B4: Derivative Works

There have been various works based upon module B4 "The Lost City" by Tom Moldvay (see the B4 Campaign Sourcebook for comprehensive reviews).

Guide to Cynidicea:

Cover to the Italian version of Geoff Gander's "Guide to Cynidicea" (2005).  Illustration by Christopher Gareth Few.

Geoff Gander’s DM’s Guide to Cynidicea was translated into Italian by the Chimerae Hobby Group as CHE3 “Guida a Cynidicea” (May, 2005).  Graced with several illustrations by Christopher Gareth Few, the 48 page document is downloadable for free.

The Guide includes contributions by Marco Dalmonte, Jeff Daly, Sharon Dornhoff, Geoff Gander, Mischa Gelman, Jamuga Khan, Fabrizio Paoli, Clay Postma, Tomas Sanchez, and Andrew Theisen, and is available in English on the Vaults of Pandius, here.

Return to the Lost City:

"Return to the Lost City" by Mike Mearls was published in Dragon #315 (January, 2004).

Dragon #315 contains a series of articles showcasing classic D&D settings.  Mike Mearls contributed "Return to the Lost City" for Mystara.

Mearls describes the Underground City after a pair of adventurers led the Cynidiceans in a revolt, culminating in the defeat of Zargon.  Unfortunately, Zargon reappeared and regained control of the city, following their departure.

There are some additional details on the Underground City, as well as a description of the hallucinogenic drug ("the Elixir of Fantasy") used by the Cynidiceans.

Masque of Dreams:

"Masque of Dreams" by B. Matthew Conklin III was published in Dungeon #142 (January, 2007).  Cover illustration by James Ryman.

Dungeon #142 contains a 3.5e adventure, designed for character levels 1-5, based on Mearl's article from Dragon #315.

The adventure begins in Ashinana’s Oasis, between the towns of Parsa and Sulba, in the western Alasiyan Desert.  The Lost City is a three to four day journey northeast of the oasis (in the approximate location depicted on the map in the revised D&D Expert rulebook).

Illustrations by Michael M. Kaluta with maps by Robert Lazzaretti (an additional online supplement was also available for download).

Elder Evils:

Zargon was featured in "Elder Evils" (December, 2007) by Robert J. Schwalb.  Illustration by Miguel Coimbra.

"Elder Evils" is a 3.5e supplement, describing high-level, eldritch threats to the PCs campaign world.  Chapter 10 is devoted to Zargon "the Returner".

Full 3.5e stat blocks are provided for Zargon (described as 30' tall, double the height in module B4, with an extra six tentacles for arms, resulting in 18 tentacles).

Original Adventures Reincarnated #4:

Cover to OAR #4 "The Lost City" (2020).  Illustration by Jim Holloway.

A reprinting of the original version of module B4, with introductory retrospectives, as well as a detailed conversion to 5e, by Chris Doyle and Tim Wadzinski.

There's a host of new material, with entire chapters devoted to the Lower Pyramid, the Underground City, the Goblin Caves, and the Lower Catacombs.

The authors drew inspiration from Mearl's article in Dragon #315, such as "the Elixir of Fantasy".  (You can read my review of OAR #4, here).

B4: Kato Cynidicea

The Underground City of Cynidicea* represents a fascinating setting for adventure, once the step-pyramid in module B4 "The Lost City" has been explored.

*we referred to the underground city as Kato Cynidicea, in our campaign ("Kato" being Greek for "Lower")

Isometric map depicting the Underground City of Cynidicea

A. Underground Lake

B. The Island of Death

The Stonehenge-like group of arches on the island predates the Cynidiceans.  The caves mentioned are perfect lairs for the undead.

C. City Docks

D. Water-Filled Chasm

E. Rock Bridges

F. Mushroom Fields

G. Stock Pens

H. Water Channels

I. Orpheus Park

I appreciate Moldvay's allusion to the underworld, invoking the mythical name of Orpheus

J. Main Streets

K. The Temple of Zargon

L. Stronghold of Gorm

M. Stronghold of Usamigaras

N. Stronghold of Madarua

O. Goblin Cliff Dwellings

Another fantastic dungeon environment, populated by goblinoid creatures and their allies.

