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SHADOWWORKS – DAYTIME

SHADOWWORKS – NIGHT

Alchemical Lab – Shadowworks
Guildsman District
Wayfarer’s Street – K9

AREA 1 – SHOPFRONT

The lower level of the Shadowworks presents a respectable shop for alchemical weaponry.

A long, L-shaped display case blocks easy access to the wrought iron spiral staircase in the back corner. The surface of the table is inset with five Vladaam alchemy sigils.

INVENTORY:

• Acidpoint Arrows (x100)
• Acidpoint Bolts (x50)
• Firepoint Arrows (x100)
• Firepoint Bolts (x50)
• Frostpoint Arrow (x100)
• Frostpoint Bolts (x50)

CASHBOX: 200 gp in miscellaneous coin.

AREA 2 – BOWYER’S WORKSHOP

This workshop is used to

• Fletcher’s Tools
• Alchemist’s Supplies specialized for creating bolts and arrows
• 500 gp in fletching supplies

AREA 3 – ACID LABORATORY

At the center of the room is a large vat filled with acid, surrounded with equipment designed for injecting alchemist’s fire in order to create acidic fire.

• 1 full set of Alchemist’s Supplies

AREA 4 – ALCHEMICAL LABORATORY

A large, well-ventilated area with a skylight that’s kept propped open during the day.

ALCHEMY LAB: Two sets of alchemist’s supplies.

• acid (x10)
• acidic fire (x5)
• alchemist’s fire (x10)
• alchemist’s frost (x10)
• darklight candle (x4)
• magicbane (x4)
• Alchemy Lab 3 – Common Lorebook
• Inventory from the Shop on Guilder Street
• Order from the Commissar
• 8,000 gp of alchemical supplies

IRON COFFER: 10% chance of being present.

• 500 gp
• 40,000 sp
• 50,000 cp
• Instructions to have the Ithildin Couriers ship it to the Red Company of Goldsmiths on Gold Street (see Part 12).

DM Background: The “great need” referred to in the Commissar’s decree is the barbarian invasion described in the Night of Dissolution adventure.

INVENTORY FROM THE SHOP ON GUILDER STREET

The current inventory of the labs and shop on Guilder Street stand at:

13 acid flasks10 acidic fire
120 acidpoint arrows and bolts
10 alchemist’s fire
7 alchemist’s frost
80 firepoint arrows and bolts
9 frostpoint arrows and bolts
1 slowfall cloak

Please advise on when we can expect a resupply, particularly on our low stocks of alchemist’s frost. Master Grui had suggested that you might also an excess supply of acidbane salve, which we could use. I’ve sent along a supply of abjurer’s chalk as well, but you should let us know what else might be of use to you before we start our midweek brews.

ORDER FROM THE COMMISSAR

By Request of the Commissar of Ptolus—

That the Red Company of Alchemists should increase and prioritize its production of acidpoint, firepoint, and frostpoint alchemical bolts and arrows in anticipation of the great need of the City-State of Ptolus for its own defense.

In exchange for this consideration, the Commissar shall guarantee a payment of no less than 25,000 gp and the subsidization of any additional stock at a price of forty percent, that stock to remain with the Red Company of Alchemists for its own aggrandizement.

Igor Urnst

AREA 5 – LIQUID SHADOW LABORATORY

A smaller laboratory, notably more intimate than the almost industrial-scale operations of the other laboratories here. Black liquids burbling in glass tubes.

ALCHEMY LAB: A set of Alchemist’s Supplies.

• 2 pint of liquid shadow (Ptolus, p. 647)
• Alchemy Lab — Secret Lorebook
• Liquid Shadow Alchemical Recipes
• Shadow Detector Research Notes (DC 12 Intelligence (History) check to recognize the seal of House Sadar on these documents.)

DM Background: In addition to developing the shadow detector for House Sadar, the liquid shadow developed in this laboratory is sold directly to Sadar’s shadowmancers.

LIQUID SHADOW ALCHEMICAL RECIPES

These notes detail an alchemical recipe for synthesizing liquid shadow. The process requires 1,500 gp in supplies and a successful DC 30 Intelligence (Alchemist’s Supplies) check.

DM Background: The recipe is not particularly economical (costing more to create than the market value of liquid shadow), but it has the advantage of being producible on demand and in quanity.

SHADOW DETECTOR RESEARCH NOTES

These research notes constitute an effort to filter liquid shadow with silver nitrate in an effort to create a “shadow detector.”

