Shattered Halls of the Undying Oracles

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For centuries, the adherents of a strange cult have harvested the skulls of learned folk and interred them in the so-called Halls of the Undying Oracles. Thus, their knowledge is safeguarded for future generations. Now an earthquake has severely damaged the Halls. Was it a natural event, divine punishment for the cult’s blasphemous works, or is something more sinister going on?

An extreme sect of Morden the Archmage (N greater god of magic and knowledge) believes that a person’s most valuable possessions—their knowledge and magic—lie in their mind. They view it as their sacred duty to preserve such knowledge. Thus centuries ago, they established the Halls of the Undying Oracles—a holy repository of knowledge that could live on past death.

The sect’s adherents are not necromancers but rather fanatical devotees of knowledge. Members of the sect travel far and wide collecting skulls worthy of interment in the Halls. Other members of the sect travel to the Halls when they have need of the oracles’ knowledge and use the Star Crown of the Dead to learn that which they need to know.

A month ago, a terrible earthquake struck the area around the Halls, seriously damaging the dungeon complex.

Was the Earthquake Natural?

Before the characters visit the Shattered Halls, decide if the earthquake was a natural occurrence or if it was the result of some terrible, sinister ritual or plot.

Whispers & Rumours

A character may already know something about the Shattered Halls, or they can use social skills and bribes to gather information. Gathering information takes 1d4 hours and costs 1d4 gp. A character gains one additional rumour for every extra 1d4 hours and 1d4 gp they spend. Use the list below to determine what the character learns.

  1. A sect of fanatical wizards established the Halls of the Undying Oracles to preserve important knowledge. They are foul necromancers! (Partially true rumour.)

  2. A wizard lairs near the halls to watch over the place. He is powerful and unpredictable. (Partially true rumour.)

  3. Beware the Wizards of the Halls; they possess knowledge not meant for mortal folk. (False rumour).

  4. The Undying Oracles require great sacrifices and gifts to reveal their knowledge (False rumour.)

  5. Strange lights hover in the sky above the hall on certain nights. When the lights are visible, powerful magics are being wrought within.

  6. An earthquake recently shook the area around the Halls of the Undying Oracles. The gods are angry at the blasphemies carried out within! (Potentially true.)

Notable Locations at a Glance

The dungeon has several notable locations.

  1. Broken Stair: Hewn steps once ascended the cliffs to the Halls of the Undying Oracles. The recent earthquake destroyed many of the steps rendering the Halls all but inaccessible without magic or climbing equipment.

  2. The Grand Processional: Down this passageway processed all those who would seek the wisdom of the Undying Oracles.

  3. Hall of Divination: This chamber hosts a shrine to the school of divination.

  4. The Shrine: This chamber hosts six shrines—each dedicated to a different school of magic.

  5. The Vestry: Those who wish to consult the Undying Oracles must be garbed in the appropriate vestments and regalia. Herein are found the requisite items.

  6. Hall of Knowledge: Here in the holy place, those come to consult the Undying Oracles first venerate Morden.

  7. Reliquary of the Ancients: Here are reverently stored the skulls of the oracles who have passed beyond the powers of the Halls’ acolytes.

  8. Cave of the Unknown: Linked to the Halls by the recent earthquake, this natural cavern plunges ever deeper into the cliff.

Credit

This is a short extract from Shattered Halls of the Undying Oracles Words Creighton Broadhurst Cartography Dyson Logos Art William McAusland

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