The BlackWater Tunnels
For all the aquaducts coming into the city, there munt be a place for the water to leave. Thus, many years ago, the Blackwater Tunnels were commissioned to carry sewage away from the city buildings.
For all the aquaducts coming into the city, there munt be a place for the water to leave. Thus, many years ago, the Blackwater Tunnels were commissioned to carry sewage away from the city buildings. Consisting of a great hive of brick-lined tunnels great sloping away from the city, the Blackwater tunnels serve as an excellent path in and out for less desireable elements, and though the Guard does their best to hold choke points, the maze is simply too great for them to control in entiretly. Theives and assassins, however, are not the worst of their trouble, nor is plugged sewage.
Of late, a black cult has found a home amoung the sewers, worshipping a horrible lord of death, disease, and terror. They have rebuilt several areas of the Blackwater, creating a well hidden, easily defended fortress beneath the city proper. Worse, with the comfort the security of this installation gives them, they have redoubled their efforts to spread plague and fear amoung the city above.
More, strange things that no one, not ever the cultists, have previously imagined have often appeared within the Blackwater. Strange beings akin to water elementals, yet made of human wastes roam the tunnels freely, feeding upon the refuse of the city above. Roaches and other scavenging insects grow to abnormal size here, to say nothing of the rats.
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? Responses (11)
It would actually be difficult for them to walk amongst the normal society, as all the cultist would STINK. (yes, that was capitalized on intent, as to differenciate from the normal, run-of-the-mill medieval stink)
wELLLLLLL...
One clerical type cantrip later, and there would be no stink. Heck, if there was a spell, all traces of 'Evil' would be erased (including the stink), so the minions could walk among the 'good people' and not be detected. Similar spells would make the hidden enclaves difficult to spot via magic (this is not the sewer you are looking for).
Without such disguise spells, magically active (aka DnD and the like) worlds could spot and destroy almost every Evil cult. A simple patrol periodically walking among the masses and places 'good people' don't go, with a detection of Evil. While they might only do this if they are aware that an Evil cult is near by, some places/ good cults might do this as matter of course... just because it is their duty to root out Evil and destroy it.
Yes. Forgot about that, actually. Most often, the simple matters are overlooked.
Waste elementials...ewwwwww. That cult could be uncovered with a strong Dispel Magic spell, when they are walking the city streets.
Sewer cults are always fun!
As for the detect evil discussion: I am glad I have no clearly defined 'evil' in my setting. There are different goals and there are hostility and non-hostility. So in my setting the Detect Evil/Good and Protection from Evil/Good type of spells have been replaced by protection from / Detect Hostility. Problem solved.
And a medieval society stank anyhow. In the french court they had a loose wooden plank in some of the ballrooms. When a noble had to do his/her thing he/she discreetly went into the corner, removed the plank and relieved himself / herself. They did not wipe their noble arses either: They used perfume to 'neutralize' the stench.
So: Smell or no smell. Doesn't matter overly much. Beside: Who needs clerical cantrips when they can take a bath?
Poop Shamblers!
Yes. Poop is what is available, therefore, poop is what is used. -1 penalty against toilet paper.
I think we all need to take a moment to picture what it would be like to be chased down and smashed by a poop elemental.
Oh, the humanity!
The cult should make the sewer their 'thing' (instead of just their hideout). The stinkier you are, you higher your prestige. The cantrip should just mute it for a few hours, after which, the stench is released from its pent-up containment. Might even release upon the cultist's death, too.
I also imagine the different groups trying to use water flow as a weapon. The guards flood certain tunnels to drown the cultists in waste. But the cultists block the exit tunnel and soon poopamentals are shooting up the drains.
You know, if you extrapolate this cult of scatology thing out to its inevitable conclusion, you're going to have a very memorable, very disgusting dungeon crawl. Throw in a few giant albino goldfish, a few former tapeworms, and a really disgusting whirlpool trap and the party won't even notice when you throw a Weezing (the pokemon) at them. Good luck selling stuff in town when you smell worse than a poopamental or a cultist.
C'mon. They have deities for everything else.
Indeed.
I bet the town guards hate them, too.
Guard: We've identified the cult they belonged to, sir.
Captain: Well, who is it? Vecna? Jubilex?
Guard: Uh, no, sir. It's the poop guys again.
Captain: Oh gods DAMMIT.
Guard: Should I check the tavern for 'adventurers', sir?
Captain: On the double. I'm sure not going back down there again.