afternoonmaps

Dragon Scale Oasis Battle Map - Launch

Added 2024-03-31 20:25:02 +0000 UTC

Edit - Sorry for the double email, Patreon deleted the images and variant information from my original post. All fixed now.

Hello Adventurers! It's the end of the month and another map release. This one is an arid oasis in a desert with the entrance to a cave. I wanted to give it a bit of a theme so decided on dragon scale-like rock formations, hence the name Dragon Scale Oasis. As with all places like this, it's probably home to something the party will not enjoy encountering ;)

Next Maps

I’ll be working on the City Sewer Junction next with the Creepy Hollows coming later on.

City Sewer Junction
I’ve created a couple of sewer maps in the past and I think having another location would be useful. This will be a large open area with lots of entrances and pipes leading to it. It should make for a great ‘Boss’ combat location.
Creepy Hollows
A travel map winding through a traditional ‘Hollow’, a road or bridleway cut deeply into the landscape, flanked on both sides by trees. It is the perfect place to ambush your party, with mist filling the road and things attacking from the land above.

Thanks as always to new and old Patrons alike, your support keeps me going, making hand-drawn maps for the TTRPG community. If you have suggestions let me know here or in private messages, I always need new map ideas! Have a wonderful start to the week and as always happy adventuring!

Now let's take a rest at this Oasis. I’d stay clear of the cave. I doubt anything lives out here... Just ignore the smoke drifting from the cave mouth, it's probably volcanic or something, and the low growling is likely just the wind… or something. Did I mention this was called Dragon Scale Oasis by the locals?

Downloads

As always the files can be accessed on the Map List Page along with thumbnails and tags. You need to be logged in to Patreon and be signed up to the correct tier to access them. And remember you are only charged for map releases, you can download all the old maps at no extra cost!

Map Descriptions

Amidst the vast expanse of dunes lies an oasis surrounded by jagged rocks. The rocks erupt from the ground like scales of an ancient beast long dead and desiccated by the desert sands. Amongst the rock formations is a shallow pool shimmering in the noon sun. It’s turquoise water bordered by rushes that sway in the breeze. Near the pool, between rock formations is a cave, its entrance shrouded by inky blackness.

As you enter the cave it takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the gloom. The cave is large, its walls made from layers of uneven rock. Sand blown into the cave's entrance drifts across the cracked stone floor.

Notes and Tips

30x45 Grid Map
Traversing a desert is a perilous undertaking. Keeping track of water supplies is essential. The party should be actively seeking out places to replenish their supplies. Locals will know of this place but may warn the party not to stop there. Or at least, to only take the water and nothing else.
Heat! It's not fun, and wearing armour or thick robes is not going to help. Have your party get creative on keeping cool. Ask them for ideas and solutions and reward them by NOT giving them heat exhaustion!
Treasure Mayhaps?: Have the party notice a glint of metal within the cave. Night vision is only good when you're not blinded by the sun, so someone is going to have to investigate the interior if they want to know what it is. It's probably some old bit of armour with the half-eaten remains of an adventurer still wearing it. It's something’s dinner and it's ready for seconds.
The Sandstorm: The party is caught in a sandstorm. They find shelter at the Oasis but do they enter the cave? If they do they find a desert Lizard/Dragon sitting on a horde of caravan treasures that would be worth a fortune if they could be transported out of the desert. If they don’t enter the cave the Lizard/Dragon comes out to hunt prey in the blinding storm.
Desert Bandits: Bandits bury themselves in the sands around the Oasis and wait for the party to arrive. They can ambush the party at any point. They will leap from the sand, trying to surprise attack the party. Some may hide among the rock formations.
Sand Devils: Use Air Elementals and theme them as whirling sand devils. They could rise from the sands around the oasis when the party tries to drink or fill containers. This could be a cursed or holy place, protected by these magical guardians.
Holy Man and the Scorpions: A holy man sits in the cave entrance meditating, he opens one eye as the party approaches and tries to signal something without moving. He’ll flick a finger, or twitch an eyebrow. He’s trying to indicate the oasis is infested with scorpions and he has been trapped here unable to move for days.