This week’s Friday Five Minute Map challenge over on Google+ was to post an isometric map. This challenge was a bit intimidating to me, as I am just now getting comfortable with the cavern maps with hatching I have been practicing. I was quickly reminded the point of a challenge was to actually be  a challenge and I started to view a few other maps in preparation.

Using isometric graph paper and pencil I was able to get the basic outline of my map down on paper within five minutes. Do not underestimate the importance of using isometric graph paper to help you with an isometric map. Once I had my basic outline done in the five minutes I then spent more time adding some detail and re-doing the lines in ink. This week’s map is a little smaller as I was unsure of the amount of time it would take to draw the stairs.

Once the extra details were done, I scanned the image, tweaked some things in Gimp and Inkscape and finally back to Gimp to fix-up a background. Details on the steps I use are written up in Matt Jackson’s blog post and this write-up at Deviant Art.

This week it is Brewster’s Basement, or rather what lies just beyond his basement…

Brewster’s Basement

William Brewster is the proprietor of Brewster’s Pub, a quaint pub in a small crossroads village in a heavily forested region. Known for the Golden Hook Ale, familiar travelers through the forest always take time from their travels to enjoy an ale or two before heading on.

William is of slight stature and has shoulder length gray hair, typically tied back in a ponytail. He moves gracefully for his age and is a hard worker. His memory is impeccable and he remembers previous visitors of the pub by name, greeting them as they enter. William has been in this village for many years and none of the locals know his story from before he arrived.

William built Brewster’s Pub over the burned out ruins of a small homestead decades ago. Only the ruined cellar and base foundation remained when he built those many years ago. The foundation stones today are still blackened from the flames that claimed the original structure.

Brewster’s Pub is now a two story structure. The first floor contains a common room and a cramped kitchen just off the back. The second story is more akin to a closed off loft, providing just enough room for William to live above the pub.

A small cellar sits below Brewster’s Pub. Stock overflow is kept here as well as several keg racks. On the back wall is a warping oak door, iron bands holding the planks together. William has not opened this door since the pub was built, he frequently has a stack of kegs in front of the door obscuring the view of the door from those descending the stairs from above.

What lies beyond the door?