The goal appears to be create a device which can be used to “sift the Shadow of Ptolus” as part of an effort to “locate Kadmiel, the Shadow Tower.” The notes for this are incomplete, apparently having been copied from a more complete source in order to provide the alchemists with sufficient detail for developing their device. These notes are marked with a seal:

Apparently the specific difficulty is that an appropriately modified shadow walk spell will allow one to enter the “Shadow of Ptolus.” (This equires a casting of the spell and a DC 25 Intelligence (Arcana) check.) But there are actually many “Shadows of Ptolus” that overlap each other like shadowy mist. The Shadow Tower is only located within a specific Shadow of Ptolus and the effort of the shadow detector is to be able to quickly peer through these many layers of the Shadow and find the particular attunement on which Kadmiel exists.

DM Background: See Kadmiel Tower and Shadow of Ptolus in Ptolus, p. 303-4.

Go to Part 7D: Alchemy Lab 4 – Storefront & Common Labs

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POISONER’S GUILD – DAYTIME

• Thornai^**
• 2 Journeymen^*
• 4 Apprentices
• 2 Vladaam Gladiators

POISONER’S GUILD – NIGHT

• 2 Advanced Vladaam Guards
• 50% chance: 1 Journeyman^*
• 50% chance: 1 Apprentice

^* Carries common vault key.
^** Carries master vault key.

Alchemical Lab – Poisoners’ Guild
Guildsman District
Brewer’s Close – I9

AREA 1 – LABORATORY

The large space is filled with a chaos of lab tables and work stations. A thick, acrid smell fills the green-hazed air.

ALCHEMIST’S LABS: 6 sets of alchemist’s supplies.

• DC 14 Intelligence (Alchemist’s Supplies): The labs here contain a predominant amount of equipment specialized for the handling and refining of poisons.

ALCHEMY SUPPLIES: 2,000 gp in alchemical supplies.

One crate of unopened supplies still has the Bill of Shipping Right issued by the Docks attached to it. It identifies the Prince’s Servant, commanded by Captain Therech and registered to the Fleet of Iron Sails, as the ship which carried the crate to Ptolus. The taxes were paid by the deot of House Vladaam.

ALCHEMY CONCOCTIONS: banecord (x6), benecord (x2), beastbane incense (x2), beastbane salve (x2), beastgrace perfume (x1), poisonbane unguent (x12), verminbane incense (x2), verminbane salve (x2)

DC 20 INTELLIGENCE (INVESTIGATION): A concealed trapdoor reveals a small compartment with an iron coffer (DC 24 Thieves’ Tools) containing augur’s draught (x3), cassandra’s tears (x6), and soul’s draught (x3).

SECRET DOOR: DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation), two DC 24 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools) made simultaneously. Requires both the master vault key and one of the common vault keys to be turned simultaneously in twin locks.

AREA 2 – POISON VAULT

This vault contains:

• 3 vials of every poison in the DMG (p. 357) except for midnight tears, purple worm poison, and wyvern poison.
• Alchemy Lab 2 – Secret Lorebook (located on pedestal; see trap below)
• Unfulfilled Order for Shadow Essence Poison
• 5,000 gp in alchemical supplies

IRON COFFER: 10% chance of being present.

• 500 gp
• 40,000 sp
• 50,000 cp
• Instructions to have the Ithildin Couriers ship it to the Red Company of Goldsmiths on Gold Street (see Part 12).

TRAP: If the lorebook is removed from the pedestal without first pushing a trigger concealed on the back of the pedestal, six crossbow bolts tipped with purple worm poison fire into the room (determine targets randomly). Detect DC 20, ranged attack +10, 1d8 piecing damage + purple worm poison (12d6 poison damage, DC 19 Constitution saving throw for half damage).

UNFULFILLED ORDER FOR SHADOW ESSENCE POISON

Thornai—

I’m running low on shadow essence, and I’d dearly appreciate a fresh supply of thirty doses at your earliest convenience. Our guests can get dreadfully out of sorts without it.

I’ll take delivery at Marquette’s on Pitch Street.

Arquad

Go to Part 7C: Alchemy Lab 3 – Shadowworks

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BODYWORKS – DAYTIME

BODYWORKS – NIGHT

^* Carries common vault key.
^** Carries master vault key and Letter from Guildmaster Essetia.

Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks
Guildsman District
Brewer’s Close – I9

LETTER FROM GUILDMASTER ESSETIA

Master Grui,

I think your for your kind gift of Thoth’s Incense. I have little doubt that my scholars will benefit greatly from sharing the thoughts of the scholars you have captured in its vapors. However, I am afraid I must — with all due deference — refuse your request to study (or sample) brain dust drawn from the sarcophagi of our master cartographers.

I confess I would be most curious to know how you learned of the burial chambers beneath our guild hall in the first place. But, nevertheless, they must remain sacrosanct.

As a minor matter, I would also appreciate it if you would make some inquiry into your lorebooks regarding any references to “Malkith” or his arts. We have found some arcane references of late and would like to clear up some evident confusion on our part.

Guildmaster Essetia,
Red Company of Surveyors

AREA 1 – ENTRANCE

A covered porch. The long wall is a large mural of the Vladaam alchemy sigil.

