Cavernous Lair

[realarete]

Prepping for our next session, I wanted to share the initial sketch and then possible cave layout - Any feedback welcome! I have Resin cave sets and a couple pcs of dwarvenite to work with. Usually I draw out the caves, then try to construct the map using the DF cavern pcs. In this scenario, the adventurers find an Old Mill (ruined) and delve into the flooded basement level. There is a small underground catacomb area a ways off beneath some outworks buildings, and these two areas are joined by some natural caverns, now a foul lair, and exposed due to some flooding and collapsing ... The cavernous portion follows:

Initial Sketch of the connecting natural caves

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Caverns build

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View down entrance to Caverns

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Transition to tunnel to Catacombs

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More twisting caves ...

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The back of the Caves with an elevated narrow cavern, and a cramped dark lair area

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A final shot, entrance into a cave of bones and darkness ....

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[Arcarius2001]

I like it!! That elevated portion with the arch from the lake expansion set (or is it rivers, I forget) looks fantastic! Having changing elevation adds to the realism of the environment. The only thing I may suggest is to add a bit of the water pieces, maybe a couple banks and add the free standing wall on the water side. Kind of gets the feeling of being flooded.
I love the old resin cavern line, it still has no equal in my opinion.

[realarete]

Oh the water idea is excellent! Ill work on incorporating that and get a picture added when I do. Thanks for the feedback! Yes the arch is indeed from the Lake expansion.

[unclebilly]

Looks awesome and so does your drawing.

[realarete]

Looks awesome and so does your drawing.

Thanks much! Lots of inspiration on these forums!

[fnordfriendly]

Awesome build, love the old resin caverns sets. Did you draw the map first, or after you set it up?

[realarete]

I sketched first, then tried my best to put the resin to it ... I'll post the Mill basement cutaway drawing and build this weekend I hope.

[realarete]

Did a test build of the basement of the mill - A stairway winds down into a lowering cave, partially flooded, and leads into a formed hall ... beyond the hall is a narrow, crumbling cavern corridor, roots and water threaten to crash down from the flooded yards above ... I have limited resin sets, and a few odd ball pcs of dwarvenite
Ive left the one side open deliberately to give a bit of access to move minis etc...

Heres the sketch of the cross-section:

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View long direction:

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View of the cavern-like passage at end ( which leads into the Cavern Lair in the other post)

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View of the Stairs section ... flooded up to the height of the corridor

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Another view of stairs section :

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A bit of a scramble up rough terrain and under water

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Another view of the stairs:

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The passage narrows, it is here in the sketch that after the first adventurer makes their way through, the rocks collapse! Trapping the one adventurer on the side that leads to the Lair, and the others in a corridor that is filling with swamp water! Several athletics/end checks need to be made to gain the stairs and back up to the first floor of the mill ... But the water has forced the nests of rats up there as well .... dire straights for both groups of adventurers!

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Final shot:

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The main group of the party must survive the water trap and drowning, deal with the rats, and make their way to the out-buildings and the Catacomb beneath, to met up with the trapped member who (if they get too bold) is stuck by themselves in the cavern area with an old Troll ...

Will post the Catacomb section ( the final section , I promise ) once I get a test build of it set up.

[kitenerd]

Super clever little encounter designed in a compact footprint - i love it!

Of all the things you can throw at players, there is nothing as terrifying as slowly rising water!

[Arcarius2001]

That looks great! I really like the look of the dungeon stairs and mountain pieces. It looks like something out of Indiana Jones, old and abandoned leading somewhere dangerous. That you sketch it first amazes me.