Fantasy Core RPG Adventure: Goth Hallow-History

Goth Hallow

A Fantasy Core Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2014

Published here as Open Game Content.

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History

Goth Hallow is an exclusive noble cemetery and crypt with its own temple.  It is located in an idyllic countryside, well away from the urban area.  The temple there is well endowed and is kept guarded to keep away would be treasure hunters from the graves.

However, the crypt beneath the temple was always known to have been excavated on shaky ground.  A stress fracture in the chamber finally opened up into a minor cave-in.  Not surprisingly, a cave was discovered underneath which appeared to be part of old burial tomb.  As the temple prided itself as a well paid for restful peace for deceased nobles, discretion was taken and only a single scholar from outside the cemetery was brought in to investigate.  Professor Wickum and four of his choicest students, along with several guards were lowered into the pit.  

Within an hour, the guards, who were now undead, attempted to clamor up the rope.  The priests had been prepared for this possibility and fought them off.  The head priest warded the hole to keep any undead inside and another discreet call went out, this time for adventurers.  

This graveyard is actually much older than the Goth Hallow attendants suspect.  In fact, the whole temple and cemetery are built on top of the giant burial mound, as well as an even more ancient underground burial vault.    

The vile Emperor, Senet, is thought more mythic than real several centuries removed from his rule.  His history was set mostly by his detractors, but fairly accurate in describing his cruelty and greed.  When his magicks were no longer able to sustain him, Senet was no longer fit to rule.  He built his burial vault and filled it with treasure and goods for the afterlife and became undead to guard his possessions for eternity.  

What Senet did not prepare for was his political rivals succeeding him immediately upon his “un-death.”  As a former emperor he was considered divine and his rivals respected that and placed him in his own vault.  However, they placed his mummified corpse in a hidden arcane cage to keep him in.  Then they stripped the halls of virtually all the treasure and fled while the cage’s strong magic held him (which have since long faded).  Senet’s furious spirit is able to wander around the tomb, but cannot interact with anything, other than through faint whispers.

Old King Markus came to power long after Senet and his civilization had passed from memory into legend.  The land Markus had chosen for his gravesite was already considered ill omened before the digging began.  A multitude of accidental deaths, hauntings, and other unnerving incidents occurred before they reached the sealed vault doors inscribed with dire pictographic warnings.  Superstition won out over curiosity.  Work was hastily finished and Markus was laid to rest.  Later, his prince sons would be placed in another chamber and eventually an ossuary created for other noble dead.  

The tomb fell into disuse.  The priests’ yearly consecration ceremonies would cease and the tomb buried over.  However, the unhallowed ground would not let these spirits rest easy.  Would-be tomb robbers would find that out the hard way.  Not one who met the old king would live to tell the tale, so Senet’s doors remained shut.  Centuries later and oblivious to history, Goth Hallow cemetery was constructed over this overly quiet, scenic patch of land.

  

In the present, the professor and his group had been attacked by the princes, now barrow wights.  Professor Wickum and the guards were energy drained.  Senet’s spirit, aware of and observing the conflict, was able to enter into the professor, as he was still a living body, but without a soul.  Senet was then able to command the wights and take the students prisoner.  He sent the newly undead guards to attempt to take the crypt, but was not surprised that they were repulsed.  

As the hole was warded over, Senet decided to take a more dramatic step to destroy the interlopers above his tomb.  Senet had Wickum sacrifice the prisoners to unhallow all of the grounds and awaken the multitudes of dead in the cemetery.  That night, undead swarmed and killed everyone at the temple, however the grounds were well warded and at least kept them in.  Senet (Wickum) waits outside the Markus’ chamber.  The old king is unwillingly Senet’s thrall too, but is spiritually chained to his burial chamber and cannot leave it.  The vile emperor has his pawns ready to repel any future invasion of his domain.