I am really confused by the map and description of area V4 (Balcony) of Vaprak's Voice. The only interpretation that kind of makes sense is that the entire oval area (V4) is the balcony and it connects directly to V7 via the passageway (that way the giants in V7 can come help). The dotted lines represent a passage from V2 to V6 at a level beneath the balcony. However, this interpretation makes it very tough to get in this way (perhaps the intent). I can't even guess what the "smaller cave mouth" located 15 feet above the entrance is. What path does it connect? Clearly, it's not one used by the giants. Any help would be appreciated -- my PC's are on the verge of encountering!
yeah, it's confusing. I'm pretty sure the text doesn't match the map any more. One was probably changed without altering the other at some point.
Here's my interpretation of the map:
the entire area V4 is the balcony. The white line with the arrow and the V3 pointing at it is the balcony railing. There's a passage to V7 (hill giant cave). If anyone jumps over the railing they'd land in front of area V3. On the map, the small cave is missing completely. The portculis ends directly below the balcony. If it's closed, a PC could climb right up to the balcony, and the giant can hurl boulders at the PC's. Once the portculis is raised, it blocks this path. In that case, the only way forward is to area V6.
If you want to include the small cave, I'd put it where the balcony is. This is more like a window than a passageway. The giants uses this cave to look out over V2 and determine whether or not to open the portculis. The mephit from V2 also flies in through this passage to warn the giant in V2. The small cave is the only connecting passage between V2 and V4. In other words, the giant has to trhow boulders through this cave in order to hit PC's trying to distroy the gate.
I agree with the Slaad - the map and description don't match up, indicating that some changes have been made without cross-referencing.
The map shows that V4 is above V3; the only way to get to V4 from V3 is through the smaller cave mouth - which is directly above the large entrance - when the portcullis is down. When the portcullis is up, the smaller entrance is blocked, and the larger entrance at V3 leads straight through the passage to V6. I don't think the giant could throw stones through the smaller entrance, and the Reaction text seems to support this; it's used just for keeping watch on the outside.
If you're sticking with the map as is, you could consider that the west end of V4 has the balcony overlooking the passage from V3 to V6. Thus, when the giant in V7 hears the PCs breaking the portcullis, he gets stones ready to throw at them (from behind!) once they pass under V4 on their way to V6.
However, I believe that the original intent was for V4 not to be over the passage, but entirely to the north of it, and the map is slightly in error. In this arrangement, the giant would throw stones down on the PCs in the passage as soon as they got through the portcullis, protected by the wooden parapet. Whether this is 6-foot-tall (as V3 says) or 3-foot-tall (as V4 says) is up to you!
My interpretation differs slightly.
Indeed, V4 is the cave above, and the passage runs dashed-linewise underneith.
The portcullus blocks the passage below, save for the small, round hole (just below the balcony).
The "upper cave" that is referred to is the balcony itself, the opening that Murgo watches and hurls stones through. Above it is solid stone...the "open air" section of the larger crevasse ends around about the first drop-down leading towards the portcullus.
XXXXXXXX
XX____XX
X______X <- "Small Cave", entrance to V4
XXXXXXXX
XXXX XXX <- "Small hole", mephit goes here, leads to corridor
XXXXXXXX
XX||||||XX
XX||||||XX <- Portcullus, also leads corridor
XX||||||XX
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