99 rooms · levels 38–55
The main room of the Rocky Point Tavern is rustic. Within the gray-stone fireplace at the room's center, a crackling fire sends yellow tongues of flame licking up white pieces of driftwood. The fire casts romantic reflections around the room, but provides little warmth against the cold north wind that blows ceaselessly outside. The tavern is decorated with sea shells, driftwood, old crab traps, harpoons, and other sea-faring paraphernalia. The tables are plain, covered with simple white cloths. The floor is made of hard wood, but time, sand and traffic has abraded the surface, making it soft and splintery. A large wooden carving of an old sea captain dominates one corner of the entrance. A menu of daily specials is posted near the entrance.
The bar of the tavern is decorated like the inside of an old fishing boat. Fake portals line the walls. Some are filled with sand and crabs, others with water and fish. Old hurricane lamps hang from the ceiling, casting a dim yellow glow in the bar. Ropes and pulleys add to the seaside ambiance of the tavern. Beautiful mahogany carvings of fish and birds are displayed on shelves along the walls. There is a distinct salty smell of fish in the air, but it does not smell bad. Only fishy. Behind the bar is a large supply of whiskey.
The room is furnished with a rich oak chest of drawers, a large four-poster bed and a settee by the window. A thick blue woven rug is thrown on the floor, and the rest of the linens in this room are white. Oak paneling lines the walls to a runner, and then the walls are painted in blue and white stripes to the ceiling. An old chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling, lighting the room fairly well. Some paintings of old sea captains hang in the room. There is a scope mounted by the window, pointing to the east.
This room is painted white, with peach, mint and powder blue accents. Wicker furniture adorns the room. Its single occupant sits in a lounge holding an old, yellowed letter. The walls are covered with pastel paintings done in a Monet-style of seaside picnics, serene beaches and sandy flower gardens. The letter crinkles slightly in Belle's hand.
A sandy path leads through the dunes to the north. To the west, is the entrance to a shanty-style tavern. A small sign hanging over the door swings in the cold, northwest wind. Its wooden sides have whitened in the salt and the sun. Scraggly yellow flowers make a valiant effort to bloom in the planter boxes outside the front windows. A path leading to the front door is lined with shards of seashells. To the east, the desolate landscape is made up of jagged cliffs and sandy soil. A sign made out of driftwood points to the north to Rocky Point.
A sandy path leads south and west through the dunes. Far to the south, a weathered shanty can be seen. A cold northwest wind blows here, causing the sand to blow at a stinging pace. The air smells like brine, salt and rain. Sea grass grows in the lee of the dunes, and succulent green sand verbena stretches its tendrils across the base of the path and the windward slopes. In the morning, its bright magenta, pink, orange and yellow flowers cover the dunes with a blanket of color, bringing joy to this otherwise colorless world.
A sandy path leads north and east through the dunes. Far to the south, a weathered shanty can be seen. A cold northwest wind blows here, causing the sand to blow at a stinging pace. The air smells like brine, salt and rain. Sea grass grows in the lee of the dunes, and succulent green sand verbena stretches its tendrils across the base of the path and the windward slopes. In the morning, its bright magenta, pink, orange and yellow flowers cover the dunes with a blanket of color, bringing joy to this otherwise colorless world.
A rocky trail leads to the north along a desolate cliff. Below, the waves crash against the granite cliff-face. It is a long, sheer drop to the ocean floor. The salty sea air smells tangy, and there is a strong breeze blowing inland from the north. Gulls scream at each other in raucous cries in the gray, overcast skies above. Dwarfed and twisted trees, stunted by the salt and winds scarcely grow in a few nooks and crannies. Steep sided hills cut by deep ravines block the way inland. A low rumbling sound like thunder can be heard to the north.
The trail leads out to a viewpoint along the rocky cliffs. To the west, below the cliff, is a natural harbor, tucked in the lee of the cliff. A lonely bench sits out on the point, which overlooks the vast ocean to the north. From this vantage point, one can see a few fishing vessels at anchor in the harbor. The ocean is alive with movement, and the carpet of kelp below the cliff rises and falls with the incoming waves. The waves hit the cliffs with such force, that one can imagine feeling their repercussions along with hearing their thunder. A small sign barely protrudes from some grass.
The trail cuts closely to the edge of the cliff, leading down a steep ravine to the east and back along the cliffs to the west. The salty sea air smells tangy, and there is a strong breeze blowing inland from the north. Its briskness causes whitecaps to foam on the gray-green sea that stretches to the north. Gulls scream at each other in raucous cries in the gray, overcast skies above. The gulls make their nests in small hollows on the desolate cliff face, and they screech loudly at interlopers.
