Derikal Ruins

This ruined temple lies deep in Lanesec Forest beside the river Klerr. Built into the cliff it is hard to see from the river and the trees help shroud it's location from those passing through the forest. The only hint to the ruin's existence is the narrow bridge which crosses the Klerr.

Derikal Ruins

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Adventure map for the Derikal Ruins (Ieren's Lair).

The ruins are illuminated day and night by torches that never need replacing and braziers that never require fuel. Both give off a flickering dull red glow that sends shadows dancing back and forth within the ruins.
The ruins are infested with shadowy undead spirits which also roam out in the forest. They usually do not appear during the day, except in areas well protected from the sun. The exception to this is the greater spectre Ieren who rules over the lesser shadows. Ieren will emerge at any time of day and is capable of stepping areas which have a shadow cast on them.

Navigating the forest

The forest is filled with uneven ground with steep rises and dips interfering with progress. A relatively level path is shown on the gm markers on the map. A group attempting to go straight to the ruins will need to make a DC 14 Wisdom (survival) check to determine the right direction and make checks to climb the rocky ground (DC 12 Strength (athletics)) to avoid receiving a level of exhaustion.

Encounters

This map was created for a level 3-4 D&D party with 4-6 members. This main foe in this map are the shadows. Individually they aren't much of a threat but they will appear in groups of 2-3 as the party make their way through the forest, giving the group few opportunities to rest unless they have magic to repel the shadows for an extended period.
Within the temple, shadows will appear in groups of 3-4 in each room. There are enough gaps in the walls for the shadows to be able to move through them rather than having to use the doors.
Ieren uses the stats of a ghost, with two exceptions:

He cannot be destroyed while any shadows are cast within the temple. If reduced to zero hitpoints he will reform in a shadowy area within the temple at the start of his next turn.

He can freely teleport between shadowy areas within the region encompassed by the map.

Related Characters

Ieren
This temple was built to honour a powerful being that demanded blood sacrifice and other acts that the established churches would frown upon. The name of this being has been lost to time, partially through th efforts of those who tried to destroy the temple, but also through the work of the leader of the cult.

Warden's Cabin

The Warden's cabin was built by the Order of the Shield when they first learned that Ieren couldn't be easily destroyed. It has remained unmanned since the end of the Second Age but the party may meet a human calling himself Warden Hiren Fletchin. The Warden is really Ieren who has spent millennia refining his ability to mimic other creatures. He will try to get the party to split up or guide them into a trap if he can. However, in his efforts to trick the party into believing him he may also reveal details about the structure of the temple, location of torches and blocked doorways.

The map was created in Dungeon Alchemist. The header was createed in Flowscape and relates to Baramith. There is a set of GM markers available on the map for some points of interest.