Just Another Road Thread

[ExploderWizard]

There have been several discussions using a road theme and the various ways one can take to reach a particular place.

This is not one of those threads.

What I would like this thread to be for is presenting, and discussing various types of situations and encounters that take place on the road or trail with a focus on the strange or unusual. A bandit ambush,for example, is pretty standard so please include something that would set it apart and make it memorable.

Stats are not required, in fact it would be nice for these to be useful ideas for any system. I will post an idea that I had later, after work.

 

[Raven Crowking]

You see a group of people along the road. They are not walking or running. They are not having an edition war. They are getting this joke out of the way so that the thread may continue.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Animal carcasses in the ditch are always good. Flies buzzing, stench, a bit too ripe to easily examine. I wonder what killed it?

A party of nobles and retainers who demand that the party vacate the roadway until they've passed.

A boy leading a white cow to market. Her name is Milky White; his name is Jack.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Here's one...one to be avoided:

4. THE BRIGANDS

A group of seven men approaches. They are following the road east, and are making good time, neither tarrying nor running. Their faces are expressionless. One is dressed as a cleric of some sort, and another is dressed as a traveling drummer. The others could be peasants or serfs going from one location to another for the harvest season. Each carries some sort of weapon. It is plain that they are not soldiers by their haphazard way of walking. They do not seem to be joking loudly or singing as they advance.

The party encounters seven brigands. One is the leader (Fighter; AC 5; MV 6' per round; HD 3; hp 13; % in Lair 20%; #AT 1; Dmg 1-6 Sword +1; SA Sword +1; SD Standard), of the other six brigands (Fighters; AC 7; MV 6' per round; HD 1-6; hp 10 each; % In Lair 20%; #AT 1; Dmg 1-6 [sword]; SA None; SD Standard). The brigands look like rough men and carry weapons that pilgrims or wayfarers would not.

The brigands charge when they are 25 feet from the party of adventurers. They are all armed with swords. Roll 1d6. On 1-3 the brigands surprise, on 3-4 there is no surprise, and on 5-6 the party surprises. The brigands will fight until they are all dead, or until the party has been killed. If a brigand is captured, he will offer to lead the party to his hide-out (Area 2A Map) if they spare his life. He will not volunteer any more information about the hideout, but will not lie if asked a direct question about it.

(That's an excerpt from The Forest Oracle.)

 

[BriarMonkey]

A circus, carnival, or other traveling troupe, could be an interesting encounter.

With the reasonable size of tentage and vendors and wagons, and perchance some exotic animals, it is highly unlikely that they would be set up in town, but instead a short distance from town. Most likely in a field astride the roadside.

 

[Raven Crowking]

[MENTION=19675]Dannyalcatraz[/MENTION]: Yeah, that was the one I was (poorly) referencing in post #2.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You see a red-headed stranger on the side of the road; he is strumming a tune on an old, beaten up lute.

He hails you, and then offers some leaves for pipe smoking.

He says he is waiting there to make some friends with whom he can travel. His main interest is making music while journeying- he is eager to travel with you.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I know- you were probably posting while I was pasting!

 

[jonesy]

A DM at a convention once offered the following:
"You see a bear standing in the middle of the road. It is huge. It looks dangerous. It is looking at you. It seems to be mentally giving you the finger. But since you do not speak bear, you can not be sure which finger it is."

Our current DM last week:
"You feel eyes watching you. As you peer into the forest you see a beholder. It doesn't seem to have noticed you. You have no idea who you thought was watching you."

 

[Raven Crowking]

I know- you were probably posting while I was pasting!

Probably. And, may I say that other encounter seems suspiciously familiar to me as well?