Spiral Stair Battle Map - Launch

Hello Adventurers! With this map release, I wanted to create a fun way to transition your party into an underground location or out of one, so I made a set of stairs winding down into the depths of the earth. The idea is you describe this as an extremely deep pit with a stair that goes on for hours if not days. At certain points, you’ll run a combat encounter with one of the maps in this release.

Next Maps

I’ll be working on the Life-sized Chessboard next, and the Gnomish Train Station will be coming later.

• Life-sized Chessboard
  A life-sized chessboard in a noble’s garden. This could be used with a few of my other maps, including the Minagury, the Castle Courtyard and my Castle Interiors (Dungeon and Lords Quarters).

• Gnomish Train Station (with Train)
  This is going to be a big release. I’ll be making a Steampunk/Gnomish Train and a Station to have it call at. I’ll add a few different coaches to the train. I’m currently considering making Sleeper, Passenger, Freight, and Livestock.

• Teetering Shrine
  I recently watched a video on buildings falling into the sea due to erosion. It gave me an idea for a map with a ruin falling into the ocean, balanced on the edge of a cliff. I think a small temple or shrine would be cool.

Thanks as always for your support. If you have any ideas for new maps, let me know. I love getting ideas from all of you wonderful, creative people!

Now look, I know it's a long way down, and your legs are burning, but think of the defined calves you’ll have once we’re done!

Downloads

The files, thumbnails, and tags can be accessed on the Map List Page. You must be logged in to Patreon and signed up to the correct tier to access them. Remember, you are only charged for map releases; you can download all the old maps at no extra cost!

Everyone gets a few basic versions! (See Variants at the bottom of the post for Delver Tier extras).

Map Descriptions

General - The pit seems bottomless, pitch black, with only the odd wisp of water vapour rising from its depths. Dropping something off the side results in no sounds as it falls away into darkness. The edges of the pit are rough, seemingly natural, except for the carved stone stairs spiralling down its sides. Ancient, the stairs are littered with stones and covered in dust. In places, their edges have been chipped away or sheared off by rock falls.

Mycelium - Walking downwards, you notice an organic mass covering the stairs ahead. Bulbous nodules resembling fungal growths have enveloped the path ahead. Small bioluminescent mushrooms sprout from its surface, along with puffballs and clusters of pinhead mushrooms. Spores hang in the air like mist, illuminated by a sickly green glow.

Collapsed Stairs - Ahead of you, sections of the stairs have collapsed, with large gaps between them. Your only choice is to hug the walls and make your way along the shattered edges of the remaining stairs. Looking into the gaps, the lower levels seem intact, although they are littered with stones and pieces of shattered steps.

Notes and Tips

• 30x30 Grid Map

• The stairs can be open to the sky, with the entrance leading from the surface. Or this could be an underground pit reached by a tunnel.

• There are a few versions of the base map with added extras for top-tier patrons.

• It should take hours to climb down the stairs. Make sure to describe how physically difficult it is to walk down this many steps. Your party may even need to make camp on the stairs.

• Describe the sounds of other things on the stairs, coming from above and below.

• Falling off the stairs will be deadly. Make that clear to the players. However, it may be possible to save a player who falls (if you feel generous). Have them fall into darkness:

  • And get caught by a large creature (giant, tentacle) or a net. The other players don’t need to know this happens.

  • Catch hold of a gargoyle or other stone outcropping as they fall.

  • Silence, then a loud splash.

• Guardians of the Stair - As the party makes their way down the stairs, they see ancient stone statues, humanoid in shape. Each one stands with their backs against the pit wall. Most are cracked or shattered by rock falls and time, but some are mostly intact. A few emit a dim glow that radiates from their bodies and illuminates the stairs before them. These are intact golems that will attack if anyone tries to pass.

• Water (and monsters) from Rock - Water begins to drip down from the upper levels, and over time, the volume increases until there’s a downpour, turning the stairs into a waterfall. The dry rocks and stone of the pit walls begin to move. Dormant parasites, ticks, leeches or other nasty creatures crawl from the walls and slither down the steps. The water could become a torrent that risks washing the party downwards.

• Camping the Steps - The stairs take so long to climb or walk down that your party must camp. During the camp, they are attacked by creatures that live on or around the stairs. It could be Kobolds defending their nest. A group of Duergar heading down on a mining expedition. Or some Carrion Stalkers climb up the steps, sensing a meal above them.

• A Roost by Night - Bats or other flying creatures return to roost or leave to hunt, flying up or down the pit. It’s a spectacular sight to see and incredibly dangerous. Some of the creatures will land on the steps and attack if the party is detected.

Variants

Lit variants of all the maps. You also get a Forest variant entrance. Plus, a more vibrant Jungle entrance!
 You also get a blue glowy Buttress variant.