To the east, the ravine drops steeply down to sea level, as a river cuts its swath from the mountains to the ocean. It climbs back up some desolate-looking cliffs to the west. At the bottom of the ravine, the river flows around some large boulders, and on into the ocean. Its swift flow creates strong rip tides and back currents. It is possible to cross by climbing over the boulders to the trail on the other side.
The trail continues up the ravine along the desolate coastline. To the south, stands a pocked and discolored ruin of a temple. The once-white carved marble columns are now yellowed with age and adverse climate conditions. Sea grass grows through the cracked remains of a marble-tiled path leading to the temple. Hardy ivy vines wind their way up the pillars and inside, threatening to take over the temple completely. In spite of its decay, the temple still creates an imposing outline at the head of the cliff.
The path leads south to what is left of the temple. The temple itself is circular in construction. Twelve marble pillars, each about 12-feet high, sit atop a round marble floor that is about 24-feet in diameter. A shallow, marble conical roof rests atop the pillars. The pillars are cracked and some portions of the roof have crumbled. Wide marble stairs lead to the inner area, which is open on all sides to the elements. Ivy grows thickly around the base of the temple, and some of its runner-vines have almost reached the roof. A marble plaque has been placed o n a small altar at the foot of the steps.
In the center what appears to be the receiving room of an old temple dedicated to serenity and goodness, someone has erected a bronze statue to a god of chaos. In each of the main four compass points, a gold tiled hieroglyph has been set into the white marble floor. Each sign represents one of the four basic elements, earth, wind, fire and water. Grass and weeds grow up between the tiles on the floor, threatening to obscure the signs. A pile of dead brush and debris has gathered in a small alcove to the east. A bronze statue lifts a skeletal finger in defiance of law and order.
In a small alcove to the east of the main receiving room, a pile of brush and debris has built up. It almost looks like a nest. Bits of cloth, feathers, seaweed and shells are strewn about the floor. The dead brush rustles as if alive, and two pair of black, beady eyes peer from behind some pillars.
The statue moves aside, revealing a hidden stairwell leading down into the darkness below. The wind from above whistles through the small opening, sending gusts of fresh air down into the nether world. Wary that this breeze will announce the presence of topsiders, the statue slides back into place. The stairs are narrow, and the ceiling is low. They descend down past bronze carvings on the walls. These carvings are engraved with leering faces, skeletal faces and mysterious glyphs. At the bottom of the stairs is a large, bumpy stone.
The hallway leads south through a stone arch. On either side of the arch, facing inward, are two statues. One is of a wizard casting a spell, and the other is of a warrior standing at the ready. Mounted above the door is a stone medusa head, with its eyes closed. Past the arch to the south is a rather large room. It is dark, but it is still possible to discern several dark shapes standing motionless in that room. A narrow set of stairs leads up.
The lantern lights dance eerily in this large hall, creating dancing shadows on the figures standing about the room. Closer inspection reveals these to be stone statues, all garbed in various styles of dress, and equipped in unusual and archaic styles. Some are standing idly, while others are in poses of surprise or horror. All of them seem to be looking up. To the far south, there is a doorway leading further into the subtemple.
The center of the square chamber is dominated by what used to be a round pool. The pool is empty, save for a small puddle of brown mold growing in the bottom of it. Scattered haphazardly through the room are dozens of urns, jugs and wooden bowls. Most of them have been smashed, and their remains litter the floor with shards of clay, glass and wood. Dirty bits of rags and cloth are mixed in with the debris. There is an overwhelming smell of mold and mildew here, along with the feeling of imminent death.
A long, narrow hallway runs east and west here. The floor and ceiling are made up of wooden planks, and the walls are made of stone. A thin film of dust covers everything. A slight tingling sensation can be felt through the soles of one's footwear, but then the feeling fades. Someone with cleric lore might remember that temples used to have what was called a disenchantment chamber, which basically neutralized spells, charms and magic for a short period of time. This not only served to protect those that worked inside the temple, but also disarmed invaders of any magical advantage. It seems as though the magic field here has worn thin, if it hasn't dissipated altogether. There are two exits leading out the west end of the hallway: one to the west, and one to the south.
Upon entering this large, square stone chamber, the sickly-sweet smell of blood, and the putrid odor of decayed earth and dead flesh assault the senses first. As eyes adjust to the dimness, the ghastly contents of this torture and execution chamber are revealed. Spiked instruments, manacles, chains, beheading swords line the walls. Diabolical machines designed to slowly rip the body apart, or to painfully stretch or sever limbs stand in readiness. Four rows of benches line the right wall, set up for spectators for the grisly acts performed here.
