Matt Benner
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Matt Benner
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mattbenner.bsky.social
Today our travels take us just a single hex north to the small village of Ushtlzan a fishing and minor trade port that holds secrets and dangers beneath. Hex 0307 - Ushtlzan.

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A small village sits on the coastline. Hex 0307 - Ushtlzan. 0307 - Ushtlzan South and east from Izotwa along the road leading down the coast the village of Ushtlzan provides a stop for travellers and a dock for the few merchants travelling from the western sea. Terrain: Jungle Coast, 1:6 chance to become lost unless following the road or coastline. Encounters: Low frequency, Coastal. Foraging: Food Standard/Water Standards. Ushtlzan Village The village consists of around 50 homes and a few other assorted buildings including an inn and a boathouse. The seafront is walled and fortified against oceanborne attack which represents the most common threat to the village usually from pirates or elven raiders. Fishing and small farms keep the village sustained and a slow but steady flow of trade taxes and dock fees maintain its financial needs. The village is ruled by a small group of elders, who oversee taxation and arbitrate grievances acting as judges if amicable solutions cannot be found. The Tunnels below Before the sea wall was fortified the people of the village used to take cover from attack in a vast network of tunnels lying beneath the village. These tunnels were defended by numerous traps and their twisting labyrinthine layout. Since the fortification of the sea wall these tunnels have fallen into disrepair, often providing a home for the creatures they used to be a barrier against. Whilst many in the village think the tunnels should simply be sealed and forgotten, the older families bemoan the loss of treasures once stowed in the tunnels for protection now lost deep within. Elder Surr At’ar The oldest and longest serving of the village elders Surr At’ar remembers when the tunnels were still the village's main form of defence. She wants to pay adventurers to clear out the tunnels, partly because she believes that a nest of monsters beneath their feet is a ticking time bomb but secretly because her family’s hidden vaults are located within the caves.
November 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we find ourselves on western shore of the jungle and visiting a very strange landmark. Hex 0308 - The Little Keep.

