Friday Encounter: The Shrine of Blood

Here's an encounter I used in a recent session. It was originally designed as a dungeon room, but it could easily work as a feature on the road or in the wilderness as well.

I generally hew to the wisdom that magic items that just give flat bonuses to rolls are the most boring kind of magic items there are, and don't feel particularly magical. Case in point, it was only a few years ago that I realized that +1 weapons and armor were actually supposed to be magical, and not just a way to represent superior craftsmanship (maybe video games have spoiled me). If I'm going to use a magic item, I think it should always have special properties, abilities, and limitations that make it more than just a flat bonus. If you can abstract a magic item into the calculations of your attack roll, then you forget that you have the item in the first place, and magic should never be forgettable.

However, I can't deny there is a use for flat bonuses to attacks some times - it just makes for a really underwhelming treasure or quest reward. Here's a way you can make +1 weapons more interesting by giving them unique conditions to attain them, and limitations on their use.

The Shrine of Blood

The PCs should come upon a shrine where the statue of a god of war and battle (Kerne, Estark, Ares, Crom, or whoever fits the role in your setting) is stood with a shallow wide-brimmed bowl at its feet. Engraved in silver along the bowl's rim are the words "My champions shall be anointed in the blood of their enemies." A DC 10 Religion check will identify the god and their nature as a god of war; clerics, paladins, and characters with the Acolyte background or similar will know this automatically. Additionally, a follower of the god who prays in front of the shrine will receive a vision of the statue coming to life and dipping one of its weapons into the bowl.

If anyone fills the bowl with blood from a creature they have slain within the day and then dips a weapon into it, the statue's eyes glow, followed by the weapon glowing for a few seconds. That weapon then becomes a +1 weapon of the appropriate type until the next long rest, at which point it reverts to its original state. The blood is consumed through this ritual, but the bowl can be refilled an unlimited amount of times. The ritual will not work if the blood is not fresh, or if the user did not land the killing blow on the creature the blood came from.

Friday Encounter: Ogres' Ferry

Following up with the theme I've been on for the last few Friday Encounter posts, here's a simple puzzle I used in a recent session. I used it as a room in a dungeon, but it could easily be used in the wilderness as well.

The PCs should come across a river that is flowing too quickly to easily cross on foot, and no bridge or ford in sight. A small rowboat, big enough to hold two people at a time, is sitting on the shore closest to the PCs. Also on the shore with the PCs are a number of ogres equal to that of the party members, who are standing around grumbling and arguing with one another. At the sight of the PCs, they accost them, insisting they need their help to ferry them across the river. They note that they have been stranded here a while, and are growing hungry.

This encounter is based on an old logic puzzle known as the "missionaries and cannibals problem" or "jealous husbands problem" - to boil it down to the essentials, you have to get two parties of equal size across the river, making sure that Party A does not outnumber Party B on either bank of the river at any time.

In this case, the party must transport each ogre to the other side of the river. The boat can hold two people at any time - they can be ogres, PCs, or any combination of the two. However, the ogres are hungry enough to make a bid for the PCs if they think they can get away with it. The ogres are cowards, and they won't try to attack the PCs if there are more PCs present on their bank than ogres. But as soon as they outnumber the PCs on a given bank, they'll attack, ganging up on the PCs so they can kill and eat them.

To make sure this information is available to the players, you may wish to have one of the ogres grab for the outnumbered PC(s) as soon as the boat begins to leave the shore, so that whoever is rowing has a chance to intervene - if the ogres see them change course, they'll immediately drop what they're doing. In any case, the party will either have to take multiple trips to get all ogres and PCs on the other side of the river, or prepare for a fight.

According to Wikipedia, the missionaries and cannibals problem can be solved in a minimum of 11 moves if there are three missionaries and three cannibals (or husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, masters and valets...you get the idea). In order to add urgency to this encounter, you could have the tides slightly rise after each move - the PCs must solve the puzzle in, say, 20-30 moves (to give them leeway to make mistakes) before the tides become too high to safely cross the river. If this happens, they might be swept away, potentially requiring them to make some rolls to avoid being tossed overboard, or perhaps they'd be washed away to a new location. In my campaign, I had three party members and three ogres. If you have a larger party, you'll need to increase the number of alloted moves.

In my campaign, one of the ogres had a broken arm, preventing him from rowing the boat. This would explain why the ogres couldn't row themselves across, and forces the PCs to man the boat at least once. However, my players used this to surmise that the ogre with the broken arm wouldn't be able to fight them either, and that he wouldn't count toward the number of ogres outnumbering the party since he couldn't pose a threat. This made the puzzle significantly easier, but it was logic I couldn't argue with, so I let them have it.

Since I was using this puzzle in a dungeon, I had a door open once all the PCs and ogres were on the same side of the river. You could have this be operated by a pressure plate that will only open under the combined weight of all PCs and ogres standing on it (note that creatures would not need to be alive in order to meet the required weight). Or you could have a passage or treasure located on a higher ledge that the PCs can only access by climbing on the ogres' shoulders.

Friday Encounter: Fallen Star

This encounter definitely isn't for everyone, and that's okay. It introduces elements of science fiction into the campaign, which might work in a setting that trends more gonzo or isn't afraid to mix genres, but would probably be about as jarring as a brick to the face in a campaign with a more mythic or purely fantastic tone. But the beauty of D&D, as I've outlined before, is that it can do both - and my recent discussions on sci-fi put it in my head. This isn't an encounter I would use in my typical campaigns, but maybe it would work for you.

This encounter is best used in the wilderness, but it could also work on the road or in a more settled area. It probably has the most potential if used in a low-tech setting - most medieval fantasy settings would qualify, but in a campaign that already trends toward science fiction, it could be used on an underdeveloped backwater planet. The idea is to put advanced technology into the hands of the PCs, and explore how that impacts the world around them.

The PCs should ideally hear rumors of a comet sighted in the vicinity - a bright light in the night sky that went shrieking toward the ground, after which a great tremor was felt through the earth. Or the PCs might observe such a phenomenon themselves and decide to investigate.

Either way, if the PCs decide to investigate the site where the "star" was said to have fallen, they will discover a strange mass of smoking twisted metal, about the size of a large carriage, lying in a crater. It appears to be a machine of some sort, but using mechanisms and components beyond anything they've seen before. There is a door on the machine - it is bent and warped, but a DC 10 Athletics check can be used to force the door open; this check can be made with Advantage if a PC has a crowbar or another object that could be used to wedge it open.

If the door is opened, the PCs will discover a compartment inside where two skeletons of an unknown humanoid race are seated before an array of lights and switches, dressed in strange and tattered attire. Further investigation will yield documents in an indecipherable language. Using comprehend language will determine that these are orders from the "Ashtar Galactic Command" to patrol the "Omicron-92 Sector" to protect against "piracy and incursions from the Lidarian Federation;" if the players press further, make up more contextless sci-fi sounding jargon as needed. Furthermore, each of the skeletons is carrying a holster at their hip containing a pistol-like device; another such device, like an oddly-shaped arquebus, is located in a cache behind them.

