Title: Flooded River Prison
Introduction
Plunge your players into a desperate struggle for survival with The Sunken Maw, a multi-level prison battlemap inspired by the nightmarish penitentiary from Adrian Tchaikovsky's novel, Cage of Souls. This partially flooded, dilapidated fortress of despair is the perfect setting for a tense prison break, a grim investigation, or a high-stakes infiltration. Crumbling platforms, submerged secrets, and the constant threat of the murky depths make every escape attempt a heart-pounding challenge. Enhanced with the free "Map Shine" module for Foundry VTT, the scene comes to life with animated, shimmering water, creating an immersive and treacherous environment.
Map Breakdown & Key Areas:
The prison is divided into two main vertical levels: the perilous Water Level and the slightly more stable Raised Platform.
The Water Level:
This submerged and decaying lower level offers both danger and the slimmest hope of escape.
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Submerged Cells: A series of outdoor prison cells, constructed from jungle wood, are partially sunk into the murky water, their occupants exposed to the elements.
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The Escape Pipe: A large, ominous pipe begins on this level, offering a claustrophobic and dangerous underwater path for a potential breakout.
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The Sunken Morgue: A grim, flooded chamber where the prison's unfortunate dead are committed to the water.
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The Silent Machinery: An underwater room filled with long-defunct machines, now covered in coal dust and rust, provides a potential hiding place or the location of a forgotten secret.
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Available Vessels: A large boat and a smaller rowing boat are present at the water line, ready for the GM to introduce, move, or hide as part of an escape plan or a new arrival.
The Raised Platform:
The main living and administrative quarters are located on a large platform built above the water, connected by rickety walkways.
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Guard Dormitory: Located to the north, this large building houses the prison's guards, offering a target for intelligence gathering or sabotage.
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The Governor's Residence: A small, well-protected building to the east serves as the personal quarters for the prison's warden.
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High-Security Block: To the west stands a formidable structure designed to hold the most dangerous and high-profile inmates under lock and key.
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Low-Security Cells: A block of rooms in the southwest is reserved for more compliant prisoners, offering slightly better conditions and perhaps looser surveillance.
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Communal Hub: The southeast building contains the shared kitchen, a messy mess hall, and various storage spaces, making it a central point for inmate interaction and potential conflict.
GM Tools & Technical Details:
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Level-Jumper Macro: A simple-to-use macro is included that allows the GM to instantly move selected character tokens between the Water Level and the Raised Platform, ensuring smooth and seamless vertical transitions during gameplay.
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"Map Shine" Module Integration: https://foundryvtt.com/packages/map-shine
This map is enhanced with the free "Map Shine" module for Foundry VTT, which adds gorgeously animated water effects. As a required dependency, the module will be installed automatically with the map, instantly bringing the flooded environment to life.
Suggested Uses:
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The Great Escape: The classic prison break scenario. Players must navigate the social hierarchy of the inmates, gather resources, and choose their perilous path to freedom—be it through the guards, over the walls, or into the dark water of the escape pipe.
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Infiltration Mission: The party is sent into The Sunken Maw to rescue a high-value NPC, eliminate a target, or retrieve a hidden object from one of the prison's depths.
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Riot Survival: Order breaks down and the prison erupts into a full-scale riot. The players must survive the chaos, choosing sides or carving their own path to safety amidst the warring factions of inmates and guards.
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Post-Apocalyptic Holdout: The prison is not a place of punishment, but one of the last bastions of humanity in a flooded world. The party must defend it from external threats or venture out into the dangerous waters to scavenge for supplies.
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Monster Below: A creature lurks in the murky waters beneath the prison, preying on inmates and guards alike. The party is tasked with hunting the beast in the treacherous, submerged sections of the map.