The author would like to disclaim any responsibility for characters stumbling into pits of scarabs or suffering under curses when trekking through ancient tunnels beneath Naktamun.
Cover Art: Insect - Jonas A. Engle
Scarab Feast - Tony Foti
Those Who Serve - Volkan Baga
Wayward Servant - Anthony Palumbo
Oketra's Monument - Christine Choi
Nest of Scarabs - Jason A. Engle
Embalmer's Tools - Adrian Majkrzak
Anointer Priest Token - Lake Hurwitz
Final Reward - Sidharth Chaturvedit
Introduction
Scarab Feast is a Tier 1 adventure set on the plane of Amonkhet as part of the Shattered Planes campaign or for any group wishing to adventure in Amonkhet. It is set for characters to begin at level 3. For this adventure, you will need the Dungeon Master' Guide, Monster Manual, and the Plane Shift: Amonkhet document available at dmsguild.com. For deeper information about Amonkhet as a whole, Art of Magic the Gathering: Amonkhet, can give that background information. Additionally, there may be creatures and/or items from other D&D modules and supplements. Each item from these documents will be accompanied by an abbreviation. The list of abbreviations are below. Not all abbreviations will be used.
Abbreviations
DMG = Dungeon Master’s Guide
MM = Monster Manual
VGM = Volo’s Guide to Monsters
SCAG = Sword Coast Adventurers Guide
HDG = Hoard of the Dragon Queen
ROT = Rise of Tiamat
POTA = Princes of the Apocalypse
OTA = Out of the Abyss
COS = Curse of Strahd
SKT = Storm King’s Thunder
TYP = Tales from the Yawning Portal
TOA = Tomb of Annihilation
XGE = Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
MTF = Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
GGR = Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica
GOS = Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Scarab Feast
The Anointed are the backbone of Naktamun. They are the ones who tend to fields, ensure the children are cared for, learn essential lessons, and train with them as they take their first steps towards being initiates. They build many of the monuments and structures which populate the glorious city and ensure that the people who strive so zealously towards the glorious afterlife are fed and cared for so they can continue that unwavering focus.
Although they are pleasant to look at, the Anointed do have their own risks in their undead lives. Even Naktamun and the Hekma does not protect them from predators which would seek to consume them. They are subject to scavengers who would feast on dead flesh, leaving nothing but bones and ruined linens in their wake. The most obvious ones inside of the city are the scarabs.
Scarabs are usually not considered bothersome. Sometimes they are thought of as pests, perhaps risky if they are in a large and aggressive colony, but not overly harmful. Temmet and other viziers even use them to dispose of Anointed bodies which are damaged by accidents or some or misfortune and cannot be revived, sparing them from a crippled Afterlife. Because of this, they keep colonies of such beetles in special chambers in the catacombs beneath the city where they are kept and maintained.
The threat potential of the scarabs receives a boost as a fragment of the Tablet of Planes appears underneath Naktamun in one of the older catacombs which go on deep underneath the city. Nearby was a nest of scarabs which quickly found themselves transformed by the exposure to the magic power of the fragment.
The nest of scarabs became infused with a new collective intelligence. Knowing more of their numbers meant an increase of strength and knowledge, the swarm expanded, pulling more swarms and breeding new scarabs at an accelerated rate. With their size and the catacombs being largely untouched save for Anointed, the scarabs went completely unnoticed.
With the scarabs reaching a suitable number, they began moving to spread further. The scarabs began attacking the Anointed that passed through the tunnels they began inhabiting. They burrowed into the undead flesh and used them as a food source and a mode of further transportation.
Although the scarabs have intelligence, they have no real long term plans beyond gathering more intelligence and power as they pursue their goal. With their numbers, and using the Anointed as food sources, they have the potential to become a plague on all of Naktamun. Cutting down the Anointed will be a lethal blow to the city and everyone in it.
The Anointed are the source of Naktamun’s infrastructure. If the scarabs succeed, their potential becomes much more destructive. They also threaten the infrastructure of Naktamun by devouring the ones that keep it going. Absolutely no one in Naktamun knows how to truly do anything but train for the Five Trials. The viziers know some of the special needs to maintain the city, but even they are ridiculously undereducated outside of their duties.
These scarabs, despite their size, are truly a great threat to Naktamun and the people of Amonkhet.
Adventure Hooks
The first encounter with the scarabs can be done as a random encounter if the DM wishes it. The characters can also enter the adventure with one of the adventure hooks.
Ambitious Lessons
The characters are initiates who were tasked by Bontu's viziers to learn of ambition through the scarabs who ravenously aspire for more. Recently, the scarabs have been acting strange, following the Anointed wherever they go.
Dissenter's Clues
One or more members of the group are dissenters, looking for proof to their suspicions. Scarabs are usually considered part of Bontu's domain and their unusual behavior may be a lead to the corruption in Naktamun.
On the Trail
Using their fragment of the Tablet of Planes, the characters keep finding small signals all over Naktamun. The signals lead them to gatherings of Anointed.
Teach by Example
The characters are initiates who have been tasked to learn from the actions of the Anointed in solidarity, but also the end of those who are mediocre. They are to follow groups of Anointed and watch them work.
Unusual Actions
There have been complaints by initiates about Anointed that have disappeared, failed their duties, or ignore orders. The characters are part of a group asked to help look into it under Temnet's orders.
