Discovering a dusty library full of ancient lore in the midst of a dungeon is often a moment for heroes to stop, stare in wonder, and peruse the secrets to be had.

When that moment strikes in the Scarlet Citadel, though, it’s far from peaceful. In fact, a resident chuul would demand a word with the intruders.

This intense illustration by artist Egil Thompson shows exactly this scenario, as the classic be-tentacled and be-clawed aberration attacks the heroes who dared step foot in the Arcane Scriptorium, nestled in the Scarlet Citadel’s second underground level.

Those familiar with this iconic monster may recall the chuul’s ability to sense magic, which raises a number of intriguing questions. Are there arcane treasures in the library that have drawn the chuul to lair here? Does the chuul just like munching on magic-wielding heroes who are lured here, like stabby moths to the flame?

The only way to find out is to peruse the pages of the Scarlet Citadel adventure! And we’re down to the last hours of this crowdfunding campaign, so to unlock as many cool things for the project as possible, please send your friends our way!