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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 9871628" data-attributes="member: 2209"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/16792/Ruins-of-Zhentil-Keep-2e?affiliate_id=17596" target="_blank">Ruins of Zhentil Keep (2e)</a>2eBanedead, Shriveled Dead of Bane: Created from fanatical human worshipers, they appear as withered human males and females who have had the life sucked out of them. The malevolent force chat now animates them manifests in their glowing red eyes. One of a Banedead's hands is always twisted into a hideous claw.Banedead derive their power from the Negative Energy Plane and from the clerical power of the ritual that created them.Due to their origins as fanatics, Banedead always go out of their way to attack priests and paladins above all others.Banedead are created by a special ritual that requires at least l2 worshipers (to be turned into Banedead), at least 24 living additional worshipers (to offer prayers), and a priest of Bane or Xvim of at least 12th level (to preside over the ritual). The ritual must be held in a place that is consecrated to either Bane or Xvim. People who are to become Banedead (also called the Promised Ones) must come forward voluntarily. Rumors of innocent folk captured by cultists and forcibly transformed into Banedead are patently false. At the end of the ritual, the new Banedead are placed under the control of their new master, the presiding priest.Some scholars are still trying to discern how a new breed of undead could be formed by a deity who is supposed to have been destroyed. A few sages believe that it is not Bane at all, but rather Xvim, who has introduced this new horror to the Realms. These sages speculate that the spirits of the Promised Ones are in fact shunted into Xvim somehow to nourish him, building his power so that he can eventually fill the void left by his father's death.Xvim is calling for the kidnapped victims, who are to be brought in by the osyluths from C5. If the PCs did not go there first, the captives are herded in by the four lesser baatezu.There are two dozen robed cultists still living here, plus the high priestess of Xvim, who turns to attack the intruders as soon as they are spotted. After 1d4 round, the 20 dead cultists arise as Banedead and join the fight.Banelich, Lich of Bane, Mouth of Bane: Tired of his faithful becoming victims, every 50-60 years Bane chose the most powerful priest within the ranks of his clerics and revealed to him or her a foul rite that would transform the caster, through force of faith, strength of will, and Bane's divine hand, into a powerful, immortal form-a lich of Bane, or Banelich.Baneliches were at least 17th-level clerics before they were transformed, and several were 20th level or higher.Burnbones: The early days of the Banedeath did not go well for Cyric, the (then) new god of the dead, and many of his fledgling clerics were slaughtered at the hands of powerful Banites. Cyric soon after empowered select members of his clerical faithful with a portion of his power-so much power, in fact, that these clerics' mortal forms dissolved into nothing more than mere bones and the fiery power of the Dark Sun.Burnbones were created from Cyric's priesthood, and were are chosen for their fanatical loyalty.Cyric created nearly two dozen of these creatures at the onset of the Banedeath, and their numbers were soon halved by Banites and the forces of good in the Heart lands. As his enemies discovered means by which to destroy the creatures, Cyric sent some of the remaining ones into hiding until needed, and created others as reinforcements. Cyric has created new burnbones only sporadically however, for he seems to be easily distracted, with the result that only a handful of burnbones are created every year.A burnbones is infused with a portion of Cyric's power, giving Cyric complete control over it when he so wishes. All of the burnbones, created at the time of the Banedeath were a minimum of 12th level before their transformation. When Cyric infuses clerics of lesser level with power enough to increase their levels as burnbones, the increased power burns out their corporeal forms in a short period of time. The greater the difference between the cleric's original level and that of the enhanced burnbones, the shorter the existence of the burnbones. (A one-level difference will generally result in a creature that lasts a year. For each level greater the difference is, subtract a month from the duration of the creatures' existence.) Burnbones that are not "overcharged" last until they are destroyed.Banedead, Withered Human Who Has Had the Life Sucked Out of Them: ?Banelich, Powerful Immortal Form, Gaunt Skeletal Rotting Humanoid Form With Black Eye Sockets in Which Burn Red Points of Light, Natural Leader: ?Stallac Benadi, First Imperceptor of Bane, Stallac