Fantasy Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Hills

A cave spirit is possessing a shiny black rock. They are looking for a new cave, having left their old one when a big bear moved in.

Simple encounter tables for hills in any fantasy setting. Tables for Hill Encounter Prompts, Hill Hazards & Distractions and Hill Quick NPCs.

[Photo by Jack Gibson on Unsplash]

Fantasy Hill Encounters

Hill encounters might be a giant carving something into a hillside, a rugged hunter playing sad music or wily goblin traders with things to sell. There might be a mudslide or a wrecked wagon on the side of a hill.

Rocky tors, inquisitive goats, clear springs, isolated farmsteads and old caves. Places of friendly vagabonds, heavy rain, echoing shouts, dwarf miners and hillside ruins.

There is a fantasy hill encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Hill Encounters.

10 Hill Encounter Prompts

1d10	10 Hill Encounter Prompts
1	A pair of wily goblins traders have mules with charms and furs to sell. Happy to barter for unusual trinkets or treasures group have.
2	An old farmer is trying to train a playful wolf cub, with little success
3	A cave spirit is possessing a shiny black rock. They are looking for a new cave, having left their old one when a big bear moved in.
4	A weathered priest rides a goat, leading a herd of several others.
5	A well-dressed scholar is angry with two burly locals they hired. They refuse to continue to a nearby ruin, talking of bad omens and spirits.
6	A giant is carving something into a hillside, copied from a clay tablet.
7	A braided dwarf scrap dealer is looking over a wrecked wagon. Tells group they can make a deal for any junk they have or find.
8	Miners inspect a hillside, which one saw otherworldly figures enter.
9	A long-haired artist does animal portraits, showing lots of affection to pets with group. Offers to do a painting that day for a special rate.
10	Two magpies work together, to steal shiniest trinket visible in group.

Hill Hazards and Distractions

1d10	There is (or are)...
1	a mudslide (or rockslide) near the group or thunder and lightning
2	something on the side of the hill, a(n)... d10 (1-2. flickering light 3. creature crushed by a rock 4. carved rune 5. monster corpse (or skeleton) 6. chalk figure 7. wrecked wagon 8. roiling mist 9. glowing cave entrance 10. provocative illusion)
3	a burning beacon or a mist with whispering spirits
4	heavy rain and strong winds or a large rock ready to roll down a slope
5	the strong smell of ... d10 (1-2.cooking meat 3. goats 4. fresh bread 5. fruit 6. rain 7. burning manure 8. rotting waste 9. cheese 10. honey)
6	a flooded river crossing or earth tremors that make standing hard
7	unusually hot (or cold) weather; or cave that leads to another realm
8	sounds of ... d10 (1-2. celebration 3. echoing shouts 4. livestock 5. a giant creature 6. thunder 7. instruments 8. an argument 9. metal on metal 10. howls)
9	a stampede of herd animals or a sign warning of loose rocks
10	an old bridge (or mine entrance) ready to collapse or heavy sleet

Quick Hill NPCs

1d10	Descriptor	Profession	who...
1	half-human or humble	herder	wears a fine fur cloak *(or hat)*
2	friendly or halfling	outlaw	talks about weather (or rocks)
3	beast-kin or jubilant	labourer	seeks a nearby ruin (or mine)
4	rugged or birdfolk	miner	has friends (or family) everywhere
5	goblinoid or youthful	mystic	is with a herd of pigs (or sheep)
6	proud or lycanthrope	vagabond	offers homemade pies (or drinks)
7	gnome or laughing	hunter	carries a spade (or dead pig)
8	elderly or faerie	smith	has a message (or gift) for group
9	dwarf or restless	veteran	has a pet hunting dog (or ferret)
10	serene or elf	pedlar	plays sad music (or a card game)

More Encounters