Unspeakable Stone Abyss - a dwarven megadungeon

Note to my players: do not read this.

I wanted to make sort of dwarven themed megadungeon, inspired by Barrowmaze and Black City, which means there would be many non standard levels, like minidungeons or underground wilderness, as well as special rules that enhance flavor (like bricked walls that need to be hammered in Barrowmaze). Note that it's supposed to be rather small megadungeon, because currently I see no point in making PCs spend here 14 levels. Below is the first draft. Let me know if you like it.

Dwarves in this campaign are weird, like in old D&D or Fighting Fantasy, not Warhammer "dwarfs" or AD&D humans with different name. Race as class means something.

Dealing with dwarves

Dwarves of Stone Abyss are alien folk and their customs can be unknown to outsiders. They are smiling, merry people on the surface, but you often feel that they are very serious and watching what you are doing. Conflicts often arise. When someone makes something inappropriate, he gets offence points. 3 points and he is arrested by group of guards consisting of Captain (dwarf lvl 5), 4 Guards (lvl 0 dwarves) and a Judge (dwarf lvl 7 with special powers). He spends at least one day in prison, every next day has 20% chance for granting release. His friends can bail him out for 300gp earlier.

Examples of offensive things:
-         Refusing eating their favourite food, undeground cabbage
-         Finding the town (it is hidden in the mountains)
-         Tresspassing
-         Walking with drawn weapon
-         Coming to dining hall during meal
-         Messing with aquifier and water levels by turning levers and knobs in the dungeon

Dwarven King

There are no temples in Stone Abyss, and of course no clerics. But they have their king in his throne room. Their respect for him makes him godlike.

Name: Dwarven King
Symbol: ornamental dwarven helmet
Alignment: Lawful
Movement: 120’
Armor Class: 8 or 0 with armor
Hit Points (Hit Dice): 12HD
Attacks: 1, hammer
Damage: 2d6 electrical and Silence
Save: F12
Morale: 11
Hoard Class: lots
XP: 3500

He has power of Subjugation, can imprison creature of HD12 or lower, with saving throw. This way he imprisoned a shadow dragon (in a cave) that invaded the mines, after it was wounded by King’s assault team. Now the dragon have to earn forgiveness by helping dwarves.
70% magic resistance.

Roll 2d6 if you want to get audience with the king: (modified by Charisma and here higher roll is better)

2 - You insulted someone in the process and gained an offence
3 - Captain of the guard dislikes your haircut, gain offence point
4 - Need to learn manners first
5 - Meet the quatermaster, may need bribe
6, 7, 8 - Audience refued today, may try again
9 - Meet the Judge who is suspicious of you
10 - 12 - Audience permitted

When talking with the king, reaction is modified by Wisdom

2 – Can make his dwarves do a favor for PCs
3-5 Gives a gift of magic item but further audiences declined
6-8 Wants to hear heroic tale or song
9-11 Orders his guards to imprison
12+  Orders his guards to attack

The king has few chosen citizens called Judges, 7th level dwarves. He gave them power of Lesser Subjugation, which subjugates the target for 5 rounds, with saving throw. They are sometimes called Judges Guild and are one of the more respected group in dwarven society, next to Nobles.



1. Dwarven town of Stone Abyss. Home town for PCs. During market days magical items can be bought (overpriced).
2. Dwarven dungeon with a crypt, treasury and other stuff. It’s small but has big surprises. It’s an antechamber to main dungeon part, numbered 3.
2a. Mines of chaos, underworld wilderness. It has exits to the surface and minidungeons here.
3. Dungeon of lizardmen and ratmen. Many different tribes of lizardmen, some neutral, some hostile. A wandering pacifist healer that provides mobile temple services that dwarven town lacks (though they have potions of curing for most 4-level effects). This level was once a dwarven city, now classical weird dungeon. 
4. Ancienct City of the Lizardmen.
5. ?

Ancient City of the Lizardmen

Lizardmen left this world in space capsules, leaving behind only slave part of their society. The city slowly got into ruins. The slaves still live there, and in the dwarven dungeon nearby, but became primitive after hundreds of years.


Some buildings in the city remained untouched. They are closed with colored skull-keys. 

By the way: is there some page that can make good quality classic blue dungeon maps (easily) like this? http://paratime.ca/images/fantasy/bluemap017b.jpg
I know about pyromancer's site, but it has a problem with icons menu, they are barely visible. http://pyromancers.com/dungeon-painter-online/

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