The "falling star" was in fact an alien spaceship that crash-landed on the campaign world - and left its advanced technology behind. The pistols are laser pistols, and the other gun is a laser rifle (see the Dungeon Master's Guide section on firearms). You can also throw in other advanced technological devices for the PCs to plunder if you wish. These don't have to be anything fancy - for example, a device that can create a flame at the press of the button without the need for fuel (ie, a lighter) would be an incredible treasure in a world where fires are lit by flint and steel.

In a typical medieval fantasy world, these weapons will be more powerful than most mundane weapons available - but on the flip side, no one will be familiar with what they are or how to use them, and the PCs must discover their properties through trial and error. They will also likely be quite valuable if the PCs can find the right buyer - a feudal lord or bandit chief with access to such power would be nearly uncontested. However, that same value could easily paint a target on the PCs if knowledge spreads that they are carrying such items.

For a variation on this encounter, perhaps the PCs aren't the first to get to the crash site. Maybe the ship has landed near a town, and the people have already salvaged its technology - if so, the party might hear rumors of people armed with powerful "magical" devices that they guard fiercely. Or the devices might already be in the hands of entities hostile to the party. Either way, it's unlikely that they'd give such things back without a fight.

And if you really want to shake the campaign up, perhaps the ship's employers might come back looking for it...

Friday Encounter: Interrupted Summoning

This encounter could be used in a dungeon, at a site in the wilderness, or maybe even in a town - preferably in some run-down house tucked away in a dark alley out of sight. You may want to plant rumors in the surrounding areas of strange robed figures gathering and chanting heard in the vicinity if you wish to lead your players to investigate.

Background

The Brotherhood of the Scarlet Palm is a cult of demon worshipers, seeking to contact Hell in order to negotiate with demons for earthly power. It was not long ago that they first began meeting in secret under the leadership of a disgruntled merchant named Vladislav Mikhailov, who, upon facing numerous failed business ventures, decided to summon a demon in order to guarantee him financial success. However, Vladislav's resources were limited, and he did not have access to arcane knowledge, having to cobble together his notes from a few scattered texts. This resulted in his cult performing a few botched and ineffective rituals, but they remained desperate enough to keep trying.

Through some miracle, Vladislav finally managed to contact a demon - a pit fiend by the name of Ag'draluun the Tormentor - a few days ago, and set to summon him into the mortal plane to discuss a deal. He set a protective circle over the ground, burned some candles, and read some incantations. Through this, Vladislav was able to open a portal to Ag'draluun's domain - but the ritual did not work according to plan. The cultists were able to form a portal, but not one big enough to accomodate such a hulking creature. Now, Ag'draluun is trapped partway in and partway out of the portal - and the cultists are in the middle of trying to get it to open the rest of the way.

The Encounter

The party should come upon Vladislav's circle to find three cultists standing at the points of a triangle inscribed on the ground, surrounded by a rim of candles that burn with violet flames. They have their heads bowed low and are chanting. At the center of the circle, suspended in the air, is what appears to be a rift in reality. It appears like a hole in a tapestry opening into an orange glow, but floats in midair above the ground. The portal gives off an intense heat, and flames can be seen flickering around it. Every so often, a huge clawed arm, covered in black scales like cracked magma, emerges from the portal, flailing around, and muffled cursing in Infernal can be heard.

One square equals five feet.

There are five other cultists gathered before the circle, watching; Vladislav stands behind them, flipping through a book at a hurried pace. It should be obvious that he is the leader; for instance, he may wear differently colored robes than his underlings.

Additionally, there is a circle of pillars gathered around the circle. These have the Concealing, Full Cover, and Impassible terrain tags - they provide full cover, cannot be passed through, and creatures hiding behind them have Advantage on Stealth checks.

Enter Action Time. The cultists will be too busy with trying to correct the ritual to monitor their surroundings, giving the PCs the opportunity to sneak up on them; they will thus not attack if they are not alerted to the presence of intruders. However, if the PCs do draw the cult's attention, Vladislav will order the cultists to attack.

Vladislav has the stats of a cult fanatic; his underlings have the stats of cultists. He will start by sending the five cultists staying back by him to ward off the PCs while he tries to lead the ritual. The three cultists gathered around the circle will remain where they are, continuing to chant. If two or more cultists are killed or incapacitated, or if Vladislav is directly accosted, he will enter the fight.

As long as the portal remains stuck in its partially open state, the three cultists at the circle will spend each of their turns chanting. When this happens, roll a d20 - on a roll of 11 or higher, the cultist successfully performs a chant. At the end of a round, if any cultist succeeded on the chant that round, the portal flickers and begins to widen. If no cultists succeeded, the portal remains in its current state.

Ag'draluun is trapped on the other side of the portal, unable to pass through. He cannot move across it (it's too small), and his Fear Aura will not affect creatures on the other side of the portal; however, he will reach through and make an attack with his claws at any PCs within five feet of the portal. If the portal is widened three times, it opens fully, summoning Ag'draluun into the world. He is quite angry that the summoning was performed so poorly, and is just as wont to attack the cultists as he is the PCs - but he won't hesitate to attack them either, if they're in range!

If all three cultists around the circle are killed or incapacitated, the portal winks out of existence. Ag'draluun's arm will be caught outside of it if this happens, causing it to be cut off; it falls to the ground before burning away into cinders. Alternatively, you could make it persist so that the PCs could retrieve it - the arm of a demon would surely have interesting alchemical properties.

Further Developments

If Vladislav is alive when the portal closes, he will flee the scene. He may become a recurring antagonist to the party - but perhaps a less than effectual one, unless he discovers more useful arcane knowledge. Either way, he will leave behind his books, which contain notes on a few rituals cobbled together from different sources. Some of this information could prove useful if the PCs need to research a ritual. Also left near the portal are his bags, containing 150 GP in gold and jewels and a scroll of Tasha's Hideous Laughter.

Ag'draluun might make for a recurring antagonist as well. Even if the portal was closed on him, he now knows the party, and will blame them for the loss of his arm, seeking a portal or a more competent summoner to re-enter reality so that he can enact his vengeance.

And if the portal was opened and the party somehow survived...well, they now have released an incredibly powerful demon upon the world, and can expect to deal with the consequences!

Friday Encounter: Elvish Negotiations

Art by Zara Alfonso

This encounter is, admittedly, a bit specific to the Lunar Lands. It was in part created as a way to introduce players to how I run elves, and to introduce some exposition on what they're like in the setting. But it could also work in a setting where elves are of a similar quality (I make no claims that my take isn't heavily influenced by things like The Elder Scrolls, Dwarf Fortress, and Magic: the Gathering's Llanowar Elves). And it presents an interesting opportunity to use elves as antagonists - something I feel is all too underused.

Plenty of ink has been spilled on the trope of inherently evil races - if it's worth what it brings to the table, if it's too limiting, if it's necessary. But I don't see anyone talking about inherently good races. Let me ask you: when was the last time you've had random encounters where you had to fight elves, dwarves, or halflings? Humans show up as bandits plenty of times, but it seems like many DMs struggle to think of the traditional PC races in roles beyond those of helpful allies. To me, that's a missed opportunity. I think there's room for evil elves just as much as there's room for good orcs. If anything, elves should be antagonistic to the party more often - not only are they traditionally aloof and disdainful of other races, there's plenty of literary precedent in tales of the fair folk, with whims and customs utterly alien to those of humans, to say nothing of the Mirkwood elves in The Hobbit, who are just as dangerous as the goblins of the Misty Mountains. So let's forget about Legolas for a moment, and explore an encounter with elves that might not go so comfortably for the party.

