Sign: Infestation

Illus. by Izzy

are hired to investigate, and they discover that the merchant has fallen under the sway of the yuan-ti that inhabit the extensive catacombs below the building. The PCs rescue the merchant (who becomes a supportive patron for them) but discover that these yuan-ti cultists report to someone called Seghulerak and openly mock the traditional yuanti deities. EL 9 (Faint Sign): Seghulerak seizes control of the ancient yuanti temple-city of Veshlivenk in a southern jungle and establishes a network of serpentgates, freestanding portals that allow the Vanguard of Sertrous to move between seven linked temples scattered throughout the world. One such temple is located in the large swamp beyond the priory. Serpents and snakes grow more common, and the PCs are hired to fi nd out what’s causing so many snakes to slither out of the swamp. They prevent the Vanguard from setting up this temple as a staging point for a major simultaneous yuan-ti invasion, but discover that there are six other temples. EL 13 (Moderate Sign): The infestation continues. The PCs might take out several yuan-ti temples and their serpentgates, but not enough to prevent the invasion. The PCs must race against time to defend a city from the Vanguard,

which approaches from three directions in a murderous swath. At the end of this encounter, the PCs face their fi rst golothoma demon, and its defeat proves to be a key point in the battle. EL 16 (Strong Sign): Encounters with golothomas, halffi end sixteen-headed hydras, and other serpentine horrors become commonplace despite victory against the Vanguard. The PCs discover that the yuan-ti are based in the templecity of Veshlivenk and must travel there and destroy the primal serpentgate if they wish to stop the serpent infestation and prevent an even larger invasion. At the end of this battle, they face and defeat Seghulerak, whom they believe to be the leader of the Vanguard. Her slain body vanishes to parts unknown, leaving behind a mound of dead, headless snakes. EL 19 (OverAspect of Sertrous whelming Sign): Despite the destruction of Veshlivenk, serpents continue to overwhelm the world. Intelligence gathered at Veshlivenk reveals the existence of the Serpent Reliquary, and that Seghulerak’s body has reappeared there. The PCs must discover the Reliquary, defeat Seghulerak again, and discover the true nature of the Vanguard of Sertrous (encounters 8–1 through 8–3, pages 122–127).

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The earth vomits torrents of snakes and serpentine creatures. At first these infestations consist of normal snakes, but as the infestation grows, monstrous creatures such as chaotic evil nagas, hydras, and even mariliths become more common. As the sign grows more potent, the infesting serpents become increasingly more deformed. Some might have multiple heads, others are inside out, and some might have no head or tail—they’re simply a mass of coils with no end or beginning. The following guidelines apply to encounters involving the PCs.

Faint: The check frequency is once a week. The Encounter Level of the infestation should be 2 lower than the average party level.

Moderate: As faint, but the check frequency increases to once a day.

Strong: The check frequency increases to once every 1d4 hours. The EL should be equal to the average party level.

Overwhelming: The check frequency increases to once an hour, and the chance of encountering wandering monsters increases to 20%. The EL should be equal to the average party level + 2.