Heroes of the Borderlands

DM Secret

This is for the Dungeon Master's eyes only. Unless text appears in a read-aloud box (like the one below), don't read it to the players.

A1: Entrance

This tunnel contains a hidden pit trap, as detailed below.

A2: Guard Nook

A Kobold Warrior keeps watch in this nook. The guard is initially Indifferent toward intruders, but it's also naive. Rather than alerting the other kobolds when it spots the characters, it marches toward them and asks what they want.

As an Influence action, a character can try to appease the kobold and make one of the following ability checks. Consider these examples:

DC 10 Charisma (Deception). The character tricks the kobold with an outlandish lie.

DC 10 Charisma (Performance). The character amuses the kobold with a jaunty tune.

DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion). The character convinces the kobold the party means it no harm.

On a successful check, the character improves the kobold's attitude to Friendly, and the kobold grants them entry, warning them cryptically about the "many-legs" to the west (see area A3). On a failed check, the kobold becomes Hostile and flees toward x, yelping a call to arms.

A3: Centipedes' Den

Two Giant Centipedes scavenge this cave. The centipedes are Hostile toward all other creatures and fight anyone who enters their den.

The kobolds are afraid of the centipedes—a fact they report to any who mention the beasts. If the characters slay the centipedes and show proof to a kobold, this deed earns the kobold's respect, improving its attitude toward them to Friendly.

A4: Common Area

Five Kobold Warriors are trying to decide whether to keep the wyrmling or return it to its nest. They cease bickering when they notice the characters. The kobolds' initial attitude is Indifferent. If they learn the characters eliminated the guard in x, these kobolds are Hostile.

A5: Larder

The stone door to this room is ajar. A persistent, ear-splitting cry emanates within. When the characters enter, read the following text aloud:

Two Kobold Warriors attempt to comfort the crying Copper Dragon Wyrmling by adding treasure to its meager hoard. It isn't going well. The kobolds and the wyrmling are Indifferent toward all other creatures.

B1: Entrance

The arrow slit is linked to area B2. If the characters enter the cave carrying a source of Bright Light or talking loudly, the slit begins to vent harmless steam as the Steam Mephit in that area approaches the opening and observes them. The slit provides the mephit with Three-Quarters Cover.

B2: Balistraria

Defenders can watch the cave entrance from this alcove. A Steam Mephit flits about the area. It ostensibly watches for intruders coming from area B1, but it is bored and barely fulfilling its duties. The mephit is Indifferent but defends itself in combat.

If the mephit sees the characters enter the cave, it peers at them through the arrow slit and whistles like a teakettle to entice them to approach. If a character comes within 5 feet of the slit, the mephit exhales a 15-foot Cone of harmless steam and snickers at the character's reaction.

If the characters approach from the other side of the alcove, the mephit feigns innocence. It then tries to lure them to the old barrack (x) to be ambushed by the kuo-toa that lurk there.

B3: Prison Cells

Four cold cells line one wall of this chamber. Floor-to-ceiling iron bars partition the cells, which are unlocked and devoid of valuables. Two of the cells contain unidentifiable skeletal remains draped in moth-eaten rags.

B4: Old Armory

Cobwebbed weapon racks and rusty suits of armor lie scattered about this armory. None of the items is salvageable.

B5: Flooded Room

Warm spring water streams into this room from x, forming a 1-foot-deep pool here. The pool is Difficult Terrain.

A Steam Mephit toys with a panicked frog in the water. The mephit is initially Indifferent toward the characters and remains that way unless they try to spoil its fun, which provokes the hot-tempered elemental to start combat. If a fight breaks out, the mephits in x and B7 quickly join the fray.

B6: Old Barrack

Two Kuo-Toa Marauders scrawl rupestrian gibberish on the walls of this run-down barrack. The Hostile kuo-toa fight the characters on sight, hoping to capture them alive and hold them in the prison cells (x). The room is otherwise empty.

