Category: Annotated – Free

Posted on

The Fortress City of Finbarr’s Marsh – Ground Level

As long as that took to draw, I can’t believe it didn’t take longer.  And Finbarr’s Marsh isn’t even half finished.  Still to go, we have: upper levels, which most buildings will have, as well as basements, sewers, three crypts, the walls, towers and gatehouses.

I don’t like plugging my Patreon, but I figure this is a good time to say that, if you like what I’m doing and you want to help keep a pen in my hand for as many hours a week as possible, please consider supporting me.

There is a Patrons’ Edition version of this map with over 150 buildings and rooms marked.

Also, here’s a version of the map without annotations.

Posted on

Drow Surface Raiding Outpost

 

This is my idea of what a drow outpost for raiding the surface might look like.  Built into a cliffside, it has only one entrance to the surface, which is a narrow tunnel in the roof of a small cave, accessible only by a rope ladder, which would normally only be deployed when drow are coming or going.

The cottage above the cliff would have been built by the drow as well.  Although they have no use for the building itself, they would need a way to vent the smoke from their cooking fire without drawing attention to the presence of their outpost.  By running the house’s chimney directly to their vent shaft, they can make it look like the house is producing the smoke.  Of course, this will not pass close inspection because the house itself has no fireplace or occupants.  That might be useful as a way to allow the PCs in your game to discover the outpost.

Anyway, I hope you like it!  I’m giving out the annotated version for free on this one:

Posted on

The Elven Citadel of Oakenhold

 

This one took some time.  Whew.  The annotated version is below.  Since the image is big enough as it is, I decided to write the DM notes here:

  • Let’s get this one out of the way first:  You’re not burning it down.  Well, not without a lot of effort, anyway.  The tree is 40 feet in diameter at the base of the trunk (that’s 125 feet in circumference).  That’s a hard log to burn.  And getting there to start the fire means getting shot at by a whole lot of archers.  Levels 2, 3, 6 and 7 are all lined with arrow slits.  And from 100-200 feet up, they have the range advantage for sure.  You have a mage who knows fireball?  Check the range.  He’s a pincushion long before he gets that close.  Brought a catapult?  Ballistas?  Level 5 has three ballistas with bows almost 20 feet across.  They are there specifically to disable war machines.  Is burning Oakenhold impossible?  No.  But the elves who built it did take that into consideration when designing its defenses.
  • Oakenhold is not designed to be a seat of power, from which a king rules.  Rather, it is meant to serve as a military stronghold for defending the land around it.  This is why there is relatively little in the way of luxury or space devoted to the nobility.
  • If you want to make it a seat of power, I would recommend changing the archery range at 24 (see annotated version below) into a throne room/audience chamber and devoting most or all of the 8th level to the nobles.  Change out the rooms for a bath, a dining room, a sitting room, a study or two, maybe a vault.  You get the idea.
  • So, what do you do with a ten-level elven tree fortress?  I’ve got a few suggestions:
    • Attack it
    • Defend it
    • Infiltrate it
    • Steal something from it
    • Sabotage it
    • Kill someone in it
    • Escape from it
    • Help the elves take it back from the people who took it from them (possibly involving one of the above).

Also, I started a Patreon today, if you’re interested in giving me some support so I can spend more time making stuff like this.  If not, its no problem at all.  Just wanted to mention it.

Finally, here’s the annotated version:

 

Edit: And here’s a version that’s easier to print: Page 1, Page 2

Posted on

Baron Kelroy’s Stately Manor

 

I haven’t actually used this map in a game, but I had some thoughts on what kind of adventure it might be used for, so I made an annotated version and some notes for DMs.  The annotated version also gives my ideas on what the rooms might be, in order to make it a little easier to put to use.  Of course, feel free to ignore any or all of it and use this map as you please.  Let me know what you think (if anyone is reading this).

Annotated Map: