Inhabitants and Loners - D&D 5e Noncombat Dungeon Encounters

A hobgoblin (or veteran) is convinced their shield is possessed. Asks a character to pick it up and examine it. Has a grinning face on the front.

Noncombat Encounters for dungeon adventures for Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Tables for Noncombat Encounters for Humanoid Inhabitants and Loners.

[art by Critical-Hit]

Dungeon Inhabitants and Loners

In many dungeons humanoids are dominant or a faction. Use entries as allies, servants or alter stats to match inhabitants.

Loners might be renegades, outcasts, visitors, misfits and independents make their own way here. Possible sources of rumors and aid.

From Dungeon Noncombat Encounters on DM's Guild.

Humanoid Inhabitants - Dungeon Noncombat

1d20	Noncombat Encounters - Dungeon Inhabitants
1	A trio of bandits (or hobgoblins) act as guards, but have no loyalty or enthusiasm. They are asking people in and showing them around.
2	A few colorful duergar are builders and artisans, available to hire. Proud of ability to build nearly anything. Left home due to creative differences.
3	A troglodyte is carving graffiti on a wall, insulting nearby leaders.
4	A charlatan (spy, speaks two extra languages) has set up as an oracle for denizens. Gives readings for food or money, but its all made up.
5	Several gambling thugs play a complex dice game, using adventuring supplies for stakes. Torches, sacks, pitons and a healing potion.
6	Several drow are racing carrion crawlers and take it very seriously.
7	A hobgoblin (or veteran) is convinced their shield is possessed. Asks a character to pick it up and examine it. Has a grinning face on the front.
8	A pair of scarred berserkers in comfortable clothes tell stories to any who will listen. They compete with each other for getting most laughs.
9	A deep gnome is creating art from trash, of nearby objects and fungi.
10	A pair of bugbears in protective gear search for evidence of slime (or fungi) spores. Ask group if seen anything, and otherwise ignore them.
11	A band of orcs are in a dispute with another group, over who should host the monthly contest of three-dragon ante. Ask group to mediate.
12	A group of lizardfolk have put aside hostilities, to organise a grand feast.
13	kobold (or acolyte) wants to learn languages, offering Draconic or Undercommon in exchange for Common. Starts with rude words.
14	A band of mercenary hobgoblins (or guards) are discussing who should get a potion of climbing. Other concerns ignored until this is resolved.
15	A few humanoid children play with a potentially dangerous mechanism.
16	A pair of sinister cultists offer easy contest of wits to win this room. Sealed by signing a contract in Infernal, binding them to dungeon.
17	A guard poses difficult riddles to intruders, some of which have no answer. Does it for their own amusements and flees if challenged.
18	An escaped prisoner asks for help. They are a spy for an enemy faction.
19	A bugbear (Advantage when throwing darts) desperately wants to play a game of darts, but no-one else really likes them ;or roll on Loners
20	A group of uniformed goblins are climbing a wall (or playing a game) training for a competition with nearby groups for a large prize.

Loners - Dungeon Noncombat

1d20	Noncombat Encounters - Loners
1	A proud mage is keen to show off life's work. A golem of copper coins (flesh golem), that can appear as a pile of coins. Trying to find buyer.
2	An old troll (or wererat) wants help in writing up their colorful life story. It includes a treasure hoard they've forgotten exactly where they buried.
3	A dwarven warrior is repairing old stonework and passionate about it. Goes into lots of detail about history and details of construction.
4	A cunning satyr has a magical cloak of eyes, that all move like normal eyes. Each pair belong to a creature trapped inside the cloak.
5	A burnt goblin (or drow elite warrior) is afraid of the dark. They always keep a lantern (or candle) lit and have a large supply of torches and oil
6	An intellect devourer inhabits the body of a goblin spy. Happy in body, disconnected from hive mind and excited to travel and see the world.
7	A trickster kenku (Stealth +4) plays pranks. Makes sounds of slamming doors, loud footsteps and other worrying noises. Knows places to hide.
8	A brutish bugbear (Int 14, History +6, Religion +6) is a scholar. Writing a history of area and trying to find a hidden entrance (or chamber)
9	An open-minded priest seeks to renew a hallow spell on a temple (or shrine) to their deity. They seek a couple of new converts.
10	Marv is a sentient stone marble that rolls itself, exploring dungeon. Adopts new creatures as friends for a week. Bounces to show emotion.
11	A lonely flumph relates a sad tale of being abducted by a sorcerer. They are willing to help group if they promise to help them return home.
12	A doppelganger tailor was lured here by a local leader. They create stylish outfits for inhabitants of the dungeon. Always seeking materials.
13	A proactive kobold washes clothes for local inhabitants. They are about to do a batch of laundry and ask group if they want anything cleaned.
14	An intrepid dao architect loves to visit different complexes. Seek inspiration for their next high-end design, but not interested in politics.
15	A rogue quadrone is trying to catalog everything in a set of four cubic notebooks. Making a list of improvements for surrounding area.
16	A vain goblin gladiator shows off their many scars, explaining in detail how they gained each one and acting out their best fights.
17	A shy cambion sorts through a collection of door handles. They have an ornate display case for them and talk about ones they really wants.
18	A lone myconid adult sculptor loves to make carvings from wood (or fungi) of humanoids who pass through here. Has some worrying ones.
19	A pathetic yuan-ti malison is frightened of snakes, full of self-loathing. Desperate for a way forward, but have run out of friends and allies.
20	A strange kuo-toa archpriest (or ghost) missionary preaches the word of a god of stone. Has stones around their neck and petrified limbs.

More D&D Encounters