B7: Broken Fountain

Warm water bubbles from an underground spring into this ruined fountain. It flows south and pools in x.

Unless it was drawn elsewhere, a Steam Mephit lurks near the fountain, quietly mesmerized by the fountain's burbling. The mephit behaves similarly to the one in area B5, starting combat with the characters if disturbed. If a fight breaks out, the mephits in x and B5 join the fray.

B8: Vault

One of the chests is fake—a hungry Mimic has altered its shape to resemble the mundane container beside it. The mimic ambushes any creature that comes within 5 feet of it. It fights to the death.

C1: Entrance

A character who examines the symbols and succeeds on a DC 13 Intelligence (Arcana) check recognizes them as arcane runes designed to ward the cave against magical scrutiny. The runes are unfinished, so they have no effect.

C2: Ritual Chamber

A character who examines the circle and succeeds on a DC 13 Intelligence (Arcana) check determines it was the site of an arcane ritual that went horribly wrong.

C3: Library

The nothic occasionally performs research here.

C4: Hallway

A Carrion Crawler clings to the hall's ceiling. It is Hostile toward all other creatures and fights them on sight.

C5: Wizard's Laboratory

A Nothic broods over the invader in the hallway (see area C4). Protecting the nothic is an Animated Flying Sword that obeys the nothic's commands. Both are initially Indifferent toward the characters.

C6: Cell

The cell is unlocked. Inside lies the rotting corpse of a dwarf explorer who came to the Caves of Chaos in search of riches but perished ten days ago. A character who examines the corpse and succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check deduces that the dwarf died from Necrotic damage.

C7: Storage Room

The door to this room is locked. The key can be found in the laboratory (x). As a Utilize action, a character can pick the lock with a successful DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check using Thieves' Tools or force open the door with a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check.

D1: Entrance

The goblins painted the celebratory drawings.

D2: Dead-End Tunnel

The captive is Vinx, a dwarf spelunker. Vinx came to this cave in search of a stolen family tapestry, but the goblins captured her. Vinx is Indifferent toward the characters and has the Restrained condition while bound.

Vinx assures the characters that she's a capable explorer who can hold her own in a fight, but some quests can't be completed alone. If they help her recover the tapestry, she promises a hefty reward.

The barrels are mostly filled with crooked spears and old arrows that are unusable.

D3: Common Room

These goblin gifts include a bag of assorted teeth, a moist wad of thoughtfully pre-chewed jerky, and a foul-smelling mushroom. The cake appears professionally baked but poorly handled.

D4: Boss's Room

A Goblin Boss and four Goblin Warriors are here celebrating the boss's birthday. The goblins are initially Hostile toward the characters.

When the goblins notice the characters, they stop dancing. Read or paraphrase the following text:

The goblins brandish their weapons.

"Hoppee Birthday!" As an Influence action, a character can try to defuse the tension and make a DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion) check. A character who offers the boss an impressive birthday present—such as 10 GP, a magic item, or one of the gifts from area D3—automatically succeeds on this check.

On a successful check, the goblins' attitudes improve to Indifferent, and the boss invites the characters to join her birthday celebration. On a failed check, the goblins fight the party crashers.

D5: Webbed Cavern

A Giant Spider lurks in a tunnel to the south. The Hostile spider ambushes all non-goblins in its den.

E1: Entrance

The carcass conceals a hidden snare trap. The trap is depicted on map E.

E2: Ogre Mercenary's Den

Oggdug, an Ogre, reclines on the bearskins. He is initially Hostile toward the characters, but if they approach peacefully, Oggdug assumes they must want to hire him for mercenary work. He tells the characters to cough up some coin or get out, threatening to clobber any who refuse.

A character can shift Oggdug's attitude from Hostile to Indifferent by hiring him (see the "Hiring the Ogre" section below) or taking the Influence action to make one of the following ability checks. Consider these examples:

DC 10 Charisma (Deception). The character dupes the ogre with a clever ruse or outlandish lie.

