Level 4

The Prison of the Red Saint


HypercubeLevel 4 of Dragon's Delve was created by the infamous Red Saint to house prisoners after his host defeated Lord Saral and his forces. You can read more about that in the History document, or in The Song of Azassarah. The prison is guarded by various constructs and magical wards, although in the intervening years, intruders have intruded, and now the level has other inhabitants as well, various time-lost wanderers and squatters. These newcomers have also altered things in ways that the Red Priest could not have predicted. 

The prison is built within/around a tesseract, or a four-dimensional cube. That is to say, it is a "cube" with eight faces. Read more about this idea here.

Each of the eight tesseract faces has a name. These names are: Chron, Pha, Re, Kul, Tor, Es, Que, and La. The eight discrete sections match up with one another on the map in the locations of the letters labeled outside the map. So while area 100 connects with area 103 (which is obvious from the map), area 105 connects directly to area 106 via the connections marked "E." Area 96 is split over two different faces, connected at the points marked "I."

Each of the eight sections is basically a cube itself, 120 feet to a side. The rooms and passages are built at the "bottom" of each of these cubes.

One way to think about it is that if you printed out the map of Level 4, you could cut it apart and assemble a three-dimensional cube using all of the faces other than Chron or La. You can imagine PCs walking down a passage on one face and moving onto another face. Now think of each face of that cube as itself a cube. Once you've done that, think of Chron as being the space "inside" that cube and La as being the space outside the cube.

A few other things to keep in mind:

Mastering the Prison


The names of the tesseract faces, when placed in the proper order, are Chron-Pha-Re-Kul-Tor-Es-Que-La. This then, becomes the Celestial word for "imprisonment," Chronpharekul-toresquela. Pronounced "kron-fah-ray-cool tor-es-kway-lah." Put in reverse order, La-Que-Es-Tor- Kul-Re-Pha-Chron, or Laqueestorkul-rephachron, becomes Celestial for "freedom." Pronounced Lah-qwee-stork-ool rayf-ah-kron. Obviously, knowledge of Celestial gives this information, but a DM might also allow a Knowledge (religion) check (DC 20) to figure that out as well.

But this knowledge alone is not enough. Within each of the eight faces, at least one PC must find the magical circle that will inscribe the name on their flesh. When all of the names are present, that PC can conjure the staircase that leads out of the prison in area 90 back up to Level 2. If they also have one of the saint's scepters, they can conjure the staircase that provides exit in area 110, granting access to Level 5.

Other Details


Time does not pass normally in the confines of the tesseract. Characters that exit Level 4 will find that only mere moments have passed in the outside world since they left. Characters in the Prison of the Red Saint do not need to sleep or eat. Resting on Level 4 works normally, and it is possible to eat or sleep--it's simply not required. Flames do not consume fuel here although other expendable resources (prepared spells, wand charges, etc.) are all used normally.

Unless the text states otherwise, the level's floors, walls, and ceilings are made of masonry stone. Getting past the stone of the walls or floors reveals a stone-like material  that is solid and "fills" each 120 foot cube. Ceilings are 15 feet high. All doors, unless otherwise described, are simple wooden doors, unlocked, 1 inch thick, with a hardness of 5, 10 hp.

There are only 21 rooms in Level 4. Click here to see the map.

There are no random encounters on Level 4.

Recent Articles

  110. Exit
The "outer" face of the tesseract, this chamber provides the way out of the prison and the way into Level 5. You will need all of the circle handouts.
  109. The Phase Prison (EL Varies)
The "inner" face of the tesseract, this is where the actual prisoners of the Prison of the Red Saint dwell.
  108. Fest Hall
When the prison was finished, the Red Saint held a huge banquet to celebrate. This chamber still holds its remains. You will need the Red Saint Plea handout.
  107. The Haunted Fountain (EL 4)
An undead spirit of a prisoner that died haunts a beautiful fountain here.
  106. Malfunctioning Circle (EL 5)
The magic circle here still inscribes the needed word on characters' flesh, but it also activates a backlash of magical power. You will need the Symbols and Triangle Circle handout.
  105. Holding Cells (EL 5)
These prison cells were used to keep inmates until they could be transferred to the phase prison in area 109.
  104. Above and Below (EL 6)
A trap door on the floor, and another in the ceiling. One leads into the Phase Prison. One leads to danger. You will need the Ceiling Hatch Illustration handout and the Symbols Circle handout.
  103. The White Pyramid
A magical pyramid in this room stores much of the energy that allows the tesseract to exist.
  102. The Judge's Quarters
This was meant to be used as Azassarah's bedchamber, but in fact he never actually stayed here. The room has remained untouched. You will need the Dragonfly Door handout.
  101. The Judge's Chambers (EL 5)
Intended to be used as an administrator's office for the prison, this room was hardly ever used and has remained undisturbed. You will need the Dragonfly Door handout.
  100. The Fighter's Nightmare (EL 4)
A particularly tough rust monster resides in this open room.
  99. The Locked Urn
A magical urn offers insight into the prisoners of the Prison of the Red Saint. You will need the Star Circle handout.
  98. The Cursed Helm
This chamber holds a helmet once crafted to be an aid to those utilizing the tesseract, but now it is a dangerous, cursed item.
  97. The Weird Room
If the PCs don't yet realize they are in a place where space isn't what they think it is, they will after they explore this room.
  96. The Courtroom (EL 3)
This large chamber holds more secrets about of the Red Saint. You will need the Triangle Circle handout.
  95. The Hidden Cube (EL 3)
This chamber holds not only a glyph circle but a model of the tesseract that could be extremely useful to the PCs. You will need the Sun Circle handout and the Fold-up Cube Map handout.
  94. The King of the Dungeon
A madman, trapped for years in the tesseract, confronts the PCs.
  93. The Nail-Men (EL 6)
Semi-intelligent constructs of dangerous design stand watch here.
  92. The Monster and the Vision
A massive stuffed mastodon stands in this room, triggering a magical vision that is a testament to the hunting prowess of Bethirion, the Red Saint's henchman.
  91. Fire Pit (EL 5)
An eternally-burning firepit here flings curses at those that come too close.
  90. Entry Room
This is the entry chamber of Level 4. You will need the Angelic Circle handout. If the PCs reach this room, it almost certainly means they have a saint's scepter or Urlaster's key.
  Level 4 Map - No Secrets, No Labels
A version of the Level 4 map without labels or secret doors.
  Level 4 Map
The map for Level 4.