The

marine ruins
HISTORY The cursed ruin
Since then, rumors have been floating about
the marine ruins – Sewer-workers have seen
strange silhouettes when they came back to
When the ophidians left Aarklash to answer check the damage. Scared away, they had not The coming and goings of the smugglers and
Vortiris’ call (see Secrets, volume 1), some re- gone far enough to discover the ruins. These the naphta-powered explosion have roused
mained behind on the continent to perpetu- rumors are bound to reach the ears of free Ss’Alish from his unnatural sleep. His magical
ate the Serpent civilization. Among them was leaguers one day or another. experiment partially worked. He is now a living-
Ss’Alish, a powerful magician. He used to live dead, but the technique he used was much less
in the city which stood where Cadwallon is reliable than those perfected by the Obscures of
now erected, surrounded by his apprentices. Acheron: his mind was altered by Darkness and
Quickly, he understood that the departure of he has regressed to the state of a wild animal.
his brethren would put his community in dan-
ger, as it would not be long before the enemies He now roves the marine ruins, which he
of the Serpent heard about their weakening considers his territory. He hesitates in going
Time would then wreak its havoc. anywhere beyond the ancient tunnels immedi-
ately surrounding his ancient lair. He finds the
Ss’Alish thus decided to plan his survival for new Cadwallon disturbing. He does make a few
the long term, as he was unable to predict when excursions, however, mainly to prey on careless
the ophidians who had left would return. He wanderers.
studied dark lore in order to find a way to stand
the curse of time, and discovered a way to be- When the TL reaches 7, Ss’Alish appears at the
come undead. edge of the area where the PCs are, in addition
to that TL’s normal effects (as a creature, Ss’Alish
And so, when Ss’Alish died a few years lat- has already reached the “Attack !” stage).

PLOTS
er, he was buried according to a special ritual
which would allow him to transform, slowly,
into a lich. As Ss’Alish had foreseen, the ophid-
Encounters
Contraband
ian community disappeared. In his coffin, the
magician was waiting.
The Cadwallon sewers are, truth be told,
Centuries later, when the Cynwall Cadwallon Many pipes and conduits lead to the marine an oft-used traveling way. When the PCs
was built, Ss’Alish’s crypt ended up below ruins. Some go deeper into the city, others lead reach the marine ruins, there’s a good
ground level. Changes brought on by the ar- to Kraken harbor, which is why the marine ru- chance that they won’t be alone there. The
rival of the Cynwall, and later, by the arrival of ins are used by smugglers as a meeting point:
GM rolls a d6 and checks the following
table. NPCs present due to plots or TL
the Dogs of War, caused the partial flooding of those from the outside trade their goods for
can be added to the result.
Ss’Alish’s crypt. When the sewers were built, the ducats of those from inside.
the water receded, and the crypt was discov- Die Result
ered by workers. Listening to their cautious
side, they judged it prudent to simply brick up The smugglers meet here at night – they 1 Bad luck, three veteran militia-
the entrance. The ophidian was still sleeping. gather in groups of five and carry 500 D worth men (see Secrets, volume 1, p. 90)
of various, but always illegal, goods. When the have decided to patrol the sewers.
Recently, Methanol (see Cadwallon, p. 239) TL reaches 9, they flee. 2-3 No one there.
has caused an explosion above the marine ruins 4-5 Five smugglers who don’t feel like
while working on a naphta machine. The trem- Despite their precautions, the smugglers being bothered.
ors have destroyed the wall which condemned have not gone unnoticed. Their silhouettes are
6 One Sewer-worker who can in-
form the PCs about current plots
the access to Ss’Alish’s crypt, and even worse those the Sewer-workers have seen and taken
concerning the marine ruins.
– the ophidian has awakened... for creatures from deep under the Free city.
 STATE OF 4: Ruined houses
THE AREA (Calm Area)
(Tiles A13r/A14r)
A Search/DIS (8) test allows one to find

1: The sewers
everyday life items.

