Dungeon Dressing: Fallen Dwarven Hold
Dwarves do not lightly abandon their clan homes. Likely, the last days of the dwarves’ hegemony were marked by savage battles and sorrow. Such terrible events leave their mark on a fallen dwarven hold.
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General Dressing
Dust and the bones of the fallen thickly cover the floor. Obviously, a great battle raged here. Many of the remains show signs of violent death. Nothing of value remains.
Dried rust-coloured stains cover the ornate wall carvings here. The stains—dried blood—obscure much of the cravings’ details, which depict a craggy mountain range of epic proportions.
Deep, dusty cobwebs obscure the arched ceiling, creating areas of deep shadow. Disturbing the webs creates a billowing dust cloud that lasts for several minutes before the dust settles on the ground—and anything else (including explorers) in the area.
The shattered remains of a stout dwarven door choke the entrance to this area. Something impressively strong knocked down the door. Pieces of its intricate stone hinges yet remain attached to the door jam.
A small niche low down near the floor pierces one wall. A small slab of stone crafted to look like the wall lies discarded nearby. Within the niche lies a switch which is in the down position. There is no clue as to how the switch operates.
Nine small niches about the size of a man’s fist pierce one wall at about a dwarf’s shoulder height. Stylised carvings—depicting rays of sunlight—radiate from each niche.
Carved into one wall, the words of a dwarven battle prayer speak of glory, duty and implacable hatred toward the clan’s enemies.
A pile of mouldering, dusty bones lie in a heap before a doorway, suggesting someone made a stand within. Perceptive PCs note many of the bones are crushed or broken—mute testimony to the savagery of the struggle once fought here.
Minor Dwarven treasures
A plain golden band sized for a dwarf’s finger. On the ring’s inner surface, carved in tiny dwarven runes, is the name Kilisi Jarbek.
A bundle of almost impossibly thin silver wire rolled into a bundle snuggly fills a mouldering, nondescript leather pouch.
A set of four small perfectly smooth stone jars with tiny gemstone stoppers. The jars are sized to perhaps hold perfume or spices. A faint sweet scent lingers in one of the jars.
This heavy iron ring bears a crest depicting a crossed warhammer and battle-axe. Dried blood splatters the heavily scratched ring.
This thin sheet of stone, measures about six inches to a side, bears an intricately carved portrait of a smiling dwarven man. He wears large hooped earrings.
A metal cover of beaten brass yet protects the scorched and slashed pages of a thick tome. Dwarven runes—The Passage of Days—are stamped into the brass.
This mouldering pair of dark brown thigh-high leather boots have metal toecaps. The boots’ leather is worn and supple and sized to fit a male dwarf.
This small stone bowl comes with a perfectly sized lid. Magical, heatless fire lurks within the bowl. Removing the lid allows it to shine forth with the radiance of a blazing torch.
Signs of Previous Exploration
A smear of charcoal on the wall shows where someone stubbed out a torch. Nearby, lies the discarded stub of said torch.
A shredded backpack rests on the floor. Dried blood coats the pack’s back. PCs searching the pack’s remains find a single dusty gold coin caught up in a fold of the fabric.
Footprints in the thick dust betray the presence of another explorer. A skilled tracker can interpret the tracks and realises whoever made them was sprinting at the time he or she made them.
Lichen and mould grow over a few scraps of mouldy food and a discarded water flask.
A glimmer of light from one wall catches a PC’s eye. Investigating, the PC discovers a bent silver coin wedged into a tiny gap between two stone blocks.
A splintered javelin, its rusted head bent, lies against a wall.
Burnt scraps of wood arranged in a rough circle show where someone built a campfire. The detritus of a quick camp—crumbs of food and so on—are also in evidence.
Shards of glass from a broken wine bottle lie on the floor. Unwary explorers could stand on a large shard and suffer one point of damage.
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