MoutonRustique(Real)
Explorer
Grats on making 'Travel Matter!'(TM) This is not so easily done - and, as you said, strongly reinforces the PoL ethos.
GJ!
GJ!
D&D 4E Campaign Log - Nentir Vale: Inquisition
- Thread starter limeskeleton
- Start date
Peace Cleric Ken
Villager
Thanks for posting your campaign diary! I also run a game set in the Nentir Vale, but I use D&D 5th Edition rules. My group is now level 5 and back in Fallcrest where they began. I would love to know what maps/resources you used for the tower and catacombs. I have lost a couple of players recently and plan to add two new players, and I want to have an adventure set in Fallcrest to get the two new characters introduced to the game before they are thrown headlong into the political drama happening.
limeskeleton
Explorer
Glad you enjoyed! Super pumped to hear about your campaign as well. What PCs do you have? Any good stories you might want to share?
As for the Tower of Waiting, I used a pretty generic "tower dungeon" map with some stunts & similar on it to promote PC interaction. The D&D Doodle blog has some great Nentir Vale maps & art, including a more robust Tower of Waiting map, if you're interested in something meatier.
For the catacombs, I had a handful of various dungeon/mausoleum maps I cobbled together, mostly just picking whatever seemed cool and dynamic enough to serve as a foundation for interesting combat. I did a more detailed writeup on my campaign wiki, which I'll transcribe for you here in case any of it becomes useful:
(This first section is PC-facing)
Overview
The Fallcrest Catacombs are a labyrinthine network of natural caves and man-made crypts hidden within the limestone bluffs that separate Hightown from Lowtown. While certain areas of the catacombs remain in use for legitimate burials and religious rites, many portions have been walled off, lost to memory, or sealed away for reasons known only to the city’s most ancient records.
Modern Burial Chambers
The outermost sections of the catacombs are relatively safe and orderly, used for burying the city’s recent dead. Lit by everburning torches and guarded by simple stone carvings of Pelor, The Raven Queen, and Erathis, these chambers offer a somber but peaceful resting place. Decorative sarcophagi, mourning chambers, and clerical altars can be found in this area.
(This is all GM-only)
Main Entry: The primary entrance to the catacombs is found in a small, inconspicuous mausoleum near the border of Hightown and Lowtown. It is maintained by the city's clergy and is only used for access to the more recent burial chambers.
Sealed Passageways: The bluffs are riddled with hidden entrances—often sealed by iron gates, old masonry, or magical wards—that lead into deeper, older sections of the catacombs.
Smugglers’ Routes: Beneath Fallcrest, several catacomb passages have been repurposed by smugglers, thieves, and other criminal elements. These routes connect to various parts of the city, providing quick and covert passage for those who know how to navigate them.
The Old Crypts
Deeper within the catacombs lie the older burial sites, some dating back to Fallcrest’s founding. These crypts are a mixture of natural caves and chiseled stonework, their walls lined with dusty alcoves where the remains of the city’s oldest families rest. Most of these crypts have been sealed off, but their barriers show signs of tampering—some by treasure hunters, others by darker forces.
Although many treasures from Fallcrest's history can be found here, the restless dead haunt these halls. Skeletons, Ghosts, and other undead creatures roam here and will attack the living on-sight.
The Ancient Depths
Only the most foolhardy or determined explorers venture into the deepest parts of the catacombs, where the influence of ancient curses and evil magic is strongest. Dark shrines devoted to forgotten gods and demonic entities are hidden within these depths, their power warping the surrounding chambers.
Deadly traps, ancient curses, and powerful undead entities can be found here. The influence of the Shadowfell is strong here. Several shrines to Orcus are hidden here, forgotten by all except the dead.
Overview
The Fallcrest Catacombs are a labyrinthine network of natural caves and man-made crypts hidden within the limestone bluffs that separate Hightown from Lowtown. While certain areas of the catacombs remain in use for legitimate burials and religious rites, many portions have been walled off, lost to memory, or sealed away for reasons known only to the city’s most ancient records.
Modern Burial Chambers
The outermost sections of the catacombs are relatively safe and orderly, used for burying the city’s recent dead. Lit by everburning torches and guarded by simple stone carvings of Pelor, The Raven Queen, and Erathis, these chambers offer a somber but peaceful resting place. Decorative sarcophagi, mourning chambers, and clerical altars can be found in this area.
(This is all GM-only)
Main Entry: The primary entrance to the catacombs is found in a small, inconspicuous mausoleum near the border of Hightown and Lowtown. It is maintained by the city's clergy and is only used for access to the more recent burial chambers.
Sealed Passageways: The bluffs are riddled with hidden entrances—often sealed by iron gates, old masonry, or magical wards—that lead into deeper, older sections of the catacombs.
Smugglers’ Routes: Beneath Fallcrest, several catacomb passages have been repurposed by smugglers, thieves, and other criminal elements. These routes connect to various parts of the city, providing quick and covert passage for those who know how to navigate them.
The Old Crypts
Deeper within the catacombs lie the older burial sites, some dating back to Fallcrest’s founding. These crypts are a mixture of natural caves and chiseled stonework, their walls lined with dusty alcoves where the remains of the city’s oldest families rest. Most of these crypts have been sealed off, but their barriers show signs of tampering—some by treasure hunters, others by darker forces.
Although many treasures from Fallcrest's history can be found here, the restless dead haunt these halls. Skeletons, Ghosts, and other undead creatures roam here and will attack the living on-sight.
The Ancient Depths
Only the most foolhardy or determined explorers venture into the deepest parts of the catacombs, where the influence of ancient curses and evil magic is strongest. Dark shrines devoted to forgotten gods and demonic entities are hidden within these depths, their power warping the surrounding chambers.
Deadly traps, ancient curses, and powerful undead entities can be found here. The influence of the Shadowfell is strong here. Several shrines to Orcus are hidden here, forgotten by all except the dead.
Most Nentir Vale fans are already familiar, but any of @Zeromaru X's excellent resources are a great place to start if you're looking to dive into the setting and find some hidden gems.
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