"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.
Grassland Tables - encounters | locations | non-combat | extras | tools guide
Grassland Non-Combat Encounters
| 1d8+1d12 | Grassland 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+1d6 | Grassland 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+1d12 | Grassland 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.
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