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Returning 35 results for 'cave first'.
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Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
. Long ago, the cult of Lolth first subjected elf prisoners to horrible rituals that transformed them into creatures with both elven and spider traits, which their creators dubbed chitines. The intention
was to create servile warriors dedicated first to the cult and then, only by association with it, to Lolth. The goddess found this arrangement unacceptable.
As punishment, the Spider Queen twisted
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
ability to maneuver underground. A sapphire dragon often refrains from striking immediately, preferring to assess intruders first in order to devise the most advantageous approach to dealing with them
without excavation or magic, as the dragon can simply open doorways in walls whenever necessary.
The lair has the following features:
Disguised Entrances. An otherwise unremarkable cave (shown at the
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
sapphire dragon often refrains from striking immediately, preferring to assess intruders first in order to devise the most advantageous approach to dealing with them.
Sapphire dragons watch for signs of
open doorways in walls whenever necessary.
The lair has the following features:
Disguised Entrances. An otherwise unremarkable cave (shown at the top of the map) provides the main access to the lair
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
amethyst crystals they spit at their foes.
Royal Purple
When first hatched, an amethyst dragon has scales of dull, opaque purple. As the dragon grows, their scales, horns, and wing membranes become more
flowing down toward the lowlands. The lair has the following features:
Entrances. Two cave entrances provide access to the lair, one in the rock face just above one tarn and one below the surface of
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
foes.
Royal Purple
When first hatched, an amethyst dragon has scales of dull, opaque purple. As the dragon grows, their scales, horns, and wing membranes become more vibrant and translucent. When
is set beneath a mountain ridge between two deep tarns, with streams flowing down toward the lowlands. The lair has the following features:
Entrances. Two cave entrances provide access to the lair
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
gold-chased shelves.
Clifftop Path. A second exit from the cave allows the dragon quick access to the lair and leads to a narrow path bordered on the right by a sheer 50-foot drop and on the left by
veins of topaz gemstones, particularly underground.
Negative Energy. When a creature finishes a long rest within 6 miles of the lair, the creature must first succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
tucked into chests stacked on gold-chased shelves.
Clifftop Path. A second exit from the cave allows the dragon quick access to the lair and leads to a narrow path bordered on the right by a sheer 50
plentiful crystal formations and veins of topaz gemstones, particularly underground.
Negative Energy. When a creature finishes a long rest within 6 miles of the lair, the creature must first succeed on a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
Approaching the Den When the characters first approach the werewolf den, read: Above the tree line, carved into the side of a rocky mountain spur, is a wide, torchlit cave that looks like the gaping
maw of a great wolf. One hundred feet above the cave mouth (area Z1), farther up the sloping mountainside and not visible from the cave mouth or its vicinity, is a rocky ledge (area Z8). A character can scale the slope to reach the ledge without the need for a climber’s kit or ability checks.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
against teleportation magic. To reach the cave, the characters must first travel to Vecna’s Grasp. Thanks to their supernatural connection to Vecna, the characters can teleport to Vecna’s Grasp from anywhere in the multiverse.
