168 rooms · levels 40–55
This room seems filled with a living darkness, cloaked in shadows that permeate every crack and crevasse of the blackened stone walls. The living shadow is everywhere, but of one mind... it seems they dance and writhe randomly and yet somehow in unison and harmony, a dark visual paradox that makes your head spin. All at once and yet one at a time, quickly and yet ever so slowly, the shadows part to expose a tall, dark onyx throne, the back of which seems to rise into the darkness itself, into nothingness.
An icy cavern within Hades? That could strike one as strange, except that the freezing ice burns nearly as badly as the fires above. A frozen stairway leads upwards out of the room. In the center of the room, a blue chest sits half-buried in the ice.
Dust and falling stone fill the air, and the roar of the collapse drowns out everything else.
You are trapped under several tons of rock, though the boulders are so big they don't completely interlock, preventing them from crushing you to a bloody pulp. The dirt and gravel accompanying the boulders, however, make breathing and moving very difficult, and speech impossible. Hopefully you can escape before you starve. Above you the rubble is looser, and a faint draft seeps down through the gravel: with enough effort you might claw your way up.
The archway of light winks out behind you, leaving only cold stone where it stood, and the silver glow drains from the walls. The melodious voice whispers a single word, 'Wrong...', and then there is silence. The only way on is a dark opening to the south, and something waits beyond it.
The archway of light winks out behind you, leaving only cold stone where it stood, and the silver glow drains from the walls. The melodious voice whispers a single word, 'Wrong...', and then there is silence. The only way on is a dark opening to the east, and something waits beyond it.
This is the mouth of a large cave which leads to the city of the dwarves of Clan Silvershield. A strong defense has been made here, the foundation for the dwarves' victory. Being prepared for the orcish attack, they held their ground at the city entrance and have been systematically spreading out, exterminating the Uruk-Hai from Quicksilver Gorge.
The archway of light winks out behind you, leaving only cold stone where it stood, and the silver glow drains from the walls. The melodious voice whispers a single word, 'Wrong...', and then there is silence. The only way on is a dark opening to the north, and something waits beyond it.
This cavern is truly monstrous, stretching far out in all directions. The ceiling is high and vast, though this is so far underground it probably doesn't come anywhere even close to reaching the surface. In the back of the huge cave sits a large, mithril throne.
The melodious voice echoes into the room: 'You have answered incorrectly, and a wrong answer brings certain death...' The voice trails off, pitching the room into utter silence and impenetrable darkness, leaving you to wonder at the meaning of Lord Silvanos' cryptic words... High overhead, so faint it might be imagined, a hairline seam of silver light crosses the ceiling.
A dark, winding path leads north into the forest of Haon-Dor. Southward the trail once ran down to the banks of the eerie Dark River, but the undergrowth has swallowed it, and only the murmur of the water comes through the leaves. Tall oak trees crowd both sides of the path, and nothing can be seen past their densely packed trunks and thick foliage.
The cave you are in continues to the north, west, and east. To the south, it opens up into an even larger cave, the city of the dwarves of Clan Silvershield. Magical runes dedicated to dwarven deities are inscribed all over the rim of the cave mouth, and encircle the floor of the entrance. A powerful-looking dwarven priest guards the city gates.
The city seems unnaturally quiet, accounted for by the fact that most of its inhabitants have left to fight the war against the orcs. The few children and women who stayed behind are shut inside their homes, and all the shops are closed and barred. The city is a vast cave, with many smaller caves and tunnels that make up the homes of the dwarves who live here, every one of them sealed with a stone door until the war is won. North of here is the mouth of the city-cave, and beyond it the battle between the orcs and the dwarves is being waged.
This is a large cave, with a few tunnels leading off of it. To the north and west the cave continues. West of here, this cave opens up into an even larger one, which almost looks like a city. Far to the west, and the north-west, lie the openings of tunnels.
This is the northeast corner of a large cave, which lies deep beneath Quicksilver Gorge. To the west is the opening to a tunnel which branches off of the cavern, and to the southwest lie two more openings like it.
This is the northwest corner of a large cave, deep beneath the surface of the Realms. To the east, a tunnel branches away from the cave, and to the south lies a similar, smaller tunnel. Southeast of here, the opening of an even larger cave than this one can be seen.
This is the southwest corner of a very large cave. To the northeast, the cave narrows into a tunnel. Close to the east lies the mouth of an even larger cave than this one, and a small passage branches off to the west.
