Dungeon idea - a forgotten prison for dragons built by aberrations

[JamesIntrocaso]

So this idea came to me because in my world aberrations warred with dragons for thousands of years. Some of the prisons built to house dragons are still standing. What do you think? Cool adventure location?

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/05/12/prison-for-dragons/

[Alejandro]

I loved reading about it. :)

The question that sprang to my mind was, why would the aberrations keep dragon prisoners? If they are having a brutal war, why don't the aberrations simply execute captured dragons, rather than spend so many resources imprisoning them? How do they benefit? Maybe the prison should have some system built into it that exploits the dragons' strength/breath/magic (here I am thinking of Conan turning the mill wheel?)

Also, any PC wizard powerful enough to find this place would want to immediately seize it for themselves, as it's even better than being a lich. They never need to eat or drink, and never age? Endless spell research!

[SonsOfSauron]

This is a perfect opportunity to explore the possibility of mutated/aberrant Dragons :^)

Or just have gibbering mouthers all over the place, those things are great.

[JamesIntrocaso]

I loved reading about it. :)

The question that sprang to my mind was, why would the aberrations keep dragon prisoners? If they are having a brutal war, why don't the aberrations simply execute captured dragons, rather than spend so many resources imprisoning them? How do they benefit? Maybe the prison should have some system built into it that exploits the dragons' strength/breath/magic (here I am thinking of Conan turning the mill wheel?)

Also, any PC wizard powerful enough to find this place would want to immediately seize it for themselves, as it's even better than being a lich. They never need to eat or drink, and never age? Endless spell research!

The Conan idea is a great one. Mostly my thinking was (many) aberrations and dragons are both highly intelligent creatures. In a war like with both sides being super smart, they'd want prisoners to ransom, interrogate, and brainwash and need a place to hold them.

Damn right an evil wizard can take over. I should add that!

[JamesIntrocaso]

So here's my second in a series of posts about these dungeons. It provides a specific history for one of the dungeons and hooks to get the PCs there. Let me know what ya think.

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/05/14/prison-for-dragons-hooks-and-background/

[JamesIntrocaso]

Here's part III in the series. A table of random encounters for the area surrounding the dungeon.

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/05/19/prison-for-dragons-the-road-to-ruins/

[ZenBear]

Being that Aberrations are utterly alien entities I see no need to explain their reasons for capturing instead of executing, and no reason for humanoids of the Prime Material Plane to be capable of utilizing their creations. A large part of Lovecraftian horror comes from the monsters being unknowable and either malicious, uncaring or even curious and meddlesome. I would say the most likely purpose for capturing would be to experiment, transform and assimilate, but again you are under no obligation to give any reason at all.

[JamesIntrocaso]

Being that Aberrations are utterly alien entities I see no need to explain their reasons for capturing instead of executing, and no reason for humanoids of the Prime Material Plane to be capable of utilizing their creations. A large part of Lovecraftian horror comes from the monsters being unknowable and either malicious, uncaring or even curious and meddlesome. I would say the most likely purpose for capturing would be to experiment, transform and assimilate, but again you are under no obligation to give any reason at all.

Hey thanks! Good point!

[JamesIntrocaso]

And here's the 1st level of the dungeon. Let me know what you think!

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/05/21/prison-for-dragons-shuzal-entrance-citadel-surface/

[JamesIntrocaso]

And here's level 2!

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/05/26/prison-for-dragons-shuzal-entrance-citadel-lower-level/

[JamesIntrocaso]

And here's part 6! Now we're in the prison.

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/05/28/prison-for-dragons-shuzal-prison-upper-level/

[JamesIntrocaso]

Now we enter the prison's cell block and meet all the dragon prisoners!

http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/06/04/prison-for-dragons-shuzal-prison-lower-levels/