Monstrous Lair: Gorgon's Cavern
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Gorgons—monstrous bull-like creatures—like to gnaw on the petrified remains of their foes. A herd of gorgons is a truly terrifying sight.
Outside the Lair
Gouges in the rock show where a large, strong animal has sharpened its claws.
The area around the gorgon’s lair is curiously devoid of creatures—even birds are a rare sight.
The tracks of a large and heavy quadruped—either trodden into the mud or scratched into bare rock—mar the surrounding area.
Small caves pockmark the cliffs in the vicinity of the gorgon’s lair. None of the caves are particularly deep.
What’s Going On?
A roaring bellow emanates from further inside the lair.
The gorgon is slumbered in the depths of its lair and is unaware of the characters’ arrival.
The gorgon is sharpening its claws on the floor; the characters hear a scratching sound before seeing the beast itself.
The gorgon is gnawing on the statue of a dwarf and has almost completely chewed off the statue’s head.
Major Lair Features
Gnawed-upon and broken statues of various animals and humanoids are scattered throughout the gorgon’s lair. A field of rubble around the statues functions as difficult terrain.
Stone columns dented and riven with cracks hold up the ceilings in the cavern’s main areas; some are unstable and liable to collapse.
A stepped escarpment at the rear of the gorgon’s lair drops into a great abyss. Sometimes strange things emerge from the darkness, and the gorgon eats well.
An escarpment cut the cavern in two; smashed and gnawed-upon statues litter the escarpment’s slope.
Minor Lair Features
Fragments of chewed-upon statues dot the lair.
Deep grooves, scrapes and gouges in the rocky floor and walls show where the gorgon has sharpened its claws and fangs.
Pools of dirty water dot the lair.
Pieces of discarded equipment, weapons and the like—dropped by the gorgon’s many victims—are scattered about the gorgon’s lair.
Gorgon’s Appearance
This large and obviously powerful bull-like creature seems to be wearing an intricately articulated suit of burnished plate armour.
Scratches and dents mar the plate armour of this large, muscled bull-like creature. A transparent cloud of green gas curls about the beast’s bullish head. Hate and hunger blaze in its large red eyes.
This bull-like creature’s body seems to be comprised of interlocking black metal plates. Green vapour trails from its nostrils.
This huge bull-like creature’s body comprises dull grey metal plates rusting with age. Thin yellowy-green gas dribbles from its nostrils. The creature moves stiffly as if it were old, injured or rusted.
Treasure
A small iron-bound coffer lies on its side. The coffer is missing its lid, and gold and silver coins have spilt out over the floor.
A soft velvet pouch holds a small supply of tiny translucent red stones—rubies!
These golden bracers are wrought in the shape of multiple overlapping shields etched with protective magical sigils.
This thick tome is entitled On Gorgons and their Habits. It is gorgeously illustrated.
Trinkets & Trash
Broken and splintered equipment—the leavings of the gorgon’s prior victims—lies scattered about the lair.
The two parts of a broken spear lie on the floor; the spear’s tip is blunted.
Scraps of part-burnt scroll gently rustle in a faint breeze. The scroll once held a magic fire spell.
A ragged green cloak covers the gnawed head of a human warrior. It flutters gently in the breeze.
Credit
This is a short extract from Monstrous Lair #91: Gorgon’s Cavern, a System Neutral GM’s Resource by Robert Manson.
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