This small passage branches off of a large cave to the east, coming to an end after a short distance from it. A small door is carved into the rock of the southern wall, hinges and all! Dwarven handiwork, for sure. The door is much higher than a dwarf would require to walk through, and the handle is certainly not at a convenient height for a small person. They seem to have a guest.
This small cave seems to have been hewn out of the rock into a design very much resembling a surface-dweller's home, and the ceiling is certainly higher than a dwarf would need it to be. There are small rooms to the east, south, and west. The room to the east looks a lot like a closet, and the stone door that is the entrance to this 'home' lies to the north.
This room is too small to be used as anything but a closet, but it seems like that is what it was intended to be used for anyway. Stone racks and even a dresser are carved from the walls. Muddy, wet travelling clothes have been tossed in a corner, and there is a chest full of camping supplies in the back of the room. It looks like the person using this closet recently made a very long journey from somewhere on the surface to here.
This small room has been hewn from the earth itself, with a stone bed, table, and chairs carved right from the rocky walls and floor. The bed, table, and chairs are definitely of dwarven make, but they are much larger than a dwarf would be able to use comfortably. It looks like this room was custom-made for a guest.
This small room has been hewn from the rocky earth itself, right down to the bed in the corner. The bed is definitely of dwarven make, but it is much too high for a dwarf to use easily. Perhaps this room was custom-made for a guest of the dwarves.
This is the top of an old mine shaft that looks like it hasn't been used in centuries. The floor is boarded up, but the old dry wood doesn't look firm at all.
This mine shaft doesn't look like it's been used in a long, long time. The top of it has caved in, and there is no way to go up out of it. Down leads deeper into the mountain.
Splintered boards and darkness rush past as you fall.
This is the top of an old mine shaft that looks like it hasn't been used in centuries. The floor is boarded up, but the old dry wood doesn't look firm at all.
Splintered boards and darkness rush past as you fall.
This mine shaft doesn't look like it has been used in a long, long time. The top of it has caved in, and there is no way to get up out of it. Down leads deeper into the mountain.
In the back of this huge room lies a large obsidian dais, on top of which rests an altar. On the north wall, behind the altar, a large tapestry hangs, bearing the sigil of the Lord of Shadows: a black knife, pointing north, on a circular field of midnight blue, surrounded by ten stars. Around the room are intricately carved incense stands. Wisps of smoke flow out of the stands, emitting a relaxing, pleasant scent.
This room has been dedicated to the various groups that have chosen the Shadowlord as their patron deity: the Unseen, the Society of Shadows, and the Cult of the Shadow Dragon. There are various trophies and pieces of artwork pertaining to the exploits of the different guilds. Most notably, however, are three large paintings, each representing the founder of each of the groups. The artwork looks exquisite, you could take a closer look at the paintings.
This appears to be a meeting hall. A huge obsidian table crosses nearly the entire room, with a dozen chairs on each side. The table is inscribed with powerful runes, markings which symbolize mystery, intrigue, deception, and concealment. To the west lies the main section of the temple, and to the east is a huge door, covered with runes, similar to the table.
The most glaring feature of this large room is the fiery portal on the east wall. The extradimensional gate swirls and crackles with untold magical power. The rest of the room seems to have been carved to house the strange gate, ceremoniously decorated and lined with intricately carved stone pillars.
The lower plane of Hades burns with an eternal fire, and the roar of flames is almost deafening. Screams of the damned echo chillingly all around. To the east, the fiery path leads deeper into this accursed place. Behind you a large portal burns in the air, and beyond it a room can be seen, lined with stone pillars and dark, macabre tapestries.
Tortured screams ring out maddeningly from all sides, the sound is terrifying enough to make a bold man cringe. This path burns with an eternal fire, and the air is scorching hot. West of here the path continues, and below a path spirals down further into the depths of Hades.
The air is scorching hot, and the packed red sand that comprises the earth seems to retain that heat quite well. Blasts of searing wind shoot across the barren, fiery wasteland, which continues in all directions.
As if the searing wind and scorched ground weren't enough, large columns of fire shoot up from the fissures in the ground. Somehow, the pillars of flame are even hotter than everything else in this hellish desert, preventing travel anywhere but to the east and north, where the wasteland spreads on.
In this rocky area, the stones themselves seem to be on fire. The rocky outcroppings seem to lead upwards, into a tunnel, which becomes a fiery red haze too soon to see what lies beyond it. To the west is a scorched wasteland.
The vast, barren wasteland spreads far into the distance, though the pillars of flame that burst from the fissures make it hard to tell exactly how far. The columns of fire also block travel in any direction but west and north.
