Nangalore Summary

Nangalore is a ruined garden palace that was once called Ka-Nanji, the Hanging Garden of Dreams. Located near the River Olung north of Lake Luo, it was built by General Thiru-taya to honor Queen Zalkoré of Omu during her reign. The palace served as a retreat from the intrigues of the royal court and was praised as a worthy tribute to the vain queen.

History and Curse

Zalkoré’s vanity led her to bargain with an erinyes for eternal youth and beauty. The devil fulfilled the pact by transforming her into a medusa. When her evil bargain became known, the army forced her to abdicate and exiled her to the garden, which became known as Nangalore—the Garden of Lost Dreams.

Believing General Thiru-taya had betrayed her, Zalkoré defaced all statues and portraits of him throughout the palace. She only learned of his lifelong loyalty when his ashes were brought to Nangalore for burial according to his dying wish. Overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, she scrawled messages of penance across the ruins, including “Forgive me” gouged into the back of his statue.

Current State

The garden is now a cursed ruin inhabited by:

Zalkoré (medusa), still residing in her chamber, perpetually hallucinating through narcotic tinctures that she’s still Queen of Omu and that Thiru-taya stands beside her
Eblis (intelligent evil cranes) serving as her sentinels and spies
Hostile plant life including tri-flower fronds, a mantrap, and hallucinogenic plants
Various wildlife including crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and colorful parrots

Key Locations

The Ruined Palace

Contains a massive statue of Thiru-taya with its face destroyed by Zalkoré’s rage. A clay urn at the statue’s feet holds his ashes. A petrified adventurer named Gowl stands frozen, reaching for the urn. Messages in Old Omuan throughout express Zalkoré’s eternal penance: “True love, faithful general, safe will you rest in Nangalore eternal. None will disturb you while I live. Such is my vow of penance, and for my sins I cannot die.”

Hallucinogenic Gardens

Four enclosed gardens contain exotic hallucinogenic plants that Zalkoré cultivates to brew narcotic tinctures. These allow her to dream of Thiru-taya’s face, which she can no longer recall without them. The plants cause humanoids to become poisoned and charmed. Each garden bears messages in Old Omuan expressing her torment: “Without dreams, eternity is unbearable,” “Great Ubtao, free me!”, “For the lies of a few, all must pay,” and “To dream, to dance.”

Zalkoré’s Chamber

A bell-shaped dome containing her royal apartment where she reclines on a divan, covered in feathered veils. A black orchid grows in a clay pot beside her—the only one in Nangalore and essential for the Dance of the Seven Winds ritual at Kir Sabal.

Roleplaying Zalkoré

Due to hallucinogenic drugs, Zalkoré constantly believes Thiru-taya stands beside her and that she’s simultaneously still Queen of Omu while aware of her exile. She can make contradictory statements without cognitive dissonance. Characters can have a cordial encounter if they:

Don’t disturb Thiru-taya’s ashes or damage his statue
Don’t disparage Thiru-taya or mention his “betrayal”
Don’t remove her veil, grab the black orchid, or produce mirrors

She can provide valuable information about Omu’s location (“between the fire peaks and the great iron mine of the dwarves”) and warn about yuan-ti occupation. She knows her descendants hide with the aarakocra at Kir Sabal.

Combat Abilities

If forced to fight, Zalkoré gains supernatural protection. When reduced to 63 hit points or fewer, she summons Thiru-taya’s spirit—a 10-foot-tall apparition wielding a massive force spear. This invulnerable specter automatically deals 15 (2d8 + 6) force damage to any creature within 15 feet that damages Zalkoré, once per turn.

The Black Orchid

Zalkoré possesses the only black orchid in Nangalore. She’ll trade it only for something of equal beauty—a gemstone, jewelry, or art object worth at least 500 gp. This orchid is required for Asharra’s Dance of the Seven Winds ritual at Kir Sabal, which grants temporary magical flight.

The palace has multiple terraced levels connected by stairs and walkways. Water flows down from a tyrannosaurus-head waterspout through the main concourse. The site is reachable by boat via a tributary that floods to the garden gate, though approaching by foot requires traversing a mile of treacherous bog.

Treasure

Beyond the black orchid, Zalkoré’s feathered dress is worth 50 gp if undamaged. Her lair contains 2d6 vials of dreaming tincture (10 gp each in Port Nyanzaru), which cause vivid hallucinations lasting 1d4 + 4 hours (DC 15 Constitution save to resist).

Adventure Significance

Nangalore serves as a mid-level location that helps prepare characters for Omu. Several NPCs know of it or can direct parties there: the guide Eku has visited to retrieve rare flowers, the weretiger Bwayes O’tamu can provide directions, and the Lords’ Alliance agent Lerek Dashlynd offers a sailing ship in exchange for a map showing Nangalore’s location. Zalkoré herself knows Omu’s location and can provide critical intelligence about the fallen city and the yuan-ti threat.