FRONT DOOR: AC 15, 32 hp, DC 20 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools)

AREA 2 – LAB

Long workbenches run the length of the room, covered in elaborate equipment. Cabinets along the north wall contain various supplies.

• 6 fully-stocked alchemist’s labs
• 2,000 gp worth of alchemical supplies
• acidbane salve (x2), balm of the rose, denharil’s oil (x5), draught of Morpheus x5, rejuvenative draught (x2), summoning balm, thoth’s incense (arcana)
• Alchemy Order from Navanna
• Note from Kilana to Grui

ALCHEMY ORDER FROM NAVANNA

Master Grui—

Please deliver six Draughts of Morpheus to the house estate as soon as possible. Aliaster and his mages have been working long hours at the Oldtown apartments and I have loaned them the entirety of my current supply.

Your work with the grafts has been excellent. Aliaster assures me that additional revelations will soon by flowing from his work.

Navanna Vladaam

NOTE FROM KILANA TO GRUI

Grui—

We’re running low on acidbane salve at Wayfarer’s Street. One of the new apprentices has been going through it like butter. If you could send us next month’s shipment early, that would be lovely.

Kilana

AREA 3 – STORAGE

Shelving of dark wood stained with chemicals along the walls. Additional shelving below a low, square work table in the middle of the room.

ALCHEMICAL SUPPLIES: Worth 6,000 gp.

VAULT DOOR (to Area 4): AC 19, 100 hp, two DC 24 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools) made simultaneously. Requires both the master vault key and one of the common vault keys to be turned simultaneously in twin locks.

AREA 4 – VAULT

Small area with lead-lined walls.

SHELVES:

• 8,000 gp in rare alchemical supplies.
• Alchemy Lab 1 — Common Lorebook

SIGIL BOX: A box with no visible mechanism for opening it. The top is inlaid with the Vladaam alchemy sigil.

• DC 15 Intelligence (Investigate): The two circles of the inlaid sigil can be rotated. (75% chance one of them gets rotated the wrong way, triggering the trap.)
• DC 25 Intelligence (Investigate): The circles need to be rotated in opposite directions to avoid the trap. Doing so causes the inlaid sigil to pop up; it can then be swung aside to reveal a lock which can be opened with Grui’s master key.
• Wyvern Arrow Trap: ranged attack +8, 1d8 damage plus DC 15 Constitution saving throw (7d6 poison damage or half that on a successful save).
• Contents: Alchemy Lab 1 – Secret Lorebook, 33 pp, 3091 sp

IRON COFFER: 10% chance of being present.

• 500 gp
• 40,000 sp
• 50,000 cp
• Instructions to have the Ithildin Couriers ship it to the Red Company of Goldsmiths on Gold Street (see Part 12).

AREA 5 – SECRET LAB

Alchemical labs have been set up on opposite ends of the room. There large dissection slabs in the center of the room. A blue, alchemical flame in a sconce hanging from the ceiling casts an eerie light, but also purifies the air (giving it a distinctive ozone scent). There’s a trap door in the floor in the corner of the room.

ALCHEMY LABS: Contain two full sets of alchemist’s supplies.

DEAD BODIES: Being used for study and dissection.

OTHER ITEMS:

• 2,000 gp in alchemical supplies
• necromancer’s oil (skeleton x6, ghoul x2)
• 2 pain devil hell scourges, ready for grafting (see Part 15: Oldtown Apartments)

SHIPPING CONTAINER: Partially loaded. The side is stamped with an address on Pitch Street in the South Market.

• zombie oil (x10)
• zombie oil (control concoction, x2)

DM Background: Crate is being delivered to the Part 17: Undead Shipping Warehouse.

TRAPDOOR: A trapdoor in the floor leads to a tunnel which emerges in the Midden Heaps (Ptolus, p. 179).

DM Background: They use this tunnel to dispose of dead bodies.

Go to Part 7B: Alchemy Lab 2 – Poisoner’s Guild

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The Vladaam maintain four alchemical labs in Ptolus, all located in the Guildsman District.

DARK DWARF MASTERS

The alchemical labs are run by four dark dwarf alchemical masters:

• Grui (Bodyworks)
• Thornai (Poisoner’s Guild)
• Kilana (Shadowworks)
• Kaldri (Common Labs)

ALCHEMICAL LOREBOOKS

These are two types of alchemical lorebooks that are maintained in each laboratory (see Addendum: Alchemical Lorebooks).

Common Lorebooks: These are written in Common or Old Prustan and require an Intelligence (Alchemist’s Supplies) check to decode the appropriate recipes. (DC 12 to identify a recipe; DC equal to the crafting check to actually know what the recipe entails.)