P. The Wasteland

Q. The Eye of Zargon

R. Entrance to the Lower Catacombs

I would suggest using "Red Nails" by R. E. Howard as inspiration for developing the lower catacombs.

S. Entrance to the Pyramid

B4: The Lost City

B4 "The Lost City" by Tom Moldvay was published for use with Moldvay Basic (1981), although enough information was provided to alternately run the adventure using Holmes Basic (1977).

Cover to module B4 "The Lost City" (1982) by Tom Moldvay.  Illustration of a priest of Zargon confronting a party of adventurers, by Jim Holloway.

The player characters are part of a desert caravan, although become lost after a terrible sandstorm.  They discover the ruins of an ancient city among the dunes, with a mysterious step-pyramid at its center.*

*the module states "If the continent map in module X1 is used, the Lost City can be anywhere in the Alasiyan Desert."

Design Origins

The module was likely based on a previous adventure, "Tentrumtoon" (ruined city & pyramid dungeon) in the Original Known World campaign, for the Kent State University Gamer's Guild (mentioned in the module's credits).

Moldvay appears to have been inspired by two specific stories by Robert E. Howard, "Xuthal of the Dusk" (published as "The Slithering Shadow" in Weird Tales, vol. 22, no. 3) and "Red Nails" (published in Weird Tales, vol. 28, no. 1).

The Fall of Cynidicea

The module relates how Cynidicea* was once a rich and fertile desert kingdom, although following the death of its last and greatest king, a strange cult arose that worshipped an eldritch, re-awakened monster as a god.

*the cultural underpinnings of Cynidicea appear to be rooted in Ptolemaic Egypt, during which time the Hellenistic ruling class incorporated Egyptian traditions and beliefs

The city ultimately fell to barbarian invaders, with survivors retreating underground.  Over several generations, the Cynidiceans adapted to their new environment, developing infravision.  Each wears a stylized mask, although many are losing touch with reality.

Three factions devoted to the worship of the ancient gods, (Gorm, Usamigaras, and Madarua) seek to defeat the cult of Zargon and re-establish Cynidicea's former glory.

The Step-Pyramid

The module describes the five levels of a step-pyramid in detail, with maps and notes for the DM to develop five underground levels, as desired.

The Underground City

Moldvay may have been inspired by the short story "The Nameless City" by H. P. Lovecraft,* describing the ruins of a prehistoric city, originally constructed by a race of reptilian creatures, now inhabiting a vast underground cavern.

*originally published in the amateur press association journal The Wolverine (November, 1921)

The Underground City of Cynidicea

A section describing further adventures in the underground city is reminiscent of a similar section in module I1 "Dwellers of the Forbidden City".

When I ran module B4 back in high school, we spent a full year of the campaign in the underground city, (I shared my old notes in this thread on Dragonsfoot).

New Monsters

Banshee, Cynidiceans,* Lycanthope (Werefox),** Polymar***

*can be used as a playable race, as discussed in this thread on Dragonsfoot

**perhaps derived from Foxwomen, appearing in Schick and Moldvay's Original Known World, as mentioned here

***a B/X version of the Protein Polymorph, contributed by Moldvay to the Fiend Folio (1981), originally appearing in Schick and Moldvay's Original Known World, as mentioned here

Credits

Designer: Tom Moldvay
Development: Tom Moldvay, Jon Pickens
Editing: Harold Johnson, Jon Pickens
Art: Jim Holloway, Harry Quinn, Stephen D. Sullivan
Playtesting: Dave Cook, Helen Cook, Clint Johnson, Steve Kaszar, Bill Wilkerson,* Jeff Wyndham, and The Kent State University Gamer's Guild
Special Thanks: To Jon Pickens for his invaluable assistance

*Bill Wilkerson recently shared a treasure trove of material regarding the Original Known World (see "More OKW documents!" posted on The Piazza; January 20, 2022)

"The Lost City" Campaign Sourcebook (2018).  A collaborative effort by fans of module B4.

B4 Campaign Sourcebook:

In the spirit of the B1 Campaign Sourcebook, I compiled and edited a fan supplement for module B4 "The Lost City" involving several contributors, downloadable here.

Update (September 1, 2024): "Adventures in the Underground City", a 32-page supplement to the B4 Campaign Sourcebook, was posted to Dragonsfoot (downloadable here)