Houses of Torment

The Houses of Torment are a prison located in northeastern Yogoth. Here, torturers and interrogators extract information or confessions from their inmates, a combination of prisoners of war and traitors to Yog's cause.

Features

Constructed within the caldera of an active volcano, the Houses are an ugly gray complex of iron, chains and barbed wire, suspended by massive chains over the bubbling magma. That magma, infected by Yog’s evil, is corrupted into a ghastly green and is known to whisper questions to those prisoners dangled over its depths. The Houses themselves are an impassable labyrinth of twisting corridors, meant to confuse and frustrate attempted escapes.

Inhabitants

A number of creatures – all Yog’s servants – dwell within the Houses.

• Chain Devils: Fiends created with the express purpose of capturing, containing and questioning prisoners, chain devils are the Houses’ silent inquisitors. Humanoid figures, wrapped head-to-toe in iron chains, they are unquestioningly loyal to Yog and to their supervisor.
• Czar of Torture: A position held by a handful of beings over the course of the Houses’ existence, the current czar of torture, in 898, is Zyzzenxkys, a beholder and, like all beholders, an utter megalomaniac. A murderous narcissist, Zyzz spends more time fretting and plotting than they spend torturing and its this erratic behavior that frightens all under their proverbial thumb.
• Vessel: Kept here to amuse Yog, the original Vessel, the nameless elven wizard who first unleashed Yog upon the world, languishes deep in the bowels of the dungeon. There, he is watched day and night, his mind and body broken, should his former master again have use of him.

Campaigns

All Hail Yog

• The Watchtower: In 895 4A, when Skoura disobeyed Yog’s directive, she was teleported here and tortured for her penance. Her wing was removed and her body pocked with scars and brands.
• The Heroes: In 898 5A, the villains, in search of the Vessel, were directed towards the Houses by Neogi, Yog’s seneschal, to question the original Vessel. ( Episode 4) Upon arriving, the villains met Zyzz and requested an audience with the original Vessel. While Xosh and Skoura proceeded to that meeting, Azathomet took a brief detour to drink the blood of a helpless prisoner – only to briefly get lost. Once the whole party was reunited, they jointly questioned the Vessel but were interrupted by Neogi attempting to summon them to Tzal Necros.

Location: Yogoth
Government: Yog
Ruler: Zyzzenxkys (722 – 899 4A)
Founded: ? 4A