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A road matches the curves of the coastline flanked by the encroaching jungle. On a small hill lies an undersized landmark Hex 0308 - The Little Keep 0308 - The Little Keep Along the side of the road a small path leads off to the top of a small hillock where a tiny ruined keep sits looking like a stage prop or a poorly designed child's toy Terrain: Jungle coast, 1:6 chance to become lost unless following the road or coastline. Encounters: Low frequency, Coast. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. The Little Keep The little keep bears some design similarities to the ancient lizardfolk forts. It's flat but slightly pyramidal walls certainly give the impression at a distance but up close it is apparent that these walls barely reach five feet tall, the towers and only reaching a little further. All are squashed together with barely any wall between them. Most travellers view the keep as a strange oddity but locals view it with suspicion and tell others to avoid it. Strange Camouflage Those who choose to spend the night near or even inside the keep often find out first hand what scares the locals about this strange piece of architecture. In darkness the area around the keep grows cold, it's door swings open and slick black tentacles reach out to snatch living creatures nearby. Those unlucky enough to have taken refuge in the little keep risk being pulled instantly into the dark within. Taken Those taken by the little keep are not killed. Instead they are returned after d12 + d6 hours appearing somewhere within a mile of the little keep. Victims have no memory of what occurred during that time but will be missing some non-essential body part such as a little finger, a toe or their appendix. Any wounds that such a removal would cause are healed when the person returns, additionally any poisoning, sickness or curse they were suffering from will have been cured. The little keep will only ever take a creature once.
November 7, 2025 at 11:19 AM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Sorry for the lack of hex explorations over the past month, life has been hectic and my mental health has been low, can't promise that's going to change any time soon but I'll keep trying to put out at least a couple each week.
Today is a settlement gone wrong. Hex 0516 Ogre Wreck
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A stretch of coast line not far from the mouth of the Itzca river. Hex 0516 the Ogre Wreck. 0516 - Ogre Wreck A beached ship has become the centre of a makeshift camp for Ogre raiders but its proximity to an ancient artefact has caused some changes Terrain: coast, 1:6 unless following the coastline. Encounters: High frequency, coastal. 3:6 chance of any encounter being with Mutant Ogre Raiders (see below) Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. Raiding Ship Wreck Ogres often form raiding cultures in order to keep up with the needs of their ferocious metabolism. Any time these cultures become too large, groups split off to find new hunting ground which has resulted in ogres being spread across the world. Beaching their ship here was likely intentional and supposed to be the start of a new community. Unfortunately the presence of ancient and malfunctioning technology has turned this would be settlement into a horror story. Genomantic Chaos The ancestors had such advanced genomantic technologies that they could shape entirely new species. Such technology and knowledge is long lost but its malfunctioning remnants still pose significant danger especially if they are activated unintentionally. Mutant Ogre Raiders The ogres in the area have been twisted by the malfunctioning technology in numerous ways and driven insane by the process. For each encounter in this hex roll on the below table for any ogres. D6 roll Description 1 Flesh weapons - increase damage 2 Many limbs - extra attacks 3 Grasping tentacles - restrain enemies 4 Liquid flesh - regenerate hitpoints 5 Armoured hide - improve armour 6 Degeneration - 1:3 chance to transform into a gibbering mouther every turn.
October 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM
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
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
Finishing off our look at the Port Of Knives today with a look at its hex and an outline of the city.
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A city sits out the mouth of the river surrounded by jungle on one side and ocean on the other. Hex 1208 - The Coast of Knives 1208 - The Coast of Knives No one is entirely certain whether the coast earned its name from its famous port city or if it gave that port the moniker by which it is now known. For as long as anyone can remember, the Coast of Knives has been known for both piratical and mercantile exploits. The coastline is navigable but dangerous the port at the rivermouth funnelling in vessels through the safest route but for the braver captains there are many hidden coves and smuggling caves that allow those who the secret ways between hidden rocks and sand bars to bring their goods ashore without paying the docking fees and taxes the Port of Knives thrives on. Terrain: Coast, 1:6 chance to become lost unless following the road or the coastline. Encounters: Medium frequency, Coastal. Foraging: Food standard/Water low The Port of Knives Known as the commercial hub of the jungle its merchant houses form the noble class whilst the majority work in the docks or lumber mills. The intense politicking between the merchant houses over trading rights and shipping routes is happily fed off by the pirate princes who profit off the merchants bickering and the many goods they take as spoils. The Smuggling Caves Much of the coastline is dangerous to navigate by sea but for those who have learned the passages through the jagged rocks there are many caves and hidden coves that provide a makeshift dock for vessels wanting to avoid attention or taxation for their goods, these caves thrive with smugglers and pirates all too happy to add an incautious adventurers treasure haul to their stash. A map which shows the layout of the port of knives districts. The only land path enters the city from the east heading into the noble district while the poorer timber district lies on the west side of the city. The pleasure district divides these opposite districts while the harbour district stretches along the southern side of the city, connecting to every district.
October 15, 2025 at 12:38 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
Continuing our guide to The Port of Knives. We now have a look at the city's districts, starting with the two that visitors are most likely to encounter first.

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City districts The harbour district The harbour district of the port of knives is undoubtedly the busiest and most exciting of the districts. A constant stream of loading and unloading ships ensure the docks are a hive of activity. Sailors making the most of their brief shore leave fill the taverns and brothels along the harbour front in search of easy entertainment. Deeper into the district the harbour market provides travellers access to the range of goods that arrive from far and wide. Locals claim that anything can be found in the harbour market if only one looks hard enough. Overlooking this vast market is the Bell tower Keep, the home of the city's tax and trade offices, they work closely with elements of the watch to ensure the city gets its cut of all the wealth exchanging hands below. The Pleasure District For those with longer shore leave or for the city's richer residents the pleasure district lies just outside of the harbour district. Here one can find high class drinking establishments, richly furnished boarding houses and numerous playhouses and music halls. While luxurious the pleasure district maintains a seedy undercurrent. All of the pirate princes have residences in the district and many of the businesses pay a cut of their earnings to criminal masters. The merchant houses avoid running businesses in the district, visiting only for entertainment and ever weary that the velvet curtains and plush furnishings often hide the knives, both metaphorical and literal for which the city is named. Of particular note is the siren song theatre. The largest venue of its kind in the whole jungle which hosts plays and concerts to the richest patrons in the city as renowned for it's performances as it is infamous for the many assassinations which have taken place during them.
October 6, 2025 at 5:29 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
Continuing our look at the Port Of Knives let's have a look at the group who arguably cooperates best within the city and outside it, the fearsome pirate princes who rule the city's underworld.

