The Scourge of Thasmudyan

The Nycoptic Manuscripts foretold many plagues and portents, but none are more terrible than the Opening, when the Ninth Seal in the Garden of Eternity will be broken, releasing Vermissa from her magical prison. The first portent of her release, alluded to in the Manuscripts, is the spread of disease across the land as the “cold breath of Thasmudyan heralds the return of His chosen.”

Rampant plague is an excellent backdrop for a campaign of necromancers and death priests. It should descend on a setting slowly, with vague rumors of unexplained deaths filtering to the adventurers before the massive epidemic breaks out, slaying as much as a third of the local population. This plague is at least partly magical in nature, since clerical magic is much less effective against it. Cure disease has only a 50% chance of success (the spell only works once per victim), and only heal is 100% effective in eradicating the infection.

Before long, the Brotherhood of Sorrow arrives, and the Flagellants try their best to mediate the local pain and suffering. One of the Master Flagellants approaches the heroes, asking their help to stop the disease. The learned priest has heard of the Nycoptic Manuscripts, which describe magical plagues of this sort and might contain suggestions of a cure. He begs the party sail to Sahu and search for a copy, which may greatly help alleviate the suffering.

The prophetic manuscripts can indeed be found in Sahu, either in the Colossus of Uruk or perhaps in the Tower of Pizentios (or the Garden of Eternity itself). A perusal of the scroll does reveal a cure for the disease (eating one raw scarab beetle a day), but it also suggests the cause of the plague: “the release of Thasmudyan’s chosen.” (Vermissa is not named specifically).

There are two other prophesies in the manuscripts that are directly related to Vermissa: “The Sundered Man shall be made whole by the Chosen, who will release Her” (this refers to the restoration of Nebt Bhakau, mentioned previously) and “The Chosen shall Emerge when the Colossus walks in Nycopolis” (this can be taken to mean that the Colossus of Uruk will come to life in some way, but it really alludes to the fact that Bhakau and Pizentios, working together, will create a huge, flesh golem (a Colossus of sorts) and use the monster to physically destroy Vermissa’s prison). All of this will happen exactly as was predicted, unless, of course, the necromancers’ evil plans are thwarted by the intrepid adventurers after they bring back the knowledge of how to cure the plague!

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