100 rooms · levels 10–25
A huge cloud stretches across the sky here, dark for lack of sun to illuminate it. The vast night sky is very clear from this vantage, and swirls of stars glitter on the midnight blue background. The cloud is strangely firm and feels safe to stand on, although you sense some powerful magicks are at work to that end. Far below, the entire city of Shangri-La spreads out, quieted by the late hour. Here and there a monk can be seen, wandering around and keeping watch over the city. A sense of total serenity is in the air, and the darkness of night is comforting.
The yellow stone path leads through the mountain range to the south and west. It doesn't appear as if many people have travelled this way. A very strange cloud of mist hangs in the air to the west, like a wall.
The mountains flatten out into a valley here, with a trail leading straight through it. A very strange, mystical fog hangs in the air, and it is hard to see far in any direction. The mist seems somehow alive, as if carrying you off into a strange land, purposely hiding the path.
The strange mist to the east ends abruptly, and you find yourself at a large set of gates, standing in the middle of the road you find yourself on. The gate is more like an arch welcoming guests than any structure made to keep people out, and it stands free without any walls surrounding it. The arch itself is highly decorated and elegant, an impressive sight. The sun shines brightly in the sky, and the air is a perfect warm temperature.
The road here is perfectly built with interlocking bricks that form a pattern that weaves its way east and west. The road itself doesn't seem very well-worn, but it almost seems like there is some magic involved in keeping the road in good repair. The road leads east to the gate where it began, and west towards some sort of city.
The exquisitely crafted road makes a turn here, heading east towards the gate of Shangri-La, and north into the city. The distinct tingle of magic is in the air, some enchantment seems to have been laid to keep the road in good condition. To the north, the various buildings seem to be more concentrated, but the area is unnaturally quiet for a city.
This house looks like someone still lives here, perhaps the fiends have not convinced all of the citizens of the city to flee it. A fire burns in the hearth, with a pot of something very good smelling bubbling over it.
This small house is in a state of wreckage, probably caused by one of the evil fiends that invaded the city. Furniture and pieces of the walls lie strewn about the room, with strange scorch marks on them that don't look like they were caused by any fire. The scorch marks look more like those left on the bodies of those foolish enough to cross a powerful mage.
This house seems empty, even though bits of furniture still stand here and there. It looks as though the inhabitants of this dwelling left in a hurry, taking what they could carry and fleeing their home, and this paradise, until the fiends are vanquished.
This is the dojo of Shangri-La, where the monks learn the ways of aikido, to perfect both their physical and mental control and to better their ability to defend both themselves and the citizens of Shangri-La. Some of the monks are practicing their techniques on each other, while others sit and get a lesson from their sensei, a master of their art.
The stone pathway ends here, in front of a large building. West leads back to the Town Centre of Shangri-La, and immediately to the east lies the door of the odd building. There are many windows on the wall of the structure, and inside there are many monks who seem to be sparring and training for personal defense. They use a strange style of defensive hand combat, using their opponent's momentum and strength against them to make all sorts of debilitating throws and holds.
This small stone walkway branches off the circle of the Town Centre to the north, and turns east towards a large building in the distance. The grass around the path is well tended, and the various kinds of plants and flowers give the area a sense of lasting beauty.
The road is very close to the city now, and still it is strangely quiet, as if something is very wrong. North of here the road continues into a small square where this road intersects with another, and further north to what seems to be some sort of temple. The magically maintained road also leads south, toward the gate and away from Shangri-La.
Emerald Way ends here, in front of a small row of buildings that lie along a path to the west, with one of them directly to the south. The Way continues north all the way to the other side of the city of Shangri-La.
This small side road intersects with Emerald Way, the main street of the city, to the east, and continues to the west along a small row of buildings. A strange, eerie light can be seen coming out of the windows in the building to the south.
This small road runs east in front of a small row of buildings to the south, eventually meeting with Emerald Way, a main road of Shangri-La, far to the east. One of the buildings lies directly to the south. A strange, magical fog hangs like a wall in the air to the west, closing off the city from the world.
