For use with Godbound, from Sine Nomine Publishing
Clues
- A flying barge manned by golden automata takes captives from a settlement
- Worshippers pray for deliverance from the “Golden Harvest”
Overview
- The rootless mountain called Monta Sempiterna floats through the skies above the created world, speckled with crumbling purple edifices
- Gold-and-marble golems plague the lands below, dragging prisoners back to their flying barge
- These two things are connected: a Parasite God calling himself Heavenking rules Monta Sempiterna, and he demands worshippers
- Captives are indoctrinated by the leech-deity’s high priest (his brother from when he was a mortal)
- They are forced to worship before Heavenking’s throne until they die of exhaustion
Inhabitants
- Heavenking
- “The Purple Emperor, the Rightful Ruler of the Universe, the Overgod”
- Looks like Xerxes from 300
- Parasite God, bound to the Word of Command
- Once a mortal wizard who bound the Word by tampering with the celestial engine in Starheart Palace
- Bound to the rootless mountain; cannot leave
- HD25, AC 3, 6+ Sv., +10 2x1d12 straight
- 9/10 Effort. Thrall-Making Shout, Guards! Seize Him! (Command)
- Acts THRICE per round
- Yusof
- High Priest of Heavenking
- Looks like Egyptian priest from Fifth Element
- Brother of the mortal who became the leech-god
- Both were Theurges exploring the rootless mountain
- Knows Heavenking’s given name (Fareed)
- Bound by Soldier’s Faithful Heart (Command), but yearns for freedom (his and his brother’s)
- HD4, AC 7, 13+ Sv., 1d6
- Knows the Theurgy Legion of Marching Clay
- Will share it with gratitude if his brother can be freed
- Might agree sadly if Heavenking is slain
- Flea
- Clay golem, leader of the golden legion
- Weaker than those it commands, but clay form allows for individuality
- Intelligent but naïve
- HD2, AC 5, 14+ Sv., 1d8 (spear)
Locations
- Golden Legion Garrisons
- Houses a Vast Mob of automata created through Legion of Marching Clay
- Marble bodies veined with purple; golden armor
- Cannot be harmed by nonmagical weapons
- HD42 (2 each), AC 5, 14+ Sv., 3x1d8 (spear)
- Overwhelm (Hardiness vs. 1d8, one target only)
- Temple-Prison
- Flying barge docks here
- It is the artifact God-King’s Resplendent Barge (Godbound p. 179) piloted by Flea
- Flea is unaware of the command chair’s mind-weakening enchantment
- Yusof wrangles his unwilling flock with the help of Golden Legionnaires
- Small Mob of automata, cannot be armed by nonmagical weapons
- HD11/14 (2 each), AC 5, 14+ Sv., 1d8 (spear)
- Overwhelm (Hardiness vs. 1d8, one target only)
- About three dozen captives receiving instruction at any given time
- Every day 2 or 3 are sent up the Ten Thousand Lavender Steps
- None ever return
- The Ten Thousand Lavender Steps
- Switchback up the mountain
- Made of polished soapstone
- Single Golden Legionnaires stand post at every turn
- Heavenking’s Palace
- Ring of ten worshippers do constant obeisance to the Parasite God
- Heavenking himself lounges in a chair of solid white stone with purple cushions
- Above the throne is a distortion in space
- Sealed Night Road leading to Starheart Palace
- Shattering the celestial engine makes Heavenking back into the mortal Fareed, but does not cure his addiction to worship
