Enter Malechor!
by Reverend Dungeon MasterYou don’t step into the ruins of Sulescu Manor so much as you get sucked into its grasp. It’s a trap laid out centuries ago, baited with the bones of forgotten villagers and the promise of misery. You feel it in the air, the oppressive weight of rot and death. Even the moon looks ashamed to shine here, its pale light twisted crimson as it filters through the skeletal trees. The ground beneath your boots? Cracked stone drenched in the scent of charred wood, old blood, and the unrelenting stench of despair.
Why the hell are you here? Oh, right. Malechor. A freaky lich who decided the world didn’t have enough nightmares. Two hundred years ago, they burned Sulescu’s vampires to ash and thought it was over. But now, the dead don’t stay dead. Malechor found some cursed artifact, a blood ruby, and it’s feeding his sick obsession with power.
You push through what’s left of the manor’s gates, each step dragging you deeper into a labyrinth of dread. The walls groan like they’re alive. Something skitters in the shadows, maybe rats or maybe something worse, but you don’t have time to care. The air grows heavier, soaked in malevolence. Then, you see it. A faint crimson glow bleeding through the cracks in the stone floor, pulsing like a diseased heartbeat.
You descend into the crypt because apparently, self-preservation is optional. The air turns colder, every breath sharp and metallic. The walls are etched with claw marks, reminders of the countless souls who died clawing for freedom that never came. Then, the chanting starts. Whispered words in a language that feels like it’s crawling inside your skull.
You enter the central chamber, and there he is. Malechor. A skeletal abomination in tattered robes, his hollow eye sockets burning with blue fire. Before him, on an obsidian pedestal, sits the blood ruby, a pulsating beacon of doom. Around him are three vampires, their eyes glowing, their fangs bared, ready to rip you apart.
Malechor doesn’t even flinch as you enter. His voice is like broken glass, sharp and grating. “You’ve come to witness the rebirth of Sulescu’s glory. You should feel honored. Your deaths will be the foundation of my empire.”
Malechor raises a clawed hand, and the room explodes into chaos. A Wall of Ice seals off half the chamber, cutting your party in two. One vampire lunges, fangs snapping, while another flanks you, its claws raking against your armor. Malechor watches, biding his time, casting the Death spell to choke out the weaker members of your group.
The blood ruby glows brighter, feeding Malechor’s magic. Skeletons claw their way out of the ground, animated by the lich’s will. The vampires are relentless, draining your strength with every hit, and just when you think you’re gaining ground, Malechor casts Finger of Death. The spell narrowly misses, but the sickening aura lingers, a reminder that one misstep means death.
Your team rallies. A fireball engulfs the vampires, forcing them into mist. Another member hacks at Malechor with a magical blade, and for the first time, he falters. The glow in his eyes dims, his skeletal frame trembling. You think you’ve won, but Malechor’s laughter fills the chamber.
“You think you’ve defeated me?” he sneers. “Idiots! This is only the beginning.”
With a gesture, he vanishes, the blood ruby’s glow flickering out as he escapes. The room falls silent, but the sense of unease remains. You’ve stopped him for now, but you know he’ll be back.
The blood ruby lies inert on the pedestal, its malevolence lingering like the echo of Malechor’s laughter. You gather the treasure, coins and gems worth more than you’ve ever seen, but it’s a hollow victory. The ruins of Sulescu still reek of death, and somewhere out there, Malechor is plotting his revenge.
Stats and Rewards
Malechor the Lich
HD: 16 (80 HP)
AC: -2
THAC0: 5
Damage: 1d10 (paralyzing touch), spells
Treasure: Blood ruby (artifact), 10,000 gp in gems and coins
Vampires (3)
HD: 8+3 (43 HP each)
AC: -1
THAC0: 12
Damage: 1d10 (claw), energy drain
XP:
Malechor: 5,250 XP
Vampires: 1,750 XP each
Total: 10,500 XP
Epilogue
Malechor is out there, somewhere, gathering strength. The blood ruby hums faintly in your pack, a reminder that some victories are just delays. The ruins of Sulescu may have quieted, but they’re far from at peace. And you? You’re left wondering if you’ve stopped a nightmare or just given it time to grow sharper teeth.