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The Pirate Princes The pirates of the jungle of fallen stars follow a loose system of codes and territories similar to a thieves guild, in theory this is meant to keep things profitable for all while avoiding the scrutiny of the law, however it mostly ensures the wealth and prosperity of the so called Pirate Princes. The caveat to this is that any who feel a prince is no longer fit to lead can challenge them in single combat ensuring even the most wealthy of the pirate princes are deadly combatants. The Princes are known by titles, currently The Prince of Coin, The Prince of Winds and The Prince of Blood. Ohtal Aexa - The Prince of Coin A human woman in her mid-thirties with raven hair, a full figure and a flamboyant attitude. Ohtal Aexa is by far the richest of the pirate princes. Her hideaway in the port of knives is a decadent mansion and she carries gold and gemstones wherever she goes in the form of numerous bangles, rings and necklaces that ensure her every step is accompanied by the jingle of riches. Fools mistake her decadence for weakness, but every one of those treasures was paid for in blood, her riches maintained through shrewd and brutal management of the captains under her sway. Apox Blue-Fang - The Prince of Winds A lizardfolk man and former member of the Blue fang tribe, Apox takes his title from his powerful sorcerous skills, in particular his knack for controlling storms. This powerful ability has helped him navigate both vicious battles and dangerous escapes, making him a hero in the eyes of his crew and all but ensuring him a comfortable position for years to come as even his rivals seek to keep him around for his skills. Sagaz Utu - The Prince of Blood A human man in his mid twenties with a scarred but handsome face and hair shaven except for a top knot. Sagaz took his title with the ruthless slaughter of his predecessor and has continued to earn it with actions that are as bloody as they are efficient. Many assume him to be nothing but a brutal enforcer yet upon meeting him are shocked by his natural charisma and easy going attitude. In fact the prince of blood tows an uneasy line between loyalty and fear, using both to keep his captains in order.
September 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Continuing with our look at the port of knives today we examine what are arguably the most important of the city's organisations, its merchant houses.

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Merchant Houses There are three major merchant houses in the city. House Uio-Itzca, House Tixa-Mal, House Hephoni. Each major house is allied with several minor houses who compete with each other almost as much as with the house’s rivals, constantly seeking approval and improved social standing. House Uio-Itzca House Uio-Itzca currently holds contracts with the largest logging operations in Hippoli, and have several minor houses dedicated to ship building alongside their lumber shipping operations. Most ships born at the port of knives are built with Uio-Itzca marked timber. To protect their interests they heavily survey incoming lumber and treat any instances of river piracy as high priority, often hiring mercenaries to deal with problems on the Itzca. They are the oldest of the merchant houses and while that once gave them comfort, they are increasingly worried by the rise of House Hephoni fearing it will use its influence to usurp their long held and lucrative timber contracts. House Tixa-Mal House Tixa-Mal have exclusive shipping rights for the mining products of the jungle having long ago secured an exclusive contract with the tusked-dwarf spires. They maintain the largest fleet of escort vessels to ensure their valuable cargo does not fall victim to piracy and protect their landlocked convoys with mercenaries. In recent years the conflicts within the dwarven spires have seen house profits reduced and there is some debate within the house as to whether to aid the dwarves in their war or take advantage of their weakness to bring the mines under direct house ownership. House Hephoni House Hephoni is the rising star of the merchant houses, using family influence in Hippoli to take a number of contracts from their rivals. As the smallest of the major houses they aggressively pursue new contracts and regularly send expeditions into the deeper jungle looking for potential new sources of income or failing that to loot valuable artifacts and technology. They control only three minor houses and each is dedicated to a particular endeavour: The house of secrets trades in information, the house of words deals in matters of law and the house of treasures finds buyers for the rare artifacts and magical technology found during expeditions.
September 22, 2025 at 11:58 AM
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
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
Good evening all, today we're heading all the way down to the southern jungle to visit a completely normal tree grove, absolutely nothing to see here, don't know why we even visited. Hex 0316 - Beneath the trees.

