Hexplorations: Lighthouses
Our “hexplorations” (charts for details of things you may encounter in a hex crawl or simply developing your world) series continues with lighthouses. To use this chart simply roll for each column or look at the options for inspiration or use a combination of the two approaches. For example, you may role 4-6-2-2-5 resulting in an old, but well maintained lighthouse made of stone with a continual flame spell (probably strengthened) for a light. It marks the entrance to a harbor and is manned by just a lighthouse keeper. In addition to being a lighthouse, it also is enchanted in a way that keeps a nearby powerful sea monster at rest.
Like all good hex exploration chart results, that gives us at least one possible mystery to consider: What sea monster? Is the enchantment weakening? Does the keeper (or anyone else) know about this or has it been forgotten over the generations? Is the magic light linked to the enchantment? And so on.
Hopefully these charts and ideas can be the basis of most of the key details to any shipwreck the PCs may find in your game. Customize the results to fit your setting and which groups may be nearby as needed and as inspiration strikes!
| d6 | Age/Condition | Construction & Light Source | Reason Lighthouse Exists | Inhabitants | Secret |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newly built | Wood, wood fire | Marks a port/harbor entry | Empty, not actively maintained | The lighthouse is the key point of reference on a treasure map. |
| 2 | Recent, but like new | Stone, wood fire | Marks a port/harbor entry | Just a lighthouse keeper | The keeper has been bribed by pirates to pass along the comings and goings of fat merchant ships. |
| 3 | Recent, but not maintained | Stone, coal fire | Marks reefs/sandbar | Just a lighthouse keeper | Sea caves can be found nearby. They are fairly expansive and even lead under the lighthouse. |
| 4 | Old, but well maintained | Stone, oil lamp (whale, olive, etc.) | Marks reefs/sandbar | Lighthouse keeper and family | The keeper was a pirate captain of some repute. He retired and adopted a new name and made-up background. |
| 5 | Old, in ruins | Wood, continual flame spell or similar | Marks reefs/sandbar | Lighthouse keeper and family | The lighthouse has a powerful enchantment forcing a sea monster nearby to remain sleeping. |
| 6 | Ancient, but restored | Stone, continual flame spell or similar | Marks a sea monster’s lair | Rarer monster: sea hag, siren, draugr, skum/deep ones, marid, bronze dragon (usually shape-changed) | Lighthouse has a second hidden purpose: transmit signals to another planet/dimension/etc. |
