Caves, Caverns, and

Underground Encounters

Follow Me, And Die!

Larry Hamilton
SNI-012
 Caves, Caverns, and Underground Encounters
The underworld is the focus of so much adventure in fantasy roleplaying games. Heroes
are challenged to face the underworld and death and return triumphant over the monsters
below laden with treasure.

Game Masters are often at odds for ideas to make things a bit more interesting. As one
who has done a minor bit of cave exploring when I was younger, the challenge of tight
spaces, ups and downs, and bone chilling water combined with utter darkness is the
challenge. Just overcoming the challenge of the cave environment should be something
we keep in mind. It is not a simple thing to just go in a cave laden with armor and lots of
gear. Narrow openings will provide means of attack on a party or means of escape by
small and nimble foes.

I hope you find this short volume informative and thought provoking for your games of
all genres, not just fantasy.

My prior publication, Mountain & Hill Encounters, has many ideas that overlap or
complement the subject matter here. My growing collection of terrain focused PDFs can
assist a game master in all stages of game prep, including several tables that may be
useful in game.

Text Copyright: Follow Me, And Die! Entertainment, LLC © 2019

Blog: followmeanddie.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FollowMeAndDie
Follow Me, And Die! Avatar by Satine Phoenix
Cover Image: Cave Rocks, Underground Light from Pixabay, Public Domain. Modified
by Larry Hamilton.
Some Art By:
Font: Liberation Serif, SIL Open Font License 1.1

i ii
CAVES vs. CAVERNS CREATURES

A cave is any underground cavity of which some portion does not receive direct Caves are often the lairs of various animals from worms and insects to bats and birds.
sunlight. A cavern is a type of cave formed naturally in soluble rock and is able to grow Foxes, wolves, big cats, bears can make use of caves to lair year round or seasonally.
mineral deposited structures called speleothems Often multiple animal types may cohabit in the same cave, such as bats on the ceiling
and bears on the floor.
CAVE TYPES
If there are major swings in temperature between the seasons, some animals, like bats
Coral Caves - Formed by corals around an open area that is then upthrust above sea and bears may hibernate in them. The benefit of caves is that they tend to be a constant
level or exposed when sea levels drop. temperature, making them ideal homes in the extreme heat of summer and extreme
cold in winter.
Eolian Caves - Formed by wind eroding the rock, such as sandstone. Commonly called
Wind Caves. Caves that are openings for springs or rivers will have water flowing into or out of them.
Such places often gain the attention of intelligent creatures, and may hold cultural or
Glacier Caves - Long tunnels that form along the leading edged of glaciers where melt religious significance.
water flows into crevasses and the water erodes an area between the ice and ground.
Sentient creatures, like humans take advantage of caves for their ready made roof and
Ice Caves - This is of two types. The first is carved out of glaciers or snowfields by wind nature .
walls and easily defensible nature.
and/or water. The second type is another type of cave where the walls are covered with
moisture that freezes. Monsters of myth, legend, fantasy, and fiction also dwell in caves.

Volcanic Caves - There are several types formed in lava by volcanic gases. Examples Caves represent entrances to the underworld and are often expanded as places of
are lava tubes, pressure-ridge caves, spatter cone caves, and blister caves. worship or repositories of sacrifices.

