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This map is released under terms of the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. |
Area Links:
Wandering Monster Table (2d6):
2 – A snake-man Noble (it’s either a VIP touring or 3-in-6 chance it is Xa-Bis from Room 20 on business) with 1d4 Myrmidons
3-6 – See the appropriate Area Table below
7 – 1d4 normal human servants (1-in-6 demihuman.) They will betray the PCs to the snake-men on a 5-in-6 chance.
8 – A lone, snake-man Myrmidon
9-11 – 1d4 snake-men Myrmidons with 1d4 Emissaries.
12 – A snake-man Noble (a VIP) with 1d4 Myrmidons, 1d4 Emissaries, and 1d4 normal human servants.
Area A
3 – The Oracle and her entourage from Room 6
4 – 1d6 minotaur guards with spears
5 – 1d4 Emissaries and one 1 Myrmidon escorting a pregnant bearer (normal human, or 1-in-6 demihuman.)
6 – A snake-man child (4-in-6 Emissary w/ 1HD, otherwise Myrmidon with 2HD) has escaped from the nursemaids in Room 2. A nursemaid will arrive in 1d10 rounds to this location.
Area B
3 – The Warmaster, Tsun-Tep (see Room 13) and 1d4 Myrmidons inspecting the area.
4 – 1d4 young, snake-men Myrmidons (-1HD) in training with 1d3 (full HD) Myrmidon drill sergeants
5 – 1d4 young, snake-men Myrmidons (-1HD) in training
6 – 2d4 ennan or eunshiel (2-in-6 chance) deep fey on business in this area.
Area C
3 – The Warmaster, Tsun-Tep (see Room 13) and 1d4 Myrmidons going or leaving from a conference in either Room 15 or 20
4 – 1d8 troll guards with spears
5 – 1d6 minotaur guards with polearms
6 – 1d4 snake-men Myrmidon officers
Area D
3 – A party of NPC adventurers with equal numbers, classes, and levels to the player characters (preferably long-time rivals.) They are currently employed as mercenaries for the snake-men Myrmidons.
4 – 1d4 snake-men Myrmidon officers with 1d4 Emissaries
5 – 1d4 snake-men Myrmidon officers
6 – 2d6 ennan going to or coming from Room 27.
Commentary
Min/Maxing
In the last level’s post, I mentioned that I had more focused ideas for the True Temple. Sadly, this focus on the snake-men and new creatures like the deep fey meant I neglected other monsters that may exist in your typical, 5th-level dungeon. For example, I forgot to use any undead for clerics to turn, which may disappoint such players. Then again, avoiding the energy drain of more powerful undead might be a blessing for player characters as a whole. Overall, I found the list of level 4-5 monsters didn’t really fit my conception for this level, so if there’s not enough of these monsters for your tastes, well…sorry/not sorry.
Inspiration
This level’s pseudo-Asian motif was somewhat inspired by a little module I have called Rage of the Rakasta. The module was part the Challenger series of products that began with the 1991 edition of Basic D&D (“black box”,) which is the version I started my RPG journey with, the Rules Cyclopedia. Years later, when I contracted grogcanthropy and became interested in Old School D&D again, I bought another copy of this set from eBay (having lost the original long ago.) Lo and behold, not only was the box complete and in great condition, it had two of the Challenger series of modules inside, which included the aforementioned Rage and The Knight of Newts! These modules are not as good as, say some of the classic dungeon modules of B/X and AD&D, but they fit nicely as lair-like locations in a sandbox.
As for the Chaotic ninja elves with magic missile batarangs? I’m a child of the 80s, what can I say!?
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| Fun Fact: this may or may not have been required reading in 80s elementary schools |
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