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?

Dungeon Background

An extreme sect of Morden the Archmage (see sidebar) 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.

Sample Adventure Hook

In Search of Knowledge: The characters are in need of some piece of esoteric knowledge to complete their current adventure. The knowledge is beyond them, but one of the heroes recalls a rumour about the Halls of the Undying Oracles. According to rumour, there is no question that the oracles cannot answer. Perhaps the Undying Oracles can help the party?

Whispers & Rumours

A character can use Diplomacy to gather information about the Shattered Halls of the Undying Oracles.

A sect of fanatical wizards established the Halls of the Undying Oracles to preserve important knowledge. They are foul necromancers! (Partially true rumour.)
A wizard lairs nearby the halls to watch over the place. He is powerful and unpredictable. (Partially true rumour.)
Beware the Wizards of the Halls; they possess knowledge not meant for mortal folk. (False rumour).
The Undying Oracles require great sacrifices and gifts to reveal their knowledge (False rumour.)
Strange lights hover in the sky above the hall on certain nights. When the lights are visible, powerful magics are being wrought within.
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.

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.
The Grand Processional: Down this passageway processed all those who would seek the wisdom of the Undying Oracles.
Hall of Divination: This chamber hosts a shrine to the school of divination.
Location Name: This chamber hosts six shrines—each dedicated to a different school of magic.
Location Name: Those who wish to consult the Undying Oracles must be garbed in the appropriate vestments and regalia. Herein are found the requisite items.
Hall of Knowledge: Here in the holy place, those come to consult the Undying Oracles first venerate Morden.
Reliquary of the Ancients: Here are reverently stored the skulls of the oracles who have passed beyond the powers of the Halls’ acolytes.
Cave of the Unknown: Linked to the Halls by the recent earthquake, this natural cavern plunges ever deeper into the cliff.

About Dungeon Backdrops

You are a GM, but you are busy. You want to write your own modules, but you just don’t have the time. And you don’t want to use commercial modules. You want to make your campaign your own. That’s where the Dungeon Backdrop line comes in! Each Dungeon Backdrop presents a fully fleshed out and lovingly detailed self-contained dungeon ready for you to use as you see fit. Stock the dungeon with your own monsters (and—perhaps—their treasure), decide their back story and you are good to go.

Every Dungeon Backdrop is carefully designed to be easily inserted into almost any fantasy campaign and is compatible with virtually any fantasy roleplaying game.

Dungeon Backdrops: we describe the dungeon, you add the monsters (and the treasure).