Elvish Negotiations

This encounter is best used in a wilderness setting, preferably in a forest. If you wish to use it in other environments, you may wish to make adjustments to fit the terrain.

The party should come across a clearing where a band of elves is harrassing some human woodcutters. There are three men tied to the tree with animal sinews, surrounded by six elves holding spears to their throats. Another elf, Misleikkuri, stands overseeing them, his arms folded and an imperious glare fixed on the woodsmen.

If questioned, the elves will explain that the woodcutters were caught tresspassing near an elven glade and felled a few trees. The woodcutters insist that they did not know the lands belonged to the elves, but the elves refuse them any mercy. In fact, they are prepared to subject them to a slow and torturous death by sawing them in half with a dull blade, one by one, citing that it is what they did to the trees. After they are dead, they will tan their hides, devour their flesh, and sharpen their bones into knives. The elves show no emotion about this, viewing it as perfectly natural and relating it in as casual and nonchalant a matter as an elf's way of relating anything can be so called.

A DC 10 History or Religion check will reveal that elves commonly view the trees as their gods and ancestors, so killing one is viewed as a grave transgression. A character who grew up around elves (usually if they themselves are an elf, but not always; eg. an elf raised among humans would not necessarily know this) will know this automatically.

If the PCs attempt to bargain for the lives of the woodsmen, Misleikkuri will accept a deal. He will accept their ransom at a rate of 500 GP's value per man - he sees such foolish and short-lived things as humans as little more than commodities, and will barter them as such. However, he will not accept the payment in coinage, as the elves have little use for the shiny metals of humans. Mundane items will be accepted at their value in GP, uncommon magic items at a rate of 100 GP each, rare magic items at 200 GP each, very rare magic items at 300 GP each, legendary magic items at 500 GP each, and artifacts at 1000 GP each.

Additionally, the PCs can attempt to haggle with Misleikkuri to lower the ransom on a given man. A successful DC 15 Persuasion check will cause him to lower that man's ransom by 100 GP; elves have Advantage on this check, as Misleikkuri is more trustful of them than humans. However, if this check is failed, Misleikkuri will grow frustrated with the negotiations, and his attitude will grow more hostile. If any items he is offered are made of wood, or another plant product, he will also be insulted, as their existence is proof that a tree was felled to make them.

If Misleikkuri is insulted three times (either through a failed check, an offer of wood, or if the DM feels such a response is warranted to the PC's conduct - keep in mind, this should be warranted from the perspective of a being who thinks of himself as higher and above human morality, and who sees humans the way we see cattle), he will call off negotiations. Any woodsmen the PCs managed to free before this will be allowed to go, but any that remain will be condemned to death. For folkloric resonance and to give the PCs information to strategize with, Misleikkuri should make it explicitly clear, if the PCs enter negotiations, that he will only let himself be insulted three times. Each time he is insulted, he will remind the party how many attempts they have left.

If the PCs attempt to free the woodcutters by force, or if they continue to try and get Misleikkuri to release them even after he has ended negotiations, he will order the elves to attack. They have the stats of a scout; additionally, Misleikkuri himself has the stats of an archer (see Volo's Guide to Monsters). In addition to the six elves in the open, there are three additional scouts hidden in the trees; they are behind three-quarters cover, and any ranged attacks made at them from the clearing are made at Disadvantage.

Friday Encounter: Star Metal

This encounter can be used anywhere outdoors, but probably has the most potential in a wilderness environment relatively close to civilization.

One way or another, the PCs should catch sight of a falling star, shortly before they hear the sound of a loud crash in the distance. If they investigate this site, they will find a large, smoking rock lying in the middle of a crater amidst flattened grass and toppled trees. A meteor has fallen here!

A DC 10 Nature check will determine that meteors often contain iron. A DC 10 Religion check will reveal that meteoric iron is considered a gift from the heavens in many cultures - and a DC 10 Arcana check will reveal that this iron, known as star metal or thunderbolt iron, is prized for having magical properties beyond that of earthly iron.

If the iron is mined from the meteor, there is about 60 pounds' worth of metal that can be obtained. Objects such as weapons and armor can be smithed from this metal, at a rate of one pound iron to one pound of the final product (for example, it could be used to make a single set of splint armor, 10 shields, 20 longswords, 60 daggers, etc.). Any weapons and armor made from the iron are treated as +1 items of that type; additionally, creatures wearing armor made of star metal have Advantage on all spell save DCs, as the iron is resistant to magical effects.

However, this equipment cannot be made without the use of a forge and a trained blacksmith. The party may need to transport the meteor to a forge if they wish to make use of its bounty. The meteor weighs 150 pounds in total and is cumbersome to carry; a bipedal creature carrying it may not use their hands for any other action while hauling the meteor. It can be carried on a cart or sled, but this may slow travel if it weighs the vehicle down. Getting the meteor to a blacksmith willing to work it may well be a quest in and of itself.

A character with proficiency in smith's tools can forge an item from the iron at a rate of one day of work per item, but they must have access to the proper tools as well as a forge and anvil in order to do so.

Keep in mind that things might not be easy even after taking the meteor to someone who knows how to work it. The blacksmith will likely demand compensation for such a task, and may even want to keep some of the iron for themselves, especially if they aren't familiar with the party and no reason to trust them. Furthermore, if word spreads about the star metal (such as if the PCs return to town to look for someone who can work it or help transport it, or if they show up in a settlement with the meteor in tow), they might attract the attention of thieves, or the feudal lord might lay claim to the iron if the meteor fell in his domain.

For that matter, the fair folk are repelled by iron, and they would have good reason to keep a source of it hidden so that it cannot be used against them. If the meteor is not collected in 1d4 days, a fey lord in the area will place a spell over it to make it invisible to mortal eyes, while fairies will try to waylay anyone who goes near the site - or accost them, if they must.

The Southern Archipelago

At the tip of the southern continent in the overworld of

Dragon Quest II is a series of islands, several of which have interesting features. As someone whose gateway drug to fantasy was Greek mythology, and who lists The Odyssey as one of my major influences, it should come as no surprise that I like the concept of strange and enchanted islands with all matter of unusual encounters to be found. For The Saga of the Ortegids, I'd like to treat this region as something like that.

You could easily run a seafaring campaign going from island to island, encountering strange and unique phenomena on each. The islands detailed in the game are listed below.

I'd likely add a few more islands for a campaign of this sort, to give more material. Ideally, each island should have a distinct hook or gimmick, such as a tribe of locals with some peculiar culture or a unique and powerful monster. Here is a post with some ideas. Helpful hint: if you think of islands in this sort of campaign the way Star Trek writers think of planets, you're pretty much there.

