Where should I put my dungeon?

[Inconsequenti-AL]

And not *there* - that would hurt!

After the great ideas that turned up last time I asked for an idea, I thought I'd ask for more!

My PCs are likely to discover the location of an ancient treasure vault below a city... I'm guessing they're going to want to go in there and 'get the stuff'. That bit's pretty straightforward mini-dungeon with a couple of little twists to it. Got it worked out.

Now, the entrance to the vault is likely to be well hidden - but I'd like to put 'something awkward' built on top of it. Just looking for some ideas as to what that could be. Ideally 'something' that would have a number of solutions - preferably with combat very unappealing...

Some intial thoughts were under a church/a guard barracks or in the family graveyard of a Baron.... but I didn't get much further than that!

They're a 2nd level party of 6-7 PCs with a good range of abilities.

Any ideas would be really appreciated!

 

[Telperion]

A library!

There's a library right on top of that old crypt/thingie. You got people going around waving their fingers saying things like "hush!", "ssshhhh" and "excuse me...".

Your average librarian likes to keep things tidy, clean and orderly. This is not a setting that calls for evocations, fights or even loud noises.

The town officials are going to be very upset with anyone who damages their library. So, if there's a problem at the library a squad of guards (etc) will appear very quickly.

A library is a collection of intellectual treasure, and so not all of the characters in any given group will find the idea of demolishing it pleasant. Some might actually object!

The entrance to the dungeon will be at the bottom of the library, where all those very valuable and very well guarded tomes of knowledge are at. It also means good security and magical wards to boot. Scrying/Teleportation spells probably won't even work in such an environment to stop theft and vandalism.

The entrance should be fairly well hidden, because even a bookworm will notice a secret entrance if it is too obvious.

Enjoy =).

 

[Tonguez]

Library is a good idea (I was going to suggest a museum) even beter if the lower levels of the Libabry are the State Archives (thus justifying those wards and abjurations placed on it)

I'd put the entrance at the back of the sealed archives section with the lock part of an ancient mosaic enlaid into the floor

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Have there be a secret passage at the bottom of the town well that they can swim down to and through the passage to the first area in your dungeon.

 

[SpearGhost]

What about an underwater staircase placed in the marketplace fountain? It should be a very busy place so going in unnoticed can be very challenging

 

[Hand of Evil]

The land fill. Trash, waste and other disgarded things have built up around, over the dungeon. It smells, it repeals, it is a contact poison, it has rats the size of ponies, oh so nasty it is.

 

[thullgrim]

courthouse, bordello, some god's temple is using the site,

 

[Thanee]

The local thieves guild.

That is, some building, like a tavern, where the local thieves guild have their quarters, probably with access to sewers and a wide-stretched tunnel-system.

That will be quite a challenge to get there and not have a bunch of thieves tailing them who want to steal the stuff later.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

A library is sounding like an excellent candidate... Can see the amusement of trying to get past a bunch of librarians. I think something near the state archives would definitely fit!

Flooded tunnels, a trash dump (yay!) and something in the middle of a market are definitely added on the 'to-do' list!

Thieves guilds and bordellos are both featuring in other plotlines, so I don't want to overuse them...

Thanks very much!

 

[diaglo]

in the open. a large statue of the town's hero is on top of the entrance. and no one has ever tried to move it.

now the PCs are asked by the town/paid by an official/ordered to perform community service to clean/repair the statue. this requires moving it. they discover the entrance. but keeping it a secret will be the crux of the problem for adventurers.