tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post3890425066557841394..comments2024-03-24T18:59:07.813-07:00Comments on ZENOPUS ARCHIVES: Caves of Chaos revealedZenopus Archiveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069501995927451558noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-150447275183108202021-02-17T05:33:56.501-08:002021-02-17T05:33:56.501-08:00This is an awesome find, Zenopus! As many times a...This is an awesome find, Zenopus! As many times as I have run this adventure, I just assumed the cave entrances were random. I think that is because there are mountains above the rim instead of a forest, so I didn't place it directly at the Caves of Chaos.<br /><br />I will suggest that the tree could be a Flowering Dogwood. They are fairly misshapen, about that size, and have purplish flowers in the Spring.<br /><br />SirXarisSirXarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08762910147832292393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-30685836679449149682012-03-19T14:25:51.747-07:002012-03-19T14:25:51.747-07:00How did I miss this post!?! Brilliant! Thank you...How did I miss this post!?! Brilliant! Thank you for sharing!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18158916950442942918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-51840419586584882442011-12-04T18:47:12.184-08:002011-12-04T18:47:12.184-08:00@paleologos. I like it! I've updated the pictu...@paleologos. I like it! I've updated the picture above to reflect your suggestions. <br /><br />Perhaps B1 lies in the high blue hills in the background to north...Zenopus Archiveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069501995927451558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-32313515217908411462011-12-04T18:44:12.058-08:002011-12-04T18:44:12.058-08:00@David. Could be! They've got the purple flowe...@David. Could be! They've got the purple flowers. But I wonder if there's anything native to the Wisconsin/Lake Geneva area that Roslof might've used as a model? Though an exotic could always be planted there.<br /><br />The B2 map has a Tamarack Stand; I believe the tamarack (american larch) grows in Wisconsin. They are distinguished by losing their needles in winter unlike most conifers.Zenopus Archiveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069501995927451558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-90997806973712563642011-12-04T06:00:46.798-08:002011-12-04T06:00:46.798-08:00Actually, comparing Roslof's illustration to a...Actually, comparing Roslof's illustration to a map of the Caves, it looks as though the two lairs depicted are at the same level and approximate distance apart as the orc caves (C and B) while the kobold lair would be obscured by the two combatants with clashing shields.<br /><br />He even seems to depict the two copses of trees at the far end of the ravine, the more distant of which covers the entrance to cave G (shunned cavern)...D. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08277670673178463645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-10290785931430826152011-12-02T21:00:26.072-08:002011-12-02T21:00:26.072-08:00I wonder if it's modeled on a particular real-...<i>I wonder if it's modeled on a particular real-world tree?</i> <br /><br />How about a <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hW6AyFplmyg/SRYa9pU47dI/AAAAAAAACS4/tT3p6HQpxTA/s1600-h/Jacaranda+tree.jpg" rel="nofollow">Jacaranda</a>? They don't have writhing roots but then this one does indeed look like it's purposely making a grab for the elf. Perhaps it's a Walking Jacaranda? :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-61418918615791778392011-12-02T20:27:22.770-08:002011-12-02T20:27:22.770-08:00I see what you are saying & agree. The sloping...I see what you are saying & agree. The sloping to the left is just the grade down inside the valley, rather than the end. So as you note the caves that best fit are C: Orcs (left) and A: Kobolds (right).<br /><br />That tree is great. The approach to the Caves mentions the "thick, twisted tree trunks, unnaturally misshapen limbs, writhing roots". I wonder if it's modeled on a particular real-world tree?Zenopus Archiveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14069501995927451558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-45741302203802757342011-11-30T20:26:56.306-08:002011-11-30T20:26:56.306-08:00Nice observations!
A few more - I'd always as...Nice observations!<br /><br />A few more - I'd always assumed that the PCs were fighting hobgoblins from their lair on the south wall of the canyon, and that we are seeing cave mouths on the north wall (perhaps the kobolds lair to the right, and one of the orc lairs to the left).<br /><br />In other words, we're facing north. If you look closely at the hill in the upper left corner, it appears to have been painted over the bluish hill to the right of it, as though Roslof brushed in a hill in order to "close" the canyon as an afterthought, in order to more accurately depict a battle in the area depicted on the map.<br /><br />Incidentally, I have always loved that tree in the right foreground. The lavender blossoms establish the season as the spring, and the exposed roots almost look as though they are attempting to ensnare the elven archer's right leg...D. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08277670673178463645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-87368360953203195612011-11-30T00:38:41.098-08:002011-11-30T00:38:41.098-08:00brilliant!
never notice that either O_____Obrilliant!<br />never notice that either O_____Orafael beltramehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13028259465633616284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046247285022763255.post-43671924870233770712011-11-29T23:10:46.339-08:002011-11-29T23:10:46.339-08:00I can't recall if I've noticed these befor...I can't recall if I've noticed these before. If so I'd forgotten. Nicely spotted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com