The Crypts of Gluttony (Kuthona (XII) 10th, 4712 AR)

The Crypt of Gluttony is exquisitely crafted. Arches are elaborately carved with stunning artistic patterns. Ceilings are 10 feet high in corridors, all of which are adorned with decorative moldings inlaid with silver angels. Chambers are usually arched or domed to a height of 20 feet and covered with beautiful frescoes and mosaics depicting sleeping men and women tended by cherubim and soothed by angelic singers and musicians. The floors are covered in smooth, fitted flagstones with inlaid ceramic tiles in various decorative patterns. All doors are made of iron.

The extent of the Crypts of Gluttony are under the effects of a strong magical aura. All stone surfaces in the crypts are cold to the touch.

Crypts. The ceiling of this circular domed chamber rises to a height of thirty feet. The walls are decorated with ten grinning skulls, each gripping what appear to be bits of flesh in their teeth. A flight of steps leads up via a corridor in the far wall.

Each of the carved skulls is in fact a secret door that hides a narrow burial bier—some are empty save for a few silk funeral shrouds and scented herbs. Most of these chambers contained mummies.

The six Thassilonian mummies that stood guard in this room were desiccated and dried monsters clad in strips of ragged linen and silk. Their undead flesh was black and shiny, and shiny black beetles clattered over (and in places through holes in) their frames—these beetles were constantly dropping off and turning to dust, but were themselves harmless. The mummies rose up to attack the intruders on sight. The mummies fought until destroyed.

The Houses. The ceiling rises to a dome thirty feet above, while the floor drops away into a dizzying pit. A cross-shaped bridge of marble stretches across this pit, allowing access to four sets of iron double doors. Four bas-relief carvings of incredible detail have been carved into the curved walls in the four corners of the room, each under a word written in spiky runes. One holds aloft a sprig of grapes and a loaf of bread, one holds a wedge of cheese and a huge haunch of meat, another wields a platter heaped with candies, and the last simply stands with arms crossed, his mouth wide and grinning to display teeth that have been filed to points. Below each carving, the wall drops away into darkness, yet along these depths dozens of burial niches containing stone sarcophagi are visible.

The names etched in Thassilonian above each carving are Inib (wine makers and bakers, southwest), Gorryan (cheesemakers and butchers, northwest), Aanstrin (confectioneries, northeast), and Xerriock (cannibals, southeast).

The Crypt of Lord Mankray. A single sarcophagus of gold sits atop a white marble plinth at the far western end of this wide hall. The bas-relief lid depicts a handsome man holding a sprig of grapes and a bottle of wine crossed over his chest. The eyes are large star sapphires and the grapes appear to be individual gemstones that could be worked free with the right tools. Five wide alcoves in the room are carved with dozens of narrow niches, each of which contains a different bottle of what appears to be wine.

An investigation of the marble plinth revealed an engraved inscription written in Thassilonian: “Lord Anklerios Mankray Inib of the House of Inib: master vintner and beloved husband and father. An assassin’s blade accomplished what hundreds of duels could not.” The bottles buried in these walls constitute a sample of different vintages produced in Thassilon.

A clay golem was installed as the crypt’s guardian. The golem itself resembled a woman with the lower torso of a serpent and a Sihedron rune for a head, identifiable as the image of Lissala, goddess of runes. Indeed, countless runes (prayers to the goddess) were etched on its red clay body. The golem was also plated in iron—it was effectively wearing full plate armor.

The golem attacked the heroes on sight. It fought until destroyed.

The sarcophagus itself is only gold plated—with 8 hours of work, a dedicated thief could scrape 400 gp of gold off the stone. Of greater value are the two star sapphire eyes (each worth 500 gp) and the dozen amethyst grapes (each worth 150 gp). In all, there are 68 wine bottles in this room, each of which is worth 50 gp—and each of which has a dim magical aura.