(NOTE: I started this post on May 30)
Apparently, we made a promise to our daughter to buy her a special kind of doll called a LABUBU (google it). These are all the trend nowadays and therefore I have no idea since I was born in the early 80s and still believe that all kids likes one of the following three things:
- robots from outer space that transforms into cassette players
- semi-aquatic creatures with hard shells that fights evil while enjoying Italian cuisine in American oversized sewers
- Danish plastics
And you can't just order them online willy-nilly, no, because they restock them at what seems completely random. But according to Internet rumours, they will restock them tonight - or, as we in Sweden call it, four in the morning... And since it's around eleven in the evening here right now, I have a couple of hours to kill, so why not do a stupid dungeon while I wait?
So therefore I present to you, in monospaced typeface, 40 characters column width, made up as I go, completely untested...
(UPDATE: read the epilogue at the faaaaaaar end of this post if you want to know whether or not they DID restock the LABUBU...!)
========================================
/ THE CURSE \
/ OF \
/ THE UBUBAL \
========================================
BACKGROUND
In the sandiest part of the lost desert
of AL BUUB, there lies a stone temple,
shaped like cube.
It is said that treasures aplenty awaits
those who dare enter - IF they can avoid
the lurking eyes of...THE UBUBAL!
TRUE RUMOURS (1d6)
1. The temple is only accessible
through a water tunnel
2. The UBUBAL is trapped inside the
temple
3. The UBUBAL has a mesmerising gaze
4. The UBUBAL is afraid of water
5. "Greed will kill the frogs!"
6. The temple has been used as a prison
FALSE RUMOURS (1d6)
1. The UBUBAL isn't real
2. The temple is empty
3. The water in the oasis is poisonous
4. There are frogs in the temple that
speak the human tongue, if patted
5. All treasure is cursed by the UBUBAL
6. The UBUBAL is a small doll
resembling a bear
TRUE AND FALSE RUMOUR (1d1)
1. The last expedition is still alive
in the temple
(this is both true and false since they
were turned into zombies.)
WILDERNESS MAP
========================================
. . . . . .
. . . T .
. . O .
. . . . .
========================================
. = SAND
T = TEMPLE
O = OASIS
The temple has no visible entrance. The
only way in is through a water tunnel
from the oasis outside.
OASIS SIDE VIEW MAP
========================================
S
__P___P...........P_P______________T1___
.......... t2
....... .......t3
.... ...
..... ....
...............
========================================
_ = GROUND LEVEL (SAND)
. = WATER
T1 = TEMPLE LVL 1 (ABOVE GROUND)
t2 = TEMPLE LVL 2 (BELOW GROUND)
t3 = TEMPLE LVL 3 (BELOW GROUND)
P = PALM TREE
S = SUN
It is possible for an adult human to
hold their breath and swim the
distance just barely, but this assumes
no armour.
There is no aquatic life in the water.
TEMPLE MAP - LEVEL 3 (t3)
========================================
###################################
# .E...<<< S $ ## ^ ## ¤ ¤ ##
############D####### Z $ ## ^ ##
#.&.#...... ¤ ####### ## ¤ ¤ ##
#...#...F... ## ¤ ####### ##
#...S...... D D ##
###################################
========================================
# = STONE WALL
. = WATER
E = EXIT (FROM WATER TUNNEL)
<<< = SLOPE UPWARDS (SMOOTH ROCKS)
D = DOOR
S = SECRET DOOR
$ = TREASURE (ROLL ON TABLE)
¤ = BRAZIER (BURNING)
F = 1d12 FROGS
^ = HOLE IN CEILING (TO LEVEL 2)
& = FROG STATUE
Z = ZOMBIE
ONE SQUARE EQUALS 1.5 METRES
Level 3 of the stone temple is a damp
place. The air is thick with smoke from
the burning braziers. The ceiling
height is about 3 metres.
STONE WALLs (#) are blueish in colour,
and rough to the touch.
SLOPE (<<<) is slippery and smooth.