This is a small fish shop which sells delicacies from the waters of Diamond Lake, a large body of water on the western edge of the paradise of Shangri-La. All sorts of interesting seafood line the shelves, looking quite appetizing. Business is rather slow in times of such troubles as the invasion of the evil fiends, but Akane keeps her shop open anyway, a ray of hope in the dismal situation.
The circular stone path around the huge fountain continues on its way, turning north and west. The fountain is to the northwest, and its continually spouting water looks very refreshing. To the south a small pathway branches off the stone path to some unknown destination. To the east there is a small but beautiful shop in a row of buildings.
The beautiful stone path continues in a circle around the huge stone fountain to the north. The circular path continues to the east and west, winding around the Town Centre. The city of Shangri-La is beautiful, but it is very quiet, as if something is wrong.
This is the southwestern side of the huge circular square that sits in the center of Shangri-La. The stonework of the square is amazingly done, with carvings of good dragons and other creatures of light wandering the borders of the stone pathway. The stone path leads in a circle around the huge fountain in the center of the square. The sun is bright and high in the sky of this paradise, but there is a feeling that something is wrong.
Two smaller roads intersect here, forming a small square with paths leading in every direction. East of here is the southwest corner of a much larger square, which seems to be the Town Centre of Shangri-La. West is yet another intersection, where this small path meets a much larger main road that runs north and south. South leads back to the gate and out of the paradise of Shangri-La. A little to the north stands a large, highly decorated building, a temple surpassing in beauty any you have ever laid eyes on before. Many humble monks can be seen inside, chanting softly.
This is the largest road in the city, running north and south to both sides of Shangri-La. East of here is a small square, and to the north the Way continues long into the distance. South of here are a small row of buildings.
A terrible disaster has struck this section of the great library. Huge black scorch marks line the walls and floor, and the smoldering remains of shelves lie among the ashes of myriad tomes, once filled with lore of all kinds but now lost forever. Smoke fills the room, and some parts of the library still burn...
It looks as though one of the fiends has already been to this unenviable shop, and didn't like the idea of having a weapons shop in the town it was destroying. Broken pieces of weapons and splinters of furniture lie scattered about the room, and more than a few holes have been smashed into the walls. The owner of the shop seems to have nowhere else to go, and is still living in his ruined shop.
The beautiful stone pathway continues in a circle around the fountain, turning north and south next to the row of shops to the east. The huge stone fountain lies directly to the west, its eternal spouting of water continuing merrily despite the troubles in the city. The area seems very quiet, especially for its proximity to the shops.
This is the center of not only the large circle that makes up the Town Centre, but of the paradise of Shangri-La as well. A huge stone fountain stands in the center of the circle, wondrously made with all sorts of creatures of light sculpted into it and continually spouting water into the shallow pool held by the base. The centerpiece of the fountain is a curling dragon, most likely meant to represent a gold, which wraps itself around the other sculptures and rears its head at the top, its visage locked in an eternal silent roar and spewing water high into the air. The fountain itself has an aura of magic about it, and something about the crystal water looks extremely refreshing.
This is the western edge of the circular stone pathway that makes up the Town Centre of Shangri-La. The stonework of the circle is wondrously done, with sculptures and carvings of all sorts of good creatures around the borders of the path. To the east, in the middle of the Centre, lies a large stone fountain. The path continues, winding to the south and north.
This huge temple is like nothing you've ever seen before. A sense of peace and total serenity seems as thick in the air as the pungent but soothing incense that burns in small containers in various parts of the temple. The aromatic substance is extremely soothing and is pleasing to the senses, and leaves a peaceful drift of wispy smoke throughout the room. The temple seems to echo softly with the chants of many monks blending into the background, and you are invited silently by the high priest to come and meditate with the monks a while.
This is the largest road in the city, running north and south clear to each side of Shangri-La. To the north it intersects with Paradise Walk, another main road, before continuing on its way. To the west a small path branches off, leading to the courtyard of a large building. South of here the Way continues, and east a large temple can be seen. The entrance to the temple is to the southeast.
