Unlocking the door reveals a long corridor with iron
doors lining both walls. Each door has a small viewing
hatch that's latched shut. An unnatural gurgle churns
up from a cell to the right, and is quickly joined by
other voices.
Trantor ignores the din as she hurries to the far end of
the hall, where she ushers you through an open cell door.
The walls beyond are covered with childlike sket ches,
all overlapping each other in confusing waves and pat-
terned swirls.Any character who studies the sketches for a few
minutes quickly recognizes that they are multiple de-
pictions of a tentacled creature something like a squid
or octopus, but determining further details is difficult.
With a successful DC 13 Intelligence check, a character
discerns a specific element hidden within the chaotic
sketches. A character who has proficiency in Nature can
add twice their proficiency bonus to the check. The spe-
cific elements include the following details:
The tentacled creature is shown devouring a coastal
city whose skyline suggests the Styes.- The creature is shown trapped in a deep chasm or un·
derwater pit. its tentacles wrapped around humanoids
who are dragged down into the inky dark.
The tentacled creature appears to be shackled by a
collar attached to a chain, with the chain held by an-
other creature resembling a vile, multi-tailed fish. Any
character who succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Ar-
cana) check recognizes the creature as an aboletb. as
does anyone who has encountered aboleths before.DISTRICT GARRISON
If the characters visit the district garrison, there's a 30
percent chance that Constable Jute is there. Otherwise,
she's on patrol and returns in ld8 hours. As long as the
characters don't proclaim that they're investigating the
Lantern Ghost case, the militia guards are fairly friendly
toward them. (It's their policy not to antagonize pow-
erful-looking strangers.) If the guards realize w hat the
party is up to, they immediately suspect the characters
are out to make them look bad. In that case, they be-
come surly and tight-lipped.
All the militia guards have been assured by their com-
manders (all of whom were bribed by Mr. Dory) that the
Lantern Ghost was executed. the murders have been
solved. and anyone who wants to dig deeper into the
matter must be a troublemaker trying to stir up dissent.CONSTABLEjUTE
Constable jute (LG female human guard) is a rarity
in the militia- an honorable and honest public ser-
vant. She is noticeably nervous and reticent when first
asked about the Lantern Ghost case. as a result of the
warnings that she and the other members of the militia
have received. Being an honest guard means that jute
is already the target of scorn from her superiors and
fellow guards, and she doesn't need any more trouble in
that area.< 11\l'lrRll (^1111) SIYIS