The main portion of the room is long and narrow, and there is an opening in the far end to the south. The sides of the room are lined with chambers. The wooden doors to the chambers have barred openings, and the chambers seem to serve as prison cells. Some of the doors stand open, while others remain locked shut. Inside one of the shut rooms is the skeleton of a long-dead prisoner, left behind when the temple was abandoned by the Lords of Chaos.
This room has a low ceiling, and a deep pit. A stench of death clings in the air, and looking down, the pit is filled with bones. It seems that the corpses of hundreds of torture victims were dumped here to rot. A narrow ledge has been built into the wall, allowing one to observe all areas of the pit. Small hand holds help brace the walker. Along the back wall of the pit is a circular opening, that doesn't seem to have been in the original design of this room.
A rough tunnel is cut into the cold earth in the subterranean temple. The walls and floors are scoured with what looks like a set of long, sharp, parallel daggers... or claws. An unusual smell wafts up from below, where the tunnel leads. The opening of the tunnel to the north, leads into a pit that is filled with bones.
The tunnel continues in the dark, damp, cold earth. Some dirt sifts down from the ceiling occasionally, but the tunnel seems fairly stable. To the south, the tunnel opens up into a sort of lair. It leads up to the west. There are sounds of digging to the south.
The tunnel opens up into a tall, round chamber. Brush and debris from the surface litter the floor, and the smell of rot and decay wants to make one retch. Moving around in the gloom and filth, is a large worm-like creature with large mandibles that drip a foul saliva. Its sharp claws scrape menacingly in the dirt floor of the cavern.
From the Disenchantment Chamber to the north, this narrow hallway leads south. To the west, through two large wooden doors, is a great hall. The floor of this hallway has been tiled with marble, but decades of dust have covered it with a fine layer of dirt. The dirt shows no disturbance, other than your own footprints.
The air is heavy in this great hall, and it smells of dust and age. The walls of this room are rough, having been carved from stone, giving this room a cave-like feel. Four columns of dark rock help support the vaulted stone ceiling. Along the sides of the hall, are many alcoves. Most of the relics that were stored here have been looted or destroyed. In the far end of the great hall, upon a dais, a velvet-covered throne has been set. There seems to be a door beyond the throne.
This room appears to be undisturbed by time. Shelves of books, maps, accounting records that date back to the time the temple was held by the worshippers of Serafina, an ancient goddess of courage and steadfastness. It contains the records of how the temple was razed and then occupied by followers of Amnissos an ancient god of decay and chaos. His followers were routed by a mighty paladin-king, who drove the evil ones from the temple, but was unable to find a way to reverse the desecration that occurred here. It appears that the head cleric escaped in an unknown manner, and even though the paladin dedicated his life to find that evil one, he was unsuccessful. So the ruins of the temple remain as they are.
The hallway continues down to the south, and then it curves sharply to the east. Steps have been cut into the floor, making it easier to descend down the steep decline. The ceiling is arched, and bears scorch marks, indicating a large burn or rout that occurred here. To the north, the hallway leads back up to the first floor of the subterranean temple.
A large ornate altar is the centerpiece of this chamber. Its white marble surface is now stained a reddish-brown, having been sacrilegiously defiled with blood of innocent victims. Morbid scenes of death, war, plague and famine have been carved into the gray stone walls. To the east of the altar, is a large stone statue, that stands in front of a door. On the floor, painted in gold, are the same four symbols that were found by the statue on the surface of the temple.
The door opens to reveal a dry, dusty chamber. The smell of death lingers, as there is no ventilation in this room. Several large urns, or funerary vessels, decorated with hideous paintings of sacrifice and death, line the walls. Within the urns are swaths of putrid, rotting cloth. These bits of cloth are disturbed at the opening of the door, and they rise up to investigate the cause of the disturbance. A black curtain hangs across the east wall.
The curtain opens into a small square room. The ceiling and floor are draped with black silk. There is a black coffin, carved from onyx and polished to a smooth luster, sitting atop a raised platform in the room's center. It is here, where the paladin-king was to lay the evil cleric of Amnissos to rest, thus breaking the spell of decay and chaos on the temple. The coffin is empty. There is another black curtain on the east wall, and the remaining walls are blanketed in black silk. There seems to be some writing behind the curtain.
Stepping into the portal, you feel as if you are floating gently on the warm winds of the tropics. The light is bright and blinding. The air begins to grow so heavy, it becomes hard to breathe. Gasping, you suddenly feel a falling sensation as you plummet down. A scream is ripped from your lungs, taking the last of your breath.
The light is blinding and the heat intense when the world stops spinning. As you recover from the effects of the portal, you get your bearings. Before you in all directions, is a hot, arid desert. Your throat becomes parched as you try and swallow. There seems to be something rising from the sand to the east.
