Some caves are truly awe inspiring and it’s no wonder people have so often associated them with the sacred. Needless to say, one can exploit such a rich domain to extract gameable/storytelling content…

Inspiring tidbits:

• Cave of the 4 Winds
• Caves of the Earth Lord/ Earth Owner
• associated with rain and thunder spirits
• Caves of the Inner Maze
• Lair of  soul-stealing sorcerer
• the cave opens its mouth at midnight
• sacred stalagmites (guardians)
• stone idols
• Land of the Dead
• body preserved by fire and then mummified
• the Mazatec fear the Masters of the Earth who live underground
• it is said that thunders are controlled by little old men
• access to the cave-tunnel is difficult as it lies in a deep, steep canyon filled with enormous boulders; its size dwarfs the human visitor
• representation of a skeletonized figure whose heart is still in place
• shell trumpet, incense burner
• cenotes are sources of evil winds; plants and animals that inhabit them , especially tortoise, are sacred

On the matter of Ambivalent Entities

or how to say no to D&D alignment:

From the Nahua perspective, nature is not always beneficient, and absolute good or evil does not characterize the major entities. A benevolent manifestation of the earth mother, tonantsij, may kill if she feels neglected, while even the feared spirit of death, miquilistli, can be entreated to spare a patient’s life. In the Nahua view, nothing happens without a cause.

Extract from Chapter 2, Rites of Passage and Other Ceremonies in Caves, Doris Heyden.