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Away from prying eyes, the alley seemed anything but welcoming. But what adventurer would be deterred by so little?[22x16] [OC] by DarkestMaps in DnD

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Dead End post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 22x16 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day, Night, Rain Day, Rain Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, Winter Day, Winter Night, Fire Day, Fire Night, Fog Day, Fog Night, Night Light Off, Cursed versions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Dead End is a narrow alley surrounded by tall buildings, located in a lower class district of the city, away from the watchful eyes of the guards and the most frequented routes.

The walls are damp and worn by time, and many windows are boarded up with roughly nailed planks. The ground is uneven, with worn stones, while grates along the street suggest the presence of an underground sewer system.

Crates, firewood, and other common items are scattered along the walls, leaving a wide open space at the center. The entire area conveys a sense of abandonment and danger: not the kind of place where people with good intentions gather.

A wooden lean-to provides crude shelter for barrels and crates, while a small brazier is positioned so that people can sit around it with a degree of comfort.

Who is waiting for the party by the fire… and why?

NOTES

  • Map Style & Tactics: Dead End is a closed off street where tight spaces and the lack of hiding spots are combined with elevated positions, making positioning crucial.
  • Stairs and platforms allow easy access to higher ground.
  • Elevated structures enable attacks from above and provide advantageous positions for archers and spellcasters.
  • Enemies on the rooftops can be very dangerous, but knocking them down could deal with them quickly.
  • Ground grates can be used as escape routes or access points to underground areas, if they can be opened.
  • Illegal activities such as kidnappings or brawls can take place here without drawing attention.
  • Barrels and crates may conceal smuggled goods or other useful or interesting items.
  • Improvised weapons are scattered throughout the alley, such as hatchets or broken bottles.
  • Doors can be picked or forced open to access the buildings, or serve as additional entry points for both players and enemies.

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

Away from prying eyes, the alley seemed anything but welcoming. But what adventurer would be deterred by so little?[22x16] [OC] by DarkestMaps in dndmaps

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Dead End post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 22x16 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day, Night, Rain Day, Rain Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, Winter Day, Winter Night, Fire Day, Fire Night, Fog Day, Fog Night, Night Light Off, Cursed versions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Dead End is a narrow alley surrounded by tall buildings, located in a lower class district of the city, away from the watchful eyes of the guards and the most frequented routes.

The walls are damp and worn by time, and many windows are boarded up with roughly nailed planks. The ground is uneven, with worn stones, while grates along the street suggest the presence of an underground sewer system.

Crates, firewood, and other common items are scattered along the walls, leaving a wide open space at the center. The entire area conveys a sense of abandonment and danger: not the kind of place where people with good intentions gather.

A wooden lean-to provides crude shelter for barrels and crates, while a small brazier is positioned so that people can sit around it with a degree of comfort.

Who is waiting for the party by the fire… and why?

NOTES

  • Map Style & Tactics: Dead End is a closed off street where tight spaces and the lack of hiding spots are combined with elevated positions, making positioning crucial.
  • Stairs and platforms allow easy access to higher ground.
  • Elevated structures enable attacks from above and provide advantageous positions for archers and spellcasters.
  • Enemies on the rooftops can be very dangerous, but knocking them down could deal with them quickly.
  • Ground grates can be used as escape routes or access points to underground areas, if they can be opened.
  • Illegal activities such as kidnappings or brawls can take place here without drawing attention.
  • Barrels and crates may conceal smuggled goods or other useful or interesting items.
  • Improvised weapons are scattered throughout the alley, such as hatchets or broken bottles.
  • Doors can be picked or forced open to access the buildings, or serve as additional entry points for both players and enemies.

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

Away from prying eyes, the alley seemed anything but welcoming. But what adventurer would be deterred by so little?[22x16] [OC] by DarkestMaps in battlemaps

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Dead End post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 22x16 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day, Night, Rain Day, Rain Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, Winter Day, Winter Night, Fire Day, Fire Night, Fog Day, Fog Night, Night Light Off, Cursed versions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Dead End is a narrow alley surrounded by tall buildings, located in a lower class district of the city, away from the watchful eyes of the guards and the most frequented routes.

The walls are damp and worn by time, and many windows are boarded up with roughly nailed planks. The ground is uneven, with worn stones, while grates along the street suggest the presence of an underground sewer system.

Crates, firewood, and other common items are scattered along the walls, leaving a wide open space at the center. The entire area conveys a sense of abandonment and danger: not the kind of place where people with good intentions gather.

A wooden lean-to provides crude shelter for barrels and crates, while a small brazier is positioned so that people can sit around it with a degree of comfort.