The brilliant sunlight shines hot and blindingly. The arid terrain of this desolate desert stretches for leagues in all directions. To walk would mean death. The only shade from the beating sun is a ruined tower. It is mostly buried in the sand. The tower walls are smooth, unmortered stone, set together tightly. They crumble a bit with age, but still hold fast. There is no entrance to the tower on this level. It seems that the only way into the tower is to fly up. Near the top of the tower, arrow slits are dark beneath the crenellated rim.
The very air is still and hot. Evil spreads its tentacles lethargically from the tower, but its force is easily resisted. Old memories stir. This is the tower of the ancient being known as the Lord of Eternal Night. He achieved great power in the past, but was punished for his evil crimes, and is now a prisoner of his throne. Unable to leave that black seat, the lord nonetheless continues to spread his reign of terror and slaughter into the world. It must have been here that the Evil Cleric of Chaos from the Temple sought refuge.
High winds and storms have deposited a thick layer of sand on the tower roof. In the lee-side of the roof, a large metal trap door is laid into the floor. The door is decorated with mosaic tiles. Closer inspection reveals them to shape a magical symbol of great evil, causing a sense of foreboding to hang over the roof. The view from the top of the tower is much like that at the sand level. This tower sits in the middle of a large, endless desert.
The door opens up into a winding stairwell, which leads down to a landing. Dusty light filters in here, highlighting the walls. Shields are hung on the walls, painted with many heraldic symbols. There are four exits leading out from this landing. The ancient wood floor of the platform creaks and groans with age.
The room is filled with shattered wooden bunks. At the foot of each of the bunks are the remains of wooden boxes. Their contents have long been looted, and the unwanted items are strewn about the room. In spite of the dry desert air, the furniture is in an advanced state of decay. The room smells of dust, and the floor is covered with a fine layer of sand.
This small, triangular-shaped room sits in the corner of the tower. Broken and decaying weapons litter the walls and floor, indicating that the soldier's weapons were probably stored here at one time. It is stuffy in here. The only ventilation comes from the open door.
This is a small, dingy room filled with rotten cots and tattered rags. A once-beautiful Oriental rug is rumpled on the floor. Its red and black designs are now faded and dingy. The closets and cupboards of this room have been looted, and the remaining contents shredded and scattered about the room. Sand seems to have seeped in, covering areas on the floor and making the debris littering the floor even more dirty and ragged.
Stepping into this room sets off an illusion, much like a ghostly moving picture. The illusion shows scenes of tower life for the soldiers. They worked hard, guarding a very successful and kind ruler. Suddenly, there is scrambling. The soldiers leap for their weapons as they are set upon by a lich and its minions. The occupants of the tower died a horrible death in their fight for control of the tower, and the tower fell to the hands of the evil one. The illusion then fades to black, not showing anything after the battle.
This small triangular-shaped room sits in the corner of the tower. Weapons and armor were once stored here, and the walls and floor are littered with the broken and decaying remains of polearms and breast plates. Lengths of brittle wood are stacked on the floor. A repulsive smell rises up from a pile of yellow sand on the wood.
This room has been completely ransacked. Plain blankets are shredded, and hang in limp tatters over the remains of the beds. Washstands, broken perfume bottles, and colorful female garments are scattered about the room. Old bloodstains, looking now like splashes of rust, are splattered about, but there are no bones or body remains. The draft caused by the open door causes a bunch of dried flowers to crumble away to dust. The dust drifts about, and then settles on the rest of the layers of sand and dust that cover the room.
The stairwell leads up and down here. At this landing in the tower, four doors lead off in all directions. Each of the doors is covered with a richly-woven tapestry, though age and climate have taken their toll. They hang in threadbare luster, their surfaces coated with dust.
This room appears to be in relatively good condition, when compared to the rest of the rooms in the tower. The bed looks sturdy and the chairs and table appear to be in good condition. Upon looking around, however, there is a feeling of despair and foreboding. On the closet door to the west, there is the same evil symbol that was on the door of the tower roof. Only here, the symbol is painted in blood.
The door opens into a small, dark cubicle. A musty, dank smell permeates the inside of the closet. The reflex to gag and retch is strong. An old trail of blood ends in a pool of dried brown dust. The walls, floors and ceiling are very dark. Whatever was stored here has long been carried away. Something rustles in the darkness.
This room appears to be a small guest chamber. The furnishings were very nice at one time, but now the wooden bed, chairs, dresser and table rot with neglect. On the north wall hangs a portrait of a good looking man. His black hair is elegantly styled, and he appears in a timeless costume. Only a cruel smile and dark, mean eyes mar his good looks.
