THE LORE:
HECATE’S LABYRINTH

In ages past, long before your grandfather’s grandfather first drew breath, before the great cities of man and the kingdoms of the elves, there was war, a great war between the Gods and their Titan kin.

Mountains crumbled, great oceans rose, and entire continents vanished within the chaos of war. For a thousand thousand years, the conflict raged, and the world was left forever scarred.

And where titan blood was spilled, strange flowers bloomed. The Paeonia.

Blossoming flowers emerged in places they shouldn’t. They bloomed in caves, on cliff sides, on mountaintops where nothing else could grow. To the common folk, they were rare beauties, curiosities prized by healers and herbalists.

But for those talented in the darker arts, they held a powerful secret.

Within every Paeonia lingers an essence of the Titans themselves. And from their blood red petals, great magics could be done.

None, however, understood the Paeonia better than Hecate. Before the war had ended, Hecate stole away flowers for herself and cultivated them in her gardens beneath the earth. Hidden from divine and mortal eyes, she used their power to fuel her ancient sorceries and healing poultices.

Fearful of their power, the Gods destroyed what flowers they could, scorching the land bare.

At least that’s how the stories go.

Deep underground, the Temple of Hecate lies in wait, barred by an ancient labyrinth. Few have ventured into the maze of twisting halls. Fewer still have returned. Those who have, speak of strange markings, crimson flowers growing from the stone, and a monstrous guardian who stalks the maze.

Folks say that the guardian is eternal. Undying. No one can agree on exactly what the guardian is, only that it is ancient, powerful, and has prevented explorers from entering the temple for generations.

Reaching the temple won’t be easy.

Exploration Encounter:
The Caverns

The deep caverns leading to the Temple of Hecate are rugged and treacherous. Dirt and debris coat the walls and floors, rising in dusty clouds with each step the adventurers take. However, there are signs that others have come this way before them. Footsteps leading down and droplets of dried blood. Collected in grim clusters, skulls line the walls, each packed with fragrant herbs and dusted with fine ash. They look to be fashioned into torches.

Lighting the skulls will provide a small amount of light but will illuminate a symbol carved into each of the skulls’ foreheads – the labyrinthine symbol of Hecate.

If a player at any point holds up a symbol of Hecate, all skulls along the path leading to the Temple will alight in response.

Adventurers Remains

The rotten remains of a satchel lay forgotten beneath a blanket of rubble. Inside, characters will find a wooden stave, adorned with the symbol of Hecate, a gold band, and a collection of loose pages. Most of the pages are time-worn and illegible, but others are covered in scrawled drawings.

Worn pages

The pages are old and damaged. Most are useless, crumbling when touched. Those that are intact depict rough, ink sketches.

Rough scrawls cover the surviving pages, the ink faded and worn by time. Many of the sketches are unfinished, their details lost to water stains and torn parchment. One page is dominated by a strange symbol, drawn and redrawn countless times. Concentric lines spiral inward through a winding labyrinth of ink before converging upon a grinning skull at its center. A small annotation notes the image as the mark of Hecate. 

Another page depicts a hulking creature rendered in hurried strokes of ink. Though crude, the sketch captures a powerful, humanoid frame, long curling horns, and an imposing greataxe. Several attempts have been made to draw the beast from different angles, each rougher than the last, as though the artist had little time to work. Beside one drawing, a shaking hand has written a single word:

“Asterius.”

Band of Hecate

If the players investigate the gold band:

The slender wristlet is adorned with a wreath of engraved, petals around its circumference. A circular medallion, engraved with the labyrinthine symbol of Hecate, shimmers with unnatural light. It feels warm to the touch.

Stave of Hecate

If the players investigate the wooden stave:

This hand-carved stave is adorned with the symbol of Hecate. Longer than a wand but shorter than a staff, its purpose seems ceremonial as it’s surely too fragile to be used for combat and doesn’t appear to have any magical properties.

The stave is purely a ceremonial item; however, it counts as a symbol of Hecate for use with the Band of Hecate.

THE MAP:
ANCIENT LABYRINTH

As the characters arrive at the labyrinth, use the following text to set the scene.

Rough stone steps lead you further underground, the cold dark banished by ghostly light that bleeds from within the ancient labyrinth. Twisting corridors of hewn stone stand proud within the deepest pits of the cavern. Echoes of something moving within the labyrinth reverberate off the stone, and a warm breeze brings with it the smells of incense and decay. Bones lie scattered among the rocks – a grim warning of danger ahead.

General Features

The labyrinth is a twisting maze deep within the bowels of the earth.

Lighting. Ghostly green light emanates from within the labyrinth, banishing the darkness of the underground cavern. Tendrils of incense smoke climb high above the coiling walls of the maze to be lost in the darkness of the cave ceiling. 

Smell. A combination of incense and rot rises from the depths of the cavern. Burning skulls line the walls, the smoke smelling of aromatic herbs. But they do little to hide the smell of death which clings to the twisting maze like a cancer.

Sound. Disturbed rock and the chitter of rats echo off stone walls within the labyrinthine halls. Occasionally, more disquieting sounds rise from within – monstrous growls, rasping breaths, and heavy footfalls muffled in the dark.

Remains. The scattered bones of long-dead treasure seekers litter the cavern floor; a tattered satchel is all that remains of their adventures.

