[All Patrons] Dungeons & Lairs #98: Palace of the Ice Vampire (Level 8 to 16) - Complete Pre-Proof

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In the frostbitten realm of Glacial Peaks, there exists a legend whispered with shivering breaths and frozen hearts—the legend of Iyara, the Ice Vampire. Her palace, a marvel of magical ice, shimmering under the auroras, is a beacon of terror and beauty amidst the relentless snow.

This tale begins with Iyara herself, once a sorceress of unparalleled beauty and skill, devoted to the study of life's quintessence. Her obsession with eternal youth led her to a forbidden spell that transformed her into a creature of frost and fangs, cursed to feed on the vitality of men to sustain her chilling existence.

The Palace of the Ice Vampire is no mere fortress; it is a labyrinth of ice sculpted with magic, reflecting Iyara's twisted soul. Its walls whisper with the voices of her victims, and the air crackles with arcane energy. The gallery of frozen men, Iyara's ghastly collection, showcases adventurers, sailors, and tribesmen from nearby lands, each encased in a block of ice, their final moments of terror eternally etched on their faces.

But Iyara's magic has unforeseen consequences. The palace itself has become sentient, its corridors shifting and its traps alive, craving the warmth of life as much as its mistress. The local tribes, once thriving, now live in fear, their warriors either entombed in ice or too terrified to face the vampire. Ships that dare to navigate the treacherous waters nearby are lured by an enchanting melody—said to be Iyara's voice—only to find their crews joining her frozen gallery.

Legend has it that the heart of the palace hides the key to Iyara's undoing—a flame that never freezes, protected by riddles and guarded by the most ferocious of her creations, the Frost Wyrms. These serpentine beasts, born from the darkest magic, roam the palace's outer edges, ensuring that no unwelcome visitor finds their way to the heart.

Our heroes' quest is not just a rescue mission but a race against time. The longer they tarry, the stronger Iyara becomes as she prepares to cast an eternal winter over the lands beyond her realm. To navigate the palace's treacherous halls, solve its mystical riddles, and face its chilling inhabitants requires not only bravery, but an understanding of the true nature of sacrifice and the unpredictable magic of the ice.

As they venture deeper, they will discover ancient artifacts imbued with magics old and new, such as the Lantern of Endless Flame, capable of melting paths through the magical ice, or the Cloak of Snowfall, granting invisibility in snow and ice. They'll encounter the Betrayed, souls of Iyara's first victims, bound to the palace and seeking release—or revenge.

But beware, for the adventure is fraught with temptations. Iyara's charm is as potent as her spellcraft, and her offers of power and immortality are difficult to resist. Will our heroes liberate the frozen captives and bring an end to Iyara's reign, or will they become the newest exhibits in her macabre gallery of ice?

Thus begins the adventure into the heart of cold and darkness, an epic saga of magic, mystery, and the fight for warmth in a world that seeks to extinguish it. Welcome to the Palace of the Ice Vampire.

Adventure Level and Scaling

Palace of the Ice Vampire is a Fifth Edition adventure designed for three to five 8th-level characters, but includes information for scaling the adventure to suit parties of 9th to 16th level.

Download Options

• Get the full-length PDF using the attachment link below (note that this is a pre-proof version; a final version will be uploaded in the near future).

• Get the maps using the attachment links below.

• The FoundryVTT pack is coming soon.

Creative Team

• Writing and design: DMDave

• Proofing: John K Webb

• Cartography: Tim Hartin

• Illustrations: Rick Hershey, Nacho Lazaro, Matias Lazaro