Gates & Portals: 10 Major Features

Magical gates and portals are a staple feature of many dungeons. Characters stepping through them are often whisked off to a new exciting (and dangerous) adventure locale.

Use this list, to add pieces of interesting dressing to the gates & portals in your dungeon! 

1. The portal is invisible and has no obvious features to mark its location. Only strange airflow near the portal betrays its presence.

2. An arch of birchwood and vines encloses a swirling mass of fresh green leaves. When any creature steps through the portal, the leaves momentarily change to rich autumnal colours.

3. A locked set of double doors made of human bones bar the portal.

4. The portal, a disc of red light hovering in midair, is cold and hard to the touch. Only those carrying the correct token can push through the barrier.

5. The magical portal is behind a false wooden door. Opening the door, causes its yellow, shimmering light to pour forth.

6. The portal is set into the bottom of an otherwise empty shallow pool. Steps lead down to the portal.

7. Two great iron pillars, depicting roaring demonic faces in a whirl of flame, flank the glowing red portal.

8. The portal appears as a male bearded face of glowing golden light. As a creature approaches, the face’s mouth widens to accommodate their entrance.

9. A huge painting of a hillside road hangs on the wall. By touching the painting one can walk into the scene. Those in the room see a painted version of the creature walk over the hill out of sight.

10. Dozens of birds flit among the trees in a sunlit clearing. If a character whistles the correct sequence of five notes, the birds fly into the clearing and form a circle, rotating counter clockwise, with a portal of white clouds in the centre.

Want More?

The material in this article appears in Dungeon Dressing: Gates & Portals by Greg Marks which is available in 5e, Pathfinder 1, Pathfinder 2 and OSR editions.

Members of our Patreon campaign got all four editions of Dungeon Dressing: Gates & Portals as a thank you for their awesome support. Join today!