Reunion in Sigil At the end of chapter 10, the characters learned that Vecna is performing his ritual at a site in Pandesmos called the Cave of Shattered Reflection. At some point after this
Kobold
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
all life except for kobolds. He especially hates Garl Glittergold, gnomes, and fey creatures that enjoy playing pranks. He taught the first kobolds how to mine, tunnel, hide, and ambush. He is
abandon this careful approach. First, because of their hatred of gnomes, city kobolds often go out of their way to target gnomes’ houses and shops. Even in such cases, the kobolds’ fear of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
recluses sleep soundly here when the characters first arrive, with two gnomes in each side cave — Caramip, Jabby, Nyx, and Quippy (females), and Anverth, Delebean, Pallabar, and Zook (males
G12. Gnome Domiciles The floor of this cave is strewn with the remnants of old campfires. Four side caves serve as sleeping areas, with five small wooden cots crammed into each one. Eight rock gnome
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
with helpful sidebars. If this is your first time as the DM, encourage the players to start there. Otherwise, have them choose a cave shown on the map. Once the player characters choose a cave, navigate
Getting Started The Caves of Chaos Map displays all the locations characters can visit in the Caves of Chaos. The player version of this map doesn't reveal the caves' contents or names, only the cave
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
, it can make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw to break free of the aboleth’s control. On a successful save, the troglodyte fights for its own survival, not the aboleth’s. Its first instinct is to flee if it
can. 24a. West Sentries Three enslaved troglodytes guard this 30-foot-high cave. Shattered shields, broken spears, and torn nets (trophies taken from the kuo-toa) lie heaped against the walls. None
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
!” The first time a character reaches this intersection, a faint call for help is heard coming from the tunnel opening to the north, which ends at a cave-in. The cry for help is an illusion, and
or higher to pass through this gate (see “Jhesiyra Kestellharp”). The first creature to pass through the gate triggers an elder rune (see “Elder Runes”). A creature that passes through the gate
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
Resting Threats abound within the caves. The characters can take only Short Rests within them. To take a Long Rest, they must first exit any cave they’re in. For more on resting, see the D&D Beyond Basic Rules.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
the gas-filled cave for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, that creature must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 22 (5d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much
without first exploring area T7 attract the attention of the gorgon lairing there, causing the creature to charge out of area T7 and attack them. The stench of decay wafts from this unlit cave. Inside
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
enter the cave for the first time, Hark and his bodyguards are gleefully watching the rats feed on the corpse of a slain villager (Darthag Ulgar, the proprietor of the Lionshield Coster trading post
9. Boss Hark’s Cave This 10-foot-high cave contains Hark, the goblin boss, two female goblins (bodyguards) named Ratcha and Zukluk, and seven giant rats (Hark’s beloved pets). When the characters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
10. Cultist Pens The insane derro cultists have been buying cave bears from Underdark hunters and smuggling them through Gracklstugh. For what purpose is anyone’s guess. A large gate made of iron
Strength of 20 or higher can force the gate open with a successful DC 25 Strength check. The first thing you notice as you enter the room is a heavy, unpleasant musk in the air, coming from cages
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
The Fouled Stream Adventure for Level 1 Characters Situation. An alien fungus in a cave is polluting the stream that flows past the village of High Ery. The fungus has spawned vile creatures in and
around the cave. Hook. The folk of High Ery are noticing fungal growths on the riverbanks and a layer of scum on the water. The characters might live in the village, or a contact in the Free City of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
Wyrmling to make the scenario easier and shorter. Cindertooth might be away when the characters first explore this cave.
to the cave to make this scenario longer and more difficult. One or more Goblin Warriors or Kobold Warriors might be here soliciting the ogre’s services. Conversely, you can remove the Red Dragon
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
they raise it themselves?
Summary. The beginning of each cave presents its central conflict, as well as optional ways to increase or decrease the difficulty. If the characters are level 1, don’t
add monsters, such as Giant Fire Beetles, to the cave to make this scenario longer and more difficult, or you can reduce the number of Kobold Warriors to make it easier and shorter.
