The Buried City

Misty streets (lightless). Cyclopean houses (ghostly). Frozen shadows (like angels). Great plaza (stalls, statues).

• Explore plaza: A large pearly sphere stands on a stone cart surrounded by happy-looking Glab-Glab statues. If touched, the sphere emits a busy tone. If damaged, it explodes into opalescent shards dealing 2d6 damage in a 120’ radius and the statues all collapse into dust. The frozen shadows begin to move again and a feeling settles over the city that the road to the Glab-Glab heaven has been forever closed. 1d6 turns to collect shards (1d10 x 100gp).
• The frozen shadows: 12 shadow angels (as shadows), caught between future and past. If released (above), they are drawn to life but too cowardly to enter lit areas. Great ramps, corroded rails, collapsed wagons. Path to Footpaths, rapids, silken bridges, ladders. Flooded stairs, slabs, soda straw calthemites.

Initial Exploration

Immaculate Towers

Layercake apartments (ornate, carved into bedrock). Pedestrian bridge (over-engineered).

• Visit Bridge of Aeons: 12 Glab-Glab skeletons hang from the bridge, clutching tablets exalting the God Fish, denying the false pearl. One has a gold key (see Small Treasures, page 7).
• Explore apartments: 1d4 turns per block. Find (roll d6): (1) 2d10 petrified Glab-Glab, (2) gilded plastics (heavy, 200gp), (3) 2d20gp in ivory coins, (4) a small treasure (page 7), (5) 1d6 frozen shadows, (6) ornate weapon or armour (100gp).

Further Exploration

Museum of Memories

Translucent building shell (stone and crystal, spectral figure within). Iron door (glittering, “Under Construction” sign). Gardens (stationary scenes, actually dioramas).

• Enter shell: A friendly AI ghost (as spectre) trapped in the shell approaches the PCs. Loves slowly and precisely sharing knowledge (1d6 turns per academic answer). Protects planetarium and its cosmic projector (9,000gp). PCs spending 1 watch permanently gain 1 INT as their minds expand.
• Garden diorama: Life-like automata displaying story of the Glab-Glab (1,000gp).
• Iron door: Sealed. Incomplete magi-optimist exhibit presenting the pearl gate’s promises. Unstable ceiling (save vs paralysis or 1d6 damage). In a dark corner a crate full of dusty literature warning of gate magic risks.

Regional Challenges

6. Dark memories: Pack of 1d4+2 shadows leaks from a dead dwelling. 7. Building collapse: Blinding dust obscures region for 6 turns. 8. Marching golems: 3d6 tremor-triggered servant machines (as wood golems, can be harmed by mundane attacks, but damage is halved) want to (roll d4): (1) force-feed, (2) put to bed, (3) improve, (4) kill their ‘masters.’ 9. Ominous quake: Buildings sway, rattling. Nothing seems to happen.

Collapse

1. All the city’s lamps suddenly flare with ur-light. Save vs wands or blinded 1d4 turns. +d6 to collapse checks. 2. Tremors dislodge the gnawing dark that swallowed the city. Shadows crawl and writhe. All living creatures lose 1 STR per turn. +d6 to collapse checks. 3. The dark eats the city again.