This is a large, elegant courtyard in front of the great library of Shangri-La. The spacious pavilion forms a large square bordered by a lush green hedge, with large stone sculptures of centaurs at each corner of the square. A circle of benches is in the center, providing a space to read and relax in the warm sun for the patrons of the library who wish to go outside.
The huge rectangular library opens up before you, its halls continuing far to the south. Great shelves of books on every subject imaginable sit in rows along the walls and in the middle of the room. Elegant oak desks sit here and there, with a piece of parchment and quill for the patrons who wish to take notes on the lore they uncover here. A strange smell emanates from the south end of the library, much like smoke from a fire.
Although the shop seems to have been cleaned out of most of its goods, there are still a few pieces of armor here and there on the mostly empty racks. A small workshop is in the back of the room, with not only the usual blacksmith's forge but tools for making splinted mail and chain mail as well. A sign hangs on the wall.
The circular stone path continues on its way around the stone fountain that lies to the southwest. The path turns westwards, going on its round of the Town Centre, and south along the row of shops to the east, including the one directly to the east. North and east of here lie the crop fields of Shangri-La, while to the north and west there is a path to the peak of the largest mountain in this range.
This beautiful stone pathway leads in a circle around a large fountain that lies directly to the south. Beautiful carvings and sculptures of all kinds of benevolent and powerful creatures of light line the borders of the pathway. East and west the path continues around the fountain to the south, and a small path leads north to the less populated area of Shangri-La.
The northwestern side of the circular stone pathway that makes up the Town Centre branches off to the west here, becoming Paradise Walk, one of the major roads in Shangri-La. It also continues on its way to the east and south, winding around the large stone fountain which lies nearby to the southeast. Another small pathway leads off the stonework to the north.
This long, beautiful road runs east and west through the city of Shangri-La. West of here it intersects with a larger road that runs north and south, and to the east it merges with the circular stone path that is the Town Centre.
The two main roads of Shangri-La form a rather large intersection here, with Emerald Way running far to the north and south, and Paradise Walk cutting across it on its way to the east and west. To the north the Way leads to a row of buildings, and also continuing south for a long while. The Walk leads east towards the Town Centre, and west to a large body of water in the distance.
The beautiful main road runs east and west through the city, intersecting with Emerald Way to the east and going on in that direction. West of here the Walk stops at the bank of a rather large lake. To the south a path leads off the Walk to the courtyard of a very large building.
Paradise Walk, the road to the east, stops here right in front of the bank of the huge lake to the west. The rivers that feed the lake run in from the mountain range that surrounds the area, which also are the reason a lake is trapped here in first place. The western bank of the lake is not visible, hidden by the thick wall of mystical fog that encircles the area. Some of the fog drifts over the surface of the lake, giving the area a subdued, serene feel. Bamboo plants flank the edge of the lake.
The rice fields seem to go on forever in every direction. The only point of interest is the thick, mysterious fog that hangs in the air like a wall to the north, east, and south.
The rice fields seem to go on forever in every direction. The only point of interest is the thick, mysterious fog that hangs in the air like a wall to the north, east, and south.
The rice fields seem to go on forever in every direction. The only point of interest is the thick, mysterious fog that hangs in the air like a wall to the north, east, and south.
The crop fields of Shangri-La begin here, stretching far to the east, as far as the eye can see. West of here lies the main area of the city. The crop of choice for the citizens of Shangri-La seems to be rice, and a little bit of wheat.
This small path splits in three direction here, forming a variety of choices of destinations. To the east are the crop fields of Shangri-La, which stretch far off into the distance to the east. To the west the path to the mountain peak winds its way north, also continuing west into the west section of Shangri-La. To the south is the Town Centre.
This rather large intersection branches off in four directions, leading to many different areas of Shangri-La. A mountain path begins to the north, climbing up to the peak of the Golden Mountain, the highest mountain in the range where Shangri-La is located. A little ways to the east, the crop fields of the city begin. South of here is the Town Centre, and the west path leads to more of the city.