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A small but intoxicating grove in the midst of the jungle Hex 0316 - Beneath The Trees 0316 - Beneath The Trees A calm and pleasant grove provides a moment of peace in the sweltering jungle. Terrain: Jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost Encounters: Medium frequency, Southern Jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard. A pleasant grove A circle of trees creates a pleasant patch of dappled sunlight and clear ground. Colourful flowers give off a sweet and heady scent and a small stream provides fresh clean water. It's almost too perfect. Spending time in the grove Every ten minutes spent in the grove characters must make an intelligence saving throw/save versus spell or equivalent. On a failure they fall into a deep slumber. If the majority of party members fall asleep then the illusion of the grove disappears leaving behind a clearing of dirt and stone. The Addavore rises from the hidden tunnels beneath attempting to drag sleeping characters into its tunnels to be stored until it becomes hungry. The Tunnels Beneath The Addavore is a bizarre serpentine creature with many arms along the length of its body and a face that resembles an elderly human man. It is about thirty foot long and can swallow a medium sized humanoid whole. It lives in a large collection of narrow tunnels that stretch out from the false grove. The Addavore has carved out separate rooms for sleeping, storing food and keeping the treasures it scavenges from its victims
September 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we head east to a strange hilltop where peace is not just encouraged but impossible to break. Hex 1009 - The Calm.

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Standing stones sit at the crest of a hill exuding a strange power. Hex 1009 - The Calm 1009 - The Calm A circle of stones sits upon the crest of a hill, a peaceful feeling fills anyone nearby. Terrain: Jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost unless following the river. Encounters: Medium frequency, central jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water standard Malviax Hill The place of peace in the lizardfolk tongue. Malviax Hill holds huge cultural importance and political importance to the lizardfolk tribes of the jungle. The entire hill exudes a calming influence and within the stone circle at its apex creatures are so compelled to peace,that a blade cannot drawn nor any violent action taken. This has made it the perfect ground for negotiation between the tribes ensuring that no matter how heated an argument becomes it cannot descend into fighting. The impossible murder When players arrive in this location something seemingly impossible has occurred. An ambassador of Hippoli, who was discussing river trade contracts with the Blue Fang lizardfolk tribe, has been murdered inside of the stone circle. Not only has the sanctity of Malviax been somehow breached but the murder could easily lead to fighting between the Hippoli and the lizardfolk tribes. The Culprit A member of the Hippoli delegation is a spy for the cult of the golden lord. They committed the murder outside of the circle and then animated the body to have the murder appear to happen during the meeting. This is one possibility for a culprit but feel free to adapt and change the culprit to better support your own campaign.
September 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we find a place where a chaotic ritual long ago has left a festering wound upon the world. Hex 1010 - The Mocking Trees.

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*Encounter type should read "central jungle", this is corrected in the alt text.
A small grove nestles amidst the dense jungle. Hex 1010 - The Mocking Trees 1010 - The Mocking Trees A former site of a chaotic ritual, the jungle here is dense and twisted, within the darkness lurk things that seek blood and pain for all but their own. Terrain: dense jungle, 4:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: High frequency, central jungle. 3:6 chance encounter is with a mocking tree (see below) Foraging: Food scarce/Water scarce. Foraging will always discover d4 portions of corpse blossoms but will also trigger an encounter with a mocking tree. Dark Grove The site of a chaos ritual, the dark grove is lined by twisted trees and poisonous foliage. Thorny vines twist across the jungle floor like angry serpents, hooking into clothes and flesh with vicious enthusiasm. At the centre of the grove an ancient tree curls gnarled branches that reach out to assault interlopers. The tree is known by the lizardfolk as the father of curses and they burn its seeds wherever they takes root. Mocking Trees The seeds to the father of curses that escape the lizardfolk’s purges grow into terrible carnivorous trees called mocking trees. The name comes from their ability to mimic the voices of those killed by either themselves or the terrible tree that seeded them. Would be rescuers are lured in by the cries of scared and desperate voices only to be caught in the crushing embrace of gnarled branches and forced into the tree’s terrible bark maw. Corpse Blossoms Mocking trees flower only after ingesting the corpse of a sentient creature but despite the morbid origins of these flowers they have powerful magical properties that are sought after by many an unscrupulous mage. Combined with alcohol they create a potion that enhances the potency of curses or if dried and crushed into a powder they can be swallowed to allow a brief out of body visit to the realms of the dead.
September 3, 2025 at 8:25 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Hi all, sorry I've been sick most of the week I'm finally feeling a bit better so here's a HEX for you.
This time its a combination inn and wizards tower that is literally ready to launch. Hex 0508 - the crooked star.

