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mattbenner.bsky.social
Hi Folks, I'm kicking off the new year with a new #TTRPG project #AHexADay I'm going to try and flesh out my new adventure setting, "The Jungle Of Falling Stars" one hex tile per day until I've filled up a whole map.
First hex in the replies.
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January 13, 2025 at 9:26 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Continuing our look at the Port Of Knives districts we now visit the residential districts, removed from each other by both compass points and social class.

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The Timber District The Timber District sits at the western end of the city where the ocean meets the river and is dominated by logging operations, lifting the rafts of bundled wood floated down from Hippoli out of the river, processing them before transport to the warehouses of merchant Houses in the harbour district. Despite the sawdust and constant noise the district is also home to the majority of the lower class housing within the city, with most working in either the timber district or the adjacent harbour district. Much of this takes the form of rickety blocks built from from offcuts and rejected timber harvested from the district itself with much of the housing owing it's stability to the density of buildings. Consequently fires are the biggest danger in the district often spreading quickly and destroying large swathes of the district. These ruins are quickly cleared and repopulated as the city's need for labour is unending. The Noble District Located farthest from the harbour district at the north eastern end of the city, the noble district is primarily residential, its only gesture towards commerce being the eastern gateway through which travellers and traders who reach the city by foot are obliged to pass through. Well apportioned homes, luxury apartments and even several mansions form the bulk of the district excluding any not able to afford the luxurious lifestyle of a merchant house scion. At the very edge of the district sits the lord magistrates palace, a decidedly utilitarian building despite its grandeur. The high walls of the palace contain guard barracks, courts and the city's most secure prison. Lord magistrate Tuun Ukit observes the city from the high tower, trying to find a balance between the interests of the merchant houses, his city guard and the general population.
October 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
No Hex today instead the rest of the week we'll be looking at the jungle for fallen stars' smaller city, the always exciting and often dangerous Port of Knives.

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Port of Knives Summary Known as Chiramuk in official records, the port of knives earned its common name for the vicious and often deadly politicking of the city's merchant houses. Each house vies for the lucrative timber and mining contracts coming from Hippoli and wider jungle in a silent war that often escalates to piracy, sabotage and assassination. The lord magistrate Tuun Ukit attempts to keep the city from breaking out into open warfare with judicious use of his elite enforcement guard while the so called pirate princes act outside the rule of law making a tidy profit off of the bickering merchant houses, even while officially being condemned by them. For the ordinary citizens the port of knives is a colourful and exciting place to live. Goods from all over the jungle and from far off lands can be found in the city’s markets. The stream of merchants, sailors and mercenaries ensures a stream of new faces and new experiences. As the name suggests though it can also be a dangerous place, from drunken bar brawls at the dock side inns, to pirate duels or violent criminal enterprise. Then there is the ever present danger of accidentally crossing the wrong merchant family or pirate prince.
September 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
The last of the major factions within the city of Knives is the city watch, and their leader the lord magistrate Tuun Ukit. Next we'll be looking at the city districts and places of interest within the city.

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The Lord Magistrate Between the bickering of the merchant houses and the organised criminality from the pirate princes, lord magistrate Tuun Ukit has his work cut out for him. He commands the city watch known as the bracers to locals but his efforts at justice are regularly thwarted by the corruption of his own men, many of whom have long standing protection rackets or agreements with the city's criminal underworld or particular merchant houses. Tuun Ukit is seeking people from outside to help uncover and deal with these issues. The Bracers Known as The Bracers, the city watch of the port of knives are a truly varied group containing corruption of many kinds, the most tolerated are those working with the merchant houses. They may overlook taxes or operations of questionable legality but they do little to disrupt the running of the city and some would argue they grease its wheels. Those members of the watch who owe loyalty to pirates captains are more of a problem but with increased scrutiny from the lord magistrate it is hoped that self preservation will drive them back towards legality. The lord magistrate’s inner circle were brought in from Hippoli and while that has kept them loyal to Tuun Ukit it has also bred a distance between them and the other watch members who view them as outsiders.
September 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Leaving long city descriptions for a while today we visit an old man with a lot of stories, some of them he can even prove are true.