of Bane, Banelich Cleric 19, Lich-Priest, Banelich of Tremendous Power, Greatest Treasure, Former Imperceptor, Great Threat, Greatest Evil, Foul Banelich, Lesser Evil, Mortal Enemy, First and Greatest Follower, First High Imperceptor of Bane, Skeletal Creature: Even though he extended his life for over 160 years through the use of potions of longevity after his descent below the Keep, time still was not on the Imperceptor's side-slowly but surely his life was slipping away. In fear of death, Stallac petitioned Lord Bane for aid, and his prayer was answered: The god turned him into a Banelich of tremendous power.Burnbones, Skeletal Creature, More Powerful Version of a Blazing Bones: ?Chrinson Navham, Chrinson of the Blazing Sun, Chrinson of Cyric, Chrinson of the Blazing Bones, Burnbones Priest of Cyric 12, Highest Ranking Priest, Huge Skeleton That Blazes With Unearthly Fire: Soon after usurping Bane's mantle, Cyric came to Stallac, seeking his adoration and support in the conquest of Zhentil Keep and the rest of the Moonsea. Stallac spurned Cyric. Cyric's anger at this rejection was great, but the Banelich's empire had risen to a phenomenal level of power and Cyric did not wish to waste the considerable strength required to destroy Stallac. Therefore, he empowered one of his lowly converts, one Chrinson Navham, instead.Chrinson was an acolyte of Bane when the Time of Troubles ended, and he was one of the first to embrace Cyric. After Stallac's refusal of Cyric's offer, the new god of the dead took Chrinson into his fold and turned him into a more powerful version of a blazing bones, with great clerical ability, called a burnbones.Undead, Undead Creature, Undead Thing: Since the graveyard was originally "consecrated" to Bane, his apparent demise has turned it into unholy ground. Anyone buried here has a 30% chance of rising as an undead creature, checked for once per full moon.The war between Stallac and Chrinson has been costly for both sides. As a result, both forces have resorted to kidnapping citizens of the city and transforming them into undead creatures.Roaming Undead Creature: ?Mindless Undead Creature: ?Free-Willed Undead: ?Corporeal Undead: ?Intelligent Undead: ?Undead Servant: ?Undead Miner: ?Undead Slave: This area is lined with cells where Stallac's forces hold human and demihuman victims until the Banelich readies the spells that turn them into undead slaves.Undead Minion: ?Undead Guardian: ?Undead Beholder: ?Wandering Undead: ?Dracolich: The Cult reveres evil dragons in general, and when possible it reanimates them (especially the older and more powerful ones) as dracoliches.Undead Dracolich Master: ?Ghost, Noncorporeal Creature: ?Ghost, Guardian: ?Ghoul: They are the remains of two dozen workers who were sealed up in this funeral parlor when this section of the Keep sank into the earth. The workers' malevolent souls lingered on as ghouls.During the Razing, Zhentil Keep lost all of its seagoing fleet. The vast majority of these vessels were caught by white dragons and blasted frozen with icy breath weapons until they became miniature icebergs, floating tombs for the quick-frozen sailors caught within. Eventually, many of these vessels washed up on parts of the coast where tidal streams frequently swirl, resulting in a large collection of ruined wooden vessels, shredded canvas sails, blocks of ice, and dead bodies. There are rumors that the dead crews rise as zombies, skeletons, and ghouls if someone takes too much of the loot. Several clerics have confirmed that the entire area radiates a certain aura of foreboding.Undeath After Death spell, 1st-3rd level subject.Create Undead Minion spell.Ghoul, Undead Minion: ?Ghoul, Wandering Undead: ?Ghast: Undeath After Death spell, 4th-6th level subject.Create Undead Minion spell, 15th level caster.Ghast, More Powerful Undead Minion, Undead Minion: ?Lich, Average Lich: The followers of Kelemvor are not out to spread death and destruction in the Realms. Rather, they seek to help others to die with dignity at their appointed time and no sooner. Just as they do not seek to rush death, they also speak out against those who seek to artificially prolong their lives beyond their natural limits, including such magical creation as liches.Lich, Lich-Mage: ?Those Who Walk by Night, Lich, Lich-Like Figure, Lich Lord, Night Walker: These old council members retired, but did not vanish. Instead, they pursued dark studies until they gradually, one by one, slipped from sight into crypts growing beneath the city. There they attained their goal of lichdom and were oddly content-assured of privacy and endless time to continue their experiments.Fear-Lord Vingril, Vingril the Obstinate, Lich: ?Lich-Queen Varalla, The Lich-Queen of Darkhold, Lich of Fearful Power: ?Xonthal, Lich: ?Demilich: ?Mummy: Undeath After Death spell, 14th-17th level subject.Shadow: ?Skeleton: During the