There are RUNES cut into the stone that
may be hard to notice, that spell out:
BUBU LAL UBUB
Pronouncing the runes out loud will
make ones teeth sharp as knives (1d4
damage), and fixate a sinister smile on
the speaker for one hour.
(Pronouncing the runes outside the
temple has no effect.)
SECRET DOORs (S) are both large linen
tapestries, running from ceiling to
floor, of animals resembling bears with
unnatural large grins and eyes.
TREASURE ($) for this level is rolled
on this table:
1. 2d4 glowing corundum gems, will not glow
outside the temple
(100 GP, weighs 0.5 kg)
2. A figurine of a frog with
humanoid body, holding out its
hands. It's hollow with no apparent
opening, and contains liquid that
when quaffed has the same effect as
a Cure Serious Wounds spell.
There are also two broken figurines,
empty on liquid.
(250 GP, weighs 1 kg)
3. A sealed glass jar containing
a green blob floating in oil.
The blob presses its body
against the jar in the
direction of treasure or danger
(500 GP, weighs 2 kg)
4. 2d6 x 1000 SP and a human skull
with claw markings on it
5. Lots of broken pottery, mixed with
105 GP
6. A magic wand, that fires projectiles
that splashes water on impact (no
damage)
(50 charges, 50 GP)
All DOORs (D) are stuck but unlocked.
The first door has a small opening at the
bottom, big enough for a small animal to
pass through.
FROGS (F) occupy a pool of water, around
one metre deep. They are colourful and
poisonous, but in all regards normal
frogs.
The HOLE IN CEILING (^) is about 1m².
Looking up only darkness can be seen.
A faint, low pitched moaning can be
heard from time to time.
Each hole leads to the same square
on temple level 2 (t2).
The FROG STATUE (&) depicts a large
sitting frog, the size of a large dog.
The statue is carved from a tree trunk,
and rests on a stone slab, so it isn't
touching the water.
There is an emerald inserted into
the left eye socket of the statue
(500 GP), the other socket is empty.
Removing the emerald will immediately
kill all frogs on this level.
The water in this area is knee deep.
The ZOMBIE (Z) is in pretty bad shape,
since it has fallen down through the
hole from level 2 (t2). It can't use
its left leg.
AC 8, 2 HD, #ATK 1, DMG d8
SPECIAL ATTACK: see zombies
on level 2.
TEMPLE MAP - LEVEL 2 (t2)
========================================
###################################
# D # $ D # v# D #$#
# ##### ###### ##B## #### v # #
# b 3 # 2 # #1 B S #
# ######### ## #####S###########
#4 b # b S $# ^ #
###################################
========================================
# = STONE WALL
v = HOLE IN FLOOR (TO LEVEL 3)
^ = HOLE IN CEILING (TO LEVEL 1)
D = DOOR (STUCK)
S = SECRET DOOR
B = BARRED DOOR
b = OPEN BARRED DOOR
1 = ZOMBIE 1
2 = ZOMBIE 2 (WANDERING)
3 = ZOMBIE 3 (WANDERING)
4 = ZOMBIE 4 (WANDERING)
Level 2 of the stone temple is
pitch dark; there are no light sources.
The ceiling height is around 3 metres.
There are floor-to-ceiling tapestries
here and there on this floor as well,
same as on level 3, but none are
secret doors.
HOLE IN FLOOR (v) back down to level 3
is around 1m². They exit to the same
square on the map for level 3 (t3).
SECRET DOORs (S) on this floor are door
frames that have been filled with bricks
with no mortar, so a gentle push will
reveal an opening, though the darkness
will make it hard to detect them.
All DOORs (D) are stuck but unlocked.
BARRED DOORs (B) are rusty and old, and
locked. The gap between the bars are
wide enough to fit a hand. The keys are
long gone.
All ZOMBIEs (1, 2, 3, 4) share the
same statistics:
AC 8, 2 HD, DMG d8
SPECIAL ATTACK: can prolong their
tongue up to 4.5 metres in an
attack to try and grapple an
opponent (e.g. the tongue shoots
out of their mouth). The zombie
will not necessarily attack the
grappled opponent, even if that
means that their tongue is
"occupied".