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A large home with a high perimeter wall sits at the top of a hill overlooking the lands around. Hex 0606 - remnant of Past Glory. 0606 - Remnant of Past Glory A hilltop home keeps watch of the surrounding lands but within it holds a history of past glories. Terrain: Jungle/River, 2:6 chance to become lost unless following the river. Encounters: Medium frequency, Jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. The Hilltop Manor Sitting on a hill to give an excellent view of the surrounding lands, The hilltop manor makes a prominent landmark for locals. The two storey sandstone home with flat roofs that feature defensive ballistae and a high stone surrounding wall give the impression of a fortress, yet within the walls a well tended garden and luxurious bathing pool suggest a much more sedate life for its inhabitants. Chief among these inhabitants is Grom Shrewbren, an aging adventurer of some renown hailing from a foreign land but long settled in the jungle. In his old age Grom has settled down with a family but he keeps the evidence of his past victories in a small museum that takes up a pair of large rooms on the ground floor. Grom is always happy to share details of his exploits though he has a habit of embellishing them. Museum Grom’s museum may be small but it contains many impressive items, from the skull of a tyrannosaur, the armour of a golden legion commander (complete with a hole in the chest where groms blade impaled him) to a silver chalice containing the blood of a vampire. Pride of place is Grom’s Longsword “Savagan” which means “ending” in his native tongue. When held this blade glows with a blue light. Grom’s museum makes an excellent place for any magical item if you want to create a heist scenario or you wish them to gain the favour of a powerful NPC. Grom A human man in his sixties yet still sporting long grey hair and a wide smile. Age may have mellowed him but he is still a giant of a man with bulging muscles though have softened a little from several years of easy living.
October 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Apologies for a few days of silence, visiting family and a lot of real life work interrupted my map building more than I expected. Anyway I'm back and we're continuing to detail 0906
The starting town of Witizza by looking at its landmarks.
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Nikitai Estate With the town's largest orchard spreading out behind it nikitai manor offers an impressive sight three cylindrical towers each topped with a teardrop shaped rooftop. Each tower linked by walls that form a triangular building below. Just a short distance away the distillery is equally impressive although more clearly industrial, its circular shape and domed roof stands out as a clear show of wealth. This is very much intended by the Nikitai family. Although their line has no connection to the royalty of Hippoli they have used their wealth to emulate the styles favoured by those rulers creating a family home and business that stands out starkly against the squat flat roofed buildings that make up most of the town. Nuvarus compound Despite their very real connections to Hippoli nobility, House Nuvarus’ home has little to distinguish it from the other town buildings except for the walls that surround its collection of smaller dwellings. Their distillery is the largest building, appearing as a simple warehouse, its main doors open to allow a regular stream of carts to leave and return from the docks or more far flung locations. House Nuvarus send regular shipments of savat upriver to Hippoli and often hire adventurers, they also have a significant level of influence in Hippoli so befriending them will provide opportunities for the politically minded characters. Huitzili’s tower Sitting at the opposite end of the town to the Nikitai estate Huitzili's tower provides the only other landmark in the town of significant height. The tower itself is a strange twisting structure built of a seemingly seamless material known as bone weave, a creation of sorcerous magic. The tower consequently has the look of something grown rather than built like a giant coral that eventually twists into pointed spires. Huitzili the wizard is avoided by much of the town though he is popular with magically minded adventurers. He has taken on several adventurers as apprentices although his teaching is far from conventional. Most often his apprentices are tasked with finding an item or investigating a place of interest for the old wizard. Huitzili is an enemy of the twisted hand cabal and he has a particular distaste for outsider artefacts and creatures viewing them as malicious and powerful intelligences just as dangerous as the gods.
February 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we meet a rival party of adventurers currently camping out at Hex 0607 - River Village Ruin. Will they end up as friends or foes.

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The ruins of a small village on the edge of the Itzca river are almost completely engulfed by the jungle. Hex 0607 - River Village Ruin 0607 - River Village Ruin The jungle has largely taken back the site of a small riverside village however it still provides shelter and a useful outpost for some. Terrain: Dense Jungle, 2:6 Chance to become lost, cannot become lost if following the river. Encounters: Medium frequency, central jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water plentiful. Old River Village The remains of a village sit on the western bank of the river, telling an all too common tale of failure to tame the jungle. The wooden structures are heavily overgrown with vines and creepers their roofs fallen in or broken through by plant growth. Only two buildings provide any real shelter, stone constructions that were clearly intended for the most important villagers. Both of these show signs of recent use. There is a 3:6 that the adventuring party known as “The Oath of Gold” are residing in the ruin. Naar Tulwi - The Goldhound Naar is the leader of the adventurers known as “The Oath of Gold”, An experienced mercenary who tired of the meagre rewards available as a caravan guard, choosing to turn his skills to the more lucrative albeit more dangerous pursuit of adventuring. Naar is known to be ruthless in his acquisition of gold and views all those outside his party as fair targets for looting. “The Oath of Gold” Naar is joined in the “The Oath of Gold” by: Hectana The Strong - A towering Bassu warrior who favours her four fists over weaponry. Confident, bawdy, quick-tempered. He Who Eats Air - A spindly elven mage well versed in spells of darkness and entropy. Quiet, distracted, uncouth. Pha-Xuniz - A graceful lizardfolk thief long exiled from her tribe. Cruel, quick witted, calculating.
August 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we travel far east to where the Abraxa river meets its final tributary. Hex 1004 - Marriage of the Abraxa.

