Battlemap
Hollowshade Grotto
The damp earth swallows the light and whispers of ancient hunger.
A network of natural limestone caverns partially expanded by a forgotten subterranean sect. Slime-coated walls and the constant rhythm of dripping water create a claustrophobic and treacherous environment.
The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth and rot. Dim bioluminescent fungi provide a sickly green glow, while the constant 'plink-plonk' of water echoes through the narrow tunnels.
☠ Threat
The Silk-Weaver, an oversized arachnid mutated by the lingering magic of the Deep Heart, now rules the lower depths. It has turned the cult's former sanctum into a larder, filling the passages with sticky, vibration-sensitive webs.
History
Originally a bear's den, these caves were claimed decades ago by the Order of the Deep Heart, a cult seeking a mythical gemstone. They carved shrines and prisons into the rock before a localized earthquake sealed them inside, leaving only madness and dust.
Encounter Table
CRA multi-legged insectoid that pulls prey up with sticky filaments.
Crazed survivors who have forgotten how to speak and hunt like animals.
Disturbed by the party, they scuttle out from cracks.
Rumours & Whispers
A glowing violet heart is hidden at the deepest point of the caves.
The spiders in the cave have grown to the size of wolves.
A former cultist still lives in the tunnels, babbling about the end of the world.
A lost merchant stash is hidden behind a door with a broken sign.
Quest Hooks
Quest giver: Father Hallow
A local temple wants the Silver Offering Bowl recovered for a purification rite.
100 gp and two potions of healing.
Quest giver: Garnet Stonefoot
Miners want to expand into the caves but are terrified of the spiders.
Mining shares worth 200 gp over time.
Corridor Notes
Patches of slippery, translucent slime that force an Acrobatics check.
Small, carved niches containing burned-out tallow candles.
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