The Ancient Foxwood Temple

The party comes across the temple in the Poison Jungle on the Island of Aulcmog during their investigation of Ghallus. After deciphering the Foxwood scroll, they were led to the jungle to find the temple hoping that they would find something that would answer their questions or aid them on their quest to save Cara. Upon arrival, they are amazed at the amount of information there is regarding the Arvalis and every Keeper. There is also a mural that depicts the evil Emperor Falvor and about his war against the world and how he was destroyed by the Arvalis and its first Keeper. The party makes the connection between the Order of Falvor and the ancient emperor and believe that neither the Order nor Ghallus should be trusted and that Cara is indeed in danger and should be rescued. After this they find the altar room where the Key of Alda used to be housed, and all around the altar room are depictions of the futuristic tech of Alda, but before they can truly understand it or comprehend it, Ghallus himself appears to them and tells them leave and forget about Cara. When the party object and says that they are going to rescue her, Ghallus causes a small earthquake, trapping them inside, and summons a large monster to kill them before disappearing. This earthquake opens up a hidden room by mistake, and inside the party finds a mysterious empty ‘gate’. The Key of Alda will light up and the ‘gate’ will become powered and open up a portal to the Pocket Dimension. The party enters it cautiously.

Purpose / Function

The Temple was built in honor of Grand Keeper Ghallus and to house the Arvalis after the destruction of Alda. For a period of time, the Temple was used by the Lightkeepers to guard and protect the Key of Alda and its accompanying scroll.

Architecture

Today, the temple is in complete ruin and decay, still located at the base of what was once an enormous mother tree. There is nothing left of the upper floors of the temple and the main floor is barely recognizable as a temple. However, many of the lower floors, halls, and rooms remain intact and untouched. The poison jungle has transformed the place into a kind of well-preserved tomb underneath its thick foliage. Its architecture is similar to the style of building used in Solima, especially that of the Ilse of Baasan. Large megalithic structures with statues and effigies carved into the walls. Pillars made from massive stones are common and painted murals can be found everywhere within the halls of the temple, along with an ancient form of writing and language that has long been inactive.

History

The Ancient Temple in Foxwood is located deep within the Poison Jungle, buried beneath centuries of overgrowth and decay. Built into the roots and trunk of an ancient mother tree, the temple was once known by several names. It was first called the Temple of Ghallus, as he stayed in this temple for many years after the destruction of Alda, then in the decades after he left to live in Silverspire, it was called the Light Keeper’s Temple because it was maintained by the Light Keepers, specially chosen priests by Keeper Ghallus to watch over and protect the Key to Alda and the Foxwood Scroll. After the Key and the Scroll were taken and moved, the temple became abandoned due to the spread of the poison jungle. Since then, the temple has become completely lost to history and many historians and scholars either believe it to be a lie or unsubstantiated myth, or they don’t believe it exist at all.

Alternative Names

The Lightkeeper's Temple, The Place of Atonement, The Key, The Temple of Ghallus

Type

Temple / Religious complex

Parent Location

The Island of Aulcmog