Art by DylanvdLinde

• Zahan: The easternmost of the islands, home to a village where all able-bodied men live as fishermen. They are often away at sea, leaving the village populated by their wives, children, and elders. There is also a wizard who lives here. His mansion is warded by traps, but he is in the possession of a loom that can be used to weave a robe from water, giving the wearer protection against fire.
• The island directly west of Zahan has a shrine with a portal that links to the castle in Midenhall. This is one of a few teleportation shrines in the game, serving as a fast travel system.
• The Shrine of Fire is located on an island to the northwest of Zahan. There are portals here that lead to shrines near Lianport, Beran, and Alefgard. These portal shrines are quite similar in function to the ancient Aliahanian ruins from Dragon Quest III, but it's unlikely that they were created by the Aliahanian Empire, as all those portals are restricted to Erdland. If the Aliahanians settled in Torland, you would think they would build at least one portal to there, given that the inner world is otherwise very difficult to access. It's possible, however, that these portals have been lost to time. Alternatively, there could have been a similar world-spanning empire in Torland that built portals to link their colonies, or they could have built by the Ortegid Empire under Aleph Wyrmbeorn, considering that one of these portals is in his capital.
• On the island just east of the mainland, surrounded by mountains and desert (or perhaps, like Empress Castle, this should be interpreted to be a high mountain), there is a grove where a leaf of the Worldtree can be obtained. This can cure people of curses and ailments. I tried to line up the maps of Erdland and Torland, but if we assume that the Pit of Giaga is directly above Tantegel (as that's where it spits you out in DQ3), then this island would be beneath either Suland or Baharata, not the Worldforest, where a similar secret exists in 3. However, it's possible this leaf could come from an offshoot of the Worldtree's roots that extends further east.

Art by Einar Martinsen

• Not shown on the map, but included for completion, is a mountainous island (or, again, another mountain) midway between the southern continent and Dirkandor. At low tide, the island is surrounded by shoals that make it inaccessible, but when the tide rises, ships can sail into a cave on the south shore. Note that in the game, you need to use a fragment of the moon to alter the tides - as Torland is the inside of a hollow world presumably with no moon, this may be the only way to affect the tides. This cave is the site of a hideout of the Children of Hargon, a cult devoted to Malroth, the god of chaos and destruction - they likely chose the location as it's difficult to access, thus making it hard for the authorities to track them here.

Friday Encounter: Drinking with Satyrs

This encounter could be used on the road, in the wilderness, or in a dungeon. If encountered outdoors, it works best at night. If the PCs come upon it weary after a day of traveling, they may be forced to weigh their options more.

The party should come across a campfire where three men are sitting around drinking heartily from wineskins, laughing and singing all the while. All of them are wearing hats and boots. As soon as they catch sight of the party, they introduce themselves as a group of merry wayfarers partaking in the joys of a life unburdened by oversight and authority, and invite the PCs to join them, citing that if they too choose to live life for themselves, they should be happy to celebrate likewise.

However, not all is as it seems. The three men are really satyrs in disguise, using their hats to cover their horns and boots to cover their hooves. Using Divine Sense or a similar ability will detect fey creatures at the campfire, and a successful DC 10 Perception check will note that they seem to be staggering around as though they aren't used to wearing shoes - though that could just from them being drunk. A result of 20 or more will also note that one of them seems to bleat like a goat when he laughs.

The three men do genuinely just want to enjoy living life on their own terms, and believe that all should follow their philosophy. They have no other ulterior motives besides inviting the PCs for a bit of fun, and they've disguised themselves as humans mainly because they thought it would be amusing. However, what they don't realize is that mortals aren't exactly equipped to handle the fey wine they drink.

If the PCs reject the satyrs' offer, their leader will be disappointed and attempt to persuade them to stay, but they will not force them or inconvenience them in any way if they don't comply. If they choose to join in, the satyrs will happily invite them to their campfire and pass them all wineskins. They will sing long into the night and rope the PCs into games - you could use the drinking contest mechanics I came up with for this previous encounter, or just roleplay everything. However, what's important is that the PCs should black out by the end of the night. No one can hope to outdrink a satyr, and the wine of the fair folk is a potent one indeed.

When the PCs come to, they should be in an unfamiliar location, with a pounding headache and no recollection of anything that happened for the rest of the night. The satyrs will not harm them in any way, as doing that would be a violation of hospitality, and all their belongings will be where they left them - they just know that something wild happened last night. The idea is to get the PCs lost in a creative way, and have them try to find their way back to where they were when they have no recollection of the route. You could also leave the PCs with clues to the sorts of insane antics they got into while drunk, which may provide hooks for future adventures (think The Hangover, or that one quest from Skyrim), but be advised that not all players enjoy having their characters do things outside of their control, so it's best to know your table for this part.

Friday Encounter: A Witch's Broom

Here's an encounter aimed at giving the PCs access to a powerful magic item that could change their approach to problems - and to the strings attached. It can be used in any environment, but may make the most sense in the open wilderness.

The party should come across an unusual sight - the dead body of an old woman, dressed in a black robe and with an assortment of herbs and small bones in pouches on her belt, lies against a tree, hillside, or other obstacle. In her hand, she clutches a broomstick, which is inlaid with golden bands and has the word "Alako" engraved in the wood. A DC 10 Arcana or History check will determine that this means "flight" in Elvish. A character who can speak Elvish will know this automatically. Additionally, a DC 20 Investigation check will indicate that the body shows signs of blunt force trauma to the head and face, such as bruises on the skin.

The dead woman is a witch by the name of Katyusha Stepanova. She was riding on her enchanted broomstick when it crashed into an obstacle, killing her. Katyusha has nothing of value on her person save for the broomstick, which acts as a broom of flying - it can fly at a speed of 50 feet per turn when the command word of "Alako" is spoken. This naturally may prove a useful asset to the party, and may affect how they approach puzzles and obstacles.

However, nothing comes without a price, especially at the table. Katyusha had a sister - an older, more responsible witch named Vitalya Stepanova, who was aware of her sister's dalliances and wanted to keep a close eye on her. To that end, she placed a scrying charm on Katyusha's broomstick so that she could track it from her tower and watch wherever her sister went. And, if she tunes her crystal ball to the broom only to see it being carried around by a bunch of complete strangers, she'll assume the worst.

Vitalya will surmise that the PCs have killed Katyusha and made off with her broomstick - and to that end, she'll seek revenge. She will send curses against the party, afflicting them with foul weather, and command the creatures of the wilderness to rise up against them. Vitalya does not directly identify herself as being behind these attacks, at least not at first. Ideally, the PCs should run into several such encounters with Vitalya's magic before they start realizing that these incidents, and the broomstick, are connected. If they question NPCs in the area, they may be able to pass on rumors of the two witch sisters, and point them in the direction of their residences.

If the players start putting two and two together, or if they keep bypassing the encounters without picking up on anything, you may want to have Vitalya make a more direct appearance threatening them. This might lead the PCs to her tower if they want to settle things - where there will surely be more dangers awaiting them...

Friday Encounter: The Clueless Ghost

This encounter can be used in any dangerous environment - a dungeon, or perhaps a rough stretch of wilderness or a road occupied by highwaymen.

The PCs should first find a human skeleton that has obviously met a violent end. The exact details aren't important, and should be tailored to fit the context - for example, it may have its leg bones shattered as though it's fallen from a pit above, or it may be impaled or split in half, or perhaps the bones display teeth marks, as though it's been gnawed on by something big. You can use this to hint at a hidden danger or trap in the area if you wish.

