Pools of Wittebak
Wittebak was once a peaceful city of three thousand
or more rock gnomes, a safe haven for the small ones
that was built into the mountain rock and heated by
a series of geothermal pools. The Wittebak gnomes
weathered great wars by not getting involved, investing in contraptions and laughter rather than wars
and empires. They found joy in inventing complicated ways to simplify their daily lives. Yet, for all
their efforts, trouble eventually came to them.
Around four hundred years ago, a displaced band of hill giants found and luxuriated within Wittebak’s hot springs and made a homestead on their banks. It is said that Wittebak was founded underneath the full light of Ruidus, for by pure misfortune, a flaw in the stonework of the gnomish city cracked under the force of the giants frolicking within the pools. Worse still, the cave-in did more than simply crush a few buildings beneath. The seismic force of thousands of tons of rock collapsed into the caverns, cracking open buried pockets of volcanic gas.
Over a thousand gnomes suffocated that night, or were incinerated in isolated gas explosions. The survivors fled into the mountains, assailed by hungry giants as they ran. The gnomes have found unlikely refuge in Kraghammer , but Wittebak has been abandoned entirely, choked by caustic gas and locked in a terrible moment in time. The ten-times great-grandchildren of the giants that caused the gnomes to flee now call the hot springs their ancestral home. To them, it is named Gundergrunch, and they flourish within their unchallenged territory.
Beneath them, the ruins of Wittebak are stratified into three distinct tiers of death and despair.
Tinkerer’s Tier.
This level is relatively unharmed, and the full glory of Wittebak’s tinkering shops can be seen here; some even include marvels of technology unseen for centuries. Creatures that need to breathe can survive the gases in the widest, uppermost level for a number of hours equal to their Constitution modifier, and take 3 (1d6) poison damage each minute after that time. The hill giants that live within have adapted to the gas and do not fear it.
Homesteads.
The air in the middle level is heavy with gas, and the quaint gnomish homes on this level are filled with the decomposed remains of those too slow to escape. The entire area is lightly obscured with clouds of gas, and tiny streams of hot water leak from the walls, tumbling into the level below.
Engine Core.
The bottom most tier is a mechanical marvel, a titanic wheel of rusted iron and shining steel with no known purpose. This level is completely flooded and filled with merrow. It is also the lair of a sea hag named Mauvlettir.
Around four hundred years ago, a displaced band of hill giants found and luxuriated within Wittebak’s hot springs and made a homestead on their banks. It is said that Wittebak was founded underneath the full light of Ruidus, for by pure misfortune, a flaw in the stonework of the gnomish city cracked under the force of the giants frolicking within the pools. Worse still, the cave-in did more than simply crush a few buildings beneath. The seismic force of thousands of tons of rock collapsed into the caverns, cracking open buried pockets of volcanic gas.
Over a thousand gnomes suffocated that night, or were incinerated in isolated gas explosions. The survivors fled into the mountains, assailed by hungry giants as they ran. The gnomes have found unlikely refuge in Kraghammer , but Wittebak has been abandoned entirely, choked by caustic gas and locked in a terrible moment in time. The ten-times great-grandchildren of the giants that caused the gnomes to flee now call the hot springs their ancestral home. To them, it is named Gundergrunch, and they flourish within their unchallenged territory.
Beneath them, the ruins of Wittebak are stratified into three distinct tiers of death and despair.
Tinkerer’s Tier.
This level is relatively unharmed, and the full glory of Wittebak’s tinkering shops can be seen here; some even include marvels of technology unseen for centuries. Creatures that need to breathe can survive the gases in the widest, uppermost level for a number of hours equal to their Constitution modifier, and take 3 (1d6) poison damage each minute after that time. The hill giants that live within have adapted to the gas and do not fear it.
Homesteads.
The air in the middle level is heavy with gas, and the quaint gnomish homes on this level are filled with the decomposed remains of those too slow to escape. The entire area is lightly obscured with clouds of gas, and tiny streams of hot water leak from the walls, tumbling into the level below.
Engine Core.
The bottom most tier is a mechanical marvel, a titanic wheel of rusted iron and shining steel with no known purpose. This level is completely flooded and filled with merrow. It is also the lair of a sea hag named Mauvlettir.
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