DC 10 Charisma (Performance). The character amuses the ogre with a small performance, such as a dance or magic trick.

DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion). The character convinces the ogre the party means him no harm.

On a failed check, or if a character tries to undercut Oggdug's price, the ogre starts combat, grumbling that the characters are "puny cheapskates." If the ogre drops to half his Hit Points or fewer, he calls to Cindertooth in area E3 for aid.

E3: Dragon's Den

Cindertooth, a Red Dragon Wyrmling, dwells in this cavern. The dragon is Hostile toward creatures other than Oggdug.

When Cindertooth notices the characters, he flies down to scold them for trespassing. He demands each character pay him 10 GP as tribute or face his fiery wrath.

A character can attempt to avoid Cindertooth's toll by making a DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion) check. Characters who appeal to the dragon's ego through flattery have Advantage on this check. On a successful check, or if the character pays Cindertooth, the dragon tells them to leave this cave while they still can. On a failed check, or if the characters don't heed Cindertooth's warning, he starts combat.

F1: Entrance

A Hobgoblin Warrior stands guard behind a pair of spear barricades (see the "x" sidebar). The sentry is Hostile toward intruders and tries to delay them through interrogation until the gelatinous cube in x arrives here to dispatch them.

The sentry is lying about how many hobgoblins remain. Weakened by their recent loss, the hobgoblins fear marauders and try to present a strong front. A character who doubts the sentry can take the Search action and make a DC 13 Wisdom (Insight) check; a successful check discerns the lie.

As an Influence action, a character can try to pacify the sentry and make a DC 14 Charisma (Persuasion) check. A character who saw through her previous lie has Advantage on this check. On a successful check, the sentry's attitude improves to Indifferent, and she stands down; she warns the characters about the gelatinous cube's impending arrival but doesn't let them past the barricades. On a failed check, the sentry commands the characters to leave at once or be destroyed.

F2: Cube Route

A hungry Gelatinous Cube slowly loops counterclockwise through this part of the cave. It takes about 1 minute for it to complete a lap. The cube occasionally meanders down the eastern tunnel toward x and back again, but it never crosses the spear barricades (see the "x" sidebar).

The cube is Hostile toward all other creatures and fights them on detection. Clever characters might be able to lure the cube out of the cave through the entrance to area F1, shutting the door behind them.

F3: Mess Hall

The hobgoblins dine in this mess hall. They erected a pair of spear barricades (see the "x" sidebar) to keep the gelatinous cube in area F2 out. The room contains nothing of value to the characters.

F4: Barrack

The surviving hobgoblins lodge in this once-full barrack. A lone Hobgoblin Warrior fiercely defends what few valuables remain. He starts combat with the characters on sight and fights to the death.

If the hobgoblin sentry sounded the alarm in x, the two Hobgoblin Warriors from area F5 are also here, ready to intercept the characters.

F5: Training Hall

Unless they were called elsewhere, two Hobgoblin Warriors train in this hall, which was stripped of its weapons during a raid. The hobgoblins are Hostile toward intruders and fight them on sight.

G1: Entrance

Gnawed bones litter the ground near the cave mouth, and the stench of blood hangs in the air. The bones belong to the owlbear's victims, including animals, explorers, and other monsters. The bones bear indentations from the owlbear's toothed beak.

G2: Shallow Pool

Two Gray Ooze Globs lurk in the pool, which is 2 feet deep and Difficult Terrain. The Hostile oozes fight any creature that comes within 5 feet of the water.

G3: Tight Passage

A narrow crack spans the cave wall here. The opening is only big enough for a Medium or smaller creature to fit through. Inside, the mangled corpse of a human explorer slumps against a stalagmite.

The owlbear in x can't fit through the crack. If a character seeks refuge here, the owlbear loses interest and returns to its den.

G4: Smelly Refuse

This cave contains heaps of food scraps, rotting carcasses, and a scattering of halfling-size bird pellets composed of fur and regurgitated bones.