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A set of hills guide two rivers into an engagement. Hex 1004 - marriage of the Abraxa. 1004 - Marriage Of The Abraxa The Abraxa river flows south and as it does so meets the tributary known as the Atiax, folklore describes Atiax as a romantic who is utterly consumed by their love for Abraxa, their flow subsumed into that of the Abraxa. Terrain: badlands, 1:6 chance to become lost, cannot become lost if following one of the rivers Encounters: medium frequency, badlands. Foraging: Food Standard/Water plentiful. Lair of the Dead Chimera In the hills above the river confluence a small network of caves once provided a lair for a vicious chimera, long ago that beast was slain by travelling adventurers yet just recently reports of attacks in the area have risen sharply with survivors claiming a chimera, reeking of foulness and death to be the source of the attacks. The truth is that Aegun a cultist of the lord of law Aeturna has reanimated the chimera to attack river trade on the Abraxa. Both the cultist and the undead chimera are found within a small cave system, with the cultist using the Chimera as a guard of sorts whenever they realise intruders have entered the caves. Aegun of the Pious Silence Aegun is a death priest of Aeturna, sworn to perform the works of that god of life, death and unlife. Aegun is part of the Pious Silence, an order of Aeturna’s followers who consider the silence of the undead as holy. Aegun fled from Hippoli when the cult he founded was purged. Despite his isolation he is still a powerful adversary with a number of undead creatures bound to his will. The Sunken Shrine At the meeting point of the Atiax and the Abraxa a shrine lies beneath the water ravaged by time and erosion. Only the Spirits of the jungle know that this shrine venerates the corrupted spirit of the Abraxa, Apollax who sleeps beneath lake Hippoli. As the spirit’s only remaining shrine it would be necessary for any ritual to awaken or appease the terrifying spirit.
April 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Travelling south west from the cliff walkers home we find a what remains of another home, one destroyed and yet still inhabited. Hex 1205 - The Forsaken Village.

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The remains of a village lie untouched by life of any kind. Hex 1205 The Forsaken Village. 1205 - The Forsaken Village The Jungle shrinks back from a large clearing where crumbling stone structures mark the ruins of an ancient lizardfolk village. Grim totems of bone and skull surround the ruin’s outskirts, a warning to intruders and a ward against the occupants within. Terrain: Jungle, 1:6 chance to become lost. Cannot become lost if following the coast Encounters: Medium frequency, 3:6 Central Jungle otherwise Coastal. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. The Nameless Village Perhaps the first thing noticeable about the ruined village is the absence of life, indeed given the age of the ruin most would expect it to be extremely overgrown but instead the wall stand bare, weathered by wind and rain but untouched by living things. The reason lies in the history of the local lizardfolk and particularly the vampire Cha-Gul, currently imprisoned in Hex 1105. The village stripped of its name was her home and the legacy of her vampiric magics continue to taint the land itself. The village was forsaken by the tribes and marked as a cursed place both to keep others out and to keep its denizens in. The Village Denizens Beneath the crumbling dwellings creatures of bone and spirit still prowl, each still seeking the guidance and appreciation of their master. Due to the curse of forsaking laid upon the village they are unable to recall the name of the Village but they recall their master and will only tolerate the living if they believe it will further the path to releasing their master. Undead Plots When they don’t simply attack on sight, The denizens of the nameless village will try to persuade visitors to enter the Labyrinthine Jungle (Hex 1105), using whatever temptations they think might raise the visitors interest. They believe with enough victims Cha-Gul will become powerful enough to break free of the labyrinth herself. Knowledge of both the village and its master will also be very valuable to followers of the Lord of law Aeturna.
May 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we learn that illusions in the desert may not just be disappointing, they can also be deadly. Hex 1012 - The False Oasis.

