Lost Cellar of the Nameless Mage
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Centuries ago, another settlement stood where Dulwich now stands. Much of the area’s ancient history has been forgotten—lost to time’s remorseless advance and the fading memories of even the longest-lived folk. However, buried or lost fragments of the past yet remain. A merchant, carrying out repairs in the deepest part of his cellar, makes a curious discovery—a stone trapdoor hidden in a sealed-up room—and needs a band of brave adventurers to explore whatever lies below.
Centuries ago, another settlement stood where Dulwich now stands. Much of the area’s ancient history has been forgotten—lost to time and memory. However, some buried or lost fragments of the past yet remain.
Recent Events: The merchant Antero Kalervo recently engaged a stonemason to repair an old, sagging wall in his cellar. During the work, the stonemason—Matias Hirvi—removed some of the old stones to effect repair and discovered a small sealed-up chamber and a stone trapdoor. Concerned—and a little excited—Antero needs some suitably skilled individuals to explore what lies beneath the trapdoor.
Notable Locations at a Glance
The Lost Cellar has several notable locations:
Stairs into Darkness: Hidden behind an old wall in Antero Kalervo’s cellar, a difficult-to-open stone trapdoor provides access to the Lost Cellar.
Antechamber: Here once stood the Nameless Mage’s sentient guardians.
Festering Experiments: Herein, the Nameless Mage kept certain foul experiments. They yet linger in the endless darkness—and they hunger.
Cavern of the Dreaming Stone: This small cavern holds a singular item—the Dreaming Stone.
Chamber of Pain: Dusty and decaying instruments of torture betray this room’s original purpose.
Storeroom of Horror: Lined with sagging wooden shelves, this room held the supplies the Nameless Mage needed for their experiments.
The Hideous Laboratory: The Nameless Mage once carried out their foul and blasphemous experiments in this chamber. Their leavings yet lie herein.
Rubble-Choked Stair: Rubble chokes this narrow passageway. Further egress is impossible without extensive excavations or magic.
Dungeon Dressing
Use this list to breathe life and detail into the dungeon:
Ancient, dusty cobwebs hang from the ceiling; tiny silvery cocoons hang within.
A stone has fallen from the wall, revealing the rough bedrock behind.
A smattering of small, unidentifiable bones covers the uneven paved floor.
Faint scratches on the wall could be the claw marks of a creature or the result of desultory graffitiing.
Things to Find
Use this list to determine what minor objects or features of interest the party finds if they search a dungeon location. Modify the value of items found to suit your campaign.
An old gold coin—strangely octagonal-shaped—has been forced in the gap between two paving stones. The carvings on the olden coin are worn and illegible.
A small, ragged carving on a stone wall shows a three-lobed eye. There is more than a hint of madness about the faintly incised carving.
A skull lies face down; its nose has been crushed.
An odd damp patch on the wall is vaguely suggestive of a humanoid’s shape.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Dungeon Backdrop: Lost Cellar of the Nameless Mage. The book is available in 5e, Pathfinder First Edition, Pathfinder Second Edition, System Neutral and OSR editions.
Words Creighton Broadhurst Cartography Dyson Logos
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