"There is an overgrown entrance, covered tunnel or secret door to a cave, cavern complex, tomb or other underground area."
Tables for Encounter Complications, Encounter Activities or States and Encounter Sentient Activity for the jungle. Result is from Jungle Encounter Complications.
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Jungle Encounter Complications and Activities
What makes this jungle encounter different? Maybe they descend on the group using vines or defend a Feywild crossing. Maybe the tropical disease they are carrying or they are fleeing from a beast stampede. Or they could be hunting a tiger or felling trees ready to make a raft or canoe.
There is a 5e jungle random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And a separate tool for encounter locations including jungle.
There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Jungle Encounters.
Jungle Encounter Tables - creatures | locations | non-combat | complications
Jungle Encounter Complications
1d8+1d12 | Jungle Encounter Complications |
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2 | The area is affected by a mirage arcana (or forbiddance) spell |
3 | Nearby is a powerful creature those encountered try not to disturb. Roll or pick a result from Jungle Encounters Level 11+ |
4 | There is a hallucinatory terrain (or progammed illusion) spell here |
5 | There is a prisoner in the encounter or a lone traveler nearby. Roll on Quick Jungle NPCs |
6 | There is a second group of creatures nearby (roll again on the appropriate encounter table) |
7 | There is a hazard in the area. Roll on Jungle Hazards & Obstacles |
8 | There are humanoids as allies, servants, mercenaries or prisoners (or are nearby) roll on Jungle Humanoids |
9 | There are several hanging vines that lead up to trees or a platform or roll on Jungle Combat Terrain |
10 | There are beasts as pets / guards (or nearby). Roll on Jungle Beasts |
11 | There are recent tracks of other creatures in the area (roll again on the appropriate encounter table) |
12 | Heavy rain is falling or there is a thunder storm |
13 | There is a hidden item or cache here. Roll on Minor Jungle Treasures |
14 | A mist covers the area or the birds and beasts have gone quiet |
15 | The creatures are carrying a magic item or it is hidden nearby. Roll on Magic Items - Jungle |
16 | There is an overgrown entrance, covered tunnel or secret door to a cave, cavern complex, tomb or other underground area. |
17 | A swarm of harmless insects is approaching or a forest fire has started nearby |
18 | There is a crossing to the Shadowfell or Feywild here or there is a planar portal / magic circle here |
19 | The area is cursed by a deity or local spirit. It is Desecrated Ground (DMG pg 110 ). A ghost or other undead may be lurking in the area. |
20 | There is a group of adventurers of similar level or lower level to the party in the area. They have a connection to the encounter. |
Jungle Encounter Activities or States
1d4+1d6 | Jungle Encounter Activities or State |
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2 | One of them is a shapechanger or they are haunted or harassed by another creature |
3 | One or more are close to death or close to giving birth |
4 | They are investigating (or playing with) an item (roll on Jungle Mundane Items or Jungle Minor Treasures) |
5 | One or more are exhausted or cleaning / washing themselves |
6 | They are drinking (or collecting) from a water source |
7 | One or more are injured (not at full hit points or reduced speed) |
8 | They are making lots of noise or studying something in the trees |
9 | They are searching the area for sustenance or a companion |
10 | They are near to their home or lair or are making a new home or lair |
11 | They are resting or eating |
12 | They are stalking (or being stalked by) something or exploring the area |
13 | One or more of them is infected with a disease or cursed |
14 | They are chasing (or being chased by) something or they have young with them |
15 | They are starting (or ending) a journey or migration |
16 | They are part of (or associated with) a local group or they guard the local area |
17 | They are fleeing a nearby danger, disaster or other threat or they are waiting for someone / something |
18 | One of them is larger than normal (extra hit points) |
19 | They are investigating a dead body (roll on Quick Jungle NPCs) |
20 | One of them is mutilated (or mutated) in some way |
Jungle Encounter Sentient Activity
1d8+1d12 | Jungle Encounter Sentient Activity |
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2 | They are holding a funeral or spying on something |
3 | They are investigating (or searching for) a ruin |
4 | They display the symbol of a local deity or faction |
5 | They are chopping down trees or having a celebration |
6 | They are climbing trees or building something |
7 | They are talking with someone (roll on Quick Jungle NPCs) or they are intoxicated |
8 | They are hacking through thick foliage or hiding from something |
9 | They are searching for a person or place |
10 | They are following a guide (or trail) |
11 | They are foraging for sustenance (or herbs) |
12 | They are hunting a beast or relaxing |
13 | They are lost or performing a ritual |
14 | They are on patrol or one or more are telling a story |
15 | They are making a canoe (or other watercraft) |
16 | They are waiting in ambush for someone or playing with a pet |
17 | They are preparing or consuming food or a herbal mixture |
18 | They are following a damaged map or having an argument |
19 | They are are trying to lift a curse or creating some kind of art |
20 | They are searching for the party or other adventurers |
More Encounters and Locations
For a PDF version of forest encounters with more tables check out Jungle Encounters on DM's Guild
These tables inspired my 5E jungle encounters generator at Chaos Gen.
If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.