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The Woodland Prairies represent fewer risks for scouts than the forests. These parts of the forest are seldom visited so the land holds secrets yet to be discovered. One of those hidden locations is the Lost Shrine of Valandris.
The underground shrine’s entrance, hidden by a large boulder, leads to the last worshiping site to Valandris, a bygone elven deity. It was venerated thousands of years ago, before the Dewborn arrived.
Valandris, the Elven Deity
Thousands of years ago, the now-called Brukesian duchy provided access to flora and fauna that elves cherished. Elves who settled here stayed for generations.
These elves venerated Valandris, the goddess of justice and righteousness. They built several shrines in her honor throughout their territories. All of them are characterized by a statue of their idol on a stone altar.
The Myconid Influence
Things changed with the Dewborn’s arrival. The elves did not quarrel with the newcomers but the Dewborn brought something with them when they crossed the door between worlds: Ozgul, a fungal fey lord. It changed the land and everything around it. Fungi and myconid creatures appeared and the environment changed.
The elves could no longer harvest the same crops. Their animals didn’t react well to the change of the soil either. They opted to wait it out but the arrival of humans just made things worse. The two foreigners on their land fought for territory. The elves decided it was time to leave the region; this was a battle they could not win. Not without bloodshed.
The Shrines
The elves left, only the shrines to the ancient goddess remain. Some of them were built in small alcoves on the rock behind waterfalls, at the top of a mighty tree, or underground, in caves.
The fungal influence was strong on the land; it caused cave-ins and shifts on the earth. Many shrines were buried, destroyed, or are too-well hidden to be found ever again. But one of those forgotten shrines was recently discovered by the most unlikely group of individuals, savage barbarian pigmen.
The Present
The woodland prairies are home to numerous dangerous wild animals. Humans and Dewborn have often held confrontations in the area but a larger threat roams this area now.
Pigmen are usually neutral or even scared of other humanoids. But a number of their kin have abandoned their peaceful ways and become fearsome warriors. They ravage the land and attack all things on sight. To make things worse, one of the shrines to the ancient elvish deity is now their lair.
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D8 Random Encounters |
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1 |
1 pigman ravager, it squeals in a high-pitch sound that stuns enemies |
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2 |
1d4 giant bats descend from the dark high ceiling and attack unwary prey |
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3 |
1d4 pigmen hunters with fresh game, they defend it to the death |
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4 |
A swarm of tiny venomous spiders attacks non-pigmen humanoids |
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5 |
1d4 worgs smell intruders and attack. They’re the savage pigmen’s pets |
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6 |
2 pigmen barbarians attack any intruders on sight until slain |
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7 |
1 venomous snake slithers from a crack on the wall and bites the closest person at its disposal |
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8 |
1 black ooze finds its way through the ceiling and attacks |
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D8 Random Events |
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1 |
A gust of wind extinguishes all exposed torches and lamps |
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2 |
Mist covers the shrine for 4 hours, the ground is not visible |
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3 |
All pigmen in the area squeal together |
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4 |
The pack of worgs growls and howls in the distance |
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5 |
Pigmen stage a heated discussion over a piece of scorched meat |
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6 |
The sound of someone pushing the boulder to cover the entrance |
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7 |
A rainstorm mutes any other sound from within the shrine for 1d6 hours |
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8 |
The sound of pigmen eating has a 2-in-6 chance of making other creatures reek or throw up |
General Features
The old shrine is thousands of years old. Everything in it is destroyed or worn to the point of decay. Only the statue and the vault remain in good condition.
The presence of pigmen hasn’t helped either. Signs of their filth and dirty costumes can be seen all over the shrine. Their traps, however, work well and remain hidden to the unwary eye.
Unless otherwise noted, the Lost Shrine of Valandris has the following features:
Stench of decay (causes retching and discomfort). Stained walls (filled with graffiti or viscous substances). Sconces (lit by the pigmen).
1. Entrance and Antechamber
Hidden (behind a movable boulder). Messy (ridden with leaves and twigs).
