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Dungeons
Outskirts · Medium · Medium

The Buried Scriptorium

Knowledge dies in silence beneath the rising tide of volcanic grit.
Rooms
7
Foes
10, CR 1/4 to 4
Traps
2
Treasure
1,925 gp
1234567Entrance
Select a room on the plan to open it.

The party is in

1. The Tilted Foyer

Seen

Something wanders by

At a glance

The threat

The Archivist of Cinders, a massive golem fused from millions of charred scroll fragments and volcanic glass.

Wandering monsters (1d2)

  1. 1

    2 swarms× Swarm of Ash RatsCR 1/4

    When: Spending more than 10 minutes in any room with ash drifts.Scurrying rodents that leave trails of grey soot behind them.
  2. 2

    Ash StalkerCR 2

    When: Triggering any trap in the dungeon.A stealthy, bipedal creature made of smoke that hunts by sound.

Rooms

7
1

The Tilted Foyer

secret

What they see

Read aloud

A grand entrance hall leaning at a fifteen-degree angle into the earth. Massive bronze double doors stand half-choked by a drift of grey ash that has spilled in from the surface.

Features

  • Toppled statues of faceless scholars
  • A ceiling mural depicting a sun being extinguished by soot
  • Knee-deep volcanic grit

What the GM knows

Room secrets · GM only

Notes

Connects to . This room serves as a safe zone for the party to adjust to the sloping floors.

3 doors: W (normal), N (secret), S (normal)

The place

What it is

A slanted temple of learning partially swallowed by the ash-fields of the Outskirts.

Atmosphere

The sound of sand falling through glass echoes constantly.

The threat

The Archivist of Cinders, a massive golem fused from millions of charred scroll fragments and volcanic glass.

History

Built by the Ash-Seekers centuries ago, this sanctum was designed to catalog the slow death of the world.

Rumors

1d4
Roll a rumor

  1. 1The scholars in the scriptorium found a way to turn lead into gold, but it cost them their lives.
  2. 2If you hear the ticking of the sand-clocks stop, the entire building will sink another ten feet.
  3. 3The library holds the only record of the ritual needed to clear the ash-clouds from the sky.
  4. 4A ghost of a head-librarian still helps travelers who bring fresh ink as an offering.

Plot hooks

2
RecoveryThe Searing ScrollA local magistrate needs the legal deeds to the province, which are rumored to be kept in the Scriptorium's vault.From: Lord Castellan VaneReward: 1000 gp and a title of minor nobility.
EnvironmentalSilence the TickingThe constant grinding of the dungeon is causing tremors that threaten a nearby mining village.From: Elder Marra of Dust-GullyReward: A bag of uncut gems worth 400 gp.

Corridors

2

  • Corridor between and

    The walls are inscribed with tiny, cramped handwriting detailing the weather for every day for the last 500 years.

  • Near the entrance to

    A cluster of glass chimes that ring softly when the ground shifts.

Media

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