The door opens into a room filled from top to bottom with glistening silver strands of spider webs. Their strong strands shimmer in the light, as if covered with dew. A faint chittering sound seems to come from the far side of the room. Overhead, there seems to be a clacking sound. The webs sway as if caught in a breeze.
This large room fills most of the south side of the tower. A large bed dominates one side of the room, and a large desk sits in the other side. This looks like it once was the bed chamber of the master of this tower. On the walls, paintings of landscapes, farms and a beautiful tower hang askew. One of the paintings shows the tower, and all the land it once held. There is a feeling of harmony and prosperity flowing from that painting. The once-green bedspread is now faded, and the rug is worn and dilapidated. A powder-fine layer of sand and dust lingers on everything, adding their taint to the once-fine furnishings.
The stairs continue down into the tower. They open up to the south to a semi-circular hall. There are doors that lead to other rooms to the north, east and west. An eerie whispering seems to tug at the subconscious. It's impossible to make out what words are being said, but they leave an unsettling feeling.
This chamber of the tower is filled with wall-to-wall shelves. The books and scrolls here have been torn apart, and lie rotting on the shelves and floor. Three tables and chairs are also turned on their sides. The smell of rotting paper is enough to turn one's stomach. A mass of white worms wiggles in one pile of refuse.
This is a rather large room. Spinning wheels and embroidery stands indicate that this was a popular retreat for women and children. The room has been torn asunder. A number of once-comfortable chairs, small tables and footstools are scattered about. The remnants of a tapestry frame contains shreds of an unfinished piece. The walls are painted with bright pastoral scenes, which have now faded to brown. A sewing basket has been dumped out.
This is the large, great banquet hall of the tower. A long, ornately-carved table in the room's center indicates that many people were well entertained here. Elegant chairs lie strewn about. A great fireplace graces the walls on either end of the room, but now they are cold and empty. The ashes trail out, coating the nearby floor with a gray dust. Near the stairway, set into the floor are several gaming tables. One checkered board indicates that the tower folk played chess.
Smoke hangs thick in the air here, smelling stale and woody. The walls are decked in rich, red velvet tapestries. They reek with old and stale smoke, and are beginning to molder. A small table sits between several cushioned chairs. On the table are several pipes in an ornate ivory pipe stand. Some dust, that may once have been a fine tobacco, is crumbled in a small tray. Suddenly, the pipes animate and begin dancing and flinging themselves about the room. The smoke starts to coil in funnels and the chairs begin to animate.
The stairs descend to the lowest level of the tower near a kitchen to the east. To the west, is a long, dark hallway. The bottom of the stair is fairly clean, though piles of sand have collected over the years beneath the stairwell. There is a deadly cold air coming from the east.
The kitchen is fairly large. The original cook had installed a significant amount of counter space and large, spacious cupboards. In the tower's heyday, most of these fireplaces were continually burning, and a meal was always being prepared. Now, rusted iron cauldrons are scattered about the floor, and five enormous stone fireplaces are cold and dark. There seems to be something smoldering in a sixth fireplace. In the center of the room, two large butcher block tables are covered with a dark-red stain that appears to be blood. There is a sour smell coming from the north. A dark, cool room sits to the south.
The smell in this room is overpowering, and it becomes difficult to breathe without gagging or retching. It looks as if everything in this room was turned on end. Wooden bed frames, chairs and chests are scattered against the walls of the room, where they lie in shattered shards and splintered pieces. Blood-soaked rags cover the debris. Although the damage to the room looks as if it were done at the same time as the damage done to rest of the castle, the blood still hasn't dried. It sits in tepid, putrid pools on the floor. Closer inspection behind some broken furniture reveals the source of the blood and stench. Piled there are the badly decomposed remains of hacked bodies.
This is a cold, dark room, which was probably used to store most of the food stuffs and cooking ingredients for the kitchen. Tablecloths and linens are soiled with blood and other stains. They lie in torn tatters on the floor. Rusted kitchen utensils and plates are piled up in one corner. On the shelves that line the cellar, several barrels of rancid oil, spoiled flour and moldy rice sit undisturbed. Large, empty kegs are stacked by the entrance to the door.
This narrow hallway runs east and west at the bottom of the tower. A bone-chilling cold emanates from the door to the east. A curving stairwell sits to the west. The walls are smooth and white, as if made of ivory, however, their porous surface almost makes it seem as if the walls were made of bone. The air is still as death. In spite of the lack of air movement, a gray mist starts to rise from the floor. It rises in smoky tendrils, and where it touches, it becomes intensely cold.
