Sylvanwroth's Conservatory

The Tomb of Sylvanwroth has a few unique features visible at the surface, most notably the reflective panes of unbreakable glass covering the walls and sloped roof of a large conservatory-greenhouse. Though the forest growth is thick surrounding the structure, overhanging limbs and impediments to sunlight have been effectively removed, though this is not immediately obvious. (insight check DC 20).
The room is at the extreme SW end of the top floor, with one hallway giving access to that level as well as a staircase leading to the level below; Sylvanwroth is rarely at the surface level so that doorway shows less use, but more sun fade. (Investigation DC18).
The room is positioned to receive a variety of sunlight levels, from full sun to a deep rich gloom, depending on how close to the southern glass one gets. This is regulated by specific tinting in the glass above and a series of mirrors inside effect that compensates for the angles as the sun moves across the sky, some of which lets through all light unimpeded and as one goes progressively north, is reflectively tinted. A number of small magical lights are hidden cleverly in the frames as well which can provide multispectral sunlight on cloudy days or color the light blood red (for plant growth) or bright blue (for flowers). These are in appearance like segmented worms with no obvious head-end, but they are simple constructs, not living things.
The mood is somber and funereal for the most part, and the plants are permitted to grow wherever they will if they should escape their plantings; they reflect a great deal of care on the part of the grower, however, and infinite patience rather than neglect or disregard as there is not a single leaf of any weed within the confines of the large space; even the moss on the metal beams supporting the roof is there on purpose and shows signs of being grown purposely in grids rather than merely an accident of the moisture and lighting.
In the rear of the room, out of the light and cleverly hidden by flowers and crumbling marble statuary, four stainless steel pressurized water tanks provide s near limitless supply of filtered fresh spring water. The first tank is packed with gravel replaced every 5 years, the second with charcoal replaced every 3 months, and the last uses an osmotic drip system to pull water through a final filtration of Plasmatic Essence, but of a violet color - this is the same stuff Quindarin used, but perfectly tuned to the purpose at hand, removing any remaining toxins or negative essences from the spring water (which, to be honest, is perfectly safe as-is, but over hundreds of years unique poisons can be decocted from even this). This tank has a run-off spigot from which the caretakers can access any such toxins for further study. The final tank is filled with the post-filtration water and fitted with a large central pipe running back up to the ceiling, where small pipes and valves can precisely control the flow. Hoses are fitted to these, retained in clips along the support beams, and these in turn are fitted with control valves that reduce the flow to anything from a vigorous mist to a gentle trickle. Opening the valve with a small switch permits a strong flow for rinsing the floor, which holds drains that feed back into stage 1. Rather than noisy pumps, the system is pressure fed with the clever workaround of a permanent antigravity effect in the pipes connecting the bottom of one filter to the top of the next, keeping all the tanks pressurized. A master flow valve in a hidden access panel (DC20 to spot) controls the flow of water from an artisanal cold spring below, feeding through a crack in the bedrock that leads to the surface. The stairway access to the chamber leads to a hall below, but no rooms are directly under the conservatory.

Denizens

• Manduca, a paladin from Ettinston who came with his party to explore the ruins. He has been polymorphed into a bog green caterpillar by the cursefern.
• Senesha, a green-eyed black and white tabby cat who is really a young adult black dragon who enjoys Sylvanwroth's company, and really prefers the pampered life of a cat to the more perilous life of a young adult black dragon. In dragon form her personality is identical to that of a tabby cat.
• 4 x Skeleton caretakers, more construct than undead with no particular sense of self-preservation though they will put up a fight to defend the plants and the furniture/equipment. If examined, they have reinforced leather joints for greater leverage and less wear and tear. They cannot speak but can comprehend Common, Elven and Draconic and will follow simple directions if they do not conflict with Sylvanwroth's orders or put themselves in danger.

