Lower Temple
The Gray Monks used the Lower Temple to minister to the people of the surrounding countryside. Daily rites were performed here, as were ceremonies associated with minor feasts and holy days. Since the sack of the monastery, it’s become the base of operations for a group of bandits.
Map by Father David Eynon
Map Key
LT.1 -Entrance
The entrance to the Lower Temple is barred by a single large door made from heavy, dark wood. The door shows signs of having been damaged by axes, maces, and other weapons, but still stands strong but unlocked. Located just before the door are two defaced stone statues. Those familiar with the iconography of St. Gaxyg will recognize them as having depicted two different scenes from his life.
LT.2 -Narthex
The first chamber of the Lower Temple was once filled with candle stands and images of St. Gaxyg and related related religious figures. These were long ago stripped from the room, but evidence of their existence remains.
There are five bandits (AC 7 [12]; HD 1; HP 6, 6, 4, 4, 2; Atk 1 sword (1d8); Save 17; MV 12; 15 XP) stationed in the narthex as guards. The bandits are cowardly and will raise an alarm if attacked by superior numbers. Each bandit carries 40 copper pieces, wears leather armor, and bears a sword.
LT.3 -Chapel of Instruction
The Gray Monks used this side chapel for teaching individuals interested in their faith. The walls of the chapel are decorated with mosaics showing St. Gaxyg and his followers engaged in scholarly activities (writing, reading, preaching, etc.). The mosaics are damaged in places, but the majority of them remain intact. There is a 50% chance that the chapel will contain 1d6 sleeping bandits. If present, these bandits will awaken and join their brethren in the narthex (LT.2) if either an alarm is raised or there is audible evidence of combat nearby. These bandits have identical stats and possessions to those in the narthex.
LT.4 -Nave
The nave is central area of the Lower Temple. Its circular walls are decorated with a mixture of mosaics and frescoes, some of which have been damaged and/or defaced. The ceiling and walls have collapsed in some areas of the nave (see below), which has allowed water and the elements to further damage this area. Bandits patrol the nave. Every turn, there is a 50% chance of encoutering 1d4 bandits (maximum 10) with identical stats and possession as those in LT.2. Like their comrades, these bandits are cowardly and will raise an alarm if the fight is obviously going against them.
LT.5 -Rotunda
The rotunda was once the location of the Lower Temple’s sanctuary and altar. A templon, or small wall, separated the sanctuary from rest of the area under the rotunda, where congregants would stand during religious ceremonies. The altar still stands but it has been badly damaged and the templon has been shattered in many places.
The walls of the rotunda contain numerous niches in which were once displayed minor relics associated with St. Gaxyg. The relics have long since disappeared, leaving behind only broken reliquaries and other debris.
LT.6 -Collapsed Wall
A section of the outer wall of the Lower Temple has been breached, the result of its sacking years ago. The resulting hole in the wall is large enough to allow several human-sized creatures to enter. Consequently, there are always two bandits (AC 7 [12]; HD 1; HP 5, 3; Atk 1 bow (1d6) or 1 sword (1d8); Save 17; Move 12; XP 15) on duty here at all times. They will use their bows to attack anyone who comes within sight of their position and call for help from other nearby bandits.
(Illustration by David Aguiar)
LT.7 -Trapeza
This area was once used for communal meals between the Gray Monks and the congregants of the Lower Temple. The room is currently empty except for the shattered remains of wooden tables and benches. Anything else of value has long since been stripped away.
LT.8 -Vestry
This room is where the Gray Monks stored their ceremonial vestments and donned them before religious rituals. The room is filled with broken planks of wood, as well as clothing fragments. A careful search will reveal a single intact but dusty habit of the sort the Gray Monks wore for non-ritual occasions.
LT.9 -Broken Apse
A large pile of rubble is visible here, the result of a siege weapon being used against the Lower Temple. The rubble consists of stones and wood primarily, but there’s also a goodly amount of sand and glass as well. Each turn someone searches through the rubble, there’s a 30% chance of finding a large piece of colored glass and precious stones from a mosaic that once covered the walls of the apse. Such a piece would fetch 100-300 gp to a collector of religious art.
LT.10 -Side Chapel
This room is a desecrated side chapel dedicated to an individual or group of individuals associated with St. Gaxyg. So complete is the damage to the religious artwork here that it’s impossible to tell whom it once honored. The banits have converted it for use a common room. At any given time, there are 1d6 bandits here, engaged in boisterous conversation or gambling. Their stats are identical to those in LT.2 and they will sound the alarm if they find themselves in danger of attack by superior foes.
LT.11 -Memorial
This area was once used to honor the dearly departed. Several stands of votive candles were once located here, but all that remains are waxy splatters and broken pieces of wood. The walls are decorated with the names of various people, none of whom should be familiar to the characters. These are the names of individuals interred in the Lower Catacombs.
In the center of the memorial wall, there is a secret door that can be opened by means of a latch located near the ceiling. The latch is visible from the ground but can only be reached if the characters find some means to do so, such as a stick or staff.
The bandits know of the existence of the secret door and regularly use it to enter the Lower Catacombs.
LT.12 - Catacomb Entrance
This large hidden room leads down to the Lower Catacombs. The chamber is guarded by six elite bandits (AC 6 [13]; HD 1+1; HP 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4; Atk 1 sword (1d8); Save 16; Move 12; XP 30). These bandits are ferocious in battle (+1 to hit and damage) and never check morale. They will, however, raise an alarm if overwhelmed, trying to attract the attention of their comrades in chamber L.1 of the Lower Catacombs. Each bandit has 1d10 silver pieces on his person.
Downloads
- Download a copy of the Lower Temple Map (Keyed)
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