If the PCs interact with the skeleton, nothing immediately obvious happens at first. However, shortly thereafter, a bedraggled man appears from the nearest hiding place. Again, this will depend on the environment - in a forest he could appear from behind a tree, or in a dungeon he might step through a doorway leading out of the room. He introduces himself as Urbano Bagnoli, a traveler who got lost and ended up here. He doesn't know how long he was here, but was too afraid to leave without being accompanied by some strong and capable friends to protect him from other dangers in the vicinity. He will explain that his home town is a short distance away, and asks to be escorted there; he greatly misses his fiance, Camilla, and hopes to be returned to her, afraid that she must be worried for his safety.

What isn't immediately obvious is that Urbano is long dead - in fact, the bones adorning the ground are his own. His wanderings took him to this site decades ago, and he soon found himself faced with dangers he wasn't prepared for. But he still had unfinished business in life, and his ghost clings to this site. Urbano doesn't realize that he's dead, and he doesn't realize the skeleton is his, citing that some other poor sap must have met an unfortunate end. He doesn't outwardly appear to be anything other than a normal living person, either. The players should ideally not realize that Urbano is a ghost unless they use Divine Sense or a similar ability, or until they start putting the clues together.

Urbano is familiar with the surrounding area and will give the party clues about dangers that may be up ahead, but as he's operating with information that's years out of date, this intel won't be as helpful as it might seem. He might describe a shortcut that has since become unusable, or warn about a monster that died ages ago. Should any danger show itself, he will withdraw from the situation until the PCs have it handled. He will join the party if they make camp, but won't eat anything, citing that he "doesn't feel hungry." In general, try to delay the reveal as much as you can with plausible excuses. Remember that Urbano doesn't know he's dead, and won't knowingly lie about anything. If the possibility of him being a ghost comes up, he'll laugh it off as a foolish idea that doesn't even deserve consideration, and question how anyone could even entertain the prospect. He will only be convinced if shown undeniable proof, such as if a solid object is phased through him.

If the PCs lead Urbano back to his hometown, they will discover that he doesn't recognize anyone there, as they've grown much older than he remembered. Meanwhile, everyone else is puzzled by how he hasn't seemed to have aged a day. Camilla, in fact, has moved on and married another man, and they have three children together. If Urbano hasn't been proven to be a ghost by now, this is when the revelation will hit him. He'll be shocked and aghast that the world has forgotten him - and he may just end up haunting the town unless the PCs can set things straight...

Friday Encounter: The Wild Hunt

This encounter can be dropped in the wilderness, but it perhaps has more utility if the PCs are actively engaged in hunting - whether that's because they're foraging for food, or perhaps because they're invited by a noble they're in good standing with to partake in a hunt. The lore here is pretty specific to the Lunar Lands, but you can probably tweak it to fit another setting by replacing Kerne with a similar god of the hunt, or the stag with a similarly holy beast.

While out hunting, the PCs are suddenly greeted by the sight of a large white stag with a majestic rack of antlers, emerging from the bush. The stag is alone, and it does not appear to notice the PCs' presence. If they so choose, it would be an easy target to move in for the kill - and a most impressive trophy indeed.

However, if it seems too good of an opportunity to be true, that's because it is. At this point, everyone in the party should make a DC 12 Religion check. Any PC who makes a successful check will know that white stags are the sacred beast of Kerne, the god of war and the hunt, and are reserved for he alone to pursue. Any mortal who dares harm one will suffer Kerne's wrath. Clerics or paladins of Kerne or characters with the Acolyte background who belonged to a Kernate order will know all this information automatically. This might seem like an obvious trap to the players, so if there are any NPCs with the party, you could have one of them attempt to attack the stag if you want to trigger the next stage of encounter.

If the stag is killed, the sky darkens with a great clap of thunder, showing that Kerne is displeased. The next day, Kerne will send a party of the Wild Hunt to track down the PCs, consisting of 2d4 scouts on riding horses, 1d6 mastiffs, and 1d4 perytons. As the scouts are Kerne's servants, they have the Celestial type (and thus will be noticed by Divine Sense and similar effects), and appear unusually tall and robust, with radiant skin, glowing eyes, and antlers growing from their heads, but their stats are otherwise identical. The divine hunters will pursue the PCs like a hunter pursues game - they will attempt to stake them out from chokepoints formed by the terrain, use cover, and attack from a distance to wound the PCs before mounting their steeds to ride them down while they nurse their injuries. This could easily turn into a tense situation with the PCs having to throw off the trail of tireless hunters - if you've seen any of the Predator movies, this should give you an idea of what to expect.

If, however, the PCs leave the stag unharmed, the next day, they will be approached by a hunter with a thick hood covering his face. He praises them on their good fortune to cross paths with the Wild Hunt, and even more so for their respect in leaving the kill to them. He will then leave the PCs with a horn etched with scenes of Kerne leading the Wild Hunt on their jaunts into the wilds, and explains that it may be used to call upon them three times. Once per day, the horn may be blown to summon the Wild Hunt (roll for the hunting party's composition as above), who will assist the party to the best of their ability. After the task they were summoned for is completed, the hunting party vanishes. After the horn has been used three times, the huntsman will take it back from the party, insisting that it can only be trusted in the hands of mortals for so long.

Alternatively, the Wild Hunt might invite the PCs on a hunt, if there are honored hunters and/or faithful devotees of Kerne among them. To be invited to such a task would be a great honor to any of Kerne's followers, but the Wild Hunt follows its own agenda. They are wont to carry the PCs into the middle of nowhere, well off their path, and leave them there as they get lost in the thrill of the hunt. And whatever prey they are pursuing might not be as simple as a white stag...

Friday Encounter: The Guardian Beast

A lot of my Friday Encounters center around a couple of themes I find ripe for exploiting when it comes to game material - subverting PC expectations, or confronting the party with moral dilemmas. Well, I hope people aren't getting tired of that, because this one has both.

This encounter is best used while the PCs are on the road, and come to a small isolated village. Ideally, you should drop rumors in the leadup to the encounter - for instance, in nearby settlements, the party may hear that people have sighted a foreboding shape flying over the horizon, and it seems to be coming closer and closer. They should also hear that number of farms and homesteads further down the road have been laid to waste, the buildings shattered and the people and animals vanished, with only bones left behind. Several such rumors describe the ground being scarred into wasteland, as though the fields were burned with acid, though none have seen such a desolation in person.

Eventually, this trail should take them to a town where the people know of a mountain nearby, where a chimera dwells in its cave. The villagers have known of this creature for years, and some even know the trail to its lair, but they note that it has never caused any trouble for the town before. However, if nearby settlements are being devastated, many suspect the chimera is responsible - and when it lives so close by, there is a growing sense of paranoia that their village may be next. A few have declared that the chimera must be slain before it takes another life, but no one is brave enough to make such a journey. However, if the PCs seem capable, one of the local guides will be happy to show them the way.

The chimera dwells at the summit of a mountain near the town. You may choose to add other encounters or hazards along the way as you wish, or even expand the lair into a full-fledged dungeon. However, the chimera should be found in a cavern strewn with bones. None of them appear to be human bones, and the bones of several dangerous monsters can be found among them. Nevertheless, if the PCs approach the chimera with weapons drawn, it will not hesitate to attack.

If the chimera is slain, the townspeople will celebrate, rewarding the PCs with a grand feast and offering 90 GP per party member in return; they will also find 4000 GP's worth of gold and jewels, a potion of fire giant strength, and a wand of secrets in the chimera's lair. However, about a week afterward (this can be adjusted if the PCs seem intent on moving on quickly), they will discover the terrible truth.

