D&D 5E Random Encounter - River

[rgoodbb]

I was hoping to pick the brains of you folks for some inspired encounter choices along upon a river based campaign I'm trying to get a feel for.

It is a rain-forest river quite like the Amazon

Wandering monsters, obstacles or social encounters are all welcome.

This will be my first attempt at DM'ing so any advice is most welcome.

Many thanks for your time and replies.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Some rambling ideas:

Disease.

Crocodiles, giant constrictors, piranhas.

Natives that will provide aid, but you must honor their customs that seem strange to outsiders. Like having to agree for each member of the party to marry a member of the tribe because only tribe members, which the party would be after marriage, are allowed to tread the lands the party needs to be guided through, and the tribe would be hostile if this custom is refused. Or needing to eat what is basically potentially deadly poison in order to prove worth.

And my favorite to include in any "wild" area: drums in the night, chanting, robed figures, strange signs painted or carved, idols depicting unknowable beasts - and a cult dedicated to the old ones, just going about their normal cult activities, which might just involve capturing some fresh meals for the eldritch beast they worship, or given to their patron old one through sacrifice.

 

[AnimeSniper]

Building off of @AaronOfBarbaria reply you could have ancient temples/cities overgrown by the jungle that would yield untold treasures and horrors for the party. May be the home of a giant poisonous spiders/scorpions nest

Many arcane markings inscribed on rocks/trees or mountainous cliff/river falls that appear only at night when the moonlight shines upon them. Moonlight may start activating an ancient summoning spell calling forth a protector of the temples/cities.

On the ingesting a deadly poison why not a concoction that gives said drinker hallucinogenic vision quests that leads them to said ruins of the ancient cult worshiping a particular deity...

 

[Lanliss]

I started a thread a short while back for people to put up random encounters, for occasions such as this. Not an insane amount in it just yet, but there is a good number to pick from. Whichever ones don't already fit your theme could also be changed, or just give you some inspiration.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?490939-An-endless-stream-of-random-encounters

 

[Demetrios1453]

What level are we talking about? If you're just starting out, I'm assuming you would want lower to mid-level encounter ideas?

Lower level, besides what has been mentioned above, lizardfolk and bullywugs would make good encounters.

Dinosaurs would make interesting and memorable encounters from low to mid-level, if you want to go for that "lost world" feel.

If you want to have ancient ruins and cultists as mentioned above, yuan-ti cults would be an excellent fit.

Other jungle-type encounters could include tribes of kobolds and goblins, skeletons and (especially) zombies to go along with any cults, and typical swamp creatures such as trolls and shambling mounds. You can even have black and green dragons if you are feeling particularly daring!

 

[Horwath]

Also natives can be hostile too.

They can hide ropes in the river, then raise them to block a boat, or even throw someone into river, costrictor snakes/crocodiles act here. Throw net from tree canopy that overhang the river. Poison darts. Disease from open wounds in stagnant water.

Ancient ruins filled with necromancers/demon worshippers.

 

[rgoodbb]

I knew you guys would be great, Thank you.

Being my first experience at DM'ing, I think I should go for 1st level.

I'm thinking Apocalypse Now type stuff in the day but mooring up each night. Each quest takes a long river journey. I had envisaged savage halfling tribes so this works into that perfectly.

Snakes, Piranhas, crocks, ancient ruins, tribal chanting, cultists, carved idols, poisons, diseases, tripping drugs, and hilarious promises of marriage. Just Great.

I shall check out that wandering monster site as well.

Cheers.

 

[Ed Laprade]

Don't forget hippos. They are far more dangerous than they look. And they are great for tipping over boats/rafts to get the players in the water for the crocs to play with.

 

[Tony Vargas]

If they're traveling by boat, you could have some natural hazards - shoals, sandbars, submerged logs, rapids, waterfalls.

The first thought I had on reading the thread title was a dam made by giant killer beavers, but that's not too amazony. Capibarras, though. Dire Capibarras? Nevermind...

Vampire bats, either perfectly normal or supernatural variations.

 

[AtomicPope]

I just finished a session where the PCs had to cross a dangerous river in an Amazonesque jungle to sneak into a Yuan Ti slave temple. Muddy waters, rain, and a heavy flowing river makes it a dangerous journey. I like to do Skill Challenges and events unfold based on their rolls, collective and individual. For the river we did the following:

Everyone must roll one skill check each turn. The PCs cross the river when the total number of successes equals 3 times their number. So if there's 4 PCs then that's 12 successful skill checks. If a PC makes 3 successful checks then they're across. I set the DC based on the skill used, and not all skills are useful. The more useful the skill the better off they'll be. Also, I allow them to "cancel" a failure by making an Athletic (Constitution) check DC 12, basically they're treading water.

Skills:
Athletics DC 12 (Strength or Dex)
Nature or Survival DC 15
Investigation or Perception DC 18

Failure: take 1d4 bludgeoning damage
Failure by 5 or more: as failure plus one level of Exhausion

Random event (roll 1d6):
1. Poisonous Snake - a poisonous snake makes one attack with Advantage then leaves
2-4. Log (roll a 1d6): on a 1-3 the log interferes (disadvantage), on a 4-6 it aids (advantage)
5. Quipper Swarm - a swarm of quippers attack every round after the PCs make their check.
6. Crocodile - a crocodile attacks every round the PCs make their check. If the Crocodile is below 50% hp it leaves. A restrained character automatically fails by 5.

* PCs can attack instead and tread water Athletics DC 12 (Con) to avoid failure.
* PCs who have made it can help other players by being clever, or attacking a creature. Give all creatures concealment for the muddy water.

Is this deadly? Yes and no. Really, it's just tiring. Exhaustion isn't deadly until later on. The goal of these skill challenges is to affect a change in the way the game is played and mimic is real life scenario. After tumbling through a raging river in the Amazon a PC will probably need a long rest and a Cure Light Wounds.