Graves
Picture this: you're on a lovely evening stroll in a dark and spooky graveyard. All around you are tombstones, each one an identical slab of rounded grey stone, all of them completely blank, devoid of any names, dates, or other writing. Is it a horrible nightmare? If you're an unprepared GM, the answer is yes! Today's Top Ten provides gravestone descriptions, and there are enough of them to fill an entire graveyard... if that graveyard is pretty small, at least.
1. Grieving angels. This granite gravestone is carved in such a way that it appears to be being held aloft by a pair of angels, one male and one female, who openly weep, seeming to lament the death of the person buried beneath them. On the tombstone, it reads "Murdoch Sullivan, beloved father, husband, and friend." Based on the dates on the tombstone, he died about 25 years ago, at age 38.
2. Stone cross with strange slot. This granite gravestone takes the shape of a cross. A circular hole, perhaps three inches in diameter, sits in the center of where the cross's two lines intersect, and a series of grooves make it look as though something was designed to fit there. On one side, across the horizontal section, the tombstone reads, "Kerstin Kroger, a diamond in the rough." Based on the dates on the tombstone, she died about 5 years ago, at age 27.
3. Ring of colored flowers. This grave bears a single unmarked and unworked stone at one end. The plot of land itself is bare dirt, but the area immediately around it is ringed on all sides with bright blue wildflowers, perhaps six inches wide. The flowers are all in full bloom, and, judging by the dirt on the grave, the entire patch was freshly planted, the grave newly dug.
4. Squatting imp. This marble tombstone is carved to resemble an imp, squatting over the head of the grave, holding the stone in front of it. The stone reads, in carefully engraved words, "Ianko Katriev, not forgotten, not forgiven. His crimes are too many to list, and his soul shall rot in Hell for his transgressions." No dates are listed on the tombstone.
5. Marble tile. This grave is covered with a massive slab of marble, six feet long and four feet wide. Though it is partially buried, and so difficult to tell, it seems to be only a few inches deep. The edge of the slab is engraved with a decorative pattern, which has been inlaid with gold, as has the text on the slab. It bears the name "Patricie Holub," followed by a poem describing falling leaves in autumn, and blooming flowers in spring. Based on the dates on the tombstone, she died 43 years ago, at the age of 61.
6. Talking gravestone. Atop this grave stands a life-sized statue of an older man with noble, strong features, dressed in heavy armor, holding a shield in one hand, a lit lantern in the other, with a sword at his waist. An engraving at the base of the statue reads "Julian Richard, noble knight, defender of valor, wise and true. Even beyond the grave, he lights the way. Ask, and you shall receive." The statue has actually been endowed with minor magic that allows it to speak in response to questions or statements made to it. It is not actually intelligent, but contains a huge number of stock sayings and aphorisms, and enough understanding to usually be able to select appropriate responses to most questions. When speaking, the statue partially animates, moving its face and sometimes arms.
7. Solid gold gravestone. This gravestone appears to be made of solid gold, with its writing comprised entirely of gems that have been embedded in its surface. In actuality, however, the gravestone is made of cheap wood, and the appearance is simply an illusion. If the tombstone is removed from the ground, the illusion ends automatically, until it is put back in place. The illusory tombstone reads "Gwenneg Rosen, beloved by all, accomplished doer of deeds, respected hero." The actual wooden tombstone reads "Enchanted by Eda Katirci."
8. Doors to the underworld. This resting place can only loosely be called a grave, as the coffin it holds has not been completely buried. Instead, the lid remains exposed to the elements. It is made of solid and sturdy oak, magically reinforced, and has been carved to resemble a pair of doors. There is no handle from the outside, and those who attempt to open it find it stuck tight, though a handle on the inside allows it to open. No name or inscription is on the doors, but they do contain images of suns, moons, and stars.
9. Draconic gargoyle. This obsidian gravestone is topped by the image of a dragon's head, mouth open in a snarl. When it is dark, the dragon's eyes glow with a ruby-red light, each of which have the strength of a candle. If the grave is disturbed, the dragon head spits forth a blast of flame. The tombstone is engraved on one side, "Severiano Moretti, a dragon in life and death." Based on the dates on the tombstone, he died 107 years ago, at age 74.
10. Trio of ravens. This black marble gravestone is carved so that it appears that three ravens are perched atop it. The gravestone itself is blank, but the ravens are imbued with magic, and touching one causes it to speak a short phrase. The first states the deceased's name, Ragna Olversson; the second says, "A true warrior, he died in battle. The ravens have him now"; and the third states the years of his birth and death, indicating that he died 225 years ago, at age 21.