The Forgotten Place

The Forgotten Place is an ancient ruin unearthed from the sands. It’s the perfect place for your party to do some archaeology, or– perhaps– some “archaeology.” In case you’re not aware of the difference between those two words, let me explain: the one with the quotes means grave-robbing.

I’d probably go with the second option in a D&D game. Brushing the dust off of pot shards to learn about the customs of ancient peoples may be morally and academically superior to scoring fat sacks of loot from a dead guy, but, well, moral superiority doesn’t buy you full plate and a castle.

I also want to mention that some of you may have more use for half of this map than you do for the whole thing. Maybe you like the desert ruins, but you want them to lead down into a different dungeon. Or maybe you like the underground part, but you want to put it under an old cathedral. Either way, go for it. Mix and match. There are no rules in RPGs*.

Anyway, the next map will be the Goblin Queen’s Carriage. This is going to be a giant carriage/war wagon that a tribe of goblins use as a mobile raiding camp. If you picture it looking like something out of Warhammer Fantasy, then we are very much on the same page. I think it’ll be a map that offers a lot of fun possibilities. After that, I’ll be getting started on the giant pit megadungeon that I’ve been talking about.

Well, that should do it for now. If anyone’s got any ideas on what might be pulling the giant goblin carriage, let me know. I feel like horses would be boring, but a giant seems like a bit much. My best idea right now is yaks, so if you can top that, I’ll consider it.

*There are multiple books full of rules in almost all RPGs.

6 Replies to “The Forgotten Place”

  1. I remembered this one specific kind of cow I saw a long time ago but can’t remember what the hell it’s called for the life of me. Otherwise, I’d go with either some big ass lizard-type thing to loose on the players, or an absurdly large capybara.

  2. Wonderfully evocative – I can practically hear the wind blowing over the dunes.

    Some suggestions for the goblin carriage:
    – Diseased giant rats
    – Dire warthogs / hell pigs
    – A whole line of roly-poly pill bugs
    – The world’s largest earwig

    1. Thanks, I thought it turned out pretty well myself.

      As for the carriage, someone suggested worgs and I think that’s what I’m going with. But I have to admit, the world’s largest earwig would be a lot more fun to draw, haha.

  3. Nice Map. I think my mummy will like it.

    As for goblin draft animals, I think the way to go is a chaotic assortment of random things, supervised by seemingly mad but strangely effective goblin drovers.

    So there’s a big Capybera sure, but also three goblin criminals, a stoic elf, a tiny yak, a giant goat, a pterodactyl, a badger pulling from underground, a surprisingly fast 10′ tall snail, a gang of human street urchins who think this is a better gig than begging back home, a regular ladybug pulling a fine mithril chain, and a hundred things more.

    A dog sized spider constantly weaves harness repairs on the whole mess, a sadistic goblin in spiky armor with a whip whips the reluctant, a goblin pervert in a gimp suit with a whip whips the ones enjoying this a little too much (especially the elf), and a goblin personal councilor in a hideous goblin cardigan encourages the ones that just need a little encouragement. A strange butterfly-winged slug the size of a cat and colored every hue of the rainbow flies back and forth to the provisions and vomits appropriate liquid and nutrition into appropriate orifices to keep the whole thing going without food or water breaks.

    Speaking of keeping the whole thing going, most of these beings can be replaced, but if someone ends the ladybug the whole wagon stops until a new one can be found and harnessed. No one living knows why this is, but all the goblins understand it and the drovers make sure the Lady (as they call her) has plenty of space and respect.

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