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A conical tower rises from the jungle canopy. Beneath the canopy a wooden inn is built onto the side of the tower and the tower hovers in place above the ground. Hex 0508 - The Crooked Star 0508 - The Crooked Star At the end of a short track a strange structure rises from the jungle floor, stilts support a large wooden lodge built around a floating conical stone tower. A ramp leads up to the entrance where a sign displays a lopsided wizard’s hat with star on its rather crooked tip. Terrain: Jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost, cannot become lost if following the road. Encounters: Medium Frequency, central jungle. Foraging: Food Standard Water Standard. The Crooked Star Inn Combining wizard’s tower and inn, The Crooked Star allows the eccentric wizard Kalax Ziatz to indulge his twin passions of arcane research and bartending. The inn itself is staffed by Kalax himself and a number of magical familiars. There is a 2:6 chance that Kalax will be busy in his tower whenever characters visit. In these cases Kalax uses a conjured simulacrum to act as bartender. It can serve drinks and hire out rooms but is otherwise incapable of conversation. The Inn has lodgings available for up to twelve people and a private suite. Kalax Ziatz Kalax is something of a distracted genius. His skill at understanding and operating ancestor technology is unparalleled within the region. The magical field that allows his tower to float is pieced together from ancestor relics and his own inventions. For a price he may be able to repair damaged or malfunctioning ancestor technology however the price demanded will usually be in ancestor artefacts or particularly rare brewing recipes to improve his tavern’s selection. The Floating Tower If threatened, Kalax will retreat to his tower using the arcane mechanisms to lift the whole structure into the sky. He can fly the tower for up to 24 miles per day after which it needs to land and recharge for 8 hours. The tavern section is not part of the flotation field and so has a 1:20 chance of falling off the tower each mile it travels. Anyone inside the tavern when it falls suffers the full effects of falling ½ a mile through the air.
August 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Sorry this is a little late but here's one last hex for this week, a strange gateway that leads to realms unknown Hex 0510 - The Inverted Arch.

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A strange upside down archway proudly points upwards towards the mountain summit. Hex 0510 - The Inverted Arch. 0510 - The Inverted Arch In the shadow of the stormbreak mountains a strange stone archway stands upside down presenting a U shape to passers-by. Terrain: Badlands, 1:6 chance to become lost.- Encounters: Medium Frequency, Mountain. Foraging: Food scarce/Water standard. The Inverted Gate This upside down archway has amassed a number of tales around it, including one that attributes its location and orientation to being launched out of an underground dwarven city by a volcanic eruption. The strangest tales however come from those who claim to have passed through the gate; these include tales of strange lands and worlds beyond it; however none have been able to replicate this, climbing through the gateway producing no effect at all. The Twisted Hand The cabal of wizards known as the twisted hand believe the gate to be outsider technology and three of their number are dedicated to keeping watch on the monument and each night one attempts passing through the gate. Using The Gate The inverted gate is activated only by specific combinations of time, date, and object held by the person. The gate is intended to be used as a way to travel into adventures in other planes or dimensions if you desire these in your campaign.
August 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we brave the dangers of the desert. Hex 0914 - Dust Devils

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A desert stretches out beneath the shadow of five immense spires it's dunes riddled hidden dangers and long lost treasures 0914 - Dust Devils The cracked ground and desert sands provide little sustenance or shelter, yet they hide creatures that exist with neither. Terrain: desert, 1:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: medium frequency, desert. 3:6 chance that any encounter is with dust elementals (see below) Foraging: Food scarce/Water scarce. Hidden Threats A magical mishap in ages past created a link between this place and the elements of earth and air. Some believe this mishap is in fact the source of the desert that spans the area for miles around. This link causes the manifestation of dust elementals, appearing as undersized whirlwinds of sand when active they hide amongst the desert sands. Appearing suddenly to surround their victims and pelt them with rocks and dirt or pull the wind from their lungs. Treasures in the Sand While murderous in their intent the dust elementals have little use for their victims, seemingly killing because of proximity or out of some cruel instinct. This leaves the bodies of victims out in the open to be buried and unburied with the shifting of the winds and leaves plenty of valuables for the taking so long as you can avoid becoming yet another victim. Breaking the Link A medium power spell or ability that can dispel magic is sufficient to break the areas link with the elements, this will not kill the dust elementals but will prevent any more from crossing over and with time may even start to let the area rejuvenate.
August 20, 2025 at 6:52 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
Heading deep into the jungle we find a ruined fort repurposed as a home.
Hex 0909 - A Giant Refuge.

