Crypt of Maledict's Pulse

## The Crypt of Maledict's Pulse

* Artwork
* Map

The Crypt of Maledict's Pulse is a series of catacombs near the Totem of the Vapourific on Last Gasp Isle.

## Description

The entranceway to the Crypt of Maledict's Pulse was hidden behind an illusionary wall, allowing for the residents - predominately cruel fey creatures known as Siabhra in butcher-like overalls - to ambush individuals that travelled to the overlying Totem of the Vapourific. Since the magic of the Totem seems to have faltered however, the crypt's activity had seemingly dwindled somewhat, and was not occupied with the same level of furore or watchfulness, allowing an adventuring party to slip in unnoticed.

Carved from the surrounding stone, the tunnels of the crypt were uneven and narrow, as if hastily carved, while the reverberating pulse of a distance heartbeat echoed in the walls, floor and ceiling throughout.

## Notable Structures

### Entrance Hall

*"The stench of old iron rises from the gore spread across the walls and floor, spreading like dull rust upon stone. Uneven and well worn stairs descend to a pillar flanked hallway, and further rooms beyond, a faint echo repeating rhythmically through the bricks at your feet."*

A dozen slender stone pillars flanked this entrance hall, each depicting different stages of the waxing and waning moon in intricate spirals. It was later destroyed by Ódóvir, who used his pickaxe to shatter the stone support beams.

### Stone Prison

*"Oppressive grey brick frames this gristly thirty foot by twenty foot room, its slab-like three foot tall roof deliberately claustrophobic. Rusted chains hang from the walls and lie discarded upon the viscous and sticky floor, small foot prints trailing amongst the ichor."*

To the left of the main entrance hall, a prison chamber forced the adventurers to crawl to traverse it, inadvertently finding that in failing to disarm the trap on the doorway that caused the lock to fracture away into jagged fragments that slashed at Faustus' hands, they likewise activated the trapped roof of this room. When triggered, the roof descended, threatening to crush any individuals left inside, although was ultimately bypassed through use of *Cavecarver Crystals* and a lever system in the adjoining Tanning Chamber.

### Tanning Chamber

"*A central stone podium rises, the resting place of two items. A slender dagger with a refined but angular hilt, and a large tome bound in mottled leather. Hanging loosely upon the walls, the skin of two flayed humanoids rest upon jagged hooks, slender and pointed tools scattered upon the floor around them."*

After dispatching the two Boneless undead creatures in the room, the party would eventually return to the Tanning Chamber to recover the book and the *Bloodthirsty Bistoury* contained within.

### Tablet Chamber

*"Carved stone tablets line every wall of this square room, while barbed hooks hang from the ceiling listlessly. Shaped into each are depictions of chases, individuals clad in simple leathers and wielding bows, shortswords, all being cut down by bestial and fanged humanoids alike that lurch and leer from every shadow. Some show rural scenes, a barnhouse in the distance, others vast stretches of desolate mountains, a few amongst them the narrow streets of winding cities."*

To the right of the main entrance hall, the Tablet Chamber appears to depict occurrences of the Unhallowed Hunt, a foul tradition amongst the followers of Venari. While a southern passageway continues to the sleeping quarters for the Siabhra residents, hidden beneath a stone tablet on the northern edge of the chamber a route through to the Storage Vaults was discovered.

### Storage Vaults

*"Roughly carved from stone, a series of five deep and wide stone coffins adorn the room, scattered belongings pilled at their base - boots, bags, torn clothing. A pair of scrawny humanoids, clad in slender ebon gloves and a black leather apron leer wicked and wide grins as they carry the body of a humanoid between them."*

When an expedition party explored the Crypt of Maledict's Pulse, they found a pair of Siabhra at work within the Storage Vaults, carrying the remains of a facially-avulsed victim. It was found that the coffins contained bodies stacked half a dozen deep, none of which seemed to show any signs of decomposition - though all missing the skin from their faces.

### Sleeping Quarters

*"This curved natural cavern is home to seven fetid bedrolls, ragged and befouled, scattered amongst the remains of gristly meals, crates of mouldering fabrics, chunks of wood and piles of stones."*

The Sleeping Quarters were promptly engulfed in *Web* cast by Gwyneth and a *Fireball* courtesy of Moxzi when fighting broke out, destroying much of what was located within its walls, the scent of the burning fabrics fetid, damp and sanguineous.

