Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon in What Fans Want Forum

RSS
Email

0 Points

Forum Jump

Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon

Author	Comment
WDSmithJr	Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	Lead	[-]
Posts: 340 Mar 22 02 11:27 AM Necromantic Webmaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Ok, the picture generated some interest in the General forums. I will post it here at Damien the Bloodfeaster's request. Melan, and some others have already posted some entries on the other thread feel free to copy them here if you like. NOTE: This is NOT an official NG map challenge! Mostly because this map is copyrited to someone who I would have no idea could even give any rights to use for profit. I am a simple man and know not of how such things work, Not to mention I have no authority start such a contest anyway, as Clark and Bill are at them helm of this ship. I am just here to fly the virtual flag. So, this is for pure fun. ...everyone recognize this?
	Remove this ad
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#1	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 22 02 12:01 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yay! I've got an entire concept for this worked out, which I'll post this evening. You shouldn't worry about this being a formal contest, Mr. Smith--I don't think it was ever anything formal. I'd simply like to see some of the concepts other people come up with for the whole lair. Thanks for posting it here!
WDSmithJr	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#2	[-]
Posts: 340 Mar 22 02 12:08 PM Necromantic Webmaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I know it was just an informal fun thing. But someone else might not have thought that. Just covering my large buttocks!
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#3	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 23 02 12:26 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	All right. You want to know my take on the dungeon? Here it is (in five parts): Skullstone Dungeon!
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#4	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 23 02 12:27 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Skullstone Dungeon Part One: History Long ago a community was settled in a desolate wilderness area where the forces of magic were stronger than normal. For hundreds of years, this place slowly grew from a town to a sizeable city known as Imur, ruled by potent priests, wizards, and other spellcasters. Then priests and minions of Nerull successfully staged a coup, murdering many of the other most powerful people in the town. After a bloody purge of good-aligned citizens, the town turned to erecting a great monument to Nerull-a tower of bone reaching toward the sky like a finger's corpse. Construction of this monstrosity began behind the great skull-shaped temple of Nerull, and had it been completed, it would have vastly extended the powers of this evil god throughout the region. However, exiles from the city of Imur joined forces with other good-aligned powers, and returned to reclaim their city. A great battle was fought, with increasingly potent magics flung about. Finally, in desperation, the High Priest of Nerull, Kaross, used all his remaining powers to summon forth an avatar of Nerull himself. Unfortunately for his forces, by doing so he opened the window for his enemies to summon forth avatars of their own. A great battle then took place between these godlike beings. In the end, Nerull was defeated, but not before followers on both sides were almost completely decimated. As punishment for their blasphemy, the good-aligned powers wiped Imur from the land completely, leaving only the temple of Nerull which they could not touch. They also removed the Monolith of Nerull, leaving a great, gaping pit where it once stood. Although they had won, the high priest and many of his followers retreated into passages deep beneath the temple. There the forces of good sealed them away, and set guardians to watch over the entry to their realm. They did allow means of access to these deep passages, for they knew that one day a group of adventurers would come and finish the work in expunging this evil-the avatars could not do it themselves, and had no one left powerful enough to do it for them. Thus has the temple and its dungeons stood over thousands of years. Occasionally monsters have come to take lair here, but they either penetrated too far and were lost to the deep dungeon's guards and wards, or were driven out by subsequent inhabitants. As for Kaross and his followers, they suffered a curse at the hands of Nerull that reduced them to little more than floating skulls, although they gained some powers over them as well. Kaross himself managed to retain more power during this process by casting a spell which stole from all his followers their names, hoarding them for himself.
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#5	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 23 02 12:28 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Skullstone Dungeon Part Two: Present Day At the current time, Kaross and the remnants of the city of Imur still dwell deep beneath the dungeon, in a small city that is a dark replica of the lost city itself. They are led by Kaross, who spends most of his time sleeping, waiting for the day when the great seal to their domain will be broken. Meanwhile, the upper levels of the dungeon are currently inhabited by a tribe of orcs called the Bloodspillers. Since they have settled here, they have slowly but surely affected by the concentrated magic in the area, and now sport an unusual affinity for magic, making even the meanest of them capable of spellcasting, and making their witch doctors and shamans formidable. The mid levels of the dungeon remain largely untouched by the orcs, haunted by strange guardian creatures and magical forces. Occasionally they will send creatures down the Grand Slide to the mid levels to appease the thinks they know dwell there.
