Dungeon Dressing: Pools
Pools add an element of mystery to a dungeon. In their often murky depths, they can hide both treasure, monsters or other secrets. Dungeon pools can be magical or mundane. Some are naturally occurring with swiftly flowing water, while others feature elaborate fountains, traps or other features. It is a brave adventurer who willing steps into unknown waters.
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Major Features
A fountain of a halfling spouting water from an upraised tankard stands at the pool’s centre.
A small submerged cave hollows out one of the pool’s rugged natural stone walls.
A natural underground stream feeds the pool.
The pool’s walls are shaped like wide stairs.
In the middle of the pool, a natural stone pillar rises mere inches about the water—like a stepping stone.
Half of the pool’s walls are of finished stone, and the other half are unworked, as if the workers stopped halfway through construction.
A short, twisted tunnel leads away from the bottom of the pool and runs 90 ft. and ends in a small cave boasting a small shelf of dry rock.
The water is black and oily. A creature drinking from the pool is affected by a bestow curse spell.
The room’s floor slopes steeply down to the pool, and no wall encircles the pool meaning unwary explorers could slide straight into its waters.
Medium-sized holes in the pool’s walls lead to perfectly circular chambers.
Hymnals praising a long-forgotten deity decorate the pool’s bottom.
Small statues of fish stand on the pool’s bottom. One larger fish is depicted chasing the others.
The north and south walls of the pool are set at an angle while the east and west walls are perfectly straight, giving the pool an odd “bent” aspect.
The bottom of the pool is tiled with smooth pebbles.
Stone carvings of demonic heads line the pool; pipes in the demon’s mouths feed the pool.
The pool’s walls are lined with numerous handholds.
Four marble pillars, one at each corner of the square-shaped pool, support a domed roof.
The pool coils downwards, much like a snake; it is 40 ft. deep at its deepest point.
Slippery narrow stone archways covered in mould and slime crisscross the pool just above the water’s surface.
Small streams of water sprout from multiple fist-sized holes in a nearby wall feed the pool.
Minor Features & Dressing
A blocked-up dragon-headed spout overlooks the pool and once fed it.
Shards of armour and weapons litter the edge of the pool.
Foul-smelling bubbles pop on the pool’s surface.
Rubble half fills the pool.
Purple slime covers the pool and swaths of the nearby floor, rendering it slippery and malodorous.
Obvious signs of recent flooding—watermarks, scattered rubbish and so on—surround the pool.
Thousands of gold pieces appear to litter the pool’s bottom. In fact, the coins are an illusion. Anyone seeing through the illusion hears a faint mocking laughter.
A ring of demonic statues thrust pitchforks into the pool’s water. Their faces wear expressions of ecstasy. One of the statue’s pitchforks is missing.
Small, glowing stones are set in alcoves along the pool’s walls. The stones immediately stop glowing if taken from the pool.
A series of metal hoops float in the centre of the pool, getting narrower in circumference as they descend towards the bottom.
A humanoid skeleton clings to the pool’s edge; its lower half appears to have been dissolved.
One wall of the pool has collapsed.
A character underwater detects faint music playing from an indeterminate source.
Slime chokes this half-full pool.
Thick cobwebs stretch across the pool.
Wooden planks are nailed over the pool.
A fountain in the middle of the pool depicts two gnome lovers in an obscene pose. Extensive graffiti, telling crude jokes, covers the statues.
The pool abuts a dungeon wall carved into the likeness of a human face with exaggerated features. One of the face’s eyes has crumbled into the pool.
Large dents mar the pool’s walls. Golden-hued fish swim lazily in the pool.
A complete city, crafted in miniature, covers the pool’s floor. Although some buildings are ruined, it is clearly a work of genius.
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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