A huge fissure curves around three sides of this circular patch of wasteland, leaving only the way back south. In the center of the circle there seems to be a bubble-shaped field of glowing magic force, guarding something beneath it.
Blasts of hot, dry wind blow across the cracked earth, providing no relief from the intense heat. Large gouts of fire shoot up into the air out of the many fissures in the area, making travel impossible in any direction but east and south.
The dry, cracked ground is scorching hot, and gusts of heated wind and sand blow mercilessly across the wasteland. Huge pillars of flames burst from the many fissures in the area, blocking off all directions but north. There is a large pit in the ground, it looks very deep.
The ground is made of firmly-packed red sand, and cracks and fissures abound, created by the almost unbearable heat. Pillars of fire shoot up from some of the deeper crevasses, making it impossible to travel in any directions but west and south, where the wasteland continues.
The air is scorching hot, and extremely dry. Hot gusts of wind blow across this desert-like wasteland, adding to the terrible heat, not providing any relief from it. A rocky trail leads upwards to another level of Hades, and the wasteland continues to the east.
This is a wide tunnel made of a deep red stone, that splits off into three directions. Each of the three ways the tunnel leads to a large, cylindrical room. Nothing can be heard except for the deafening roar of flames mixed with the echo of agonized screams.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. Other than its immense size, this room doesn't look very threatening at all. The only noticeable features of it are the tunnel leading west, and a huge chest of gold coins.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. The walls of the room are on fire, burning with an eternal, inextinguishable flame. Large mounds of ashes fill the room. The only exit is a tunnel leading east.
This is a wide tunnel made of a deep red stone, that splits off into three directions. Each of the three ways the tunnel leads to a large, cylindrical room. Nothing can be heard except for the deafening roar of flames mixed with the echo of agonized screams. To the south is a huge fiery pit, it doesn't look very safe.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. A huge bed takes up half of the space in the room, and the rest of the room is filled with large, plush, comfortable-looking pillows. The exit lies to the south.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. Other than the tunnel that leads north out of here, the only noticeable feature of this room is the huge pit in the center, the circumference of which takes up almost all of the floor. The pit looks bottomless, and huge pillars of fire burst out of it, this is NOT a good place to be.
This is a wide tunnel made of a deep red stone, that splits off into three directions. Each of the three ways the tunnel leads to a large, cylindrical room. Nothing can be heard except for the deafening roar of flames mixed with the echo of agonized screams.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. The walls of this room have been carved to resemble horrible and truly frightening images, too terrible to look at for more than a moment, much less describe. The only other noticeable feature is the tunnel that leads west.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. Etched in the walls are murals depicting the lives of several individuals, renowned for their selfishness and greed. The images sort of spiral downward, towards the fire that is etched around the bottom of the walls.
This is a wide tunnel made of a deep red stone, that splits off into three directions. Each of the three ways the tunnel leads to a large, cylindrical room. Nothing can be heard except for the deafening roar of flames mixed with the echo of agonized screams.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. The floor is littered with rubble, and there are huge breaks and claw marks in the wall. The ceiling is high, and the only exit is a tunnel leading south.
This is a large, cylindrical room made of a deep, red stone. Slime fills the room, several feet deep, making it extremely difficult to move around the room. A thick haze fills the air, making thinking sort of difficult. There is a tunnel leading north, but it's.. so... far.... away.....
This long corridor stretches out northwards. The walls are made of a very fine silver, perhaps mithril. Runes of protection are inscribed all over them, probably protecting the precious metal from theft. To the north, a large gate can be seen, and west leads back to the underground passage.
Deep beneath the surface of the world lies this lake, a pool of water cradled by the rocky cavern floor. The water is clear, but the bottom of the lake is still beyond sight. Who knows what lies in those dark depths.
The water is very warm, probably due to its proximity to the center of the world. There is an opening in the west and east walls, and a powerful current courses through them, strong enough to keep the most skilled swimmer from going west, and strong enough to pull the most resistant person on its unending course eastwards.
The current is picking up even more speed, it is getting hard to control your position, much less which direction you go. The rushing water continues plowing eastwards...
The water swirls and churns and races still faster forward, it has become impossible to even maintain your position: you spin wildly and lose your sense of direction. It feels sort of like you are going upward, though... and very quickly.
The monstrously powerful current charges onwards and upwards, faster and faster and faster... until...
...SPLASH!!!
A staircase hewn from the rocks leads down to this room from the surface above. This room doesn't seem to serve any other purpose than to house the two large doors on the east and west walls. The western door seems to be carved from onyx, the eastern door looks like it is carved out of diamond. Strange carvings adorn both of the doors.