Sea Caves - Created by waves eroding the face of sea cliffs. They can vary in size from WATER
WATER AND
AND CAVES
CAVES
crevasses to large chambers.
Water
Water can
can be
be a
a part
part ofof a
a cave
cave in
in many
many different
different ways.
ways. The
The presence
presence of
of water
water can
can allow
allow
Talus Caves - Boulders that are piled up that leave passages beneath and between the presence
the presence of
of fish,
fish, amphibians,
amphibians, and
and other
other water
water dwelling
dwelling creatures.
creatures.
them.
Ground
Ground water
water can
can seep
seep into
into a
a cave
cave forming
forming damp
damp walls,
walls, drip
drip from
from ceilings,
ceilings, or
or be
be a
a
Tectonic Caves - When a movement of bedrock separates along joints or fractures. steady flow.
steady flow.
Usually a single small, narrow passage. Often the ceiling is a flat section of rock that did
not move. Sandstone and granite are the most common type of rock, but basalt and Springs
Springs can
can emerge
emerge from
from underground
underground streams
streams and
and rivers,
rivers, or
or arise
arise from
from fissures
fissures in
in the
the
limestone can also form this type of cave. rock.
rock.
Solution Caves - This is the category classified as caverns. It is formed by the Rivers
Rivers can
can flow
flow into
into a
a cave
cave and
and exit
exit many
many miles
miles away.
away.
dissolution of solid rock by water. Limestone is the most common example. Examples
also include dolomite, gypsum, and salt. These types of caves contain speleothems. Water
Water can
can be
be fresh,
fresh, acidic,
acidic, alkaline,
alkaline, or
or otherwise
otherwise undrinkable,
undrinkable, that
that is,
is, deadly.
deadly.
The most common speleothems are stalactites, stalagmites, drapery, columns,
flowstone, and straws. Caves
Caves can
can contain
contain deep
deep pools
pools fed
fed by
by groundwater
groundwater or
or underground
underground rivers.
rivers.
Stalactites hang down from the ceiling. A mnemonic is they cling tight to the ceiling. Rains
Rains can
can affect
affect water
water levels
levels making
making portions
portions of
of caves
caves inaccessible,
inaccessible, or
or totally
totally flooded.
flooded.
Straws are a very narrow type of stalactite. Seasonal rains may make caves only accessible during the dry season.
Seasonal rains may make caves only accessible during the dry season.
Stalagmites grow upwards. A mnemonic is they might reach the ceiling. Caves may be totally submerged with or without air pockets. Such caves are well suited
to watermay
Caves dwelling creatures,
be totally whether
submerged withmonstrous
or withoutor
airsentient.
pockets. Such caves are well suited
Flowstone is sheet like and can be found on floors and ceilings. Drapery is a type of to water dwelling creatures, whether monstrous or sentient.
flowstone.

Columns are usually formed by removal of material, but may be formed by the joining of
stalactites and stalagmites.

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HAZARDS ELEVATION CHANGES

Slippery. Ceiling Collapse/Cave-In. Floor gives way (thin crust of rock). Wet rocks are Changes in elevation may present challenges to movement in the desired direction of travel.
very slippery. Rock smoothed by rushing water is difficult to maintain footing. Fighting on Gaps will be the most severe elevation changes and if there is no span, there are two choices:
slick rock will be much like fighting on ice. Crevasses. parallel the gap in either direction until a functional span is reached; or climb down one side to
the bottom of the span and then climb up the opposite side.
FOOD
Less drastic height differences may be overcome with a boost, hand up, rope, or ladder. Well
Mushrooms, insects, worms, snakes, fish. traveled areas may have a well secured rope or other means of ascent or descent. Ropes and
wood will rot or wear out. If not maintained or replaced, added danger in their use arises.
BLIND CREATURES
d8 SCALING ELEVATION (Higher than a push up or reaching down.]
Only creatures living in areas totally devoid of light will be blind, or lacking eyes. They
will compensate for this with some other ability, like sharper hearing or smell. Some 1 Secured Rope
deep cave dwelling creatures are pure white, having no need for pigmentation. 2 Rope Ladder
3 Wooden Ladder
GLOWING/LIGHT 4 Spikes for hand and foot holds.
5 Carved hand and foot holds.
There are several types of natural glowing that may be encountered. 6 Gentle slope of a natural or artificial ramp.
• Bioluminescence - The glowing of organisms through biological processes. This is 7 Natural or artificial steps.
common with marine organisms. For example, angler fish with glowing lures. 8 Elevator or Beasts of Burden (Climbers, Jumpers, or Fliers - even Swimmers)

• Fluorescence - The re-emitting of light at a lower wavelength. This requires the A pole of wood, metal or stone, worn smooth is a quick way of descent.
presence of light. Often this is bacteria, and could be mold on a cave wall. How
awesome is a creature that converts light into an attack to kill its next meal. NOTE:
SIGNS
Many minerals glow in the presence of ultraviolet light.
There may be signs of past or current habitation by creatures, monsters, or sentient beings.
• Phosphorescence - In the real world, there are no know animals with this
characteristic. This is a chemical process where light is emitted without the presence Bones of meals, or fossils of creatures who once roamed this cave system.
of light, such as with glow sticks.
Cave paintings or burials of past civilizations. If under a city the city disposal system or trash,
GAPS detritus, and sewage may go here.