Razing, Zhentil Keep lost all of its seagoing fleet. The vast majority of these vessels were caught by white dragons and blasted frozen with icy breath weapons until they became miniature icebergs, floating tombs for the quick-frozen sailors caught within. Eventually, many of these vessels washed up on parts of the coast where tidal streams frequently swirl, resulting in a large collection of ruined wooden vessels, shredded canvas sails, blocks of ice, and dead bodies. There are rumors that the dead crews rise as zombies, skeletons, and ghouls if someone takes too much of the loot. Several clerics have confirmed that the entire area radiates a certain aura of foreboding.Bone Mask magic item.Skeleton, Undead Guardian: ?Human Skeleton: Bone Mask magic item.Monster Skeleton: Bone Mask magic item.Warrior Skeleton: Note that the skeleton's flames are simply a visible manifestation of the magic that transformed it into a warrior skeleton, and they do not radiate heat or cause flame damage to living beings or inert matter.This hallway is home to the 10 greatest followers of Bane who were not priests, each of whom struck fear into the hearts of unbelievers. (The PCs have already met the greatest of these warriors: the warrior skeleton at either area 4 or 34.) As a reward for their vigilance and conviction in life, Bane has rewarded the warriors in death by giving each of them supernatural powers.Warrior Skeleton, Powerful Undead Creature, Skeleton Wreathed in a Fiery Nimbus, Skeleton, Inhuman Creature: ?Warrior Skeleton, Warrior of Bane: ?Animal Skeleton: ?Spectre: Create Undead Minion spell, 19th level caster.Spectre, More Powerful Undead Minion, Undead Minion: ?Vampire: Undeath After Death spell, 18th+ level subject.Create Undead Minion spell, 20th level caster.Vampire, More Powerful Undead Minion, Undead Minion: ?Wight: Chrinson has control of only a few wights, though he creates them as quickly as he can by throwing living captives into this cavern and letting the existing wights drain them of life.Undeath After Death spell, 10th-13th level subject.Create Undead Minion spell, 17th level caster.Wight, More Powerful Undead Minion, Undead Minion: ?Wight, Leader: ?Cerchan of Lathander, Wight: Hidden within this chamber is the undead form of Cerchan of Lathander, a cleric of the Morninglord who was captured by clerics of Cyric in the Keep. Cerchan was transformed into a wight by Chrinson and set loose in the caverns.Wraith: Create Undead Minion spell, 18th level caster.Wraith, More Powerful Undead Minion, Undead Minion: ?Wraith, Humanoid-Shaped Cloud of Blackness: ?Zombie, Common Zombie: During the Razing, Zhentil Keep lost all of its seagoing fleet. The vast majority of these vessels were caught by white dragons and blasted frozen with icy breath weapons until they became miniature icebergs, floating tombs for the quick-frozen sailors caught within. Eventually, many of these vessels washed up on parts of the coast where tidal streams frequently swirl, resulting in a large collection of ruined wooden vessels, shredded canvas sails, blocks of ice, and dead bodies. There are rumors that the dead crews rise as zombies, skeletons, and ghouls if someone takes too much of the loot. Several clerics have confirmed that the entire area radiates a certain aura of foreboding.There are dozens of footprints on the dusty cavern floor, many of them made by zombies, who drag their feet or limp as a result of being animated one too many times.Wights who are "killed" in combat are reanimated as zombies if their bodies are still intact.Bone Mask magic item.Zombie, Wandering Undead: ?Zombie, Undead Guardian: ?Ju-Ju Zombie: Rarely (5% of the time), this encounter is with ju-ju zombies ( 1d3 ) unfortunate victims of the Zhentarim mage's cruel experiments.Undeath After Death spell, 7th-9th level subject.Create Undead Minion spell, 16th level caster.Ju-Ju Zombie, More Powerful Undead Minion, Undead Minion: ?Human Zombie: Bone Mask magic item.Monster Zombie: Bone Mask magic item.Blazing Bones: ?Minor Death, Skeleton Wearing a Robe and Wielding a Scythe: ?Phantom: ?Poltergeist: ?Undeath After Death(Alteration, Necromancy)Sphere: NecromanticRange: TouchComponents: V, S, MDuration: PermanentCasting Time: 1 turnArea of Effect: 1 BaniteSaving Throw: NoneThis spell is cast on worshipers of Bane upon the moment of their death, transforming them into different forms of undead. Which form of undead a Baneite becomes depends on his or her level of experience in life. The more powerful the Banite was in life, the stronger the type of undead. If the spell is cast upon the Banite after his or her death, it must be cast within 1 round per level of the caster after death occurs; otherwise, the spirit of the Banite is too far from the body to return and take control. If the caster waits too long, the spell works as an animate dead spell, creating a mundane, mindless