Please note the events conveyed in this story are largely speculation and myth. Indeed all collected myth and hearsay is here presented for the best benefit of those who would seek to understand that which cannot be understood. In truth even the most esteemed soothsayer would have only partial knowledge of the event recounted below…
Example of map fragments which may indicate a ruin in the jungle which may be The Nameless Shrine or a related building from that era
In the depths of tangled jungles ‘some ways’ off from Maltano, in times now lost, a potent faith was born.
Said to be rooted in the power of ‘leylines’ this sect, started by an unknown and unknowable hero, did away with magic and instead discovered fantastic gifts of the mind. In time the growing power of their displays drew hundreds deep into the jungles, leading to the growth of tiny settlements well beyond any normal society. Their faith was said to be strong enough to keep the worst of the woods at bay, and against all odds and common sense, the Shrine, grew, and even prospered.
To further advance their already expanded mental state, the priests found, were gifted or otherwise discovered a potent drug which they called ‘The Fume’, said to be from exposure to the very heart of ‘ley essence’ imbibing this component in a ritual granted fantastic visions of wild gods walking among us and indeed left the mind altered. Insanity was not a tolerated concept, teachings were to shed normality, shed the way of the world and walk as a babe into the truth of nature and the ultimate power within.
Yet such aggressive advancement, such potent embrace of the Mystic arts could surely not last, and indeed, at the height of a most powerful ritual, the very earth became as glass and they stared through the depths into an unknowable eye.
Blink.
All was shattered. The ground heaved a quaked, and a massive fissure split the ritual chamber, as a violent shaking rippled across the jungle, the ritual chamber filled with Fume, and not a one who survived said ever a knowable word again. And yet. A great truth they had seen, perhaps the great truth. A fraction of a fraction fled the sundered tangle, and were said to have been the hands who laid the first foundations of a new Temple and the first stone in a massive wall which would eventually become the secretive town of Maltano.
Various Maps and impressions
Please note the maps presented below are combined from several ancient accounts, as well as other known maps of the time. In truth this Shrine has long been lost to the woods, and was by many accounts said to have been left in ruins after ‘a great quaking’. speculation and myth. Indeed all collected myth and hearsay is here presented for the best benefit of those who would seek to understand that which cannot be understood. The author can in no way be held accountable for any inaccuracies held on these maps and impressions.
In the interests of displaying collaboration which is something that we find rather appealing please find digital versions of the Original Upper and Lower Shrine concepts which may make for cleaner more reusable maps. These were produced in collaboration with a different concept artist from our community.
Effigy to the unknown fallen hero, may they lie ever undisturbed.
A note on usage, and a word to potential DMs
Some names and detail are intentionally left open to ensure a clean fit into any setting, however it is also intended as a part of the CollabSetting being built by DungeoneersGuild Community, the reference to Maltano is a town on the setting whose concept can be found here: https://steemit.com/tabletop-rpg/@digitalpnut/maltano
If it was not clear enough (and it may not have been) the priests of this Shrine are intended to be steeped in the Mystic and Psionic arts, they have forgone all connection to 'magics' in order to begin the arduous path to attain this state.
Not entirely sure which is the latest playtest material but please feel free to refer to this link for additional context: https://media.wizards.com/2017/dnd/downloads/UAMystic3.pdf
Parts of the map such as the ritual circle, the bell tower, and decal on the front of the temple have been left indisctinct as it is intended that the DM flavour and adapt certain features to better fit within the context of their campaign.
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