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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7063604" data-attributes="member: 20323">Too much fun <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> God bless you (geek) educators!Well, starting in a town then making wilderness trek to dangerous monster-inhabited caves? That sounds like Keep on the Borderlands. Which is a pretty classic place to start.I'll vouch for the DMG random tables being very usable, much cooler than I was expecting. You can see some of my attempts at making sensible dungeons using those tables in my sig.Hmm. Well, you haven't given a lot to go on yet...but I'll wing some ideas...Day One: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The eccentric peddler met while traveling or in town; he's comic relief but may sell them something that proves to be helpful later. Best if you ham up his personality, helping kids to get over any shyness or hesitation, showing them it's OK to role-play.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Goblin raiders with something distinctive to their weaponry or appearance – a strange brown "feather" maybe? – that foreshadows who they serve or what sorts of monsters they keep in the caves – rust monsters maybe? For the kids who are paying attention.</li> </ul>Day Two:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The man in the crow's cage (think Mad Martigan); he's clearly sketchy, the terms of his punishment may or may not be just, but he offers to help guide the PCs. Do they trust him? Good intro to inter-party conflict and coming to agreeable compromises.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Guardian of the caves; a seemingly scary ogre, ettin, or troll, who is actually quite docile and enjoys basket-weaving or some other harmless hobby. Watches over entrance next to a giant gong. Very polite, would let the PCs pass if he/she could, but needs a good story to tell the boss if questioned. Introduces the kids to the idea that not all monsters need to be killed, and sometimes talking is a better solution. Attacking, but allowing guardian time to ring the gong, lets kids see consequence of their actions.</li> </ul>Day Three:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">That treasure chest is actually a mimic! It has helpful advice about the caves, but won't share it unless the PCs bring it whatever its favorite food is. Maybe a rust monster?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rust monster training grounds, with goblins mounted on rust monsters wielding bone spears tipped with dangling coins to lure the rust monsters forward into battle. Scenery-wise some kind of epic chasm bridge would be classic. Think Goblin-Town from Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.</li> </ul>Day Four:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hall of riddles leading up to the final chamber. Each riddle answered correctly gives some boon in the upcoming battle. Maybe combine with a room trap to put some pressure on them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A plot twist! Are both brothers to be trusted? What's in their inheritance? Why couldn't they enter the caves really?</li> </ul></blockquote>

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