Underground Desert Prison Free 40×30 Multi-Level Battlemap & Adventure

Key to the Desert

After getting in trouble with the law and ending up in jail pending trial, whether guilty or not, you’re approached by a man wearing a suit and a bola hat while carrying a cane. If you’re perceptive you may be able to see a silver necklace around his neck with what looks like a broken key, missing its tip. He clearly holds some sway over the guardsmen, having them leave so you can speak in private. The man introduces himself as The Collector, before explaining that he understands that you’ve got yourself into a little spot of trouble and that he’s here to help, as a friend.  The Collector goes on to explain that he can get you out of jail with a fully clean record, but he’ll need a little favor from you first. You see, he’s in need of some vital information from a man who was part of a group of raiders who attacked his caravans, and stole important artifacts from him.   This man was captured and now resides within the hell-hole of a prison they call The Pit. The rest of his comrades however, are still on the loose, perhaps still with his artifacts. The prison guards tried to get the location of the raiding group’s hideout from the prisoner, but they had no luck and so The Collector has instead arranged a new plan.  Removing his hat, The Collector solemnly informs you that he has had your criminal records changed to have you convicted of murder. Just a formality, he assures you, but he needs you to be sent to The Pit and to retrieve this information for him. He cares not for your methods, as long as you get the inmate to speak, whether through gaining his trust or… otherwise.  Once you’ve gained this information, you’re simply to tell a guard you need to speak to The Collector and he says he will come to release you. He then gives you the general description of the man you must seek. If you ask about what happens if you don’t manage to get the information, The Collector laughs and says that but of course, then you’ll be staying in The Pit for a long time.

The next day you’re taken in an armored carriage, chained and blindfolded through the harsh desert. When you arrive at the prison you feel the harsh sun on your skin for only a few moments before you’re taken underground. The guards refuse to talk to you if you question them and soon enough your blindfold and chains are taken off, before you’re thrown into a cavern-like area full of other inmates. Cells line the walls of the cavern and a small stream runs through it, providing water to drink and bath in.  Walking around the prison searching for the man you must seek, you’re soon confronted by a small group of men led by a bulky, dark skinned man who sees you as fresh meat. Unpersuaded by your talking, the men see only physical violence as a means to end disputes. No matter your choice, including killing the men, the guards do not intervene. They do, however, show up later to retrieve the bodies.  Eventually you find the man you’re searching for, hiding off in a cell in the corner of the prison. He is a tanned, slender man in his late sixties but is not what you’d expect from a raider. When approached, you see the man has been beaten and covered in bruises and cuts. He shudders and pleas with you to not beat him more, but when he notices you’re not who he expected he calms down.  If you ask him about who he was expecting, he introduces himself as Oran explaining that there’s a group of men in the prison led by a bulky dark-skinned man named Regar who have been hasling him since he arrived. If you killed Regar and his cronies (the group who attacked you earlier) and explain this to the man, he is incredibly thankful and much more willing to talk to you.  If asked about the other raiders and the location of the hideout, Oran looks confused, asking about what raiders. If you explain further, he seems to have no idea what you’re talking about.

Oran explains that he is an elder from a tribe of nomadic people who were themselves attacked during a ceremonial festival of his people. He explains that every decade all four of the tribes of the sand, which includes his tribe, come together for a festival so the elders of each tribe may discuss important matters with each other. However, during the night they were attacked, and he was captured along with some others by the unknown assailants, only waking to find himself in this hell-hole.  If pressed further, he surmises in a hush voice that the attackers seemed to know them, calling to them by name before attacking. The man thinks that perhaps they were after the key to the desert that their tribes have protected for millennia, as it is the only thing of value his people keep.  If you ask about the key, Oran explains that it is a magical artifact with the power to control the dunes and the dust storms that pervade the desert. Long ago it was broken into four pieces and each given to one of the tribes, so that no tribe would have dominion over the desert. But, on that night, he saw as his attackers killed one of the elders right in front of him before taking the elder’s key piece.  Oran continues that, as keeper of the key for his tribe, his piece was also taken, but it seems like at least one of the other elders got away with their piece as he has been tortured by the guards to try and uncover the location of where his remaining people may have fled. He, of course, did not give this information up, a mostly toothless grin appearing on his face.  If you ask more about this location, Oran explains that his people have a sacred oasis that they may go to in time of need, and his people would most likely have fled there for safety but he refuses to give you directions. He does however say that whoever the attackers of their tribes were, they cannot be allowed to gain all the key pieces as holding such power over the desert has only led to bloodshed in the past.  GM’s Notes:   The Collector is behind the attacks on the tribes people of the desert and the torture of Oran. He wears three out of four pieces of the key to the desert around his neck, and wishes to collect the remaining key fragment so that he may rule the desert.

The players may call The Collector to inform him of the information they gained from Oran regarding the sacred Oasis, and although it takes him a longer time his people will manage to find it and recover the final key fragment; giving him the ability to rule over the desert as he desired.

Other ways to resolve this quest may be to talk to other inmates, some of whom have been planning an escape via a tunnel they’ve been digging and bribe or otherwise convince them to let you come along, perhaps even bringing Oran with you.  In addition, the players may be able to directly betray The Collector, calling him to the prison only to confront him instead, with the intent of getting the other three key fragments back. In this case, the guards will come to defend him as well as his two bodyguards.  If Oran is presented with the other three key fragments to return to his people, he thanks you profusely explaining that you’re always welcome among his people, as well as you given directions to the sacred oasis so that if you ever need, you may seek shelter there.

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