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Deadstone Dungeon Map Pack!
🕑 Added 2022-11-24 02:14:30 +0000 UTCThe download URL for the map files can be found in a following "Tier Rewards" post specific to your tier, or on the Pinned post on the front page of the Patreon.
Urthaan, the dwarven mage, knelt low over the last golden knot in the chain.
It was arcane steel, wrought from the dwarven forges and enchanted by the dwarves of Deepwell. Once placed, the spell would be complete and the tomb would be secure. Taking hold of a slender adamantine hammer, Urthaan slid the last knot into the chain between two of many identical pieces with a heavy thud.
Lightly tapping the hammer about the edges, the knot settled into place to form a seamless bond with the rest of the chain, and two white hot flames appeared on either edge, magically sealing any gaps between.
Taking a step back, Urthaan drew in a slow breath and nodded.
"And that's it, then?", asked a voice nearby.
"In a moment.", Urthaan replied, stowing the hammer into the folds of his robe and watching as a warm glow began to spread across the arcane infused metal. The golden hue arced quickly as it followed the twisting knots along the chain, toward the base of the western wall, until it disappeared beneath it.
If all had been done correctly, the light would appear from the other wall as the magic came full circle to create the powerful ward. It was the largest such ward Urthaan or any dwarven mage had ever forged -- made to obscure and protect.
Nothing would pass the barrier. No scrying. No physical being. As long as it worked.
Urthaan stared toward the eastern wall and held his breath.
It must work.
Moments later, a bright glow slipped beneath the eastern wall as the golden light sped along the chain and forged a bond with the initial brick. The circle was complete.
"It is done, my King. It has been sealed.", Urthaan spoke hastily, excitement and relief evident in his tone.
"And he cannot escape?", the King asked, eyes glittering faintly in the darkness.
"No, my King. Not unless someone breaks the chain. And Morduun himself would have to sunder the earth to see such a thing done.", Urthaan assured him.
"Very well. Seal the entrance behind the cliff face -- have the stone shapers ensure no reason for someone to suspect anything other than simple stone and earth reside here.", the King spoke, turning toward the daylight hiding near the southern doorway.
Urthaan bowed his head and took once last look at the chamber, glowing a dim gold and blue of the precious metals used to forge the ward.
It must work.
Urthaan turned and walked through the southern door, closing it behind him and sealing it with an iron key.
--
Welcome to the Deadstone Dungeon, a dwarven-made prison designed to hold the soul of a powerful necromancer that had threatened their lands and those of their allies many centuries ago. Trapped within a crystal, the necromancer was placed in this tomb and protected by several traps designed to challenge any invader.
Surrounding the dungeon is a circle of mithril and arcane steel, creating a ward that disallowed any form of scrying or physical movement past its boundaries. However, a recent earthquake shifted the stone and formed a crack in the bond, allowing the powerful call of the necromancer to reach out of the tomb.
Undead have begun crawling toward the prison, breaking down its doors, searching to free their master from his prison.
Has the party been hired to obtain the stone for an employer? Or perhaps asked to join a party to protect and reseal the prison?
The prison contains [2] levels.
The Main Level contains [4] chambers designed to various gods and an Entry Chamber, whereby visitors are judged before being allowed deeper into the prison.
The main entry holds several mirrors, two of them broken, which used to trap light from a shaft overhead and form a cage of light that would entrap or slay any undead seeking to cross its path. The shaft overhead has been blocked by debris, and two of the mirrors have been shattered, disallowing the pattern to be made unless they are sufficiently repaired.
Past that room is an initial hallway with [4] rooms, each holding a statue of one of the [4] different goods. These statues could be linked up with items required to gain entry, or simply be a vehicle for prayer or offering by your players to gain favor, insight or clues as to the challenges that lay beyond.
You can choose how to manage each room as you see fit, but here are some ideas:
The "entry" room has a brazier beneath a large head and a couple of spider statues. When the players enter, they must answer a question in their minds about why they've come -- if the cause is greed, corruption or other similar motivation, the head begins to cast spells while the spider statues animate and attack.
The "red" room was designed to have riddles written upon the wall. Each wrong answer would result in a 20" foot square of flame to erupt from some number of the holes on the floor. Additional wrong answers could mean additional holes erupt, or perhaps the statues animate. Once the riddles are solved, the northern door opens.
The "green" room is crawling with vines and roots, considered difficult terrain (even for people who ignore it. On the eastern side is a glowing orb of poisonous energy drawing everything toward it. Players have to attempt to make their way to the opposing door, while evading the ensnaring roots and vines attempting to pull them into the globe. Once they manage to get the northern door open, they can escape.
The "purple" room contains several tiles with purple symbols. Players must navigate along a prescribed path (beginning from the left side) in order to open a secret door on the southern wall. The first failure shrouds the room in a dark mist. Subsequent failures summon shadowy tentacles that must be dealt with, less they pull them into the darkness.
The lower level holds the crystal known as the Deadstone. Shadowy versions of undead linger here, attempting to stop the party from touching the stone unless they make a very difficult Wisdom Saving throw. It may take them several rounds to achieve it, while fighting off these creatures and attempting to understand how to be able to grasp the stone.
I hope you guys can have some fun adventures with it, and would love to hear how it goes, if you use it!