The chimera wasn't behind the attacks at all - rather, they were the work of a black dragon starting to expand its range into the nearby area. The chimera, in fact, had established itself as the protector of the village, and had fended off attacks by monsters for many years. Without it, though, the village is defenseless - and it will be the dragon's next target! The next time the PCs come to the village, they will find it a smoldering ruin, and the dragon may still be around. If the PCs don't have any desire to revisit the village, they can discover the consequences of their actions when an NPC, perhaps a survivor from the town, relays the news and warns of the dragon's threat.

I've tried to leave a few clues in this encounter, but if you don't think your players will pick up on them, you might allow PCs to research local lore, in which case they may discover that a folk hero from the town decided to spare a chimera's life years ago, and the chimera decided to defend the village ever since. This should be a relatively obscure legend, to explain why the people fear the chimera. If the PCs don't kill the chimera, the dragon will still attack, but this time the two beasts will do battle - and the party may well be caught in the middle of it!

The Worldforest

The northern portion of Dragon Quest III's pseudo-Eurasian continent is dominated by forest. There aren't many dungeons or settlements to be found here, and nothing that's required to complete the game. However, the imagery of a massive primeval continent-spanning forest is a potent one, and I would be remiss to leave such a thing out of The Saga of the Ortegids. I'll always be one to champion the values of outdoor survival and overland travel in RPGs, and an expanse of mythic wilderness is perfect for adventures in this vein.

Probably the most notable feature of this region is the four solitary mountains arranged in a cross. This is actually an Easter egg - if you inspect the ground at the dead center of this cross, you find a leaf of the Worldtree, a unique item that can be used to revive dead party members. You see what I mean about DQ3 having more in common with western open-world RPGs than it does with modern JRPGs? Anyway, I digress. I find the allusions to a world tree here to be quite interesting, and worthy of expansion upon.

There's no actual world trees in the Erdrick Trilogy, but it is a recurring image in the rest of the series, and certainly in keeping with the vaguely Nordic themes of the first three games. Furthermore, from a practical gameplay standpoint, a tree linking Erdland and Torland would provide a means for travel between the two worlds. Using the Pit of Giaga is mostly a one-way affair, and it's sealed off a third of the way into the Trilogy, so campaigns taking place afterward wouldn't be able to take advantage of the concept of a hollow world with continents and kingdoms on either side of the planet's crust if we limit ourselves to what appears on-screen. However, a single massive tree with roots reaching down into Torland could be climbed up or down to move between the two worlds, and is quite evocative of the Norse Yggdrasil.

Thus, I would rule that there is a Worldtree growing out of the ground in Erdland, sitting in the center of a large valley bounded by four mountains, and its roots reach down into Torland. At the time of DQ3, it was only a sapling, not visible on the world map, but over the course of untold centuries, it eventually grows large enough to join the two worlds, probably some time after the events of Dragon Quest II. Not only does this add an interesting feature to the setting that creates opportunities for travel from one map to another, if the two worlds existed without any contact with one another until relatively recently, the shakeup of different cultures interacting for the first time could create plenty of plot opportunities.

Art by Philip Straub

As far as the continent-spanning forest the Worldtree grows in, I've accordingly dubbed it the Worldforest. This would be Erdland's own Mirkwood, an unimaginably vast woodland with as many mysteries and dangers as any dungeon.

DQ3 doesn't show us any real settlement in the Worldforest beyond a couple of isolated hermits. It does seem like a fitting place for elves, so I would probably scatter a few elven kingdoms here and there. There is one village, Muor, located at the eastern edge of the forest, but it seems to be a far-flung self-sufficient settlement - there are no kings anywhere close by, and the people there don't seem to get many visitors, to the point where someone unfamiliar showing up is notable to them. This seems like a reasonable baseline for human habitation in the region, and I'd likely add more villages and tribes in a similar vein to the area if expanding upon it.

Also, in keeping with the History's Greatest Hits spirit of DQ3's overworld, I could see playing the Worldforest as akin to Earth's Ice Age or Stone Age. Maybe the place is so sparsely populated because the humans there are literal cavemen (or at least, cavemen exist alongside more Neolithic settlements - Muor seems settled enough for agriculture to exist), hunting and gathering and sharing the space with mammoths, sabrecats, and other prehistoric megafauna. This would allow you to play into the tropes of the Lost World, with an area of the setting seemingly untouched by time. I probably wouldn't have any dinosaurs there - it's too northern - but if you wanted to put them in I certainly wouldn't stop you.

Art by Bob Larkin

Friday Encounter: The Leprechaun's Drinking Contest

This encounter could work either in the wilderness or in a dungeon - really, anything far enough removed from civilization.

The PCs come across a little man with pointy ears, all dressed in green, seated on a rock with a large pot of gold beside him. He introduces himself as Fachanan, a leprechaun, and welcomes the PCs to his domain. If asked about the pot of gold, he will explain that, like all leprechauns, he watches over great riches and will not allow mortals to take them for themselves. If he is accosted, he attempts to dazzle the party with a hypnotic pattern spell before turning invisible and scurrying off; the pot of gold will also vanish.

However, he will offer to part with the gold as long as he is defeated in a fair competition - and he proposes a drinking contest, producing a large flagon of ale almost too big for him to have any right to carry. He will face each member of the party, one by one, and if any are left standing by the end of it, then the treasure is theirs.

Such a task might seem simple, but it is no easy task to outdrink a leprechaun. If a PC wishes to engage in Fachanan's contest, they must take turns drinking from the flagon with Fachanan, and whoever surrenders or passes out is eliminated from the competition. Make a note of the PC's Constitution score (the entire score, not the modifier). Every time they take a drink, they lose 1d8 points from their Constitution score until the next long rest. When their Constitution score drops by half, they take 2d8 damage from each drink and have Disadvantage on all attack rolls and skill checks. For the purposes of the contest, Fachanan's Constitution is 20, and he heals 1d4-1 points every round. If he manages to beat one of the PCs in the contest, his Constitution returns to its maximum value.

The flagon is bottomless and will not run out, and Fachanan will not allow anyone to interfere in the contest. If they do, he will accuse them of cheating and curses the entire party with ill fortune; they have Disadvantage on all rolls until the next long rest. He then disappears, taking the pot of gold with him.

If Fachanan is beaten in the contest, he will give the PCs his pot of gold. The pot contains a total of 6000 GP in gold and jewels, but it weighs 10 pounds and is cumbersome to carry, so getting it to a place where the treasure may be spent may be a challenge in and of itself. If all the PCs end up passing out, they may well awake to find they have gotten into all sorts of escapades while drunk on fey liquor...

Friday Encounter: The Sky Opens

I've long maintained that most campaigns overlook the value of mundane travel complications for random encounters. Not every danger the PCs face has to come from magic and monsters - throwing in things like natural hazards and road conditions can help the world seem more realistic, and keeps the fantastical rare, mysterious, and, well, fantastical. A big example of this: weather. I don't think I've ever seen a campaign that even acknowledged the weather; it seems that in most gaming sessions it just exists in a quantum state of unremarkably clear skies that have no positive or negative impacts on the party. I'm not saying you need to meticulously track weather patterns for your setting (unless that's your thing), but I do think that having weather events happen as a random encounter every once in a while can do a lot to spice up travel. Here's an example.

