Grassland Non-Combat Encounters, NPCs and Hazards for 5e
Grassland Non-Combat Encounters

Grassland Non-Combat Encounters, NPCs and Hazards for 5e

Duncan Thomson
"A flying snake is carrying a small tube with message but is stuck in a net. Friendly if rescued. Message relates to local villain."

Tables for Non-Combat Encounters, Quick NPCs and Hazards & Obstacles for Grassland. Result is from Grassland Non-Combat Encounters.

Non-combat by terrain - arctic | coastal | desert | forest | grassland | hill | mountain |  swamp | underdark | underwater | urban

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Grassland Non-Combat, NPCs & Hazards

Grasslands and plains are home to all manner of folk. A griffon rider might warn you of goblinoid raiders or you might be entertained by travelling halflings. Meet NPCs from druid who trains horses to a slow-going noble who is painting as they travel. Deal with wet sinkholes, stampeding herds and brush fires consuming the grasses.

There is a 5e Grassland random encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Grassland Encounters.

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Grassland Tables - encounters | locations | non-combat | extras | tools guide

Grassland Non-Combat Encounters

1d8+1d12Grassland Non-Combat Encounters
2 A saddled pteranodon (or hippogriff) is carrying an unconscious rider. It lands nearby and looks hopeful.
3 A psychic gray ooze (telepathy 60 ft.) is crossing plains to reach a friend. Scared of strange world and asks for travel advice.
4 A pack of enchanted lions trail group, acting friendly towards one character. Aid party if in trouble and bear symbol of local faction.
5 A wounded rhinoceros (or mammoth) has been attacked and is nudging a dead companion. There are recent tracks of ivory hunters.
6 Several pixies and satyrs are picking berries. Invite group to join them in making drinks and an evening of revelry at nearby gathering.
7 A herd of inquisitive ponies (or riding horses) watches group. One inquisitive member has a saddle and stuffed saddlebags.
8 A flying snake is carrying a small tube with message but is stuck in a net. Friendly if rescued. Message relates to local villain (or ruler).
9 Several halfling commoners led by a druid travel on wagons. They are trader and entertainers. Engage the party in friendly conversation.
10 Several tribal warriors have a large herd of cattle (or other livestock) which they are driving to a market. Hail party for news and talk.
11 A cambion (or succubus / incubus) is driving a colorful wagon. They are a trader in unusual pets from different planes and terrains.
12 A uniformed scout on a scarred griffon hails group. Asks them about plans and warns them of renowned goblinoid (or gnoll) raiders.
13 An invisibe stalker (or air elemental) is the ancient spirit of a fallen people. Tries to guide them through area and shown local ruins.
14 A goblin (or goblin boss) on a giant wolf spider invites party to join for food. Is a scholar on spiders and currently cooking spider stew.
15 A few thri-kreen are keen to trade for metal. Observing a two week period of non-violence. One can speak Goblin (or Draconic)
16 A philosophical frost giant has traveled far on a quest to find a family of cloud giants and their cloud castle. But keeps getting distracted.
17 A talking phase spider (Int 12, Common) is a Feywild (or Shadowfell) guide. Can take party to a crossing for secrets or a riddle contest.
18 A pair of veterans drive a covered wagon with several domesticated animals. Looking to settle down and build a farm nearby.
19 A few deep gnomes (or kuo-toa) are trying to find a way back down to the Underdark. Totally afraid of everything above ground.
20 A community of shapechangers hide in a herd of elk. Include at least druid, oni, hag and adult gold dragon. Have a pact to maintain peace. Try to figure out if any of group are shapechangers.

Grassland Quick NPCs

1d4+1d6Grassland Quick NPCs
2 Circu is an agitated aarakocra scholar adorned with copper rings. They are researching something connected to a quest of the party.
3 Xanaphia is a grumbling green hag carrying a rusty spade. They adore music and ask lots of questions about the characters.
4 Galinndan is a bald noble with an outrageous hat. They are traveling the world, stopping every hour to paint their surroundings.
5 Lian is a stylish druid wearing a cloak of feathers. They train horses and constantly make horse-related puns.
6 Grigor is a lithe tribal warrior a with a crooked posture. They love making philosophical quotes and have two enthusiastic dogs.
7 Sai is a proud veteran (Stealth +3, Survival +2, Armor Class 15 - breastplate). They constantly puff away at a smoking pipe. They protect the local wilderness and attempt to follow at a distance.
8 Glory is a heartbroken tiefling spy carrying a harp on their back. They are attempting to write a book describing different forms of love.
9 Tibor is a berserker with fresh tattoos on a giant lizard (or a dinosaur). They seek glory at any cost and offer their services as a guide.
10 Jandar is an expressive mage (or archmage) with gemstone teeth. They are cursed by a nearby warlock and have a reputation as a thief.

Grassland Hazards and Obstacles

1d8+1d12Grassland Hazards and Obstacles
2 A shrine of the sky with a talking animal statue. It is protected by a hallow spell and can cause a curse (or geas)
3 An abandoned wagon with recent tracks leading away
4 A thunderstorm is approaching
5 Large amounts of dust (or harmless insects). Disturbing causes light or heavy obscurement.
6 A heavy (or ghostly) mist descends around party
7 An simple pit trap (DMG pg 122) camouflaged with foliage
8 A large dust devil (or whirlwind)
9 Sinkhole (count as Quicksand - DMG pg 110) or a nest of angry wasps
10 Heavy rain (or hail) (Heavy Precipitation - DMG pg 110)
11 A stampede of wild (or domestic) herd beasts
12 A flooded river crossing or a recently dug pit with a trapped animal
13 Gusting winds (Strong Wind - DMG pg 110)
14 Several beasts (or corpses) infected with disease (DMG pg 257)
15 An area (or maze) of razorvine (DMG pg 110)
16 A large insect swarm is approaching (as insect swarm)
17 Brush fire and smoke or several patches of quicksand (DMG pg 110)
18 Flash floods
19 An ancient shrine protected by forbiddance
20 A portal to the Upper Planes (or a plane of air) in a shallow hillside cave (or a crossing to the Feywild)

More Encounters

There is a 5e Grassland random encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Grassland Encounters.

Ruins Encounters Random Tables on DM's Guild Ruins Encounters Random Tables on DM's Guild

If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.