Myrkdurn is a kobold lair located in a large mountain, with a series of large caverns connected by twisting tunnels that snake through the earth. The community is home to nearly 200+ kobolds, who spend most of their days tunneling, mining and gathering tribute to their Goddess, a Deep Dragon they call Myrkdryn.
Myrkdurn has several different chambers, including:
Main Entry - A couple of large trees cover the mouth of the tunnel leading into the community, making it difficult to notice unless someone knows to look. The kobolds attempt to keep the entry fairly obscured with branches, bushes and other debris to appear more natural.
Front Cavern - A large cavern opens to welcome visitors to the community, with a small guard station and a few spires of rock reaching from floor to ceiling. A handful of crates and barrels reside here, filled with whatever the kobolds managed to steal or loot from nearby villages and/or travelers.
Birthing Cavern - On the western side of the community is a large cavern containing several clutches of eggs, nestled between the old bones of a long-dead dragon. One of a few large holes delves deep into the earth, worming into the Underdark. Steam rises from a hot spring nearby, causing the rock to be slick with moisture and a damp scent to float amidst the chamber.
Main Living Cavern - In the center of the community is a massive cavern. Rickety wooden scaffolding climbs nearly every wall, crammed with a sea of wooden beds, blankets, crates and barrels. In the center of the cavern, upon a small rise in the rock, is a large platform upon which seats a large dragon skull throne. The ruler's chambers lay atop the platform, in a small area near the throne.
Mining Cavern - On the eastern side of the community is a large cavern containing several mine shafts delving deep into the earth, a working forge and several supplies. The kobolds dig for precious gems, minerals and other treasures to offer to Myrkdryn.
Hot Springs - On the southern side of the community is a large hot spring, which many of the kobolds use as a bathing pool, along with large fungus supplies that provide a nutritious food source when hunting and other food grows scarce.
Shaman's Chambers - Secluded behind the only kobold-constructed wall in the community is a shaman's chambers, featuring shelves of books, tables of herbs and a large glowing circle upon the floor. It is used to communicate with Myrkdryn or conduct other research? Is this shaman truly a kobold? Only you can decide!
Sacrificial Chamber - On the southwestern side of the community is a large hole delving deep into the earth, from which Myrkdryn has been sighted using more than once. The chamber is strewn with the bones of sacrificial offerings and contains a small prison cell and cages for living sacrifices to the dragon.
There are a variety of potential ways to use this map:
Social Encounters - You may want to have your party make contact with the kobolds, bartering for something they have, asking permission to go somewhere they own or seeking access to the dragon. The layout provides a lot of good opportunities for RP and interesting encounters along the way.
Quest Objective - The kobolds have something the part needs -- whether it be a prisoner they've captured to sacrifice to Myrkdryn, a crate they stole from a passing caravan, an artifact they found digging in the dark or access to the Deep Dragon, itself.
Combat Encounter - Fighting your way through a community of kobolds in order to take down a Deep Dragon and/or rescue comrades can be a tall order, but this cavern is ready for the challenge! Whether it be through stealth, subterfuge or diplomacy, the map hopefully provides a variety of fun encounters.
This map comes with artwork, a dragon token and NPC sheet for Myrkdryn on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/morvoldpress).
