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)