This small side road branches off the circular stone path that is the Town Centre to the south, leading north towards a row of buildings and east to a large intersection. A gigantic mountain rises above all the others to the northeast.
This is the main road of Shangri-La, running all the way across the city to the north and south. South of here the Way intersects with Paradise Walk, another main road, and north of here it ends in a small intersection in front of a row of houses.
The rice fields seem to go on forever in every direction. The only point of interest is the thick, mysterious fog that hangs in the air like a wall to the north, east, and south.
The hilly path makes a sharp turn here, west towards the city of Shangri-La, and north up the cliff side paths up the Golden Mountain. To the east, a strange thick fog hangs in the air, like a wall hiding this paradise from the rest of the world.
The hilly path running east and west along the foothills of the huge mountain continues, running east where it turns up the side of the mountain and back west towards the city of Shangri-La.
This small path turns east, heading through the foothills of the high peak of the Golden Mountain and eventually turning north to continue to the very top. To the south the path leads back to the main area of Shangri-La.
The small side road turns here, heading west along a row of houses, one of which standing directly to the north, and south towards the center of the city. To the northeast a large mountain peak rises above all the others, and far to the west a tower rises high into the air above the other buildings.
This small side road runs east and west along a row of houses to the north. East of here it turns south towards the center of the city, and west it intersects with Emerald Way, the main street of Shangri-La. Further to the west, a tower rises high above all the other buildings.
Emerald Way comes to an end here, splitting into two side roads to the east and west, and continuing south all the way to the other side of the city. North of here is the first of a row of houses running to the east, north of the side road that the Way splits into. To the west the side road leads to the front of a high tower that rises high above all the other buildings.
This small side road runs east and west, where it intersects with Emerald Way to the east, and continues west towards a large tower. Further to the east, past the intersection, is a row of houses. To the north hangs the wall of mystical fog that cuts Shangri-La off from the rest of the world.
The side road comes to an end here, stopping right in front of the high tower that rises to the north. The road leads east, away from the tower and towards Emerald Way, and eventually a row of buildings. To the west, nothing can be seen but a thick blanket of mystical fog that hides Shangri-La from the world.
The narrow path here goes steeply up the side of the mountain, wrapping around it on its way up to the top. South of here lie the foothills and the way back to the city. To the east is a sheer cliff that leads far down to the ground. Whatever lies beyond the base of the mountain to the east is blanketed by the thick, mysterious fog that shields Shangri-La entirely from the rest of the world.
The path is extremely close to the peak now, and very high in the air. The path leads straight up what is left of the south face to the north, directly to the peak of the Golden Mountain. To the west the path turns north, on its way back to the city. Over the cliff to the south, the road through the foothills can be seen far, far below.
The path is now very high on the Golden Mountain, and the extreme altitude makes breathing difficult. The path makes a sharp turn to the east and north, heading upwards very close to the peak to the east and sloping towards the bottom of the mountain to the north.
Although still furnished, this house is obviously uninhabited. Personal belongings and household items are scattered in disarray, it seems as though the former inhabitants made a hasty retreat from the city, fearing for their lives at the arrival of the fiends.
This dwelling seems slightly larger than the rest, perhaps the person who lives here is wealthy or important, or maybe both. The home has, unlike the others, not yet been abandoned. It seems some of the citizens still have hope of being saved.
It is very dark in here...
This is the bottom of the emperor's tower, the tallest building in the city. This room probably doubles as a receiving room, as there are comfortable looking chairs and couches around the room. Many pieces of fine art, sculptures and paintings alike, are resting on the floor and displayed on the walls. A spiral staircase leads up to the top of the tower.
This cylindrical room serves no other purpose than to house the spiraling staircase that twists along its walls. The emperor's room is upwards, while the bottom of the tower is below.
This is the very top of the high tower that the emperor of Shangri-La makes his home. Large windows in all of the walls provide an excellent view of the entire city. Far to the east, there is a large mountain peak that rises above all the others. To the southeast, the temple and the Town Centre are visible, while south of the mountain there are wide crop fields. South of here there is a large, beautiful building with rows of houses still farther south than that. One detail makes this all a very strange sight: a thick wall of mystical fog entirely surrounds the city, cutting this paradise off from the rest of the world.
