Connects to: 06.10, 15.24, 18.02, 20.18, 23.23, 29.14.23, 37.01 and the Lands of the Night Cattle.
Overview
Rising out of the desert just west of the Devil’s Fingers is a dark ziggurat, squat and horrid. The Dust Walkers (23.23) will not travel here; they say that the monument appeared out of thin air six months ago. Others claim that the sand that covered it simply blew away.
The structure has some curious properties. Compasses do not work within three miles of the ziggurat and, though the ziggurat has but one long stairway leading to its entrance, travelers always find themselves approaching facing the stairs. Finally, around the ziggurat time does not appear to pass: the Sun does not move from the center of the sky if it is day or the full moon does not move from the center of the sky if is night. Yet when travelers emerge from the ziggurat, it is always day if they entered during the night, or vice versa – no matter how long they spent inside.
The ziggurat itself is patrolled by white-haired minotaurs and worse things besides. The minotaurs will pursue intruders out of the ziggurat only if it is night.
At the top of a tower at the back of the ziggurat, there are four windows. One looks out on an expanse of snow and stone, one looks out on lava and islands of brimstone, one looks out on fog-shrouded green hills and one is boarded up. Outside of the ziggurat trot the flayed hides of horses that ask useless riddles and trample their victims regardless of their answer.
Feature
Umberstone: the Black Ziggurat is made out of time-warping bits of the moon.
Connections
- The Foolish Sages (20.18) have carried out some unwise experiments here.
- Uriza (15.24) may help those exploring this location.
- The rubies of the Traitor’s Pit (29.14.23), the Black Ziggurat and the Green Ziggurat (06.10) all seem to be identical.
Hooks
- Is there any connection between the Black Ziggurat and the green Ziggurat (06.10) and the Temple of the Seven Shadows (37.01)?
- What happens if some travelers enter while some remain outside observing the sky?
- What would happen if you leapt out of one of the four windows?
- Is there any connection between the minotaurs and the night cattle of the Lands of the Night Cattle or the minotaurs who dwell elsewhere?
