Fantasy Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Plains and Steppes

A scarred warrior is adorning their warhorse in charms. They are preparing to spend a few days at a ruin as part of a spiritual journey.

Simple encounter tables for ports and docks in any fantasy setting. Tables for Plains Encounter Prompts, Plains Hazards & Distractions and Plains Quick NPCs.

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Fantasy Plains Encounters

Plains encounters could be steppes, savannah or grassland. Herders taking beasts to market, a bored ogre practicing with a bolt thrower or a family seeking a new beginning. There might be heavy mist, smell of horses or a spectacular view.

A place of long grasses, mesas, rivers and fords. Home to an entertainer practicing their pipes, an agitated merchant who tells horse jokes and an undead messenger who is making drawings. A place of reflection, rain, smoke, herds and travellers.

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

10 Plains Encounter Prompts

1d10	10 Plains Encounter Prompts
1	Bandits mounted on giant flightless birds demand any mounts or herd animals the party has. The mounts look hungry and ill-tempered.
2	An old gaunt lion watches with glowing eyes. It is possessed by a spirit
3	An ogre is practicing on targets using a huge crossbow. Until recently they worked for as a guard. Now they are jobless and getting bored.
4	A griffon (or other flyer) plunges down on a nearby animal. While it is feeding, its rider comes to ask about any news and local events.
5	A few herders have a herd of cattle, driving them to a famous market.
6	A generous giant mounted on an elephant (or dinosaur) carries sacks of seeds and huge vegetables to trade. Love talking about gardens.
7	A few ghostly hounds chase something, their baying getting louder.
8	A scarred warrior is adorning their warhorse in charms. They are preparing to spend a few days at a ruin as part of a spiritual journey.
9	A wary caravan of wagons and mules heads toward a big settlement. They need guards after last ones imprisoned for burning down an inn.
10	A family packed on a wagon seek a home after their farm burnt down.

Plains Hazards and Distractions

1d10	There is (or are)...
1	patches of quicksand or strong gusting winds
2	a wooden (or large) sign warning of... d10 (1-2. bandits 3. dangerous grass 4. dogs 5. a tree made of swords 6. mud 7. evil spirits 8. fires 9. unstable ground 10. sinkholes)
3	a stampede of herd beasts or a flash flood
4	heavy rain (or hail); or a simple pit camouflaged with foliage
5	there is the strong smell of ... d10 (1-2. smoke 3. herd animals 4. rain 5. something dead 6. horses 7. manure 8. something foul 9. flowers 10. fish)
6	a heavy (or ghostly) mist or a large insect swarm approaching
7	a spectacular view or large amounts of dust waiting to be disturbed
8	sounds of ... d10 (1-2. distressed beasts 3. music 4. angry birds 5. a loud humming 6. wailing 7. a party 8. a booming voice 9. roaring 10. ghostly howls)
9	several beasts (or corpses) infected with disease or brush fires
10	a nest of angry wasps or an approaching whirlwind

Quick Plains NPCs

1d10	Descriptor	Profession	who...
1	expressive or beast-kin	smith	asks many prying questions
2	goblinoid or ambitious	scout	has a wary companion (or pet)
3	stylish or shapechanging	mage	has a message for a character
4	catfolk or veteran	herder	has a smoking pipe (or tome)
5	questioning or centaur	messenger	has a lizard (or horse) mount
6	lycanthrope or tired	entertainer	is playing pan pipes (or a lute)
7	agitated or undead	scholar	is making maps (or drawings)
8	half-human or hairless	merchant	has several goats (or pigs)
9	smiling or hyena-folk	vagabond	is on a pilgrimage (or quest)
10	halfling or lithe	herbalist	tells horse (or long) jokes

More Encounters