The room is dark, like a tomb. It appears to be an old throne room. At the far end of the room, on a raised dais, sits a black granite throne. It would dominate the entire room, if it weren't for the gaunt, skeletal form dressed in black robes, and wearing a black crown that sits upon it. Two points of blood-red light stare out of its eyeless skull. A hideous grin flashes across its bony, skeletal face. Against the wall, is a dark, bearded man, who wears the tattered dark robes of a cleric of Amnissos. His face is that of a madman. He is pale beyond belief - his life essence having been drained by the undead lord of the tower. The entire room shimmers with magic.
This is a sparsely-filled room. A few chairs line the walls, and the wooden planked floor is bare. To the east is a portal. Inscribed over the portal is something written in an ancient language. The only words readable seem to say Rocky and Portal. To the west, there is a large, dark, cold room. A throne can be made out in its center.
Stepping into the portal, you feel as if you are floating gently on the warm winds of the tropics. The light is bright but not blinding. You pass over a desert that seems to have recently seen some rain. A blanket of wild flowers bloom over it, creating a colorful quilt. In the distance, a tower shines white and bright. You are gently deposited near a sea coast, with a tiny tavern and harbor.
After what seems like an eternity, the air thins, and you can breathe again. Blinking, you gaze around at the new surroundings, and take in what appears to be a dense jungle.
The trees grow thick and tall here. Their thin, spindly trunks strive to reach the sky, competing to get more than their fair share of sunlight. Large flowers, the largest seemingly in the land, grace the air with their perfume. Gigantic insects burrow in the lush, nutrient-rich soil. Loud, raucous birds call from the tree-tops. Their brilliant plumage adding a richness to the color and diversity of this jungle. The air is hot and humid, and no breeze blows. A trail seems to lead off to the north.
The trees grow thick and tall here. Their thin, spindly trunks strive to reach the sky, competing to get more than their fair share of sunlight. Large flowers, the largest seemingly in the land, grace the air with their perfume. Gigantic insects spring from tree to tree. Moss hangs like curtains from beneath the tree-tops, adding a spicy smell to the jungle. The air is hot and humid, and no breeze blows. A trail seems to lead off to the east from the south.
The trees seem to grow further apart here. The plants growing from the ground stand about the height of an ogre, and their thick, broad green leaves are spread out. Brilliant orchids of white, yellow and purple bloom in profusion all about. Huge horned lizards gaze from atop their perches with unblinking, black beady eyes. The soil is dark brown, and smells like fresh-turned earth. The scenery is so varied and ever-changing that it seems like something new could be discovered here every day. A broader trail leads off to the north, and a small trail leads to the west.
The jungle crowds in here. Every leaf, tree, flower and insect seems to be pushing you or pulling you in one direction or another, so that it seems you are completely lost. To the north, a large green plant is growing, and it seems to be just this side of a large rock. The brown earth seems older here. A light gray powder seems to rest on the dirt and plants. The plant moves as if to hide the view of the rock. Hidden in the dirt near the rock are some stones that look like prayer beads. Their symbols seem to match those of the temple.
The passage from the rock leads into a large stone chamber. Sprawled on the floor of the chamber is a corpse. Its face is a mask of horror and its fingers are worn to mere stubs, as if it wore them down trying to claw its way out of the tomb. Paintings on the wall depict the history of a royal family. The last of these show the story of a detestable boy, the eldest brother and successor to the throne. It tells of his courtship of and eventual submission to evil. The pictures show a mask, and after that, the elder was never drawn with a face. His younger brother managed to overpower his older brother and subdue him. Yet, the younger did not wish to kill the elder. The living corpse of the elder was placed in temporal status and then buried alive. The story ends here. The wall on the far side of the chamber is blank.
The ceiling of this large, rectangular room is covered with a maze of roots that grow down from the jungle above. Shafts of light stream in from holes in the intricate entangle. The shafts fall on old stone carvings that are set in small, cylindrical alcoves lining the north and south walls. The carvings are of human bodies, topped with animal heads that leer grotesquely in the dim light. The walls are painted with frescos of kings paying homage to their gods. Ancient slippered footprints trail through the dust on the floor, leading north.
This rectangular-shaped hall is sloped down slightly to the west. The ceiling is more dirt than roots, and it is packed and held into place by large, gothic columns. Between the arches, painted on the walls are murals. They portray ghastly, bloody and heated battles. In the western-most mural, a figure atop the battlements casts spells at the approaching forces. Its head has been deliberately obliterated from the mural. A door leads off to the north and to the east, is a large hall.
The vast room here seems endlessly large. It too, is decorated with frescos and paintings of gods, kings and people. There are several low tables, each with a casket on them. At the far end of the room, a huge stone altar sits on a raised granite dais. Behind the altar are three animal-headed statues; the head of one was smashed. On the altar is a stone sarcophagus. There is writing on it. There is an eerie, hissing whispering noise that echoes throughout the chamber, as though something was watching, waiting in anger. Every so often, two points of red light glow in the darkness behind the altar. There is a door to the east and south.