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A metallic surface creates the illusion of water in the midst of the desert sands. Hex 1012 The False Oasis. 1012 - The False Oasis In the devastating heat of the desert a flash of silver amongst the dunes promises water, but none will find salvation here. Terrain: desert, 1:6 Chance to become lost Encounters: Medium Frequency, Desert. Foraging: Food scarce/Water scarce. The Silver Oasis From a distance the gleam of a reflective surface looks indistinguishable from water, especially to those suffering a great thirst. Unfortunately the reflective metal surface of the silver oasis provides no water, a trick of the light that predators have come to use as a trap for weakened prey. Alongside this the false Oasis seems to move around the area with a 1:3 chance it will not be present when travelling through the hex. Predators In The Sand Drawn in by the promise of water many creatures approach this false oasis most often those already weak from thirst. This has not gone unnoticed by the desert predators, the most notorious being Desiccators. These strange man sized insects hide buried in the sands close to the false oasis, sensing prey through vibrations, after it passes them they burst from the sand their prehensile Proboscis seeking uncovered skin where it can latch on and draw out blood, fluid and any other moisture present. What Is The False Oasis? Beneath the sands lie the ruins of an ancestor vessel. Despite its age its hull still gleams when uncovered, peeking up from under the sand. While most of the ship is buried far too deep, a raised hull section beneath this area is just high enough to occasionally be uncovered by the wind and shifting sands. This accounts for the seeming movement of the false oasis, there is even the possibility though unlikely of two false oasis appearing through the movement of the sands.
April 20, 2026 at 6:16 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Finally here's a random encounter table for the town and a little WIP of my town map, I wanted to finish it but ran out of time today.
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A stylised map of the town of Witizza. Town encounters specifically for Witizza D8 Encounter 1 A poorly helmed riverboat has damaged the ferry line. 2 A brawl breaks out in the Everlasting Flagon between rival groups of orchard pickers. 3 A visiting merchant has a strange magic item for sale, 2:6 chance it's cursed. 4 A flight of pterodactyls has taken up roost in the Nuvarus distillery. 5 A magical anomaly passes through the town temporarily causing small mundane objects to float a foot off the ground. 6 A fire has broken out and townsfolk are rushing to contain the blaze. 7 A caravan of goblin traders has arrived in town their wares are strange but their costs even stranger, what is the value of a memory or emotion. 8 A unit of raptor knights have arrived from Hippoli. They are looking for volunteers to aid them in seeking out a cult of Law or Chaos that is hiding in the region.
February 19, 2025 at 9:16 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Moving west back towards the city we pass a site that is scarred both by the past and the present. Hex 0704 - Scoured Crater.
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The road passes a huge crater it's surface scoured of greenery and vegetation for an industrial purpose. Hex 0704 the scoured Crater 0704 - Scoured Crater The jungle falls away as the road passes an ancient crater. Signs of controlled fires and harsh logging cover the area, seemingly stripping plantlife from the crater. Sounds of industry rise from the crater and every so often the area shakes with the low rumble of an explosion. Terrain: sparse forest, 1:6 chance to become lost. Impossible to become lost if sticking to the road. Encounters: low frequency, northern jungle. Foraging: Food scarce/Water scarce. The Crater Mine Entered via a short tunnel close to the road, which is guarded by a pair of less than diligent bugbears, the crater mine is a vast operation. Around 100 labourers, mostly human but with some goblins, bugbears and dwarves toil in pits and short tunnels chipping away soil and rock or carting it away to be processed in the central area. The Crater mine, as any of the mine’s overseers are happy to tell characters, is mining star metal. A material thought to be fragments of the ancestor vessels given how often it is found within the craters where these vessels fell. The mine overseers are friendly to adventurers, but will not allow them to interact with mine equipment or hassle the labourers, they are also constantly on the lookout for theft and will generally try to keep strangers away from the refined metal storage. Beneath The Crater D100 days (or whenever you deem appropriate) after the characters first encounter the crater mine rumours begin to spread that the mine disturbed something terrible and has been abandoned. Returning to the crater mine characters will encounter an ancient automaton which was unearthed by the miners. It's accidental awakening coming via explosives caused the construct to attack in self defense. Having scared off what it assumed to be attackers it is now attempting to rebuild the ship using the meagre amounts of starmetal still found in the crater. Clever or wizardly types might be able to redirect or even control the construct, gaining a powerful companion in the process. Head Overseer Sentarius A minor noble in Hippoli, Sentarius runs the mine in the hopes of earning both the wealth and prestige that would allow him to advance his family into a more powerful position amongst the nobility. He is no fighter and will always use others for protection and to assert his authority. After the mine is abandoned he will offer a sizable reward for anyone able to remove the automaton from the mine. Though this reward is somewhat exaggerated with him offering to make up the difference in payments over time, from the mine’s income.
March 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
At the border between jungle and wasteland an ominous sinkhole drops down into vast and unrelenting darkness. Hex 1112 - The Dark Beneath.

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A sinkhole encroaches upon the border of the jungle. Hex 1112 - the dark beneath. 1112 - The Dark Beneath A large sinkhole drops into the darkness, but how far does that darkness stretch, and what lurks beneath. Terrain: Jungle, 1:6 chance to become lost Encounters: medium frequency, southern jungle. After discovering the mouth of the abyss, 3:6 chance encounter is with overhive drones Foraging: Food standard/Water standard The Mouth Of The Abyss The Sinkhole stretches roughly 20ft across its walls only lit by sun or moonlight, the darkness quickly swallowing up anything more than a few feet down. Hidden in darkness the sides of the sinkhole contain ledges every 20 - 30ft. down. Meaning that with a little difficulty the sides can be navigated. The Depths Of The Abyss. The sinkhole continues a mile down breaching into the upper levels of the world below. At around halfway down climbers will begin to encounter creatures of the overhive. To start with these will be groups of drones but as they go further down they should experience more power overhive creatures. If they leave and return later they should encounter the drones earlier making it clear that they are moving slowly closer to the surface. Quest Ideas The Mouth of the Abyss can be used as a simple entrance to the world below, allowing for adventures in an underground setting, the slow and potential traversal onto its depths allowing for a growing sense of dread. Another use is as a ticking timebomb which the players must work out how to defuse. The creatures of the overhive are ascending and will eventually reach the surface in great numbers, how will the players stop them?
November 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we visit the centre of the jungle where a strange grove provides quiet contemplation by day and a deadly challenge at night.