• 0 gamble: The inhabitants of these houses

This is where the smugglers meet. The wa- were of Large Size.
ter’s depth is Very Small. • 1 gamble: They had five fingers on each
hand, including an opposable thumb.
• 2 gambles: They probably weren’t humanoid.
2: The ruins
(Watched/5) 5: Ss’Alish’s tomb
The architecture of these structures is strange, (Guarded)
difficult to identify. The alleys are covered with
a slightly concave material, and unlike the well- The top of this construction shows traces of
explored areas which have been emptied of any- a violent explosion which completely blew the
thing of value, these seem to have been spared. roof in. The interior shelters a heavy sarcopha-
The frescoes on the walls have not been ripped gus whose curves and circumvolutions bring
out and small bits of metal whose use cannot be uneasy feeling to those who look at it. The walls
fathomed can be found here and there. There’s are covered with writing of unknown origin.
even a statue at one of the building’s corners,
representing some sort of reptilian divinity.
If the PCs haven’t met Ss’Alish yet, grab your
These ruins are all that remain of Ss’Alish’s dice - this is where they’ll face him!
community. All the exterior squares are of the A PC with the knowledge Expertise (Naphta)
“Underground” type. 1 will easily recognize the heavy smell still
knowledge Country (Cadwallon under- floating in this confined space. However, the
ground) 3 is needed to recognize a form of origin of the blast (which happened much
construction common to certain underground higher) cannot be discerned.
zones of the city. These are always linked to
dark stories and violent deaths... A Search/DIS (6) test allows a player to find
the following things:

The marine ruins • 0 gamble: The sarcophagus was made for

(tiles A13R/A14R) a being with a humanoid torso, but whose
lower body resembles a snake.
• Pitch dark • 1 gamble: The sarcophagus holds three
• Quiet items, hidden in the shreds of a rotting
• Sickening
cloth: the dark catalyst and two enormous
• Attitude: PUGnacity.
tulwars of superior quality that seem to
• FAI: Darkness + 2
• Starting TL: 3 have escaped the wear of time. This trea-
• Area: Unexplored. sure is described in the annex.
• 2 gambles: The thing that was contained
3: Ill omen
• Entrances: Beneath Buoyancy Bay.
By default, every area is quiet. in the sarcophagus recently got out: claw

(Watched/5)
marks on the sides of the lid and rubble
In the marine ruins, the TL’s increase has that rolled out of the room bear witness
the following effects, in addition to those to that. Unfortunately, at this point of the
in the rules: This house has not fallen into ruin because exploration, it is probably too late to take
TL 7: Ss’Alish attacks the PCs; of time or the naptha incident. Ss’Alish’s pas- advantage of this information...
TL 9: The smugglers flee with their goods;
sage was what knocked down the walls and
TL 13: The militia doesn’t intervene
brought down the roof. A Track/OPP (8) or
–however, the dark catalyst goes crazy,
and every character present in the marine Search/DIS (8) test will allow to spot traces of
ruins must resist a FEAR of 6. the passage of a Large Size snake.
 Ss’Alish, degenerated ophidian

OPEL 01
Potential: 6 Characteristics: • Lunge/STY 3
Dominant attitude: SLEight • PUG 3 (FEAR 5) • Pierce/SLE 5
Size: Large (4) • SLE 4 • Slash/PUG 2
Power: 5 • STY 2 • Slither/SLE 4
• OPP 3 (DEF 4) • Strike back/STY 1
Movement: 5
• SUB 3 • Stunt/STY 1
U:
• DIS 2 (MAS 3) • Swim/PUG 1
LW:
SW:
Abilities: Protection: Torn to shreds leather armor
CW:
• Charge/PUG 2 (MOD: 0 PRO: 1)
INC: • Climb/SLE 2
Distinctive features: Ambidextrous, • Disarm/SUB 3
Sequence/3, Toxic/3 • Dodge/OPP 5
Feats: Consciousness, Living-dead • Force/PUG 1
• Hide/OPP 2 Weapons Par. Mod Dam. Mod Type Reach Conc.
• Intimidate/PUG 2 Claws 0 -1 T 0 na
• Look out/DIS 1 Fangs 0 0 P 0 na

