CAVERNS
OF HASJAN COURTYARD
I am standing in the courtyard of the Caverns of Hasjan, far beneath the city of the same name. All around me are the Royal Guard, here in force at the King's command to keep adventurers safe and to protect the bustling land above from the terrors of the deep places. The walls here are damp and the air is far cooler than the stifling temperatures of its Summer Ward home. The courtyard is busy with the usual compliment of traders, merchants and civilians supplying and living from the boons brought in by many eager adventurers. At various intervals doors lead from the courtyard into the dark corridors of the Caverns, where there is no protection save that of your own sword and only the strong survive. In the East wall a still, cold underground body of water exits the courtyard, taking its own route into the darkness. The stairs to the surface reside near the center of the courtyard. To ascend, use the order 'L 2' while standing on the stairs square.
DUNGEON OF DRAX COURTYARD
L 0 0
I look around. I am standing in the Courtyard of the Dungeon of Drax. Like most Dungeons, the courtyard has been built to house commoners, peasants and tradesmen who make their living off the adventurers who go beyond. There is a heavy contingent of Red-uniformed Royal Guards as well, keeping whatever lurks inside the dungeon from entering the surface world above. The huge courtyard hall in which I stand is grand and impressive, with high-vaulted ceilings, carvings and tapestries adorning the walls. Legend has it that this place was once the home of some sort of great Warrior, now long dead, named Drax. There are stairs to the surface here. To ascend, use the order 'L 2' in the stairs location. there are eight double door exits leading into the dungeon proper. Which shall i take to begin my adventures beyond?
I Look Around. I am standing in the Courtyard of Hells Deep, one of the lesser-known dungeons in the Kingdom of Bereny. Nevertheless, Hells Deep has been earning itself a reputation of late as a dangerous place full of terrors to face and great riches to claim. I am standing in a huge market area which has sprung up to serve the adventurers who would follow the Kings edict and enter the Dungeons... and to profit from them! The floor is solid ebony marble and the ceiling high above me arcs over in a fine crescent covered in colourful depictions of the Gods of Light. The Royal Guard are evident all over the place, guarding the many doorways into the Dungeon to prevent anything escaping from the depths. There are stairs to the surface here. To ascend stand in the STAIRS square are use the order 'L 2'. The courtyard is all hustle and bustle, traders plying their wares and people living off those who dare go further. People like me.
I Look Around. I am standing in the Courtyard of the
infamous Icehaunt Catacombs. This Dungeon is a truly ancient place and while it
is not so well-known as some of the Dungeons nearer the center of Bereny it has
a reputation as a truly fearful place where great wonders can be seen and great
evil can be found. All around me, the market traders ply their wares to eager
adventurers. Each of them wants to make their fortune in this place. Many will
die. I hope I am not one of the latter! There are many merchants, peasants and
workers here too, making their living in the lucrative business of
adventure-supply. Order is kept by large, burly Glacier Barbarian guards
wearing the King's colours. The Courtyard is a safe place then, at least. I can
see, in the middle of the courtyard, a flight of stairs leading back up to the
surface. (To climb them, stand on their square and issue the 'L 2' order.) All
around, doorways lead in to the Dungeon proper.
MIRRORMANE DUNGEON COURTYARD
L 0 0
I am standing in the Main Courtyard entrance to the Mirrormane Dungeon. It's every bit as fabulous a spectacle as legend permits. Here, peasants, tradesmen, poverty and gentry rub shoulders with adventurers of all types, some making their living from those who would venture inside the depths of Mirrormane, others with their own motives for being here. The high ceiling has many holes cut to allow smoke from the small fires to escape. The courtyard is timeless, there are always many people coming and going, many strange sights! Stalls are always open for the usual supply and purchase of adventuring goods. Many doorways leave this area into the Dungeon proper, each manned with well-armed Guards. A stairway leads back to the surface too.
PITS
OF POLDOON COURTYARD
I am standing in the courtyard of the Pits of Poldoon. The area is something of a work-in-progress. Royal Guardsmen are still building walls, strengthening doors and erecting structures. It looks like it will be grand when it is done, but because this dungeon has only recently been opened to adventurers, there is still a lot of work to be done. Piles of rubble and stone adorn the floors, traders and merchants scurry too and fro amongst it all, as adventurers prepare themselves to face the dangers beyond the courtyard doors. I feel a trembling excitement within me as I, also, prepare to meet the fates with my head held high.
RED MOUNTAIN KEEP COURTYARD
L 0 0
I Look Around. I am standing in an underground area known as the Red Mountain Keep. The air is stuffy, almost stifling. When I touch the walls I can feel the stone is slightly warm, almost as if it is alive. I know that is not true though, it is simply volcanic activity that is constant below this Dungeon that creates the unusual effect. This is the Dungeon 'courtyard', kept safe by Royal Guards and adventurers, a base from which to adventure and a place where commoners and traders make their living selling to and buying from those brave enough to venture further. All around me people are busy setting up stalls and trading merrily. The doors in the surrounding walls, though, lead into the Dungeon proper. In the middle of the courtyard stands a flight of stairs leading up to the surface world. To ascend them stand in the stairs square and issue the 'L 2' order.
SWINDERLOG
HOLE COURTYARD
I am standing in the courtyard of the dungeon known as Swinderlog Hole, located deep beneath the notorious Swinderlog Swamp in the Home Ward of Bereny. The courtyard is a busy place, with people of many types coming and going all around me. Traders, Peasants, Adventurers, Royal Guard and all manner of other people seem to be going about their business. A number of market stalls are set up, supplying and buying from the adventurers who enter and leave the dungeon. Like all courtyards, this one is manned by soldiers of the King, keeping the place (relatively) safe. But beyond any of the doors lies the dungeon proper, and once I leave the courtyard I know I'm on my own.
GM's Note: The shaded area is the courtyard. Buy and Sell orders work anywhere in the courtyard.
The main thing which sets Swinderlog Hole apart from other Dungeons is the fact that its so damn wet! Everywhere I look small puddles of water can be seen. The walls are damp, in places small trickles of green brackish water run down them to pool at the base of the wall. The people in the courtyard all have a gloomy look, born of such damp conditions. Even the air is tinged by the scent of mildew and of moss. I'll have to be careful down here, the atmosphere is likely to breed disease and rot. But people seem to make do quite well, so I suppose I shall have to do the same. Swinderlog Hole is quite a new Dungeon, only recently-discovered and opened for adventuring, but already it is famous for having the largest Dungeon Courtyard in the world!
TORLIAN CATACOMBS COURTYARD
L 0 0
I Look Around. What an amazing place! This courtyard, carved out of the ground to open the dangerous catacombs that wind beneath the earth here, is cut entirely from some kind of bleached white stone! The effect is strangely chilling. The pasty white walls and high rough ceiling way above my head look like the deathly pallour of a fresh corpse. Perhaps that’s why the tradesmen and market folk of the courtyard call this place 'Shroud Hall'. Like all dungeons in the land opened by the Crown, dwarves have worked hard to make this place a haven amid the danger. Somewhere near the center of the courtyard a flight of proud mahogany steps leads valiantly up towards the surface. To use the stairs write the order 'L 2 0' while standing on the stairs square. Through any of the doors the unknown beckons!