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A strange grove lies at the centre of the jungle. Hex 0808 - meditations & monsters 0808 - Meditations & Monsters Amidst the jungle a well tended grove provides a place of meditation and a deadly trial. Terrain: Dense Jungle, 3:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: Day: Low Frequency Night: High Frequency, Central Jungle. Foraging: Food standard /Water standard. The Grove Of Dawn & Dusk A place revered by the lizardfolk tribes, the grove gains its name from its shifting function, a peaceful place of reverence during the day and a deadly trial after sunset. In daylight the grove is a meeting place for the lizardfolk’s living shamen, due to the position of the grove at the intersection of several lines of magical power they are able to commune with many of the spirits of the jungle providing deep insight into the state of things. It is this same intersection of power which at night draws warriors wishing to prove their mettle as with the coming of darkness the terrifying arcanovores rise from their nocturnal slumber and come to feast upon the magic focused there. The Arcanovores These lumbering creatures are almost entirely alien in appearance. Their squat, lizard-like body is almost reminiscent of a crocodilian but bloated to the size of a small elephant, its head replaced with a probing trunk that, unlike an elephant's, sports several rows of teeth. If the creatures have eyes or ears they are too alien to identify but its movements and reactions suggest its senses are keen. With armoured hide and lashing trunk arcanovores are difficult to take down but it is believed that killing one releases the magic it has consumed back into the world giving the fight great value in the eyes of the lizardfolk.
November 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
For today's hex we travel back to the storm break mountains where an old dwarven ruin has a strange new ruler. Hex 0511 - Green Ruin.
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A small dwarven ruin sits amongst the foothills of the storm break mountains overgrown with jungle foliage to an unnatural degree. Hex 0511 - Green Ruin 0511 - Green Ruin In a sheltered nook at the base of a mountain vines and ferns cling to the ancient ruins of a small dwarven fort a variety of beasts patrol its exterior all strangely docile and unbothered by the proximity of predator and prey. Terrain: mountainous jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: high frequency, central jungle. 3:6 chance for encounters to be charmed beasts. Foraging: Food Standard/Water Standard. The Overgrown Fort The heavily overgrown ruins of a dwarven fort cling to the mountainside, plants grow in abundance even inside where the light is poor. Animals wander in and out without fear, predator and prey walking together as though friends. Deeper into the ruins more dangerous animals act like sentinels allowing passage only to those with peaceful intentions. In the deepest part of the keep a broken roof allows sunlight to shine upon the ruler of this strange domain. The Grove Within The ruin has become home to a dryad, an embodiment of nature from the outer realms with the ability to command beasts and control plant life. The Dryad itself appears gentle and peaceful to those who do not harm it's creatures or domain however what counts as harm is widely defined, building and industry are viewed as attacks upon the jungle and local settlements are now threatened by violent packs of enthralled animals. An Alien Intelligence As a creature of another plane the Dryad represents something alien which does not follow the usual rules of the setting. The peoples of the jungle are used to honouring the various nature spirits and being treated fairly in response, this hints at the artificial nature of the jungle spirits whose purpose is maintaining balance while the Dryad is an adversarial force seeking to remove what it views as a parasite from the land it has claimed.
March 5, 2026 at 6:44 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
I return at last with another hex, apologies for the long break. Today is all about illusion and the ethics of seeking help from secret cults.
Hex 1113 - The Arch Hiding Gold.

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A natural stone arch stands out where the jungle meets the desert. Hex 1113 - The Arch Hiding Gold. 1113 - The Arch Hiding Gold At the edge of the desert, standing out from the flat sands to the west and green jungle to the east a formation of rocks makes a low archway that shimmers strangely from afar but seems perfectly normal up close. Terrain: Jungle, 1:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: Medium frequency, Southern Jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. Illusionary arch The stone arch is in fact a complicated illusion covering the entrance to a hidden tunnel complex. Approaching the archway without knowledge of what it hides will cause a creature to become disoriented and change direction without realising. Those with knowledge of magic and the arcane may be able to notice the illusion and even dispel it with appropriate spells. Those who know what the illusion hides can simply walk through the arch finding themselves at the entrance of a wide tunnel that slopes downwards. The Tunnels Below Inside the hidden tunnel connects to a labyrinthine complex of stone corridors and artificial caverns that house a cult of the Golden Lord. Most cultists will question the presence of outsiders but are not immediately hostile believing any who made it through the illusion are likely to be allies. If the illusion was dispelled then the wizard leader of the cult will know if this but will still start off with negotiation rather than violence. The Cult's Purpose This hidden sanctuary acts as a watch post to keep an eye on the spearpoints. The Golden lord knows of the overhive and the struggles of the tusked dwarves. Such a powerful chaotic force as the overhive is seen as a serious threat by the law cultists and with some persuasion they could be convinced to assist the dwarves of the spearpoints. However working with cultists always has its downsides. Pushing back a menace like the overhive would give them legitimacy and the other powers in the region might embrace them or attack the dwarves for working with enemies of the nation.
September 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Just a little further south the enemies of both the lizardfolk and many others gather, a force from the infamous cult of law, the golden legion. Hex 1016 - Faceless Coast.

