Random Encounters #1 Map Pack!

I'm kicking off this month with a pair of Random Encounter Maps!

Forest Pass with Waterfall [70 x 90]

"The wagon rumbled along the road, trundling gently downward as the earth yawned to give way to a large pass between two hills. Entering the pass, the low rumble of falling water echoed off the stone and a wet mist clung to your cloaks. A large pool of pristine blue water collected at the base of the waterfall, while bushes and trees clung to the craggy side of the rock.

Up ahead, the darkened maw of a cave yawned to the left, behind a small copse of trees.

The pass was quiet, save for the rumble of the water and the occasional chirp of birds. The serenity lasted only a moment, however, as an arrow suddenly thudded in the side of the wagon and a hearty laugh boomed from a small group of men emerging from the trees.

"I'm afraid you've reached a toll, friends. Leave the wagon as payment, and you can walk on with your lives."

--

This is a random encounter map designed to provide various potential challenges in the elevation changes, water, cave entry/exits and multiple sources of cover. Trivial to link other maps to the cave mouth or to a location behind/beneath the waterfall, and a great place for an ambush with some ability to run up the left slope for eager archers or spell casters (or to engage the enemies that thought the same).

Gargantuan Maggot Lair [70 x 90]

The  old farmer walked across the loose soil of the field muttering a string  of curses. A long wooden axe was propped against his left shoulder,  while a coil of thick rope dangled from his right.

This wasn't the first time the cows had gone missing.

Two  weeks ago, a section of the fence line had simply fallen over -- posts  leaning flat on the ground as if someone had carefully and gently  removed them from the earth. As he neared the fence line near the edge  of the wood, however, he noticed that section of the fence wasn't down.

It was gone.

In  its place was a gaping, thirty foot hole diving into the shadowy depths  of the earth. A terrible odor wafted up from below and the farmer  dropped his axe and brought a sleeve to his hand, when he felt the earth  beneath his feet shift upward slightly before completely falling away  and swallowing the farmer into the darkness below.

--

This  map is a gargantuan maggot lair, filled with twisting tunnels that worm  their way below the surface toward some expansive chambers. The tunnels  stink of rot and death, and a slight layer of slime coats the walls.  The floor appears to have been smoothed out by the movement of something  large and heavy, and the dull sounds of slow movement echo within the  chamber, punctuated by the occasional shudder of something large moving  about.

I had someone ask about making a map similar to the Maggot Lair from Diablo II, so I thought this might be a great insert for nearly anywhere -- all you needed was a big hole in ground, which drops the  players into the illuminated circle toward the top of the map.

The map features a handful of small and large chambers:

1. [2]  large chambers filled with tiny maggot swarms and the entry hole of a  giant maggot, which could appear/disappear through the hole.
2. [1]  chamber containing the bones of several victims, either killed there,  or expelled by worms that had feasted elsewhere and returned home. This  also has a smaller access hole from which something could spring.
3. Small chambers, some choked with roots.
4. A  large chamber in the south containing a massive mound and hole, with  several other holes lingering nearby. This could be used to present  multiple opponents, or a single opponent that could disappear and move  between holes.

These are 35 x 45 gridded, but I would play them at 70 x 90 for a better experience in VTT where you can control the sizing of the grid.

Tier Rewards will be going out soon!

I hope you find some good uses for them!