Rumors

Rumors are a great way to elicit interest in a new dungeon. They provide the players with hints and clues about the dangers they may be facing within, as well as the treasures they guard. Rumors are useful to referees as well, since the process of creating rumors can sometimes focus the imagination on just what is to be found in the dungeon. Good rumors must have both a ring of plausibility to them and a whiff of unbelievability. From my perspective, there’s little point in creating rumors that are too obviously true or false. Keeping the players guessing is vital to maintaining the fun of any campaign and well-presented rumors are an easy way to do that.

The rumors presented here do not at present indicate whether they are true or false. That determination is up to each referee, as he or she makes Urheim his own. As this site develops, some of these rumors might form the basis for rooms or encounters and, if so, they’ll include a parenthetical notation after them that indicates their truth or falsity. Until then, referees are encouraged to use them as they wish, parceling them out to the characters whenever they’re in a local tavern or meet an NPC along the way to exploring Urheim.

Rumor Table

In the Upper Temple, there are still standing fonts of holy water that were used by the monks of St. Gaxyg in their ceremonies. It is said the waters have not lost their potency. (submitted by JamesV)
Wearing the robes of the Gray Monks will keep away the ghosts of the monks that haunt the ruins. (submitted by JamesV)
There are tales of a being inhabiting Urheim referred to as the Gray Oracle. It is said that if the Oracle can be found, it can provide words of great wisdom — assuming one can understand their meaning at all! (submitted by William Wood)
There is a small gang of demihuman vampires combing the lower levels of the dungeon. (submitted by Robert Baldwin)
The causeway connecting the Monastery to the entrance to Urheim is rigged. Footsteps are relayed through channels in the stonework to arouse denizens of the first subterranean level and to ensure traps are primed for the benefit of visitors. (submitted by Colin Blakely)
The hermits were the first in the community to succumb to the depredations of Chaos (submitted by Colin Blakely).
A great, evil dragon known as Carnefluer lairs near the ruined monastery, preying upon trade caravans and hapless travellers. (submitted by MV)
On occasion, the raw and untempered Chaos contained behind powerful wards in the deepest parts of Urheim roil up and escape into the world at large. (submitted by MV)
One of the main reasons pilgrims would come far and wide to the Monastery of St. Gaxyg was to see a relic of the Saint. According to the rumor, the monks had in their possession St. Gaxyg’s skull, of which his right ear was still intact and still warm. Legend has it that angels would whisper into the saint’s right ear and that it was capable working miracles and prophecies. The monks would keep it in a reliquary in the Upper Temple most of the year, but on high holidays they would process with it into the Lower Temple for pilgrims to see. It has not been seen or heard of since the Monastery was destroyed. (submitted by Fr. David Eynon)
One of the monk had an illicit affair with a local woman that produced a child. When discovered, the woman, the disgraced monk, and their child were all banished into the lower levels of the dungeon. The woman and monk long ago died, but their child, who has been corrupted into a monster by exposure to Chaos, still wanders the dungeon looking for his mother. (submitted by Mark Cleaveland)
The fortifications of the Monastery itself have become so infused with Chaos that they will try to destroy trespassers — walls will topple over, ceilings collapse and even the ground itself will open up to swallow the unwary. (submitted by Bill Ellis)
Only on the holy days of St. Gygax the Gray is the power of Chaos weakened enough that one may enter Urheim. (submitted by Bill Ellis)
Orcs and goblins in the area, usually bitter enemies, have recently begun working together for some unknown purpose (submitted by Knightsky)
Bandits use the ruins of the old monastery as a base of operations. (submitted by Knightsky)
There is a barbarous tribe of kobolds in the hills that ride fearsome war-goats on raids. Their chief rides a great black goat with eyes of fire! (submitted by John Middleton)
An old abbot who delved into the depths below the monastery was warped by Chaos into some sort of winged demon who feeds on human flesh. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
An whole clan of goblins took refuge under the monastery by way of a secret cave 20 years ago and now control entire levels of the depths. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
Sturnir, The Blade That Cuts Memory, a legendary greatsword and relic of St. Nosenra the Warrior, was lost on an expedition to an underground lake below 40 years past. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
Two-Lances, an Ogre chieftain, has set up dominion over the kobolds who frequent the upper levels of Urheim. He will bargain only for fresh mutton or gold. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
Yoj the Cruel, once a respected mage, fled to the depths of Urheim after his necromantic experiments were discovered by the townsfolks and city guard. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
A demon lord known only as “Kin-Eater” is Overlord of the lowest pits of Urheim. His body is composed of maggots, his face of fire, and his wings of slain murderers’ hate. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
There is a place far below in the Earth called Sanctum Deep, surrounded by Chaos but untouched by it. Here, the Essence of Law is All. (submitted by Zachary Houghton)
Old Man Bratner used to bring cartloads of potatoes to the monks when he was a boy. He says that ever since a black-bladed sword was brought up from the depths of Urheim and claimed by the abbot, the kindly old man never acted the same. He used to be quick with a chuckle and a friendly pat on the back, but he became brooding and morose, obsessed with recovering something he called the “eye of darkness” from the depths. (submitted by Carl Nash)
It is widely known among the fishermen of the area that the small stream that emerges from below the ruins of the monastery has some sort of foul taint in it. While most just avoid eating the strangely mutated fish with decaying flesh that can be found in its waters, a few go so far as to say that the stream flows from the realm of the dead itself and that if you follow it to its source you would be in the kingdom of the damned!
Each full moon, in the ruins of the monastery, there appears the figure of some kind ghost — a knight in strange round, glass helmet, weird armor, and exotic lightning dagger. (submitted by Jarl frå Oslo)
A tribe of kobolds was found dead near the Monastery - decapitated and strangely tatooed after death. (subitted by Jarl frå Oslo)
Recent reports speak about Albino Creatures from the hidden caves below monastery. They are savage, bloodthirsty humanoid mutants living in the dark. Touch of daylight kills them immediately. (submitted by Jarl frå Oslo)
A legend has spread amongst peasants that says somwhere in Urheim there exists pool blessed by St. Gaxyg the Gray himself. It can heal all wounds, regenerate, and restore the dead to live. (submitted by Jarl frå Oslo)

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