Cutting off the tongue will turn it
into a sentient "snake", that will
attack on its own; it will try to
strangle its opponent. Only fire
will truly kill it
(AC 6, 1 HP, DMG 1d4/round)
ZOMBIE 1 (1) is clad in torn clothes,
and wanders aimlessly inside its cell.
It carries a silver necklace with a
wooden pendant around its neck. The
wooden pendant resembles a bear.
There is a pile of shredded textiles
in the corner, and underneath, a small
wooden bear figurine.
ZOMBIE 2 (2) carries pants, no shirt,
and a helmet turned the wrong way. The
zombie doesn't seem to mind. It is
wandering aimlessly, changing
direction when bumping into walls.
It is holding a severed arm.
ZOMBIE 3 (3) is missing its right eye.
A green emerald has been shoved in the
eye socket (500 GP).
It is holding a wooden bear figurine,
which it will utilise as a weapon.
ZOMBIE 4 (4) is missing its left arm.
TREASURE ($) on this level is rolled on
this table:
1. 2d20 x 10,000 copper pieces, and a
wooden bear idol the size of a
hand
2. Leather pouch containing 2d8 dried
leaves. Eating one will grant user
ability to breathe under water
for ten minutes; however,
breathing air during that period
is impossible
3. A stained old map of an unknown
region. Scribbled drawings of large
eyes and teeth are drawn at certain
locations
4. 3d4 dried frogs in a leather pouch.
Eating one whole grants user one of
the follow random effects for ten
minutes (1d4):
1. Uncontrolled vomiting; unable to
act during this period
2. Speak with amphibians
3. Can leap 3 metres into the air
4. Eyes turn pitch black. Palms
start producing mild toxins
5. A bear skull, ornamented with
beautiful stones, of which now
2d4 remains (50 GP/each)
6. Dagger of Doutdes. On a hit,
depletes half of targets HP, but
on the next hit, does the same to
the wielder, and so on.
Roll d6 to determine "starting
state": 1-3 deplete target,
4-6 deplete wielder
TEMPLE MAP - LEVEL 1 (T1)
========================================
###################################
# #
# I I i I #
# A U #
# I I I I #
# v #
###################################
========================================
# = STONE WALL
I = MARBLE COLUMNS
i = MARBLE COLUMN (DAMAGED)
v = HOLE IN FLOOR (TO LEVEL 2)
U = THE UBUBAL
A = ALTAR
Level 1 of the stone temple is pitch
dark; there are no light sources, save
for the UBUBAL's eyes, which illuminates
the immediate area in front of it (up to
1 metre).
The MARBLE COLUMNS (I) are pillars that
stretches from floor to ceiling. They
are smooth to the touch.
One MARBLE COLUMN (i) is broken and only
half. There are debris shattered on the
floor right next to it.
The ALTAR (A) is a smooth marble slab,
around 0.5 metre tall. 1d4 + 5 small
wooden bear idols are spread all over
it.
The UBUBAL (U) is pacing back and forth
at the far end. It looks like an large
brown bear, but with unsettling eyes and
mouth; the eyes are large as platters,
bone white, with vertical pupils; the
mouth is a fixated in a large grin, with
pointy sharp teeth.
The UBUBAL always looks directly at
the players.
It will not attack unless provoked,
and will try to keep a distance by
circling the columns.
Killing the UBUBAL will instantly
transform one of the wooden bear idols
into a new living copy of the UBUBAL.
This also includes any wooden bear
idols found on level 2 (t2).
STATISTICS:
AC 6, 8+8 HD, DMG d10/d10/2d6
(use POLAR BEAR for AD&D)
TREASURES:
* The eyes of the UBUBAL counts as
white opals (1000 GP/each)
========================================
/ THE \
/ END \
========================================
/ THE CURSE \
/ OF \
/ THE UBUBAL \
========================================
BACKGROUND
In the sandiest part of the lost desert
of AL BUUB, there lies a stone temple,
shaped like cube.