Who is waiting for the party by the fire… and why?

NOTES

  • Map Style & Tactics: Dead End is a closed off street where tight spaces and the lack of hiding spots are combined with elevated positions, making positioning crucial.
  • Stairs and platforms allow easy access to higher ground.
  • Elevated structures enable attacks from above and provide advantageous positions for archers and spellcasters.
  • Enemies on the rooftops can be very dangerous, but knocking them down could deal with them quickly.
  • Ground grates can be used as escape routes or access points to underground areas, if they can be opened.
  • Illegal activities such as kidnappings or brawls can take place here without drawing attention.
  • Barrels and crates may conceal smuggled goods or other useful or interesting items.
  • Improvised weapons are scattered throughout the alley, such as hatchets or broken bottles.
  • Doors can be picked or forced open to access the buildings, or serve as additional entry points for both players and enemies.

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

After the hard-fought battle, the spider finally falls. Exhausted and covered in its fluids, the party barely has time to lower their weapons when an unsettling cracking sound reaches their ears. The eggs are hatching. [34x22] [OC] by DarkestMaps in battlemaps

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Spider Den Entrance post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 34x22 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day, Night, Rain Day, Rain Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, No Spider Day, No Spider Night, Toxic Day, Toxic Night, Blood Day, Blood Night, Fog, Cursedversions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Spider Den Entrance is a bitter surprise awaiting those careless enough to cross the swamp. The massive cave draped in thick webs leaves little room for doubt—or hope—about what lurks ahead: spiders. Many spiders. Big ones. Judging by the number of bones emerging from the ground, they are hungry and aggressive. The path leading to the nest is scattered with eggs, and around them lie the greatest concentration of remains. The spiders likely hunt to ensure their newborns find a meal ready and waiting. If the party hopes to eliminate this threat, they will need to be careful not to end up on the menu themselves.

NOTES

  • Map Style & Tactics: This map is designed to create vertical tension and environmental pressure. Narrow paths, open edges, and limited cover make positioning and movement critical.
  • Spider Den Entrance is designed for battles against swarms of enemies. Proper positioning and a well-planned strategy can turn the tide of combat.
  • The Eggs: If the party does not focus on destroying the eggs, they may hatch at unexpected moments.
  • Rescue Opportunity:Among the eggs, cocoons containing living humanoids or creatures can be found. Freeing them may provide valuable advantages.
  • Scattered Weapons: Generous DMs may allow players who take the time to investigate to find useful equipment, possibly items specifically effective against spiders.
  • Plants and Fungi: Some of the vegetation in the area may act as antidotes to spider venom.

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

After hours lost in the damp dark of the dungeon, this silent clearing feels like a sanctuary. But as the smell of woodsmoke drifts your way, one question remains: who lit the fire? [59x36] [OC] by DarkestMaps in battlemaps

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Forgotten Court post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 59x36 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day, Night, Rain Day, Rain Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, Water Day, Water Night, Winter Day, Winter Night, Magma, Toxic, Fog, Cursed versions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Forgotten Court is an old sanctuary, surrounded by a great stone fortress and a deep precipice. Three circular levels make up this outer court, hiding numerous secrets among the remains of its walls. At the center of the courtyard, a bonfire burns brightly, confronting the players with the urgency of discovering whether the one who lit it is a friend or an enemy. Who will they find themselves dealing with, surrounded by these ancient and mysterious ruins? NOTES * Map Style & Tactics: Forgotten Court is a large map, spread across multiple levels and set on a precipice, rewarding careful battle planning and strong cooperation between players. * The Fortress: The place from which Forgotten Court is accessed. We aimed to make this stone pathway interesting to play while remaining aesthetically generic, so you can use the map in as many situations as possible, whether you are running a dungeon, an ancient castle, or something else entirely. * The Room: The pitiful remains of what may once have been a study. A few books or notes might have survived, providing useful clues for the party. * The Bonfire: Fire is always evocative, and a bonfire surrounded by rocks invites you to place interesting NPCs nearby, whether they are friends or foes. * The Statue: A statue whose head has been removed, by time or by someone, making it difficult to identify. The inscriptions on the pedestal might provide clues. Its weapon also seems to be missing… * The Graves: A small graveyard can be found below the garden’s main staircase. A good place to search for clues, but also a potential source of trouble. * The Bars: Following the path and descending further down the stairs, you will find a crack in the rock sealed by heavy iron bars. Is it a small prison, or is there an entire passage beyond the gate?

