#dungeoncraft dungeon concept for @Wizards_DnD: THE BURIAL MOUND. What appears to be a large, flat hill sits in the middle of a raging river, like a colossal beaver's dam. From a closer vantage, it's clear that the "hill" is a stone structure covered in moss and vegetation.
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021
There is a loosely sealed, man-sized entrance to the structure on its north (upriver) wall. On its south (downriver) wall, water pours out of small holes in the stone, a foot above the level of the river, forming mini-waterfalls.The water from the raging river flows through the structure, entering through the loosely sealed entrance upriver, and exiting through the holes on the opposite side.
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021
The entrance is an arched passageway, sealed by a large boulder. A DC 25 Strength (Athletics) Check is necessary is to push the boulder out of place to allow entry. When the boulder is out of place, however, a lot more water begins flowing into the structure. Past the door is a classic dungeon complex, a tomb of an ancient king. When the party enters, the entire complex is flooded to ankle level. Place a drinking glass in front of the players and fill its bottom inch. Explain that the glass represents the water level in the dungeon.
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021
When the glass is full, human-sized characters are underwater; when the glass is half-full, halflings and dwarves are underwater; etc. Every 20 min the party spends in the dungeon (real time), pour another half inch of water into the glass. One of the dungeon's chambers houses a waist-high pool. Down at the bottom of the pool (ten feet) is a hole that passes through the structure's floor and into the river. Amphibious or aquatic creatures can swim under the structure and enter the dungeon through the pool.
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021
A tribe of sahuagin who enter and exit through the pool make their lair in the tomb. If the water level in the dungeon becomes waist high, a small swarm of quippers swims up through the pool and begins patrolling through the complex looking for prey. The boulder at the entrance can be pushed back into place with another DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. When the boulder is in place, again restricting the inward flow, the water level inside the dungeon begins to drop back to ankle-high. Pour a half inch from glass every 20 min
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021
Because the dungeon passageway immediately inside the entrance is so narrow, any attempt to move the boulder from *inside* the dungeon is at disadvantage, making such efforts all but impossible. Thus, the party typically has two choices. 1) Move the boulder, explore, and exit quickly, before the water level becomes unmanageable or they drown; or . . .
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021
2) Leave some party members outside the dungeon to push the boulder back into place behind their comrades who enter. Water won't be a problem, but the delvers better hope nothing happens to their friends on the outside who will need to move the boulder again to let them out.
— WinningerR (@WinningerR) January 30, 2021