This encounter can be used in any outdoor environment, but to get the most use out of it, it's best used while the PCs are traveling, either on a road or through the wilderness. This means they can't simply go underneath the roof of a nearby building to take shelter.

While the PCs are traveling, the sky suddenly turns overcast. A moment later, with a peal of thunder, the clouds open into a torrential rainstorm, with water coming down hard all around them. The storm lasts for 1d4 hours. Until then, the party will have to figure out some way to deal with it.

The obvious answer is to go off the path and try to find shelter, such as in a cave or beneath a large tree, and wait it out. Perhaps this would be as simple as moving to a nearby location you already have on the map, or perhaps you could have a Survival check to find a suitable shelter. This side trek could lead to other encounters or discoveries - perhaps, in looking for shelter, the PCs come across something else. If the party is in a hurry, or if someone is under the effects of a spell with a limited duration, the delay could cause them to lose valuable time.

If the PCs decide to press on despite the effects of the storm, they take one level of Exhaustion for every hour they travel. Additionally, if they traveled through the rain, they must make a Constitution saving throw or come down with a cold, which will take them out of action until they sleep it off. They gain the Incapacitated condition until the next long rest, or if some magical means to cure disease are employed. The DC for this save starts at 5 and increases by 5 for every hour the PCs travel through the rain.

Don't forget other effects rain could have on the PCs or other creatures. If they're carrying torches, they may run the risk of going out. Scrolls, books, and other objects that could be damaged by water might become unusable if not properly stored. An invisible creature could be detected in a rainstorm by how its body displaces water. Like I said, there's a lot that can be done with weather, so don't forget about it in your toolbox.

Friday Encounter: The Curse of Feebleness

This encounter could be used in a variety of situations, including in a town, on the road, in the wilderness, or in a dungeon. The idea is to use it wherever the PCs could be impacted by a curse. The simplest way to do this would be for the party to accidentally bump into a witch (perhaps knocking into her from a carriage while on the road and injuring her, or bumping into her on the street in town and causing her to spill what she's carrying) who, feeling vindictive, decides to place a curse on them. But it could just as easily be the result of a cursed treasure in a dungeon, or inflicted upon the party by a recurring villain. Feel free to use it wherever and however you think it would be enjoyable.

Some way or another, the PCs are all stricken with a curse that penalizes them in a fashion that is detrimental to their class and general play style, making it hard for them to fit their typical role in the party. For example:

• Martial classes have Disadvantage on all Strength checks, to-hit rolls, and damage rolls, and their carrying capacity is halved.
• Magic-users have Disadvantage on Knowledge checks, any checks to successfully cast spells, and saves against magical effects.
• Rogues have Disadvantage on all Dexterity checks, and their footsteps become loud and conspicuous, making it harder for them to sneak around silently.
• Bards become tone-deaf and have Disadvantage on Performance checks. They also lose proficiency in any musical instruments until the effects of the curse wear off.

You get the idea. Feel free to tailor these to your party - if any of the PCs wouldn't be affected much by these penalties (for instance, if you have a Finesse fighter), come up with an alternative effect that would negatively affect them.

The idea is to make it harder to play the PCs the way the players normally would, forcing them to act outside of their comfort zone. This could present a fun opportunity to challenge players to think outside the box if their typical strategies wouldn't work, or to give them a chance to experiment with play styles they aren't used to. If you have a player who always plays one class, this might be a way to force them to branch out.

For maximum fun, don't have the curse take effect right away. Instead, the effects should start to become apparent 1d4 days after the inciting incident. Don't tell the players that the curse takes effect, either - just start asking them to reroll their rolls and take the lower result, without elaborating. Eventually, they'll figure out something's wrong, and this could kick off an investigation of what might have placed the curse on them. If you have the curse placed on them by an NPC, it's probably best if it's obvious that some sort of spell was cast even if it doesn't take effect immediately. The players will be a lot more likely to draw a connection between the little old lady they knocked over and the fact they can't hit the broad side of a barn if that old lady started waving her hands at them and speaking in tongues before they saw a bright flash. Otherwise, they might end up on a wild goose chase that leads nowhere.

Because I've left things open-ended as to what triggers the curse, I'll also leave it open-ended as to what breaks it. If the PCs attracted the ire of a magician, for example, they may need to find them and right their wrongdoing. Or potentially kill the mage that cursed them, but that might not be possible if they're in polite society. If they picked up a cursed artifact, it may simply be a matter of disposing of it - but cursed artifacts have a habit of turning up again, unless the curse is passed on to someone else. One fun option would be to have the curse be broken for a given PC when that character performs a great deed or overcomes a great challenge without having to fall back on their area of expertise, proving that they can thrive on their own merits even if their greatest assets are taken away from them.

Friday Encounter: The Island Fish

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Here's an encounter to bring one of my favorite tropes in folklore and mythology to the table. It should be used while the PCs are traveling by boat, preferably on a voyage through a relatively uncharted body of water.

While traveling the open sea, the PCs come across a small island that is not marked on any of their maps. The ship's crew has grown tired over the long journey, and they petition the captain to stop and rest here, perhaps foraging for food to replenish their meager rations. If the ship's captain is an NPC, they agree to moor the ship here; if they are a PC, that decision is up to the player(s).

If the ship docks, the crew wishes to spend the night on the island, and they suggest the PCs explore before sun sets. PCs exploring the island will find that it is mostly flat and rocky, covered in sparse shrubs and grass, with a few short trees here and there. There are no land animals native to the island, but a few seagulls can be found, and there are some crabs on the shore. The island is 160 feet long and 100 feet wide, with a circle of rocks and trees at the center of the island forming a natural campsite, 80 feet from the ship. Keep track of how far the party ventures into the island - it will become important later.

At nightfall, the ship's crew will make camp at whatever suitable spot the party found, and make a fire from some driftwood and fallen branches to cook some birds and fish they were able to catch. However, this is where the island reveals its secret. The "island" is in fact a gigantic fish that has laid dormant here for years, and over the ages, enough soil has built up on its back to form solid ground. However, when a fire is lit, the fish will wake up, and seek to retreat into the water - with everyone still on it! The fish will also wake up if a fire is lit on the island before the crew does, or if the PCs make any extremely loud noises (such as that of an explosion).

Once the fish wakes up, enter Action Time. The fish takes a turn at the beginning of initiative order every round. On its turn, the fish always sinks two feet into the water. The PCs must use this time to run back to the ship before they sink with the fish! If they make a move or dash action, they must make an Acrobatics or Athletics check (whichever best fits the action); on a failed check, they can only move at half speed that turn due to the rising water. The DC for this check starts at 5, and increases by 5 for every two feet the fish sinks after the first. If any PC is below the water (this would typically be when the fish has sunken six feet for a medium-sized creature, or three feet for a small one), they must swim to their destination, and they must hold their breath unless they have some means of breathing underwater.

You don't need to roll for the crew during this part - you can just assume that enough redshirts drowned to make things suitably dramatic, but enough survived that the ship is still in working order. However, if there are any named NPCs on the ship, you may wish to have them act during the initiative order like the PCs, following the same rules.

