One of my pet peeves with dungeon fantasy (D&D, Pathfinder, etc.) is boring treasure. There's nothing I hate to see more in a module than the anemic "the chest holds 1,500 gp and a
+1 longsword. For my part, I always try to make sure that there's at least a few pieces of memorable, non-magic-item treasure in any adventure I run. There are few things that I find more validating in running those adventures than when the party debates whether or not they really
need the cash they'd get from selling that cool whatever-it-is.
In D&D/Pathfinder terms, these are the nebulous "art items", a huge variety of random, typically non-magical
stuff that exists simply to be carted out and sold, rather than anything particularly useful to the average adventurer. I'm going to share a few examples from my games, and hopefully you'll follow up with some of your own, and maybe together we can help out that beleaguered GM out there in desperate need of padding out their treasure hoard. So here we go:
- A gilded and bejeweled human skeleton.
- A full bedroom set crafted from exotic hardwoods, complete with silken bedsheets.
- A masterfully-crafted miniature wire-frame animal constructed from mithral.
- A chess set composed of an ebony- and ivory-tiled game board with pieces constructed of dragon bone and Abyssal basalt.
- A collection of coins from a long-lost kingdom. It is a nearly-complete set, representing all denominations minted by the kingdom, save two. Worth a substantial amount as-is, but could easily triple in value if it was completed.
- A set of ceremonial heavy armor carved entirely from jade backed with spider-silk.
- A planar orrery crafted from precious metals and jewels, small enough to fit in a pocket. It appears remarkably accurate.
- A pair of fine leather boots soled in carefully-treated trollskin, which will never wear out.
- A darkwood carriage, its interior upholstered in dark leather and blood-red velvet.
- A case of vintage ice wines made from grapes that had felt the breath of a white dragon.
- A set of fine crystal tableware that, upon closer inspection, is actually composed of magically-stabilized ice.
- A small, shockingly-realistic clockwork crab.