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A large war camp sits between the forest and the sea. Hex 1016 - Faceless Coast. 1016 - Faceless Coast Just a few miles south of fort Ironclaw, the jungle coast is alive with activity. The shoreline is dominated by a makeshift landing dock and the merchant ships anchored offshore carry a cargo of troops rather than goods. Terrain: Coast, 1:6 chance to become lost, cannot become lost if following the coastline. Encounters: Medium frequency, coast. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. The Faceless War Camp The leader of the golden lord's forces in this area is an individual known only as The Faceless, who's golden mask displays an expressionless visage. Their soldiers patrol the area for a couple of miles outside the camp. Whilst not friendly they are not overtly hostile and will attempt to capture rather than kill in the case of combat. The war camp covers around half a mile of coastline with makeshift docks pushing into the sea and wooden palisades pushing into the jungle. Most of the camp is formed of tents but a few permanent watchtowers and a command station have been constructed. The Faceless The Faceless is a strict adherent to a sect of the golden lords followers who view personal identity and individualism as a source of chaos. Ironically this has in itself created a legend around them, the Faceless warrior who destroys the golden lord's enemies. The Faceless is a powerful cleric and wields the hammer of law, said to crush the spirit as well as the body of those it falls upon. Captured The Faceless seeks locals to act as guides and infiltrators for their forces currently they seek aid in taking fort Ironclaw and are willing to provide valuable rewards to those who aid them. Captured players will be cared for and offered work although this works will always come with conditions and safeguards to protect the golden lord's forces.
May 28, 2025 at 6:06 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
We finally meet another tribe of the tusked dwarfs, the silvereaters in their ancient ancestral home the three spires known as The Prongs - Hex 0414.

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Three stone spires rise up from the jungle into the sky, piercing the clouds like mountaintops. Hex 0414 - the three Prongs 0414 - The Three Prongs Standing tall above the jungle canopy, the ancient dwarven stronghold known as the three Prongs towers over the landscape. Terrain: jungle, the size of the three Prongs as a landmark makes it almost impossible to become lost in the area. Encounters: medium frequency, southern jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. The First Prong The Southernmost spire of the three prongs is known as the first Prong and is the stronghold of the Silvereaters tribe of tusked dwarves. As with most tribes of tusked dwarves they are locked in a constant battle with the chaotic overhive that resides in the world below. This drain on their resources and mining capabilities results in most wearing armour sourced directly from the bodies of their enemies. For the silver eaters this situation is so dire that only their king can still go to battle in full dwarven plate and rank is indicated by casing their tusks in silver, one of the few metals they are still able to mine freely. The first prong provides some access to outsiders for accommodation and rest but very few are allowed to work or settle within the spire. The East and West Prongs The East prong is the centre of the Silvereaters remaining mining activities as it is so far unbreached by the overhive it tracks a bountiful vein of silver but provides little access to other metals, above ground the spire of the east prong is given over to crafting and industry. The West Prong is a battleground with much of its underground controlled by the overhive, warriors are sent regularly from the first prong to reinforce the situation but new recruits are hard to come by and ground is given almost daily. The World Below The spires reach as deep below ground as they do above it making direct contact with the world below, this underrealm was already dangerous before the coming of the overhive, a honeycomb of microclimates and impossible ecosystems that support a vast variety of forms of life and many strange dimensional anomalies.
July 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Travelling far to the south east of the map we find a strange coastal phenomenon. The hexagonal columns of hex 1215 - the geometric shore.

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#oldschoolessentials
Hexagonal columns create a grid-like pattern along the coastline, due to a strange plant that grows in the lines of this grid it often appears to glow after dark. Hex 1215 - The Geometric Shore. 1215 - The Geometric Shore Hexagonal Basalt columns stretch down to the sea creating a strange geometric landscape of grey stone. Terrain: Jungle coast, 1:6 chance to become lost unless following the coastline. Encounters: Medium frequency, coastal. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard, Anyone foraging in this hex discover 1d6 portions of violet crawler in addition to any other results. The Coastal Grid A large formation of hexagonal basalt columns cover approximately a mile of the coastline, creating an uneven hex grid along the shore. Small pterosaurs make nests in the higher reaches of the formation, preying on fish and crustaceans left by the tide. Far stranger than these is the purple plant life that thrives in cracks between columns outlining areas of similar height and producing a bioluminescence at night that makes many areas appear to be glowing brightly. Violet Crawler Named for its vivid hue, Violet Crawler is a particularly strange, almost artificial seeming plant. It's small leaves form perfect triangles which grow in arrangements that suggest straight lines. These seem to intentionally form along the lines of the hexagonal stones where they grow. Violet Crawler’s strangest property is only found when it is crushed into a thick paste. When spread upon the tongue this paste grants the imbiber a supernatural sense of direction for several hours. A party lead by someone who has taken violet crawler in this manner cannot be lost during the day it was taken. Expiration Date Violet crawler doesn't last long once harvested. A portion will last 3 days in normal jungle conditions. Once it goes bad it takes on a much darker hue and will have the opposite effect if taken.
September 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we travel to the south western tip of the jungle to visit some surprisingly new construction for such an isolated spot.