This large room also seems to serve no other purpose than to pose yet another obstacle. The onyx door lies in the eastern wall. On the floor, however, is a huge adamantite slab.
This rocky area has been hewn into a circular room. The only interesting features of it are the diamond door to the west, and a large statue in the center of the room. The statue is made of fine marble, and appears to be the likeness of a headless demon.
The winding path through Haon-Dor turns west and south here. To the west, the trail makes an abrupt turn, and to the south it continues on to the bank of a river. Northward and eastward the forest is so thick it is impossible to see anything.
The path through the forest becomes quite rocky here, and the trees are much less dense. To the east, the path leads into the thickening forest. To the north, the path slopes quickly downward, into some sort of canyon.
This seems to be a mountainous area in the forest. The ground is very rocky and dips beneath the ground level of the forest. To the west, the rocky trail slopes quickly upward, to the top of a huge silver mountain. To the east, the trail slopes downward into a deep chasm. The rocky ground seems to have a silvery quality.
This huge, snow-capped mountain rises high above all the land in the area. The rocky ground of the mountain seems to have a silvery quality to it, which, combined with the white snow, makes it an awe-inspiring sight. Tall forests grow around the base of the mountain. Just east of here the rocky path down the Silver Mountain drops far below ground level, into the great chasm known as Quicksilver Gorge.
This is a great chasm in the mountain range which lies in the middle of Haon-Dor, near the coast of the Trackless Sea. Far to the west lies a huge silvery mountain. East of here the gorge rises slightly, and the edge of the forest can be seen. This seems to be the deepest part of the chasm, and the ground is rocky and jagged. A huge hole can barely be made out between some of the rocky outcroppings, which seems to be the opening to a tunnel.
This is the eastern edge of a large chasm which lies in the mountain range in southwestern Haon-Dor. West of here the gorge becomes very deep, and further west of the gorge lies a large mountain. To the east and north lies the dark forest Haon-Dor.
The huge cavern is fully illuminated by the sky above, through a great hole in the ceiling. This cavern is far below the floor of the gorge, which itself is very deep below the surface. A dark tunnel leads south of here.
The rocky ground here looks cut and frequently traveled, making travel through it fairly easy. A light can be seen to the north, and the tunnel continues far to the east, into darkness.
A dark, well-travelled tunnel leads east and west. The walls look like they have been cut and quarried, perhaps this is a mine. To the south is a huge pile of rubble, as if something caved in, but by the looks of the closely packed rocks it was a long time ago.
The dark, rocky mine tunnel takes a turn here, going south and west. The rock floor is cut and worn smooth, as if this area is traveled quite frequently.
The dark tunnel curves round and grows very deep here, sloping quickly up to the north. A large opening is in the floor, with steps carved out of the rock leading deeper into the earth. The walls look like they have been quarried; this must be a mine.
These dark tunnels are known simply as the Black Mine. The rocky floor doesn't look very well travelled; perhaps the inhabitants of this underground mine don't come this way much. Black tunnels lead off to the north, east, south and west, and steps carved into the rock lead up into the tunnels above.
These twisting tunnels deep below the Realms are known as the Black Mine, so named for the blackened rock they are hewn into. The black stone makes it hard to tell which way the tunnels lead except for a short distance away.
This part of the Black Mine has long since been abandoned, for obvious reasons. The area seems very unstable, and is quite literally falling apart. Cracks and fissures cover the walls, and rocks from overhead plunge to the ground. This section of the tunnels looks like it could cave in any minute.
This wing of the twisting tunnels has been abandoned. Many of the mine tunnels are caved in, rubble is strewn everywhere, and the broken wooden support beams overhead creak threateningly. This particular spot seems reasonably safe, though. The collapsing corridor runs back east, and to the north is a very small, dark cave, out of place in the mine.
The broken and collapsing corridors end here, in a small cave. The cave walls are carved smooth, and the shape of this area almost makes it seem like a home. A few stone outcroppings resemble a table and chairs. A strange design is carved into the east wall, it looks like a sarcophagus.
The walls of this mine are made of black rock, making it hard to tell where the tunnels lead. A dark tunnel leads to the west, and another runs back south.
The tunnels of the Black Mine turn north and east here. The walls of the passages are made of a dark black rock, making it hard to see where any of them lead, and strange, low growling sounds echo all around.
The dark tunnels of the Black Mine stop their twisting and turning for a while, heading due north and south. The blackened stone walls make it very hard to tell where the tunnel leads.
