The Cavern of Yellow Mud

Cavern of Yellow Mud (#3/31; #123/365)

"This large chamber is wreathed in steam and the floor is covered in bubbling yellow mud to a depth unknown. Meandering across the mud from one exit to another are a series of stepping stones. Also, on the rocky 'beach' on which you find yourself are several old wooden poles that look like they may once have been stilts of some description."

Contents: The mud is quicksand, heated by geothermal vents - anyone attempting to wade across it will be sucked into its depths in 6-11 Attack Rounds, unless someone can throw them a rope to hold onto and pull them out of the mire. For every Attack Round someone spends in the mud, they must deduct 1-3 STAMINA points damage due to the heat.

There are 12 stepping stones across the mud, and every Attack Round 1-3 of them randomly sink into the mud, before reappearing the next round; anyone on a stepping stone when it sinks, will automatically start sinking too.

There are three pairs of stilts on the beach; anyone using them can wade across the mud safely. However, also in the mud are 2-7 MUD DRAGONS, which will rise out of the muck after 2-4 Attack Rounds and attack anyone on stilts or the stepping stones. Also, the stilts are very old, and will break on a roll of 1 on a 1d6, usually around halfway across the chamber.

Stats:

2-7 MUD DRAGONS, SKILL 10, STAMINA 6, Large Bite, Light Armour (see Return to the Pit, p. 136)