Getting
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
with inspiration. 7–10 Characters can see clearly through the cave’s crystal walls. 11–14 The first time each character enters the Cave of Shattered Reflection, the character benefits from the effects of
Cave Features The Cave of Shattered Reflection has the following features, as shown on map 11.5. Crystal Walls Most of the walls are made of a translucent, purple crystal that is immune to all damage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
accompany the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set. Lost in a desert, the characters stumble on the ruins of Cynidicea and its peculiar factions. Released in 1982, the adventure marks the first appearance of Zargon
, a one-eyed elder evil once entombed beneath the Cynidicean ziggurat. The updated adventure is designed for 1st-level characters. When a Star Falls When a Star Falls was the first adventure to bear a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
F: Bluemaw Cave Bluemaw Cave, an abandoned dragon’s lair, owes its blue hue to its high concentration of blue salt crystals. The characters might stumble across Bluemaw Cave or learn about it from
the “Heart’s Hollow Quests” section. Not-Quite-Abandoned Lair The cave was carved by a blue dragon that abandoned it long ago. It now houses a family of dwarves who were captured in the south by the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
the city in an hour or two. Sanctum Locations The building shown in map 12.1 is a large house built in front of a natural cave opening, donated to the Heralds of the Comet by a wealthy aspirant. The
first floor of the house includes a luxurious living room, a kitchen and spacious dining room, and a large bedroom suite on the first floor. The second floor (not shown on the map) has more bedrooms and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sleeping Dragon’s Wake
keeps order, a relatively easy job until the sahuagin arrived. Marciano refuses to answer questions shouted through the door unless a character first succeeds on a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check to
. Marciano sent word to Leilon for help after the first attack, but more raids followed. There was one attack each day at a different time from a different direction. With every attack the shark people
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
leads up ten feet to a higher cave area in the north. Water burbles down from that upper cave and collects in a large pool. Two small mushroom-like people are working amid the mushrooms near the pond
. A sickening smell, like sulfur, hangs in the air.
The waterfall is fed from a pool in the upper cave, which in turn is supplied by runoff trickling down from the surface. Both pools are 5 feet deep
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
full of life. Stalactites drip into shallow puddles, and water trickles down the slick cave walls. The sounds of cave bats, small insects, and the caverns’ monstrous denizens echo throughout
first time on a turn or starts its turn there must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be swept 20 feet in the direction indicated by the arrows on the map.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
5. Trolling the Troglodytes Ceiling. This ceiling varies in height from 15 to 30 feet.
Battle. A five-armed troll is engaged in battle with six troglodytes in the northwest part of the cave.
Pit
. The southwest edge of the cave borders a 30-foot-deep, yawning pit with nothing in it.
Secret Door. The north wall contains a secret door that swivels on a central axis. The secret door can be seen
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
10. Drider Lair Driders and Spiders. The northern half of the cave is home to two driders and five giant spiders. The driders hide in the natural alcove north of the entrance, while the spiders crawl
amid thick webs that fill the top 10 feet beneath the 30-foot-high ceiling.
Hidden Arch. The southern half of the cave is filled with thick, sticky webs. (These webs conceal an arch embedded in a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Arrival in Thither When the adventurers first arrive in Thither, read: The mists part to reveal a primeval forest. A fragrant breeze wafts between the enormous trees, sending motes of pollen dancing
into the air. Patches of sunlight kiss the forest floor, and the sweet melody of birdsong echoes all around.
Their guide leads the characters to Nib’s Cave, the location of which is shown on the map
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Ashen Grotto The Ashen Grotto is a burial ground for giants. Since it was first established—in a long-ago age when a great empire of giants stretched across the world—giants of all kinds have brought
intruders. Others might refuse to enter for any reason other than during funerary rites to inter a family member’s remains. Remains laid to rest within the grotto remain peaceful, and the power of the cave is anathema to Undead.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Lac Dinneshere, and she wants the characters to take a boat and search for them. She knows where the fishers like to fish and urges the characters to search that part of the lake first. If they heed
Imdra’s advice, they find the fishers’ boats pulled up on the ice within short walking distance from a frozen cave previously hidden under snow and ice. This cave, the characters soon discover, is the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
unleash the savage creature on their githyanki enemies in Seadeeps and the Crystal Labyrinth. 8a. Neothelid’s Cave Magic walls of force seal off all tunnels leading to this enormous cavern (see
creature that enters its cave. It lacks the intelligence to distinguish one kind of prey from another and feeds indiscriminately. Tunnel to Expanded Dungeon. If you decide to expand the dungeon southward
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
1. Main Cavern Characters who follow the villagers’ tracks arrive at a yawning cave mouth, 12 feet wide and 20 feet high. Beyond the cave mouth is a vast cavern with a forest of stalagmites in its
this central cavern to other parts of the cave complex. The floor is littered with broken spears, broken shields, and drops of bat guano. Characters who peer into the cave can see a male ogre bathing in






