Mines, Glowing Caves (Patreon)

The air grows heavy with cool moisture. With a final jolt, the elevator reaches the lower caves, the collapsed railway ahead illuminated by dimly glowing mushrooms.

More of the mine maps I've made for my own campaign. (Hi-resolution files attached). Here's my notes for this area!

Map Ideas:

- Rust monsters! The collapsed rails have been the result of these hungry monstrosities.

- Dark Mantles! Cloaking the area in darkness...didn't that dwarf say these caves were supposed to be "glowing"?

- The north-eastern room contains large barrels of explosives...Getting them across the broken tracks will be a challenge without causing an explosion.

Dragon Forge Puzzle:

(A gem-powered dragon forge, partly damaged by clumsy hands.)

This dimly lit chamber has a large central dais, surrounded by three dragon statues facing inward. At the center of the dais stands a chest, wrapped in chains. The walls of the chamber are smooth but marked with
An altar stands at one side, various items covered with a cloth.

Dragon statues: The Dragons are each of a different type though one statue appears to have crumbled away beyond recognition. (Investigation DC 12:) There appear to be metal bellows hidden within the mouths of each dragon, a foot peddle at the back of the statue powers each one.

(Arcana Knowledge DC 16 to correctly identify the dragon's type. Investigation DC 19 reveals the eroded statue has been worn away by ice.)

Alter: Beneath the cloth, wrapped in a ceremonial fashion, you find x1 ruby, x1 sapphire, x1 emerald, x1 opal, x1 gold-plated Orb, x1 polished onyx, and a large hammer.

Solution: The dragons each require the correct gemstone placed in their mouths according to their type: White (opal), Red (Ruby), and the eroded statue which is Black (onyx, This statue has previously been damaged by incorrect use of the Opal gemstone) The other gemstones are red herrings. The dragons can be identified through knowledge checks, or trial and error using the gemstones. However, each incorrect attempt causes a backfire explosion: (10ft radius, Dexterity save DC 16: 3d6 of whatever damage of the inserted gemstone).

Once the White, Red, and Black gemstone have been placed correctly, the combined flames will melt the chains on the chest.

Alternatively, an anvil could stand at the center and the flames could be used to forge a broken magical weapon! Perhaps an old mural on the wall depicts as much.