Crowley's Bear Cave
Type: Cave / dungeon site — gnoll occupation Location: Within the Brookside pocket plane, near the forest survivor camp Status (latest): Cleared — gnolls defeated, hoard recovered (Session 050) First Referenced: Session 049 (Shaylin scouts the exterior before the party's arrival) First Entered: Session 050
What the Party Knows
- It used to belong to a bear — literally. In some prior era of the Brookside world this was a cave occupied by an actual bear (part of the Caves of Chaos prior-campaign continuity). Crowley recognizes it.
- The gnolls took it over. After the World Eater rose and the Wraith King's army scoured the plane, a gnoll pack moved into the cave. They used it as a base and a feeding site.
- Abyssal flesh was stockpiled here. The gnolls were consuming cursed flesh — demonic meat that accelerated their transformation into Gnoll-Demoniacs, creatures fused with abyssal energy. The flesh is connected to Wraith King's broader program of demonically enhancing his forces.
- The inner chamber held magical darkness. A 30-foot radius of absolute magical darkness — called "Hunger of Yunog" by the Demoniac guards — radiated from within. Moist dispelled it with a 3rd-level Dispel Magic. The darkness was an environmental ward, not a spell being maintained in the moment.
- Zago's hoard was here. The "nobles" (the Wraith King's lieutenants) seized Zago's original dragon lair and its full hoard and stashed it in the cave. The party discovered and recovered the entire hoard.
- Ubys decomposed the cursed flesh. After the gnolls were killed, Ubys used a divine ability to decompose the remaining abyssal flesh. A failed DC 12 Con save gave her a brief uncontrollable cannibal urge before her necrotic resistance halved the damage.
Layout (as encountered)
- Exterior approach: A track leading toward the cave mouth, visible from the treeline. Shaylin confirmed six gnolls on patrol outside before the party engaged.
- Cave mouth / outer area: Six gnolls — 4 regular, 2 Gnoll Fangs. Killed in outdoor combat.
- Inner chamber: 2 Gnoll Fangs + 2 Gnoll-Demoniacs guarding the hoard and the stockpile of abyssal flesh. The Hunger-of-Yunog darkness emanated here.
- Hoard alcove: Zago's stolen treasure, plus the Blood-Drinker Spear (gnoll chieftain's weapon).