CDSP 05/02
The smugglers:
Lagadan Broken-jaw, Morvule the Klû-less, Barlalas Three-fingered and Merliflan Silver-tongue
Race: Human Characteristics: Knowledge
Culture: Lower city • PUG 2 • Commerce 2
Trade: Smuggler 2 • SLE 3
Potential: 2 • STY 2 Contact
Dominant attitude: OPPortunism • OPP 3 (DEF 4) • Palm of Krek (OPP) 2
• SUB 4
Size: Medium (3)
• DIS 2 (MAS 3) Equipment: Purse (x2), bits and pieces, mace,
Power: 3
rucksack, worn clothes, 35 ducats
Movement: 4 Abilities:
U: • Barter/SUB 1
LW: • Bash/PUG 2
SW: • Conceal/OPP 1
CW: • Crook/OPP 4
INC: • Hide/OPP 2
Distinctive sign: Goblin’s jeers • Look out/DIS 4
Feat: Bravery • Slither/SLE 1

Morthigarh, smuggler leader ORCH 05

Race: Orc Characteristics: Knowledge
Culture: Lower city • PUG 2 • Commerce 3
Trade: Smuggler 3 • SLE 5
Potential: 3 • STY 2 Contact
Dominant attitude: SLEight • OPP 3 (DEF 4) • Palm of Krek (OPP) 2
• SUB 2
Size: : Medium (3)
• DIS 2 (MAS 3) Equipment: Purse (x2), bits and pieces, mace,
Power: 4
pistol (20 ammunition), rucksack, worn clo-
Movement: 4
Abilities: thes, 35 ducats.
U:
• Barter/SUB 2
LW: • Bash/PUG 2
SW: • Conceal/OPP 2
CW: • Crook/OPP 5
INC: • Hide/OPP 3
Distinctive sign: Goblin’s jeers • Identify/SUB 1
Feat: Brutal • Look out/DIS 5
• Shoot/SLE 1
• Slither/SLE 2
 ANNEXES New exploration
trade: smuggler
The dark
catalyst
Half merchant, half thief, the smuggler treads on
the fine border of legality...and countries. His profes-
sion forces him to great discretion, as well as requir-
ing solid talents as a negotiator. A smuggler’s job
This oil lamp, with a distinctively tormented isn’t easy, even in the Free city – in fact, it’s probably
shape, has a handle worked to look like a half- harder than anywhere else, because of competition!
man, half-snake being praying. A depression
allows an object the size of a big stone to be set Rank 1: Look out/DIS, Crook/OPP, Hide/
in it. OPP, Commerce (knowledge).
Rank 2: Slither/SLE, Conceal/OPP, Barter/
This item gives a better control of Darkness. SUB.
It gives a bonus die to Incantate (Darkness)/ Rank 3: Identify/SUB, Slash/PUG (or Bash/
Special tests and Feel/SUB tests relating to PUG or Pierce/PUG or Shoot/PUG).
Darkness. Rank 4: Dodge/OPP, Force/PUG, one knowl-
edge at player’s choice.
It must be powered by a gem of Darkness Rank 5: No witnesses, no trouble! When
with at least one point of mana: the only thing using Conceal/OPP to hide a trade
required is for it to be placed in the depression good, each gamble taken by the
- minute claws will then lock the gem, firmly smuggler counts for two.
attaching it in place. The gem in question can Rank 6: Disguise/STY, Feign/SLE.
be used normally, as the dark catalyst does not
consume enough energy for the mana to be Equipment: Purse (x2), bits and pieces, ruck-
spent, but it must be present in the gem. sack, worn clothes, 50 ducats and (3) sword,
dagger, mace or pistol (20 ammunition).

New weapon: the Tulwar

A tulwar is an enormous scimitar. Humans wield it with two hands.

Weapon Par. Mod Dam. Mod Type Reach SIZE Conc Origin Legality Availability Weight Price
Tulwar 0 +4 T 2 4 -4 OP No 10 6 kg 150 D
 The
marine ruins

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