Ornateweapons,shields,andframedpaintingsare
displayedthroughoutEkene-Afa’svilla,asare
squawkingparrotsingildedcages.
IfanTalro’adecorateshisvillaandgardenswith
relicsandvasesplunderedfromChultanruins,and
colorfulflyingsnakesswoopandglidethroughthe
spacioushallways.
ThewallsandpillarsinJessamine’svillaarepainted
withcolorfulserpents,anddecorativestone
fountainsandfontsshareasimilarserpentinemotif.
ThewallsofJobal’svillaarefestoonedwithsilk
draperies,tapestries,andthemountedheadsof
beasts.
Kwayothé’svillareekswithscentedperfumes,and
bowlsoffreshfruitcanbefoundthroughout.Oil
lampsandbraziersarekeptlitonhonorofKossuth.
Wakanga’svillaislitwithcontinualflamespells,and
softmusic(createdbymagic)playsthroughout.
Doorstoprivatechambershavearcanelockspells
castonthem,andflyingswordsaremountedonthe
walls,readytoattackonWakanga’scommand.The
occasionalfloorrugorhangingrugmightbearugof
smotheringindisguise.
Zhanthi’svillaisdecoratedwithstandingsuitsofgold-plated
armorandlargepottedplants,andthebejeweledskullsof
Zhanthi’sancestorsrestinwallniches.
LowerLevel................................................................................................................................................................................
Paintings,statues,murals,frescoes,tapestries,andoillamps
meanttoimpressguestsdecoratethislevel.
1 .Entryway
Thispleasant,breezy,tiledcourtyardincludesasplashing
fountainandgreenplants.Visitorscanrefreshthemselvesina
washroomtotheleftoftheentrancebeforemeetingresidents
ofthevilla.Theentryporticoisalwaysguardedby 1 d 4 +
1 gladiatorsrecruitedfromthemerchantprince’sextended
familyorhand-pickedfortheirloyaltyandfightingprowess.
Theseguardsarealwaysonalertagainsttrickstersand
magicianstryingtogainentrancetotheirmaster’shome,so
theyhaveadvantageonskillchecksandsavingthrowsagainst
attemptstodistract,bamboozle,orcharmthem.
Theceilingoftheentrywayistwostoriestall.Insome
homes,it’sopentothesky.Inthosecases,thefountainissunk
intotheflooranddoublesasadrainforrainwater.
2 .SittingArea
Thisisbothawaitingareaandameetingareaforguestswho
aren’tknowntothevilla’smaster,andthereforewon’t
necessarilybegivenaccesstotheinnerchambersofthehouse.
Decorativecolumnssupportthearcheddoorwayfromarea 1.
Rugsandcomfortablepillowsarearrangedonthefloor.
Narrowwindowslookintothegarden,butthesedoubleas
arrowslitsincasevisitorsaren’tasfriendlyastheyclaimtobe.
3 .GrandHall
Amagnificentlytiledfloorisflankedbytwosweeping
staircasesthatascendtotheupperfloor.Decorationsarein
keepingwiththeindividualmerchantprince’stasteand
specialization.
4 .GuestRooms
Mostoftherightsideofthehouseisdevotedto
accommodationsforguests.Threeprivatesleepingrooms
withattachedbaths,plustwosittingroomsandaccesstothe
garden,makethisfarmoreluxuriousthanatypicalinn.5 .Garden
Ferns,pottedpalms,orchids,andotherexotictropicalflowers
arecultivatedinthegarden,whichisopentothesky.Chultan
plantswithusefulpropertiesorapplicationsaspoisonmight
befoundinthegardenofamerchantprincewitha
horticulturalbent,suchasJessamine.SeeappendixCfor
examplesofrareplants.6 .DiningRoom
Thediningtableisverylow,justafewinchesabovethefloor.
Dinersrelaxonpillowsastheyeat.7 .Sauna
Inadditiontodailybaths,well-to-doChultansloverelaxingin
saunas.DryheatisawelcomechangefromChult’shigh
humidity.Mosthomesaunasareheatedwithcharcoalburners
orhotstones,butinthehomesofthemerchantprinces,a
trappedfireelementalprovidesround-the-clockheat,anda
servantorslaveisalwaysavailabletomassagetiredmuscles.8 .Bath
ThebathisthecornerstoneofaChultanmansion,evenmore
sothanthediningroomorfamilyrooms.Thefamilyrelaxes
hereduringprivatetimes,butthere’snothingunusualabouta
merchantprinceholdingmeetingsinthebathwithtrusted
advisorsandclosebusinessassociates.Beinginvitedintothe
householdbathisconsideredanhonorinChultansociety,and
treatingitasanythinglessthananhonorrisksoffendingthe
personwhoextendedtheinvitation.9 .Kitchen
Thekitchenislarge,high-ceilinged,andwellventilated;
otherwise,heatfromcookingfireswouldmakeitunbearably
hot.Stairsleaduptothelaundryroom(area 14 ).UpperLevel................................................................................................................................................................................
Theroomsonthislevelaredecoratedforcomfort.The
artworkandotherdecorreflectsthetasteofthemerchant
princetowhomthevillabelongs.10 .Library
Chultansarefansofmythicalromance,andthecityhasan
activeliterarycommunitywithmanybookclubs.Port
Nyanzaru’smostsuccessfulnovelistsandplaywrightsconcoct
stirringtalesaboutlegendaryheroeswhopursuetheirlovers
throughunimaginabledangerandsavethemfromfatesworse
thandeath—whichismorelikelytoinvolveaforcedmarriage
tosomeonewhodoesn’tlovethemthanbeingeatenbyan
impossiblyhugetyrannosaurus,althoughmonstrous
tyrannosaurusesmakeregularappearancesinthesetales,too.
Acharacterwhospendsafewhourssiftingthroughthe
formulaicfictionandsucceedsonaDC 15 Intelligence
(Investigation)checkfindsusefulbooksofChultanloremixed
inwiththeromances.Usethisasanopportunitytoanswer
specificquestionsposedbytheplayers.Alibrarywon’treveal