Secret Lorebooks: These are maintained by the dark dwarves. They are written in Undercommon and also encrypted. It requires a DC 18 Intelligence (Alchemist’s Supplies) check and a DC 18 Intelligence (Deception) check to decode a secret lorebook.

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

The Bodyworks and Poisoner’s Guild are maintained as low profile guild workshops that are generally not open to the public.

The Shadowworks maintains a small public shop for selling alchemical bolts and arrow.

Goods are shipped from these three labs to the Storefront/Common Labs on Guilder Street. This storefront is officially the Red Company of Alchemists in city records.

VLADAAM ALCHEMISTS & OTHER DENIZENS

Apprentice Alchemist: Use commoner stats, MM p. 345.

• Intelligence 12
• Proficiency (+2): Arcana, Alchemist’s Supplies
• Acid Flask: ranged attack, 2d6 acid damage
• Equipment: acid, dagger, alchemist’s supplies, Vladaam deot ring
• CR ⅛

Journeyman Alchemist: Use artisan stats, Ptolus, p. 606.

• Intelligence 16
• Proficiency (+2): Arcana, Alchemist’s Supplies
• Equipment: caltrips x5, oil of mending x2, potion of climbing, potion of healing, Vladaam deot ring

Many of the journeymen alchemists are half-orcs:

• darkvision 60 ft.
• Proficiency: Intimidation
• Relentless Endurance: Once per long rest, when reduced to 0 hp, instead drop to 1 hp.
• Languages: Orc

Dark Dwarf Masters: Use mage stats, MM p. 347.

• Characterize spellcasting as deploying alchemical admixtures.
• Proficiency (+3): Alchemist’s Supplies
• Alchemical Master: Double proficiency bonus on checks related to alchemy.
• Equipment: alchemist’s fire x2, oil of mending x5, potion of healing x2

Dark dwarf traits:

• darkvision 60 ft.
• speed 25 ft.
• Dark Dwarf Resilience: Advantage on saving throws vs. spells.
• Tool Proficiency: Smith’s Tools
• Stonecunning: Proficient in Intelligence (History) checks related to the origin of stonework and add double proficiency bonus.
• Languages: Dwarvish

Vladaam Gladiators: Use gladiator stats, MM p. 344 with orc traits (darkvision 60 ft., as bonus action can move up to its speed towards a hostile creature).

Vladaam Guards: Use guard stats, MM p. 347, with AC 17. (Equipment: breastplate, shield, longsword, longbow, arrows x20, potion of healing, Vladaam deot ring.)

Advanced Vladaam Guards: Use knight stats, MM p. 347.

Go to Part 7A: Alchemical Lab 1 – Bodyworks

DISCUSSING
In the Shadow of the Spire – Session 31E: Kabel’s Tale

Returning to the Ghostly Minstrel they spent the better part of an hour cleaning up the coagulate gore and blood that had been spattered across them in the Banewarrens (and only now pausing to reflect on Brother Heth’s blithe reaction to the same).

We all have weak spots as GMs. Stuff that’s tougher for us. Mistakes that we make more often than we’d like. Things we overlook or fail to take advantage of.

One of these for me is keeping an updated “mental portrait” of the PCs in my head (and, therefore, my descriptions). I generally have a vision of the PCs in mind, but I have a tendency to let it default back to its generic baseline instead of, for example, incorporating all the muck and filth that a bunch of people rummaging around in monster-infested caverns are likely to get coated in.

In this particular case, the players had also forgotten to think about this until later in the session (when they wanted to get cleaned up for a social event), so we were able to play it as ironic comedy beat.

(Although I feel that if I was better about personally tracking this sort of thing and incorporating it into my long-term descriptions, then my players would be less likely to forget about it themselves. So I think the failure still comes back to me.)

A technique I’ve found useful for this is to put a reminder of the group’s “descriptive status” on a swap note on my GM screen. Having it persistently present in my field of vision provides a periodic, unprompted reminder that helps me describe things appropriately and make sure the campaign world is reacting appropriately.

(Now I just need to remember to update the swap notes…)

I’m still running this Ptolus campaign today, and, as you can tell from the dates on the campaign journals, the campaign has progressed quite a bit beyond this point. As a result, I’ve actually discovered a long-term problem related to this one: My mental image of the characters is kind of “stuck” on how the characters looked during these early days of the campaign.

(Sort of like how you often think about how your friends looked in college, even if it’s been years and years since any of you were in college.)

Talking with the players, I discovered that I was not entirely alone in this.

In the actual campaign, though, the PCs are all decked out in awe-inspiring magical gear, one of them has horns now, and a couple have been transformed into albinos. (As you do.)

For this, I discovered that commissioning some fresh character art and then either hanging it in the game room or using it for my GM screen did the trick.

Campaign Journal: Session 32A – Running the Campaign: The Traps That Move You
In the Shadow of the Spire: Index