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#6	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 23 02 12:30 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Skullstone Dungeon Part Three: Skullstone Dungeon Overview The dungeon can be divided into several areas: The Orc Levels: Includes levels 1 up, 1, and 2-areas currently home to the Bloodspiller orcs, though a few untouched areas remain. The Levels of Traps and Despair: Includes levels 3, 4a and 4b-areas where strange, magic-enhanced guardian creatures and old wards and seals still reign. The Levels of Deep Death: Includes levels 5, 6, and the Pit-a great guardian exists at the bottom of the pit, and other opportunistic creatures have made it into the surrounding caverns, where they too have been enhanced by the concentrated magic of the area. The Undercity: The bottommost level, where Kaross and his followers still dwell in a city sealed away.
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#7	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 23 02 12:33 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Skullstone Dungeon Part Four: Level-by-Level Description Level 1st up: This area was once the quarters of the high priest and his chief followers. It is now the lair of the Bloodspiller leadership. There are heavily warded secret rooms here where the high priest once stored valuables which remain untouched to this day. Level One: This area, once the main temple floor for Nerull, is now the primary lair of the Bloodspillers. It has been thoroughly explored by them (and by other tenants in years past), and now contains many fortifications, both mundane and magical, to protect the lair. Level Two: This area was once a place for spell and item research, and also held sleeping quarters for lesser priests. Now much of it is little used, but the research areas are still in use by the Bloodspiller witch doctors, who brew up potions to assist their tribe. The Great Slide also starts on this level. The Great Slide: This long, sloping passage starts on Level Two and ends at Level 4a. It is not too steep, but it is slick. There is a pistonlike force of energy which can be triggered by explorers or via a lever on level 2 which forces those in the shaft down into level 4a, and probably crushing them if they get caught by it. There is a secret accessway to level 3, but when the main trap is activated, it will be impossible for fleeing PCs to find it. Level Three: This level will almost certainly be accessed from level 4a, despite having an access to the Great Slide (see above). It once was a place where prisoners were tortured in Nerull's name, and magical experiments were "field tested." Now it is filled with puzzles and traps, designed to test the mettle of those seeking the key to the dungeon's lowest level; these traps were put in place long ago by the deific avatars that defeated Nerull's forces, and so they are potent indeed. Level 4a and 4b: Levels 4a and 4b were fairly recent expansions to the dungeon, created to aid in the construction of the Monolith. They were largely used for storage and shelter for laborers that would never again see the light of day. There are crypts on these levels now, as well as undead, constructs, and strange half-magical beings that still roam the halls, looking for living things to kill. Level 5: Beneath the two halves of level 4, the builders of the dungeon tapped into some natural caverns, and never had the chance to finish carving them out for their use. Level 5 is one of these, and was used as a staging area for workers going to the bottom of the monolith (level 6) to work there. It is now inhabited mainly by semi-intelligent, magical oozes. The Pit: Here the Monolith once stood, a great structure composed entirely of the bones of sentient beings, stretching from deep within the earth (level 6) to high in the sky. When completed, it would have allowed the Temple to spontaneously animate and control any undead for miles around the city, as well as augmented their necromantic abilities. Unfortunately for them, it was never completed, and the Monolith was scooped out from the very earth and utterly destroyed. The pit that remains, plunging directly to level 6, still has bone fragments and traces of the old Monolith where it was hollowed into the surrounding stone. The walls of the shaft are the home of swarms of stirges, giant spiders, and other unique creatures. Level 6: This level, once the foundations of the Monolith, is now mainly a large, blasted space where dwells the primary guardian of the Undercity-a deadly creature known as a Tarrasque (though another creature of CR 20+ could be substituted). It usually rests here, dormant, but there is a 5% chance in any given week that it is awake and out rampaging the wildnerness around the dungeon. There is also access to level 5 and the Undercity via subcambers, although getting from one level to the next requires a brief but harrowing excursion into the main chamber. In the chamber accessing the Undercity is a great sealed portal and an inscription revealing something of the history of this dungeon, and that the only means of getting past the portal is with a key on level 3, past the traps. The Undercity: Surrounded by a lake, where aquatic creatures dwell, is a small island covered with domed buildings that is all that's left of Imur's former glory. There the streets are still roamed by nameless, floating skulls of great magical ability, that may attack, converse with, or ignore intruders. The largest domed structure is a temple to Nerull, and in its catacombs rests the demilich Kaross. This foul being wants nothing more than to be free of this prison, and will start to awaken when the seal to the Undercity is breached. It will try to entices those that come before it to deface and destroy that seal (which they can do once they have the key), which will allow Kaross and his followers to enter and leave at will. It might try sucking a PC's soul and using it as collateral against doing this, or it might curse them and offer to remove the curse if they agree to assist it.
