Overview
The Red Library is a book-filled chamber within the Tomb of the Nine Gods, painted the color of dried blood and lined with dusty, cobweb-draped bookcases containing hundreds of leather-bound tomes. The room serves as both a repository of arcane knowledge and a prison for an arcanaloth bound by Acererak’s magic.
Access
Characters can reach this location via:
- A tunnel from the east
- An alcove in the southwest corner (by activating the purple-trail archway in area 79)
Key Features
The Guardian
An arcanaloth disguised as an old man with horn-rimmed spectacles sits in a padded leather chair, pretending to sleep with an open spellbook on its lap. The fiend calls itself “Mr. Fox” and refuses to reveal its true name. It is magically bound to the library by Acererak and cannot leave or allow any books or scrolls to be removed from the room.
True Name: Ygga Raxyg (learned in area 71). Speaking the arcanaloth’s true name within earshot stuns it for 1 minute. This effect cannot be repeated for 24 hours after it wears off. When killed, the arcanaloth melts into a pool of ichor, leaving behind its robes and spectacles.
The Victims
Three corpses dangle upside down from shackles and chains near the north wall. They are the remains of three archmagi who attempted to interfere with Acererak’s plans. A DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check reveals all three died within the past month from destructive spells.
Atmosphere
- Soft dulcimer music emanates from a lantern-shaped device on a small table in the study area
- The study also contains a padded leather chair and footstool
Treasure
The library houses the collected wisdom of a hundred sages, along with spellbooks and scrolls. However, these cannot be removed while the arcanaloth remains bound to the room. The arcanaloth’s horn-rimmed spectacles can be claimed if the creature is defeated.