D&D 5E 101 Random Encounter Inspirations


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steeldragons

Steeliest of the dragons
Epic
19. Blood-curdling shriek is heard in the not-too-distant distance.

20. One of the PCs (and only one) sees an angel of their deity [or any major deity of whom they are aware], pointing in the direction they have just come from.

21. 10' diameter pit opens beneath the lead PC...or a random PC somewhere in the chamber/area, if not in a corridor/along a path.

22. An old woman is doing laundry on a stream/river/lake bank.

23. A carnival/circus is setting up camp [outside a town, in the middle of an empty field, in some secluded valley, wherever].

24. "Grr Arrgh." A zombie wanders toward the party. The remnants of its clothing reveal it to be of some fashion/design unfamiliar to the characters and surrounding region/known fashions.

25. You smell fresh baked cookies/muffins/pot pies/whatever tasty snacks the party will be inclined to enjoy.

26. There's a cask of wine. It's just sitting here, in this room/hallway/cellar/forest path/field/hillside/wherever.

27. You wake up. You're where you were, as far as you last recall.

28. You hear thunder and there's a sudden uptick in the strength of the breeze/wind.

29. You begin to sink into the earth/ground/floor beneath you.

30. Two fairies come flitting out from behind a flowering bush, wagging their fingers and shaking their heads in chastisement.
 

vandaexpress

First Post
31. A lone man dragging a massive coffin behind him approaches the party with bloodshot eyes

32. An incredibly well-dressed half-orc female with impeccable manners shows the PCs a picture of a PC's relative, apparently wanted for murder.

33. A one-armed ogre with an unconscious woman over his shoulder fleeing from an orcish war tribe

34. A group of Kobolds in an armored wheelbarrow pushed by a gnoll.

35. Two merchants arguing next to a broken wagon

36. A young woman being chased by a mob of villagers

37. A burning cottage surrounded by black-robed figures

38. A statue comes to life as the PCs walk by it, confused and asking what year it is.

39. An aggressive salesman pushing useless knicknacks and trinkets

40. A man with frazzled hair, wearing a barrel and nothing else, tells the PCs he needs to see the king immediately

41. A portal opens and a githyanki war party emerges to ask for directions

42. A silent hooded figure with a wagon containing long boxes - something is banging inside, as if trying to get out
 

43. A door bangs open and a voice shouts: "Nobody expects the Halfling Inquisition!"

44. A deep voice grumbles from beneath a sewer grate: "Pooooop."

45. The croaking sounds from the depth of the swamp resolve themselves into three words: "Blib" "Dool" "Poolp".

46. At a checkpoint ahead, royal guards are searching wagons for the missing crown jewels.

47. A halfling with a lute stands at the side of the road with a sign: "Adventurers Immortalized For Food."
 

LostSoul

Adventurer
48. A crashed rocket ship.

49. A large raven with the gift of speech.

50. A blind pilgrim.

51. A large skeletal steel tower (radio or power transmission tower) with a house built into its top.

52. The remains of a summoning circle and the corpse of a sacrificial victim.

53. A courier running past the PCs Marathon-style.

54. A walking witch's hut.

55. Skeletal trees whose boughs sigh under the weight of thousands of blackbirds.
 

Lidgar

Gongfarmer
56. A large pile of apples in a glade.

57. A bald, bearded man in flowing robes and holding a staff. He seems to be walking around aimlessly and muttering to himself.

58. A group of children staring at something in the middle of the road.

59. A bedraggled woman and child sobbing silently.
 


Hand of Evil

Hero
Epic
61. A group of kids, dirty and wild, no older than 12, all carry some form of weapon, hammers, knifes, chains, crowbars, etc. appear. One smiles, showing filed teeth.

62. A dog comes barking at the party, then runs to a well, it repeats this behavior...

63. A falling star streaks across the sky, then strikes beyond the hills with a vast boom.
 

64. Two oddly dressed young men ask the party for directions to the nearest persons of historical significance.

65. A group of men & women dressed in rags shuffles by. Their eyes are glazed over and they do not speak. Behind them walks a sheep.

66. A bugbear, dressed in fine clothing politely asks for directions to the nearest alehouse.
 

Hand of Evil

Hero
Epic
67. Party comes across a charred smoking body chained between two pillars.

68. Party starts to see runes painted on stones along side the road. Later, they come across a group of people painting them, if asked, they say they are finishing up a portal for an elder god.

69. The party comes to a sign in the road, nothing is wrote on it...it is a mimic!
 

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