The Forum of Set is level L04 of the Ardis Vala Mega-Dungeon: the old Archontean temple of Set, now temple, slave market and lair of the resurgent Cult of Set.
| Type | Place (dungeon level) |
| Ruler | Stephania |
| Spanish entry | Forum de Set |
History and organization
Set was second in prestige only to Thoth. After the cult fell the temple shrank; about 90 years ago a faction resettled it and founded the modern cult. It has two quasi-independent arms:
- The priesthood, under High Priestess Stephania: the mysteries, the liturgy in the Temple of Set in the Halls of Thoth, trade and politics.
- The Guild of Service, under Chief Slaver Gunnar: the slave market and a paramilitary body that takes captives on the Long Stair.
Stephania rules both nominally; the Guild acts on its own.
Regions
- Precincts of Set: the cult’s Forum, mysteries and Red Bridge.
- Northern caverns: lizardmen, owlbears, and runaway slaves led by Theophrastus.
- Behir caves: a loose behir, which killed Stephania’s predecessor Keladorus of Arcturos.
- Archontean necropolis: mummies and undead, notably the greater mummy Meskenit.
- Southern tunnels: Rudishva secrets and perhaps a vault of the Seekers.
Most chambers are Archontean; a few are Heqeti or Rudishva, and two were “delved by an unknown people”.
Notable features
- The Forum: bazaar of herbs, potions and rare mushrooms around a 5 m jackal fountain; Theodor Trefill is its auctioneer.
- Gunnar, as doppelganger and as the real one.
- The three Mysteries, the third closed by the behir.
- Officers: Belisarius the Overseer, Marius Junienos, Lacedaion.
- Red Bridge over the chasm of Set, border with the wilds.
- Blue Pillar Teleporter, to the Halls of Thoth, Troll Lifts, Court of the Thegn, Goblin Warrens and surface.
- Gate to the Abyss, described both as open and as sealed.
Other routes lead to the Obsidian Gates (by the river), the Floor of the Great Abyss, the Ziggurat of Kauket (Heqeti teleport well) and the outer cliff; its sub-levels include the Workshops of Kerbog Khan and the Pits of Kaliyani.
Events
The Seekers attended the auction of a cursed collar here, on which Sir Circalculo bid.
Open questions
- Whether Sanzorotita Estefania is an identity or aspect of Stephania.