Drow Outpost
Drow, terrors of the Ebon Realm, normally stay away from the sunlit surface lands yet sometimes they wander too close. Setting up outposts near the surface they sneak forth to capture slaves to carry back to their subterranean home.
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Outside the Lair
Small, sharp crystals grow from the tunnel floor and shatter noisily if stepped on.
Fronds of strange yellow and violet fungus reach out to touch those passing by.
Strange rock formations protrude from the wall slowing movement and forcing travellers into a single file.
Tracks lead to a deep shaft dropping far into the endless dark of the Ebon Realm.
What’s Going On?
The drow furiously whip their stumbling slaves, mercilessly pushing them ever onwards to their doom.
Several drow terrorise an escaped prisoner before herding him into a corner and beating him unconscious.
A lone drow awaits in full view as others lurk nearby in cunningly concealed ambush positions.
Three drow stand guard while a richly dressed female communes with a spider effigy.
Major Lair Features
A spiked fence of strange dull metal, its gate wrought into the shape of a huge fanged spider, blocks the way ahead. The gate’s lock contains a cleverly conceived poison needle trap.
Thick sentient webs cling to the walls and ceiling and grab at nearby creatures. The webs suck the intellect from those they catch turning them into drooling idiots (and easy prey for other nearby predators).
A large pile of boxes and barrels holding preserved food and drinking water fill a corner.
Thick patches of edible fast-growing moss dangle off the walls; the drow use it to feed their slaves.
Minor Lair Features
Small shards of bone are embedded into the floor, forming a strangely beautiful mosaic of a vast woman-faced spider.
Thin yet strong cord manacles hangs from the wall. Many bear dried bloodstains.
A small unlit forge and anvil stand ready to repair damaged equipment and resharpen bolt heads.
Broken manacles lie on the floor; the severed hand of a slave still attached.
Drow’s Appearance
This drow priestess is wrapped in shimmering patterns of spiderwebs and delicate black silks. She moves with poise and grace.
This drow wears boots of polished dwarf skin decorated with silver and gold studs.
This drow’s armour is embellished with panther skin and she has black fur trim on her boots and gloves.
Carrying a long oaken spear and his face daubed with blue clay stripes this drow looks slightly primal.
Treasure
This bright red shield decorated with a stylised black spider enamelled on the front renders its bearer immune to poison.
This crystal spider with black opal eyes transforms into a huge stone guardian when placed onto a wall. It can follow basic instructions spoken in Drow.
This long-bladed scimitar with a double edge leaves painful parallel cuts on its victims.
Crafted from the soft skin of teenage human girls this long cloak is embellished with braided brown hair.
Trinkets & Trash
This collection of thumbs has been dried out and threaded onto a leather thong.
The fangs of hundreds of spiders fill this small box. It rattles if shaken.
Thorns, hooks and blades hang from a long piece of leather cord tied around a slave’s thigh as punishment. Blood covers the cord.
This pair of boots has small studs in the insoles to make walking agonisingly painful and slow.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Monstrous Lair #40: Drow Outpost by Steve Hood.
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