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A strange ziggurat rises from an isolated stretch of jungle near the southern edge of the jungle. Hex 0216 - The Ziggurat of Callaxstada 0216 - The Ziggurat of Callaxstada Far from trade routes or any well trodden paths, cultists of Callaxstada, the chaos prince of unmaking, have erected a monument to their god. Its very presence distorts the rules of reality, twisting time till it breaks. Terrain: jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost unless following the coastline. Encounters: medium frequency, coastal jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. The Infernal Ziggurat Built of bone, iron and the wreckage of an ancestor vessel the ziggurat defies detailed description, even its shape seems mutable and despite being new construction it often appears as ancient as the stars. The Callaxstada cultists live within range of its warping effects and most seem driven to insanity by its effects, they regularly sacrifice either prisoners or each other by pushing them into the entrance of the ziggurat from which so far none have returned from. Time Unmade Within a square of 200 yards surrounding the Ziggurat and within the Ziggurat itself time is being broken down. The results in a random chance of speeding up or slowing down. At the start of each round spent in the area roll a d6, on a 1-3 time slows on a 4-6 it speeds up. When time is slowed all creature movement is halved and any action, including simple actions like drawing a weapon, takes the whole of the round to perform. When time is sped up all creature movement is doubled and twice as many actions as normal can be performed on that round. Time Eaters Within the ziggurat, time spirits have been corrupted into creatures known as time eaters. These wretched creatures are what the cultist’s sacrifices feed. Time eaters are unaffected by the warping of time, acting normally no matter whether time is slowed or sped up. Critical hits from their attacks age the target by 1d6 years.
October 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Just a little to the west we visit the home of the Cliff walker tribe. Hex 1104 - The Hanging Lizards.

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#shadowrun
The lizard folk live amongst the hills and ravines suspended above danger. Hex 1104 The Hanging Lizards 1104 - The Hanging Lizards As the Atiax cuts its way through the foothills of Phalaxi mountains, journeying toward its fatal meeting with its lover, it creates many cliffs, valleys and ravines on its way and these have become the dwellings of the ever watchful Cliff Walkers tribe of lizardfolk. Terrain: Foothills, 2:6 chance of becoming lost Encounters: Medium frequency, badlands. Foraging: Food scarce/Water plentiful The Cliff Walker Dwellings The cliff walker tribe make their homes on cliffsides, although they are often referred to as hanging villages this is not truly accurate as the buildings are secured into the rockface and often expand into the cliff making use of natural caves to provide more stability. Consequently the Cliff Walker tribe have become experts at scaling vertical surfaces with some able to scale up and down the cliffs without the use of ropes. From their high vantage points the tribes folk are protected from most threats and able to spot new ones long before they reach them, something which they have had to become very adept at over the years. Leadership The leaders of the tribe see impending threats on all sides, their Shamen have long watched over the Labyrinthine Jungle in hex 1105, fearing the escape of its vampiric captive. To the east the Iron Reavers who took over the hamlet of Na-ab Ushtl have already shown their capacity for violence and to the west the sinking keep is occupied by goblinoid mercenaries turned to banditry. Tribe Chieftain Cuoa Sulatl has a plan to provoke fighting between the Goblins and the Reavers but others in the village worry that this might cause one group to subsume the other creating a greater threat. Available Services The Cliff Walkers suspended settlements are intentionally hard to reach requiring scaling up or down sheer cliff faces and the tribes folk are suspicious of any non-lizardfolk visitors, however players may be in luck as the recent threats have moved the village leadership to seek outside aid. If allowed in the apprentice shaman Ip Ortraxi will be willing to heal injuries and can cure most minor illnesses.
May 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Okay back to more traditional hexes for a while starting with hex 1003 - the sinking fort, where we meet mercenary goblins and a strange archway.
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Two rivers divide the land into foothills and swampland. Hex 1003 - The Sinking Fort. 1003 - The Sinking Fort Between two rivers where foothills give way to swampland an old fort squats crooked towers half sunken into the swamp. Terrain: 50:50 Swampland: foothills, 1:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: medium frequency, foothills. Foraging: Food scarce/Water standard The Sinking Keep An ancient outpost to watch over lake Hippolis built by a long dead kingdom. The eastern walls and tower have begun to slide down into the swamp giving the structure a lopsided appearance. The fort has recently become home to a group of goblinoids, ex-mercenaries who have turned to banditry to survive since the end of the war. They are using the place as a base from which to launch raids on riverboats and against the local lizardfolk tribe. The Bandits There are thirty bandits made up of, seventeen goblins, four hobgoblins and 9 bugbears. Their leader is a charismatic hobgoblin who serenades his troops with tales of their exploits to inspire them and intimidate their enemies. Some say the small drum he uses to keep the beat is enchanted. The group are technically deserters from the dragon eaters, a mercenary company of goblinoids who gained considerable acclaim during the war against the golden lord but quickly fell apart once peace was declared. The Twisted Archway (hidden) Deep in the swamp vines and trees twist themselves around an ancient stone archway that quietly hums. This is in fact a hidden portal which allows those who enter it to access a strange sub-realm known as the spiritway, travelling through the spiritway allows creatures to reach other spiritway portals across the jungle of fallen stars. Travel between gateways usually takes around 8 hours so long as the traveller knows the destination they are trying to reach or can be led there by another who does know. Entering the spiritway without a clear knowledge of your exit leads to 2D4 days wandering through this strange realm potentially encountering fae creatures or elementals, after this time the travellers will be spat out of a random gateway somewhere in the jungle of fallen stars.
February 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
On the opposite shore the land quickly gives way to the jungle, but it is below the lake water where the real treasure lies.
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A large lake stretches across most of the hex only reaching the shore on the southern edge. Hex 0710 - lake Itzcan Southern Shore. 0710 - Lake Itzcan Southern Shore The river Itzca is interrupted by an unnaturally circular lake. Terrain: lake & shoreline, cannot become lost. Encounters: low frequency, riverside. Foraging: Food plentiful/Water plentiful. Lake Itzcan Lake Itzcan formed when a sizable piece of an ancestor star vessel impacted on the river Itzca forming a massive crater over six miles wide. Most of the star vessel was vaporized on impact but a single heavily armoured vault remains buried at the bottom of the lake. The lizardfolk of the area know of the vault’s existence, calling it the deep vault. It has never been opened and the lizardfolk have labelled it a taboo location, as they fear the ancient horrors it may contain more than any technical advantage they might recover. Entering The Deep Vault The deep vault is 230ft underwater, mostly buried in the lakebed. It is only accessible via a 10ft diameter circular door made of pure adamantium. The door will only open to someone wielding the authority of the ancestors. This authority would likely be provided by a magic item strongly tied to the ancestors, non-magical badges of office having almost certainly decayed beyond usage over the millenia. The door acts as an airlock so once characters have opened the door and entered it will close behind them and remove water before allowing them entry to the vault. Contents Of The Deep Vault The deep vault should contain something of significance to the campaign, it is intended to be used as either a campaign ender or a campaign starter. Perhaps it contains a magical weapon that can bind or even kill a god, perhaps the vault is a hanger and the players can obtain a small but operational star vessel. Or perhaps they open it right at the start of the campaign and accidentally unleash a long sealed creature or technology that they will need to spend the rest of the campaign dealing with.
February 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Travelling back towards the city we come to the great fortress of Hylexia standing strong against the wilds and watching over the city. Hex 0703 - Hylexia Field.
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#shadowdark
#Ahexaday
A fortress sits upon a hill in sight of the city but watching over the hills, plains and jungle that surround it. Hex 0703 - Hylexia Field 0703 - Hylexia Field A few miles outside the city, fort Hylexia is both a training centre for the Queen's army and a defensive bastion in case the city is besieged. Terrain: plains, 1:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: low frequency, plains. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. Fort Hylexia Fort Hylexia sits atop a small hill overlooking the agricultural plains surrounding and supplying the city of Hippoli. It is chiefly a training centre for the queen’s army but it also acts as an effective wall against coastal incursions and outside support in case of a siege. Anyone serving the queen's army will likely visit the fort at some point however the fort holds another purpose few outside the queen’s inner circle and a small number of trusted adventurers know. Beneath The Foundations Fort Hylexia’s tactical benefits were only ever incidental as its true purpose was always to secure and disguise the site of a large ancestor wreck. Below the fort a chunk of star vessel lies embedded in the earth, host to both strange wonders and dangerous defenses. The wreck contains both long forgotten guardians and inhabitants of the jungle who took up residence before the it was secured. None know what lies in the depths of the wreck for none have survived such a deep delve within. Instead elite units occasionally clear out the surface level and trusted adventurers are offered the chance to traverse the depths allowed to keep any loot they manage to carry out in exchange for technological information and magically enforced vows of secrecy. Secret of the Nature Spirits Within the deepest vaults of the wreck is information regarding the nature spirits that watch over the lands not just within this jungle but across the world of Aeio. The spirits are artificial beings. They were created by the ancestors to regulate and if necessary restore the natural balance and ecosystems. Not all these spirits were flawless in their creation as demonstrated by Apollax the spirit which sleeps beneath lake hippolis. Those with great knowledge might even be able to use these secrets to influence, corrupt, purify or even kill one of the nature spirits though it will be clear that any of these options especially the last could have apocalyptic effects on the land.
March 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Apologies that the Hexs have been a bit thin on the ground recently, I had a bit of a mental health low that kept me from posting for a bit. Anyway let's start back up with Hex 1109 - The Throat Of The Abraxa. A busy section of river with a criminal problem.