zombie. Vampires created by this spell retain character abilities. (If the DM chooses to use the optional rules presented for mummies in Van Richten's Guide to the Ancient Dead, mummies crated by this spell retain character abilities, also.)Level1st-3rd4th-6th7th-9th10th-13th14th-17th18th+Type of UndeadGhoulGhastJu-ju zombieWightMummyVampireThe level of the caste r must be higher than the level of the spell's recipient, or else the caster must make a saving throw vs. death magic or perish in the casting. In such a case, however, the spell still function as normal on the recipient. The material component for this spell is a black obsidian heart into which is carved the recipient's name and the symbol of Bane. This heart is shattered during the ceremony.This spell is a closely guarded secret within the upper ranks of the church of Bane, and its use disappeared with the death of Bane. New priests of Cyric do not seem to know of the spell's existence, and the priests who converted from Bane worship have been unable to have the spell granted to them by Cyric when they pray for it.Create Undead Minion(Alteration, Necromancy)Sphere: NecromanticRange: TouchComponent: V, S, MDuration: PermanentCasting Time: 1 turnArea of Effect: 1 victimSaving Throw: Neg.The caster of this spell creates a form of undead. The type of undead created depends upon the level of the caster and the condition of the victim. The spell may be cast on a living or a dead subject. Dead subjects must have died within 24 hours, and their bodies must be in good shape. From a dead subject, the only type of undead that can be created is a ghoul.Subjects who are still alive result in more powerful undead minions. If such subjects fail their saving throws vs. spell, they transform into the type of undead indicated below, depending on the casting priest's level. Casters can create any type of undead given on the table, up to their level limit. Thus, a 18th-level priest can create a ghoul or aghast as easily as a vampire. Undead creatures of any sort created by this spell never retain character abilities.Cleric Level14th15th16th17th18th19th20th+Type of UndeadGhoulGhastJu-ju zombieWightWraithSpectreVampireThe transformation into an undead creature takes the full tum of the casting time to be complete. If the spell is interrupted (or dispelled) before the turn is complete, the subject is rendered unconscious for a turn, and returns to normal at the end of that turn. The undead creature created is under the complete control of the caster. If the controlling priest is later killed, the undead minion must make a successful saving throw vs. death magic or perish as well. Surviving undead become free-willed.The components of this spell are the holy symbol of the caster, dirt from a graveyard, and the fingernail of one of the forms of corporeal undead Iisted on the table above.Bone MaskXP Value: 6,000 GP Value: 12,000This skull-face mask is fashioned of bone from any source. The powdered bones of many animals can be used in a paste to augment or even form an entire mask. When a bone mask is worn, the wearer - who may be of any class – is immune to all undead draining, chilling, aging, and withering attacks, and all of the nonphysical attacks of a demilich (such as death ray, trap the soul, and curse).A bone mask also has three other powers that the wearer can call upon (one at a time) by silent act of will:• The wearer can turn all undead as if she or he were a 7th-level priest. Wearers who are priests normally able to tum undead have their effective level for turning attempts (only) doubled.• The wearer can animate dead by touch. This ability creates human or monster skeletons or zombies only, and can make one such entity per round. An undead animated by the bone mask rises on round following the use of this ability, and the mask-wearer can mentally control it on the third round. It will never attack any being who wears or has worn the bone mask that animated it.• The mask can emit a spectral messenger once per day. This insubstantial magical construct looks like a skeletal bat and flies unerringly at MV Fl 21 (A) to any being visualized by the mask-wearer who is alive and on the same plane. (If either of these conditions is unfulfilled, the spectral messenger doesn't fly off, but simply circles the mask wearer's head until dispelled by will of the mask-wearer.) When it reaches the chosen recipient being, the spectral messenger emits a verbal message from the mask-wearer. The message must be 33 or fewer words spoken by the mask-wearer, and the message cannot be a spell incantation. The message can include a word of activation, however, perhaps to activate a magical item the target being is carrying or is near.Fzoul Chembryl is known to treasure his bone mask, though his is by no means the only one in existence.</blockquote>

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