The deep underground tunnels wind their way south and west under the gorge. The stone walls are a dull, burnt black, making it hard to tell where the tunnels lead beyond a few paces. To the west the darkness seems deeper still, as if the passage opens into a cave.
Silver light pours over you from every side, so bright that there is nothing else to see.
The long majestic hall ends in front of a huge, open silver gate. Nothing but the darkest black can be seen beyond it. Suddenly, a musical elven voice fills the room:
'Welcome, adventurers. You have come deep within this mountain, to the home of the ancient Silvanos. Any who seek audience with me, friend or foe, must first prove themselves worthy. You must first pass three tests. The correct answers will show you are worthy of an audience. A wrong answer will bring certain death. If this is too much for you to risk, turn back now. Trust no one else for the answers to my test. Step through the gate if you are ready to begin...'
A sense of foreboding and impending doom seem to emanate from the gate, which seems to have grown even darker with the cryptic words.
Silver light pours over you from every side, so bright that there is nothing else to see.
The melodious voice suddenly grows very ominous:
'A final test - of luck, of fate, Before you cross beyond this gate. Two paths before you, one choice to make, Guess which one is safe to take. Courageous ones have naught to fear, Take not the risk, and pass not here...'
Two archways of silver light face each other across the bare chamber, one to the east and one to the west.
Silver light pours over you from every side, so bright that there is nothing else to see.
The same haunting, yet beautiful voice fills the room: 'Well then, it seems you are not a fool, unless it is a lucky fool you be. Answer me this then, the second test...'
If north is the wrong path, then west is the right path. If east is the right path, then north is the wrong path. If west is the wrong path, then east is the right path.
'Knowing that there is only one right path, choose yours!'
Three archways of silver light stand open, to the north, to the east and to the west.
A musical voice echoes through the room: 'You are either very brave or very foolish, that has yet to be seen. Here is your first test...'
The beginning of eternity, The end of time and space. The beginning of the end, And end of every place.
'Choose well your answer, for the stakes are high...'
The chamber is walled in shimmering silver. Archways of light open to the east and to the west, and a narrow silver stair winds down into darkness.
Silver light pours over you from every side, so bright that there is nothing else to see.
Silver light pours over you from every side, and for a moment you hear the melodious voice laughing.
This is the entrance to Deeper Hades, a legendary area of the lower plane made up of nine 'circles', where seven Greater Demons reside. The first circle is very quiet and calm, this must be one of the two that no Demons inhabit.
The twisting tunnels of the Black Mine open up into a huge cave, filled with many large boulders and rubble. The ceiling of the cave is not particularly high, but the rocky floor is far below the opening of the cave, which lies to the east.
The floor here is extremely rocky, with large boulders and piles of rubble strewn everywhere. This is the bottom of a large cave, very deep below the entrance, which is high above on the eastern wall. Something strange catches your eye, some of the rubble seems to have been formed into a rocky nest. The nest is filled with strange eggs, whole and otherwise...
These twisting tunnels are known collectively as The Black Mine. The distinctive black stone walls are dull and unreflective, making it hard to tell where the tunnels lead. Low growling sounds echo around the halls, and there are slight tremors as if something were burrowing under the ground here.
The dark tunnel seems to slope downward to the east, though being so far underground is so disorienting it is hard to tell just how much. A strange growling echoes around the tunnels, and there is a slight tremor underfoot, as if something were burrowing very close. The mine tunnel also leads back west.
The dark stone hallway leads east and west, although the black rock that the tunnel is made of makes it hard to tell how far. The tunnel seems to slope downwards to the east, but it is hard to tell how much this far underground.
The dark stone passage drops off quickly here, leading down further beneath the realms. The faint din of battle can be heard from far below. The passage also leads west, sloping upward into the Black Mine.
Strange, eerie sounds echo through these dark tunnels. The walls of the passages are made of a dark, black stone, which makes it hard to tell where they lead beyond a few feet. The passage winds and turns even more than the rest of the mine, but it seems to run north and south from here.
The dark mining tunnels wind north and west, making their way toward unknown destinations. Strange, haunting moans echo all around; maybe this place is haunted. It doesn't look like anyone has been in this area in a while. Anyone living, anyway.
Although the dark, black stone walls make it hard to tell where any of these passages lead, a strange glow is coming from far to the south, illuminating the passage slightly. Blood freezing howls fill the tunnels.
A strange, eerie glow emanates from somewhere far south of here, illuminating the black passage slightly and pitching everything in a surreal luminescence. The passage seems to lead to the north, and far to the south.
