Sounds of the Deep

Here is a (D20) table of sounds and their sources one might hear in dungeons and deeper caves.

1: Stalagmites and stalactites wage war through plangent sonic attacks. Once they meet a peaceful synthesis is achieved, but the new protrusions never learn. Moving through the sonic field does 2D6 damage (Save for half damage).

A skirmish.

2: The morose squeals of hogoblins. These porcine creatures have squealing competitions to settle minor disputes. This is often a prelude to combat.

3: The wind in the many natural chimneys creates a babbling tune, ever-changing.

4: A dwarven bagpipe, haunted by the near-amnesiac spectre  of its previous owner. It only plays when not observed directly. When the spectre’s killer is near it bleats out a raucous dwarven battle-song.

5: It’s gas escaping through a narrow vent. It is extremely flammable, and 1D4 rounds after the sound is heard it will ignite (3D6 damage, save for half damage).

6: It is a tear-inducing worksong from a legion of throats. The plebians who work the gargantuan legs of the wandering village Schildkröte-66 have only song and mushroom-wine to raise their spirits.

Future booze.

7: Ululations of cave-worms. Roll 1D6 1: It is a song of boredom, low and meandering. 2-3: It is a sleazy an exaggerated mating song (if one could learn it it might function as an aphrodisiac). 4-5: It is a war-song, piercing and nausea-inducing. 6: It is the mind-altering and rarely-heard epiphany call. Those who listen must make a Save. If they succeed they gain 1D4 Wisdom. If they fail they lose the same amount.

8: The call of feral newsies. These dirty child-sized humanoids throng and yowl and insist on keeping you informed whether you want it or not.

9: A bawdy ballad, sung with perfect pitch. 2D4 low elves are on the move, immersing themselves in the filth, blood and piggish entertainment of mortals. The grime and stink almost hides their ethereal beauty.

10: A horrid cacophony of pain and disgust, underscored by fiddles and drums. 1D4 Devil bureaucrats with 2D4 human underlings. They wear their shade-silk and horns of office with pride. They eat babies and shit liquid gold on the heads of sinners with the decorum and formality of a tea ceremony.

11: Good-natured yipping and barking. 3D3 Dog-headed humanoids who call themselves Sikari Svano. They are quite eager to obtain information. They will offer their services as armorers in return for information about themselves. It seems that the species suffers from collective amnesia. Trying to feed them lies only works 1-in-6 times, as they have good instincts for what ‘feels’ right. Their weapons are blue crystal wands which teleport those they touch.

Are they good boys?

12: A thief, an opportunistic surface human trying to pick pickets of adventurers and dungeon-dwellers indiscriminately.

13: Breathing like heavy bellows. It is the god Geras sleeping. He is a gigantic old man, almost ten meters tall if he wasn’t so stooped.

14: A high-pitched whine. 2D4 mining beetles are melting through rocks with their eye-beams. They’re not hostile unless bothered in their work.

15: The soft tread of cave wolverines (3). They are like swift shadows until their fangs are in your thigh.

16: The rattling of loose stones. In 1D3 rounds there will be an avalanche. Act fast to decide if you want it to block where you came from or where you are going.

17: A pocket of pre-Creation silence. Meditating in this spot for a full day allows a person to ask three questions of a higher power. No magic works within the pocket.

18: The tread of hundreds of light-footed individuals. It is a migrating tribe of blind salamander-people (or Olm).

19: Tiny voices raised in song. The Ballad-Maggots sing because it is their nature. As humans covet and quarrel, so do the maggots sing. What do they sing? (Roll 1D6) 1: A bawdy ballad, learned from wandering low elves. 2: A litany of directions leading to a treasure! 3-4: a melancholy shanty concerning the quality of corpses and carrion. 5: A taunting ditty about a player character! 6: A low dirge bemoaning the pointlessness of existence.

20: The bleating of cave-goats. They climb cave-walls in defiance of gravity.