The Hidden Underground Sanctuary

[faxfire683]

This is a slightly larger map than those I've previously posted of a cave and dungeon area. The natural cave entrance slopes in from an opening in a cliff-face where water has gradually worn out a large chamber. The pool on the right is from rain runoff through the entrance and other ground water, and a hidden stream flows from it down into a larger underground reservoir that descends further. The large doors in the natural cave are a later addition by humanoid inhabitants and lead down a set of stairs into a chamber that was constructed much time ago. It has more recently added religious iconography and is occasionally a pilgrimage site for villagers from the valley below the cliffs. Two secret doors lead off from this room which cut into natural cave chambers carved out by the water over time. The Northern one is the most interesting, featuring a small shrine containing the idol of a tentacle faced being. The small island has a far more weathered statue, but while the features are worn away, it certainly isn't a humanoid form. Humanoid creatures from the darkness often visit this chamber from deeper depths, through the tunnel descending into the upper Northeastern corner.

This map was completed by hand on graph paper with pencil, then inked (I think this was before I got my higher quality micron pens). It gave me the opportunity to think about how water behaves in a cave and how to depict it. Additionally, I worked on my natural stone gradients, while my stone stairs could use some additional work.

Underground_Hidden_Sanctuary.png

Grateful for any comments or critiques! If you'd like to look more at my creative work either drawn or writing, take a look at my blog!
https://faxfire.blogspot.com/

[wminish]

Nice work, I always enjoy these dungeon maps where you have a natural cavern with rooms carved into it.

[faxfire683]

Thank you so much for the kind words! This was fun to draw and I learned a lot about my own dungeon map style while working on it.