The haunting glow coming from the south is very dim, but for some reason illuminates everything in the area. The dark halls, glowing in eerie light, lead north and south.
The dim glow that lights this passage is a little brighter here than to the north, so its source must be close. The eerie light shows the hallway that leads far to the north and turns west, where the glow grows brighter still and casts a cold blue light on the walls. The area seems long abandoned, with rubble from collapsed mine shafts strewn all around the floor.
Skeletons, bone fragments, and battered pieces of armor lie strewn all around the ground here, and the walls are painted brown with dried blood. Black, orcish arrows are lodged between the ribs of the skeletons and buried deep into the bloody plate mail of the fallen dwarves. A strange bluish-white glow burns brightly in the air, coming from the remains of the dwarves.
The din of battle echoes throughout the network of tunnels, and the air is filled with the faint stench of blood. The tunnel leads west and south of here, and a small passage leads up into a very dark, black mine shaft.
The crashing of steel on steel can be heard from somewhere nearby, and the battle cries sound distinctly dwarven. Screams can also be heard, but it is hard to tell if they are war cries or death cries. The tunnel leads north and south.
The sounds of battle are loud here, though the tunnels create so much of an echo it is hard to tell exactly which direction they are coming from. The tunnel leads north, and a little bit to the south, where it makes a turn.
The air is stifling this far underground, and the vile smell of blood wafting around doesn't help matters. The clashing of steel echoes throughout the tunnels. The passage leads far north of here, and also makes a turn west.
This is very far underground, the temperature is a little higher than what would be considered comfortable, and the air is quite stifling. The din of battle being waged echoes all around the tunnels. The passage leads east and south of here.
This tunnel leads north, and far to the south. To the south, it looks like the tunnel opens up into a large cave. The din of battle grows still louder, though the tunnels make so much of an echo it is hard to tell where it comes from.
Three tunnels meet here, heading north, west, and south. The way to the north goes farther north than is visible, and the passage to the west makes an abrupt turn. South of here, the tunnel opens up into a fairly large cave.
This is a small tunnel, deep below the surface of the Realms. The sounds of battle grow very loud, and sound as if they come from the north. East of here there is an intersection of tunnels, and to the north this passage opens up into a large cave.
This is a huge cave, where it looks like the larger part of a great battle is being fought. Blood stains the floor and walls, and corpses are strewn all about, though there are notably more orcish corpses than dwarven. To the south, a small tunnel leads away from the cavern.
This is a large cave, where the major part of the battle between the orcs and the dwarves is taking place. The stench of blood wafts around, and the clashing of steel on steel is almost deafening.
This is near the center of a huge cave. The sounds of war, death cries and battle cries, and the clashing of steel against steel, echo around the cavern. Corpses litter the floor, more orcish than dwarven by far.
This is the southern wall of a huge cave. A great battle is being fought here, between the dwarves of Clan Silvershield and the orcs of Uruk-Hai. Judging by the amount of orcish corpses that litter the floor, compared to the few dwarven corpses, Clan Silvershield seems to be winning the battle.
This is the southern wall of a large cave. A huge battle is being waged here, perhaps this cave is a more strategic position to win than the tunnels around it. The sound of steel crashing against steel is nearly deafening.
This is near the center of a gigantic cave, where a battle seems to be being fought. Corpses litter the floor, and the stench of death is sickeningly strong. The sounds of war echo deafeningly all around the vast battlefield cavern.
This is the northern wall of a huge cavern, which seems to be being used as a battlefield by the orcs of Uruk-Hai and the dwarves of Clan Silvershield. War cries and death cries echo all around the vast cave, and the smell of death is strong enough to make the hardiest man gag.
This is the southern wall of a large cave, which opens up to the east and north. Northwest of here is a small tunnel which branches off of the cave. Corpses are littered all over the floor, it looks like a large battle is being fought here.
Nearby to the west is the entrance to a small tunnel. To the east a huge cave opens up. The smell of blood and death is very distinct, and quite nauseating. Judging by the smell, and the sounds of war cries echoing around the cave, there is a battle being waged here.
This is the southernmost corner of a huge cave, which seems to be the site of a rather large battle. Battle cries ring out, and echo loudly around the cavern. Corpses can be seen here and there, and the stench of blood is thick in the air. The cavern opens up to the northeast, and due north of here is a tunnel.
To the north is a small tunnel, leading away from this huge cave. East of here, a gigantic cavern spreads out, much further than is visible. Sounds of battle - death cries and the clashing of steel - echo all around the huge cave. It would seem that a battle is being fought here.
