Chumming the Dungeon: d12 ideas

This is the third installment of Chumming the Dungeon. These d12 ideas can be used to create random (player generated) plot points or red herrings for future adventures.

A full explanation of Chumming the Dungeon can be found in the first installment (along with d6 ideas,) additional ideas can be found in the second installment (d20+d6 bonus ideas.)

credit: © greg acker 2019

1., A wooden marionette in lavish, but tiny, clothing. It bears a felt top hat, beneath which is a felt cut out in the shape of a key. Beside the marionette are the crossbar and a spool of twine.

2. A carved figure of a humanoid with the head of an apple. Made of earthstone, the carving appears angry. It grasps a small, razor sharp axe.

3. In full bloom, a chrysanthemum sits in a metal pot. The stem and flower are indestructible. Even without the pot, it weighs more than ten men.

4. Sitting in a small pool is a toy sailboat. Made of hardened clay, the sailboat appears to actually be sailing in circles. Upon close inspection ant-sized crew mill about hoisting sheets and tying lines.

5. An ivory horn the size of a man’s arm. Physical contact with a living creature causes the horn to fall into powdered talc. After several minutes without contact the horn regains its original shape.

6. An ascot, made of the finest green silk, sits crumpled up in a small teak box. The ascot bears an embroidered sigil indicating it belongs to royalty. The sigil is clearly not representative of any local family.

credit: © greg acker 2019

7. An eversnowing snow globe, resting upon a bronze base, sits on a short pillar. The city inside feels familiar, though it isn’t recognizable as anywhere local. No matter which way the snow globe is oriented, the snow always falls from the top down onto the city. 

8. A small voodoo doll with bright red skin and blue wrappings. Pins stuck into the doll show signs of blue blood being spilled. When picked up, the doll begins to vibrate violently. In short time it becomes too hot to hold; to place a pin into the doll, one must act quickly. It cools as quickly as it heats up.

9. A dozen large iron giant’s molars litter the floor. Each is larger than a fist, and weighs a considerable amount. Regardless of what is done to them, the teeth always remain bitter cold.

10. A beehive hangs from a single metal pole. Around it fly several rainbow colored bees. They don’t seem interested in anything other than their hive, but one might avoid angering them. 

11. Large yellowed lungs sit upon a small granite slab. It appears someone has examined them. They are most assuredly not human, as they have dozens of peridot and malachite stones embedded throughout.

12. A sizeable rug, longer than it is wide, is rolled up in the corner and tied with an orange ribbon. When unrolled it snaps into a flat shape (like a snap bracelet.) The process of unrolling it takes two or more adventurers as the spring mechanism is stiff. When opened it can be stepped on as normal. Pulling up on an edge causes it to roll up immediately. 

credit: © greg acker 2019