Small Tombs

In late 2016 Gethsemane Games launched our 'GMs Maps' range of short supplements, consisting of a map in various formats and a short text accompaniment to go with it, giving some ideas of ways you may use the map in your games or some background on the type of building depicted.

The range was an instant success.

Each map was inspired by real world examples of the building in question.  The range so far includes castles, Victorian houses, an Asylum, fall out shelters and bunkers, temples and other religious buildings.  It is ever expanding and I keep a list of the sort of maps I want to add to the range.  Currently I am expanding the range at an average of 1 map every week or so.

However, there are some maps that, although they would certainly be of interest to GMs, are a little small to charge money for.  These smaller maps may only be a dozen or so chambers and take me around half an hour to draw. I will be releasing these maps free of charge tot he blog readers, right here on Whispers fro the Other-Verse.  Like our large, more in depth maps which are for sale in the 'GMs Maps' range which you can find HERE these maps are all inspired by real world examples but may include a little artistic licence on my part.

Unlike the GMs Maps paid range, these freebies will not be supplied in multiple file formats, but should be easy enough for you to print or even copy and use in your games.

Without further ado then, here is the first, a small tomb.  This one is based upon the tomb of Ramesses VI, uncovered in 1922 by British Egyptologist Howard Carter and his patron excavator and collector the Earl of Carnarvon.
The tomb may be useful for Horror or modern genre games as well as in Fantasy.  Imaginative GMs may even find  use for it in SF and Post Apocalyptic scenarios!

1. Surface Entrance.  Blocked by a plaster or carved stone panel
2. Descending stair case with a painted plaster wall at the bottom.  Cunning GMs may trap this or add a curse or other magical protection.
3. Passage.  Both ends caped by plaster walls, probably painted.  the passage may slope downward and may or may not be trapped or even guarded by some magical beast.
4. Antechamber with decorated walls.  Again, a good place for traps, guardians or magical effects.
5. Annex.  Hidden behind a plaster wall that is probably painted and/or sculpted to look like the stone wall around it.  The contents may include mundane goods buried with the tomb's occupant or more traps and dangers.  Of course, both is also a possibility.
6. Burial Chamber. Hidden behind another false wall. What dangers may or may not lurk here, along with the sarcophagus of the tomb's occupant is a matter for the GM!
7. Treasure Chamber, leading off the the burial chamber is a room containing the more valuable treasure buried with the tombs occupant.  Along, or course, with whatever other dangers the GM sees fit.

The Second Small Tomb is inspired by the chambers under the Pyramid of Unus, but i have applied a little artistic licence (adjusting scale, adding chamber #10 and changing the shape of chambers #8 and #9 a little).

1. Surface entrance
2. Long downward sloped passage
3. Vestibule.  A good place for a guardian or trap
4. Mid passage.  this may also be trapped guarded and or sloped
5. Camber.  In the original material there are 3 gates or portcullises here.  A GM may add any form of obstetrical, trap or guardian (s)he sees fit. 
6. Long passage
7. Antechamber
8. Tomb-Chapel
9. Burial Camber
10. Treasure Chamber.

I hope you enjoyed this article and get some use from it.  Keep an eye on the blog for more free mini-maps.  In the mean time why not check out our range of GMs maps at RPGNow for lager, more complex maps and plans, a bargain at just $1 to $2 in price!