thereclusivecartographer

Dwarven Ruins 58x56 - Dungeon Map

Added 2023-01-05 20:26:47 +0000 UTC

Happy New Year team!

I hope you are all having a great start to 2023! For my part I have jumped headlong into our theme of ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, as voted for by you wonderful patrons.

Expect maps based on the ‘classic’ aspects of the game we all love. For my first offering I give you: Dwarven Ruins, a twisting, turning collection of chambers and tunnels that make up an ancient mountain hold.

Rewards

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Find more maps here: Cartographer’s Archive List

Adventure Idea: From Beneath

While drawing this map, I was thinking not only of the original purpose of such a hold but what might have befallen it to leave it in such a sorry state.

With help from your good selves over on Discord I settled on the idea that this hold was once a shrine for the dwarven folk of the area, a place of pilgrimage for many great warriors of the ages.

As the hold grew rich from the attraction of so many wealthy patrons, it drew the attention of more jealous eyes.

The dwarves, content in their impregnable walls could scarcely imagine a threat might come from beneath their very feet.

When the attack came it was over in a flash, hordes of hostile creatures swarmed over the pilgrims in the lower levels, only to overrun the hold’s defenders above. Though some sort sanctuary behind solid steel and timber doors, there was no hope of escape for the unfortunate dwarves. One by one they were all slain, the last to die scrawling a dire warning to any that might come after them. With his own blood he etched the word ‘RUN’....

In terms of an adventure, take your pick! Perhaps a pious dwarf wishes to stand at the great shrine and will pay handsomely for an escort, or maybe some untold treasure or knowledge was lost when the hold fell, or maybe the hold is to be cleansed and reclaimed for the dwarves. Lots to think about for sure!

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