- Spiked Pit. The central mound of leaves and twigs in the antechamber at the entrance is a cleverly hidden trap. Creatures that fail to see it fall and get impaled 20’below. Their screams serve as an alarm for pigmen further inside.
Pigmen Bouncer
Corpulent (larger than average). Wrestler (no melee weapons).
- Pigmen Welcome. A mighty pigman protects the lair. If intruders don’t fall into the spiked pit, it tries to grab them and throw them into it, by force.
2. Shrine Threshold
Booby-trapped (thin cord trigger). Tight spot (10-feet-wide). Lethal (poisoned).
- Falling spears. Creatures that fail to see the cord, trigger the trap when they cross the threshold. Sharp spears pierce the bodies of those below.
Savage Pigmen
Face-paint (dark lines and patterns). Warriors (armed and unafraid).
- Fearless pigmen. A group of four pigmen attacks intruders in a fit of rage and violence. If none of the traps have been triggered, 3-in-6 chance that these pigmen are either eating or taking a nap.
4. Side-Chamber
Furniture (wrecked, scattered all over). Bookshelf (surprisingly untouched).
- Elven Lore. Old tomes and books about the elves that inhabited these lands are still stored here. There is a 5-in-6 chance that any book crumbles to dust when opened. Pigmen have ignored this written material so far; they find no use for it and they cannot eat it.
5. Cave
Cave-in (hole is wide enough for a person). Rotten stench (from all the bones and remains). Fur (dark, thick, greasy).
- Worg Pack. The pigmen managed to raise and tame a pack of worgs. The beasts are loyal as long as they’re fed.
Fangs and Claws
Oversized (larger than forest wolves). Rabid (violent, ill-tempered).
- Beast Master. A single pigman controls the hungry beasts and fights alongside them. The beasts obey the oinks and squeals to the best of their ability.
6. The Vault
Good condition (clean and immaculate). Chests (granite and limestone).
- Treasure. The elves stored great treasure in honor to Valandris. The chests contain 1,214 gold pieces in assorted, ancient, outdated coins. An ornate soapstone plate, set with a lapis lazuli (70gp), a durable belt with an alabaster buckle (70gp), an ancient crystal medallion with a black pearl (450gp), an engraved alabaster tankard with a piece of jade (250gp), an antique silver moonstone ring (110gp), and an antique gold inlaid vase that is warm to the touch (900gp). There are also assorted collections of elven fabrics in the shape of cloaks, gloves, bedsheets, etc. (456 gp).
Sleeping Beast
Camouflage (looks like a regular chest). Magical sleep (awakens when touched).
- Mimic. One of the chests is a magical trap. The chest turns into a mimic when touched by a non-elven creature. The monster attacks until slain, it has part of the treasure described above.
3. Valandris’ Shrine
Walls (stained and marked). Stench (coming from the pigmen beds). Granite statue (Valandris with a sword).
- Pigmen Filth. The once immaculate shrine is in a disgusting state now. Pigmen’s little hygiene costumes have been forgotten by this aggressive loot. Goo and rot cover walls and floors.
- Pigmen Beds. Nests of lice and sneaky pests. Creatures in contact with pigmen beds are prone to be infested by critters. These bugs cause uncontrollable itchiness and leave a horrible smell.
Valandris’ Statue
Towering (15-feet-tall). Defiled (pigmen filth all over). Altar (engraved with small elvish runes). Sword (real, removable, masterwork).
- Valandris. The goddess of justice lifts her sword in a heroic stance. The facial details of this statue are a work of art. The tiny, yet detailed features of clothes and skin are visible. There is a hidden vault underneath this particular shrine.
- Secret Vault. There is an undiscovered vault forty feet below the statue. The altar under the statue must be partially destroyed to enter. The elves never meant for this it to be opened again. There are no stairs or ladders. There is, however, information about this secret chamber in one of the books in area 4, provided the book doesn’t crumble to dust.
