Lich's Labyrinth
Undead spellcasters of superlative power, lichs dwell in extensive subterranean labyrinths. As peerless necromancers, they have cheated death through the completion of a lengthy, difficult and blasphemous ritual.
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Outside the Lair
The surrounding terrain is overgrown and no proper trails or paths lead to the labyrinth.
Natural light in the lair’s surroundings is subdued and the vegetation stunted.
An illusion of a dangerously unstable landslide covers the entrance to the lich’s labyrinth.
A smattering of blackened and splintered bones intermingled with broken and sundered equipment lies scattered throughout the labyrinth’s surrounds.
What’s Going On?
The sound of fell chanting in an unknown language redolent with power and menace fills the air. The source of the chanting is unclear.
The lich is deep in thought and lost in a book. It is seemingly unaware of the characters.
A magic mouth appears on a wall nearby and merely laughs in the evilest fashion at the characters.
A fell wind issues from the labyrinth’s entrance. The smell of death hangs heavily in the air.
Major Lair Features
A multitude of arcane sigils of esoteric and portentous might decorate the labyrinth’s walls. Some may be the trigger for a magical trap.
The floor comprises heaped and crushed bones, which gives slightly underfoot. Investigation reveals the crushed bones to be about four-foot deep through the labyrinth. Guardians could lurk within.
Animate skeletons ceaselessly patrol the labyrinth. They are no match for powerful characters, but the sound of their destruction may alert the lich.
Huge, intricate and strangely beautiful carvings show in styled form the necromancer’s path to lichdom.
Minor Lair Features
Tiny glimmering motes of black and grey dust float through the air. They disintegrate into nothingness when they touch a living being.
An air of gloom and depression fills the labyrinth.
Graffiti scratched into the wall names previous adventurers brave enough to dare the labyrinth.
Blackened, scorched or pitted sections of the walls and floor show where powerful spells have been unleashed. Many such areas coincide with piles of bones.
Lich’s Appearance
This corpse is in a remarkable state of preservation—as are its fine accoutrements. Its eyes, however, have been replaced with large, flawless rubies.
Wearing a golden diadem studded with precious gems and sable robes of soft black velvet this animate skeleton has an almost regal air.
This animate skeleton wears nothing but a thin chain belt. Many pouches, bags and arcane implements hang from the belt.
Clad in jet black robes that seem to suck in the light the lich glides about with its feet inches above the floor.
Treasure
This skull-shaped pendant features two small rubies for eyes and reddish white agates for teeth.
This subtranslucent milky white stone—an opal—is the size of a halfling’s fist. Its value is immense.
This long blank scroll is wrapped around a stubby gold rod. The scroll is of fine quality and ready to accept up to 12 levels of spells.
Bound in a silvery hide, this thick, untitled book is the lich’s diary. It details events and locales from hundreds of years ago. It contains no magic but has several hand-drawn maps showing the locations of now lost sites.
Trinkets & Trash
The scorched and torn front cover of a thick tome lies on the floor. Part of its title—Last Chronicle of—is legible.
Cracks radiate through this small red ruby. If the stone is roughly handled, it falls apart.
Faint flames yet cling to the remnants of this sundered longsword. Dried blood covers the weapon’s hilt.
This heavy steel shield is warped and buckled as if crushed in a giant’s grip. It is unusable.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Monstrous Lair #68: Lich’s Labyrinth by Robert Manson.
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