Rurik's Tomb
After the death of Princess Dora Rurik of the powerful city-state of Pier Point, rumors began to leak out about the wonderful treasures buried with her body...
Nowdays the town of Pier Point is just a seaside town under the control of Vallermoore, but once it was a powerful city state in it's own right. In those days the dead kings and queens were buried with great treasures to use in the next world. Centuries passed, royal burial
customs changed, and the great marble tombs were no longer guarded as they had been. Knowing this, tomb robbers broke into them one by one to strip them of their valueable cargos.
In one, however, the tomb of King Arkon, they got a lot more then they were looking for. A Wight had long ago made this tomb into it's home and settled down to sleep.When disturbed, it slew those who woke it, devouring their souls, and then went on a rampage, slaughtering villagers, traders, Royal Guardsmen, swallowing their souls and growing stronger with every killing until it attained near-lich proportions. One of those who it killed in the first few hours was Princess Dora, the King's only child, and her entire escort.
Trade was brought to a near standstill and food became scarce as few dared to harvest their crops. The King was made sick with sadness by the death of his daughter and erected a tomb for her which he filled in the same way as the tombs of old. Tomb robbery was made a death penalty offense and anybody caught in the act was tied up and left for the Wight to eat.
It was said that the King never smiled again after his daughter died. He became joyless and puritanical, oppressing his subjects with high taxes and conscripting people into his army despite it being a time of peace. It got so bad that one of his nobles assassinated him. The city state was split by civil war and absorbed into the greater state of Vallermoore.
The Wight vanished, and perhaps it still sleeps in one of the last of the undisturbed tombs.
Rurik's Tomb looks a very impressive place from the outside,a place of black marble with only one entrance.In fact, the whole thing is not just a tomb, but a trap for grave-robbers.
The door is fake.The real door can be found by feeling around the tomb to find it's edges, or with the aid of magic.Should magic be used, then it will have the rather nasty effect of animating a number of Lesser Undead that lie still until woken by a grave robber's magic.
On the walls are frescos of the King and his men capturing tomb robbers and sacraficing them to a Wight.
Inside is the King's stone sarcophagus, with an orange fungus growing upon it.If there is a ranger or someone with wilderness lore in the group, he or she will know that the spores of the fungus are highly dangerous. Should they be ingested, at first those who ingest them will feel slightly weak and tired, then they will begin to choke to death as the fungus invades their lung tissues. Without some form of healing within three days, they will die.The fungus can be burnt off the stone with ease, destroying the spores.
Inside the sarcophagus, the body of Princess Dora Rurik, now a mere pile of dusty old bones, lies upon a heap of golden coins, a pillow under her head. Unknown to the PC's, the coins are only enchanted to look like gold, in fact, they are lead. The enchantment will last until somebody tries to spend the coins.Within thirty seconds of being spent, they will turn to lead, causing the person who spent them to be regarded as a thief-mage and to be, at the very least, chased out of town, if not arrested or worse.
Not Registered Yet? No problem.
Do you want Strolenati super powers? Registering. That's how you get super powers! These are just a couple powers you receive with more to come as you participate.
- Upvote and give XP to encourage useful comments.
- Work on submissions in private or flag them for assistance.
- Earn XP and gain levels that give you more site abilities (super powers).
- You should register. All your friends are doing it!
? Responses (16)
It started out quite good, with the various traps and hazards of a tomb, and then it just stopped. Is there no more, man?
What else is there in the tomb? Tell us more about the fallen king.
2/5
What do you want to know? I was afraid to write too much in case it was labeled as a campaign instead of a setting. Let me know what you want me to add and I'll add it. *smiles*
Pier-Point is a city-state?I thought it was just a litle costal town ruled by Queen Yocasta's kingdom?
I'm not trying to be a jerk,I just want to know if Pier-Point town is still an independent nation.
Lets see, more information on the King, perhaps decorations inside the tomb that celebrate his deeds, such as frescoes painted on the walls, or funeral tapestries depicting him in his deeds, maybe hint at his dislike of grave robbers by showing a painting of him supervising the execution of tomb robbers as they exit a tomb.
What about where to tomb is itself. If he is important, why would his tomb be out in the middle of nowhere?
I imagine a well-kept but sinister park around it, with dark ever-green trees, all this atop a weather-beaten hill, the wind whistling mournfully through the leaves.
As the king is said to be still vigilant, those intending to ensure that their partner does not betray them in a deal shake hands near the tomb - if one breaks such a deal, or tries to cheat his partner, he is said to fall under a curse...
Maggot, the long answer about Pier Point is that it's influence has waxed and waned, like the kingdoms of the 5th century Anglo-Saxon England, and that whilst now it is under Queen Yocasta's despotic thumb, once it was great and had it's own kings and queens.
The short answer is just my lazyness. *blushes*
Echo, Scrasamax, within 48 hours at the most I will give this setting a near-total edit to try and at least get it up to three star standard and hopefully more.
(I haven't rated so far - lesse then!)
At last I have edited it. :) I doubt it's much better-but I hope it is.
(Cheka? I'm not nagging, but ... what is the tomb besides a trap for grave-robbers? What is it to other, less criminal, people?)
It's main purpose is indeed as a trap. And to the Royals of the time it was the hallowed place where the Princess was buried.Nowdays it's like an old barrow, most people don't pay much attention to it.
Ohhh... sounds sad.
Could it perhaps (besides the place to close deals) be a symbol of 'things men were not supposed to know', or seek, or indeed dig for?
A legend could be still in place, about the noble king that died while ensuring the Evil unleashed by some greedy grave-robbers is locked away.
It was a solid 4 for a long time. Then something halted and there came gaps in the telling. I did not like the gold/lead coins since they felt out of place. Like a prankster had been let loose where only sadness and tragedy should rest.
I won't vote yet, and will wait to see if you work it over again. It has real good potential but right now: 3/5
Should I rework this as well?
How to rework this piece of poop? Or is it beyound saving?
First thing, look at the provided feedback.
Second, I'd completely redo everything past "The Wight vanished, and perhaps it still sleeps in one of the last of the undisturbed tombs."
Do not go into 'module' detail with such things as "If there is a ranger or someone with wilderness lore in the group, he or she will know that the spores of the fungus are highly dangerous" - that is somewhat game specific and is jarring in terminology compared to the lead in story.
Instead, since this is not a full length module, but an idea that others will flesh out to full detail, outline the major cool or interesting features of the tomb. Perhaps carry on the narrative somehow to describe the tomb in the same tone as the lead in text.
Third, clearly define which King is which. I assume King Arkon is the older king and Dora's father is the newer king. Say King Rurick is King Rurick a lot sooner then when metioning Rurick's tomb. I was orignally confused as to who was who.
Fourth, I can't help but think of Dora the Explorer when the princess name is Dora.