This is a small passage, one of many which connect the caves deep within the world. To the north a few smaller caves can be seen, and to the south is the opening of what seems to be a huge cave. There seems to be an old, collapsed mine shaft above, but there isn't any way to get through the rubble.
A half-dozen small caves are connected together here. They seem to be orcish dwellings, judging by the smell and the various objects lying about. The caves are in disarray, as if they have been ransacked. Orcish screams can be heard echoing all around.
A few smaller caves are interconnected here, almost in the fashion of a village, by surface standards. The caves have been ransacked, and orcish cries echo around the area. A tunnel leads far to the east of here.
These tunnels are far beneath the surface of the realms, connecting the caves which lie deep within the world. Distant sounds of battle can be heard, and the smell of death lingers in the air. This tunnel leads east, and west toward some caves.
Many caves lie deep beneath the surface of the world, and are connected by tunnels such as this one. The stench of blood and death is thick in the stifling air, and the sounds of battle echo through the passage. This tunnel leads far to the east and west, farther than can be seen.
The air is thick and stifling this far underground, and the temperature is a little higher than would be thought comfortable. The sound of steel clashing against steel echoes all around, and blood stains the walls and floor in places. This tunnel leads east and west.
Being this far within the world is slightly disorienting to anyone not used to it. The air is somewhat stale and hot, and the feeling of being trapped on all sides can be quite frightening. This tunnel leads east and west.
It seems as though there is a slope to this tunnel, leading down to the west and up to the east. The smell of death is in the air, and battle cries can be heard faintly in the distance. The passage leads east and west of here.
This set of connected caves makes up the home of the orcs of Uruk-Hai. After attacking the dwarves and being defeated, Clan Silvershield has driven them back, as far as their home, and have ransacked it. Everything is in disarray, and blood stains the walls and floor from orcs who didn't flee in time.
Judging by the destroyed rooms and orcish corpses that lie lifeless on the floor, the dwarves have driven back the orcs as far as their home caves. This is the northwestern cave of the group of interlocking caves that make up the orcs' home. More ransacked caves lie to the east and south.
This is the southwestern corner of a group of caves that make up the orcish home. The caves have been ransacked by the dwarves, all but totally destroyed. Blood stains the floor here and there, presumably from an orc who barely escaped.
The interconnecting caves which make up the orcs' home have been ransacked. Although there are orcish corpses, it certainly doesn't seem like a whole tribe's worth. It seems they must have had a way to escape the dwarven counterattack.
This seems to be a hidden escape tunnel, created by the crafty Uruk-Hai in case they needed to flee from their home. The area seems a little run-down, though, as if these tunnels were made a long time ago but have gone neglected and unused.
These tunnels were created by the orcs long ago when they made this mine their home, but it looks like their 'back door' has been neglected. The tunnels haven't seen any upkeep, and are not in the best of condition.
The long-term effects of neglect have severely damaged the escape tunnels made by the orcs, who aren't known for their skills at tunneling. It looks like there used to be a tunnel leading south of here, but nothing but a huge pile of rubble stands there now. The escape tunnels lead west, and a very small passage can barely be seen to the east.
This tunnel is very different from the orcish escape tunnels, naturally formed and much more permanent, though the entrance to it seems to have been hidden by the collapsing tunnels. West of here are the collapsing escape tunnels, and a small passage to the south seems to lead to a dark cave.
This small cave looks like it was formed from a natural spring, probably one of the same sources that feeds the Dark River. This place is well-hidden, and seems like it would make a good secret meeting place.
The old escape tunnels look like they haven't been used in centuries, and are falling apart. West of here yet another huge pile of rubble fills what used to be a tunnel. It is quite possible that these tunnels don't even lead to a way out anymore.
The collapsed and ruined orcish escape tunnels end here, apparently the way out they used to lead to has, in fact, been buried under rubble. The falling rubble has opened up a connection to another tunnel to the east, presumably older than the escape tunnels. To the south, a very small passage has been dug out of the wall, barely visible.
This cramped passage has been recently carved from the earth by pick-axes, probably by orcs looking for another way out since their escape tunnels have collapsed. It leads west and north.
This is the digging site of a tunnel in progress. Since the escape tunnels have collapsed, the orcs must seek another way out, or be trapped underground with the army of dwarves. The rest of the tunnel leads east, towards the ruined escape tunnels.
The walls of this tunnel have been worn smooth by time, and lots of it. The shaping of the passage indicates it was formed naturally, perhaps by an underground spring. This tunnel leads south, and to the west is a pile of rubble. Beyond the rubble lies the ruined orcish escape tunnels.