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#8	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 23 02 12:35 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Skullstone Dungeon Part Five: Plot Hooks PCs may come upon Skullstone dungeon in any of a number of means: 1. The PCs' deities may decide that they are the ones to defeat Kaross and his followers, and reveal the dungeon's location in a vision. 2. The PCs may simply be exploring the wilderness and come upon the place. 3. PCs may have heard stories of a great, evil beast that rampages through the wildlands beyond the edges of civilization-this is the Tarrasque. Confirmation of its existence, descriptions of its appearance, and other information would be highly sought after by the right people. 4. (If used in conjunction with Rappan Athuk): The Oracle of Rappan Athuk is a former resident of Imur who managed to escape permanent entombment in the dungeon, though not the curse Nerull inflicted on it that transformed it into a floating skull. If PCs make the mistake of asking it its name, it will go into a sort of coma; if they want information from it, the only way to break the coma would be to find out what it's name is, and the only being that possesses that knowledge is the demilich Kaross.
Melan	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#9	[-]
Posts: 6241 Mar 25 02 2:52 AM Demi Lich Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I will post mine around wednesday. ------------ ".Hammerite Compendium of Precepts, Regimens and Rules of Conduct, Vol. 2When the thief did cry to the master "release me, for I repent, and shall do good all my days" then did the master strike the thief's hand from him with a blade. And the master said "Go now and do good, for thy repentance has been paid." -------- And the Master Builder spake, thusly: "Behold! For in this writ shall I reveal the wickedness and depravity of the Trickster's minions to thee. Read it, and read it well, for my Hammer shall smite the unrighteous!" Rush to www.angelfire.com/d20/necropolis and tell me what you think! And may the Builder be praised!
artbraune	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#10	[-]
Posts: 237 Mar 26 02 2:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Damien - Sounds pretty good...now I just need detailed level maps...when can we expect stat blocks? Melan - Is it Wednesday yet? Art - Dubious Sorcerer of the NW Illinois Dalelands
	Remove this ad
Melan	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#11	[-]
Posts: 6241 Mar 27 02 2:56 AM Demi Lich Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	All right, here is my take on it. Actually, I started to put together the maps from memory on Saturday, but the end result is getting more and more away from the original layout - it is more like a real cave now, so there are no clearly defined levels at the same elevation, but a gradual descent into the depths. But, for now, we shall stay with the original. Of course, I altered a few things here, too - I was 14 when I made it up and the years have (maybe) made me bit wiser - hell, I found a single white hair on my poor head a few weeks ago! But I digress. Also, there are some assumptions that may not be true in other campaigns - the elves came after men and they don't live longer than 200 or 250 years... History: long before the place was known as the Skull Mountain, the region was inhabited by a highly advanced civilization. They were men of high learning and knowledge - they valued philosophy and science over material wealth. Nevertheless, they revered beauty in all of its forms, natural or man-made. Although they were a lot like normal humans, they were superior intellectually, and much more wise and beautiful. Their only weakness was their numbers, which was much lower than that of others. When they discovered the natural caverns under the mountain, they decided to build a city - one of coloured glass, aestethic metals (copper, electrum and even the rare and coveted tung), curving spires and graceful walls, all illuminated by the wondrous and magical lanterns that were stronger than any known today. The city was always bright and everyone who saw it agreed that it was a miracle of nature and human skill. As the years passed, the number of these high men dwindled even further. Now they were weak and couldn't protect themselves from the jealousy of the sub-human barbarians who coveted their riches. So most of them retreated to the Domed City, where they were safe from their incursions. There they lived in isolation, and they grew bitter - after all, the surface used to be theirs, and now it was full of dirty brutes, who clearly didn't deserve to live there. They weren't that interested in learning anymore, and there were other troubles, too: the lights of the city grew fainter, and they couldn't repair it, and other materials were rare as well - they excavated all of the really