Oubliettes
Oubliettes are small dungeon cells that are only accessible via a trapdoor located high on their ceiling. Prisoners were either thrown through the trapdoor, or if the oubliette was a trap, lured to step on it, and left to starve. Fictional oubliettes may also be creature pits, pitfall traps, or trap rooms that slowly crush unlucky victims. They may be found in castles and dungeons. They are home to prisoners, inconvenient princes, and skeletal remains.
| Synonyms: bottle dungeons |
| Example Mythonyms: the Throne Room Oubliette |
Designing Fictional Oubliettes
Archetypes
Overview
In fictional settings, oubliettes may have peepholes to the outside world or into nearby dungeon cells. There may be hidden doorways or hidden tunnels that allow for escape. Skeletal remains, those left here and forgotten about, may rest upon the cold floor. Rat nests may be found in the walls or corners.