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The river Abraxa opens up as it reaches the sea and the port of knives. Hex 1109 - Throat Of The Abraxa 1109 - Throat Of The Abraxa The land here is divided by the widening of the Abraxa river as it approaches the rivermouth. The approaching rivermouth and the proximity to the Port of Knives makes it the busiest stretch of the Abraxa River. Terrain: Jungle/River, 1:6 chance to become lost unless following the banks of the river. Encounters: Low frequency, River. Foraging: Food average/Water plentiful The Waterway Fishing boats compete for space on the water with numerous logging rafts and occasional merchant vessels travelling inland. A thrum of activity dominates the landscape at all hours except the deepest night. There is no official crossing point but many fishermen will ferry travellers from one bank to the other for a price, something which only adds to the already clogged passage. The Logging Racket A gang of ex sailors from the port of knives are running a profitable scheme boarding logging rafts after dark and modifying the ownership marks on lumber so they are allocated to the gang’s clients. The merchant house Uio-Itzca have taken note of the inconsistencies and are actively recruiting investigators. Ishal Udzu The logging racket is led by Ishal Udzu, a former captain of a vessel in the Prince of Coin’s fleet. Using the wrecking of his former vessel as a chance to skip out on a few debts and go into business for himself Ishal has used a few of his contacts in the city to set up this lucrative scheme without the involvement of the pirate princes something which all of them but particularly the Prince of Coin would be very interested to learn.
May 18, 2026 at 6:21 PM