I learned a valuable lesson while continuing my foray into Moira’s Forest dungeons. I was dutifully mapping the 1oth level of the Forest dungeon when I realized that my 10th level map was now complete. One problem: I had not found the stairs leading down to level 11. I shrugged my shoulders in disappointment and concluded that I must have merely missed them the first time around. I started to backtrack through the corridors and rooms when I made a startling discovery. My previous maps look a little like this:
When I had mapped these prior levels out, understand that I painstakingly went around each of the walls testing for a secret door and found none. So I then shaded those areas in as you can see in the picture above.
What I discovered on Level 10 is that even if you find no secret doors after searching; you can still cast Passwall. This spell allows you to move through the wall. I was surprised to discover that there really are no dead areas in each 6′ x 6′ area. Every spot on the map is utilized as shown below:
I did end up finding the hidden staircase on Level 10 but I had to cast Passwall in order to do so. So not only are there 60 levels in this Forest dungeon but it appears that some stairways leading to the next lower level can only be found with a Passwall spell.
Most people at this stage would go into their room, lower the blinds, turn on some emo music, and then cry softly into their pillow.
Me? I’ve sharpened my pencil, grabbed yet another sheet of graph paper, and am waiting to see what lies around the next bend. Wait! What was that sound…?