Sometimes the characters emerge from the dungeon laden down with bags of coins, pouches stuffed with gems and jewels and even magic items! Other times, they emerge with items somewhat trickier to sell on…
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Ruined castles almost always have dungeons, burial vaults and cellars. Such locales are the favourite haunts of undead, necromancers and other foul things trying to hide from the sun’s harsh radiance. Heroes often explore such places, in search of gold and glory.
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Isolated coves, sheltered bays and sandy beaches pockmark the coast. Well known by travellers, mariners and fisherman alike such locales are often important local landmarks. In such places, smugglers can sneak ashore in the dead of night, fishermen can ply their trade and holy folk can meditate free from distractions.
Use this list, to add notable beaches, bays and other coastal features into your campaign.
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A black dragon’s lair is rarely nothing more than a dismal, sunken cave stuffed full of treasure. Black dragons are wily, cunning and in-tune with the surrounding environment. Their lairs reflect their intrinsic connection with the surrounding swamp or marsh.
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Much of a jungle’s landscape is unremarkable and mundane; however some features become local landmarks used as waymarkers in the jungle’s near-trackless depths or meeting places.
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Some adventures like Keep on the Borderlands or the Village of Hommlettare classics. Other adventures are somewhat less good. But what makes an adventure awesome?
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Most shipwrecks hold items of curiosity or value to treasure-hunting explorers. The sunken ship’s cargo is likely valuable (but bulky and difficult to raise form the deep); other treasures are far more portable.
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During their exploration of a sunken ship, the characters will encounter many minor features of note.
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Few dungeons have completely blank, featureless walls.
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Few dungeons have completely blank, featureless walls.
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Five years ago, the bandits won. They overwhelmed the village of Hornwall, killed its citizens and looted their treasures. Then, they settled down. The bandits of Hornwall now reside within the very defences meant to keep them out. They have given up the sword and taken up the ploughshare, exchanging a life of danger for one of safety. The villagers hide their secret well, but bodies keep appearing—floating in on the current, dug up by dogs and even emerging from the thawing winter snows. And the citizens who wish to return to the old ways are murdered in their sleep by their loved ones and business owners who wish to keep the past dead and buried. If passing travellers learn the truth, they have a choice. Forgive and forget? Or avenge the uncaring dead and leave Hornwall nothing but ashes.
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Wracked by disaster, Tigley is a village reborn. Standing on the fringes of the noisome Gnatmarsh, its folk make their living from the swamp and harvesting guano from the caves honeycombing the spire of rock upon which stands much of the village. But all is not peaceful in Tigley. The villagers’ burial rituals have attracted undead to certain nearby sunken ruins and goblins now lurk in the locality. In the village itself, influential figures vie for control of the local industries, a bully uses his influence to spread lies and cause trouble and the village priest hides a terrible secret. Once again, Tigley is a village teetering on the edge of disaster, but this time it is a disaster of the village’s own making.
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An evil fane should be so much more than a room featuring just a bloody altar (and some treasure). These are places of ineffable evil and as such deserve decent design time. But who has the time? Use these lists, to add depth and verisimilitude to the evil fanes in your campaign.
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Perhaps the single most pervasive feature of a dungeon is its near perpetual darkness. Darkness creates a serious disadvantage for surface dwellers exploring a dungeon and a great advantage for its denizens.
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This beautiful, but stern, women wears a fitted black dress, and a white shawl about her slender, bony shoulders.
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Wisps of glimmering multi-coloured mist swirl around the translucent figure of a woman. The woman’s visage changes—growing subtly older before your very eyes—as she approaches.
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Many old-school modules are legendary. The Keep on the Borderlands, Against the Cult of the Reptile God, the Village of Hommlet and more share a special place in gamers' hearts everywhere. But what's your favourite old-school module?
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The quintessential fort (or keep) on the borderland is a classic locale for neophyte adventurers to visit at the start of their careers. Using the fort as a base, they can explore the wilderness and know a safe haven lies nearby. Borderland forts are not featureless places devoid of interesting features and folk. They are living breathing places.
Use these lists to add depth and verisimilitude to the fort on the borderland in your campaign.
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Star Chaser lies under a curse (reputedly). Crew and passengers seem to die on every voyage, and the ship’s owner has fallen on hard times as a result. She offers cheap berths, and needs a successful voyage to repair her finances.
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The Customs Tower overlooks the docks. From its lofty roof, the dockmaster notes the coming and going in his domain. He then despatches his servants to collect the appropriate fees, excises and taxes. Scorch marks on the tower doors speak to its master’s popularity.
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