This chamber was obviously once used to prepare the deceased for embalming. Murals of the dead being mummified, and then entombed with their worldly possessions cover the walls. Some show the dead traveling various paths on their way to the afterlife. Others show mortals being reincarnated as various sentient creatures. Brittle wooden tables are covered with empty pots and jars that once held oils, spices and unguents used for the embalming process. A pile of linen strips sitting on a table seems remarkably well preserved. They appear to have been soaked in a magical preservation fluid. There is a door that leads to some stairs going down, and an archway leading north to another chamber.
This small, square chamber was obviously used for storage. Shelves line the walls, and several chests and wooden boxes are stacked against the far side of the room. An unusual item sits on a top shelf next to the door. It looks as if someone tried to preserve a raven. However, the job was done with little talent, and the raven's feathers are falling off, and its beak is lopsided.
A deathly quiet falls over the party upon entering this room. It seems that the normal sounds of travel, the squeak of leather or clank of metal, are muted and far away. The air is very cold and still. Large black stone slabs sit perpendicular to the north and south walls. On several of these, lie a skeletal corpse, covered with a dirty shroud. Their arms lie crossed on their chest, and their hands clasp an ancient longsword. There is a room to the east, and another to the south. The corpses look like they are resting peacefully.
This room was once a great armory, but the weapons stored here have rusted and corroded to uselessness. There is a worn tapestry on the floor. It shows several swords made by a certain weapon maker. To the east, the room flows into a long corridor that ends in a heavy stone door engraved with ancient runes and symbols. A long, narrow slit is in the wall beside the stone door.
This is a tiny, oblong chamber, with a domed, arched ceiling made of blocks of granite. To the north sits a small stone altar, upon which sit many burnt-out candles. The altar is covered with melted wax, that has hardened and become brittle over the years. A tapestry hangs upon the east wall. It shows a horrid scene of an important person being entombed alive. The head of the victim has been defaced.
A cold, bone-chilling draft drifts out of a seemingly bottomless shaft from the center of the room. The rest of the room is glaringly empty. Over the shaft, is a thick mass of silken webs. The web funnels into a tube at its center and disappears into the darkness below. A faint chittering and clacking sound can be heard from above. Looking at the ceiling, it is covered with webs, and three dark forms rustle about
This room was once used as a storage chamber. Shards of broken amphoras, canopic jars and statues litter the floor of this room. The wall paintings repeat the earlier theme of an important person being entombed alive. However, on one painting, the face is still intact. An empty web sack is torn and lies in pieces on the floor. Its occupants have long since crawled away from this horrid place.
This is a long, winding corridor in the lower level of the tomb. The ceiling is low, and small sconces can be lit to shed a dim light in the hallway. Burial niches full of bones line the walls. Most of the skeletons have decomposed and deteriorated. Closer inspection of the bones makes it seem as if they were too small to be human. There are small teeth, like canine incisors in the debris. The corridor winds to the and west. To the south is a small room.
This is a long, winding corridor in the lower level of the tomb. The ceiling is low, and small sconces can be lit to shed a dim light in the hallway. Burial niches full of bones line the walls. Most of the skeletons have decomposed and deteriorated. Closer inspection of the bones makes it seem as if they were too small to be human. Sifting through the remains, it is possible to come up with something that looks like a wing bone. The corridor winds to the east and south.
This is a long, winding corridor in the lower level of the tomb. The ceiling is low, and small sconces can be lit to shed a dim light in the hallway. Burial niches full of bones line the walls. Most of the skeletons have decomposed. Closer inspection of the bones makes it seem as if they were too small to be human. In one of the niches, a small skull with empty eye sockets stares out. It becomes obvious that these are the remains of cats, dogs, monkeys and other animals. Their deteriorating remains create an unearthly menagerie. The corridor winds to the north and west. Faded foot-prints in the dusty floor lead to the west, but it is obvious that they are very old.
The long, winding corridor opens up into an intersection here in the lower level of the tomb. Lights reflect off the low, domed ceiling, casting eerie shadows in the hallway. Two low arches lead into small rooms to the north and south of here. The smell of death and decay is strong. The very walls of the tomb seem to vibrate with deep, even breaths, as though the tomb were alive, and waiting for something. The corridor continues to the west.
This room is extremely cold and dark. Two old wooden caskets rest on the cold earth. The dampness of the earth and time has rotted the once-ornate coffins. They were decorated with a royal family crest, indicating two people of great importance. But death is the great equalizer. Now, they sit on the floor and rot. The entrance of a living being upsets the coffin's inhabitants, and they burst open. Two moldy, linen-wrapped figures blindly strike out at the source of their disturbance.
