HS4 The Lost Caverns of Acheron - Hyborian Age - Xoth

HS4: The Lost Caverns of Acheron
Part Three: The Lesser Caverns
Here, in Wilderness Area E, begins the
dungeon adventure. There are no purely
random encounters from wandering
monsters; any encounters are described in
the text below. For a description of the
general aspects of these encounter areas,
see the Adventure Judging Notes.
River Encounter Areas
A deep and swift river flows through the
Lesser Caverns. The River of the Lost enters
from the west (River area A), cuts across
the caverns, turns north into the underground
lake (River area E), and then splits
into three branches. The main branch exits
the lake to the southwest (River area F),
curves abruptly to the northwest, passes
under a bridge (River area J), and then
plunges down a 100-foot waterfall (River
area L) to a huge underground lake
below. Side branches lead to two smaller
lakes to the north (River areas H and I),
from which the water exits through hidden
cracks.
In most places the river is from 20 to 40
feet deep and is filled with fish of many
sorts. It flows through passages that are 15
feet wide with ceilings about 30 feet
above water level. The water is fresh and
very cold (for every 10 minutes of exposure,
make a Fortitude save [DC 15, +1 per
previous check] or take 1d6 points of
nonlethal damage). A crude boat can be
found at the landing (River area D). It can
be used to navigate the river and the
various lakes. Swimming in the river is
possible (Swim DC 15) except where
noted, but it’s probably not safe. Characters
who can swim, or characters in the
boat, may float along, letting the river
current move them from place to place,
though they could plunge over the falls if
they are not careful (see River area K).
Note that the caverns to the north of the
underground river, as well as the northern
branches of the river, are warmer than the
rest of the caverns due to geothermal
heat. This allows the cave worms to thrive
there; these monstrous worms do not
venture into the southern caverns, for
there they would slowly freeze to death.
A. RIVER ENTRY
The river enters the Lesser Caverns from a
tunnel to the west, moving at about 20
feet per round. The ceiling of this tunnel is
only eight feet above the surface of the
water. The tunnel can be followed, with
difficulty to be sure, as it twists and turns
for over a mile westward. Then, at a point
where a chimney rises some 60 feet to the
outside world, the tunnel ceiling lowers to
water level and further progress along the
river is impossible. It is possible to climb the
vertical shaft (Climb DC 15). It exits about
one mile west of the entrance to the
caverns.
B. NORTH PASSAGE
Just to the east of the river entry, a passage
north slopes upward until it crosses
the Gargoyle Bridge (River area J) over
the river. This passage, if it can be
reached, provides a quick route to area
17. The passage is no more than two feet
above water level at this point, but it is 15
feet above water level at the bridge; the
river drops 2 feet in this same distance.
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