D&D Tomb of Annihilation

beendevoured).DestroyingtheSoulmongeristheonly

waytohalttheattritionandrestoreherhitpoint

maximumtonormal.

RoleplayingSyndraSilvane

Syndratellsthecharactersherstoryandmakesherrequest.
Roleplaytheencounter,paraphrasingthefollowing
informationandrespondinginSilvane’sdry,crackingvoiceto
thecharacters’questions:
 “Iwasanadventureryearsago.Idiedonceandwas
raisedfromthedead.Ihavesinceclosedthedooronthat
stageofmylife.”
 “Thedeathcurseyou’veheardabouthasstruckme.I
don’tknowhowmuchlongerI’lllastbeforeIperish.
Clericshavenohelptooffer.They’restymiedbywhatis
happening.”
 “MycontactsintheHarpershavelearnedthatthecause
ofthedeathcurseisanecromanticartifactcalledthe
Soulmonger.Accordingtotheirsources,theSoulmonger
issomewhereinChult.”
 “Chultisapeninsularingedwithmountainsandchoked
withrainforests.Enormousreptiles,savagegoblins,and
anarmyofundeadprowlitsjunglesandruins.Mapping
theplacehasalwaysbeennighimpossible,andnothingis
knownabouttheregion’scurrentgeographybeyonda
fewmilesfromthecoas“Workingfromdozensofsea
charts,logbooks,andexplorers’journals,Iassembled
everythingknownaboutthecurrentstateofChultinto
onemap.I’llprovideittoyouifyouundertakemy
mission.”
 “Whenyou’rereadytodepart,IwillteleportusalltoPort
Nyanzaru,theonlymajorsettlementinChult.I’vebeen
thereseveraltimesbefore,sothere’slittlechanceof
mishap.Oncethere,I’llstaywithafriendnamed
WakangaO’tamu.He’soneofsevenmerchantprinces
whorulethecity.”
Syndrahasmisgivingsaboutsendinginexperienced
adventurersonsodangerousaquest,butsheisn’ttakingany
chances.Shefailstomentionthatother,moreexperienced
partiesofadventurershavebeensenttoChultalready.All
havedisappeared,andSyndrafearstheworst.Intruth,they
fellvictimtotheperilsofChultorcrossedpathswithValindra

Shadowmantle,andwereneverseenorheardfromagain.If

thecharactersurgeSyndratoseekoutamoreexperienced

partyofadventurers,sherepliesdryly,“Ialreadyhave.”

Treasure

Syndrapromiseseachcharacterarareoruncommonmagic

item,delivereduponsuccessfulcompletionofherquest.(At

theendoftheadventure,eachplayercanchoosean

appropriateitem,subjecttoyourapproval.)Syndraalso

expectsthatthecharacterswillfindenoughtreasureinChult

tomakethemasrichaskings.

Ifthecharacterspressforcoinupfront,Syndragiveseach

character 50 gptodefrayexpensesinPortNyanzaru.

Players’MapofChult

Atthispoint,givetheplayersacopyofSyndraSilvane’s

incompletemapofChult(seehandout 1 inappendixE).

Syndragladlyanswerstheirquestionstothebestofherability,

butshedoesn’tknowmuchmoreaboutChultthanwhat’son

themap.SheknowsPortNyanzaruwellenoughtoassure

charactersthattheycanbuysuppliesthere.

TeleportingtoChult

Intheinterestoftime,Syndraispreparedtouseateleport

spelltotransportherselfandtheheroestoPortNyanzaru.If

thecharactersagree,don’tbotherrollingtodeterminethe

spell’saccuracy.Syndraknowsthecity’sHarborWardwell

enoughtoarriveontarget.Shechoosesanoutdoorlocation

nearthedocksasherdestination.Whenthecharactersarrive

inPortNyanzaru,skiptothe“Arrival”sectioninchapter 1.

CharacterHooks........................................................................................................................................................................

AppendixApresentstwonewcharacterbackgroundsthat

playerscanselectwithyourconsent:theanthropologistand

thearchaeologist.Inaddition,thePlayer’sHandbookandthe

SwordCoastAdventurer’sGuidecontainanumberof

characterbackgroundsthatarewellsuitedforthisadventure.

Ifyourplayersarehavingtroublefleshingouttheircharacters’

backgrounds,sharetheideasfromtheCharacterHooksfor

SelectBackgroundstablewiththem.

CharacterHooksforSelectBackgrounds

Background Reference CharacterHook

Acolyte

Player’sHandbook Templesarevexedbyawidespreadmagicalcursethatiscausing
peopletowasteawaywhilealsopreventingthedeadfrombeingraised.An
expeditionaryforceisheadedtoChulttofindtheoriginofthecurse,and
you’vedecidedtojoinit.
Anthropologist AppendixA Awizard-merchantnamedSyndraSilvaneiswastingaway,andshehas
hiredyoutojoinanexpeditiontoChulttofindacure.Syndrabelievesthat
yourexpertisewillproveinvaluable,andyou’vewantedtostudythe
culturesthere.
Archaeologist AppendixA Youhavelearnedthatawizard-merchantisplanninganimportant
expeditiontoChult—aplacefulloflostcitiesyou’reanxioustoexplore.
Yourrequesttojointheexpeditionwasapproved.
Charlatan Player’sHandbook Afterafewsuccessfulscams,you’vegottenintosometroublewith
localauthoritiesandcriminalgangs.Youwereabouttomakearunforit
whenyouheardarumorthatamerchantnamedSyndraSilvaneisoffering
goodpayforanassignmentfarfromhome.
Cloistered
Scholar

SwordCoast

Adventurer’sGuide

AterriblecurseissweepingacrossFaerûn,andadyingmerchantis

gatheringadventurersforaboldmissiontodestroythesourceofthe