### Mistwatcher Totem Chamber

*"This octagon chamber swells fresher than the sullied air of the crypt, seemingly emulating from the central pillar that depicts a miniature circle of stones surrounded by wizened trees shrouded in mist. Occasionally a trailing blue light is carried upon the whispered winds. At the base of the pillar are a trio of depressions, the left most of which is weighted with a large polished green and red gemstone."*

Connected to the north to the Sleeping Quarters and the west to the Store Cupboard Room, the Mistwatcher Totem Chamber was otherwise empty and unadorned. Moving the gemstone from depression to depression changed the appearance of the mist-bordered apparition upon the top of the totem, with the leftmost groove seemingly depicting the Totem of the Vapourific. When moved to the central depression, a new vision formed:

*"Shadows loom in the angular corners of simple dark room, carved stone walls bleak and bold in dwarven style. A small empty cage, padded beneath with dark-stained hay rests on one side, a chain collar affixed to a post on the other."*

The rightmost depression likewise offered a different viewpoint:

*"Trees grow wide and close in this dark grove framed in a mountainous valley, snow capping the tallest peaks as they stretch effortlessly towards a dull blue sky dotted with grey-black clouds. Smoke, grey but chased through with touches of carmine and claret trails a few feet from a stone chimney before dissipating, the wooden hut to which it is attached leering from the edge of the copse."*

This room was detonated from within by Moxzi with repeated use of *Thunderclap.*

### Store Cupboard Room

*"Shaped from jet, the statue stands without lustre, depicting a gaunt figure, ribs and hips pushing clear amongst fur, a face obscured behind a banded mask, hair trailing wild and long. Around, shelves hold numerous queer and peculiar objects."*

Serving as another through-route, the Store Cupboard Room connected to the Entrance Hall to the north, the Blood Pit to the west, Mistwatcher Totem Chamber to the east and the Willowhaunt Grove to the south. Efforts to *Identify* the claimed items adorning the walls were made after their collection by the party and presentation to Arnica. The majority appear to be single use items.

### Blood Pit

*"Sleek walls adorned with leering skulls flank up a twenty foot pit, filled with a still and viscid pool of gore, smearings of scarlet and crimson splattered around its rim."*

Beyond measures of disgust, it is was ultimately decided by the party that they would leave the pit alone, and so deigned not to investigate any further.

### Willowhaunt Grove

*"The rhythmic pulse grows louder as you descent the narrow stairs, the carved stone uneven, uneasy, before it branches out into a round chamber flanked by looming pillars, each exquisitely carved, engraved into depictions of twelve roughly humanoid figures. A ghastly tree, its bark pale like bleached bone, rippling with a sickening radiance stands in defiance of the absence of light, its branches quivering with each thunderous pulse. At its base, a smouldering candle of dark red wax creates a fine mist throughout the air. "*

Down a narrow and uneven descending stair, the Willowhaunt Grove hummed as the nexus for the Crypt of Maledict's Pulse, centred around a Willowhaunt, a sinister undead tree empowered by the still pulsing heart of a dragon turtle buried amongst its roots. Declining to light the candle following use of *Augury* by Ódóvir, along with half-dozen condensations of vampiric mist, the party managed to destroy both the Willowheart and the animated heart - an Ortifex - before destroying the room and its contents. Before its destruction, note was made of each of the humanoid figures, with each seemingly linked to the Onyx Shroud.

In a clockwise manner, starting at the pillar on the right of doorway leading into the grove, these pillars displayed:

* A gaunt figure bound in linen cloth, arms cross over her chest.
* A bald scholar surrounded by scrolls and books, peering over a pair of half-moon spectacles.
* A proud looking nobleman standing atop a balcony, hands clutching at a brooch upon his coat.
* A woman curled around the side of another non-descript figure, whispering in their ear with a sultry smirk.
* An immolated figure, shrieking away from a holy symbol shaped like a burning owl.
* A man sitting alone at a table covered in spotted cloth, his only company three skulls atop the headrests of the other chairs.
* A slender woman, bones exposed, while a figure stands over her with stake in hand and mist-covered greatsword upon her back.
* A swirling liquid-haze bearing vicious fangs.
* A child, arms outstretched but a wicked grin upon his face.
* A wide-eyed woman holding a candle set into a skull-shaped candlestick holder.
* A bony elderly woman slumped amongst a series of gravestones.
* A priestly figure, they hands clawed and bestial but their face nothing more than a mass of twisted branches.