Dungeon Dressing: Statues
Statues come in many shapes and sizes and are a staple of most dungeons.
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Statue Subject
This heroic fighter wields a battleaxe. His other hand clutches the remains of a splintered shield.
A plate-clad warrior sits astride a warhorse and holds a lance aloft.
An old crone, ugly beyond belief, is practically doubled over and has a hunchback.
This wizard has one arm outstretched; pouches ring his waist. His face is partially obscured by a hood, but he has a severe, short haircut.
A barefoot cleric wearing simple clothes holds a holy symbol aloft and has a look of serenity on her face.
Clad in fine clothes and leaning on a walking stick this man is middle-aged, clean shaven and depicted in a “manly” pose.
This beautiful noblewoman wears voluminous robes and has a haughty countenance. She is looking over the characters’ heads.
A local hero wears simple chainmail and carries a longsword and spear. He has long hair and a rough, homespun appearance.
This legendary hero clad in full plate armour wields an ornate bastard sword two-handed.
This snarling half-orc of sinister mien clutches a dagger and is posed as if about to stab someone in the back.
A slender, attractive woman with snake hair and huge eyes carries a bow and has an alluring smile. (The statue depicts a medusa).
This giant thick with muscle and fat has a wide, puffy face. (The statue depicts an ogre).
This bizarre half-bear, half-owl creature has a huge beak and sharp claws. (The statue depicts an owlbear).
A muscular horse stands with huge, wide-spread bird-like wings spread wide. (The statue depicts a pegasus).
This giant has only one eye in the centre of its forehead. (The statue depicts a cyclops).
This snake-headed fiend has the torso of a six-armed woman; she holds six longswords. (The statue depicts a marilith demon).
An immense bird of prey with intricately carved feathers and a wickedly curved beak stands on one leg. (The statue depicts a giant eagle).
Wearing tattered leather armour and holding two flails this two-headed giant’s faces glare at one another. (The statue depicts an ettin).
This thin, emaciated and hairless human has pointed ears and a long, questing tongue emerging from between sharp, jagged teeth. (The statue depicts a ghoul or ghast).
A majestic creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle stands with its wings outstretched. (The statue depicts a griffon).
Minor Features & Dressing
Several skulls or decomposing heads are positioned on the statue; they fall off if touched.
The statue is crudely painted in garish colours.
One of the statue’s hands is shaped to hold a staff or spear but is empty.
The statue has a hollow mouth; a map, scroll or other small object may be hidden within.
The statue stands on a pedestal which contains a (dusty and empty) secret compartment.
The statue is incredibly detailed—paranoid adventurers may suspect a medusa or basilisk lurks nearby.
The statue is the work of a medusa that once laired nearby. Subsequent inhabitants set the statue here, unaware of its true nature.
The statue stands on a hollow plinth. To access the hollow the statue must be tipped over.
The statue holds a mouldy leather book. The book may contain a clue to what lies beyond or might release poisonous spores when opened.
The statue has a deformed right hand.
The statue is dressed in a bizarre mishmash of clothes. Some are bloodstained and tattered while others are in pristine condition.
The statue is missing a leg (its shattered remains lie 20-foot away).
The statue has been decapitated. The head lies nearby and is damaged; its nose has broken off.
The statue points to a secret door or compartment in the room.
The statue points to an exit with its hand or weapon.
The statue has obviously been moved. Drag marks on the floor indicate its original position.
The statue holds an object which can be removed by a strong individual.
The statue is looking upwards as if studying the sky.
The statue bears the signs of being battered with a heavy bludgeoning weapon.
The statue is looking into the middle distance.
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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