B21.
This is part of the #Dungeon23 challenge in which you make one room to a dungeon every day for a year. In an effort to link my memories to the creation, I am also writing a personal journal entry with each room that may or may not be related.
You don’t have to read that part.
B21.
The Northern and Eastern doors to this room are boarded shut and barricaded.
Each doorway has a keystone in its arch. A keen eye may notice that it has an inscription written in Law.
Anyone who speaks the Lawful language will know that the inscription keeps anything Chaotic out.
If a character who has been touched by Chaos in anyway, may feel discomfort when entering. For example any wizards will struggle to enter, and may need to make a Will save (or something similar) depending on how deep they are into their magical studies.
Each door has steps that lead down 5 feet. The room is structured with arches made from petrified wood. Triangular patterns can be found throughout the room, as the Triangle is a powerful, well balanced shape.
The room is aglow with a warm, cozy amber ambience. Torches that may have been burning from the glory days of Kik’ina Kir light the room.
The Book of Law
On the western side of the room is a large desk with an oversized book. This is an ancient Book of Law and would be worth a lot of money if sold to the the right people. One could also use this book to study Law and gain new benefits and even Lawful Magic. However they would have to leave this cave and be somewhere safe to commit to such research.
Small Room
A small room in the south has a door made of polished gold-colored granite.
One cannot enter unless they are Lawful OR perform a ritual here in this room committing their life to follow the Lawful path. A description of this ritual can be found in the front page of the Ancient Book of Law on the desk. It is written in plain-speak language so anyone can learn it.
Someone who speaks Law may recognize that this room is meant to “empower Lawful Warriors.”
The Binding Vow of Law
This ritual is not to be taken lightly, as just some method to get into the small room.
If you take this vow you must commit your life to not only studying Law, but fighting the fiendish hoards of Chaos. By not doing so you forfeit your Lawful privileges and may even lose your life - depending on how much you exploited using the powers of Law for personal gain.
It’s a big fucking deal.
2/21/23
Hey, a room that’s not scary or awful. In fact it’s a bit of a refuge from all the madness that runs throughout this level.
I also like the idea of having a room that needs you to commit to something really important to enter. Or rewards someone for playing that type of character.
Whenever I would convert older modules to 5e, or play modules written by old school writers, I thought it was cool when they’d do something that targets a person’s alignment. Unfortunately, alignment really feels anachronistic in Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons. No one really uses it, most likely because it’s really just role-play flavor, and has no game-able mechanic. It’s like the human appendix.
As I’ve mentioned before I’ve been playing with alignments but only from a Chaos vs. Law, not “chaotic good” or “Lawful Neutral.” You’re either Lawful, Chaotic or Neutral. Nearly everyone is Neutral. Choosing a side means you are committing to being an active participant in this world-setting battle. So players can either buy in or not, depending on what kind of adventuring life they want to follow. One could even participate, but stay neutral, like some kind of freelance. But being Lawful or Chaotic fundamentally changes you.
You’re not the person you were before, and you can never be that person again.
See you tomorrow.
-jae
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