It is said that treasures aplenty awaits
those who dare enter - IF they can avoid
the lurking eyes of...THE UBUBAL!
TRUE RUMOURS (1d6)
1. The temple is only accessible
through a water tunnel
2. The UBUBAL is trapped inside the
temple
3. The UBUBAL has a mesmerising gaze
4. The UBUBAL is afraid of water
5. "Greed will kill the frogs!"
6. The temple has been used as a prison
FALSE RUMOURS (1d6)
1. The UBUBAL isn't real
2. The temple is empty
3. The water in the oasis is poisonous
4. There are frogs in the temple that
speak the human tongue, if patted
5. All treasure is cursed by the UBUBAL
6. The UBUBAL is a small doll
resembling a bear
TRUE AND FALSE RUMOUR (1d1)
1. The last expedition is still alive
in the temple
(this is both true and false since they
were turned into zombies.)
WILDERNESS MAP
========================================
. . . . . .
. . . T .
. . O .
. . . . .
========================================
. = SAND
T = TEMPLE
O = OASIS
The temple has no visible entrance. The
only way in is through a water tunnel
from the oasis outside.
OASIS SIDE VIEW MAP
========================================
S
__P___P...........P_P______________T1___
.......... t2
....... .......t3
.... ...
..... ....
...............
========================================
_ = GROUND LEVEL (SAND)
. = WATER
T1 = TEMPLE LVL 1 (ABOVE GROUND)
t2 = TEMPLE LVL 2 (BELOW GROUND)
t3 = TEMPLE LVL 3 (BELOW GROUND)
P = PALM TREE
S = SUN
It is possible for an adult human to
hold their breath and swim the
distance just barely, but this assumes
no armour.
There is no aquatic life in the water.
TEMPLE MAP - LEVEL 3 (t3)
========================================
###################################
# .E...<<< S $ ## ^ ## ¤ ¤ ##
############D####### Z $ ## ^ ##
#.&.#...... ¤ ####### ## ¤ ¤ ##
#...#...F... ## ¤ ####### ##
#...S...... D D ##
###################################
========================================
# = STONE WALL
. = WATER
E = EXIT (FROM WATER TUNNEL)
<<< = SLOPE UPWARDS (SMOOTH ROCKS)
D = DOOR
S = SECRET DOOR
$ = TREASURE (ROLL ON TABLE)
¤ = BRAZIER (BURNING)
F = 1d12 FROGS
^ = HOLE IN CEILING (TO LEVEL 2)
& = FROG STATUE
Z = ZOMBIE
ONE SQUARE EQUALS 1.5 METRES
Level 3 of the stone temple is a damp
place. The air is thick with smoke from
the burning braziers. The ceiling
height is about 3 metres.
STONE WALLs (#) are blueish in colour,
and rough to the touch.
SLOPE (<<<) is slippery and smooth.
There are RUNES cut into the stone that
may be hard to notice, that spell out:
BUBU LAL UBUB
Pronouncing the runes out loud will
make ones teeth sharp as knives (1d4
damage), and fixate a sinister smile on
the speaker for one hour.
(Pronouncing the runes outside the
temple has no effect.)
SECRET DOORs (S) are both large linen
tapestries, running from ceiling to
floor, of animals resembling bears with
unnatural large grins and eyes.
TREASURE ($) for this level is rolled
on this table:
1. 2d4 glowing corundum gems, will not glow
outside the temple
(100 GP, weighs 0.5 kg)
2. A figurine of a frog with
humanoid body, holding out its
hands. It's hollow with no apparent
opening, and contains liquid that
when quaffed has the same effect as
a Cure Serious Wounds spell.
There are also two broken figurines,
empty on liquid.
(250 GP, weighs 1 kg)
3. A sealed glass jar containing
a green blob floating in oil.
The blob presses its body
against the jar in the
direction of treasure or danger
(500 GP, weighs 2 kg)
4. 2d6 x 1000 SP and a human skull
with claw markings on it
5. Lots of broken pottery, mixed with
105 GP
6. A magic wand, that fires projectiles
that splashes water on impact (no
damage)
(50 charges, 50 GP)
All DOORs (D) are stuck but unlocked.
