Three Plot Hooks Per Monster

[mmadsen]

Over in the Am I the only one who doesn't like the D&D Vampire? thread, Kerrick complained that the Monster Manual doesn't provide any roleplaying notes for the monsters, that it's "simply a list of monsters to throw at the players, with little thought to making them true adversaries".

LostSoul recommended that we provide the missing plot hooks. So let's aim, as a group, for three good plot hooks per monster!

One to get us started:

Goblins -- For years the local Goblins have harrassed the local humans, stealing livestock, extorting cookies not to break fences, etc. Now, the Goblins have started making coordinated attacks on farms and small villages, stealing whole herds, killing farmers, and burning houses to the ground. What's going on? Who has taken over the Goblin tribe?

 

[mmadsen]

Ghouls -- Ghouls typically devour their kills, but they occasionally leave some to rise as newly spawned Ghouls. An evil group of Kuo-Toa Ghoul-herders, immune to Ghoul paralysis, is leading Ghouls to human settlements with chopped-up human chum, having them kill the inhabitants, then pulling the Ghouls off their kills with Pincer Staves, leaving the dead to rise as still more Ghouls for the herd.

 

[Rune]

Excellent!

Is this too specific?

Goblins -- An unusual tribe of goblins have founded a monestary, allowing members of any race to study in their peaceful monastic ways within their caves. So far, only goblinoid and other traditionally evil races have joined them, however. Are they up to something? If so, what?

 

[Desdichado]

If you want, I'll make up an html table with each monster in it, and I'll make a bulletted list of plot hooks for each monster. Try to keep them short, though: just a sentence or two per plot hook, and it'll work.

Sounds OK? Maybe Morrus will even host it here if it gets enough lift to actually fly as a viable document.

 

[TiQuinn]

A tried and true plot hook with a twist:

Chromatic Dragon - a dragon ravaging the countryside descends on a small town and offers a deal that would prevent their destruction. Every year, the townspeople must sacrifice one of their daughters to the dragon. The terrified townspeople agree. However, to their surprise, the daughters return to the town the very next day in a state of shock, but relatively unharmed. However, a month later, they discover that the would-be sacrifice is now pregnant. And they also find out that the dragon is very ready to destroy anyone who sets out to harm the unborn baby or his mother. What evil does the dragon have in store for the town and its offspring?

 

[The Serge]

Metallic Dragon: A massive Great Gold Wyrm descends into a small mining community, destroying the mine entrance and the barracks. It departs as suddenly as it arrived.

 

[alsih2o]

formian- the locals get scared when the formian workers burrow up thru the riverbed, diverting all of the water thru underground tunnels for their own use. how can this be stopped? and what do they need all that water for?

edit-spelling

any d.m.'s want the whole story? email me

 

[The Serge]

Giant Ants: A small community has recently started mining a small hill for precious metals and minerals. Now, three weeks later, miners are being attacked by giant ants.

 

[The Serge]

Pit Fiend: A Pit Fiend, disguised as an innocous bard, occasionally shows up to help PCs, giving them valuable information, potions of cure light to critical wounds, and a place to stay on occasion. One day, the Pit Fiend asks them what they would like more than anything else in the world...

 

[The Serge]

Lantern Archon: During a subterranean adventure, the PCs are approached by a Lantern who continually blocks their path. What lies beyond the guardian Archon?