This room is very warm and dark. There are two mounds of overturned earth, looking very much like old graves. There is a distinct smell of dirt and rotting leaves here. Within the walls of the crypt, there are dates and names carved of the people who were buried here. As light hits the graves, the earth shifts and falls, and two humanoid shapes seem to crawl out from their final resting place to seek out the source of the light.
This is a long, winding corridor in the lower level of the tomb. The ceiling is low, and small sconces can be lit to shed a dim light in the hallway. Burial niches full of bones line the walls. Most of the skeletons have decomposed and deteriorated. Closer inspection of the bones makes it seem as if they were too small to be human. There are small teeth, like canine incisors in the debris. The corridor winds to the and west. To the north is a large door.
The door opens into a large, vaulted chamber supported by four carved stone columns. The floor is made of large, stone blocks pressed together, leaving only a hairline seam between them. An alabaster throne on a dais stands in the west end of the room. The throne is flanked by two large statues with female heads. An archway appears in the north wall. The statues become animated and start to sway and hiss at the party's entrance. Their eyes glaze over, and they hiss as they speak, ordering the defilers to leave this place or suffer death and madness.
This room is rather large and tall. A high vaulted ceiling is supported by four carved stone columns. As torch lights flicker, eerie shadows are cast about the room revealing a golden chariot standing amidst dozens of chests, boxes and spilled coin. A rather large alcove in the east wall contains two, very ornate sarcophagi. The room pulses, as if breathing, and there is a feeling of weight associated with this place. Up in the arches of the ceiling, a whirring of wings can be heard.
A dim, dark hallway runs east and west here. It twists and turns like a snake, leading down into the depths of the cool, dark earth. The ceiling is supported by wooden planks, that appear to have been shored up. The wood is decaying and threatening to break, but the metal posts keep them from collapsing.
A dim, dark hallway runs east and west here. It twists and turns like a snake, leading down into the depths of the cool, dark earth. The ceiling is supported by wooden planks, that appear to have been shored up. The wood is decaying and threatening to break, but the metal posts keep them from collapsing. The hallway leads into a small room that appears to be an anti-chamber. The frescos hanging on the walls in this chamber are in excellent condition. They show a young boy growing up normally. As a young man, he suddenly is shown with a squid's head leading armies against his family. In the final scene he is captured and entombed for eternity. There is a door to the east covered with old runes, symbols and warnings.
This is a large, square room. The walls and ceiling are made from seamless stone. There are no cracks that would allow something to crawl in or out of this room. Centered in the room is a huge sarcophagus on a tiered dais. The top is carved with an effigy of a humanoid figure with the head of a squid. At the far east end of the room is a shining, shimmering portal. Between the portal and the sarcophagus, sitting on a makeshift throne, is a mummified man with his back to the door. He seems to be giggling at the portal. A set of footprints leads into the portal. As he turns around, his face is obscured with a mask that is in the form of a squid, with tentacles for a mouth and two pearls for eyes. He cackles gleefully at the intrusion to his realm.
As you step through the portal, you feel a slight tingling sensation on your skin. Suddenly, there is a great wrenching, and you gasp as the air is sucked from your lungs. You scream in silent agony, as your body bends with the pressure of magical transport. Before you black out from the pain, the movement stops.
The trail leads through large sand dunes. To the west, a faded seaside shanty sits nestled between the dunes. The smell of mesquite fills the air, along with fish and brine. The brisk ocean wind catches the sand from the tops of the dunes and carries it gently down the leeward slopes.
The trail winds up the coast line and begins to head north up the cliff. A strong ocean breeze blows in off the sea. Far to the north, the trail meanders through sand dunes. Sprigs of sage and sand verbena dot the pastel landscape with color. The smell of fresh seafood wafts in the air as some smoke rises from the chimney of the seaside shanty atop the hill.
The trail leads north and south along the cold, Trackless Sea. The sea stretches out for miles, and in the distance, one might make out what seem to be many islands, dotting the horizon. Then the winds blow, and mists obscure the vision. On the cliff atop the trail sits a large wooden building. A sign has been staked in the soft sand near the trail.
The trail leads north along the cold, Trackless Sea. Small green plants line the path to the east. The western side of the trail slopes down to a rocky beach. Waves pound rhythmically in the distance. To the south, is a busy dockside seaport.
You stand in a large study. The walls are paneled in expensive woods and tapestry. A large fireplace rests in the north wall, a large warm fire burns within. Over the mantle hangs a lion skin and the Paladin's Blade above it. A suit of silvery armor fully assembled and well cared for stands in the corner of the room. Plush chairs invite you to sit and rest, with large bowls of fruit and a chilled bottle of wine invite your thirst.
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