Adapting the classic C1: The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan to the Barrows & Borderlands (B&B) framework requires shifting the focus from standard dungeon crawling to a high-stakes, survival-horror "extraction" crawl. This blog post picks right up from Adapting X2 Castle Amber (Chateau d' Amberville) By Tom Moldvay For Barrows & Borderlands Rpg
In B&B, the primary antagonist isn't just the monsters—it’s the Poisonous Gas and the ticking clock of your party’s resources.
### The Core Hook: The Suffocation Mechanic
In B&B, environmental hazards are lethal. As soon as the players fall into the ruins, they are affected by the Miasma of the Sunless Shrine.
The Clock: Every 10 minutes (one Dungeon Turn) of exploration, players must tick off 1 Ration or Torch to represent the extra effort of breathing/moving through the thick dust.
The Penalty: If the party stops for a Long Rest, every character must make a Vigor Save. On a failure, they gain the Fatigued condition, reducing their maximum Grit until they reach fresh air.
### Converting Key Encounters
Barrows & Borderlands thrives on "Weird Fantasy" tropes. Here is how to reskin the iconic Tamoachan threats:
| Original Element | B&B Adaptation | Mechanical Twist |
| The Giant Slug | The Slime-Crusted Horror | Acts as a "Terrain Hazard." Its trail forces an Agility Save or the character is Stuck. |
| The Vampire (Zotzilaha) | The Hemomancer Wraith | Instead of level drain, it drains Grit directly. If Grit hits 0, the player becomes a Thrall. |
| The Doppelganger | The Echo-Shifter | It doesn't just look like a PC; it copies the last Ability the PC used against it. |
| The Gas Traps | The Blight Vents | These deal direct Inventory Damage. Instead of HP, the gas rots 1d4 random items in the backpack. |
### The "Borderlands" Twist: Loot and Relics
Since B&B emphasizes the value of "The Haul," the Olman treasures should be more than just gold.
The Mirror of Itzpapalotl: In B&B, this acts as a cursed focus. It allows a caster to double their spell range, but every use requires a Sanity Check.
The Jade Mask: This functions as a "High-Tier Helm." It grants immunity to the shrine's poisonous gas but prevents the wearer from speaking or casting spells with verbal components.
### Navigation & Hazard Levels
To maintain the B&B "Meatgrinder" feel, divide the shrine into three distinct Hazard Zones:
The Lower Chambers (The Crawl): Focus on Vigor and Agility. Heavy on pit traps and collapsing ceilings.
The Middle Tier (The Ritual): Focus on Wits and Lore. This is where the environmental puzzles and "The Centaur" reside.
The Upper Tier (The Breach): Focus on Combat and Speed. The gas is thickest here; players must find the exit before their Gear Slots are depleted by rot and exhaustion.
Design Note: Use the B&B Reaction Table for the various guardians (like the Giant Crayfish). Not everything in Tamoachan wants to kill the players immediately; some might be willing to trade "Safe Air" locations for the party’s precious supplies.
Gemini said
In Barrows & Borderlands, guardians aren't just bags of hit points; they are atmospheric hurdles that test a party’s resources, sanity, and tactical positioning. To fit the "Borderlands" feel, these Olman guardians should feel like ancient, semi-sentient bio-mechanical or spirit-bound constructs.
Here are the primary guardians of Tamoachan adapted with B&B mechanics:
### 1. The Teotl-Amoxtli (The Tome Guardian)
Originally a giant crayfish, in the B&B version, this is a massive, chitinous horror fused with obsidian shards, guarding the sunken bridge.
Hazard Level: High (Physical)
Key Attribute: Armor 4 (Obsidian Shell).
The Threat: Its claws don't just deal damage; they have the Sunder quality. On a successful hit, the player must sacrifice 1 Defense Item (Shield or Armor) or take double Grit damage.
The Twist: It is bioluminescent. If killed, its internal fluids can be harvested to create 3 Durable Torches that burn underwater and in gas.
### 2. The Zotzilaha Vampire (The Bat God’s Avatar)
Instead of a traditional vampire, this is a desiccated, leathery humanoid suspended in a glass vat of preservative "God-Blood."
Hazard Level: Extreme (Supernatural)
The Draining Gaze: Anyone making eye contact must pass a Spirit Save. Failure results in the Weakened condition—all Physical checks are at a disadvantage until the player consumes a full Ration.
Echo-Flight: It does not walk; it blurs between locations. Melee attacks against it suffer a -2 penalty unless the room is illuminated by more than one light source.
The Loot: The Heart of Zotzilaha. Can be crushed to instantly restore all Grit to the party, but inflicts a Permanent Scaring on the user's soul.
### 3. The Nahual (The Jaguar-Man)
The classic shapeshifter of the shrine, re-imagined as a "Shadow-Stalker" that haunts the party through the ventilation shafts.
Hazard Level: Medium (Stealth/Ambush)
Stalking Mechanic: The Nahual does not attack head-on. Every time the party rolls a "1" on an Exploration check, the Nahual strikes the person at the back of the marching order and vanishes.
Prowess: It ignores the first 2 points of damage from non-silvered weapons.
Weakness: It is terrified of True Fire. A torch held high keeps it at bay, but using a torch in the gas-filled lower levels risks an explosion.
### 4. The Kulkulkan Construct (The Feathered Sentinel)
A mechanical serpent made of gold, jade, and feathered silk, coiled around the central pillar of the upper tiers.
Hazard Level: High (Environmental)
The Coiling Constriction: Instead of biting, it wraps around a target. The target is Restrained and loses 1d6 Grit per turn from crushing force.
Jade Scales: The construct is immune to Poison and Bleed effects.
Tactical Solution: The construct is powered by a large gemstone in its forehead. A character can attempt a Wits Check to jam the mechanism with a crowbar or tool, bypassing the fight entirely.
### Guardian Stat Block Template (B&B Style)
### Management of "The Haul"
In B&B, these guardians are often standing on top of Relics. When a guardian is defeated, roll on the Ancient Olman Loot Table:
Macuahuitl of Woe: A wooden sword embedded with obsidian. Deals +2 damage but breaks (is removed from inventory) on a natural 1.
Chacmool Basin: A stone bowl that purifies any liquid placed inside, turning it into Clean Water (1 Usage).
Quetzal Cloak: Grants the wearer a +4 bonus to Agility Saves involving jumping or falling.
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