Mythica Machina - Japanese Horror House

Title: Mythica Machina - Japanese Horror House

Introduction

Beneath the tranquil surface of this minimalist Japanese compound lies a seed of deep unease. The "Japanese Horror House" is a battlemap designed for tales of creeping dread, sudden terror, and vengeful spirits. This deceptively peaceful estate, with its tastefully tidy rooms and serene garden paths, can serve as the calm before the storm. But with a second, included "ruined" version of the map, you can instantly plunge your players into a nightmare of decay and despair. Whether you are running a tense investigation, a classic ghost story, or a desperate fight for survival against a supernatural entity, this map provides the perfect, atmospheric backdrop. Enhanced with the free "Map Shine" module for Foundry VTT, the scene is brought to life with animated water, rustling foliage, and drifting clouds, creating an immersive and deeply unsettling environment.

Map Breakdown & Key Areas:

The compound is a self-contained estate, featuring several traditional buildings connected by stone pathways.

• The Main Residence: The largest building on the estate, featuring a grand central room, an attached kitchen, and sleeping quarters with traditional tatami mats. Its pristine paper walls could be hiding listening ears or be the first to be stained with blood.

• The Annex: A secondary, secluded building perfect for housing honored guests, a reclusive family elder, or a secret dojo. Its isolation makes it an ideal location for a private conversation or a terrifying, cornered encounter.

• Servants' Quarters: A smaller, more modest building to the west, where the staff of the estate live. Players might find crucial information, unwilling allies, or the first victims of a spreading horror here.

• The Outdoor Kitchen: A separate structure to the far north-west used for preparing the household's meals. Its open-air design makes it vulnerable, and the tools within can be used for creation or destruction.

• The Estate Grounds: Meticulously kept paths wind through the compound, crossing a small stream. The simple fence offers little protection from what may lurk in the surrounding woods, and the carefully placed stones could hide a shallow grave or a buried ward.

GM Tools & Technical Details:

• Dual Map Variants: This pack includes two complete versions of the map: one pristine and serene, the other ruined, decayed, and corrupted. This allows you to show the terrifying transformation of the location over time or run "before and after" scenarios.

• Animated Doors: All doors on the map are pre-configured to animate when opened and closed, adding to the scene's dynamic feel.

• "Map Shine" Module Integration: https://foundryvtt.com/packages/map-shine
  
  This map is enhanced with the free "Map Shine" module for Foundry VTT, which adds gorgeously animated foliage, water, and atmospheric effects. As a required dependency, the module will be installed automatically with the map, instantly bringing the environment to life. 

Suggested Uses:

• The Grudge: A classic ghost story. The party is hired to investigate a series of strange occurrences plaguing a noble family. They must uncover the dark history of the house and appease or banish the Onryō (vengeful spirit) that haunts it, culminating in a confrontation in the "ruined" version of the estate.

• A Dish Served Cold: A tense murder mystery. The players are guests at the isolated compound when a diplomat or noble is murdered. Trapped by a storm, they must uncover the killer among them before they strike again.

• Yokai Hunt: The peaceful estate is being terrorized by a mysterious creature from the nearby forest. The party of monster hunters must track the Yokai, learn its weaknesses, and protect the inhabitants from its nightly incursions.

• The Infiltrator's Shadow: The players are a band of shinobi tasked with infiltrating the compound to steal a vital scroll or assassinate a corrupt official. They must use stealth and cunning to navigate the grounds and buildings without alerting the guards.

• The Whispering Walls: This isn't a haunting, but a curse. The house itself is a malevolent entity, slowly driving its inhabitants to madness. The party arrives as guests and must unravel the source of the curse and escape before their perception of reality twists the pristine home into a ruined nightmare.