Dungeon Dressing: Thrones
Thrones are meant to present an image of power. The exalted personage occupying a throne is important and sits in style and comfort while others stand in their presence.
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Major Features
The throne is simply a large rock with a worn spot where the ruler once sat. Faded stains suggest symbols once decorated the rock.
The throne is made of glass. Light shining on it from above creates a cascade of sparkling light throughout the room.
The throne is unusually sized and comfortably fits a Large creature.
The throne is unusually sized and comfortably fits a Small creature.
The throne is made from a living tree, its branches have grown to form a seat.
The throne is made of many weapons melted together. None of them remains useable or removable.
When unoccupied for more than five minutes, the throne projects an illusion of a silent, robed and masked man sitting upon it.
The throne has blue quilted padding on the seat and back, making it quite comfortable.
The throne is bolted to the floor.
The throne is on casters so that it can be wheeled about.
The back of the throne has an intricate map of the dungeon in which it stands. The map is many years old but provides an excellent overview of the complex.
The throne has taxidermied bear claws affixed to the arms and the head of a bear on the back.
Stags’ horns chased in silver jut from the top of the throne’s back. They can be removed with five minutes work and are worth 125 gp.
The throne’s left arm has a hidden keyhole that unlocks3 a hidden cache in the right arm. The cache is empty (unless you deem otherwise).
The throne is trapped
The throne is shaped like a bench and has high sides but no back.
The throne has an unusually tall back shaped like a wailing woman whose long hair flows into the seat.
The arms of the throne have planters embedded in them. These planters could hold flowers, mushrooms or a sentient guardian plant.
The throne lies in neat piles, completely disassembled. In this form, a hidden (but empty) space is clearly visible in one leg.
The throne is carved with depictions of devils tormenting lost souls and is ablaze with heatless, constant writhing flames.
Minor Features & Dressing
A handaxe is embedded in the back of the throne.
The throne is badly burned.
The throne is covered in blood. This blood could be fresh, or it could be old, dried and crusty.
A human male’s head is impaled upon an iron spike on the back of the throne. The head is badly rotted, and the individual is no longer recognisable.
A dead goblin (or another appropriate humanoid for the dungeon) sits on the throne.
The words “Rajin sat hear” are crudely carved into the throne’s seat.
A large pile of dung has dried on the throne’s seat.
A family of hungry rats have nested within the throne’s cushion. They bite anyone sitting on the throne.
Termites infest the throne’s legs.
The cushions on the throne are badly sweat-stained.
A bouquet of dried flowers lies at the feet of the throne. A strip of black ribbon holds them together.
A dead rat is nailed to the back of the throne; blood has pooled on the seat.
The remains of a meal are scattered about the throne. A gnawed chicken leg is on the ground, and an empty bottle rests on the seat. Breadcrumbs are scattered liberally about.
A warm blanket is draped across the throne’s arms.
The throne is in pristine condition as if someone had cleaned it recently.
The throne was trapped, but the trap has been triggered—and its effects are obvious.
Scratches on the floor show that the throne has been dragged from a previous position.
The throne has been smashed and broken. No piece larger than a human hand remains intact. Marks on the throne suggest an axe was used.
A dusty white sheet covers the throne. Underneath, the throne is intact. The sheet is voluminous; something, or someone, could be hiding underneath.
A detailed statue of a horrified elven woman sits on the throne, her arms crossed over her face as if to ward off some blow or block out a horrible sight. She may be the victim of petrifaction or just an unusual piece of particularly fine artwork.
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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