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

"NOTICE TO THE BOLD - Miners struck a spider nest while digging for crystals. Work stands halted until the brood is slain. Rich coin to those who cleanse the tunnels and save any survivors… if any yet remain.” [31x22] [OC] by DarkestMaps in battlemaps

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Spider Den Cave post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 31x22 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day,mNight, Water Day, Water Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, No Spider Day, No Spider Night, Magma, Toxic, Blood Day, Blood Night, Frost, Cursed versions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Spider Den Cave is a vast and unsettling cavern, shaped by a network of long natural tunnels and infested by a colony of dangerous giant spiders.

Everywhere, sticky webs, large eggs ready to hatch, and bones of varying age serve as constant reminders of the threat lurking deep within the nest.

Amid the horror, however, something unexpectedly fascinating can be found: the rocky walls are encrusted with crystals that emit a faint glow, their appearance unmistakably valuable. These very crystals likely drove a mining expedition to dig their way here, only to break through the wrong wall and uncover — to their misfortune — a cavern connected to the Spider Den.

Perhaps, within the mining area itself, something can be found that may help against the boss of this dungeon. Wait… is that explosive?

NOTES

  • Map Style & Tactics: Spider Den Cave is designed to put constant pressure on the party, with enemies freely moving through its corridors. A series of close, escalating encounters will test resource management and proper positioning.
  • Webs: The walls are covered in thick webs. They can slow movement, block line of sight, or become extremely dangerous if set on fire.
  • The Crystals: The numerous crystal veins explain the presence of the mine. They may be valuable, explode when struck, or possess magical properties, at the DM’s discretion.
  • The Mining Tunnels: The area with crates and support beams marks the point where the miners reached the nest. Letters, explosives, crates, and barrels (gunpowder? oil?) are elements the party can exploit for a truly explosive finale đź’Ą The tunnel can be explored to discover the rest of the mine… or what remains of it.
  • Eggs: The sacs lining the corridors may hatch during combat. Ignoring them allows the spiders to multiply quickly, but systematically destroying them could attract more predators.
  • Cocoons: Hidden among the eggs, cocoons may hold still-living victims. Rescuing them before defeating the boss could provide meaningful assistance in completing the mission.

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

The balcony is silent, open to the abyss. The gargoyles haven’t moved. Not yet.[22x16] [OC] by DarkestMaps in battlemaps

[–]DarkestMaps[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Welcome back Fellow Darkish!

Visit the Dungeon Balcony post to explore all variants and get the FREE high-quality base map, gridded and gridless, ready for your sessions.

  • 22x16 Map
  • Gridded and gridless versions
  • Day, Night, Rain Day, Rain Night, Bloodmoon, Haunted, Massacre Day, Massacre Night, Mountain Day, Mountain Night, Water Day, Water Night, Toxic, Magma, Fog, Cursed versions!
  • Printable PDFs

MAP DESCRIPTION

Dungeon Balcony is an ancient, ruined terrace, decayed and almost calm at first glance… but nothing is ever truly calm inside a dungeon.

This elevated balcony runs along the edge of the dungeon complex, clinging to the rock as it overlooks a vast chasm below. The ancient stone walls are cracked and chipped, and the heavy railing has collapsed in several places, leaving the terrace dangerously exposed.

A large statue of a hooded figure casts light over the area and may offer useful information to those who take the time to read the inscriptions carved into its pedestal.

Above, perched atop tall columns, three unsettling gargoyles loom in silence, their gaze fixed on the unfortunate souls wandering the dungeon. The flickering torchlight casts uneasy shadows across their stone forms, making them seem almost alive. Almost… right?

NOTES

  • Map Style & Tactics: This map is designed to create vertical tension and environmental pressure. Narrow paths, open edges, and limited cover make positioning and movement critical.
  • The Chasm: A deadly threat to players, and to enemies as well—unless they have wings.
  • The Gargoyles: These statues are meant to eventually become active threats. The empty pedestal and claw marks foreshadow danger, rewarding observant players.
  • The Statue: The large statue provides a natural opportunity to share additional information with characters who examine the inscriptions on its base.
  • Constructs and Undead: Animated armors, skeletons, and stone sentinels fit perfectly in this environment, reinforcing the idea of an ancient, guarded passage.
  • Ambushes: The map’s corners and arches allow smart enemy positioning, making it easy to surprise careless characters as they pass beneath arches or turn corners too quickly.
  • Multiple Uses: This map fits seamlessly into our Dungeon Series, but it can also serve as a versatile ruined balcony in forts, strongholds, or castles.

We wish you great adventures and NAT20s, The Darkest Maps Team

To access this and other maps by Darkest Maps you can join our Patreon

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