Marcus Hape
CR 12 KEY FEATURES
DEFENSES The temple is a baffling and alarming place for outsiders (see Encounter Areas, below, for details), and Axihuatl relies on secrecy to defend it. He does not venture into the lower levels of the temple very often, remaining content to let the various chaotic obstacles of the lower levels keep the place safe from intruders.
CHAPTER 5
SPINE TEMPLE
Rituals to awaken the Leviathan take place at a secret temple located in one of the mountainous spines that bristle along the great beast’s back. The spine, positioned not far behind the Leviathan’s head, rises from the water several miles off the coast. It is entirely featureless, leaving sailors and scholars alike utterly puzzled as to its origin and purpose. Originally used by chaos-worshiping spellcasters to recharge their arcane energy, the temple has long been abandoned. Axihuatl learned of its existence during his research on the Leviathan and intends to use the temple to awaken the creature, then return the Leviathan to sleep once it has done its work.
The spine is ideal for Axihuatl’s purposes, since part of it rises above the water, part of it is below, and the lowest level contains an opening to the swirling heart of chaos inside the Leviathan’s body. A single entrance on the surface provides access to the upper temple. The upper level of the temple at the tip of the Leviathan’s great spine is above water, but the remainder is submerged beneath the waves. Long, dark, and perilous tubes provide access between levels. THE LEVIATHAN
hp 60 (12 HD) Male human rogue 4/assassin 4/thrall of DemogorgonBoVD 4 CE Medium humanoid Init +8; Senses Listen +10, Spot +10 Languages Abyssal, Aquan, Common AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 18; uncanny dodge Resist evasion Fort +7, Ref +14, Will +7; +2 against poison Speed 30 ft. (6 squares) Melee +1 frost longsword +14/+9 (1d8+3 plus 1d6 cold) Ranged +1 returning dagger +15 (1d4+3 plus poison) Base Atk +10; Grp +10 Atk Options Combat Reflexes, Thrall to Demon (+1 luck bonus while performing evil act 1/day), death attack, dual actions 2/day, poison (Fort DC 20, 1d6 Con/2d6 Con), reaching touch 3/day, sneak attack +4d6 Combat Gear 4 potions of cure light wounds Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th): 1/day—hypnosis (as 30-ft. gaze attack, DC 13) 3/day—touch of fear (as cause fear, DC 13) Abilities Str 14, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 8 SQ poison use, see invisibility 1 minute/day Feats Alertness, Combat ReflexesB, Deformity (eyes)B, Evil BrandB, Improved Initiative, Improved ToughnessLM, Iron Will, Stealthy, Thrall to DemonB, Weapon Focus (longsword) Skills Balance +12, Bluff +8, Climb +10, Diplomacy +5 (+7 against evil), Disable Device +9, Disguise +7, Escape Artist +7, Forgery +5, Hide +14, Intimidate –1 (+1 against evil), Knowledge (arcana) +4, Knowledge (local) +8, Knowledge (religion) +6, Listen +10, Move Silently +18, Perform +4, Search +4, Sense Motive +6, Sleight of Hand +8, Spot +10, Swim +4, Tumble +9 Possessions combat gear plus +2 studded leather, +1 frost longsword, +1 returning dagger (treated with deathblade poison), ring of protection +1, cloak of resistance +1 Death Attack (Ex) DC 16, paralysis effect lasts 1d6+4 rounds (DMG 180). Dual Actions (Su) Twice per day, Marcus Hape can take two full rounds’ worth of actions in the same round. Reaching Touch (Su) Three times per day, Marcus Hape can increase his reach by 5 feet for 1 round.
ENCOUNTER AREAS The following locations correspond to those indicated on the map.
First Level The uppermost level of the temple is a roughly conical chamber where surface-dwelling cultists perform their rituals. A massive shaft of bone, elaborately carved and fluted, supports the arched ceiling. At the base of the central pillar is the ritual space where Axihuatl (in human form) leads his air-breathing followers.
A. Entrance This tube is dry and leads to an entrance on the surface (the other three on the level are filled with water after about 20 feet and lead to the next lower level). The cultists have fixed a rope ladder to enable easier access (Climb DC 12). The exterior door is located about 10 feet above the surface of the water and requires a DC 24 Search check to locate.
B. Ceremonial Circle (EL 16) The central pillar narrows down here, where a ritual circle is inscribed in the floor, surrounded by incomprehensible runes. If cast correctly, Axihuatl’s ritual will in theory wake the Leviathan for a time so it can smash the lands and sink most of the continents, and then send it back to sleep, leaving the world (in the ixitxachitl’s mind, anyway) a far better place. See encounter 5–1, page 74, for more details.
C. Ascending Transport Tubes D. Descending Transport Tubes These tubes are about 10 feet in diameter and were used for access between levels when the temple was submerged. Warm water rises through the tubes, heated by the mass of the Leviathan below, so swimming down is somewhat more difficult than swimming up. Descending one level through a tube requires 10 minutes and requires a DC 15 Swim check. Failure means that the swimmer takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage from fatigue.
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