The narrow path continues up the side of the mountain, flanking the sheer cliff to the east a little too closely for peace of mind. To the south the path leads down the mountain along the cliff, and back to the city, and north up the side of the mountain where it turns up ahead. The wall of fog to the east hangs thick in the air.
This is definitely the highest point for miles, allowing an excellent view far to the distance. The city of Shangri-La can be seen to the south and southwest, seemingly tiny from the vantage of this giant peak. Some crop fields can be seen nearby to the southeast, while the center of the city is visible due south of here. Far to the southwest the temple and various sorts of buildings can be seen, a large one on the west edge of the city catching your attention. Far in the distance, on the north-west corner of the city lies a huge tower which rises high above the other buildings. One detail makes the whole scene seem very odd, even otherworldly: the wall of thick mystical fog totally surrounds the whole city and nearby fields and mountain range, cutting this paradise off completely from the rest of the world.
The winding path up the Golden Mountain twists around the sides of the mountain, turning to the south up the side of the face, close to the peak. To the north it turns along the downward slope, towards the base of the mountain. To the west, nothing but the thick wall of mist that envelopes Shangri-La can be seen.
The steep path up the mountain turns here, heading south towards the bottom of the mountain, and continuing west towards the peak. The path is now fairly high up on the mountain and the cliff edge is still uncomfortably close to the narrow path. The wall of fog that separates this paradise from the rest of the world persists in blocking any view to the north and east.
The extremely steep path that curls to the top of the giant peak of the Golden Mountain continues, making a turn to the east and west. East the path turns south along one face of the mountain, towards the city. Westwards the path turns south, where it heads further on its way to the peak. To the south is the north face of the mountain, and north only the thick well of fog is visible.
The mountain path high on the Golden Mountain makes another turn here, heading east down the slope towards the bottom of the mountain, and south where the path continues on its way to the peak. All that can be seen to the north and west is the thick wall of fog.
The dark, dank catacombs that lie under the Temple begin here, with a ladder leading up through the trap door into the temple. The corridor bends south and west here, making a turn abruptly in both directions, making it hard to tell where they lead. The voices of many monks echo throughout the halls.
The strange, mystical fog that hangs like a wall around this mountainous area is all around, and it is impossible to see in any direction for more than a few feet ahead. The mist seems almost alive, as if carrying you away to somewhere else, hiding the path.
This hall in the catacombs turns often, and it is hard not to stumble in the darkness. East of here lies the ladder out of the catacombs, and a path that continues to wind to the east side of the halls. North of here the path once again makes a quick turn, making it hard to tell where it leads.
The dark corridor turns often in this area, winding its way around the catacombs under Shangri-La's temple. To the south, the hall immediately makes a sharp turn, making it hard to tell where it leads. To the west is an intersection.
The corridor ends here, for absolutely no apparent reason. Perhaps there is a purpose to the odd layout of the catacombs, or maybe it was just designed to be maze-like to better hide whatever secrets the monks would rather keep unfound.
Three hallways meet here, forming an intersection. North of here the corridor ends abruptly, while to the south it continues on its way for some time. Eastwards is a winding hall that turns too soon to see where it leads.
This long, dark hallway leads north and south. To the north there is an intersection of corridors, and it looks like there is another dead end to the south, although the darkness makes it hard to tell. Footsteps echo all around.
The corridor ends here, and at first glance it seems to be another inexplicable dead end. On closer inspection, however, a small black door is visible hinged to the floor in the shadows at the end of the hallway.
The long dark corridor comes to a sudden and unforeseen end here, leading only back south along the hallway to the intersection the path came from. The design of this place is very strange, and corridors are set up in a confusing pattern which seems to have no other purpose than to delay those unfamiliar with these catacombs.
