If the corridor ceiling is examined or
approached, use the following description.
 

Some sort of metal gridwork is pressed against the stone overhead. From a point 10 ' west of the room, it extends east into it, being about 35 feet long and 5 feet wide; it is affixed to the northern half of the corridor ceiling. The grillwork consists of 3 long bronze rods latticed by slightly smaller rods at intervals of 18 inches or thereabouts. A heavy bronze chain hangs from its east end, in the room, down to a point 10 feet above the floor.

This is a ladder which can be pulled down
by 250 or more pounds of weight. The west
end remains fixed to the roof of the passage,
as the east end swings down into the pit
(working rather as a modern fire escape ladder). Note that users must keep hold of it or
weight it, else it swings back up into storage
position. If used, the noise as it hits the floor
brings the occupant of the place (in area
309a) rushing forth at full SPEED!

Read the following if the main chamber is
observed.
 

The chamber is octagonal, its sides and floor still sheathed in polished bronze. The 6-inch wide ledge extends around it at the height of the entry corridor, 16 feet above the floor. In the ceiling, which is cleanly cut from the surrounding rock, are 8 holes, each about 2 inches across, placed to form a circle in the center of the ceiling above the chamber. 2 arched portals near the floor are visible in the north and south walls, each being 6 feet wide and 9 feet tall.

Note that noise herein does not attract the
occupant of area 309a unless intruders are
on or near the floor of the area. The holes in
the ceiling are the only remnants of an earlier plan to construct a hanging observation
gallery, never completed; Zuggtmoy simply
walked along the ceiling to view the specimen, and others were uninterested.
All the bronze is magickal, enchanted to
prevent the AREAs occupant from burrowing
out. The creature will USE the ladder if possible.

309a. SOUTH CUBICLE

This is the current lair of an umber hulk,
who alternates its habitat between this and
the northern cubicle. It is occasionally fed
by the ettin (area 306). If presented with the
opportunity, it climbs the ladder in preference to attacking intruders, as this is its
most likely means of escape. If freed, it tries
to devour 1 man-sized victim, kill 5-8
others to satisfy its long-pent rage at its captivity (whether characters or local residents), and then dig its way out of the
dungeons.

Umber hulk: AC 2, MV 6 " (1"-6 "), HD 8 + 8,
hp 50, #AT 3, THACO 12, D 3-12/3-12/2-10, SA gaze
(save vs. spells or be confused 3-12
rounds); XP 1900

 

Through the south archway is a 10' cubicle. Its floor is covered with piles of cloth, skins, hides, and furs, creating a nest-like AREA in the center. A small basin of water on the east wall is fed by a small bronze gargoyle face which spits liquid into the bowl, where a small drain takes away the excess.

If 15 man-turns are spent SEARCHING this <?>
room, a pair of small-sized boots of elvenkind is found. (XP: 1000)
These fit any person of gnome size or thereabouts, possibly a small-footed human female.

RECRUITS:

309b. NORTH CUBICLE
 

Through the north archway is a 10' cubicle. Its floor is a litter of bones, shredded cloth and leather, broken weapons, bits of rope, and other items. The room is foul, and stinks. Scattered amidst the  mess are a few coins of various types.

<broken weapons: horseman's mace, dagger and scabbard, godentag, morning star>

Herein are a leather wand case containing
a wand of lightning (5-50 charges), <23 charges> (XP: 920)

a pouch which holds 5 pieces of jewelry (each worth 300-1800 gp), and <small belt pouch>
<all are wrought gold: brooch (1800 gp), bracelet (1200 gp), brooch (1100 gp), ring (1000 gp), statuette (1000 gp)>
an alabaster flask (worth 25 gp) filled with perfume (a rare sort worth 1, 400 gp).

Scattered about are 50-300 cp, 30-120 sp, 20-80 ep, 10-60 gp, and 5-50 pp.
<240 cp, 40 sp, 60 ep, 30 gp, and 27 pp>

If—and only if—all of the coins are dug out of the trash,
involving 12 man-turns of work,
3-12 gems (each worth 50 gp) can also be found.
<8 gems: zircon (10 gp), chrysoprase (100 gp), sardonyx (50 gp), chalcedony (12 gp), bloodstone (45 gp), rock crystal (35 gp), zircon (700 gp), bloodstone (10 gp)>

(Total 2e non-magical treasure XP: 8,688)

Level 3.
>>310.>>