The Temple of Mysteries
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® THE TEMPLE OFMYSTERIES IN MEDIA RES A dungeon adventure for 4th- to 5th-level characters By Monte Cook Uses the Third Edition rules, including updated material from the v. 3.5 revision. Additional Credits Pregenerated Character Design Assistance: Mike Mearls Editing: Scott Fitzgerald Gray Cover Illustration: Tyler Walpole Interior Illustrations: Eric Lofgren, Claudio Pozas, Stephen Shepherd, Arne Swekel, Tyler Walpole, Sam Wood, and Kieran Yanner Cartography: Todd and Mysie Sabin SampleMaps Made With: fileDundjinni software Production and Proofreading: Sue Weinlein Cook Cover and Interior Page Design: Peter Whitley Counters Courtesy of: Fiery Dragon Productions Playtest Locations: GameFest Richmond and The Source For other adventures and free game material, visit Monte Cook’s Website: <www.montecook.com> Malhavoc is a registered trademark and Eldritch Might is a trademark owned by Monte J. Cook. Sword & Sorcery and the Sword & Sorcery logo are trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. Illustrations and text on page 35 copyright Fiery Dragon Productions. All rights reserved. All other content ©2005 Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This edition of The Temple of Mysteries: In Media Res is produced under version 1.0a and/or draft versions of the Open Game License and the System Reference Document by permission of Wizards of the Coast. 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Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. 2 The Temple of Mysteries: In Media Res Table of Contents Introduction: PRELUDE TO ADVENTURE Components......................................................3 Scenario History ............................................3 DM Information...............................................3 Map: Temple of Mysteries...............................................4 Background (Known to the Public) ............4 The Secret Lore (Known to the PCs)............5 The Truth (Known to the DM).......................5 The Course of the Adventure .......................5 Sidebar: The Enchantment Effect ...................................5 Map: Temple of Mysteries (Detail)................................6 Getting Prepared.............................................6 The Prester Young Effect ..............................7 The Doppelgangers..........................................7 Sidebar: Handling Multiple Presters .............................7 Sidebar: Tips: Secret Background Info Sheets .............8 Getting Started...............................................8 Using This Book...............................................8 Encounters: CHAMBERS OF MYSTERY Room 1: The Elaborate Puzzle .......................9 The Mosaic Mural...........................................................9 The Three Statues...........................................................9 The Skeleton in the West............................................10 The Cauldron ................................................................10 Sidebar: Tip: Fear of the Cauldron................................10 The Lumber Pile..............................................................11 The Bookshelf Full of Jars..........................................11 Sidebar: Handling Room 1 ................................................11 The Mirrors....................................................................12 Sidebar: A Likely Trip Through Room 1..........................12 The Skeleton in the East .............................................13 Moving Walls, Secret Doors, Secret Compartments, and Pit Trap ........................................13 Room 2: The Secret Crawl Space..................13Sample file Zombie Ambush ..............................................................13 Dead Ends.......................................................................14 Room 3: The Drum and the Font ..................15 The Skeletons ................................................................15 Background and Characters: PLAYER HANDOUTS The Drum.........................................................................15 Adventure Background................................23 The Font..........................................................................15 Therren of Graydawn ...................................24 The Secret Switch .........................................................15 Aieron Swiftriver ..........................................25 Room 4: The Pool and the Chest .................16 Darian Longblade .........................................26 The Skeleton..................................................................16 Grimbold the Ram .........................................27 The Chest........................................................................16 Jarten Lightbearer........................................28 The Pool..........................................................................16 Thar the Hammer...........................................29 Sidebar: Getting Into Room 5.........................................16 Therren’s Background.................................30 The Secret Switch.........................................................16 Aieron’s Background ...................................30 Room 5: The Thrones of the Triune ............17 Darian’s Background.....................................31 The Mosaic Mural .........................................................17 The Railing and the Secret Doors .............................17 Grimbold’s Background................................31 The Candles....................................................................17 Jarten’s Background.....................................32 The Altars .......................................................................17 Thar’s Background........................................32 The Iron Throne............................................................18 Doppelgangers ...............................................33 The Glass Throne..........................................................19 Sidebar: Tips: I’m Suddenly a Doppelganger? ..............20 Appendix: EXTRAS The Wooden Throne ....................................................20 Open Game License........................................34 The Exit ..........................................................................20 Counters .........................................................35 Battle-Mat Maps.............................................39 Epilogue: WRAPPING THINGS UP Concluding the Adventure.........................22 Room 1.............................................................................39 The Temple of Mysteries 80 Years Ago ......22 Room 3............................................................................40 Using This Adventure in an Ongoing Room 4.............................................................................41 Campaign.........................................................22 Room 5 ............................................................................42 Introduction 3 Prelude to Adventure The Temple