If you so desire, you can add other obstacles to overcome during the run to the ship if you want make the encounter more challenging. Do not forget that, although most parties will likely run for the ship, other courses of action are possible and should be allowed according to the DM's judgment. If anyone in the party is able to communicate with the fish, for instance, they may be able to convince it to take them to their destination - though the fish will likely demand something in return.

Friday Encounter: What Is It, Lassie?

This encounter can be used anywhere - a town, on the road, in the wilderness, or in a dungeon. However, it's probably best used in an environment one might conceivably encounter a dog - having one turn up in the middle of a dungeon might invite unwarranted suspicion from the party. A PC with access to speak with animals or similar effects may make this encounter trivial to solve, so you may want to consider your party composition and determine if it would be suitably challenging for your table.

The PCs are approached by a large dog, which runs up to them wagging its tail and sniffing them excitedly. If they respond affectionately (most players will, in my experience), the dog will tag along with them, following them wherever they go. Even if they try to get rid of the dog, it will catch up to them as soon as possible, taking every measure possibly to keep up with the party, unless it is physically incapable of doing so (such as if the party crosses a bridge that falls behind them, and the dog is unable to clear the chasm). Notably, the dog will bark and try to get the party's attention once it is sure they are friendly. It seems almost like it's trying to communicate with them.

As a matter of fact, the dog is trying to communicate with them. It is in fact Athansios Panossias, a powerful wizard who, upon being defeated in a magical duel with his rival Hermokrates Nikolaios, was cursed into the form of a dog. Though he retains his memories and his learned mind, Athansios can only speak and act as a dog can, and thus is incapable of performing the gestures and incantations needed to work his magic. Desperate to lift the curse and get revenge on Hermokrates, he seeks out any passing adventurers who he might be able to lead to his mortal enemy.

Athansios cannot say or do anything a normal dog couldn't, but he will nevertheless attempt to get the party's attention and lead them in the direction of Hermokrates's tower, trying to explain his predicament as best he can. However, he faces significant limitations in doing so. The PCs will likely misunderstand his directions, and this may well lead them on a wild goose chase. It's okay if this happens - it's fun!

In the Lunar Lands, all animals are sapient, but have their own languages indecipherable to other species. Athansios might not be able to communicate with the party, but he can communicate with any dogs they have with them, and they will understand them. These dogs may try to pass on the same message if they're swayed to his side, but of course they face the same difficulties in doing so. If there's a Really Good Dog in your party, you should relay Athansios's messages to their player privately and have them try to relate things to the rest of the party without using verbal communication, to keep things balanced.

Friday Encounter: Deals at the Crossroads

For optimal folkloric resonance, the best place to use this encounter is at a crossroads, preferably at night. As everyone knows, the crossroads is a place where the boundaries between worlds are weak, and it's easier to contact the other side - or, for that matter, for the other side to contact you. However, it would also work in the wilderness, in a dungeon, or perhaps even in a town, after everyone else is asleep.

Background

In the Lunar Lands, there are numerous places where the fabric of reality thins, and it is easier for things from other worlds to slip through. Crossroads are particularly susceptible to this, as an already liminal space where multiple routes intersect. Alimuth, a demon, has taken advantage of this. Like all demons, he delights in using his magic to bring mortals to ruin and spread discord, and he has come into the possession of multiple mortal souls through offering fabulous powers in exchange for immortal servitude. Now, the PCs might well become his latest clients...

The Encounter

Alimuth will appear to the PCs at the crossroads when no one else is around. He takes the disguise of a wealthy merchant, wearing fine clothes embroidered with fur and brocades, but all in shades of red. Like all demons, Alimuth is physically incapable of invoking the names of any gods, and instead refers to them by epithets and titles whenever possible. Additionally, a DC 20 Perception check reveals that he has slit pupils like those of a cat.

The "merchant" is found sitting on a cart hitched to a donkey on the side of the road. The cart has lost a wheel and sunken into a ditch - Alimuth is particularly interested in corrupting good-hearted and generous souls, and wants to pose as someone in need of help as a way to lure the PCs closer. He calls to the PCs for aid as they pass.

It's a simple enough task to find the missing wheel and fix the cart - no rolling is necessary. Alimuth just wants to get the PCs close enough to make his pitch. He graciously thanks the PCs and commends them on their kindness - then offers to repay them in a way only he can.

At this point, Alimuth promises to impart each of the PCs with a special "blessing." He will teach any of the PCs one spell from the warlock spell list, regardless of whether or not they have any levels in warlock. This spell should be one suited to the character's class, playstyle, and strategies, and should be one spell level higher than the highest level of spell slot a warlock of the same level as the PC would have access to - this is a more powerful spell than what would otherwise be possible of the PC. If the PC is a spellcasting class, the spell is cast as they would normally cast any other spell and takes up one spell slot of their highest available level. If they are not a spellcasting class, they can cast it as a warlock would (ie. their spell save DC is 8 + proficiency bonus + CHA, and their spell attack modifier is proficiency bonus + CHA), once per long rest.

However, this comes at a cost. To teach the PC the spell, Alimuth will need ownership over their soul as payment. If the PC dies, their soul is immediately damned to Hell; they automatically fail all death saves, and they cannot be resurrected or communed with unless their soul is retrieved from Hell directly or Alimuth otherwise relinquishes control over their soul. Furthermore, they are to forfeit their life after a year and a day (you are keeping track of time, right?). If they are still alive at this time, Alimuth will send a pack of three hellhounds after the party to attack them. The hounds appear at nightfall every day until the affected PC dies, heralding their arrival with the sound of a loud howl, and will track them relentlessly. If the hounds are killed, they simply respawn the next night. If the affected PC dies, the hounds immediately vanish and do not attack the rest of the party. The hounds cannot enter holy ground, such as a temple or the burial ground of a saint.

Although a demon, Alimuth is a man of his word and does not attempt to mislead or trick the people he deals with. He presents the PCs with a contract in which all the relevant information is laid out (albeit in circuitous language that is difficult to understand), and will not teach them the spell until the PCs sign the contract in their blood (he provides a quill with a pointy tip, if necessary). However, he will try his best to persuade them, describing how it's in their best interests to branch out with magic, and they surely won't be in any danger any time soon with such fabulous magic on their side.

If the PCs turn him down, Alimuth will disappear, but emphasizes that the PCs are welcome to change their mind at any time. He will also disappear if attacked. If they return to the crossroads with the express intent of visiting Alimuth, he will be right where they left him. He will not appear if they are just passing through.

Optionally, you might rule that a cleric or paladin who sells their soul to Alimuth will no longer be able to use class features that rely on divine favor, since their soul is no longer pledged to their patron god. However, this runs the risk of mechanically crippling a character and may necessitate multiclassing for them to remain viable, so it's best to talk this over with your players to make sure they're prepared for such measures. If you don't see a year and a day passing over the course of the campaign, another optional measure to speed things up would be to have Alimuth's contract specify it expires in a year and a day in Hell, and he comes from a domain of Hell where time passes faster than it does in the mortal realm - so he may come to collect the bargain sooner than expected!

Furthermore, even if Alimuth does collect a PC's soul, that might not be the end. A resourceful party might find a way to track the demon down and convince him to give up their ally's soul - or even free their companion from Hell itself.