1	Entrance to the Labyrinth
2	The center of the Labyrinth. Asterius waits for the party here and regenerates here upon death.
3	Exit of the Labyrinth. The arcane barrier stands here
4	Part one of the Labyrinth Key – The outer ring Symbol of Hecate
5	Part two of the Labyrinth Key – The inner ring Symbol of Hecate

Combat Encounter:
The Cycle of Violence

The ever-restless guardian of the labyrinth, the Minotaur, awaits the party at the center of the labyrinth, sharpening their axe in anticipation. When engaged by the party, the seven-foot-tall beast will address them calmly in Abyssal before charging forward. He will fight until the party escapes the labyrinth or falls.

The Minotaur alone may not pose much of a threat to 5th-level adventurers; however, they are pact-bound to serve eternally as guardian of the labyrinth – felling the beast does not destroy it. Once defeated, the Minotaur will regenerate on its next turn at the center of the labyrinth. Only when the party leaves the labyrinth, whether in retreat or success, will his onslaught cease.

Asterius’s Death

If Asterius is reduced to zero hit points, he does not die. Instead, he dissipates in a cloud of billowing red petals and regenerates back at the center of the labyrinth at the beginning of his next turn.

Playing Asterius

Asterius should be considered an obstacle that the party must deal with rather than a deadly threat. Encourage the party to interact with him socially by showing his intelligence and his reluctant obedience in his duties.

Social Encounter:
Asterius’s Curse

The Minotaur, Asterius, calmly observes the party as they approach the altar at the center of the labyrinth. Characters who speak or understand Abyssal can understand Asterius’s warning.

Incense burns quietly upon the stone altar. A towering silhouette, humanoid but with the head and long curled horns of a bull, waits patiently. They slowly and deliberately drag a whetstone across the blade of an enormous axe, its sharpened edge gleaming in the green light. Then they speak in a low, growling voice.

(If a party member speaks Abyssal or wears the Band of Hecate, read the following dialogue)

“I take no pleasure in your deaths, but this labyrinth is mine to protect, and so I must.”

Asterius holds no grudge against the party and will gladly engage in conversation if party members are able. Additionally, he holds no allegiance to Hecate or to this task that he’s been forever bound to, and will shirk his responsibilities where he can. However, no matter what the party does, he cannot be persuaded or tricked into letting the party pass unassaulted, as his binding prevents it.

Use the following information to roleplay Asterius…

What Asterius Knows

Asterius has been bound to this labyrinth for centuries. His knowledge of the current world is limited; however, he is a reliable source of ancient knowledge that the DM can use freely depending on their campaign.

Some examples include:

• The history of Hecate and her Temple residing just past the boundaries of the labyrinth
• The location of other ancient ruins or sites of power
• Warnings against dealings with Fey

Asterius’s Binding

Centuries ago, Asterius made a pact with Hecate, granting him tremendous strength and a lust for combat. In return, he pledged servitude to Hecate. Unfortunately, the terms of the pact were not so clear as they seemed, and after his death, he was bound to eternally serve her as guardian of the labyrinth. Asterius is disappointed in himself for not seeing through the trickery of the fey bargain and will warn others of the hidden consequences of such bargains.

What Asterius Fears

More than anything, Asterius fears being forgotten. To that end, he will always allow one challenger to retreat from his labyrinth alive and spread word of his existence.

Over the centuries, challengers have been less and less frequent, and now Asterius has a new fear – boredom. Asterius will gladly accept offerings of activities or trinkets that would keep him occupied during his long watch. If a party does part with one such gift, Asterius will repay the kindness by offering his life, just this once, so that the party has a better chance of escape.

What Asterius Values

Asterius is a warrior of virtue and values honor above all else.

If a party member wishes to challenge Asterius to single combat, he will gladly accept. Asterius will face the party member alone, allowing the other members of the party to explore the labyrinth unhindered.

Asterius’s Challenge

Navigating the labyrinth is not the only challenge presented to the party. On successfully reaching the exit, the party will find the way closed, sealed behind a magical stone barrier.

An indentation in the shimmering stone wall matches that of the symbol of Hecate composed of three pieces. The party must find and combine the three parts of the symbol within the labyrinth to unlock the door. Each part of the symbol, and its combined form, is described in the handouts section.

Two of the parts are located within the labyrinth, and the third is held on a chain around Asterius’s neck. See the annotated map here.

At the DM’s discretion, Asterius may offer hints to the solution of the exit puzzle.

RANDOM TABLES

In case you need some stray pieces of loot, hooks for the party to find this place, or just want to use this map as a random encounter.

Minor Curses

Use these to lightly curse players who act disrespectfully within the Labyrinth.

Minor Loot

Use this table to reward minor loot to the party.

Minor Encounter Table

Use this table for additional encounters when traveling towards the labyrinth.

Minor Plot Developments Table

Use this table to assist the party within the labyrinth or to add an impending sense of urgency during rests.

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Credits

Connor Johnston
Author

Heya! I’m Coco. I’m a professional animator and Dungeon Master (for too many games). I have a passion for inventing believable worlds that my players can explore/inevitably destroy.

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Rootyful (Rooty)
Handouts Artist

Actually four buns in a trenchcoat. I’m an artist and level designer from Germany!

Fairbanks
Token Artist

I’m Austin, I draw tokens and stuff.

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