G5: Owlbear Den

A territorial Owlbear lairs in this den. The Hostile owlbear fights all other creatures on sight.

G6: Cult Barrack

Torches in wall sconces fill this room with Bright Light. Four Cultists relax in these quarters for the Cult of Chaos. They are nonchalantly discussing the finer points of mayhem, torture, and other cruelties.

The cultists are Hostile toward intruders not garbed in their cult's attire and eagerly inflict violence on nonbelievers. As an Influence action, a character can try to de-escalate the situation and make one of the following ability checks (with Advantage if the character is dressed like a member of the Cult of Chaos). Consider these examples:

DC 13 Charisma (Deception). The character deceives the cultists with a lie, such as pretending to be a fellow cultist or an aspiring member.

DC 13 Charisma (Persuasion). The character convinces the cultists that it is in both parties' interests not to fight.

On a successful check, the cultists' attitudes improve to Indifferent. Otherwise, the cultists fight.

G7: Crypt

A Hostile Wight Lifedrinker rests in the sarcophagus. The monster was once a cult leader who was so wicked in life that when he died, he rose as a cruel undead warrior. As an action, a character can pry open the lid of the sarcophagus, at which point the wight springs forth and fights.

H1: Entrance

Just inside the cave, a tunnel branches east and west.

H2: War Room

The door to this makeshift war room is ajar, allowing the characters to hear two gruff voices bickering inside. When the characters enter or peek inside, read or paraphrase the following text:

Two Bugbear Warriors squabble about how best to infiltrate the keep. One asserts that a stealthy approach would be best, while the other insists on a direct assault aided by a x (see x). The Hostile bugbears fight the characters on sight and can't be bargained with.

H3: Stairway

These two Goblin Warriors are Hostile toward the characters. When the goblins detect an intruder to the south, roll Initiative.

On the goblins' turn, they attempt to scramble up the stairs and activate the rolling log trap (detailed below). The goblins then fight the characters.

H4: Trophy Room

Among the trophies are a number of empty mounts equal to the characters in the party—a grim omen of what could happen if they're defeated in this cave.

H5: Hall

A Bugbear Warrior—the self-proclaimed boss of the cave—scolds two Goblin Warriors for sleeping on the job. When they notice the characters, the bugbear commands the goblins to fight and joins them in battle. The bugbear is Hostile toward the party, while the goblins are Indifferent.

H6: Boss's Chamber

A heap of thick animal furs forms a soft bed in this room, where the bugbear boss in area H5 sleeps.

I1: Entrance

Pressed into the dirt are the broken bones of the minotaur's past victims—unlucky goblins, kobolds, and explorers who stumbled on the monster's lair.

I2: Stirge Lair

Three Stirges hang asleep from the ceiling. These flying pests subsist on a diet of fresh blood. The stirges avoid the minotaur, but they are Hostile toward all other creatures.

Bright Light or any noise louder than a whisper wakes the stirges, which then start combat. The light from the fire beetles in area I3 is visible from here but is too dim to awaken the stirges. In combat, the stirges gorge themselves until they've drunk the characters dry.

I3: Fire Beetle Sanctuary

Two Giant Fire Beetles scrape up the dirt in search of tasty morsels. The beetles keep a safe distance from the minotaur and defend themselves if necessary. They are Indifferent toward the characters.

I4: Minotaur Maze

A Hostile Minotaur of Baphomet prowls amid the columns, stamping its hooves in the dirt and sharpening its horns on the walls. The minotaur charges the characters on sight and fights to the death. No amount of pleading, persuasion, or deceit can slake its bloodlust.

I5: Secret Spoils

The chest was placed here by bandits who used this cave as a hideout until the minotaur arrived and slew them all.

J1: Entrance

The gnolls rigged the door with a makeshift alarm.