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A small ruined fort barely peeks above the jungle canopy. Hex 0909 - A Giant Refuge 0909 - A Giant Refuge Hidden beneath the jungle canopy a ruined fort provides shelter for those too big to hide elsewhere. Terrain: dense jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: medium frequency, central jungle. Foraging: Food Standard/Water Plentiful. The Tumbledown Fort The ruins of a lizardfolk fortress from ancient times sit amidst the jungle trees much of the fort has been reduced to ruin leaving only the main keep and a few partially collapsed walls. The door to the keep is long gone and the doorway seems to have been expanded through brute force to almost twice its size. A pair of fallen trees blocks access through this doorway The New Residents The fort’s current residents are a forest giant named Maballa and her young son Urqua. It was she who widened the entrance and the fallen trees are her makeshift door. Giants are rare in this region and Maballa is very protective of her son, leaving only when she must procure food and never straying far from the keep. Generally she avoids contact with other sentient creatures and will attack if she views them as a threat to her child. Urqua, The Young Giant While barely a toddler by giant standards Urqua is already wider and taller than most men.his demeanor matches true age. Physically he walks unsteadily on two feet and will often revert to crawling, mentally he has little understanding beyond food, toy and mother. The circusmaster in the port of knives has heard of the young giant and wishes to capture him, hoping that with training from a young age the giant can be tamed to perform in the circus.
August 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Staying close to the territory of a certain bandit queen today we visit a strange pool that lacks a source and reflects stars that do not shine overhead. Hex 0611 - The Pool Of Stars.

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A pool creates a clearing in the jungle canopy. Hex 0612 The Pool Of Stars 0611 - The Pool Of Stars Towards the southern end of this hex, the jungle clears to admit a large pool of water appearing crystal clear in daylight. At night it shimmers with the reflections of stars, but not the stars that shine above it. Terrain: dense jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: high frequency, Southern Jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water plentiful. The Pool In Daylight The waters of this pool sit completely still, and by rights the water should be stale and green yet it remains crystal clear. The water tastes and smells pure and attempts to dirty or foul it seem entirely ineffective. Other than this property the water acts just like normal water and can be consumed with no ill effects. There is a small trail which seems to lead into the pool's waters before disappearing just as the water becomes deep enough to swim in. The Pool At Night The waters of the pool remain still and at first glance simply reflect the starry sky above. The lie of this illusion is revealed on days where clouds block the sky from view or when a viewer attempts to compare the sky and pool’s reflection. The stars shown do not match the stars above, or even the weather should it not be clear. The stars glimmer in the depths of the pool as much as its surface giving the impression that they sit within its waters. Door to the Spiritway At night the pool becomes a door to the Spiritway, a strange sub realm used for travel by the ancestors. This door is activated by the act of fully submerging yourself into the pool. Upon rising your head back above the water you will find yourself transported to an almost identical pool sitting beside the Spiritway.
August 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we visit the very end of the jungle's longest river and find the treasures it hides. Hex 0715 - The Mouth Of The Itzca.

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Sorry this one was is a bit delayed but I should hexes coming for the rest of the week.
Sediment deposits create a dangerous prospect for those trying to enter the Itzca river at its mouth. Hex 0715 - The mouth of the Itzca 0715 - Mouth of The Itzca The waters of the Itzca finally conclude their long journey to the ocean, its banks merging into the coastline on either side. The changing flow causes the formation of several small islands and numerous sand bars making navigation of the river mouth a risky prospect. Terrain: Coastal, 1:6 Chance to become lost. Cannot become lost if closely following the riverbank/coastline. Encounters: Medium frequency, Coastal. Foraging: Food Standard/Water Standard. The Rivermouth The rivermouth of the Itzca is a wide stretch of land and sea, spanning between one and two miles before it reaches the ocean. During low tide the river mouth can be crossed on foot using the numerous sand bars and rock formations to chart a path though plenty of wading will be required, during high tide the river becomes deep enough for smaller vessels to navigate though they need guidance to keep from running aground. During the wet season low tide occurs at dawn and high tide at dusk. During the dry season this is reversed. Queen Mezatl’s Cache The bandit queen Mezatl (see hex 0612) stores much of what she has extorted from her victims in a cave on the east bank of the river which is fitted with a small set of living quarters and a jetty which becomes usable during high tide. Mezatl entrusts the guarding of this place to her lieutenant Gralitz, an exiled lizardfolk tribesman and a few of her most trusted gang members. Nefarious Trading Queen Mezatl regularly trades her ill gotten wealth with pirates and other bandits via the cave. She and her henchmen have set up a series of mirrors that act as guideposts to vessels approaching at high tide, during the wet season these are replaced with lanterns. There is a 2:6 chance whenever the party enters the hex for trading to be taking place that day at high tide.
August 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Continuing to jump wildly around the map today takes us to a place where water ignores its usual rules and gathers as a collection of spheres orbiting a strange crystal pillar. Hex 0910 - The Pillar and The Spheres.

