Level 1 - Dungeonaday.com

The Upper Reaches

The first level of the dungeon appears to be an old ruin, but it's actually the youngest portion of the entire complex. Most of it was built by Duke Chordille for storage, keeping prisoners, and eventually to honor the goddess Glarias. As the subterranean portion of the keep expanded, the duke's workers found old chambers originally built by Queen Ryssa's dwarves. This allowed the duke's dungeon to connect to the other levels, although the duke kept the rest of the dungeon a secret from all but his most trusted confidants and forbade anyone to explore its depths for fear of rousing something dangerous (a wise move, really--the duke apparently knew something about the nature of dungeons).

After the duke's death and the razing of his keep, others utilized the underground level from time to time, often modifying its chambers to suit their needs. It was a large bandit lair for a few years, for example. The wizard Serrestique used a large portion of it for her own purposes during another period about a decade ago, until she mysteriously disappeared.

Eventually, during a priest's drug-induced vision, the Bestial Host learned of the existence of the temple of the Beast God here and moved in.

Unless the text states otherwise, the level's floors, walls, and ceilings are made of masonry stone. Ceilings are 15 feet high. All doors, unless otherwise described, are simple wooden doors, unlocked, 1 inch thick, with a hardness of 5, 10 hp. Sneaking goblins

There are 38 rooms in Level 1. Click here to see the map.

Click here for Level 1 random encounters.

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21. Shrine to the Mages Four (EL 2): This chamber offers magical curiosities (and dangers) as well as some valuable information about the history of the dungeon. You will need the Serrestique’s Book handout.

20. The Pit (EL 2): This is a large empty room with a huge pit and many hidden exits/entrances.

19. Serrestique's Personal Chamber (EL 1): A large bedchamber preserved by a homunculus, this chamber holds important keys and information that will make it easier to get around this level of the dungeon. It was the bedroom of Serrestique.

18. More Scorpions (EL 1, 1, and 1): This is a strange meandering corridor that holds three different encounters with giant scorpions.

17. Serrestique's Treasure Vault (EL 7): The treasure chamber of a wizard, Serrestique. You will need the Serrestique's Mosaic handouts (1 and 2).

16. Blizzard Hall (EL 4): Chaos magic has filled this chamber with a permanent blizzard, making it difficult and dangerous to cross. It is likely that beginning characters will need to turn back and tackle this area later.

15. The Magic Doors and the Mundane Lantern: Magical doors make it difficult to get inside this chamber, but once inside, characters can find a lantern that, when used properly, reveals a secret door and maybe even a few other secrets about this level of the dungeon. You will need the Shadow Map handout.

14. The Malfunctioning Disk (EL 3): A secret platform in this room magically levitates, and if the PCs can figure out how to get it to work, they can reach a treasure on the ceiling.

13. Scorpion (EL 3): A large monstrous scorpion provides a straightforward combat encounter here, with an interesting and piece of magical treasure hidden nearby.

12. Refuse Pit: These two adjacent rooms both have access to a deep pit filled with trash, but also a bit of treasure. But they’ll have to climb down to get it.

11. Gallery: This large complex of rooms, empty at first, is eventually occupied by various humanoid creatures of the Bestial Host.

10. Back Rooms (EL 2): Members of the Bestial Host use this series of rooms for combat practice, challenges (which occur often), and other recreations.

9. The Eyes Have It: A terrifying monster waits in this room, but PCs quickly discover that it cannot get at them, it can only watch them.

8. Lion’s Den (EL 2 or 3): Two mountain lions attack anyone who comes here, although usually there is only one present at any given time.

7. Cellars (EL 1): These are mostly empty chambers near the surface, although there could be a combat encounter here. Searchers may find some interesting clues involving area 28 (and events that come much later as well). You will need the Butler's Diary handout.

6. The Weird Temple of the Beast God: In this temple to an evil god, everyone has the barbarian's ability to rage, and blood spilt upon the altar confers temporary abilities to the priest. Eventually, it will be staffed by an evil priest.

5. Bodor's Hall (EL 3): Bodor, the orcish leader of the Bestial Host members, rules from this hall and sleeps in 5A.

4. Storeroom (EL 1): Poisonous spores threaten those that poke around in this old storeroom, although there are valuables to find.

3. The Oracle Pool (EL 1 and 3): A magical pool offers knowledge, but those who might abuse it put themselves at risk.

2. Side Hall: An empty chamber with some interesting bits for the PCs to investigate, including a clue for areas 25 and 31.

1. Entry Hall (EL 2 and 2): This small complex of rooms houses a mixed group of goblins, kobolds, hobgoblins, and humans that are members of a religious faction called the Bestial Host. There's a bell alarm on a string on the floor. The creatures are here to guard their temple in area 6. Their leader lives in area 5.

38. Vault of the Ring (EL 4, 5 and 4): These chambers serve as a treasure vault holding a powerful magical ring.

37. The Werewolf (EL 4): A surly werewolf lives in this chamber. If the PCs manage to befriend him, he knows a great deal about the dungeon—but it is much more likely that this will end in bloodshed.

36. Three Swords: This chamber houses three magical swords. But the PCs are only going to be able to get one.

35. Something Old, Something New (EL 3): This room contains an ancient magical trap and a much more recently-constructed physical trap.

34. The Pool of Muck (EL 2): A dangerous substance left over from a strange experiment much deeper in the dungeon now threatens too-curious PCs.

33. Spider’s Web (2, 2, and 3): A room full of webs and dangerous spiders of different sizes, including a strange mistress spider that has a magical ability that will certainly challenge PCs.

32. Covered Treasures (EL 3): A miscellany of treasures awaits PCs in this room concealed by secret doors. But not all of them are what they seem.

31. Stairs Down: The roots of a ancient, magical tree extend down from the surface to this room, aiding the PCs now but eventually presenting a subtle danger to them.

Map Level 1 (Without Labels): This is a version of the Level 1 Map without labels.

30. Rubble Trouble (EL 1 or 8): This room is not entirely stable, making it dangerous to linger within. Plus, a ghostly dog here may befriend the PCs.

29. Zombies (EL 2 and 2): Zombies!

28. Secret Shrine (EL 1): This is a secret shrine devoted to a demon lord. An evil spirit is trapped within the room, which causes havoc upon the PCs.

27. Broken Down Trap (EL 3): A trap of dwarven construction makes proceeding past this chamber very dangerous, even though the trap no longer works properly.

26. Darklings (EL 2): Minor demons called darklings inhabit this room, craving human flesh.

25. The Secret Study: Serrestique created a study for herself here, hidden away by secret doors on all sides. Like so many of her things, even her bookcase is magically protected to deter others from poking around.

24. Animated Dangers (EL 4): Serrestique found a great treasure deeper in the dungeon and set it up here with eternal guardians in the form of animated statues.

23. Relic Display (EL 7): In her quest to revere and ultimately commune with the Mages Four, Serrestique gathered some of the relics owned by the infamous spellcasters and placed them here—but she warded them as well.

22. Magic Draining Room (EL 2): Serrestique has set up a fiendish trap to steal magic from those wandering the dungeon. Some may discover, however, her method of absorbing and using the stolen magic.