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T H E M U D D E D M A N S E A T A G L A N C E

Protected to thewestbya riverandalong itsotherboundsbytreacherous,crumblingcliffsleadinguptotheplateauonwhichitrests,theMuddedManseenjoysfurthersafeguardsduetoitsremote location in the swamp. The people of the nearestsettlement, Thornhill, regard themanse as a fearful place andrarelyspeakofittostrangers.Theoddestfeatureofthemanseisthebubblingmudunderlyingtheplateau.Themudhashealingproperties, so the manse’s proprietor, Vississi Leeai, hastransformedtheplaceintoahospiceandspawheretherichoradventurouscometoreceivemiraculouscures.

D E M O G R A P H I C S

RulerVississiLeeaiPopulation 21 (8 humans, 4 halflings, 3 half-orcs, 3 sylphs, 2

elves,1lizardfolk)AlignmentsLN,N,NELanguagesAuran,Common,Draconic,HalflingResources&IndustryHealing,restoration

L O R E

APCmayknowsomethingabouttheMuddedManse,itshistoryand surrounds. A PCmaking a DC 20 Intelligence check knowsone or more pieces of information from the list below. Asuccessful check gains all the information revealed by a lessercheck. DC 20: Little known to theworld, theMuddedManse is adestination for those who have the protection necessary toreach the swampy location and the money to spend on itsservices,whichincludecuresfordiseasesandothermaladies. DC 25: Vississi Leeai founded the manse thirty years ago,aftersheandanassociateclearedoutalizardfolktribe. DC 30: The land onwhich themanse stands served as thestrongholdofapowerfulearthelementalinantiquity.

N O T A B L E F O L K

Most of the residents are nothing more than ordinaryindividuals.

§ Appearance Despite the omnipresent mud, the manse’sresidentsarealwaysclean;thestaffarealwayscheery.

§ Dress The staff dress in simple, white robes, but happilychangetoothercolourstosuitaclient’sdesires.

Someoftheinhabitants,however,arenotable:

Aqalarian of the Grove (location 10; NE female elf druid)Aqalariantendstheplantsinthegrovebehindthemanse.

Demben Indra (location7;NGmalehalflingacolyte) Ever jolly,Dembenensuresguestsarecomfortable.

PelGort (location 1; LN female half-orc [see stat block]) A no-nonsense warrior, Pel watches over the only path to themanse.

Sslaryss (location 3; N female lizardfolk shaman) Sslaryssoverseestherecoveryprocessforclientswithdireillnesses.

VississiLeeai(location2;NEfemalesylph)FounderandleaderoftheMuddedManse.

Xar Gort (location 5; Nmale half-orc thug) Pel’s twin brother,Xarhasservedasmasseusesincethemanseopened.

ZevKaldan(location4;Nmalehumanpriest)Zevisresponsibleforhigh-profileguestsintheprivateward.

N O T A B L E L O C A T I O N S

MostoftheMuddedMansecompriseslocationsoflittleinteresttoadventurers.Afewlocations,however,arenotable:

1. Main Approach: A barely visible trail leads to the MuddedManse. A path flanked by twenty-foot-high cliffs funnelsvisitorsthroughanareaoverseenbytrainedguards.

2. Welcome and MudWell: Vississi Leeai receives guests hereanddiscussesavailabletreatmentsandpayment.

3. Convalescents’ Wing: Visitors who have been treated forgrievousmaladiesrestandrelaxhereinsemi-privacy.

4. PrivateWard: This roomhouses one or two guestswho canaffordtheexorbitantfeesforseclusion.

5. Masseur: Despite his appearance, Xar Gort’s gentle touchremovesallachesandpains.

6. MudApplication:Theprimarydrawforthemanse,thisroomiswhereexpertsapplyhealth-givingmudtopatrons.

7. Waiting Room: Retinue of clients who are not receivingtreatmentwaitherefortheiremployers.

8. Quarters:Most of themanse’s staff remains on site; Vississiensuresthecomfortofherstaffinthiscrowdedroom.

9. Administration:VississiLeeai’sofficeandpaymentstorage.10. The Grove: This beautiful shaded area provides respite from

thesurroundingswamp’soppressiveheat.11. MudHole:Rarely,amudelementalescapesfromthehole.

M A R K E T P L A C E

Thefollowingitemsandservicesareforsale:

Consumables potion of healing (50 gp), potion of greaterhealing (150gp),mudof longevity (10,000gp;works like thepotion),mudofvitality(6,000gp;workslikethepotion),spellscrolls (varying cost; any transmutation cantrip, 1st or 2ndlevelspell)

§ SpellcastingArcaneanddivinespellcastingofupto7th-level.

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E V E N T S

While the PCs are at the MuddedManse, one or more of thebeloweventsmayoccur.Chooseordeterminerandomly:

D6 EVENT

1Amurderof crows,numbering in the thousands, circlesthe grounds for an hour, blotting out the sun.Afterwards,theydisperseinalldirections.

2

Anearthquakeshakesthemanse’sfoundations.Terrifiedclients flee the building as the employees attempt tocalmthem.Vississideterminedlyclutchesherstaffasshestormsoutthenorthexit.

3Zev leaves theprivateward inapanic,grabbinganyonewhocanhelphim,asmudusedtotreatacidscarringonaguesthassolidifiedandthreatenstosuffocatehim.

4 Aedwen Sirett arrives from Thornhill to ask Vississi toprovideaidforvillagerssufferingfromadeadlydisease.

5

A powerful noble’s envoy arrives and demands themanse clear of patrons before her arrival, raisingobjections from clients. Vississi confers with the envoywhowhispers to her for aminute. The sylph offers fullrefundsandinsistseveryonedepartbytomorrownight.

6

Pel drags a pair of gnomes to the administrative office.Eavesdroppers hear Vississi briefly ranting about spiesbefore telling the half-orc to take them to Aqalarian todealwiththem.

W H I S P E R S & R U M O U R S

While researching the Mudded Manse, a PC may hear one ormorerumours.APCmakingaDC10Charismachecklearnsonerumour fromthetablebelow.APCexceedingthischeck learnsanadditionalrumourforeach5pointsbywhichheexceededDC10.

D6 RUMOUR

1Youdon’twanttogotothegrovewhenthedruid’snotaround;someofthevinestherewouldstrangleyou if itweren’tforhisintervention.

2*Theneighbouringlizardfolkbelievethemansedefilestheswamp, and they are planning a massive assault todestroythebuilding.

3 Aqalarian has put feelers out for information about apowerfulmagicitemthatcontrolsearthelementals.

4Thissectionoftheswampsharesathinborderwiththeelementalplaneofearth.Itseemsoddsomeonewithairelementalheritagewouldbedrawnhere.

5 Becarefulwhatyousayaroundthestaff.Sellingsecretsisanotherwaytheygeneraterevenueforthemanse.

6*VississiandAqalarianarethesoleremainingmembersofan adventuring party that amassed a great fortunebeforethegroupfelltodeadlyin-fighting.

*Falserumour