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| Artwork copyright: Gerald Williams |
The Temple of the Threefold Eye, is an Adventure Seed meant to take place as a one shot scenario taking a few sessions, or can be dropped into a longer running campaign. It may not be used in a commercial product. Nor included in any collection or product without the express permission of the author, Gerald Williams.
The original premise for the adventure was a hidden, solitary temple, with a statue of an otherworldly entity. The idea was that anyone who made the treacherous journey through the mountains to find the temple, and then spend the night sleeping inside, would be granted a prophetic dream, or have their mind crushed by eternal madness. The mysterious Trioptic Entity, would be of unknown origins and power.
Overview:
Hidden amidst treacherous
peaks, the Temple of the Threefold Eye, stands
as a testament to forgotten cosmic forces. Its crumbling stone walls
cling to the mountainside, and the air within hums with ancient
magic. Few dare to venture here, for the temple’s reputation is as
varied as the shifting winds that whip through its corridors.
At the heart of the temple’s
dimly lit sanctum rests the Statue of the Trioptic
Entity. Carved from obsidian, its features evoke both awe
and unease:
Horned Aspect: The
statue depicts a towering, horned figure—an otherworldly being
that defies mortal understanding. Its curved horns sweep back like
crescent moons, hinting at celestial or infernal origins.
Dual Eyes: Two
eyes, each the size of a human head, gaze outward. Their irises
shimmer with iridescence, reflecting the colors of distant galaxies.
These eyes are said to see beyond the veil of reality.
Third Eye Gem: The
most captivating feature lies in the statue’s forehead: a
colossal, multifaceted gem. Its facets shift between azure,
amethyst, and obsidian. Legends claim it holds the secrets of
creation and destruction.
Whispers echo through the
mountain passes, recounting the temple’s dual nature:
1. The Gift of the
Trioptic Entity:
- Those
who sleep within the temple’s shadow may experience profound
revelations:
- Inspiration: A
bard might awaken with verses that weave reality itself. A
playwright could pen a drama that moves gods to tears. An author
might birth a tome that alters history.
- Truth
Unveiled: Seekers of hidden knowledge may glimpse
cosmic truths—their minds expanded or shattered by revelations.
- Lore
and Spells: The temple occasionally imparts
forgotten spells or cryptic lore, inscribed on dream-touched
scrolls.
- These
fortunate souls emerge changed, their creativity ignited or their
understanding of existence forever altered.
2. The Madness of the
Trioptic Curse:
- Others
who slumber here suffer a darker fate:
- Insanity: Their
dreams twist into maddening nightmares. They wake with fractured
minds, haunted by visions of eldritch realms.
- Whispers
from the Abyss: The gem’s third eye whispers
forbidden knowledge, driving them toward madness. Some become
obsessed with deciphering its cryptic messages.
- Eyes of the
Entity: A few claim to see through the statue’s
eyes, glimpsing distant worlds and the cosmic dance of gods. But
this communion exacts a toll—their sanity unravels.
- The
Seeker’s Quest: A
desperate artist seeks inspiration. They journey to the temple,
hoping to create a masterpiece. Will they emerge as a genius or a
broken soul?
- The
Scholar’s Obsession: A
sage believes the gem holds the key to rewriting reality. They hire
the party to retrieve it, unaware of the curse that awaits.
- The
Cult of the Trioptic Eye: A secretive cult worships
the statue. They seek to awaken the entity, believing it will
reshape the world. Can the adventurers thwart their plans?
Be as creative as you want to be with the mood and reality of the temple's environment. Use surrealistic background music. Foreshadow with mad prophecies, whatever you like.
- Dreamscapes: Use
dream sequences to convey revelations or madness. These dreams will occur and get stronger to any outside the temple as they approach it.
- Gem’s
Whispers: Drop cryptic hints about forgotten spells or
cosmic events. Use the temple as a way of revealing new spells, lore, or information in your campaign.
- The Entity
Awakens: As the temple’s power waxes, the statue’s
eyes glow brighter. Cataclysm looms. Maybe the entity begins to awaken on its own when disturbed, or when someone tries to steal its powerful eye gem.
May your adventurers tread
carefully, for the Trioptic Entity guards
its secrets with both benevolence and malevolence.
