LIMINAL HORROR #dungeon23

Prep for a LH megadungeon

Goblin Archives

Dec 18, 2022

As the year comes to an end, I’ve been doing some prep work on my #dungeon23 project.

Origin

For those not aware, Sean McCoy

Win Conditions

posted a preview project he was doing called Dungeon23. The original tweet is included below. Here is a more in-depth post he made about the project #dungeon23.

💭 Sean McCoy @seanmccoy

Megadungeon for 2023. 12 levels. 365 rooms. One room a day. Keep it all in a journal. ⁦@LukeGearing⁩ let’s do this.

A LIMINAL HORROR MEGADUNGEON

For my entry we will be diving into a megadungeon that lays below an “abandoned” island (in proximity of Bayocean, and based on Hashima Island). Evacuated decades prior, small pockets of people still make this place their home, despite the dangers. Residents of the island know better than venturing too far below.

CROSS SECTION OF MAP

Here is a cross section of my dungeon. 12 levels lay below the island.

While 1-3 were utilized by the more modern residents of the island. Levels 4-12 existed long ago. There was a reason why they were sealed away…

SURFACE

I will write some descriptions (point crawl/zones style) for the surface. Some factions will reside above, with most of the detail waiting for what awaits underground. I’ll be adapting this map to a functional surface village zones.

LEVEL 1: THE HOLE

This level acts as the underground section of the above city. It is where some of the more nefarious humans have set up shop, far away from prying eyes of governments, corporations or externally imposed “laws.”

LEVEL 2: RESEARCH

I always seem to include corporations/governments doing shady shit in my work, and this won’t be any different. As with most LH work, there will be a paranatural bend to it. Since I haven’t started writing the dungeon, I’m not sure what the problem they set in motion will be, but I have a feeling it will allow me to justify a LH take on “2d6 Goblins”

What I’m reading to get prepared:

I find having clear touchstones and exemplars help me anchor my writing/process. I have a feeling that each level will end up having very specific touchstones/playlists/read-lists. Here is what I’m reading in the leadup.