This long, dark hallway leads due north and south for some time in both directions. It is impossible to tell where either of them lead, for sure, because after only a few yards nothing can be seen but darkness. The soft footsteps of many monks echo around the underground maze.
The dark corridors of the catacombs turn this way and that, making navigation difficult and putting your sense of direction to a difficult test. North of here the way back to the temple can be seen: a small ladder leading out of the catacombs. To the east is an intersection.
The normally twisting passageways of the catacombs cut an uncharacteristically straight path leading north and south. To the south the corridors form an intersection, and to the north the hallway continues into darkness.
The myriad corridors that form the catacombs of the city meet here, forming a large intersection. To the west is a winding hallway, leading towards the entrance. North of here is a long dark hallway, the end of which is hidden by darkness after only a few yards. To the east a corridor leads straight to yet another unknown destination.
The dark corridor in the eastern part of the catacombs makes a turn here, heading south along a long hallway that leads around this confusing place the monks call home. To the east, the hallway continues into the darkness ahead.
This corridor leads north and south through the twisting passages of the catacombs. To the south, there is a small intersection, and to the north the hallway makes a sharp turn east, concealing its destination.
The main corridor leads north into the darkness, and a hallway leads east into a darkened room. A faint echo of footsteps and voices of the monks floats around the passages, giving the darkness a solemn feel.
The corridor makes a turn here, heading far to the north to a darkened and unknown destination, and west towards a small hallway that eventually leads to an intersection. Many footsteps echo through the halls.
The hallway abruptly stops in a dead end, again for no apparent reason or purpose. Whomever designed this place either had a very odd idea in mind or is just very effective at being confusing. Someone unfamiliar with this place could spend hours trying to find his way out.
This long corridor leads east and west through the maze of passages under the temple. The walls are smashed and broken, very out of place in these well-kept corridors. To the west, the hallway turns south into the web of corridors, and to the east the hall ends in a dead end, oddly strewn with rubble...
Something about this room seems very out of place with the rest of the catacombs. The hall ends in a dead end, but not by design. A huge pile of rubble from the smashed roof blocks any further passage eastwards. The whole area seems wrecked, an odd sight considering the cleanliness of the rest of the catacombs. Some of the broken spots in the wall look like fist-prints, but what could punch through stone..?
This hallway is smooth, but spirals at a downward clockwise angle, deep below the earth. There are few footprints of much sign of heavy use at all, apparently not many come down here. A large black door is in the ceiling, and north is a red door.
This strange hallway spirals downward like a staircase, but with a smooth pathway instead of steps. Very few signs of use mar the dusty floor, this is a place seldom visited. South of here is a red door, and east there is a blue door.
The strange, spiraling corridor leads further below the earth. A gauntlet of doors, all locked, prevents anyone who is not welcome from coming here. Set in the west wall is a blue door, and in the south wall a green door waits.
The pathway leads ever deeper below the surface of the earth, far from any thieves who would pillage whatever is hidden here. The path seems to be leveling out a bit, maybe this is close to the end. In the north wall there is a green door, and in the west wall a gray door blocks intruders.
The corridor stops spiraling down and comes level here, ending in a large circular room. A huge, ornate white door is firmly set in the northern wall, a final guard against unwelcome visitors to this well hidden place.
This large room houses the Emperor's finest treasures, everything from gold and jewels to magical items to books of lore. Truly this is a rich reward for any who have made it here through trick or by deed.
A small and narrow corridor runs east and west here, through the underground maze of passages that makes up these catacombs. To the west is an intersection of halls, and to the east is a sharp turn further into the maze.
A perfectly paved road of yellow stones leads north, defying the wild grey stone mountains around it. To the south it simply ends beneath a shaft of slick, glassy rock that rises out of sight overhead, where a faint glimmer of daylight shows. It is not certain what caused this road to exist. It seems quite calm and free from evil.
This strange plane seems to shift as you look at it, changing from a swirling gray nothing into what you realize is your own perfect idea of what a home should be. The room changes appearance to the viewer, becoming a castle or cave, forest or swamp... whatever suits the inhabitant and makes them feel at home.