Contents & Furnishings

Poisonous/Venomous plants

• Plover's Cup (part sun): An unassuming white flower with cascades of upturned white umbrels, each containing a droplet of sweet-smelling yellow liquid similar in consistency to very thin honey. The liquid is harmless, even nutritious, but the plants' natural oils cause a painful blistering and burning sensation on bare skin and can cause temporary blindness if the plant touches the eyes. Sylvanwroth presses the oil into a concentrate and derives the acid for his various traps from it; the flattened husks of the plant can be identified in the compose bin.
• Bloodbane Blossom (full sun): A tiger-lily type yellow flower with velvety petals and a sweet, intoxicating scent. Its nectar is highly toxic and can induce paralysis in its victims. The lich cultivates these blooms for their potent venom, which they may use in their necromantic rituals or as a deadly ingredient in their dark potions.
• Dreamvine (shade): This insidious vine boasts deep purple leaves and small, star-shaped flowers that emit a faint, eerie glow. Contact with its sap can cause temporary blindness and hallucinations. The lich nurtures these plants, using their extracts to create potions that induce fear or confusion in their enemies.
• Venomthorn Rose (full sun): A sinister variant of the traditional rose, the venomthorn rose features luscious, huge red blooms guarded by blackened petals with venomous thorns that secrete a potent neurotoxin. The lich grows these roses for their deadly defense mechanism, as their thorns inject a paralyzing venom upon contact.
• Ashenbelle (part sun): A drooping bluish flower under cloches with oval blooms that exude a sweet fragrance; any contact sends up a small cloud of dusty pollen. Ingesting or inhaling even a small amount of its pollen induces a deep, death-like slumber. The lich cultivates ashenbele to incorporate its properties into necromantic spells and to create potions that induce a sleep-like state in their victims.
• Nightshade Orchid (Part sun): This rare orchid, possibly extinct in the wild, blooms in shades of deep purple and black, and its delicate petals contain a concentrated poison that can cause hallucinations and madness. The lich nurtures these orchids for their potent hallucinogenic properties, using them in their rituals to induce visions in their living slaves, or in microdoses to manipulate the minds of others.
• Witherbloom Lily (full sun): A striking lily with dark, withered petals that exude a foul odor. The lich grows these lilies for their necrotic properties. When its petals are ground into a powder, they can accelerate decay and rot, making it a useful ingredient for dark magic or curses.
• Cursefern (shade): A plant growing under glass cloches with vibrant purple leaves that seem to shimmer with an unnatural energy. Its spores, dislodged on touch but only at certain times of the year, carries a powerful curse that causes those who inhale it to suffer from unending misfortune, often through a polymorph curse. This happens to be that certain time of the year. The lich carefully tends to these small and delicate ferns, gathering their pollen to cast curses or for cheap entertainment.

Nonpoisonous but dangerous plants of note:

• Toothsome Dandelion (all lighting): This weedy yellow plant looks familiar to most, but its stiff leaves are sharp as razors. These grow here and there throughout the conservatory but favor the areas of full sun, growing in the beds and through cracks in the flooring.
• Hairy Ivy (part sun): A dense form of common poison ivy, with glossy green leaves and winding stems that are covered with root feelers. Several thick vines wind their way up the metal support beams, favoring the partial sun area more than the full sun or gloom. The effects don't show up for days but they can be very incapacitating.
• Poisonous tomato (full sun): It's an indeterminate beefsteak type, bred back with nightshade to be fatally poisonous though it looks, smells, and tastes like a plan old boring tomato. Full sun, showing a little yellow leaf curl disease, several fruits and flowers on the plant. A missing hero, Manduca, has been polymorphed into a Tomato Hornworm from the effects of the cursefern. He can do little to get the party's attention and has no idea how to undo his curse (Remove Curse will do it), but he does retain human intelligence and has spelled out 'help' in common in the dirt of the tomato he's living on. He can eat the poisonous plants and fruit without coming to any harm, even if he's restored to humanity.

Valuables

All the plants are rare, and several are unique to the conservatory or extinct in the wild.

Type

Garden

Parent Location

The Arborvast

Related Report (Secondary Locations)

• S1 E53: Into the Tomb of Sylvanwroth