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0910 - The Pillar and The Spheres Deep within the jungle a crystalline pillar points towards the sky around it the water for miles around is drawn into large liquid spheres that float above the ground, orbiting the pillar in a strange configuration. Terrain: dense jungle, 2:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: medium frequency, southern jungle. Foraging: Food standard/Water scarce,large amounts of water exist within the spheres if they can be collected or tapped. The Crystal Pillar Near the centre of the hex a 10 foot tall pillar of peach coloured crystal juts out of the earth, its surface is marked with geometric patterns and it pulses with a dim white light. Water in the area seems drawn towards the pillar forming a number of liquid spheres that orbit it like planets on an orrery. The attraction of water to the pillar grows stronger the closer it moves to it, within 500ft water will break through non magical seals breach containers in its rush to become part of the pillar’s orbit. The exception to this is the water in living plants and animals which seems unaffected by the pillar. The Liquid Spheres Water drawn towards the pillar never quite reaches it, instead joining one of the liquid spheres orbiting it. There are seventeen spheres in total ranging from 1ft to 10 ft wide and hovering between 3ft and 7ft above the ground. Water in the spheres acts quite normally and can be drunk by immersing one's head in the water. Immediately losing its strange pillar attraction as it passes between a creature's lips however, incautious attempts to drink may result in drowning. Secrets of the pillar. The pillar is a marvel of the ancestors. A device for safely extracting water from the surroundings for desert settlements. Unfortunately time and damage have eroded its functionality causing it to reach further and further to secure an unlimited quantity of water. Perhaps it could be fixed and harnessed for good or further twisted into a dangerous weapon. A crystal pillar juts from the ground surrounded by floating spheres of water. Hex 0910 - the pillar and the spheres.
August 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
mattbenner.bsky.social
Today we travel far south into the desert to visit a land in the shadows of spires and where the sands shift as the earth rumbles beneath them. Hex 0813 - The Crumbling Lands.

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Large cracks run through the desert sands, hex 0813 - The Crumbling Lands. 0813 - The Crumbling Lands Sinkholes and hidden crevasse dot the cracked desert sands sending unwary travellers below the earth. Terrain: desert, 1:6 chance to become lost. Encounters: Low frequency, desert. Foraging: Food scarce/Water scarce, any foraging attempt has a 1:6 chance of triggering a land collapse (see “the unstable sands”) The Unstable Sands Travelling across this hex is very dangerous, the sands shift constantly and there are no stable paths. Vehicles are 5:6 likely to become stuck and if stuck there is a 1:3 chance every turn that it sinks beneath the sands. Any party travelling across the hex must make an appropriate check or saving throw or they will blunder into a land collapse with the entire party sinking into the labyrinth below. The Labyrinth Below The reason for the unstable land above is that they sit atop the ruins of an ancient mechanical labyrinth. For centuries the labyrinth was inactive however something has changed and the labyrinth now shifts and reshapes itself, at regular intervals making escape extremely difficult for any of its unfortunate victims. Creating The Labyrinth If you want to create and run the labyrinth and model its shifting nature, create 11 individual rooms each with at least 2 doors and arrange them in a 3 by 4 grid leaving a single space. Any doors that open on to the empty space are magically sealed. Every ten minutes of in game time roll a d10 and then shift the rooms of the dungeon a number of times equal to the result in the same manner as a sliding puzzle. If the room where the players are situated moves they must make an appropriate save or be knocked prone.
August 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM