Helcheonkraad

Overgrown flagstone paths zigzag like spiderwebs throughout the bog. Many of the pathways are submerged below the waterline or buried under mounds of mud and moss. They merge like tributaries headed deeper into the bog ending at the partly submerged ziggurat.
Deeper: The ziggurat is the seat of power dedicated to Helcheon King, the tribal denizen of the orks pre-Drengraad [lore]. The bottom two tiers of the five-tiered ziggurat is submerged beneath black waters [monster]. A landslide tore away the east corner of the ziggurat long ago [entrance].
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DEN: The Ruins of Helcheonkraad

The Ruins of Helcheonkraad is the modern name of the Ziggurat dedicated to the ork denizen, Helcheon King. The structure has no rooms inside it, but rather, each tier served as a "level" of the ziggurat, with each tier rising roughly 30 feet at a steeply angled slope above the last. Climbing the incline between tiers is a [DIFFICULT] task without the assistance of climbing gear.
The ziggurat is still an active site of worship, though greatly diminished. Its denizen, has long since had its heirophant transform the last of its followers into undead in order to carry out the rituals and rites at the top of the ziggurat.

Tier 5 - Tangle of Worms

• Tangles of worm-like juvenile lamprey hover here, taking shelter in the cracks and crevasses of the ziggurat
• We should treat these as a swam monster for the purposes of an encounter - they will attack any small sized or larger creature that is "alone" (15 feet from another similar sized creature).
• Anything of value here has long ago rotted or been carried away by currents.
• Those lorehunters may be able to decipher the reliefs and inscriptions [DIFFICULT] to learn [D4 Lore] details about this place.

Tier 4 - A Bed of Bones

• Tier 4 is quite expansive and holds the bits and remains left by the Crocodilian Fish
• Vegetation is rather thick here creating a kind of barrier [DIFFICULT TERRAIN] when trying to access tier 3
• Also here, undead unfortunate enough to fall from the tier 1 and tier 2 have likely landed here, clawing and grasping impotently in an attempt to ascend back up the ziggurat; the weight of the precious metals covering their bones making it all but impossible.

Tier 3 - The Crocodilian Fish's Lair

• The water deepens as they near the ziggurat.
• PCs may arrive by swimming or by water vehicle, flying would also be possible if able to hover.
• The challenge here is the Crocodilian Fish which has claimed this level as its lair.
• The water is shallow here, but deep enough to accommodate the beasts.
• It feeds on lamprey and other fish found in the bog.
• Once alerted, the Crocodilian Fish will pursue the characters wherever they go in the water, angry that it has invaded its lair.

Tier 2 - Sepulchral Servitors

• This tier , about 25 feet from the waters surface is beautifully maintained - there are no signs of debris on the grounds nor lichen or moss on the stonework; stone walking paths splits the gravel grounds where decorative plants are neat an trimmed
• [1:4 | D4+1 Servitors] copper skeletons adorned in bangles and beadwork are seen performing some task to maintain the tier; when alerted of the intrusion, they will strike a gong-chime to alert the bronze skeleton guards.
• [1:5 | D4+2 Servitors] The bronze skeleton guards are unadorned, but carry a Khopesh and Round Shield and will attack anyone carrying arms on the tier.
• Those not carrying arms will be escorted to the temple by the Bronze Skeleton Guards where they will be taken to the Bronze Tusk Horn to awaken the Effigy of the Helcheon King for an audience.

Tier 1 - The Top of the World

• This tier is empty but for a temple-like structure at its top
• This temple structure houses a colossal Bronze Tusk capped at its tip with a mouthpiece intended to be blown like a horn.
• When blown, the relief carved into the wall awakens [D4+1 minutes] as the Effigy of the Helcheon King, who, is [UNFRIENDLY] to any non-ork species, but [NEUTRAL] if there are any orks in the party.
• [1:4 | D4+1 Servitors] copper skeletons adorned in bangles and beadwork are seen performing some task to maintain the tier; when alerted of the intrusion, they will strike a gong-chime to alert the bronze skeleton guards.
• [1:5 | D4+2 Servitors] The bronze skeleton guards are unadorned, but carry a Khopesh and Round Shield and will attack anyone carrying arms on the tier.
• Those not carrying arms will be escorted to the temple by the Bronze Skeleton Guards where they will be taken to the Bronze Tusk Horn to awaken the Effigy of the Helcheon King for an audience.

Rumors

1. "The bottom tiers are home to undead followers. Their skeletal forms, adorned with precious metals, lie motionless, clawing at the mud in a desperate attempt to ascend back to their master's side."
2. "Navigating the zigzagging pathways is perilous, with many paths leading to dead ends or sinking into the swamp."
3. "Tier 3 is a treacherous lair claimed by a massive predator with scales like iron and a hunger for anything that disturbs its watery home."
4. "At the very top, a temple holds a treasure, the Bronze Tusk. When blown, it summons an effigy of Helcheonkraad carved reliefs on the walls."
5. "The ziggurat, despite its decayed state, is still meticulously maintained by skeletal servants and guardians."