Ruined Jungle Temple and environs

[Stormborn]

Working on the next arc (c. 3-5th level) for my new campaign. The essence is the PCs are hired by a duplicitous Binder (who I still need to stat) hires the PCs under the guise of attempting to recover some of his people's lost knowledge from their ancient homeland, now an overgrown jungle. They are looking for a specific temple. Along the way they will encounter some brachiating ape-men (orcs with a climb speed and some minor adjustments), possibly a deinoychus, and griffon that is more tiger/parrot than lion/eagle. Throw in some minor fey, animals, and a magic beast or two.

However, at the end of this little wilderness crawl I want them to come to a ruined temple/city in the Central American style for a bit of dungeon crawl (during which the nefarious binder will sneak off to find the seals he was really looking for).

What I need is a good map of such a ruin (preferably for free) and any suggestions for what might be lurking in or guarding a temple to a dying god turned vestige. I figure the ape-men treat it as taboo and dont go near it. I want to avoid a lot of undead/constructs because a) we have done a lot of that and b) one of the PCs is a beguiler who hasn't been able to do much in a vermin/undead heavy 1st arc.

Ideas? Links? Etc?

 

[Neil Bishop]

Do you have the 1E adventure, Dwellers of the Forbidden City? The map of the ruined jungle city in there might be perfect for your use although it is a tad large.

I love the general premise of your adventure and have made some notes for something similar of my own. However, your inclusion of the binder adds a whole new layer of flavour. Hmmm....

Have you also considered waiting until the PCs have gained a few more levels so you can use yuan-ti? They and their altered animals would make for some interesting encounters.

 

[Tonguez]

WotC has a free adventure on its site set in a ruined temple (Temple of the Reptile God? iirc)

 

[Stormborn]

Do you have the 1E adventure, Dwellers of the Forbidden City? The map of the ruined jungle city in there might be perfect for your use although it is a tad large.

I love the general premise of your adventure and have made some notes for something similar of my own. However, your inclusion of the binder adds a whole new layer of flavour. Hmmm....

Have you also considered waiting until the PCs have gained a few more levels so you can use yuan-ti? They and their altered animals would make for some interesting encounters.

No, no 1E adventures at all. I have considered saving it for later, but I have several plans for them for later and decided to just go with one. I do, however, plan on using the yuan-ti, but in more of a desert setting.

Here are some planned highlights:
- a norse themed adventure where the PCs aid a clan of were polar bears against muarauding werewolves and lesser ice giants (ogres) controlled by the Ice Wyrd (a cosmetically altered medusa), who has changed the chief's daughter to ice.
- a yuan-ti cult opperating on the fringes of the dessert are hi-jacking caravans and offering the people up as sacrifices at a temple to Apep newly rissen from the sands
-the PCs journey to Oubillette, a underdark city on the Sunless Sea, to consult a vampire scholar
- the PCs get stuck in the middle of a war between oni lead ogres and a small fantasy-asian style nation and must defend a position until reinforcements arrive so that they can complete their mission. This part usuing Heroes of Battle victory points etc.
-and all along the way they encounter mindflayer minions, who secretly run the world, and lead to a confrontation in their secret lair on the moon where they are preparing to unleash a horrific monster to knock civilization back a few pegs and make them easy to control.

 

[Neil Bishop]

Stormborn,

PM me if you would like to discuss this further.

 

[RichGreen]

However, at the end of this little wilderness crawl I want them to come to a ruined temple/city in the Central American style for a bit of dungeon crawl (during which the nefarious binder will sneak off to find the seals he was really looking for).

What I need is a good map of such a ruin (preferably for free) and any suggestions for what might be lurking in or guarding a temple to a dying god turned vestige. I figure the ape-men treat it as taboo and dont go near it. I want to avoid a lot of undead/constructs because a) we have done a lot of that and b) one of the PCs is a beguiler who hasn't been able to do much in a vermin/undead heavy 1st arc.

Ideas? Links? Etc?

Hi,

The Maztica boxed set and modules are available for free on the Wizards website and have some good maps here. I ran a Pirates of the Caribbean campaign using Skull & Bones (story hour in sig) and ruined temples cropped up a couple of times! How about the blackscale and poison dusk lizardfolk in MM3? They make good temple-dwellers and could still worship your dying god.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Stormborn]

Well, I made some decisions as the PCs had to enter the jungle this weekend, they have gotten to the point they have seen the ruins, but not yet entered them.

I have decided to take the Stone Lion map from Red Hand of Doom and simply call it a Griffon and have populated it with a tribe of debased elves that have become Kenku do to the presence of the vestige Malphas the Turn Feather (whom I have cast as an ancient elven saint/demi-god). I was getting the last details ready even as people were arriving on Saturday so I may make some alterations to the encounters inside but thats where I am headed for now.

Desperation is the father of invintion.

 

[RichGreen]

Well, I made some decisions as the PCs had to enter the jungle this weekend, they have gotten to the point they have seen the ruins, but not yet entered them.

I have decided to take the Stone Lion map from Red Hand of Doom and simply call it a Griffon and have populated it with a tribe of debased elves that have become Kenku do to the presence of the vestige Malphas the Turn Feather (whom I have cast as an ancient elven saint/demi-god). I was getting the last details ready even as people were arriving on Saturday so I may make some alterations to the encounters inside but thats where I am headed for now.

Desperation is the father of invintion.

Sounds good -- let us know how it turns out!

Cheers


Richard

 

[Dr Simon]

I was going to suggest Lazy GM:Kobolds as there's a bunch of Jungle Kobolds and a were-velociraptor kobold barbarian (one of my favourite creations!). I think it might be a tad on the high side CR-wise for your group, though. Looks like you've got the situation in hand anyway.