• Door Alarm. This simple alarm consists of armor scraps and rusty weapons balanced atop the partly open double door. Moving either door triggers the trap, the rules for which are as follows:
• Avoiding the Trap. A Medium or smaller creature can slip through the gap between the doors with a successful DC 13 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check; failing this check triggers the trap.
• Detect and Disable. As a Search action, a character can examine the door and make a DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check, detecting the trap on a successful check. Once detected, the trap can be disabled by a character who takes the Utilize action and succeeds on a DC 13 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check; failing this check triggers the trap.
• Triggering the Trap. If the door is moved, the scraps clatter to the ground. The noise alerts all the gnolls in the cave, who cackle as they rush to dispatch intruders.

J2: Junk Pile

The gnolls piled objects here to sift through later.

• DM Tip!. If you increased this cave's difficulty, one or more Hostile Bugbear Warriors might be here rummaging through the junk.

J3: Old Chapel

Two Gnoll Warriors scour this chamber for secret doors. The Hostile gnolls lunge at intruders in a frenzy. Combat in this chamber draws the attention of the gnolls in area J4, which quickly join the fray.

If the characters defeat all but one gnoll, the last of them surrenders. As an Influence action, a character can try to cow the gnoll into submission and make a DC 13 Charisma (Intimidation) check. On a successful check, the gnoll's attitude improves to Indifferent, and the gnoll reveals that its pack was searching for "a prize hidden in the mouth of a laughing fiend." On a failed check, the gnoll flees without divulging any information.

J4: Shrine of the Laughing Devil

Unless drawn elsewhere, two Gnoll Warriors pace about this chamber, frustrated in their fruitless search for treasure. The Hostile gnolls behave similarly to the pair in area J3; combat in this chamber draws those gnolls here.

J5: Hidden Crypt

Long ago, an evil mage reanimated the corpses of four explorers and commanded them to guard this crypt's treasure for all eternity. Entombed here are four Zombies, one in each sarcophagus.

If the characters touch any of the sarcophagi or the chest, the Hostile zombies push the lids off their containers and start combat, seeking to rend intruders limb from limb.

K1: Entrance

Shadows shroud this foreboding entrance.

K2: Guarded Hallway

An Ogre Zombie conscripted by the cultists to guard their nefarious acts stands watch here, but the undead brute is easily fooled.

The ogre zombie lets members of the Cult of Chaos pass unscathed, but it is Hostile toward entrants not garbed in the cult's attire and pummels them on sight. The creature is Indifferent toward anyone wearing a Cultist's Robe.

K3: Chapel of Evil Chaos

Four pillars support the domed roof of this empty chapel, where cultists conduct foul ceremonies.

• DM Tip!. If you increased this cave's difficulty, two or more Hostile Cultists might be in the midst of an unholy ceremony here.

K4: Undead Barrack

Four Zombies shamble restlessly in this bare chamber. They fight any non-Undead not garbed in the cult's attire but are Indifferent toward anyone wearing a Cultist's Robe.

K5: Altar of Evil Chaos

Narthus chants evil litanies in this impious chamber. He is Hostile toward the characters, even if they're garbed in cult attire; Narthus screens every new cultist and knows his fellow cult members well.

If the characters interrupt the ritual, Narthus decries them as blasphemers and starts combat. On his turn, Narthus tries to ring the Chaos Bell, causing the bones to animate (see the "Chaos Bell" section).

K6: Visitor's Chamber

This room has comfortable chairs and a low table. Cult leaders interview potential new recruits here.

K7: Cult Leader's Room

Ivlis, leader of the Cult of Chaos, lives here. Each day, she pays tribute to the severed demon head mounted on the wall, which she talks to when no one's around. Ivlis is Hostile toward the characters.

If confronted, Ivlis first tries to tempt the party with promises of untold riches and power, claiming all things are possible through the Cult of Chaos. She urges the characters to submit to the cult and become Undead. If they refuse, she fights.

K8: Secret "Treasure"

This hidden room contains only a black iron chest. When a creature moves within 5 feet of the chest, it springs open and spills 300 GP across the floor.