The Hollowed Crawl
The stone itself seems to breathe with a cold, ancient hunger.
A network of damp, limestone caverns repurposed by a cult of subterranean scholars. The walls are slick with moisture and lime, often narrowing into claustrophobic passages that echo with every footstep.
The air is cold and smells of wet stone and old parchment. The sound of dripping water is constant, occasionally interrupted by the skittering of many legs and the low hum of lingering enchantments.
☠ Threat
A corrupted Drider named Xylos has claimed the deepest sanctum. He uses the leftover magical archives to weave webs of shadow and intellect, seeking to transform the entire cave into a grand library of mummified secrets.
History
Originally a natural cave system, it was occupied decades ago by the Acolytes of the Pale Eye who sought to archive forbidden terrestrial lore. They eventually vanished or were consumed by the shadows they summoned, leaving their libraries and defenses to the elements and indigenous cave life.
Encounter Table
CRA multi-legged scavenger that paralyzes its prey with facial tentacles.
A swarm of screeching bats that obscures vision and causes minor damage.
A worm-like creature with a beak and stony-colored hide that blends with the walls.
Rumours & Whispers
Miners from the local quarry say the mountain hums during the full moon.
A merchant claims his partner was dragged into a 'cave that bleeds' by a half-man spider.
The Acolytes of the Pale Eye once possessed a map that leads to an underground sea.
Bioluminescent moss from the Grotto can cure most mundane fevers if prepared correctly.
Quest Hooks
Quest giver: Elias the Grocer
A local merchant was robbed, and his business ledger was taken into the caves by a 'skittering beast'.
150gp and a lifetime discount at his shop.
Quest giver: Father Theron
A priest of the Still Earth wants the polluted shrine in the caves cleansed of the Weaver's influence.
3 Potions of Healing and a blessing.
Corridor Notes
A patch of slick, black mold that causes characters to slip if they run.
A collection of small, perfectly round stones piled in the shape of a pyramid.
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