The Temple of the Drowned Moon is a sprawling, ancient ziggurat located deep within the Jungles of Tigre, shrouded by dense foliage and veiled in eternal mist. This colossal structure, constructed thousands of years ago by the now-extinct Saurus civilization, is steeped in blood-soaked history and dark prophecy. The temple’s name derives from an ominous belief: should Unknown the Drowned, the warlock-god of the Saurus, ascend as a Revenant Titan, a blood-moon will rise, triggering massive tidal waves that will drown the earth and heavens (moon) alike.
The Temple of the Drowned Moon is infamous for the horrific sacrifices performed upon its blood-streaked altars. During the Second Age (Twilight of Creation) and the Third Age (Age of the Elves), the Saurus offered not only their own kin but also captured Unknown, Elf, and other peoples to their gods, particularly to Zythrozal, who was said to embody the Ancient Old Ones, reptilian titans of unfathomable power. Though the Saurus civilization crumbled long ago, legends persist that Zythrozal’s spirit lingers within the temple, waiting for the blood-moon to rise and unleash his apocalyptic vengeance.
History and Origins
The Saurus Civilization
The Saurus were a savage and territorial race of lizard-like humanoids that thrived in the uncharted depths of the Jungles of Tigre. They claimed dominion over the jungles, worshipping the Ancient Old Ones, reptilian gods of destruction and renewal. Their society was built on strength, fear, and sacrifice, with the strongest among them ascending as priests, warlocks, and chieftains.
Zythrozal the Drowned
Central to their worship was a warlock named Zythrozal the Drowned, a towering and fearsome figure said to be the living avatar of the Ancient Old Ones. Zythrozal demanded constant sacrifices to strengthen his connection to his gods, and his influence extended across the region, threatening even the mighty Golden City of Itela in The Sun Realm.
Zythrozal’s end came when Avatar Rozan, the first Avatar of the Sun, confronted him atop the Temple of the Drowned Moon. Their battle shattered the ziggurat’s highest tiers, and Rozan’s divine fire reduced Zythrozal to cinders. However, the Saurus believed his essence was not destroyed but merely dormant, awaiting a blood-moon to awaken him as a revenant.
Curse of the Drowned Moon
According to legend, when Zythrozal ascends, a blood-moon will rise, marking the end of the world. Massive tidal waves will surge across the lands, swallowing mountains and drowning even the heavens. The Saurus revered this apocalyptic event as their ultimate salvation, believing it would cleanse the world and restore the reign of the Ancient Old Ones.
Architecture and Features
- The Ziggurat: The Temple of the Drowned Moon is an immense, stepped pyramid constructed of black volcanic stone. Its surface is worn and cracked, overtaken by creeping vines and moss. Ancient carvings depicting serpents, titanic reptiles, and bloody rituals are etched into its walls, many of which still carry faint traces of red, as if the blood offerings never faded.
- Blood Altar: At the summit of the ziggurat lies the Blood Altar, where countless sacrifices were made. The altar is ringed by jagged stone spires and is permanently stained with the remnants of centuries of rituals. The air around it is said to feel heavy and oppressive, as if the screams of the past still linger.
- Bowels of the Temple: Beneath the ziggurat lies an extensive labyrinth of chambers and tunnels. These dark, humid corridors are said to house the remains of Zythrozal’s rituals, from decayed sacrificial victims to cryptic writings in an indecipherable script. At the labyrinth's heart, it is whispered, lies the Lich’s Crypt, where Zythrozal himself waits in eternal undeath.
- The Eclipse Chamber: A mysterious chamber deep within the ziggurat, the Eclipse Chamber is rumored to hold an ancient artifact that allows one to commune with the Ancient Old Ones. The chamber’s walls are adorned with mirrors of polished obsidian, arranged in a way that reflects the blood-moon during a lunar eclipse.
Exploration and Danger
The jungle surrounding the temple is treacherous, with dense undergrowth, venomous flora, and relentless predators. The temple itself is filled with traps and unstable structures, remnants of its ancient builders’ cunning.
The temple is imbued with the wild and malevolent magic of the Ancient Old Ones. Explorers report disorienting visions, sudden surges of fear, and an oppressive sense of being watched.
Massive, scaled monstrosities are said to protect the temple, their glowing eyes and serrated teeth ensuring no intruder leaves unscathed.
Mystery and Mystique
It is said that Zythrozal’s ascension will coincide with the rise of a blood-moon, whose light will trigger cataclysmic tidal waves. These waves, known as the Drowned Moon’s Wrath, will engulf the entire world, leaving only the Ancient Old Ones’ chosen to inherit the new order.
Locals claim that Zythrozal’s spirit lingers within the ziggurat, trapped but not destroyed. His whispers are said to echo through the temple, promising power and vengeance to those who would help him rise again.
Legends speak of monstrous scaled abominations guarding the temple, creatures neither fully Saurus nor beast, but horrifying hybrids created by Zythrozal’s dark magic.
Legacy
The Temple of the Drowned Moon remains a place of dread and fascination, its foreboding structure a symbol of the Saurus civilization’s brutal and forgotten age. For scholars, adventurers, and treasure seekers, it offers the promise of ancient secrets and forbidden knowledge. However, the danger of awakening Zythrozal and fulfilling the blood-moon prophecy is ever-present, a risk that may outweigh any reward.
The temple stands as a cursed monument, its black stones radiating the promise of apocalypse. Whether Zythrozal’s spirit truly waits within its depths, or the blood-moon prophecy is mere legend, none can say for certain. What is known is that the Temple of the Drowned Moon continues to haunt the dreams of those who dare tread near it, a silent reminder of the terrible power of the Ancient Old Ones and the price of hubris.
During the Fifth age, a hunting party composed of Ramune Leone, Eremoz, Kairus the Brass, Zyla Nu Ten, and Nika Nu Ten would unravel a saurus plot to use Kul'Khan as a vessel for resurrecting Zythrozal. This would eventually lead to the total destruction of the temple after Kul'Khan broke free from his psychic bonds and flew into a primeval rampage, crushing the ancient ziggurat to ruins (see: Beneath the Blood Moon).