Xanthoria - Candlekeep Mysteries

Xanthoria. Xanthoria An Adventure for 16th-level Characters Edited by Kim Mohan Developed by Bill Benham & Christopher Perkins Written by Toni Winslow-Brill A deadly fungal infection called the saprophytic plague is ravaging the Sword Coast. The plague not only targets beasts and humanoids but also destroys crops and stored foodstuffs, causing famine and sickness on an epic scale. Religious and civil authorities are unable to stem the tide of the saprophytic plague, and even a wish spell can't undo the contagion, given how widespread it has become. The mystery surrounding Xanthoria has to do with the discovery of a mad druid's quest for lichdom and the plague she unleashed in the process. Ordinary liches contain their souls in inanimate objects, but the druid Xanthoria discovered a way to house her soul in a living being. Beginning the Adventure Read the following boxed text to the players to kick off the adventure: A fungal plague is ravaging the Sword Coast, spreading quickly from one settlement to the next. Although magic has proven effective at ridding individuals of the spore infection, the plague is spreading too quickly to contain. Creatures that become infected fall ill with a fever and sprout disgusting, gooey, fungal growths before losing their autonomy, acting like zombies. They also release spores that infect other beasts and humanoids. Eventually, the plague reduces all infected creatures and foodstuffs to puddles of ooze. Humanoids infected with the plague drone the word "Xanthoria" over and over for no discernible reason before death finally claims them. You have determined that there's a book by that name contained in the library-fortress of Candlekeep. With luck, the book holds information that might help you end the saprophytic plague before it wipes out every village, town, and city in Faerûn. Xanthoria was a powerful druid who transformed herself into a lichen lich (see the end of the adventure for a description of this new monster). Liches ty...