Dungeon Dressing: Chests
Chests, or more accurately their contents, are most adventurers’ favourite dungeon feature. Chests represent their hard-earned reward after days in the dark, exploring new terrain and overcoming challenging foes. Therein new and shiny discoveries await, equipping the heroes for even greater challenges.
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Major Features
The chest is made from sturdy oak boards bound in iron. The lock is obviously much newer than the chest.
This heavy iron chest is tarnished on every surface except the lock.
Intertwining Dwarven runes warning of danger and doom to any who should dare steal the chest’s contents cover this heavy steel trunk.
The chest is hinged at the bottom; the chest flips up when opened.
A layer of dust has settled on top of this otherwise invisible chest.
This dwarf-made chest—including its lock and hinges—is carved from a single block of stone.
This small wooden chest is shaped like a coffin and smells of earth. Dried mud hangs to one corner, near the floor.
The chest is shaped like an animal’s skull; it is hinged at the jaws.
The chest is crafted from the leg bones of many different creatures. Leering skulls decorate its lid. The chest’s lock is hidden in one such skull1.
The chest is nothing more than a few large boards crudely nailed together. It has no lock and is easy to break into.
The chest is built into the floor, only its lid (which seems at first glance to be a trapdoor) is visible.
A massive, ornate lock dominates this iron strongbox
The chest’s lid is sealed with red wax; a rampant wyvern seal covers the chest’s lock.
The chest is made of teak, bound in iron. The iron shows rust, as if it’s been exposed to humid air.
Heavy patina coats this mahogany chest’s brass bands.
The contents of this chest are visible through its thick, cloudy glass sides.
Worn leather covers this wooden chest. The area around the lock is particularly worn.
Gilded scrollwork decorates the top and sides of this red-stained chest.
This small lockbox is made from ornately decorated silver, and is worth 150 gp.
Sculptural inlay, depicting a legendary serpent, decorates the front of this chest.
Minor Features & Dressing
The chest has been placed on a set of rollers that makes moving it about much easier.
The lock of this chest is made of delicately wrought gold. The lock is worth 50 gp, and double that with the matching key.
Carvings of fantastic creatures battling legendary heroes adorn this chest.
A chalk rectangle is sketched on the floor next to the chest; its dimensions match the chest exactly.
This elaborate chest is actually more valuable than its contents. Smashing into the chest destroys its value.
The lock of this chest is shaped like a snarling demon; the chest’s key is inserted into the beast’s mouth.
This chest bears signs of violence, as if someone had tried and failed to break in.
This chest’s hinges have been removed; several iron spikes have been used to nail it shut.
Eldritch runes cover the chest; some of them flicker with pale blue light.
Blasphemous writings are scrawled on every surface of this chest.
Parts of the chest’s lid and one hinge have been melted as if by a powerful acid. (The chest has half the normal number of hit points).
This chest is tiny and is sized for creatures even smaller than a halfling.
Green vines grow on this chest, their roots questing into its rotten wood.
This chest sits in a shallow pool of stagnant water (which has no apparent source).
Scuffs and scrapes cover the floor of this room, as if the chest has been frequently dragged about.
Scorch marks mar the chest’s lid.
A skeleton sprawls on the floor near the chest; its arms still wrapped partly around it.
A full set of thieves’ tools are scattered in front of the chest; a single pick jams the lock.
This chest appears as much a religious icon as a container; elaborate scrollwork and iconography cover every surface.
A placard that reads, “For Emerala, on her wedding day”, juts from the top of the chest.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from GM’s Miscellany: Dungeon Dressing. The book is available in 5e, System Neutral and Pathfinder 1 editions. The OSR edition will be available in early 2023.
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