The characters are gamblers gathered for a "special" competition. Two of the characters are dressed in costumes and another arrives late, bringing food.
Random tables for spooky one-shot characters.
Horror Tables & Tools - encounters | one-shots | dark fantasy guide
[Photo by Sašo Tušar on Unsplash]
Spooky One-Shot Adventures
Spooky and horror themes are great for one-shots. Halloween, Ravenloft or otherwise. If the characters go mad or meet a grisly doom then it's only for the one adventure!
The characters below have shared themes and a reason for being together. Plus one or more rolls on a complications table.
There is a spooky one-shot adventure generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Spooky One-Shot Adventures.
Spooky One-Shots - characters | locations | creatures | during the game
The Characters are...
| 1d20 |
Spooky One-Shot - The Characters are... |
|---|---|
| 1 | a group of monster hunters chasing a shapechanger. |
| 2 | friends and family witnessing a wedding. |
| 3 | a group of creators gathered for a special challenge. |
| 4 | members of a faction gathering for a ritual. |
| 5 | a circle of spellcasters hunting for a magical robe. |
| 6 | a group of caravan guards protecting a single merchant, stopping here for the night. |
| 7 | scholars researching a local mystery. |
| 8 | a group of recently met adventurers sent to meet "someone". |
| 9 | entertainers working at a special event. |
| 10 | old friends meeting up for a reunion. |
| 11 | fugitives looking for somewhere to hide for the night. |
| 12 | a group of ghost investigators with a covered wagon, investigating a mystery. |
| 13 | gamblers gathering for a "special" competition. |
| 14 | local villagers spending the night here on a dare. |
| 15 | travelers looking for a night's shelter, after their coach had an accident. |
| 16 | a novice group of adventurers looking after the place for a night. |
| 17 | members of a crime family gathering for a meeting with the boss. |
| 18 | students who have heard of a party happening here. |
| 19 | members of the local law hunting a criminal. |
| 20 | friends and family of an adventurer, gathered for a funeral. |
Character Complications
| 1d20 | Spooky One-Shots - Character Complications |
|---|---|
| 1 | A character is possessed by a ghost |
| 2 | One or more characters has an inquisitive pet |
| 3 | One or more characters is currently cursed |
| 4 | A character is celebrating a birthday |
| 5 | One or more characters are dressed in costumes |
| 6 | Two of the characters have fallen in love |
| 7 | A character is accompanied by an annoying sibling |
| 8 | A character has made an enemy of a local spellcaster |
| 9 | A character is a shapechanger |
| 10 | One or more characters belong to a local secret society |
| 11 | A character has a treasure map of the place, promising "a great reward" |
| 12 | One or more characters are infected with lycanthropy |
| 13 | Two of the characters are friendly rivals |
| 14 | A character thinks there is a big conspiracy |
| 15 | A character is haunted by a harmless ghost |
| 16 | One or more characters have cursed magic items |
| 17 | A character is being hunted by a monster |
| 18 | Two of the characters have a bet about the evening |
| 19 | One or more characters arrive late, bearing food |
| 20 | A characters is under a geas |
More Random Tables
There is a spooky one-shot adventure generator at ChaosGen. And also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Spooky One-Shot Adventures.
You can get encounters tools updates on Patreon and find me on Twitter @duncanthom