This tunnel was formed long ago by the erosion of an underground spring, perhaps one of the many that feed the Dark River. The crumbling of the orcish escape tunnels has reconnected it with the rest of the mines under Quicksilver Gorge. The passage leads north and east of here.
This naturally-formed tunnel heads far to the west and east. The sounds of battle grow very distant and muffled, this doesn't seem to be an area that either the dwarves or the orcs are familiar with, since the collapsing of the escape tunnels is the only reason it is connected to anything now.
This is an intersection in a small network of very old, naturally-formed tunnels deep within the world. To the west the passage leads back towards the caves where the orcs and dwarves battle. South of here, the tunnel makes an abrupt turn. To the east, it seems as though there is nothing but a dead end.
A long, long time ago, underground springs formed these tunnels under the Realms. The collapsing of the orcish escape tunnels has opened them up to the rest of the world. To the west is an intersection of tunnels, and east is a dead end.
The tunnel comes to an end here, stopping rather abruptly. The sounds of battle can hardly be heard at all anymore, this must be far away from the other tunnels. The natural passage leads far to the west, the only way out of here.
This tunnel was naturally formed far beneath the surface, probably a really long time ago. The sounds of battle can barely be heard now, this is probably pretty far away from it. The old tunnel leads north and east of here.
This area is very quiet, far away from any of the dwarves or orcs. This tunnel looks like it was naturally formed, a very long time ago, perhaps by an underground spring. This tunnel leads west, where it makes a turn, and east, where it ends.
This tunnel was naturally formed by a spring, and judging by the smooth walls it was very long ago. The passage leads far to the west, and ends here. There is a rather large hole in the ground, presumably leading still deeper into the Realms.
This cave lies deep beneath the surface of the Realms. The air is stifling, and the thought of how much earth lies between this place and the open air is quite dizzying. Tunnels lead in all directions, and a rocky path up the cavern's side leads back up towards more tunnels and caves.
This is a wide passage, deep below the surface of the Realms. This section of the huge tunnel seems very unstable, and pebbles and large rocks drop from the ceiling from time to time. It seems like it could cave in any minute.
This is a wide passage, and would almost be a cave except that it isn't nearly as large as the cavern it connects to. To the south is the huge cavern, and east of here is a dead end.
This is a wide cavern, which is shaped rather like a tunnel except for its immense size. The wide passage leads back west; here it ends in a blank wall of rock. On the upper part of the north wall there is a collapsed mine shaft, but it is so buried with rubble there isn't any way to get into it.
The huge tunnel comes to an end here, almost disappointingly, as if it was purposefully leading somewhere and yet comes to a dead end. The northern and southern walls are sheer, but there is something strange about the east wall: it seems unlike the others in a way that is hard to place. To the west, the wide tunnel heads back towards the gigantic cavern.
The huge tunnel comes to an end here, stopping very suddenly. The walls are very rough, and look as if they were made naturally but then left untouched by erosion or the passing of time. On the west wall, one of the rocks doesn't look quite natural, as if it has been carved there. East leads back to the cavern.
The change is so sudden it is shocking: from the rocky, natural caverns and tunnels, into this dark temple. The walls and floor have been carved smooth, with a high ceiling, just like the buildings of the surface. The walls are black, with beautiful midnight blue tapestries flowing down them. This path leads north along the temple. To the east is the secret passage into this place, opened by the hidden rock.
The dark, beautiful hall continues. The walls are an unreflective, shadowy black, and flowing midnight blue tapestries spill down the walls luxuriously. The murmurs of hushed voices can be heard echoing softly through the hallowed halls, which seem to embody dark splendor.
This is a small chamber which houses some of the worshipers of the Shadowlord. A few small beds line the walls, and various paintings of shadowy meditations hang on the walls. Everything seems to be done in shades of dark blue, purple, and black.
This chamber looks like it must house someone of high rank in one of the various churches of shadows. There is but one bed, it looks very comfortable, with thick and luxurious black blankets. There are various books, mostly on the history of the Realms, tucked away in a bookshelf.
The temple hall continues, filled with dark macabre beauty. The walls are black, and midnight blue tapestries line the walls. To the east and west are more chambers, and to the north there seems to be a large, dark altar.
This small cave seems to be the end of the line, as the only door that leads out of here is the one above, which stone stairs lead up to. The area seems to have once been protected by very evil wards, but they seem to have been long-forgotten, their magic is weak. A stone case seems to have been hewn in the rock.