Spear Trap

The wall of the hallway bears a painting of a spear-wielding knight fighting a dragon. In the middle of the knight’s chest is a small round hole ringed with painted blood.

A hidden pressure plate is set into the floor beneath the hole. Stepping on the pressure plate triggers a Critical Failure.

Floor. A Perception check or an examination of the floor reveals the pressure plate.

Hole. A creature that investigates the hole at close range may trigger the trap. A bright light shone into the hole reveals a glint of metal. A solid object, like a shield, held in front of the hole takes damage in place of the triggering creature.

Opposite Wall. An examination of the walls reveals a nick in the stone wall opposite the hole.

Spear Trap Variants: Other Spear Traps

Instead of a painting of a knight, the spear trap may be concealed in the following ways:

• A wooden chest is pushed against a wall, below a ragged tapestry depicting a dragon resting on a pile of treasure. (The spear hole is hidden behind the tapestry. The chest contains a Minor Treasure.)
• An otherwise blank wall has a small tube protruding from it. A cork balances on the end of the tube. (The trap can’t be triggered if the cork is inserted into the tube. The protruding spear is a magical +1 spear, and the trap makes its attack and damage rolls with a +1 bonus. Once the trap is triggered, the spear can be taken.)
• A red circle is painted on the floor. A Perception check or an examination of the ceiling reveals a small hole in the ceiling above the circle. (The spear projects from the hole, targeting any creature standing on the red circle.)