Underground cliffs, gullys, and canyons. Empty egg shells or exoskeletons of smaller versions of creatures down here may be found. For
example snakes, lizards, arachnids, or insects all shed their skin or exNatural or artificial steps.
SPANS oskeleton when they have
reached the next size of growth.
Gaps may be spanned by natural or artificial means. Natural spans might be a stone
arch, or large slab or rock fallen across a gap. Logs brought in by an underground river, Tracks will be limited to areas where there is mud, dirt, or sand. These will usually be low areas
or the bones of a large creature could also span gaps. Rope bridges. Rope and plank where water has carried this material. Dirt may be seasonally dry but turn to mud in the rainy
bridges, wood, and stone bridges can span gaps underground as well as the surface. season. Mud may dry out if there is sufficient time between storms. Mud can stick to footwear
and clothing and be smeared on the walls or other structure in caves above the water line. Once it
d6 STATUS OF SPANS
1 Ruins dries, it may fall or be knocked loose leaving a sign that something came through the muddy
passage.
2 Disrepair/Weak
3 Poor/Rough When it comes to mud, keep in mind that particularly deep or sticky mud can cause footwear to
4 Used but maintained come off. If you have ever walked through a muddy field or stream and had your shoe or boot
5 New come off, you know how difficult it is to keep that foot dry and avoid a shoe or boot full of mud.
6 Dwarven or Magical Construction In cold weather, it can lead to hypothermia.

3 44
ENTRANCES & EXITS HAZARD
HAZARDS

Entrances to caves and caverns from the surface take many forms. They may be
natural openings formed by geologic processes such as erosion, or shifting. Shifting d6 MINE/CAVE HAZARDS
may come from movement such as from tremors caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, 1 Unstable: Collapse or
mudslides or landslide, etc. Artificial openings may be due to burrowing creatures slump. 50% internal or
whether mundane or fantastic, or the efforts of intelligent creatures, such as digging a external.
well, a quarry, or a mine. 2 Water: Risk of flooding
3 Gas: Risk of asphyxiation,
A combination of natural and artificial is also possible. A mine may either start with a HAZARDS poisoning, or explosion
natural opening that is expanded, or a mine wall might collapse due to an earthquake 4 Monster: Powerful monster
and reveal an opening to a yet undiscovered cavern. decides it has a new home.
5 Monster: Something was
Sinkholes may occur in soft ground or where a cavern roof has collapsed, leading the HAZARDS uncovered.
the ground above to sink. 6 Dispute: Faction or enemy
attempts take over.
Gameable ideas that could reveal a cave system are:

• Burrowing monsters

• Meteorites
d6 WHAT BLOCKS PASSAGE
• Crashing spaceships 1 Multiple Rocks - 50% cave in or intentional
• Retreating or collapsing glaciers or other geologic processes 2 One large rock - 50% natural placement or
intentional
• A battle between enormous monsters. 3 Wall or ceiling collapse.

• Dueling mages and their powerful magic. 4 Flooded or debris left by last flood.
5 Monster - d8 1-2 Traveling through 50%
• Weapons of enormous power, both magical and science fiction. towards or away, 3-4 Eating latest meal, 5-
6 lair, 7-8 fighting over territory or mate*
• Something that dwells beneath emerges. 6 Poison Gas - Causes delirium or reduced
intelligence and/or wisdom; or deadly
Once one enters a cave or cavern, there is a chance that it connects to the larger (either instant or painful & slow) Could hint
underworld. Through all the passages and chambers one could even come to the center with an odd smell, if there is even an
of the world where a whole new source of adventure awaits. The underworld is odor.**
sandwiched between the two surface worlds. Not all inhabitants of the underworld would
know of both surfaces. To those living under one surface, the opposite may only be a
legend. Those in the middle of the underworld any surface may be a legend.

5 6 6