Inspired by the submerged megalithic structures of Sein Island I was thinking about near offshore ruins and the adventure potential thereof.
I talked a bit in the past about who is about in d20 Aquatic powers and dwellers of the deep and some of the things on the deep sea bed including interactions with the underdark in d12 Settlements of the Undercoast but for this one I wanted to think a bit about shallow-water structures, ones that might once - or recently - have been above surface, or are emerging now due to sea level shifts. All this supposes a shallow depth gradient - any place where you have a sea-cliff like drop off, that much sea going away is an apocalypse scenario harsher that what I am thinking of.
Setting aside how things become above/below water - a myriad of natural or magical effects and disasters could be responsible. Assume that a change in sea level is affecting only the sunlit zone that goes down 1/8 of a mile - the sea-level shift of our world across the last ice age caused only 1/12 miles difference.
Some possible thoughts on what we might end up with on a patch of seabed that was once above the surface:
1. Recently happened - a peninsula sunk, a recent glacier collapse or sea level rise - leaving a structure with potential air pockets within. This would be similar to a flooded dungeon but with some added adventure in getting down there and getting the plunder out.
2. Long ago but known to be rich - last remants of old power still remain - some warded buildings, undead or constructs still roam about the seafloor. There are hazards that can be overcome by using the submerged status and a mix of looted flooded bits and untouched dry bits with residual dangers.
3. Ancient origin and a site for underwater conflict - long flooded, nothing remains but the sturdiest of structural parts and it is just exotic terrain for an underwater fight.
IRL we have our example above of Sein Island and Doggerland - sea levels rising flood out old structure built by land dwellers - 'sunken realms.'
Running this the other way, where the seas retreat and we find structures emerging from the seas - we would have all of the above, once submerged and now re-arisen through some other disaster and accessible - perhaps for a limited time - complete with novel hazards or merely those rooted in long neglect.
Where origins of structures start to get interesting are:
1. Aquatic groups who might have been building there and now abandon their structures as the seas withdraw
2. Groups perfectly happy living in and out of water - storm giants
3. Groups who can live out of water but would not be happy about it - sahuagin and tritons
Sunlight zoners like merfolk, merrow, aquatic elves and locathah would have built structures designed for swimming through which will be awkward to navigate out of water
Monster lairs may be exposed that are challenging hazards to access even before intentional hazards are factored in - aboleth, kraken - where their one time masters abandon them due to inability to operate out of water.
Other monster lairs such as those of Ixitxachitl or illithids might be abandoned because they have no desire to dwell in the light - they could remain and become nocturnal but they find themselves confined to their homes by the hateful glare of the baleful daystar.
Some other highly magical entities like marids and beholders, while capable of operating out of the water would typically have no desire to remain because water is their preferred habitat.
One would assume all around will be devastated kelp forests and dying coral reefs within which maybe the dwellings of things like water nympths, undines or the like - my impression is that few of them would leave much trace.
Structures inhabited by the undead might rise from the depths and be among the least affected
Communities of tortles, lizardfolk and other semi-aquatic groups might find their nice safe flooded cave entrance is no longer so and decide to abandon the place or remain and become drylanders
Storm giants are notably happy above and below the waves but their new shallow-land holdings would be very aesthetically displeasing being neither high mountain or submerged any more and could be found either abandoned or inhabited by a very irritated resident.
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