The first door has a small opening at the
bottom, big enough for a small animal to
pass through.
FROGS (F) occupy a pool of water, around
one metre deep. They are colourful and
poisonous, but in all regards normal
frogs.
The HOLE IN CEILING (^) is about 1m².
Looking up only darkness can be seen.
A faint, low pitched moaning can be
heard from time to time.
Each hole leads to the same square
on temple level 2 (t2).
The FROG STATUE (&) depicts a large
sitting frog, the size of a large dog.
The statue is carved from a tree trunk,
and rests on a stone slab, so it isn't
touching the water.
There is an emerald inserted into
the left eye socket of the statue
(500 GP), the other socket is empty.
Removing the emerald will immediately
kill all frogs on this level.
The water in this area is knee deep.
The ZOMBIE (Z) is in pretty bad shape,
since it has fallen down through the
hole from level 2 (t2). It can't use
its left leg.
AC 8, 2 HD, #ATK 1, DMG d8
SPECIAL ATTACK: see zombies
on level 2.
TEMPLE MAP - LEVEL 2 (t2)
========================================
###################################
# D # $ D # v# D #$#
# ##### ###### ##B## #### v # #
# b 3 # 2 # #1 B S #
# ######### ## #####S###########
#4 b # b S $# ^ #
###################################
========================================
# = STONE WALL
v = HOLE IN FLOOR (TO LEVEL 3)
^ = HOLE IN CEILING (TO LEVEL 1)
D = DOOR (STUCK)
S = SECRET DOOR
B = BARRED DOOR
b = OPEN BARRED DOOR
1 = ZOMBIE 1
2 = ZOMBIE 2 (WANDERING)
3 = ZOMBIE 3 (WANDERING)
4 = ZOMBIE 4 (WANDERING)
Level 2 of the stone temple is
pitch dark; there are no light sources.
The ceiling height is around 3 metres.
There are floor-to-ceiling tapestries
here and there on this floor as well,
same as on level 3, but none are
secret doors.
HOLE IN FLOOR (v) back down to level 3
is around 1m². They exit to the same
square on the map for level 3 (t3).
SECRET DOORs (S) on this floor are door
frames that have been filled with bricks
with no mortar, so a gentle push will
reveal an opening, though the darkness
will make it hard to detect them.
All DOORs (D) are stuck but unlocked.
BARRED DOORs (B) are rusty and old, and
locked. The gap between the bars are
wide enough to fit a hand. The keys are
long gone.
All ZOMBIEs (1, 2, 3, 4) share the
same statistics:
AC 8, 2 HD, DMG d8
SPECIAL ATTACK: can prolong their
tongue up to 4.5 metres in an
attack to try and grapple an
opponent (e.g. the tongue shoots
out of their mouth). The zombie
will not necessarily attack the
grappled opponent, even if that
means that their tongue is
"occupied".
Cutting off the tongue will turn it
into a sentient "snake", that will
attack on its own; it will try to
strangle its opponent. Only fire
will truly kill it
(AC 6, 1 HP, DMG 1d4/round)
ZOMBIE 1 (1) is clad in torn clothes,
and wanders aimlessly inside its cell.
It carries a silver necklace with a
wooden pendant around its neck. The
wooden pendant resembles a bear.
There is a pile of shredded textiles
in the corner, and underneath, a small
wooden bear figurine.
ZOMBIE 2 (2) carries pants, no shirt,
and a helmet turned the wrong way. The
zombie doesn't seem to mind. It is
wandering aimlessly, changing
direction when bumping into walls.
It is holding a severed arm.
ZOMBIE 3 (3) is missing its right eye.
A green emerald has been shoved in the
eye socket (500 GP).
It is holding a wooden bear figurine,
which it will utilise as a weapon.
ZOMBIE 4 (4) is missing its left arm.
