Island of Stone

Briny waves crash onto the sparkling shore of a tropical island. It looks like paradise. However, what lies beyond is far from it. Here, a makeshift city stands out as the only sign of civilization. This singular port serves as the base of operation for countless adventurers and treasure seekers. Deep in the island's jungle, an ancient civilization lies hidden; concealed underneath decades of overgrowth. Only crumbled towers and broken walls peek out amongst the trees. While little remains above the ground, a massive network of passageways and chambers remain beneath the surface. The ruins come to an end only when they reach the dormant volcano at the farthest side of the island. The relics salvaged from these ruins suggest a civilization, far more advanced than even the greatest modern societies, once dwelled here. For the traveling scholars and pilgrims, there is no greater mystery to solve than how this civilization came to its end. For the daring, opportunity beckons for the riches waiting to be uncovered in the lost ruins. And for the rest of the inhabitants, well, there is plenty money to be made catering to those explorers. That is exactly what the Expeditions Guild does, offering exploration licenses to glory seekers in exchange for a price. Those who ignore the guild and venture off without a license will end up thrown in the stocks should they live long enough to return.

But few know the deepest secrets within these ruins. Hundreds or even thousands of corridors and chambers lead you along to the foot of the volcano. Here, you will find the largest and oldest halls of this long lost city. Years ago, the citizens of this ancient empire would have killed one another just for the opportunity to glance at the now crumbled galleries that once showcased dozens of artworks and artifacts. Now, the passageways are empty and the air is still. Yet here is also where you’ll learn how these venerable inhabitants looked. Hundreds of ancient citizens can be found in the deepest antechambers, caught running, screaming or falling to the ground. Echoes of the past, frozen in stone. Their final moments memorialized for eternity. In the darkest reaches, there lays a room where once sat the ruler of this island. Now the room is shrouded in darkness. The only light is the pale glow of cold, slate blue, frog-like eyes. For those lucky enough to make it this far, those eyes mark their final moments. Few make it this far, but amongst the echoes of ancient people there stand a few rock statues that look like modern adventurers. Their faces, twisted in horror as if captured in the exact moment that they witnessed a monstrosity...

Cover image is HeroesOfMightAndMagic2-style basilisk made by Blarumyrran at https://opengameart.org/content/heroesofmightandmagic2-style-basilisk