valuable metals [of course, there was lots of gold, silver and copper left, but that wasn't rare back then], food was scarce and so on. So they returned to the upper world, but not as benevolent sages and teachers - now they were ruthless oppressors and tyrants who subjugated the primitive humans [a little over cavemen, with some more "advanced" groups]. They posed as gods and they built the great stone skull as a sort of temple, where worshippers could place offerings and such. They even equipped some and used them as slaves and slave drivers. After some time [a few hundred years, maybe?] the slaves grew more and more discontent, until one of them (who was "initiated" into the highest rank of slaves) decided to take matters into his own hand. To make a long story short, the high-men were defeated and had to retreat into the deepest reaches of the dungeon. None benefitted from these turn of events: the humans soon started to bicker and war over the treasures they "deliberated", and soon fell back into their lowly barbarism. When a new group of men (this time more advanced - with bronze and even iron weapons) arrived one hundred years later, they found only wilderness and small, isolated tribes who were promptly put to the sword. Meanwhile, the Domed City fell from inside and its inhabitants sunk into savagery themselves, and they forgot all the knowledge and beauty they once possessed. [As you can see, most of this ancient backstory is inspired by Wells and other really old Science Fiction (From the anthology "The Radium King" and "Budapest Doesn't Answer", IIRC). Of course, this means that some of the ideas and themes inside are rather... unPC nowdays (when I wrote this down, I realized that it could be viewed as "racist" - I assure you that it is not), but fiction is fiction and should stay fiction. ] -Part II coming- ------------ ".Hammerite Compendium of Precepts, Regimens and Rules of Conduct, Vol. 2When the thief did cry to the master "release me, for I repent, and shall do good all my days" then did the master strike the thief's hand from him with a blade. And the master said "Go now and do good, for thy repentance has been paid."
Melan	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#12	[-]
Posts: 6241 Mar 27 02 4:09 AM Demi Lich Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Part II The Dungeon Now: The upper levels are inhabited by a tribe of orcs, who found the mountain an ideal place - far enough from civilization that it isn't easily assaulted (not to mention the aversion the locals have against this accursed place), close enough for the occasional raid or deals with dishonest merchants. And, of course, there is a lot of gold, silver and copper to mine, too! I. and I are is the ruins of the ancient temple of the high-men and the gate to the maze. It is heavily guarded day and night - the eyes have ballistae, the "mouth" is a deathtrap with orc archers, and so on. This is also the main barracks area, with storerooms, etc. Fortunately, there is rumored to be a secret way in, a tunnel hidden by rocks and bushes that leads into an abandoned cavern system (not so abandoned - several non-intelligent monsters around, but it can be used to circumvent the upper two levels or strike at the heart of the orcish invaders). II. is the Temple of Gruumsh (or Hashak. Or Yworl. I haven't made up my mind yet.), and it is even more heavily guarded by orc elites and ogres. The forces are well organized and they can deal with most assaults easily. The shaft down (a sort of "elevator" - the one orc mines usually have - originally, it was a more advanced form of transport, but it was dismantled when its creators retreated) is the only way to reach the mines from above, although another crawl-tunnel leads to it from its side - but climbing down may be problematic... III. is the mines, which is pretty new construction (the high-men had their own, much deeper) and still being built by goblin slaves and orcs. Lots of minecart fun here. The southern and eastern parts are active (the orcs are even thinking about building a simple cable-car to provide easier access to IV/a by "bridging" a treacherous mudslide - but construction was halted due to monster attacks), but the northern passages (accessible by two bridges over the "chasm" - a mammoth cavern with a bottom that leads to a level that isn't on the original side-cut (or originally included) - although maybe it just goes to V.) are abandoned. A mysterious force started to kill the goblins and they refused to work, so the orcs decided to avoid further investigation for now. The force is the vampire from IV/b, who hunted a few goblins for fun and to feed, but retreated to its lair to avoid detection. IV/a. a is the temporary home of Bell Tak the Wizard. He is evil and corrupt, and one of the very few who know the tale of the Domed City, from the legend of the Elf Queen. He is allied to the orcs, who provide him with supplies and bodyguards, but his sanctum (a small sublevel that was originally used by the high-men) is protected by magic and bound spirits [maybe elementals?]. He is at the moment exploring the caves of level V., but suffered setbacks because of attacking troglodytes. IV/b. is the vampire lair. Both entrances are very hard to find - the upper in a stone column in the mammoth cavern of the mines - only approachable by magical flight or scaling from below - but then again, it is very hard to spot... The lower is through a lake (maybe. Haven't decided yet). The vampire is a wizard and his lair is totally walled in, with small entrances for his entry/egress via Gaseous Form. V. is the Upper Caverns (I decided to move the morlocks a bit lower, so that the story makes more sense and it is more dramatic to save them for the end of the expedition). It is big, a series of huge interconnected caves (much bigger than you would think from the sidecut - it is BIG), illuminated by glowing mushrooms and lichens. This is also where the name "Singing Mountain" starts to make sense - although a distant echo of "singing" can be heard from miles (through the pit), this is the place where it becomes clearer. It comes from the domed city (winds? magic? ancient devices? I shall find out when I get there...), and by following it, one may find the passages that descend deeper and deeper into the under-realm. Of course, this isn't so easy: a band of scavenging troglodytes bars the way with ferocity and getting past them requires very careful sneaking, negotiations or battle. Oh yeah, they have lots of giant lizards, too. VI. is the Cave of Wonders, a deep and sunless empire of forgotten magic and strange beasts. Tis is where the second entrance, the Pit leads. The Pit is a huge hole from the mountain (a vertical cave), and it is guarded by Infernal Fire-Breathing Dire Bats. These foul critters have a rich fur as black as the darkest pitch (very valuable pelts if they could be sold undamaged). They are immune to fire (which they exhale from their monstrous mouths - Burning Hands, maybe empowered, at level 5), they are surrounded by smoke and they are very-very silent. The bottom of the pit is littered with dead adventurers, and magical items. But those are guarded by something, too. Maybe a Bat Shadow or a Nightshade/crawler/stalker? Anyway. The Cave of Wonders is a lot like the UpperCaverns, only more convoluted. It isn't inhabited by intelligent beings, only standard dungeon beasts - Umber Hulks, Giant Lizards (maybe a few burricks for fun? Basilisks?), Fungi (giant violet fungi, even), Slimes, Piercers, Giant Snails, a Troll or two, etc., etc. These realms, like the Upper caverns, are illuminated by mushrooms and lichens. There are also many beautiful and wondrous crystals, rocks formations, minerals, et cetera. The way down is easy if you know how: just follow the river. The river was created when an Elf Queen and Valkyrie led a party of her warriors, questing for the Domed City and its secrets. The group was lost and they have almost given up hope when the queen flung her blade [argh! Forgot the name!] at the rock wall, which erupted with water. She exclaimed that this was divine guidance (indeed, it is a healing spring) and if they follow it, they would reach their goal. And they did - the stream lead to a descent (now a beautiful waterfall) to the colossal cave and the hidden city of the high-men. Although the quest was successful, the queen never returned with her subjects - she was killed by a spear thrown by a caveman and both she and her blade were lost. VII. is the underground lake and, of course, the City. his level isn't empty, either: two degenerate tribes war for dominance - the sleek and cunning (but still sub-human) morlocks, descended from the high-men and the brutal and strong cavemen, great-grandsons of the slaves. This level (like some lower ones in Rappan Athuk was planned very briefly, but never mapped or really described. Maybe now it will finally be done - I just have to read some 20s and 30s sci-fi to get in the mood. So that's all, so far. I guess I will write the module (my interest is definitely here), and test it on my players, maybe even write up like the Temple of Pazuzu and release to the gaming public... This would take a lot of time, though and the legalities are dubious. Could I base a module (even loosely) on a crosscut? Could I get sued? How far can I go? Can I use the stone skull and the general layout? For a fan work? My gut feeling is "yes", but I still don't know - I might have to rework it to some extent to be acceptable... ------------ ".Hammerite Compendium of Precepts, Regimens and Rules of Conduct, Vol. 2When the thief did cry to the master "release me, for I repent, and shall do good all my days" then did the master strike the thief's hand from him with a blade. And the master said "Go now and do good, for thy repentance has been paid."
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#13	[-]
Posts: 12033 Mar 28 02 8:08 PM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great writeup, Melan! Finally got the time to give it a good going-over. One thing I was thinking of as I read your synopsis was actually some of the works of Jack Vance. The high-men remind me of the Overmen, a term he likes to use occasionally, referring more to a mindset than a race of beings. And the morlocks/degenerate humans in the ruins of a once-great civilization reminded me of his "house ghouls" in a couple of his works (One I think is Marune: Alastor 933, though a similar group appeared in another novel); you might want to check those out, as it might give your Wellsian theme an interesting spin. It's also amusing to note that we both started at the top with orcs, and with a vaguely similar overall concept (ancient civilization remnants deep beneath the earth; entryway occupied by opportunist humanoids). I also loved the fire-breathing infernal dire bats! Might just have to "borrow" those for my campaign. As far as writing it up, one thing I was considering was if we get enough good responses here, I could compile them all into a PDF and post the location here for anyone to download if he wishes. This would of course be an informal document only. I'd love to see more submissions by others! C'mon, folks!
Melan	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#14	[-]
Posts: 6241 Apr 3 02 10:55 AM Demi Lich Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Bump. Keep the ideas coming! ------------ ".Hammerite Compendium of Precepts, Regimens and Rules of Conduct, Vol. 2When the thief did cry to the master "release me, for I repent, and shall do good all my days" then did the master strike the thief's hand from him with a blade. And the master said "Go now and do good, for thy repentance has been paid."
skeetyrbug	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#15	[-]
Posts: 9850 Apr 24 02 8:08 PM Balor Librarian Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OK, maybe Damien will get off my case now... In a deep jungle, far south of the civilized lands of men, lies the strange and terrible Lich Hill. The are gets its name from the skull-shaped mound with the eerily glowing "eye" caverns. The hill alone would be enough to frighten away any commoner, and most adventurers (with any sense), but the jungle surrounding Lich Hill holds its own surprises. Large, man-eating humanoid creatures are known to dwell directly around the hill, and few who journey even to the perimeter of Lich Hill ever find their way back. (Treat these humanoids as carnivorous dire apes.) SkeeterLich Vanguard of the Spider Throne
skeetyrbug	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#16	[-]
Posts: 9850 Apr 24 02 8:14 PM Balor Librarian Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If a party does find the willpower to brave Lich Hill, the first thing they notice upon viewing it will be the oddly glowing eye caverns above the main entrance of the mouth. There is a long, natural stairway leading up into the mouth of the hill, leading away into a dismal darkness. Once the PCs traverse the staircase and enter the mouth cavern, they will be enveloped in darkness. No natural light penetrates more than a few feet into the hill. Torches, and even lanterns will have their illumination halved while inside. The next thing the party will notice is the overwhelming stench. its as if a cesspool has been opened here..... SkeeterLich Vanguard of the Spider Throne
thegrandoracle	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#17	[-]
Posts: 4062 Apr 24 02 8:25 PM Lead Demon Sage Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Man, that map looks familiar. Is it some deja vu from my early years of D&Ding? Is this a new creation or one that's from days two to two and a half decades past? And I'm suppose to be an Oracle...hmmm... - Kevin W.
skeetyrbug	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#18	[-]
Posts: 9850 Apr 24 02 9:09 PM Balor Librarian Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	First floor: As the party enters this area, they will notice the smooth sides along any edges of walls or corners. Further exploration will note a large whole in the ceiling, with a few splinters of wood beneath (the wood was once a staircase leading up). By the time the PCs encounter the hole, they will be assaulted by the kobolds on this level. Note: these are not ordinary kobolds. They constantly drool and murmur, and when roused, attack in a berserk fury (+3 hp, +1 to hit and damage, -1 AC). These pitiful creatures have come under the mind-numbing caresses of the creatures from below... First floor, Upper area: As the party lifts there way up to the stone staircase, they climb roughly 30 feet to a flagstone covered great room. The entirety of the floor, walls, and ceiling are covered in sigils, wards and runes; arcane symbols of power, and restraint. Shortly thereafter, the current inhabitants of this room will come from hiding, and attack the party. The fire mephits currently housed here cannot leave due to the trace of power left in the ancient wards. They will attack the PCs without fear, as they all wish to leave this place, rather than hear the chantings of the kobolds below. Second floor: If the PCs take the passageway down from the first floor, they find that halfway down the 70' stairwell they are engulfed in magical Darkness. If this is somehow dispelled, standard light dampening is still in effect. Approaching near the drop to the next level, the lead character may hear the shuffling of many feet. This level is inhabited by many decrepit zombies aimlessly walking around the level, performing useless tasks. The zombies are the only apparent danger here. The real threat is the grimlock barbarian clan that hovers around the edges of the room. The grimlocks learned a very important lesson about the zombies: they are covered in some kind of spore-like fungus, and contact can (and has) proven fatal. The grimlocks are led by one of bigger size and horrible disposition. There is but one exit from this level. Third level: Directly below the passageway down is a huge mound of offal, dung, and detritus. The refuse of the kobolds and grimlocks is all dumped here. The only major threat of this level is the bizarrely huge carrion crawler that eats off the garbage of others. PC sifting through the refuse have a 1% chance per minute (cumulative) spent here of contracting a disease. The disease will rob the PC of his senses, and he will slowly go insane. There are 2 exits from this level. Fourth level: This split-level dungeon is the home of 2 very awful creatures. The lower level houses the Guardian of the Lower Realms. A Gibbering Mouther lairs here and it is possible he sports sorcerous powers. The Lord of the Upper Reaches is a Mind Flayer alienist wizard. Both are incredibly deadly, and tend to avoid each other. The fifth level: This is the first natural cavern encountered by the PCs. There is little here, apart from the 2 ropers that lair near the exit to level 6. Among the natural rock formations of stalactites and columns lair several darkmantles. The stench of rot is terrible here, and a strong undercurrent of putrid fish is in the air as well. Pit from the Top: This is a vast crevasse in the area behind the hill, plummeting several hundred feet. The last 80-100 feet of the pit is riddled with 8-10 foot holes that are perfectly smooth. These holes are the honeycombed complex of a Nightcrawler that escaped its summons many, many years ago. Any PCs trying to scale down the sides of the pit will meet this creature while they are extremely unprepared. The Pool area: This is the cause of the stench above. A semi-murky lake resides in the bottom cavern, the home of a cult of fiendish kuo-toans. They lurk just below the surface of the stagnant, putrid water, and will attack anyone entering the cavern. Many of the kuo-toans here are monitors, as this is the home of a sacred event. The Domed City: This city has survived millennia under this hill, and from the energies surrounding the Domed City, the rock formations of Lich Hill were created. The city was carved from living rock by the greatest craftsmen the world has ever known. There are no seems in the stonework of the city: it is all carved out of a single piece of stone. There are no doors on any building here; a PC is free to investigate the interior of any building they so choose. If the PCs investigate the stonework, they will find that the entire city has every inch of its surface covered in wards of the most powerful kind. The cities architecture itself is a form of Warding: when Pcs (the Kuo-toans never set foot on the City) walk along any roads in the city, it completes runes and rites releasing great and fell magics. At the center of this city is the sole inhabitant of the Domed City: Danican the Planetar scribe. Danican knows many of the secrets of the Celestials, and some of the secrets of the Gods of Good themselves. This knowledge is greatly coveted by the forces of Evil. It is hoped on day a powerful wizard will be able to drain this knowledge form Danican, and the Dark god Tsathogga has ordered Danican held in this prison until the day when the foretold Necromancer comes to take the knowledge of the Planetar. Danican waits, stoically, to be liberated from his cell by good PCs. Occasionally, every few years, Danican can send a fleeting summons to the world, but it rarely reaches capable ears..... SkeeterLich Vanguard of the Spider Throne
Damien the Bloodfeaster	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#19	[-]
Posts: 12033 Apr 25 02 8:40 AM Vampire Scion Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good one, Skeet! Glad you finally had a chance to respond. Now all it needs is dungie... Damien's Crypt Downloads
skeetyrbug	Re: Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon	#20	[-]
Posts: 9850 Apr 25 02 3:01 PM Balor Librarian Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Sorry i took so long. RL getting in the way and all.... SkeeterLich Vanguard of the Spider Throne
	Remove this ad

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yuku free message boards

Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon

Special Monthly Challenge: the Skull Dungeon