TREASURE ($) on this level is rolled on
this table:
1. 2d20 x 10,000 copper pieces, and a
wooden bear idol the size of a
hand
2. Leather pouch containing 2d8 dried
leaves. Eating one will grant user
ability to breathe under water
for ten minutes; however,
breathing air during that period
is impossible
3. A stained old map of an unknown
region. Scribbled drawings of large
eyes and teeth are drawn at certain
locations
4. 3d4 dried frogs in a leather pouch.
Eating one whole grants user one of
the follow random effects for ten
minutes (1d4):
1. Uncontrolled vomiting; unable to
act during this period
2. Speak with amphibians
3. Can leap 3 metres into the air
4. Eyes turn pitch black. Palms
start producing mild toxins
5. A bear skull, ornamented with
beautiful stones, of which now
2d4 remains (50 GP/each)
6. Dagger of Doutdes. On a hit,
depletes half of targets HP, but
on the next hit, does the same to
the wielder, and so on.
Roll d6 to determine "starting
state": 1-3 deplete target,
4-6 deplete wielder
TEMPLE MAP - LEVEL 1 (T1)
========================================
###################################
# #
# I I i I #
# A U #
# I I I I #
# v #
###################################
========================================
# = STONE WALL
I = MARBLE COLUMNS
i = MARBLE COLUMN (DAMAGED)
v = HOLE IN FLOOR (TO LEVEL 2)
U = THE UBUBAL
A = ALTAR
Level 1 of the stone temple is pitch
dark; there are no light sources, save
for the UBUBAL's eyes, which illuminates
the immediate area in front of it (up to
1 metre).
The MARBLE COLUMNS (I) are pillars that
stretches from floor to ceiling. They
are smooth to the touch.
One MARBLE COLUMN (i) is broken and only
half. There are debris shattered on the
floor right next to it.
The ALTAR (A) is a smooth marble slab,
around 0.5 metre tall. 1d4 + 5 small
wooden bear idols are spread all over
it.
The UBUBAL (U) is pacing back and forth
at the far end. It looks like an large
brown bear, but with unsettling eyes and
mouth; the eyes are large as platters,
bone white, with vertical pupils; the
mouth is a fixated in a large grin, with
pointy sharp teeth.
The UBUBAL always looks directly at
the players.
It will not attack unless provoked,
and will try to keep a distance by
circling the columns.
Killing the UBUBAL will instantly
transform one of the wooden bear idols
into a new living copy of the UBUBAL.
This also includes any wooden bear
idols found on level 2 (t2).
STATISTICS:
AC 6, 8+8 HD, DMG d10/d10/2d6
(use POLAR BEAR for AD&D)
TREASURES:
* The eyes of the UBUBAL counts as
white opals (1000 GP/each)
========================================
/ THE \
/ END \
========================================
EPILOGUE
Yeah so this is what happened: my plan was to sit up from eleven in the evening, to four in the morning, writing this.
And naturally, since I'm an adult in my early 40s, I managed to endure an hour before I had to crawl back to bed. My 22 year old self would feel ashamed of me.
BUT! I went up at 03:30, and sat and refreshed that POP MART online store for 45 minutes, to no avail: they did NOT restock that morning... I went to bed and slept for no minutes at all since my daughter woke up and was utterly devastated that they hadn't restocked, and didn't want to go back to sleep, so we went up and watched tv, waiting for school to start... Yeah it was a long day.
However, as I continued filling out the stone temple, little stories started to form in my head; who were the zombies? Why are there so many frogs? What's up with all the wooden bear idols?
I tried to follow AD&D 1e, using the excellent OSRIC for easy reference (I can't press CTRL+F in my AD&D books). I probably messed up all the treasures, even if I tried my best (i.e. how much gold per level? what are the anticipated player level, and how much gold do they need? etc.).
And for those really ADVANCED maps, I found it easiest to just plot them in good old vim, and then paste them into Blogger.
And yeah, the UBUBAL confrontation is a bit anticlimactic. Maybe the temple can start crumbling after it is killed? Get those cheezy 80s adventure movie vibes going.
GOOD NIGHT
