patrol.
Keyed entries (12)
1. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 1: Gates p.23
1. Gates: Sandstone gates: slightly ajar, decorated with intricate carvings of humans cavorting with giant snakes. Flanked by 2 snake-man statues: forbidding warriors bearing barbed spears. Blackened skeletons hang from stakes.
10. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 10: Inner Sanctum p.23
10. Inner Sanctum: 8 fire pits (2’ deep) with magical flames, flickering blue and green. Bronze reliefs on walls depict great serpents consuming screaming cultists. Hydral Statue in centre, inert, facing 12, 3 copper bowls at its base. Entering 12 triggers the statue unless flame, gold (50gp+), and fresh blood are placed in the bowls.
11. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 11: Snake Pools p.23
11. Snake Pools: Shimmering pools with (illusory) silvery snakes swimming 4’ down. Drinking water: cures hp (once/day) but drinker becomes chaotic.
12. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 12: Tomb p.23
12. Tomb: Smoky glass coffer: giant, coiled mummified snake visible inside.
Touching the coffer: the dungeon begins to collapse, ceilings in all rooms drop ’ per turn. Green soapstone urns (200gp) in niches: roll for contents of each: 1. onyx shards (2,000gp), 2. cleric scroll (level ), 3. amber snake statuette (800gp), 4. Alabaster Serpent.
2. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 2: Secret Way In p.23
2. Secret Way In: Cliffs with bloody hand prints. A character who slices their palms (–1 to attack rolls this day) has a 4-in chance of finding the secret door.
3. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 3: Entrance Hall p.23
3. Entrance Hall: Piles of forest debris blown inside (searching: bright lizards hiss and scatter). Sandstone gates (to 6): stuck, carvings of cultists drinking snake blood. Faded murals depict a giant mummified serpent interred by cultists in a tomb of gold and jewels, plus gold-leaf script: “Here rests Aum-Pharath, exalted avatar of the almighty Kahash”.
4. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 4: Acid Trap p.23
4. Acid Trap: Steaming basin of mild acid bordered by black stone serpent.
Bronze-clad door (to 11): engraved with writhing serpents and “Path of venom”. Stone cobra heads on walls of passage to 11. Pressure plate triggers (3-in chance per character) acid spray from snakes’ mouths: damage.
5. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 5: Fungal Tombs p.23
5. Fungal Tombs: Slimy black/purple fungus covers all surfaces. Clearing walls reveals faded murals of lizard-people lighting fires in copper bowls. Cracked ceiling: pale webs of mycelia creeping in from the forest above. Fungus-encrusted sarcophagi: upright, one in each niche. Inside sarcophagi are mummified cultists (4 inert, 2 Mushroom-Head Mummies, 2 Puffball Mummies) each with 2 gold and ruby serpent armlets (500gp).
6. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 6: Sacrificial Altar p.23
6. Sacrificial Altar: Black marble altar inlaid with malachite runes (lizard man tongue: “Glory to Kahash, Dark Queen of Snakes”). 8 Path Guardians bound to stakes: break bonds and attack intruders. Faded murals depict cultists slashing their forearms, spraying blood into copper bowls.
7. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 7: Crushing Trap p.23
7. Crushing Trap: Faded murals of snake-women placing gold coins in copper bowls. Crushed skeleton plus adventuring gear by door to 9. Bronzeclad door (to 9): engraved with writhing serpents and “Path of constriction”. Pressure plate triggers (3-in chance per character) falling ceiling block: damage, block raises again after 1 turn.
8. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 8: Mirrored Snakes p.23
8. Mirrored Snakes: Walls lined with mirror-scaled serpents, dazzling reflections of light. Entering: non-chaotic characters are affected by confusion (12 rounds, roll of 2–5 indicates fleeing). Secret door opened by a hidden button in a serpent’s eye.
9. The Tomb of Aum-Pharath — Area 9: Sleeping Guardians p.23
9. Sleeping Guardians: 4 Zombie Snake-Priestesses with amethyst headbands (1,000gp) sprawled on heaps of moulted giant snake skins. Awoken by noise: moving silently required.