Unspeakable
Appendix: The Unspoken Knowledge
Knowledge can be dangerous. Just possessing knowledge sometimes can be
deadly. For instance,
if someone were to know the combination to a safe holding a million
dollars, he might be the target of
criminals and thieves looking for that knowledge.
The knowledge in this module functions in the same way. Simply knowing
that the Amulet of the Sun
exists makes a hero a walking target. For if the Amulet of the Sun
was ever destroyed, one of the Red
Death’s most powerful minions would be able to walk the earth during
the daytime. Simply knowing that
the amulet exists might give a villain the clue he needs to track it
down.
Many people know the name of Imhotep. History knows him well as the
creator of the first Egyptian
pyramid. Knowing Imhotep’s true nature, however, is very dangerous.
So long as images, or mention of
his name exists in the world, Imhotep is immortal. If word got out
about his true nature, however, his
name could be struck from the records. His images could be destroyed.
Thus, anyone who can associate
Imhotep with the Amulet of the Sun is a liability to him.
Being a liability to a creature of evil is routine in Living Death.
The heroes cross paths with lords of
evil all the time. However, Imhotep is not just any servant of darkness.
He is the reason that the Red
Death was able to come to earth. He is the first magician to corrupt
himself and the world with magic.
Thus, gaining Imhotep’s ire is especially bad.
Because of this great danger, Martise will not dole out the information
about Imhotep or the Amulet of
the Sun all at once. He tells the heroes only what is necessary to
tell them. However, as the module
continues, the heroes will find themselves wrapped up further into
the web of intrigue. Eventually, Martise
will have to level with them and reveal the whole truth. This happens
towards the final encounter.
It is possible that the heroes will demand that Martise explain to
them what is going on before that that
time. If they press him, Martise gives the heroes a fair warning:
“Mes amis, I will tell you the truth. The mission we have called
you on is quite…how do you
say…exceptional.”
“I was told what I now know by one of the members of the Inner
Circle itself. The knowledge
that I have now makes me…very dangerous. Dangerous to those that
I love. Dangerous to those
who would associate with me. You see, the knowledge that I now
have in my brain is so sensitive
that the forces of Our Eternal Enemy would stop at nothing to
get it.”
“What is this information? Wait, wait, mes amis. Wait a moment.
For if I tell you this
information, you will become as I am. Hunted. The darkness will
no longer wait for you to come
to it. It shall come after you. It will pursue you where you
sleep. It shall follow you over the earth.
Are you prepared to accept this burden?”
If the heroes consent to this deadly knowledge, Martise proceeds with
the telling of his tale.
• Now, long ago, there was a man. He was a great man. This man was
revered by his peers. He
was lauded for his wisdom. Indeed he was a genius! He was a master
architect, high priest of his
people, treasurer and accountant to the king, and supreme diplomat.
He was, how do you say?
The, ah, Renaissance Man.
• Now this man grew drunk upon his power. He began to seek a way to
challenge the gods. He
sought a method for attaining immortality. Ah, I see you know this
story well. Indeed, it is an old
story. Let me but finish, and you will see where the story twists.
• The jackal learned the secret to immortality. Not just a shadow-version
of immortality, but True
Immortality.
• The villain learned how to manifest his eternal spirit within any
likeness of himself. A stature, a
painting, even a script of his name would be enough for him to appear
upon the earth. So long as
his image or name appears somewhere on earth, the terror can dwell
upon this realm.
• Fortunately for us, others defeated him long ago, a king named Akenaten
and a queen named
Nefertiti. They were powerful priests of the sun god Aten. They banished
him from the world.
Now, he can only influence the world in subtle ways.
• He is the cause for the corruption of magic in the world. When he
learned the secret to True
Immortality, he blurred the line between life and death. The border
between this world and the
next.
• It is because of him that all magic in the world is tainted. Those
of you who can wield magic know
this to be true. Even the most benign of enchantments can draw the
taint of evil.
• Now you know the source of all our ills. Now you know the wellspring
from which flow the
nightmares of children. Now you know the heart that beats within each
murderer, sadist, and
cultist.
• He is the sole reason that undead walk the earth. The sole reason
that so many of our Society
are turned to the forces of darkness.
• Ah, you wish to know his name, yes? Very well. The being that you
face is Imhotep.
• But know this…you may know his name. But he now knows yours as well.
• Ah, yes, did I not tell you that he can manifest himself through
his name? Simply speaking his
name draws his attention. And I am sure he has now heard some portion
of this conversation.
• I have not doubt that our Eternal Enemy is marking you right now.
He is spreading his whisper to
his minions. Have no fear. He shall come soon for you.
• Know this. Now that I have told you what I know…never speak this
information to anyone else.
Ever. Never speak the Forbidden Name, for if you do, he will be sure
to hear it. And you will bring
his wrath down upon you and all those around you.
True Mummies/Immortals
A True Mummy is a powerful servant of the Red Death. True Mummies are very
rare, since they were
only created around the time of the Egyptian Empire. Since that time,
many of them have been destroyed
by the forces of light, destroyed each other, or vanished for no reason
at all.
There are numerous ways to become immortal on Gothic Earth. However,
each path to immortality
carries a hidden cost and hidden flaws. When Imhotep sought immortality,
he sought for a way that had
no cost and had no flaws. He came close.
Imhotep’s cost was the control of his soul. When he made himself immortal,
he lost his immortal soul
to the Red Death. He is now its eternal servant.
Imhotep’s flaw was only very small…a True Mummy cannot be killed so
long as their name or image
exists somewhere on earth.
This puts Imhotep in an excellent position. He is a famous figure in
history. His name is written upon
countless books on history, architecture, and archeology. Thus, it
would be very hard for any one
opponent to remove his name entirely from the earth.
True Mummies can witness and hear events through their images or written
names. Any image or
name functions as a scrying sensor through which they can hear and
see the world. Thus, a painting of a
True Mummy would hear and witness an entire conversation in room in
which it was hung. Just like any
magical sensor, a True Mummy using an image or name to view the world
may be fooled. Illusions are
still effective through the sensor. People may attempt to hide from
the sensor’s sight as well.
A True Mummy can manifest himself or herself through any image or likeness
of themselves. When
they do this, they emerge from their likeness, taking on a few of their
likeness' traits. Thus, any drawing,
painting, picture, or carving of them would come to life, moving about
of its own accord. When
manifesting through their written name, a True Mummy appears as a transparent,
indistinct figure. This is
their most weak manifestation.
Even uttering the name of a True Mummy evokes their power. Anyone who
utters the name of a True
Mummy has a 10% chance of being heard by them for the next 10 minutes.
Should a True Mummy’s form be destroyed, they can simply re-manifest
themselves into a new image
or name. They can freely shift their consciousness between likenesses
or names as a standard action.
Permanently destroying a True Mummy is an extremely difficult undertaking,
one that requires rituals,
numerous spells, and/or possibly the use of magical artifacts.